Still there? I hope you enjoy this new chapter!

---

We're not just sat waiting for opportunities. In fact, upon the arrival of new intelligence about a planned counterattack by the UCC to reclaim Pakistan sorties went up.

Now we're stationed on New Gwadar International Airport, not far from the Arab Sea and Persian Gulf, in which PPDU command has assigned it to the Japanese, and as the result they named it for administrative reason, Mutsu Air Base, after one of their ancient provinces.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as we know the Caliphate had consolidated lots of troops and aircraft in Iran and more than prepared to began their new assault to reclaim Pakistan. Good news first; Russian forces supported by Chinese mountain and airborne troops has confirmed the liberation of Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. This mean, the entire northern Iran is now on their striking range, further helped by the fact that the UCC was unable to destroy their Caspian Flotilla. This will helped us greatly in the short run, but the not so good news is, it will also creates a new challenge for us."

I understand about the geopolitical picture that the base commander from Japan, Col. Kento Momota, callsign "Youkai", a 11-kill ace, no relation to a 2010s era badminton star player with the same name despite he also played it himself, were trying to show to us.

"Here's the situation on the ground. The element of 880th Anti-Aircraft Brigade "Karbala" from the Quds Legion are stationed on Askhezar Air Force Base. Those bastards are one of the most decorated UCC jamming experts and have tank mounted laser AAs. This unit is going to move into the Damavand Mountains soon. This might looks like retreat. But on the contrary they will occupy the mountain and reinforce the defense of Tehran with its jammers and lasers. This will be the problem later if we don't take them out now."

I remembered the news from the raid on Riyadh when it's ring of laser turrets were the main source of Allied losses. In fact Yoel had told me that it costs his squadron their XO.

"...Meanwhile, in Iranian part of Balochistan the UCC, despite repeated strikes have managed to assemble a balanced mechanized and tank forces directly facing the border with Pakistan while a second force, mostly mountain infantry are amassing near the border with Afghanistan, which as you know, were now belonged to us now thanks to the cooperative tribal fighters, in return of not cultivating poppies, one of the most important source of hard currency for the Caliphate. Furthermore, defectors had reported that the factories in Ardhakan are producing both conventional and possibly bio and chemical weapons in a record rate. Production of another mass-destructive weapons also should not be ruled out..."

"... Now, which mission you will take?" asked Momota.

He asked us for sake of an easier coordination with many allied squadrons in the vicinity of our location.

"Well, we will definitely need every airbase we can occupy there in Iran, so going to Askhezar will be great. Furthermore, we better take out the Karbala Unit now rather than over Damavand mountains. Especially as we know that Tehran is already heavily fortified with SAMs, advanced AA guns, and Laser AA as well." I told the Japanese colonel.

"Excellent point, Major Paulus. Anything else?"

"On the other hand, leaving the enemy ground forces unchecked could be our undoing, Major Paulus." a Japanese 6-kill ace named Capt. Kaori Watanabe pointed. "But, the ground forces are unusually quiet and seems not fully assembled yet for the mass offensive..."

"Strategically, I prefer we deal with those lasers. Less of them there when we went to Tehran the better. This will also helped our bomber friends." Said another Japanese, Capt. Takuya Shingen.

"I second that opinion, Captain Shingen." said Bachtiar.

---

Inside the base, not unlike most of the airbases controlled by the UCC, the Air Force Headquarters had given it several important target list to look for; a bounty. One of them is Paulus.

2.000.000 US$

Paulus Hutapea, a.k.a "Azrael"

Rank: Major

Branch: Indonesian Air Force

Any pilots or ground crew successfully shoot him down, alive or dead will be awarded a following amount above.

"Azrael, interesting." asked an Iranian pilot to his friend, which shivered upon the mention of Paulus' nickname by the UCC military, not just the Air Force.

"The one who put Tawakalna squadron to shame and costs us Bounder and Driller?" asked another pilot, an Azeri.

"Along with some Indians he is also responsible for the destruction of the Zarrar Squadron." His friend, fellow Azeri, replied, clearly deterred by the prospect of facing Paulus in battle.

"Don't forget what Rizieq say in TV about his once-countrymen. The most brilliant flyer ever born and fly for Indonesia." Said another pilot, from Egypt.

"Firefoxes are heavens above our Eagles and Super Hornets, and with guys like him, it sure will be the death of us!!"

"No wonder the high command called him the Angel of Azrael.." replied that said Egyptian pilot.

One Iranian pilot, sat in the other group turned around, fed up with his comrades show of cowardice.

"What a bunch of sissies!" he exclaimed. "You can go to hell, you cowards, while I will got that 2 million dollars for blasting that infidel and his squadron by myself! Stealth is no guarantee, remember that!"

"Bullcrap!" said a second one. "You assholes should watch me as I take him out!"

"Forget it, you cretins, he will be mine!" the third pilot retorted.

"That 2 million must be mine!" lashed the fourth officer.

"Everybody, shut... up!" This time a commander of one of the tracked mobile air-defense laser from the 880th intervened. "While you can only talk, talk, and talk like our leaders of old, the Karbala Brigade will slice his plane clean off, just like cutting a head of a condemned man. And we will be very proud to bring his head along with his friends' to the Caliph." As he completed his sentence he took out his combat knife and throws it into the poster.

The pilots startled.

"Allahu akbar!"

"Astaghfirullahhaladzim, Istighfar (restrain yourself from evil), Lieutenant." Said one of the Quds officer's crewmembers.

"We don't want a fight here.. But if you want to. I have no choice but to shoot you." a pilot warned the anti-air operators by pointing his handgun.

Soon the base commander arrived, defusing the situation.

"Everyone, please worry not. I believe you all should not act rashly, otherwise you will be die a dishonorable men." He calmly restored order in the mess hall. "We got all around radar coverage, and we are to deploy four squadrons, which will take turns are to patrol in two areas that are most likely their flight path; North-Northeast, and South-southeast area. Shall they are detected, call backup immediately while hold them off as well as you can. If you manage to shoot down this "Azrael", his squadron will take the 2 millions and divide it to the rest of the squadron. If there are members who don't make it back, you will give the reward to his next of kin.."

---

Just another dinner time, the fourth dinner that I have since our reassignment to the New Gwadar International, part of the larger Gwadar Free Zone, which itself is another part of the once-thriving CPEC. Works went around the clock to fortify the city with laser turrets, advanced mobile AA gun and SAM systems, and high-speed coastal missile systems in case of a UCC attack. The laser crews in particular had faced three separate ballistic missile attack from Iran or the Gulf aimed for Gwadar.

Along with ever-expanding threat of UCC counterattacks, the base security had also have to deal with resurgent Baloch separatists taking advantage from the retreat of the Caliphate military from Pakistan. Furthermore. when we arrived in Gwadar we are informed about the need to conserve water, as sabotage from Caliphate remnants in the city are the main stumbling block for Allied occupation-installed city authority mainly lead by Japan and India to restore basic services such as water and electricity.

Speaking of water issue, what used to be Pakistan had facing water shortages for decades. Massive Chinese investment and honest local officials and citizens willingly facing personal risk of their lives greatly helped alleviate while not fully fixing such issue in 2020s, but in my opinion, they paid a steep price for it. Compared to my previous station in Karachi, water supply here is much better, especially after civilian contractors from India along with cooperative locals had managed to restore the wastewater treatment plant inside the airport compound, with the resulting clean water was not only used for the base but also distributed to civilians, along with desalination plant at the port.

In fact, our time in Karachi with somewhat less-than regular water flowing into the base had helped me and the entire 42nd Squadron to be used to take bath mostly only one time a day, after routine PT. Such habit were still carried on when we redeployed to Gwadar.

As I am eating, I began to wonder if the Chinese are actually responsible too for further driving Pakistanis into path to perdition, as long before the Middle East World War and the formation of the UCC they are struggling with high debts especially, to the Chinese, which helped increase the support to the Islamists.

"Sir" called Bachtiar. We have done eating this time with me, Bachtiar, Kuk, Evy, Maulana, and Nur are in the same table.

"Go on"

"If only the Saudis doesn't seize Iranian tankers back then could we avoid being dragged to this war in the first place, or even got no Civil War?"

"Well, only God knows, Bachtiar."

Time for a little history lesson here: In 2023 King Salman of Saudi Arabia unexpectedly passed away and was replaced by his heir, Muhammad bin Salman, also known as MbS. To make it short, he accelerated the implementation of the Saudi Vision 2030, an ambition vision for the country to diversify its economy from oil. However, starting in 2025, many economically emerging countries, with Indonesia quite a late-starter, began their process to catch up with first and second world countries to increase number of plug-in electric or at least hybrid-electric vehicles operating on their roads, gradually reducing oil demand in the automotive sector along with new discovery of reserves outside the Middle East, greatly affected the Saudi, and other Middle East oil-exporting economy.

The said vision and the reforms prior to his ascend to the throne was too little in effect and too late to save the Kingdom with the main handicap of such reform is the sorry state of its education system and the conservative clerics. As their oil money dried up, things rapidly go downhill, resulted in the Saudi seizure of Iranian tankers that sparked the Middle-East World War which ended in a Saudi-Iranian nuclear exchange which devastated Khobar, in Saudi Arabia and on the Iranian side, Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, in 2029. The event saw the first deployment of recently-deployed radiation-cleaning nano-machines developed separately in the US, Russia, and Japan, but the physical damage has been done.

---

After dinner all pilots including me are inspecting their respective aircrafts.

Then the intercom went to life. "All pilots, repeat, all pilots are to be in the briefing room now."

Some minutes later, we arrived to the briefing room.

"Alright, pay attention!" Col. Momota proceeded to display a map of Askhezar AFB and its surroundings. "this is the most recent intel about our target."

"There is a huge sweeping radar network starting from the border, here, which thanks to the low frequency capability could reduce the stealth properties of our aircraft". he explained as he pointed at the mountainous terrain leading to the base."

"The radars cover everything over an altitude of 1150 feet. Below that altitude, only the valley has little or no radar coverage. However, it's expected that the UCC will deploy some mobile pack radar stations, EO sensors, and MANPADS to make it up."

We paid attention to the map on the slide.

"So" Momota picked up a red marker and lined the valley areas of Eastern Iran. there are two areas which are our choice of "corridors", so to say it. If you fly low enough, I'll be able to bypass the radar. You can choose the one, passing through Afghanistan and make a zigzag route, or go through this straight one through former Sistan and Balochistan Province, but both point converge in this location." he said, as he marked the spot where the two routes converged.

"What happens if I somehow fail to maintain a low altitude or enter the radar net?" asked the 205th Squadron CO, Lt. Colonel Takayama Sakurai.

"If you fail to maintain altitude or detected by the radar net, you'll be picked up in an instant, and you'll be splashed before you make it back." answered our battle manager for this mission, Maj. Kaoru Furukawa. He continued. "Don't forget that those monkeys has mobilized more advanced aircraft since yesterday."

"Which targets should we focus on, besides the laser AA vehicles, Major Furukawa?" asked Andik.

"There are a couple of their own copy of Blackjack bombers recently built in their factories in Tehran, four Il-476 advanced variant of the Il-76 "Condors", some ground units including Enigma APCs and Zulfiqar tanks, and four fighter squadrons, all experts in interception roles." replied Kaoru.

In other words, this will not be an easy mission.

"Furthermore, we have a couple of CV-90 Molalas escorted by four AH-67s will come in from the south and secure the base so that you will be able to land safely.

I pondered for a moment, than stood up, hand raised. "Requesting permission to speak, Colonel Momota."

"Proceed"

"I think this mission should be carried out tonight."

"TONIGHT!?" shouted Major Kaoru, in disbelief.

"With all due respect, do you know the risk, Major Paulus-san?"

"It seems insane, I admit it. Colonel." I answered. "But think about it, Colonel. The force stationed at that base thinks that they've got everything covered. They certainly don't expect any aircraft to carry out a mission at night, with the whole mountain and valleys covered by a radar net, and air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses at the base. If we play our cards properly, this mission is as good as accomplished. But we have only one chance, and the success or failure of this mission is up to me and every pilots here, though."

"If they track you, all our efforts will be in vain." Momota replied.

"Indeed" this time it's Sakurai who answered Momota. "We will do it, and ensure that base belongs to us. Because, I got Paulus's point; we might not have a second chance, Colonel. Furthermore, this will be a morale boost for the ILF."

Momota exhaled for a couple of second before answering the said squadron commander. "You got the point, Takayama. Everyone, tonight, at 02:00 hours, we'll carry out the mission. Oh, by the way we got a good news, an allied squadron, the Indonesian 3rd Squadron is standing by in Herat International, Afghanistan, ready to assist anytime we requested it... so, let's have some rest and prepare for the best, Banzai and Merdeka!"

"Oorah!" We replied.

---

The base was in a hectic mood.

Before the fighters took off, a joint helicopter-borne unit from Nihon Kokuyu Kuugun (Japanese National Air Force) Special Tactics Unit, which was modeled after US Air Force Special Tactics Squadrons and our own Paskhas commandos had took off from the outskirts of Gwadar before standing by near Askhezar AFB in a safe spot.

"Mangetsu, you're clear for takeoff." reported the tower control officer.

The JNAF E-787 with Kaoru's callsign sped up and took off near the end of the runway. Some seconds later, the AEW heads north before rendezvousing with it's drone escorts launched somewhere near the base.

"Red Fox 1, you're clear for takeoff." said the tower control officer. Four Japanese Mitsubishi F-3 Shinshins engaged their afterburners and lift off, heading north, followed by my flight into Afghanistan, when they will rendezvous with the element of the Indonesian 3rd Squadron and refuel.

There are total 24 fighters from both ours and the Japanese committed to this mission, with four are to make past refueling and rendezvous point above Afghanistan before returning to base as a hedge for possible mechanical problems not detected before the mission.

Two American KC-47 and one Indonesian A330 MRTT tankers provides us and the newcomers from the 3rd with gas, before we head directly into Iran and shed altitude on our way.

---

The package of twenty Indonesian and Japanese fighters passed through valleys of Eastern and Central Iran at 670 feet. It was a safe altitude.

"Destroy the enemy mobile radar and EO station before they spotted you" called AWACS Mangetsu. "Also, be sure to fly below 1150 feet. Keep an eye on your HMD, and avoid the enemy radar net."

"Roger" said my flight lead, Medi, our CO, flew side by side with his Japanese counterpart, Takayama.

"Roger" replied Takayama.

"Commencing radio silence procedures."

Under strict radio silence we began our trek through the zig-zag and winding valley, staying at low altitude.

The radar picked up seven mobile radar stations.

"Mobile radar stations, report." ordered Askhezar AFB commander.

"This is Asad 1" said a radar crewmen. "Nothing out of the ordinary". It's a quiet night.

The PPDU planes flew straight ahead, trying not to fly over 1150 feet, from north-northeast.

"It'll be dawn soon, said a private.

"There're so many radars and missiles out on this valley no one could ever slip through." said another UCC private.

That soldier couldn't be more wrong. His radar was soon hit by a missile from Medi.

However, even though the radar was destroyed, no distress signal was radiated.

"Huh? What's that?" said another UCC soldier.

"The enemy?" replied another one.

"Um... my mistake" answered the first one. "It was just the reflection of the tower's searchlight on the river."

Two more radar get locked and without giving them chance to gave away the allied position it were knocked out.

After all radars were offline and the radio silence was lifted Takayama reported.

"Red Fox 1 reporting. I've bypassed the sensor net undetected."

"Actually, even if you are detected we're already blinded theirs with false pictures, still, a good work!"

"Roger that" answered the clearly surprised Medi before he ordered the force to split up.

A 3rd Squadron IF-21 had found a SAM launcher on a mount summit and immediately engaging its laser designator before knocking it out with a Paveway.

Its explosion was heard by the Askhezar AFB base commander.

"What was that explosion just now?" shouted the commander. "An accident? An enemy attack!?"