Hope you like this chapter of another high-octane combat! The music title is Duty: Steel My Heart from War Thunder Soundtracks.

.

A 12-ship formation of IF-21A Young Hawks and 8 F-15ID Eagle IIs raced above the rugged terrain of J&K, with a mission to probe and raid a former Indian military base near the UCC-occupied city of Srinagar. Seems like a normal recon mission as a precursor for a larger operation, but units flying this mixed bag of equipment are not a normal IDAF squadron.

Officially named as 13th Fighter Squadron, pilots assigned to this squadron were all prisoners, rendered this squadron a penal unit. Most pilots ended up here were purged officers associated with the Islamists or other radical views or those with disciplinary problems. In addition, the pilots had their rank reduced one grade.

Their fighters were also unmarked without any registrations whatsoever, safe for a low-visibility red and white pentagon roundel in the fuselage. Despite the squadron was under Air Force command, it's also contained convicted naval aviators.

Indonesia is one of few PPDU members with significant use of penal military units. Along with Air Force penal squadron, the Army and Marine Corps had special infantry battalions recruited from political-related prisoners including younger officials accused of corruption and collaboration with the enemy during the civil war.

"Some welcome for you guys" growled the 13th permanently-assigned Boeing 737 MAX 8 AEW, callsign "Sipir" meaning prison guard in Indonesian.

A fitting call-sign for this particular squadron.

"Remember why you ended up here. If you want to be free, do your job today or die trying."

"We're cleared to attack, right?" Asked one of the convict pilots, Padlock 1-4, Capt. Ahmad bin Mulyana, callsign "Leaflet" one of the older members which once a sympathizer of banned Hizb'ut Tahrir Indonesia in his prior assignment, the 16th Fighter Squadron before the civil war, and after being purged, spent almost 8 years in labor camp. Apparently hard labour was deemed not enough to reform him.

"Well, we're going to blow shit up today. About time" exclaimed a younger man under the name of 2nd Lt. Doni Heryawan, callsign "Charge", which was sent into the 13th after being charged with destruction of military property.

"I heard we have regulars behind ours ready to clean things up." added Padlock 3-1, a naval aviator by the name of Lt. Ahmad Baswedan, callsign "Crown"

"Predictable, isn't it, 3-1?" the AWACS asked, clearly not amused. "Regular forces can reduce their losses if YOU soften them up first and make yourselves a target. Do I make myself clear??"

"Yes sir"

...

Behind the squadron of "rejects" recently revealed to us, my eyes focused on navigating the rough terrain inside the cockpit. I found myself respected the Indians more from their intimate knowledge of terrain and their fighting spirit which allowed the country, which it's culture significantly influenced ours particularly usage of Sanskrit in the military, and to my Hindu and Buddhist friends; to be able to absorb losses and reclaim their homeland.

Our jet is for the first time deployed with the Tactical Laser Pods below the center of the fuselage.

A directed-energy weapon system useful for both ground attack and air combat, in particular swatting swarm of drones out from the sky. It's an indiscriminate weapon, through, so its usage requires an extreme amount of caution.

Training and using it in combat is a different matter, that's why our commander emphasized the safety side of this weapon when our aircraft was first integrated with this system.

"This is Gandiwa, HQ has ordered all units to hang back for a while... they want the 13th to do the lion share of the fighting. Understood?"

"Yes sir" Answered my leader.

I only hope those convicts prove their worth for redemption. After almost five to seven minutes devoid of development...

"Be advised, we have multiple contacts, combat drones heading 080, Angels 10. Probably with a manned asset controlling them."

"Understood Gandiwa, call us if we are cleared to engage them or they changed course for us" Medi replied to the AWACS.

"All unit arm TLP" Medi radioed us

"Be advised, more Saeghehs incoming at high speed, heading 280, co alt. Emeralds, you're cleared to engage. Sipir called me that the 13th Squadron are still pounding the base into the next week, so, none of those prisoners are available."

"Machines have its own limitation too, so it will never fully replace us!" exclaimed Pandu, assigned as Emerald 4-2.

Evelyn decided to take the first shot with the TLP,

"Target locked, 3-2, clear to fire!" I have my plane linked with hers to paint the fast-moving drones for the kill.

"3-2, Fox 4!"

A crimson blue beam went out below Evelyn's Sukhoi, and in milliseconds, five out from twelve drones were vaporized.

"Nice kill, everyone, destroy the remaining drones!"

Then the drones were simply fell off the sky.

"What the hell!!?" shouted Emerald 2-2, Capt. Hendrikus Bero.

"Be advised, Sipir reports that the prisoners had hit the control center of the drone inside the base in return of loss of two fighters of their own and they've been permitted to return to their base, all of their ordnances were expended and running low on gas."

It seems those rejects did prove their worth so far. I told myself while keeping my mind on the combat ahead.

A fresh transmission went in, informing us that a formation of PPDU strike fighters and UCAVs led by a flight of Korean F-35Ds raced on the path opened by the prisoners for a follow-up attack against the base and the city in general.

The Colonel sent a new order, for us to escort the strikers.

Regular forces are barred to talk on the radio with the prisoners while on the mission, for obvious reasons.

"Gandiwa to all units, be advised we have another contact bearing 180, Angels 15, and approaching fast!"

They soon recognize the enemy formation as Typhoons and Super Hornets.

"Emeralds, protect the strike team as they are attacking the base and the city!"

I laughed inwardly as the enemy formation was painted on radar. "Those guys are out of their minds"

"Fox three!" Andrea "Black Dragon" Angelina, Emerald 2-4, opened fire first with two K-77Ms, followed by her entire flight formed a barrage of Adders heading towards the enemy formation threatening the strike package.

Soon enough, four enemy interceptors disappeared from the screen and the rest retreated from the area.

However, we expect the enemy to still have something up its sleeve, and so the Colonel announced on the radio. "They are retreating, but this definitely an ambush attempt. All aircraft, regroup on me. Maybe they have more drones awaiting us."

"Roger that, sir."

As we regrouped, our eyes were on the retreating allied strike aircraft, had done their job.

And the Colonel's observation turned out to be true as our radar caught another contact with the same heading as the previous one, with higher speed than before.

"Drones, again" grumbled Emerald 4-1, Diana "Papparazi" Julan, as the contact soon identified as Sofreh Mahi stealth combat drones. Upon the woman ended her sentence, the drones passed our squadron overhead.

"Wait. This is the same one as the Navy folks encountered back then." As I recognized the triangular shape of the drone, it showed its fang by engaging its laser aimed towards us.

"Shit!" Pandu barely avoid being slashed by the laser mounted on the Sofreh Mahis from below his Firefox.

"How on earth those people got beams too!?" shouted Andik on the radio, before he brought his plane into the range of one Sofreh Mahi. After three minutes, two drones went down by Andri and Andik.

"They have inhuman-like maneuverability, but they still can be downed" quipped Evelyn as she positioned her jet further close to another drone, had fired its lasers, temporarily reduced its agility, which allowed it to be dispatched by her 30mm burst.

"Fox 4!" Kevin, assisted by his leader engaged his laser which in a single burst, destroyed two more drones.

"Keep covering the airspace until the strikers and the prisoners reached the safe area... wait, I picked up another contact, friendly, heading directly towards your position from your six and identified as eight Japanese F-3s." The AWACS piped in. Then the air wave was greeted with Japanese accented call of "Fox" and three more drones went down.

"Emeralds, this is Red Fox, we're coming to assist you, over." a female voice announced.

"Emerald lead to Red Fox, report your status" I can hear Medi asked the Japanese squadron leader.

I can recognize the distinctive feature of the Raptor, proudly wearing the Hinomaru in both wings. We're soon running low on gas anyway, so their arrival is something we need.

"Emerald, we are full strength and are engaging the enemy, and we have reports of an incoming enemy squadron of F-15EX up ahead, same altitude, heading 070." The Japanese leader answered.

"Confirmed, Emerald, we have oncoming contact, same altitude, heading 070 and closing fast. F-15EX. Engage and destroy!"

"Understood, Gandiwa, moving to intercept. Connecting our datalink with Red Fox."

A minute later. I got a long-range lock on two F-15EXs. Two radar missiles that's left from my plane, and I pressed the trigger.

One downed a target, and one missed. Smart bastards.

Soon, I was locked by two other Eagless.

I got an idea, to let them chase me towards friendly aircraft that will took care of them. And luckily my radar information in my HMD indicated two Japanese Shinshins and one of my fellow Sukhois are in the area along with Evelyn, my wingman. To do that, I must basically present myself as a target.

"3-2, I'm spiked. I'm going to let whoever doing this hunt me. If you still have ordnance, you can catch them and nail 'em. Do you copy?"

"Copy that!"

I then broke their lock by turning hard right, 180 degrees, just as my missile warning blares. Using my voice-input I commanded, "ECM full-power!"

But then in horror, I looked my wingman suddenly executed maneuvers and recognized its purpose, to deliberately drawn incoming copy of the AMRAAM fired by the F-15s towards her instead of me.

"My God, what are you doing, 3-2?"

"Assisting you" her simple reply doesn't do much to dispel my concern.

Evelyn proceeded to report a few seconds later, "Maneuver success, missile shot trashed." I sighed in relief, while concentrating on my six as three JF-17s are chasing my jet. Later, Evy called Fox two, and a Thunder disappeared from the radar.

I have no choice but to praise her maneuver. Still, I stated the following on our frequency. "I can't afford to lose you."

"Red Fox 2-2 to Emerald 3-1, we're coming to assist!"

Seconds later, the same sounding voice called Fox 3. I dived to avoid the oncoming AAM-4Es fired by the Japanese. The display then indicated both F-15 that were chasing me have been destroyed.

"Nice shot!"

"You're welcome" replied the Japanese.

"Gandiwa to Emerald, mission accomplished. Strike aircraft report they had reached safety behind our lines. Red Fox will continue CAP while you are to return to base. Your performance had resulted in less than expected friendly losses for the strike package. The Motherland will be proud of you. Over, and out!"

: What do you think about the usage of Soviet-style penal unit in this story?