Sky-cracking Rider

"Squadron Leader Chekhov, I expect an explanation when you return!"

Manager Hanna's tone was still as icy as ever, like a sharp blade pressed against one's throat, raising hairs in fright.

Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios's words had no effect whatsoever.

Hanna Gagel was from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and when they take someone, it's usually conclusive; to not provoke others is already a blessing. Now, someone had bumped right into the muzzle of the gun. If she didn't react, who would?

All the efforts of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron's pilots to brainstorm meticulously tailored responses from A to Z had been in vain, not giving the new executive manager any chance to find fault.

But despite all precautions, they hadn't anticipated their own squadron leader stepping forward to be a sacrificial lamb.

Now that was it, blabbering nonsense. The carefully constructed defense lines were instantly breached, gravely offending the new manager.

The combat communication channel came with a recording backup; there was no denying what was said.

"'Peanut Butter,' handle it yourself!"

Deputy Squadron Leader Irinei Rusios expressed that she had done her utmost, to no avail.

Caught red-handed, what else could she do?

The Big Bear was completely at a loss; should it really emulate drawing a knife in despair, not betraying the Bear's head?

Woof...

The communication channel fell into a dead silence as if entering a state of radio silence, full of resounding silence; one could clearly sense the deep resentment of all the pilots.

They really wished for an extra serving of bear meat, braised!

Until the "Big Mouth Monster" squadron, maintaining ultra-low altitude flight, was 100 kilometers away from the Aircrew Base 897.

Squadron Leader "Peanut Butter" Chekhov was still socially dead, unable to revive for a while; Deputy Squadron Leader "Devil Pepper" picked up the slack.

"This is 'Devil Pepper,' number 212; all units pay attention, from now on lower altitude to 50 meters, maintain a speed of 160 kilometers, and check your ammunition again."

Jet aircraft have the advantages of jet propulsion, and turboprop aircraft have the benefits of turboprop performance.

The experienced drivers of the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron were adept at ultra-low altitude flying over the Xindu Kodai mountain area, as easy as eating and drinking. The stalling point of the "Big Mouth Monster" was very low, so there was no worry of flying too fast, failing to react in time, and accidentally colliding with a mountain.

"Received, number 213!"

"Received, number 214!"

"Received, number 215!"

"Received, number 211!"

Chen Fei responded in place of the Big Bear Chekhov.

"Received, number 211!"

Unexpectedly, Chekhov Big Bear also grunted, asserting his presence.

"Prepare for combat!"

The cold voice of the first-time combat supervisor, Executive Manager Hanna Gagel, reached all the pilots.

Personal grievances set aside for now; first, complete the combat mission.

Regardless of how unreliable he might have seemed, as the leader of the Combat Flight Squadron, Chekhov knew his priorities.

The altitude of 50 meters from the ground barely differed from ground-skimming flight. Using the curvature of the Earth and complex terrain for cover, evading radar waves that couldn't turn, five A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft could approach the Aircrew Base 897 undetected and catch them unprepared. Experience stories on m_vl_em_p_yr

Aren't you surprised?

Aren't you caught off guard?

As a fellow defense network member and a military contractor, the Aircrew Base was not a frontline base of a sovereign nation, naturally lacking a complete air defense system.

Capabilities such as long-duration surveillance and early warning aircraft, which were neither feasible nor affordable, were out of the question. At most, they could subscribe to a satellite remote sensing service, scanning the terrain of the defense area at intervals of 24 hours or other periods to prevent unexpected mutant or Magical Beast Group intrusions.

They had never anticipated an attack from a fellow contractor.

When the "Big Mouth Monsters" breached the visible range unexpectedly, Aircrew Base 897 belatedly realized, with unwelcome guests already beneath their eyes.

"214, 215, clear the radar and anti-aircraft firepower, 212, 213, follow me, Rookie, prepare the Rocket Nest, destroy the runway,"

"Peanut Butter" Chekhov finally regained his composure, his eyes began to brighten, and he loudly commanded with forceful clarity, quickly reclaiming command.

The temporary command's co-pilot, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios, had no objections to this. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, pleased to see Chekhov rapidly recovering his state.

"214 confirmed the target, anti-radiation missile launched."

"215 confirmed the target, air-to-ground missile launched!"

Two A-39B "Big Mouth Monster" lightweight turboprop attack aircraft led the charge, accelerating forward as missiles detached from under-wing hardpoints, whistling through the air with long trails, initiating attacks as per the pre-established combat plan. The battle was officially underway.

The HUD crosshair in the nose of the aircraft avoided the targets already locked by missiles, as the wing-mounted cannons roared.

Bright red trajectories crossed the sky, charging forward, nearly simultaneously engulfing some ground facilities in flames and rising dust clouds, together with the missiles.

The piercing anti-aircraft alarms had just sounded when the massive antenna grid of the ground-based radar was instantly pulverized by the descending missiles.

There was more than one radar at the Aircrew Base, but there was also more than one anti-radiation missile chasing down electronic signal sources, not sparing even the communication antennas.

The 897 Aircrew Base hadn't even realized what was happening when it was "blinded" instantaneously.

The multibarrel cluster of anti-aircraft cannons lost radar guidance, hesitating in its rotation, and before it could adjust, it was swallowed by fierce flames, with several ground-to-air missiles completely destroying three to four clusters of dense anti-aircraft cannons.

The 897 Aircrew Base was engulfed in flames in several locations.

"Target's anti-aircraft firepower has been eliminated!"

Numbers 214 and 215 formed a two-aircraft formation, sweeping low and fast over the Aircrew Base, meeting no threatening resistance.

As for the few anti-aircraft rifles firing, their small-caliber kinetic bullets didn't even qualify to threaten the turboprop engines.

Scattered on the ground, people ran in disarray, the anti-aircraft alarms growing increasingly shrill.

"Stick to the original plan. First round of rocket fire to cover the main runway, don't let them take off."

With numbers 212 and 213 ascending, Chekhov pushed the throttle forward, 211 began its dive.

The three-aircraft formation released dozens of Fire Serpents, engulfing the ground-runway in a torrential downpour, combat explosives with a 1.5 kg equivalent of the 57 mm caliber air-to-ground rockets created a carpet bombing effect, impacting even nearby combat aircraft into a series of bright, noticeable sparks.

"The Big Mouth Monster's" payload capacity was quite substantial, supporting several rounds of ground attacks.

The main combat forces and equipment at both 897 Aircrew Base and 911 Aircrew Base were identically outfitted with cheap mass-produced "Big Mouth Monsters," which disintegrated like paper mache in the explosions.

Born from the same root, why the rush to kill?

Some people at the 897 Aircrew Base ran around like headless flies, others cursed furiously at the sky in impotent rage.

The runway destroyed, the fighter jets bombed, even the anti-aircraft forces were "violently cleared" in an instance, leaving the entire base vulnerable like a defenseless young girl, at the mercy of the five "Big Mouth Monsters" from the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron.

"Now begin clearing the ground buildings, glory to 'Genuine Fragrance'!"

After emptying the Rocket Nest, Chekhov pulled on the control stick, and the turboprop aircraft climbed once again.

For combat aircraft, altitude is everything—a fighting force, the chance of survival, a tactical attack. As long as there is altitude, there is still an opportunity.

The purpose of the combat mission was not to kill personnel, but to demolish the adversary's home base.

"No need for the 'Dragon Slayer Missile'?"

Chen Fei turned to look at the 897 Aircrew Base engulfed in flames below, with five "Big Mouth Monsters" split into two attack groups methodically demolishing it.

If only a single KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile could lock on from a distance, one hit would have been enough to flatten the entire base, neat and tidy saving trouble, ensuring no chicken or dog was spared, rather than this laborious succession of bombing.

Chekhov grumbled irritably, "'Dragon Slayer Missile' doesn't cost money? It's even more expensive than the fighter jet you're flying right now."

The KDK-1 hypersonic suction type smart missile was a precious asset at the 911 Aircrew Base, and just a few were priceless, no Aircrew Base could withstand such a wasteful disaster.

The 911 Aircrew Base, in order to confront the frenzied Metallic Dragons, had depleted its entire reserve of "Dragon Slayer Missiles" and had yet to replenish its stock.

This was partly because of its high cost and partly due to limited production capacity, they couldn't get hold of them on short notice.

-