"When I first saw a jet. I shoot it down" - Chuck Yeager, American World War II fighter ace and test pilot

---

It's time for me to say goodbye properly to Gloria. Meanwhile Paulus was sent to the Air Force Command and Staff College in Bandung for him to be eligible to become a Lt. Col.

"Stay alive for me, okay?" said Gloria, still with her working suit, had just done her thesis revision meeting in a Starbucks just across the air base with her lecturer online.

"As safe as those jihadists will allow, Gloria" I replied with a small smile.

"See you soon, then."

"You must graduate this year, remember" I replied.

"No worries, two weeks and I will go to the defense"

"You can do it" I kissed her in the forehead, and we looked at each other before parting ways. The first leg will be a 9 hour Garuda Indonesia Boeing 808 contract flight to INS Hansa, in Goa, when I am allowed to stay in a transit hotel nearby that is already been booked by the Navy for transiting servicemen, in order to reduce the effect of jet lag, before boarding a Kestrel tiltrotor straight to the Sriwijaya.

---

"Everyone ready? Good" said our CAG, Col. Oktavianus "Blackjack" Suebu as pilots from the 120 NAS and the newly arrived 117 NAS has been gathered in the briefing room.

"Today we're shifting our focus to operations against UCC forces in Western Iran, Iraq, and the Gulf. For the last two years they basically had worn out their bomber force, therefore depriving them from one of their anti-shipping and WMD deployment capability from the air. Furthermore, as we know, after our last encounter with the UCC Navy side by side with the Russians, their remaining surface assets were holed up in their main bases in Bandar-e Khomeini and Khorramshahr acted as floating SAM batteries."

"The Free Iranian 1st Takavar Marine Brigade, along with US 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Taiwanese 660th Marine Battalion, and Thai 3rd Marine Regiment are currently leading the Allied effort to seize what remains from the UCCNF vessels and its supporting assets, including surviving AShM and SAM launchers holed up in Iranian ports. Furthermore, the Shah had issued an imperial decree of amnesty for any UCC personnel, especially former Imperial servicemen, that defected and joined the Imperial forces, with one condition; not involved in war crimes. Meanwhile, UCC forces north of the area, right here" he pointed a point north of Bandar-e Khomeini in the map of Iran displayed on the screen "are to be hit by the Free Iranian 79th Mechanized Division and our Army's 55th Cavalry Brigade, part of the Brawijaya division. We also receive word that two days earlier our Iranian friends had gotten closer to Tehran with their 2nd Imperial Guards Division paved the way by seizing Firuzkuh County."

"This is their country anyway, that's why Allied forces are willing to use the Free Iranians as lead force.. as they know the terrain and the people better than most of us. And in particular, the Indians and ironically, Israel, had trained and equipped them well." I muttered to myself.

The Colonel then traced a line that curved from India into a major city called Shiraz. He then also draws a line southward into the port city of Bandar Abbas.

"Allied cargo ships, as well as the number of 9th Allied Tactical Air Force and American Eighteenth Air Force strategic airlift assets are reinforcing and supplying the Allied southern force with equipment and fresh troops, in particular, the Indian 17th Infantry Division and Indonesian 11th Infantry Division. We've been called to add CAP to their existing escorts, the Indian Vishal and Korean Koryo. The largest threat of this supply train remained UCC laser drones, exploding drones, as well as possible Quds Legion squadrons with elite pilots being deployed as a last-ditch measure."

"Our CAPs, as we can see will be over these stations in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. The SAMs and AShM launchers nearby have long been knocked out by a combination of naval and air strikes but always be vigilant when flying above these areas! We are working with Indian Air Force assets in this one, namely one A330 AEW and two A330 tankers.

"The AEW will have a callsign "Blue Star" It's frequency is noted on board, here, and also are being uploaded to your plane and your wearable tablets. The tankers will be stationed a bit south of the Arab Sea, with coordinates also being uploaded as well. Blue Star will direct you to cross the corridor used by our transports. Mid-air is a no-no here, people. As an extra note, area further south will be under the watch of Indian Air Force Rafale F5s, callsign "Archer 2" so pay attention to your AI, and keep clear lines of comm."

Other details are our loadout; pulsed laser pod on the central fuselage; eight AIM-122 and eight external pod-mounted AIM-10s, while our Alert 5 would be sixth-gen, Air Force IF-36s from the 12th Squadron "Black Panthers" forward-deployed at Faisalabad International Airport, Allied-occupied Pakistan. Most of the IF-34s, all of the 102 NAS IF-37s sixth-gens, which each carrier have eight since January 1st, 2041, and one of its pilot was Maj. Aris "Snow" Muljono, once my rival in the Weapons School, and Cakalang-II attack version of the ISTAR/ASW-optimized Cakalang-I combat drones from Sriwijaya has been committed both in air to air and air to ground sorties. The same situation were also occured with our Indian and Korean friends.

"So, we must expect any transport on our way, right?" I asked the Colonel, which is taking an unlit cigarette to put on his mouth.

"Exactly, they are flying non stop on this corridor since Bandar Abbas has been liberated, especially as the land route both road and rail from Pakistan were often subjected to ambush and IEDs from both the Fedayeens and the Revolutionists. We can expect half of their squadron will pass us as they reach their waypoints and called us on their way. And, before anyone of you asked me, expect random UCC attack patterns. One day, its HA450s making a hit and run, the other day, it's Sofreh Mahis and Saeghehs which mostly do the job, the other, is J-20s and Rafales charging ahead. But, the last time I heard the Sofreh Mahis are sticking closer to the Gulf area. Their losses and attrition of those airframes since last August are so overwhelming thanks to our payback for its role in killing some of our aces; 1st Lt. Nagisa Furukawa (JNAF), Maj. Steve Porpington (USMC), Flight Lieutenant Rajendra Vaikar and Keshav Sardar (IAF), and last but not least; our late DCAG." He showed us several photographs of fallen pilots, one of them is Rooster.

Two days ago, as I am conducting BARCAP duty for the fleet our Deputy CAG Lt. Colonel Husin was on another mission of inland strike package targeting UCC troop and armor convoy from Saudi Arabia to Iraq when his right-wing was hit by a laser from a Sofreh Mahi defending the convoy. A second laser beam from another Sofreh Mahi went directly into the cockpit, killing him instantly. A good officer and a gentleman until the end. His position was assumed by Lt. Col. Sukarto, a V-24 aviator, callsign "Trenggiling".

"...along with being a maintenance nightmare with their laser systems, which means there are fewer of them to waste. Speaking of Rafales, the Indian and French usage of Rafales further complicated things."

"Just when Sukhois are known to be quite maintenance intensive, as well as the earlier marks of the F-35 or F-22..." I muttered to myself.

"Any more questions?" When Colonel Suebu's received the answer "no sir" he stood up and slid his pack of Bentoels back in one of the pockets on his flight suit.

"Alright then, gear up everyone, time to give those camel piss-drinkers another well-deserved whipping!"

---

"Blue Star. This is Sea Eagle 1, we're in position" called Maj. Stella, our mission leader for today.

"...This is Sea Serpent 1, we're in position and ready to tank" said the 117 NAS flight leader, Maj. Kasim Djunaedi, callsign "Wheelbarrow"

"This is AWACS Blue Star, we see you, proceed to the tanker"

Upon Sea Eagle and Sea Serpent flight, eight in total had finished their tanking, the Indian controller piped up again. "All refueling completed, proceed to your CAP station and wait for further orders"

"Roger."

---

"Be advised, a flight of Indonesian An-126s is entering your sector, callsign Kenari 2, followed by Indian C-17Bs, callsign Annapurna 1"

"Kenari 2, this is Sea Eagle 1, good evening" Then we also piped the Indians as well.

"Sir, we got bogies on our nine, probably hostile." called my wingman, 1st Lt. Nicholas "Wolf".

"Blue Star to all fighters, we detected bandits, ID'ed as Rafales, heading to the transports, bearing 093, angels 24, 150 miles and closing fast!"

"They won't get past us!" Maj. Kasim sent his fighters first to engage the bandits, while we went closer to the transport formation, in case of another enemy formation is underway.

"More bandits detected, F-15Gs bearing 112, angels 20 and climbing, 40 miles!"

"Shit" I muttered. Those bandits were already in range of radar missiles and definitely had turned off their radar on their way to the lumbering transports.

"Wolf, on my wing now."

"Roger that, Fishnet." He said.

He tightened his turn and slowed while I broke right and came around. Nicholas, Sea Eagle 104, pass before he broke to position himself behind my IF-34. After that, he slid to the left and pushed it up to get closer, into position. He stayed two miles off my eight o' clock.

"...Sea Eagles, use caution. Don't kill a heavy by mistake. 1-3 and 1-4, execute a left hook, we're gonna bracket 'em with your pair and mine. me and 1-2 will drive straight at em, force the bastards to split." Stella ordered.

"What's up, Wolf?" He asked.

"Okay, I think I can separate the heavies from those Eagles, at least looking at the radar screen." He told me.

"I see, you got the point" I replied.

The AI also began its work calculating chances of good BVR shot, as we have selected the Buzzards.

"Engagement success probability, 45%, Risk of hitting friendly transport, 75%" called the female AI voice.

"Sea Eagles, we'll get them with the -10s, and guns; Goalkeeper, break when I say." Face interjected.

The two IF-34s sped up to reach the beleaguered An-126s in time as the F-15Gs descended on them. The UCC pilots, aware they would encounter Allied fighters minutes after they pushed into the attack, had left all but two jets to deal with the transports. Those two kept to their two 20mm Vulcans. I watched as tracers flew at one of the other Antonovs while he desperately tried to make his do something that would help them defend against the fighters.

Just in time, we're reaching an optimum range for the heatseekers. "Fox two!" I decided to release two AIM-10s. Nicholas also parted witj his own Diamondback. The enemy F-15 was forced to abort their attack run but not before a giant Antonov lost one of it's engines.

"This is Kasmaran, engine number 4 is on fire and have been shut down, but we're still can continue to Bandar Abbas."

"Proceed," said the Antonov's flight leader.

"Direct hit on the engine, the F-15 is history." called Nicholas.

"Congratulations for your tenth kill," I said. Seconds later my HMD also flashed "TARGET HIT" The damaged F-15 that was my target is smart enough to bug out, unable to fight.

"Break now, Wolf!" I barked as two more F-15s are tracking us.

As soon as he heard the call, Nicholas announced he was pulling up and guided the stick back towards him. The nose went upward rapidly for a second, and then he eased back the throttles so it leveled out. Both he and I soon spotted an Eagle with its nose pointed almost directly at him, then, a single AMRAAM screamed across the sky at him, which he countered with chaffs and broke left.

He then decided to give the occupant of the F-15 a nasty surprise. I know what he wants to do, and our datalink is connected, so I can help him guide the missile.

"Fox two!" and the pursuing F-15 burst to flames upon being hit by the rearward firing AIM-10.

"1-1 here, I see an Eagle is going to come around on your left, take it down!" Stella called.

"Yes ma'am!"

I snapped my vision to the ten o'clock area and saw the Advanced Eagle out ahead. He brought the nose to follow the bandit and closed in. I want to use guns. The F-15G reversed its turn and rolled over, bleeding speed to force me to overshoot. Unfortunately to the Arab pilot, I was too far back. He didn't give up and proceed to dive. The clouds peeled away across the sides of my vision and I can see the Gulf of Oman below. Suddenly, he conducted a Pugachev's Cobra, which I countered it with a High Yo-Yo, and just in time for my plane obtained a good firing solution for the gun. A short burst of Equalizer, straight hit on the back of the Boeing-designed and built fighter; and the Eagle promptly exploded and it's ruined airframe went straight into the gulf, the pilot bailed.

However, as I went back to the transport formation with Nicholas on tow. I then caught a glimpse of what I quickly guessed was the smoky wake of an Antonov, struggling to keep airborne after being hit by the Eagles still in the area.

"Kenari 2, Annapurna 1, how many aircraft you still have up?" I asked.

"Kenari 2 have two damaged, one divert to Gwadar; one KIA; Annapurna 1, one damaged. We're clearing the fight now." Someone in the flight reported. Had to swat away the other Eagles now before they killed the remaining transports, and the next wave.

Nicholas than caught sight of an F-15 attempting to fire another missile into one of the Indian Globemasters.

"Oh no you don't." He decided to use Buzzards instead, and once again I am ready to do a mid-course update for him.

"Sea Eagle 104, Fox 3!" He declared.

The AIM-122s traced a path to where the Eagle seemed to have become less visible. Both me and Nicholas saw it as it again went above the horizon in a sharp left, trailing of chaffs and rolling before pulling hard and downwards. He went high again and dove after him, rolling to the same position the Eagle had itself as it flew down so he could keep flying after it. Meanwhile, I broke right and caught another Eagle dangerously close to a passing Antonov. I went up, into a high right turn, almost like the curve of a racetrack. Then upon a good lock tone, I fired my second AIM-10 while the Advanced Eagle went through its turn and reversed, leaving flares behind. As it dove, the Diamondback's warhead exploded and threw its fragments into the belly of the jet.

"Ha, another kill!" I called as I saw the F-15 spun downward, out of control.

"This is Wolf, splash another Eagle. Regrouping on your position, over."

"Alright, do it now," I ordered.

I banked right and started to ascend gently and gain speed. Almost two minutes later Nicholas reached my sight and positioned himself on my four o'clock.

As we pushed above the clouds, my plane immediately warned that missiles are being fired at us, then another. With flares behind him, I and Nicholas pulled into the attack swiftly and looked out across the sky to spot the oncoming enemies.

"Fishnet, this is Face. Spotted the guys who shot at you all; I got the wingman. He's mine!"

Two more F-15Gs screamed overhead, one turning for Stella wherever she was, while the other attempted a gun run at my plane. I broke right then left as the F-15 overshot me. However, he attempted to fire an AIM-9X rearward, which I evaded, but I missed him as the result. Soon I tilted the stick right and sped up to catch the Eagle, which soon went into my radar scope. Knew that he's being tracked the Eagle pilot made a quick move to the left, slowing and pulling into a tighter descending turn. Meanwhile unknown to the Arab Eagle pilot, my wingman had positioned himself above his.

A quick dive and a gun run, directly into the cockpit. I passed through the Eagle as it plummeted into the sea below, with its headless pilot still inside and blood stained the canopy.

"Thank you for saving our skin." called Kenari 2. The Sea Serpent flight had reported that they had splashed five Rafales, forcing them to retreat, without any losses.

As there are still transports to be escorted we hit the tanker, just as I saw the glimpse of tailless fighters heading into the corridor; four Air Force IF-36s with its accompanying Capung "loyal wingmen" type drones are arriving on station, reinforcing our position. After refueling, we passed through a flight of American C-5 Galaxy, Australian Super Spartans, and various country's Hercules IIs both flying into and from Bandar Abbas inside the corridor.

"Be advised, a large swarm of UCC Saegheh drones has been launched, they are heading for the transport, First wave, bearing 093, second wave, bearing 030 and closing fast!" called AWACS Blue Star again.

"All Sea Eagle callsign, arm laser!" called Stella to us, and to Sea Serpent flight.

"Roger!"

The Air Force IF-36s were also reported "Leopard 1 reporting that laser is armed and drones have been activated into combat mode" said the flight leader. Honestly, I am quite impatient for my turn to be flying such beauty one day; soon I saw them split up into pairs to engage the threat.

The AEW also has it's own close escort drones, Tejas Mk. VBs equipped with laser pods of their own, which he soon armed it to assist the fighters.

"Here it comes" The AI was suggesting us to engage the closer wave bearing 030.

"Open fire!"

Pulsed and continuous beams went off our craft, manned and unmanned, taking out a few drones, while the rest evaded and began firing missiles at us.

"Come here and die, you little shit!" I can hear Nicholas cursed as he shot down several drones with lasers.

"Always expect lasers."

But no laser-armed drones among them. The UCC definitely have fewer resources to produce more laser-armed craft compared to us.

"Missile.. missile.." The AI called as my MAWS detected a Sidewinder launch from one drone behind me, which I evaded by a Kulbit.

"No #3 drone is smoking" said an IF-36 pilot to his leader.

"Withdraw it from combat" he ordered. To no avail, as one Capung drone exploded upon being hit by one Saegheh.

"Guns, guns, guns." A short burst from my plane downed another Saegheh for the Allies.

Then I pulled into a high yo-yo, as another drone I pursued decided to execute a Cobra in order to obtain a good lock for the AIM-10. However, I went too close for the Diamondback and soon fired a burst of PLS shot out the engines on the said Saegheh, which immediately exploded; followed by two more drones. After almost 20 minutes the remaining combat drones started to break off and retreat.

"Hostile aircraft is retreating... stand by.. It's confirmed, they are retreating, mission successful. We are in debt with these brave pilots, with their unmanned partners, for their gallantry in their defense of this transportation corridor. All fighters, clear to return to base!"

That night.