TFA3 1.1 – Inbound Riders
Other than the Satcom, Lieutenant Norma and his men had conducted a separated test run for the other hardware and system in Net-centric Tower actually. However, this was the first time the Net-centric Tower was online as a single integrated system. Fortunately, after a few hours of evaluation and observation, the Command Center found that the Net-centric Tower was operating as expected and showed no major technical issue.
As for the ground hardware for Satcom, it would not participate in any operation until TF Amethyst operated mil-grade satellite communication, or at least had commissioned MQ-4C Triton and partially used it as a near-term Satcom asset.
Then, a few minutes after Rolling Panda stopped the jamming operation on Makai Royal City, hundreds of blips suddenly appeared in the radar screen. Tension immediately blanketed every corner of command center, while Captain Holmes and other personnel who handled Tactical Data Center and Threat Evaluation did the math.
“Holmes,” Colonel Meyer calmly said. “What trouble knocks on our door?”
“Opposing Riders, loads of them,” Captain Holmes replied with a tense tone. “Four cardinal directions, 3-4 hundreds Riders each, ETA 24 minutes.”
“They send their Riders as soon as their coms back online,” Colonel Meyer said.
Major Alfred who stood next to Colonel Meyer nodded and added, “1200 Riders for the first wave, it means they still have around 2000 Riders at their disposal, and it will increase if the nearby Regions keep sending their Riders to answer King Makai XXII’s calls.”
“Yeah. If we fail to hold these Riders, Jack Sparrow is pretty much fucked.” After a paused Colonel Meyer turned his gaze back to Captain Holmes, “Without Satcom, will we have drawback on our net-centric?”
Captain Holmes shook his head and firmly replied, “Not at all. Unless the opposing side possesses advance EW capability, our situational awareness and network will work just fine.”
“What asset do we have in the air currently?”
“Six Super Hornets in high orbit, south of our position, and one Growler in ghosting mode so we don’t know its exact location.”
“I see.” Colonel Meyer slightly nodded before continuing, “I know nothing about air defense, so Holmes, I will rely on you entirely to orchestra it.”
“Copy, Sir.”
Without delay Captain Holmes brought Command Center to fully enter air defense mode. In this mode, the Command and Decision Element, Tactical Data Element and Threat Evaluation, Weapon System Element, and other element in Command Center would rely solely on the multi-mission three-dimensional AESA Radar to carry the detection, tracking, fire system control and guidance, signal intelligence gathering, electronic attack and disruption, and even electronic counter measure.
The multi-mission 3D AESA Radar on the Net-centric Tower was one of the most sophisticated radar systems on earth. If you paired it with combat management system that could handle a massive amount of real-time data, you would be able to perform a very short but remarkably effective killing chain. Moreover, if you fused it with other assets in the area to form a net-centric theatre, you would be able to maintain strong grip on clear situational awareness and initiative to dictate the battlefield.
Unfortunately, even though Jack Sparrow possessed one of the most sophisticated net-centric capabilities that money could buy, right now they were severely lack of firepower to optimize it. At the same time, they had to hold a huge number of opposing Riders for around six hours, or to be precise until sunset.
It was not bright circumstance no matter how you saw it. However, if they managed to resist the Riders onslaught on the day, they would have an opportunity to switch back into offensive. At night, when the opposing Riders and their Cloud Hawk had to stay on the ground, they were no different than sitting duck. If Jack Sparrow could exploit this opportunity to greatly reduce their number, then they would hold the upper hand for a while, and maybe an opportunity to forced King Makai XXII to sit in the negotiation table would present itself.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
‘In the end, Jack Sparrow has to enter a major battle against Kingdom of Makai,’ Colonel Meyer muttered before heaving a deep sigh silently.
---
At altitude of 12.000 meter or around 37.000 feet, a lone EA-18G Growler with callsign White Rain casually circled Makai Royal City unnoticed. Contrary to its callsign, White Rain’s airframe was almost in total black jet. Even the external fuel tank, various pods, and ram air turbines for emergency power under its wing were all in black. The exception was the light grey number and red smirking puppy on its tail.
White Rain was part of Devil Pups Squadron. Currently, it operated only four Growlers with primary role to conduct standoff electronic awareness or electronic attack. In summary, they had to perform tracking, detecting, jamming, and ghosting (radar deception) on opposing asset. Unfortunately, after they arrived in Amstell Continent, Devil Pups couldn’t perform its primary role right away.
Authority and military unit in Amstell Continent were using a whole different kind of communication and detecting system compared to the ones they usually had to deal with. Therefore, Devil Pups had to reshape Growler’s capability before they could perform their mission set as electronic attack squadron.
Currently, even though EA-18G Growler was still unable to suppress or jam crystal communicator or crystal sensor, at least it could detect and track emission from those equipment. Therefore, it could perform a passive track and detect on it, and this was the first time a Growler for Devil Pups would apply this capability on an offensive.
Captain Mitchel was calmly sitting in the White Rain’s back seat when a radio call suddenly came in.
[July September to White Rain, do you copy?]
“This is White Rain 0-2,” Captain Mitchel calmly replied. “July September, we are listening.”
[White Rain, feel free to use inbound Riders from the south as your lab rat. I say again, you can use inbound Riders from the south as your lab rat.]
“Receive and understood. Inbound Riders from the south are our lab rat, White Rain 0-2 over and out.” After a smile Captain Mitchel then turned his gaze to the front seat, “You heard it. We have some lab rats we can play with.”
On the front seat Major Gloster nodded and then asked, “Do you want me to gain more altitude?”
“No need.”
“Got it.”
Wasting no time Captain Mitchel started the work. In its body and wing, a Growler carried more antenna and receiver than any GSM tower, along with dozen plus sensor. By utilizing this array of equipment Captain Mitchel managed to detect emission from hundreds of crystal communicator in south of Jack Sparrow.
This huge emission moved to north in tight group with moderate speed. However, to precisely locate and target it, Captain Mitchel would need assistance from other aircraft. By using tactical targeting network, three aircrafts would be able to acquire target location and target description as clear as what an AWACS could provide.
Normally, it would need three Growlers to perform this passive trilateration tracking. However, Air Combat Group had managed to cut a corner so one Growler or Poseidon and two Super Hornets would be sufficient to carry the job.
After a smile Captain Mitchel radioed the flight of Super Hornet that had just completed an air refueling and stand-by in high orbit 100 km south of Jack Sparrow.
“White Rain 0-2 to Winter Flight, do you copy.”
[White Rain 0-2, this is Winter One, I heard you loud and clear, go ahead.]
“Winter One, split your formation to the coordinate I send you. We will carry passive target trilateration.”
[Roger, splitting formation to carry target trilateration.]
---
As soon as he received the report that the assault on Makai Royal Palace was failed, Brigadier General Rayden immediately sent six Super Hornets to assist Jack Sparrow. These Super Hornets would conduct air cover under callsign Winter One, and was led by Major Gilmore.
Each Super Hornet was carrying 10 AIM-120C7 Amraam, two 19-tube Talon laser-guided rocket pod, and one external fuel tank under its belly. With this set up, Winter Flight could only fly at Mach 1.2 to close the 800 km distance between Woodpecker and Jack Sparrow. It would need around 30 minutes, but fortunately they had arrived on perfect time to perform their mission.
After receiving the request from White Rain, Major Gilmore immediately radioed Captain Monroe, “Winter Five, bring Winter Six to third position for target trilateration, over.”
[Copy, Winter Five and Winter Six are on the way to third position.]
In a calm mood, Major Gilmore then waited as Winter Five and Winter Six gently shift to the east. Then, just a few minutes after both Super Hornets disappear from his sight, Major Gilmore found that a designated target consisted of hundreds of Riders popped-up in main screen before him. A moment later another radio call from White Rain came in.
[White Rain to Winter One, feel free to send your A-1-20 in rapid sequence, I will guide it.’
“Copy,” Major Gilmore calmly replied.
A few seconds later, 60 AIM-120C7 Amraam climbed to high sky from two separated locations, leaving a long white trail while flew straight to the inbound Riders who were approaching Jack Sparrow from south.
*****