After advanced education (and a personal request) Paulus was finally sent to the frontline again!

The picture above is the real logo of the Indonesian Air Force 11th Squadron, his new assignment.

Also, Paulus' speech here was strongly inspired by John Basilone's speech in HBO's 'The Pacific'

---

To be honest, other than the circumstances of the war I don't know, and won't ask, why the higher command made me attend the Command and Staff College in an accelerated course with several other officers including three of my fellow 42nd Squadron aces with the same rank as me, Ahmad, Evy, and Pongoh. Furthermore after the four-month course in the staff college, with I graduated with flying colors, they sent me and some others to Manokwari for the joint Air Force-Navy Weapons Training. A dream come true for an aviator, but sometimes I feel that I might not be able to bear with the increasing responsibility awaiting me.

I am really grateful to my family which always prayed for me and also Evy which is always in my side. I also know that the high command understands that she and I are inseparable and thanks to our conduct we have a rare privilege to continue serving together. Evy also encouraged me to forward my case to be back in the frontline. The main point of my letter to the top brass was this.

"My home can wait, so I am ready and willing to be in frontline squadron again. Just give me your orders"

So they assigned me to the 11th Squadron (Skuadron Udara 11) as it's Operation Officer, the second-in-command. The 11th was also flying Sukhois like 7th Wing, and the one that my uncle once serve as a Flanker driver.

In the TNI-AU, unlike in the US Air Force, being an executive officer is the prerequisite of becoming the squadron CO, which is what the US Navy and Marine Corps practiced for its aviation squadrons. That's why Major Rita "Leopard" was then assigned to command the 42nd as Lt. Colonel because of Lt. Colonel Medi's promotion to a full-colonel and his subsequent reassignment to the Air Force Training, Doctrine, and Education Command, Kodiklatau in Indonesian, as an air combat instructor in the Weapons School.

The 5th Fighter Wing has a composite origin of equipment; while the 11th is flying Su-63s, the Manado based 19th Squadron was flying IF-33C/Ds. Another Sulawesi-based fighter squadron is the reserve 102nd Squadron also with IF-33s, based in Luwuk, Central Sulawesi State.

Two days before my official start of the assignment in the 11th Squadron I am going to visit a fellow in Wajo, a district part of the city of Makassar.

"Come in," said a familiar voice as I reached a car modification workshop which also served as a house. As I entered the house Pandu instantly snapped in salute.

"At ease, I'm not in uniform today." I said to him.

As we sat together with tea served by Pandu's mother, Anna, we began to talk mostly about our upcoming assignment in one of the most well-known squadrons in the IDAF and also how I am drawing too much attention without my intention.

"Every pilot and in fact, every people knows your story, Major." he said, replying to my statements about drawing too much attention to my comfort when I was in public places like church, shopping malls, and restaurant thanks to my ace status. In fact; days after I am home in Pangkalan Bun there are many solicitations from several communities for me to be their face in their effort to support the war in general by selling war bonds, for example. Thanks to my order for further education, I was able to decline such an offer in the best way. There are many faces who were willing to do it, anyway.

I admitted. "Sure because I am the current highest scoring, despite I am not yet got the Bintang Sakti, like for example, Major Mardianto." We chuckled a little bit before he continued to talk. The officer that I just mentioned was a Paskhas commando cited for the highest award of bravery in the Armed Forces for jumping on the grenade landed dangerously close to his position, as he led his squad capturing Isfahan Air Base, also an international airport with the same name. Despite badly wounded, he survived the shrapnel wounds and currently under rehab, as far as I had heard.

The nature of his heroism caused him to be nicknamed as "Indonesia's Corporal Dewey" from a US marine that executed and survived the same act almost a century ago during the Korean War and awarded the American highest military medal, Medal of Honor.

"I believe that one day you will earn it, sir." he said.

Last but not least, to my joy, I'm also learned that he was also reassigned to the "Thunders", the callsign of the 11th Squadron. Along with him, I, and Evy, other former 42nd Squadron transferred to the Thunders were Andik, Bachtiar, Andrea, and Maulana.

"Sorry to ask your opinion on this matter.. what do you think will happen when "he" passed away? And how you will react? As you know, news nowadays is focusing on him going in and out of hospital, while in this case. I think it will be his last. Multiple sclerosis is pretty much a killer, and even gene therapy will only slow it much longer."

"We've got to get ready to see another round of people got divided, Major. Just like Soeharto. In fact, remember the furor when the Navy revealed that they will name their next nuke boat after him?"

"Yeah. Old wounds might never heal." I sighed before replying. "Have I not tell you this.. about where am I in the final stage of the civil war?"

"Go on, Major"

"We were pounding Banda Aceh and it's NII forces inside with guided weapons, exclusively, mostly guided rockets for a cheaper run, when we heard the report about a new weapon being used and the death of the NII leader, then a couple of minutes later, the controller warned us to stay away from Baiturrahman Mosque."

"And that's when I saw it. Crimson red light, from the outer space, and a tremendous explosion at the mosque's site. Then they called the second strike in the Governor's office, with the same result. Then we learned that along with the laser, the Americans had revealed their own weapon, in what they called a Rod from God, and killed the NII leader with it. I soon know that we must have got a deal with those people for such weapon."

"Kinetic bombardment and high energy laser," said Pandu. "Shock and Awe. Just with a push of a button, the war ends. Without the radioactivity of nukes."

"Yes. Remember what's one of the examples of Shock and Awe doctrine?"

"Hiroshima and Nagasaki, sir."

"Exactly, you know that day we have our own version of it, and I must admit.. unlike the Americans, we're not much different than, let's say, Saddam Hussein's Iraq or Assad's Syria, using WMD against our own people. And it's certain that while we're winning, but I doubt that we'll see it's divisive consequences end soon." I exhaled.

"That's why in roll calls our commanders more often exhorting us to stay loyal to the flag and to the Five Principles."

I sighed.

"What I mean is, Pandu, a lot of people including here in the service had lost their loved ones. This include those who are in the 'wrong side'. Tons of warnings from the intel these days about anyone, I mean anyone, with a good connection to the internet and money, with a gun, or in the government, could one day turn against us. Not necessarily join the UCC, but also those GRM people. Basically, anything with an ax to grind. There are no weeks without arrests of people suspected to harbor sympathy to terror groups, left and right. Call me paranoid, but better safe than sorry."

"I promise, Major. We fight in one flag, we live with one flag, and will die with the same flag."

"That's what I like to see, but constant vigilance.. well," I looked at my wristwatch. "Got to go now." I stood up.

"Remember. when inside the base I won't go easy with you."

"Yes sir," he replied as he waved me off.

I left the house into my Toyota Rush, which I brought from my old station in Pangkalan Bun. Just in time as I receive a call from Evy.

"Where are you now, Wise?"

"On my way, Raden."

"Oh no.. just wait for me, okay? It's me who supposed to wait for you.. Bye!" And she ended the hologram call.

---

"Well, sorry for a little mess up here, and am I late?" Just five minutes when I sat inside a Maxx Coffee near our assigned apartment, which itself not far from Hasannudin, she arrived, wearing a simple blue and gray service T-shirt that (in her honest opinion) was quite tight, considering her breast size, with the word "TNI-AU - INDONESIAN AIR FORCE" written on it, and as she sat, pulled out her mirror and straighten up her slightly messy black hair.

"Raden, you could be wearing a sack or a torn flight suit, or even looked like you've just rolled on dirt and you still looked amazing for me. And no, you've come one minute early, in fact." I giggled. She flushed, as while people complimented her for her flying, only me who loves to do so in a more 'intimate' way, quoting her own words.

We pondered on each other and as we ordered our own coffee, I looked outside a little while, immersing myself on the thundering roar of jet engines both civilian and military on the airside of it and the view of it left the ground or come to land.

"I always loved Toraja Coffee, Raden. You know I don't mind a good coffee, but this particular one really stands up."

Both Evelyn and I have the same attitude and body reaction to coffees.

"Remember what the best coffee I ever have, Wise?" she asked me.

"In Quetta. When Kevin went back to the fold." About him; he was still in the 43rd and the squadron will soon be relieved. By the 11th. I am glad he told me about his status so far.

"Wrong!"

"What?" My eyes went wide in disbelief.

"Haha, just kidding!" She grinned.

"Yes, the coffee back then was also the best so far to me, as we are all having a little celebration for his return to us. Which makes it really different."

"Hmmm, incredible, isn't it?" She asks. I nodded. Then her face turned more serious.

"What you are going to do after this when the UCC is gone and we're back home again?"

Damn. I said to myself.

"Well, just tell me." She smiled again.

"To bring my companionship with you to the next level. You know, we are getting closer to forty and I always want at least three kids despite my differences with other people."

I can see her being glassy-eyed and then she opened her mouth again.

"You have to know this. I am ready to say goodbye to my career just to be with you. And speaking of kids.. honestly, I prefer two, but four also okay for me; two boys, two girls.."

The statement of her can't be much clearer in sincerity for me, as I know her love of flying is as much as me.

"We can pass every storm together, even when we are somehow be assigned to the different squadron."

---

"At ease" Lt. Colonel Jusuf Sanjaya, callsign "Wellspring" said to me as I reported for my first day in the 11th Squadron. I can see that he is confident in my ability to be his deputy.

"How is the rest of the pilots and other crew in the squadron, Colonel?"

"Most are already on station and ready. But we have some green pilots. Eager for their first tour".

My face formed a little smile afterward, and as I am briefed, I learned that the squadron has just executed its own cleanup for any fifth columnists with two pilots were sent to the penal 13th Squadron, stationed somewhere in a secret base in Pakistan while one was to face firing squad instead; meanwhile, they had also dishonorably discharged three other of its service personnel; one pilot; which was the previous Operation's Officer, and two ground crews due to criminal conviction, drug dealing, desertion, and assault respectively.

He then introduced me to the squadron. I focused instead on newcomer junior-ranked pilots as my turn to say a few words come. Especially as I overheard one of the fresh first lieutenants said to his friend that he is anxious to "smack an Arab right on his nose".

"...I can see every man and woman here are willing and ready to gear up and fly and gave them death from above or like one man here had just said, 'Smack an Arab'."

"However, I'll ask you this question, That's what the enemy will do to you? Understatement is not enough to express that word. Do you people dream that those people are just going to keel over and die? Now let me tell you something."

My voice went higher. "I remember and will quote what an Indian Air Force officer said to me in my previous deployment. The Arab, Turkish, and other Middle Eastern people I know, the Caliphate soldier or sailor or pilot that I and some others had seen, have been at war under various flags since you are still on your mother's womb!"

"They are combat veterans, much better compared to the NII in the Civil War, an expert with their weapon they have in their hands. They can live off with foods from dumpsters and muddy waters for weeks and can take misery to the level that you and your buddies could only dream in your worst nightmare!"

I continued again.

"They don't care if they got killed in the end thanks to their conviction, as long as they kill you. You're free to call them whatever you want, hell, I love to call them piss-drinking camels. But never fail to respect their desire to put you and your wingman here into an early grave. Is that clear, aviators?"

"Sir, yes sir!"

---

Things in Indonesia went normal, new pilots are ready and in a high spirit, and soon I'm back in the frontline with some other faces.

We're assigned to Larestan International Airport, largely now an air base run by our own 112th Expeditionary Air Wing, in which we are attached to, in the sleepy town of Lar, Fars Province. The 112th EAW consists of an operational group with the 11th Squadron, 99th Squadron which is a Cakalang drone electronic strike squadron, a C-133 airlift squadron, the 35th, and Iranian 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron equipped with American supplied F-35As. Other units present in the surrounding area include the Iranian 6th Infantry Division and the current Quick Reaction Strike Force of the Indonesian Army, the 2nd Kostrad Infantry Division.

"Sir," asked one of the greens named 1st Lt. Akbar "Goggles" Nasution.

"How's the situation so far and who is our main focus?"

"The front is as stable as you expect for a war in the Middle East, and for now on, Sofreh Mahi drones with lasers and Saeghehs, which mostly got missiles, are still swarming the sky like grasshoppers, as their pilot loss has taken their toll. Furthermore, always remember that Fedayeens and Khomeinists will try to attack this base as well, so keep your eyes peeled."

"Understand sir"

"Now, get ready, your patrol sortie with Capt. Pandu is imminent."

He snapped to a salute and left me as I head to the hangar just for checking my plane.

"They may be green, but they are well trained. Most of them will came home." I said to myself.

Iran have been liberated with its own government restored, but UCC air raids, in particular with Sofreh Mahi and Saegheh drones were still frequent in the area along with UCC Fedayeen and Khomeinist RAI insurgents marauding the country while fighting each other in the process, which contributed to 7% increase of total casualties for the last three months.

Back to the drones; the first notable mission of mine with the Thunders is a eight-ship formation scramble against those little buggers on August 10th as our radars had detected them as they are heading for the provincial capital, Shiraz or the base, in just another mix of unmanned and manned aircraft, primarily Typhoons and JF-17s.

Upon airborne as fast as we can, and trained for, we are heading towards Dashtestan Country, in Bushehr Province, bordering Fars, as an Indian A330 AWACS orbiting inside Fars are keeping us updated about the enemy formation ahead. As we head there another flight of Firefoxes piped us.

"Thunder, this is Luchnik (Archer) flight, we're en route to your position to engage the drones.." I can see the Red Star from the Russian fighters even as the sun went down.

"Affirmative" replied Colonel Jusuf, who is leading the mission, to the Russians.

"Here come the drones, people, remember your training; make sure your PLS pod armed" he called as we entered the said county. I start to take a liking for him more; he is basically my type of commander. Just like Lt. Col. Medi, despite he has Arab on his blood. The sky soon went alive with Saegheh and Sofreh Mahi drones are all over the place.

"Spread out in pairs, everyone, we have to take them down one by one" reminded Jusuf again; and all fighter broke to pairs in order to engage; the Saeghehs fired missiles and as we are evading, the Sofreh Mahis are ready to blast us out with its TLPs. So far, after three minutes of fighting that almost seems like forever I can still take comfort that nobody have been shot down yet including my own wingman, Capt. Timo "Seahawk" Sanusi, while up to five drones have been knocked out. Just another day when everyone are doing their duty as best as they can. More kills are less matter nowadays for me. Furthermore, I am concerned about the green pilots fighting their first real encounter with combat drones at every side. To those people out there who think our job is glorious, well...

I can't count how many times I pressed the trigger for the PLS and how many drones went down, or our own drones are taking hits for us. Additionally, the enemy have manned assets alongside it.

"Missile, missile" The familiar, female AI voice indicated my plane is being locked by one of the manned UCC plane, an F-313 Qaher and suggested the best course to jink and lose the missile with the least risk of being jumped by another enemy craft; which I did with slight improvisation to ensure unpredictability.

"Ten more UAVs approaching" the AEW piped up.

"It's an honor to fly alongside one of the best pilots of the Su-63.. Your name is Paulus, or Pavel, isn't it?" asked Luchnik 1-1.

"Correct" my only answer for him, just in time as the F-313 that is locking at me are finally locked for heat-seeker shot.

"Thunder 2-1 Fox two!" Two R-75 out from the outer pod, one missed, but second missile shot finally took down the said fighter for good. I think that there are up to 96 of them; not includes manned fighters. Glimpse of burning drones and fighters, After a minute that seems to be eternity we heard another call of Fox and Slash. Things were still blurry we could still identify the newcomers; Korean KF-21s from the 33rd Tactical Fighter Squadron based in Shiraz and along with the third flight of ours, Thunder 3.

This time I began to more aware of our losses; Thunder 1-4 and 2-3 has been shot down and their fate was unknown despite they had called for ejection. The maxim of "keep fighting until you ran out of ammo or you've too damaged" rings to those newcomers and also those who had already seen them all.

Some current pilots do not realize that despite our drone protection, enemy combat drones or skilled pilots in a manned fighter can still fire past it and shoot his or her plane down as the result.