"I never went to air thinking I would lose" - Randall Harold "Duke" Cunningham, the only US Navy ace in the Vietnam War with his Radar Intercept Officer William P. Driscoll

One last push in order to liberate Tehran. Will the UCC able to snatch the victory under their noses, or the Liberation of Iran will become a significant victory for the Coalition?

---

Operation Artaxerxes continued; resistance in the city are stiffening despite the Shah's plea for the remnants of the UCC along with the RAI inside Tehran to surrender with promises of humane treatment for the surrendering soldier and militia fighters to reduce the scope of the city's destruction.

"Coalition forces are fighting block by block with drones lead the way and were often sacrificed to counter IEDs and suicide bombers which are the main method of resistance by the UCC inside the city along with conventional weaponry. Casualties are mounting, especially from the IFI but they are still fighting with new fighters joining them, often defected Caliphate soldiers inside the city. Furthermore the UCC still have enough drones and fighter aircraft to further resist our advance deep to Tehran in particular, countering our air assault operation as well as airlift to the IFI along with SAM, laser, and AA guns from both the UCC and the RAI, which were mainly positioned in the south of the city. Air superiority will help us liberate the Imperial Palace and the Majlis (parliament) building..."

This time I flew as wingman with Maj. Juan "Stone" as the lead; with the element pair consist of Capt. Sri "Romo" Mahawangsa and 1st Lt. Soemarno, callsign "Swallow". One of the newer faces in our squadron, he entered the 120 in the same time as 1st Lt. Patricia "Hornet" or 1st Lt. Humaidi "Copper"

Not long we're above Tehran, with the sounds of battle rocked the earth below.

"Incoming beams, evade!" called Juan, Several drones promptly positioned itself to jam the laser's targeting system, or took hit from it. The B flight behind us, commanded by Major Yanuar promptly spread out as well to take out the anti-aircraft guns and lasers nearby that is firing at everything flying; without trying to identify friend and foe, especially with the skies were so full of autonomous drones, with most of them small sized and or unarmed, from both UCC and Allies.

Our AI helped us greatly in that matter, through.

We turned left and heads to the city's famous Azadi Avenue.

"This is Jamaran White 2-6, we're entering Jomhuri Avenue now, be advised we've got an armored column heading for us; can you take them out?" An Imperial Iranian officer from the 2nd Imperial Guards Mechanized Division had called us.

"Roger, we'll be there in 30 seconds, requesting target designation" One American Valkyrie drone then helped us in that matter and gave it's coordinates to several platform at once, just when it was shot down by a UCC anti-aircraft gun.

"Target coordinates received, Sea Eagle 2, cover us while we are attacking" called Juan to the second flight.

"Confirmed, we are in position" Yanuar replied.

My flight than switched into Stormbreakers and we followed the AI's suggestion on when to release the bombs in standoff range. Six of those Raytheon-made small diameter bombs went out and then, we broke right. The attack was then reported as a success with three Abrams tanks and two Enigma IFVs were destroyed, and two more Enigmas were disabled.

"Be advised we have six F-35Bs heading for the 2nd Division troops from the north of the city, take them out before they can fire their cruise missiles!" called AWACS Pasai. Those F-35Bs were provided by defectors in the United States and Britain. However before we reached our optimum TLP range for those VTOL fighters a flight of American F-22C Raptors had eliminated them all. We continued to look for any air targets accompanied by two flights of Imperial Iranian F-35As.

Later a pack of Saegheh drones rose up from the grounds of the Majlis building and proceeded to fire a salvo of R-77s at us and the Iranian JSFs, in which we perfectly evaded it. Another dogfight between manned craft versus drones commenced in close quarter in which those little machines had advantage compared to our larger craft. This time we are more than ready to greet them with some laser beams with up to four were taken out in the first shot from our pods.

After we dealt with the drones, Coalition combined ground forces continue to advance as fast as they can to increase their respective faction share of the credit, despite they had agreed to let the Iranian imperial forces, attacking both from the West with VP forces to the PPDU/NATO-led Eastern force to take the lion share of it and raised their Lion and Sun flag above the Majlis building. Meanwhile the Niavaran Imperial Palace had already been taken by an platoon of paratroopers from the Iranian 65th Airborne Brigade, the NOWHED, attacking from the north alongside the American Alaska-based 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division and heliborne Indian 11th Gorkha Rifles.

Furthermore, as mechanized forces advanced through the city with many air defenses has been destroyed, airmobile units were inserted in various part of the city and our job is to take out the remaining MANPADS, AA, and drones threatening our VTOL crafts.

"Fox 4" I called as I shot down just another Saegheh combat and two Mohajer IV recon drones guiding the Saeghehs to their targets, allowing the approaching four Filipino Ospreys to insert a company of an elite Philippine Army regiment called Scout Rangers without the risk of drone attack.

"This is Bato (Rock) 1, rangers have been deployed. Good luck!" reported a Filipino Osprey pilot on the comm.

Meanwhile the 2nd Division continued their offensive and soom reached the historical Baharestan district, the location of the parliament building.

"Jamaran to all units, we're pinned down by tank and artillery fire near the parliament building, requesting immediate support!"

This time we are going to use laser strafing run, and helped by observers on the ground, we lowered our altitude and passed the enemy formation of tank and artillery with lasers blazing. Matters made worse for the Caliphate soldier as the RAI struck from behind while from their left flank the IFI also executed their attack.

"Keep supporting us until we liberate our capital" called one IFI radioman.

After the Caliphate forces were all but destroyed they engaged the Khomeinist fighters, which fought until the last men.

"Warning, cruise missiles approaching!" warned AWACS Pasai.

Then, two separate cruise missiles went through the city, one hit a Pact position in the Chitgar Park and another hit Baharestan district, causing significant damage.

"The UCC will pay dearly for this!" cursed an Imperial Iranian officer.

Drones and AWACS planes than tracked a formation of Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers heading from the south west for the city in a heavy fighter escort.

"Damn... I think we've taken out all of those things!" Juan groaned.

"More missiles were launched from the bombers from the south west, take them out!" Juan, being the designated mission commander than ordered the B flight to engage the bombers in conjunction of the F-35As from the Iranians while we are to shoot down the Kalibr-type cruise missiles.

Most of us had only enough power on our laser pods for two shots.

"Make your shots count." Juan called.

I acquired the nearest missile and destroyed it with two Buzzards. Meanwhile "Fox four" Soemarno fired his TLP and downed two more missiles. "Good shot" praised Romo to his wingman.

The rest of the cruise missiles executing evasive maneuver to avoid several laser shots, however, so I went back to missiles and destroyed one in a counter-clockwise pattern of maneuver, while Major Juan went into the clockwise pattern, and knocked out another missile with his 25mm. Our teamwork paid off with one by one, the missiles were all destroyed.

"Amazing, those Indonesians are shooting down the missiles" said an IFI resistance fighter in awe.

I then focused myself to the last missile that was launched by the final Su-34, which had been destroyed earlier by one Iranian F-35. This particular missile seems to not only be more resistant to gunfire but also more agile. Furthermore, I'm out of power for TLP shot. One minute before it hit the Allied ground forces, my last two AIM-10s finally took it down for good.

After two minutes of silence a call from the Iranian 2nd Mechanized Division signing the end of the battle. In fact I can feel them as I looked below and saw the Imperial Iranian flag had proudly flown over the parliament building.

"This is Jamaran.. we've entered the Majlis Building and captured the UCC Governor of the Iran Wilayat... he surrendered without fighting. He said that he has seen enough destruction. Maybe as he's once our people too..."

Soon all broke out in cheers.

"Tehran is ours, once again, our capital is ours!" said another Iranian.

"We did it, all units, we freed Tehran! All right!" cheered AWACS Pasai.

"We're proud to be part of this historical moment for the peace of the Middle East" stated a Chinese pilot on the radio; his squadron of J-20s were fighting in the west and north-west of the city during the campaign. I can see those Finflashes of the Chinese People's Air and Air Defense Force proceed to do some fancy maneuvers in celebration, followed by two flights of F-35A and HAL Abhaya from the Iranians and the Indians doing the same thing.

Than a deep voice went on air; "This is AWACS Marathon, we're also proud to be part of this unforgettable moment for the people of Iran worldwide. The United States will be and always stands with every Iranian people with liberty and freedom inside their hearts and limbs. Every men and women participated in this battle is a hero... wherever you are from... and as this country is rebuilding and reconciled with its past, you will never be forgotten..." an E-12 Constellation operator gave his own words of congratulation way behind our lines.

"We're fighting tooth and nail just for this?"

"Yeah.. they might just let him go away! If I am here, I'll.." called Soemarno in reply to my question.

"Let the Iranians decide what course is right for them. That is not our job to do... And this is an order."

"Yes sir" replied both me and Soemarno upon the admonishment from our commanding officer.

"Pasai to all Sea Eagle flight... you are cleared to return to the carrier. Bravo Zulu."

"Roger that Pasai, we are heading home." Juan replied, along with the Yanuar, before we proceeded to head back to Sriwijaya. However as we are landing Yanuar's plane developed mechanical problem of asymmetric flap due to battle damage and have to land first. Thankfully despite the higher speed the arresting gear worked perfectly for his plane, saving the airframe.

We are getting close to victory and I am anxious to tell Paulus and Gloria about our part in the liberation of Iran!

---

I hope you enjoy this mission!