The art of war is of vital importance to the State—military affairs, therefore,becoming a country's vital political concern. The survival or destruction of acountry and the life or death of its people may depend on military action.Therefore, it is imperative that it be examined carefully - Sun Tzu's Art of War

This is the end of our hero's first tour.. but the war isn't over yet for them!

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I almost forget to say that the third squadron in our air group, the 43rd Squadron has already been deployed from Palangkaraya, slated to relieve us since August and had conducted operations on their own in Afghanistan, including the Operation Anausa, in which they are engaged in raids in the Arab Gulf region in order to cut off reinforcements transported by air and sea into Iran during the offensive. Two of us had also voluntarily requested a transfer to the said squadron in order to spread their experience to it; Capt. Kevin and Capt. Nur.

I'm more than happy for them for their decision to extend their tour for six months more and especially for Kevin, forgoing a chance for a Christmas with his large family in order to help the 43rd, especially as I heard they are quite bloodied with six of their pilots have already been KIA or MIA, presumed captured. And to our horror, two of the MIAs were females.

Nothing we can do, to the disappointment of us.

And now we're on our last mission in our first combat tour. To make it short, the UCC are to be commit almost the entirety of its remaining air forces in Iran in a massive offensive. To counter this, a large scale OCA operation were executed, codenamed Operation Xerxes.

"This is Gandiwa, your objective is to destroy part of the Khalije Fars Highway converted into an airbase, as intel indicate this particular forward base contain fighters with nuclear cruise missiles and combat drones. Coordinates are being uploaded to your on-board computer as I say. One thing through, do not damage the highway too much. We need it intact. Also we have drones in standby in the SEAD and general strike role accompanying your formations."

"Emerald 1 affirmative" replied Colonel Medi.

"That's why no anti-runway bomb equipped" I thought.

"Kris 1, understood and confirmed" said the Malaysian CO of the 19 Squadron TUDM, flying MiG-39 Flatpacks, Lt. Col. Hasan Sulaiman.

"Also expect suicide drones and manned craft as well which the latter might not hesitate to ram your plane in desperation."

"Anyone who got laser pods on their aircraft, activate it now" ordered the Malaysian squadron commander to all of us.

In several sweep of the touch screen we began to control the drones to began looking for SAM and AA to destroy before we sweep in.

"Target hit, that SAM is history" I called as the Capung UCAV I controlled inside the cockpit of my Su-57 launched two ARMs that knock out two old Pantsir S1 mobile short range SAMs concealed around the highway.

More and more UCC SAMs in the area were jammed or knocked out as the mission continues. However we had stirred a hornet nest. "Oh here we go, the drones had took off from that highway; Sofreh Mahis, look out for their laser, people, those thing got a good learning ability, remember!" called a Malaysian flight leader, Major Ong Sui Liang.

"But I heard that the penal squadrons, including the Indonesian 13th had managed to destroy three separate fuel and electrical facilities for their drone factories weeks ago, even one in Saudi Arabia which the UCC claimed as impenetrable.." said another Malaysian.

"Cut the chatters and pick your targets everyone..." said Hasan. Just in time to see those drones knocked out our own unmanned companions before heading on us.

"On my mark.. fire your TLPs" ordered Hasan again.

My flight doesn't have TLP, so I positioned my flight; consists of Nana, Pandu, and Kuk, slightly behind the Hendrikus' flight, the C flight, who have the said pod.

"Target hit!" shouted Capt. Olivia "Teacup" Sendjaja.

"Target hit!" called another Malaysian.

"How can I miss?"

"Those things are evading the lasers..."

Compared to the drones our TLPs got higher power, which mean longer range as well.

"Warning, the drones are scattering and went closer... they about to fire their lasers, evade, evade!" warned AWACS Gandiwa. The danger zone had been plotted on our HMD, as well as "Laser Lock Warning" which blared inside our cockpits.

"Laser evaded" Thankfully our own AI also helpful in countering those beams.

"Those bastards are faster than before, I see" Evy said in amazement.

The drones had merged on us for one thing they excel, turning fights. In the meantime, we also had divided our flight to confront manned JF-20s and F-313s which rose to challenge us today.

"I think those are coming from Tehran or even the Gulf!" called my wingman.

"Take those fighters down!" I called as two missiles from F-313s passed my flight. I decided to focus on the Qahers, because they are the biggest threat right now to my plane.

"PLS armed"

I led a dive attack with the PLSs on my flight on the Qahers which instantly destroyed them, but soon the drones pursued us and another dogfight commenced, one man fought one drone.

"Somebody please get those things off us!" I grunted as I executed a fourth Kulbit in order to force one Sofreh Mahi behind me to overshoot. A good timing as it soon fired its laser system; as it recovers I fired a couple of pulsed laser that immediately fried its electronics.

Suddenly..

"Fox two!" called a Malaysian behind us, which downed the remaining drones.

"We're going to take care of the drones.. while you deal with those manned craft and the base itself" called the leader of the 19 Squadron's B flight, Major Abdul Aziz bin Jamil Ali, callsign "Burrower"

"Roger!" I signaled my flight to regroup and head straight into the base, with a second Malaysian flight followed us. We have the bomb, so it's time to get rid of those fighters as they try to take off.

"Destroy those Flankers before they take off!" AWACS Gandiwa warned us as two Su-35s with cruise missile hanging on their centerline had began their take off process. Meanwhile Pandu and Kuk covered us from any air threat.

"Roger, they won't get past us" We dived and armed the KAB-500S inside the central weapons bay; the lead Flanker immediately burst to flames as my bomb hit it.

"Good hit, Lead" praised Nana, which then swooped in and dropped his own KAB, destroying the second Flanker. Then the Pandu and Kuk, know well that the drones are busy elsewhere decided to go deeper and hit the base's command center and supporting vehicles with bombs and pulsed lasers.

However, the third and fourth Flanker managed to took off using the other side of the highway.

"Oh no, you're not going away!" shouted a Malaysian nearby, which I recognize from his accent. Seconds later the MiGs reported that the Sukhois were all down.

"This is Kris 1, what's the situation of the drones?"

"There are more and more of them!" It's Evy who answered the Sitrep call.

We should destroy the drones before retreating ASAP!

Mine and the Malaysian flight left the smoldering wreck of the highway airstrip and head southeast towards Evy's last known position.

"Fire at will!" Lasers spit out from my flight' PLS pods again, aimed towards the Sofreh Mahi drones, as we charged straight ahead into the furball ahead. Things get more interesting when AWACS Gandiwa piped us "More enemy fighters sighted, bearing 080, angels 15; Strike Eagles with Super Hornet and Rafale escorts, engage and destroy!"

Four Strike Eagles, armed with cruise missiles with eight Super Hornets accompanied by eight Rafales.

Lined up, we greeted them with K-77s, four missiles each.

I can see several explosion on the horizon as the missiles broke the enemy formation; and those who failed to evade earn what they deserve. Still undetected I relayed enemy coordinates into anyone near enough to receive my datalink transfer and prosecute the target preferably with BVR.

"No time" I said again to myself as the remaining Super Hornet and Rafales decided to press on into WVR engagements, their Strike Eagles that was supposed to be escorted are either destroyed or left the battlefield on their own.

To be honest. I don't know why no one of us get shot down yet by the drones; all of our losses are from manned craft as I am continue to engage anyone on my radar scope.

"Chemist, watch out!"

A Rafale almost rammed his plane.

"Damn it, intel is right about those Jihadists are began to resort to ramming, and I mean manned fighters, not exploding drones" I said to myself as I also played with the stick hard to avoid another Rafale which want to ram me too.

Then the Malaysians also reported receiving ramming attacks, which all failed thankfully. However, the desperation of the UCC to not lose Iran had manifested themselves in this battle. And as we all went back to base, along with reports of several hits by other Allied forces on other highway strip in the remaining UCC controlled Iranian territory along with the neighboring Iraq, I can only shook my head.

How far they would go in order to keep their cause alive?

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I hope you enjoy my take of the OCA (Offensive Counter Air) operations that our main hero conducted here, targeting a highway strip!