The battle for control of the Indian Ocean will soon commence. Would our hero survive?

Music: Two Steps from Hell - 1000 Ships of the Underworld Extended

The war on the Caliphate rages on. As Asia-Pacific nations and partners had prepared a counterattack to Pakistan and amphibious operations in Somalia, Southern Pakistan, and the Arab Peninsula, NATO forces led by the United States had breached an important Caliphate's lines of defense to relieve the pressure on European states, with "Operation Charles Martel" an amphibious landing on the coast of Morocco and Algeria. The opposition was heavy, and a lot of casualties were inflicted on both sides but in the end superior NATO technology, training, and "legitimate cause" wins the battle; A brand-new German Tiger 1A2, developed by KMW-NEXTER to replace the Leopard 2 and Leclerc and first saw service in the European Civil War (which also have its French version, the AMX-70 Kœnig), shown its superiority by defeating 7 Caliphate T-90S and M1A2 Abrams tanks without being damaged. Meanwhile, in the south-southeast European theatre, Polish-led NATO forces in the area which mostly drawn from Central and Eastern Europe, Baltic States, Balkan States, Finland, Greece, and Serbia, supported by two Franco-German and Italian battlegroups as well as British and US forces are currently fighting to liberate several parts of Greece, Macedonia, and Romania occupied by the Caliphate at the beginning of hostilities in "Operation Sobieski"

Back to the Indian Ocean theater, the naval might of the Coalition will be tested in one of the largest air and naval combat since World War II.

......

Majapahit .

---

"Yesterday NATO and PPDU bombers with conjunction of carrier assets, submarines, and land-based fighters had hit the enemy port facilities in Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khomeini, Dammam, and Jeddah."

"The Pact had also struck from the north in Turkey, Kurdistan, Syria, and even a raid in Tehran. I like to say, that awakens them, and I think, our allies' intentions are to force their fleet to go out and engage us in open sea battle. They think we allies can't penetrate their defenses, but those can-do Americans along with the Pact forces proved that they are wrong. A New Year present for the Caliphate, indeed." said the colonel in the briefing.

Beyond the horizon, a US Navy E-2F Hawkeye from VAW-115 "Liberty Bells" embarked on USS Saratoga, came around with an expected, but still shocking, report.

"Be advised we have enemy contact on radar, 6 squadron of enemy fighters inbound and up to +30 surface combat ships!"

"This is not a drill! General quarters! All hands man your battle stations! Pilots get to your ready room for launch!"

The Caliphate main fleet in the Indian Ocean has finally been assembled for one-way combat mission "win or die".

Both sides have suffered losses in ships.

This will be a massive showdown.

Back in the briefing before the GQ call, Colonel Edi had told us what to expect.

"They are going to play all out with their fleet...Beware of suicide attacks, their ships and aircrafts might try to ram ours if they are defeated, for sake of martyrdom. But on the other hand, we have advantage of being in deep ocean. Fast attack crafts (weapon of choice for seaborne suicide attacks) which those people have in abundance, can't traverse this water..."

"...Submarines are also still a threat, including their midget submarines. The Iranians especially built a lot of them way back in the time of the ayatollahs..."

"...Expect stealth fighters in a large numbers like usual..."

12 minutes after the alarm has been sounded, all the 120 NAS has been airborne, with Sea Eagle 1 and 3 flights were tasked for mainly maritime strike. Eight IF-24s supported by a pair of EA-34s as well as F-35C and EF-35 from the Americans. Meanwhile, the 132 NAS were providing CAP for us and so we're following them on our way into the enemy fleet.

Minutes later, near Gulf of Oman.

"Keris 1, all Keris callsign will focus on dealing with oncoming enemy fighters... the rest, continue with the strike!" Our CAG was with us today flying as Keris 1 with our controller gave us an update about a group of confirmed bandits; F-313s. Nothing the 132 can't do.

Because we're closer to the range of UCC longest-range SAM on it's destroyers; the HHQ-14As, we shed altitude, as at the same time we're approaching the range of our AGM-158D LRASM, 220 nautical miles. In the process we learned that land-based Indian fighters plus a package from the recently arrived USS George H.W. Bush were doing their job to draw some of the UCC fighters and UCAVs.

"Tally ho!"

Aided with data from drones, Bala acquired his first target, a former Pakistani Zulfiqar-class frigate which had fired it's C-802 towards the Allied formation.

"That ship will be mine, cover me!" he proclaimed and fired the LRASM from his internal bay which managed to avoid the laser CIWS and hit, sunk it instantly with a large magazine explosion, and yanked back the stick, putting an evasive maneuver as an enemy long-range SAM streaked nearby and pumped chaffs to further confuse it.

"Bruiser, bruiser!" I released my own LRASMs after him, targeting two ex-Saudi Freedom-class frigates nearby in order to get them off our submarine formation below the surface.

"WARNING"

"I'm being illuminated by enemy radar, probably from ship. Going to check the drones.."

The culprit was a former Iranian Persian Gulf class guided missile destroyer, already fired it's SAM. I lined up into it's general position, and fired my last two LRASMs mounted in two external hardpoints, just as it fired it's HHQ-14 at me.

To the Northeast, a flight of Abhayas from the Vishal performed a similar maneuver while I worked to defeat the two SAMs that'd been fired at me after I fired the LRASM. I weaved through the ball of maneuvering IF-24s and JSFs, rolling and pitching, jinking and deploying more countermeasures. The enemy destroyer that was targeting me got hit twice on the starboard side by my LRASM plus one from a Yankee F-35 seconds later, sealing her fate.

On the south relative to my position,

"Bruiser!" reported Theressa upon encountering several Caliphate destroyers and cruisers. Flying directly under Alan's command in the first flight, she used the lock-after launch technique to fool the enemy defenses. LRASMs and AGM-184B Naval Strike Missiles raced into the UCC naval squadron at low-level. The shooters from the American F-35s and F/A-18s near us had largely been a diversion; the NSMs were meant to be sacrificed, if only to overwhelm the Type 330 laser defenses possessed by the squadron's flagship, Al-Quds, an enlarged derivative of Luyang III destroyer with displacement similar to the Chinese Renhai-class large destroyers, designated as cruiser by NATO.

Along with missiles, Coalition attack submarines hounded the fleet with their torpedoes beneath the waves.

Back to our engagement, the LRASMs' computers had the cruiser clearly in their sights, and so the last-ditch battle began. Frantically the ship's crew moved to engage with Type 1130 gun CIWS mounts and HQ-12 point-defense missiles.

Al-Quds fell to the number of missiles attacking it.

Eight missiles in total stuck, most of them along the forward half of the ship. The fully-fueled anti-ship missiles, still dormant in their VLSs, added to the inferno. Several of her bridge's window panes had been shattered, leaving some sailors with gleaming shards in their faces and arms. Electrical systems failed, volatile materials ignited.

From his quarters the squadron commander, Commodore Qasem Rafsanjani was calm, though. Even as the damage-control klaxon shifted its tone to abandon ship, he kept a mask of serenity, accepting his martyrdom. In fact he turned away a boat sent to fetch him.

"See you in Jannah (paradise), people. It's an honor to serve with you." his last word that I remembered when Major Theressa told us the chronology after the battle.

The particular attack alone destroyed or damaged 6 Caliphate ships; 4 frigates, 2 destroyers, 1 cruiser plus 1 auxiliary tanker, while the Americans sunk five ships and shot down several Caliphate fighters who were tried to defend the fleet.

"Keris 1, Keris 1, this is Sea Eagle, we've rifled our loads and are turning tail," she reported.

Meanwhile, not far from me and Bala, Yanuar and Fransiska have been vectored by the AEW to take out the overall fleet flagship; Anwar El Sadat, a Mistral class helicopter carrier escorted by two French-originated Aquitaine class frigates built locally by Egypt in the early 2020s and one Iranian-built Type 052C destroyer, supported by a supply ship.

Fransiska reported "Sir, the enemy helicopter carrier had launched two Ka-52Ks to provide targeting data for anti-ship missiles. I recommend that we take them out too."

Yanuar replied "That's what I think."

Yanuar fired his AShMs first to target the carrier's escort while Fransiska engaged the helicopters. Later, out of nowhere, a missile barrage from an allied submarine raced towards the ship, two managed to hit Sadat, left it dead in the water. Yanuar has expended its missiles to destroy the Aquitaines. As the result, Fransiska had to use hers to finish the ship for good.

"Bruiser", she fired her last LRASM which finally triggered a tremendous explosion, the Mistral jack-knifed, split in half, The stern rolled to port with explosions still rocking it, then capsized before it's sunk while the bow slipped quickly below the waves as well.

"Enemy helicopter carrier has been sunk. Its helicopters were no longer a threat, Sea Eagle 3-4 out"

After that, the flights regrouped and head back to the carrier for rearming with primarily anti-air loads.

The Caliphate fleet were surprisingly able to mount serious resistance; especially the submarine force. Escorts of, or amphibious ships were especially targeted. A former Iranian Kilo class submarine managed to fire a torpedo towards USS Saratoga, which missed and instead hit a French destroyer attached to Saratoga, heavily damaged her.

The Kilo was subsequently sunk by a VL-ASROC anti-submarine missile launched from American destroyer USS Sterett.

A second example involved a former Saudi Freedom (Al-Hijaz)-class frigate which managed to sink an Indian Talwar­ class frigate patrolling near the area as a scout, while two of her sister ships, despite being outgunned, were able to severely damage a Free Iranian Luyang-III destroyer Kouroush (Cyrus the Great in Farsi), only by expending their entire load of anti-ship missiles.

The extent of the damage was such that the said Iranian vessel had to be abandoned and scuttled.

On the other side, "Mayday, mayday, this is KRI Liliyana Natsir, we've been hit by torpedo and sinking, we are abandoning ship!"

A Pakistani Agosta-90B (Khalid) class submarine managed to sneak out despite heavy Coalition ASW cover and fired four torpedoes that was intended for KRI 12 Mei 1998, an Improved Dokdo-class amphibious assault carrier (LHA). but it decoyed. Out of four, two went straight into the Natsir, breaking her keel. The submarine itself was later destroyed by Natsir embarked helicopter a moment before her demise.

"This is 12 Mei 1998, we are under heavy fire, One of our frigates Natsir has been sunk. Rescue operation is underway, requesting urgent air support!" called the skipper of the 12 Mei, with 3.500 Indonesian marines from 102nd Marine Amphibious Unit on board for Operation Limiter, a planned landing on Somalia, another UCC occupied country.

Sea Eagle 2 was tasked with fleet air defense and quickly fly over the formation to engage oncoming land-based Caliphate planes which followed the initial submarine attack.

"Fox 2!" called Stella firing two AIM-10 from her plane's external hardpoints. She managed to get a lock toward her 11 o'clock and 3 o'clock without maneuvering her plane. Her two victims were a former Iranian Su-30 and a former Qatari Rafale.

"This is Denpasar, thank you for the support!" called one of the amphibious task force vessel, landing platform dock KRI Denpasar.

"Sea Eagle 2-2, Fox three!" exclaimed Sri as he fired two Buzzards, together with Juan. Their victims were 2 Rafales and 2 Mirage 2000s; two kills to each man.

"Vampire, vampire!" said a radar operator aboard the 12 Mei. Two of her escorts, KRI Tjilik Riwut and HTMS Naresuan, both frigates, managed to shoot down the missiles from the enemy flotilla consists of two Abu Dhabi-class frigate, four Moudge-class, and two Tabouk-class destroyer.

"Lock at enemy destroyer, Tabouk-class, missiles ready."

"BePe won't sink, return fire!" ordered the captain of one of the escort frigates, KRI Bambang Pamungkas (FFG-340).

"Shoot LRASM number 10 and number 11, aye sir."

"Ike!" (go!) shouted a Japanese sailor aboard JNS Haguro, another escort ship of the task force as she launched her own hypersonic brand of destruction, Type 30 Anti-Ship Missiles, also known as SSM-6B, into the enemy formation.

Later, the Indonesians were reinforced by F-35Bs from Joseon and USS Tarawa, supported by American F-35Cs and F/A-40s, which fired their missiles and tactical lasers that helped in sinking the entire squadron of Caliphate vessel and their air cover with losses of two F/A-40s and three F-35s mostly from drones.

......

The Pact fleet also don't want to be left out; they were credited for sinking 10 warships and 3 auxiliaries, shot down 4 squadron worth of fighters and strike fighters, and further damaged port facilities in Pakistan and Oman with cruise missiles. Sheer numbers of the Allied fleet and aircraft as predicted were exacting disproportionate damage toward the combined Caliphate fleet and supporting air assets.

The C flight were also tasked for air superiority after rearming in the Majapahit but their function was to escort a flight of B-21s departed from U-Tapao naval air base in Thailand, already escorted by American F-22C Raptors. The Raiders were relying on it's bristling load of JASSM-LR cruise missiles and MALD-J air launched decoy-jammers. From another route via the now-liberated Bangladesh and Sri Lanka departed a flight of Xian H-20s from Chengdu, China with it's own load of standoff missiles. They were suppossed to rendezvous with the American bomber force.

The C flight of the Sea Eagles headed towards the Gulf of Oman. After tanking, they rendezvoused with allied forces already near the area.

"This is AWACS Minuteman, United States Navy. Be advised to all allied planes in the area, the high command wants us to hunt and destroy enemy coastal anti-ship missile launchers in the vicinity of the Gulf of Oman and Hormuz Strait. We also had confirmed that the enemy are preparing a barrage of ASBM (Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile). These particular missiles have it's guidance altered so our BMD sats can't intercept it, so we must destroy it prior to launch.

An American E-9 JSTARS-II, callsign Tinker and Chinese KJ-3000 Marlin AEW and ELINT, callsign Yue (moon in Mandarin Chinese) is standing by."

Suddenly the Chinese AEW warned the forces, first in Chinese, and later in English "This is Yue, we have incoming enemy fighters, Qaher-313s heading towards the bombers accompanied by multiple drones! Their Raptor escort has engaged enemy aircraft too, so they are vulnerable, Allied flights in the vicinity, protect it at all cost!"

......

A 16-plane squadron of IAIO Qaher (Dominant in Persian) -313 a.k.a F-313, painted black, with it's portside fuselage carrying word "Allahu Akbar" in Arabic and its starboard side in Persian, approached the contested airspace after a flight from Tehran, Iran. "Sumud (Steadfastness in Arabic) Lead to all planes, it's time to stop those infidels and hypocrites. Show me the result of your training. Takbir!" said a cold voice of the lead, Brig. Gen. Bakhtiar Zandi, from Iran. He had shot down 25 aircraft.

......

"Sea Eagle, engage!" called Alan.

"Roger!"

The entire 12-ship squadron raced to regroup. "Sea Eagle flight, this is Diamond flight, US Navy, let's engage those terrorists together" piped the flight lead of the USN F-35Cs from the VFA-195 "Dambusters", named Commander Richard Wilkinson.

"I see something on radar, faint, but definitely not ours" said Fransiska. Suddenly. "Missile, break!!" said Bala after his RWR went off. The Indonesian scattered alongside the F-35C JSFs to avoid volley of PL-12 radar guided missiles fired from 2 o'clock relative of the Indonesian's position.

"They split up!" said an American when the Qahers, now visible with naked eye, split up into two group of 8 aircraft each.

"Drones!" Stella reported as her radar, and some others, detected eight Saegheh combat drones accompanying the F-313 formation.

"Flight, close in and engage in visual," Yanuar ordered.

Almost immediately, I'm in the range of an F-313 and push the trigger. The poor bastard in front of me was caught by surprise when he is turning left and disintegrated after just milisecond burst from the 25mm.

"Cracker, Fox 2!" called Yanuar firing an AIM-10, which hit another Sumud F-313 squarely in the tailpipe when he attempts to climb avoiding his pursuer, caused intense fire and in-flight breakup, but the pilot managed to bail out.

"Roman, Fox 2!" Fransiska fired her Diamondback towards a Qaher which currently pursuing an American F-35. Unfortunately, her shot was thrashed.

"Pantat!" (literally, ass, in Indonesian), she cursed.

But her disappointment was quickly repaid by a Qaher foolish enough to try a head-on engagement.

"Selamat tinggal" (Goodbye) the 25 mm rounds quickly penetrated the F-313 canopy, instantly killed the pilot. She looks in satisfaction as the doomed Iranian fighter plummeted into the Indian Ocean.

Soon the drones and remaining F-313s returned fire.

"Shit, they got White Swan and Esper!" said Juan, Sea Eagle 102 over the radio.

"Eject, eject!" An American sounding voice went off the radio.

After four minuted of evading two PL-12s, another call of Fox two from mine resulted in another Qaher got shot down. I later learned that the pilot was an ace named Lt. Colonel Omar Talabani, a Kurd, which had downed 14 aircraft including two Israeli F-22s. No chute was visible. The US Navy pilots also dispatched three more Qahers, including it's leader, which managed to eject. Soon the remnant of Sumud Squadron bugs out from combat after losing it's commander.

"Enemy reinforcements!" said Bala upon detecting a squadron of enemy F-16s approaching their position along with more Saegheh drones.