Subjective Initiative!

[Time: January 30, 2025, 11:00]

[Pacific Ocean, mission airspace near the Sky Pit.]

[Operation Codename: Red Fox]

Screech, the satellite's optical sensor zoomed in, focusing on the Sky Pit over the Pacific Ocean. Numerous shining points of light were identified and transmitted to various platforms via satellite antenna. This was merely the tip of the iceberg of the East University system.

[Red Fox-1 reporting to Command Center, we have reached the designated combat zone.]

Whoosh, four WS-20 Taihang core engines propelled the KJ-3000, descending from an altitude of 12,000 meters to the tactical mission altitude of 9,000 meters. The aircraft's twin-sided phased array radar rotated, orienting its optimal working angle (a 90° angle) towards the Sky Pit.

The S-band active phased array radar firmly locked onto and tracked the Type 1 aircraft wandering in the sky, codenamed [Sentinel]. They were like fish swimming around a coral reef, fulfilling their sentinel duties.

"Captain reporting to Commander, altitude 9,000, entering command position," the pilot said into the internal communication channel, looking at the altimeter.

"All aircraft connect to the command system."

"Directional data link communication stable."

"Escort formation at position."

Commands were sent and received from the KJ-3000. On the Command Center's giant data sandbox, operational units linked to the system were displayed, with their real-time status next to their icons.

Outside the KJ-3000's windows, two escorting J-15Ts performed a barrel roll and climbed, leaving their current position and deploying to the designated airspace as ordered.

On their weapon pylons, in addition to the [PL11A], they were armed with two [PL15] medium-range missiles and [PL10] short-range missiles, a standard loadout of two medium and two short-range.

The commander's gaze swept over the aircraft group connected to the data link, focusing on aircraft [189]. Its latitude and longitude coordinates and remaining fuel were displayed next to it.

"Red Fox 1 (one), call Red Fox 2 (two), proceed to A-3, altitude 17,000, await further instructions."

"Red Fox 2, roger."

Liu Jun, after air refueling, arrived in the mission area. The data link automatically connected to the AWACS codenamed Red Fox-1. However, due to the distance, he couldn't discern the specific type of command aircraft. Was it a KJ-500 or a KJ-2000?

During combat, these were not his concerns. His job was to follow the commander's instructions.

He pulled the stick, climbed, and flew towards the designated airspace, awaiting further instructions from Red Fox-1.

Adjusting the oxygen mask for supply, he pulled the stick to climb.

[Altitude 12,000]

[Altitude 15,000]

[Altitude 17,000]

Having climbed to the designated altitude, Liu Jun leveled off the J-15. The Flying Shark's service ceiling was around 17,000 meters. The commander's order had pushed the Flying Shark to its limit. The thrust from the two turbofan engines began to decrease. At this altitude, turbojet engines were far more efficient than turbofans.

"Red Fox 2 to Red Fox 1, arrived at mission altitude!"

Liu Jun turned his head and could visually see the Sky Pit, emitting a seven-colored glow diagonally above him. This observation was much closer than the previous one. He wondered what the Sky Pit would look like through the optical sensors.

But to the naked eye, it was stunning, surpassing the limits of human technology.

Against the backdrop of the azure sky, a massive, seven-colored, glass-like toroidal body hovered in the sky, its surface flowing with iridescent gradient colors (from violet, indigo to emerald green, amber gold).

The interior of the toroidal body presented a contracting, collapsing structure, as if leading to a rift into another dimension. It emitted intense wave-particle light effects, distorting the surrounding clouds and light, forming an upward vortex into the sky.

The edges of the toroidal body refracted crystal-like light spots, interweaving with the sky to create a surreal visual spectacle, like an invisible threat poised to engulf humanity at any moment.

[Altitude 17,000, Red Fox-2 in position.]

Watching [Red Fox-2] take its position on the battlefield situation display, the atmosphere inside the cockpit became solemn as the commander's words fell. Only the faint hum of equipment operation remained.

"Red Fox 1 (WATCH) to Red Fox 2, Master Arm On, launch PL17A, launch timing is yours (YOU HAVE), mid-course guidance is mine (I HAVE)."

"Red Fox 2, understood! Master Arm On, launching PL17A towards the target, launch timing is mine, mid-course guidance is yours."

After repeating the command to confirm accuracy, Liu Jun began executing the PL17 launch mission.

The launch timing being entrusted to Liu Jun meant he had significant room for maneuver. He looked at the altimeter; he was currently at the Flying Shark's service ceiling of 17,000 meters. Its service ceiling was significantly higher than that of other countries' main carrier-based aircraft, but that alone was not enough.

The Sky Pit was located at an altitude of 18,000 meters, approaching near-space, the maximum flight altitude for traditional aircraft.

With insufficient power and the influence of Earth's gravity, many surface-to-air missiles could not reach this altitude.

The altitude difference was 1,000 meters, and the distance to the Sky Pit was 150 nautical miles (approximately 300 kilometers). Using trigonometry, the length of the third side could be calculated. Engaging a high-altitude target from a low altitude would severely deplete the missile's energy, potentially causing it to miss and affecting the test results.

Since the launch timing was up to him, he had to fully utilize his initiative to perform the mission to the best of his ability, just like decades ago when they "beat up" the Americans. Although their equipment was inferior, their tactics and strategy completely outmatched the American devils.

"Red Fox 2 calling Red Fox 1, I plan to perform a low YOYO maneuver to gain altitude advantage for launching the PL17A, requesting permission to proceed."

To ensure the missiles on the pylon had maximum speed at the terminal phase and increase the hit probability, he would briefly exceed the service ceiling to give the missile as much energy advantage as possible, even if only a little.

Inside the AWACS, the commander listened to Liu Jun's proposal, pondered for a few seconds, and replied, "Red Fox 1 to Red Fox 2, do you have confidence?"

"Yes!" Liu Jun replied loudly.

"In that case, approved!"

Respect and trust were also a form of combat effectiveness. If Liu Jun said he had confidence, he should be given the freedom to execute the mission.

Having received the commander's permission, Liu Jun adjusted his heading and pulled the stick, diving at a 15° angle.

Whoosh!

Under the acceleration of Earth's gravity, the Flying Shark's speed increased. While the indicated airspeed didn't increase much, the true airspeed was rapidly increasing. Both wings began to tremble slightly during the dive.

Air has mass and resistance. The faster the speed, the greater the air resistance, and the wings would start to tremble under the resistance, or even break off. When the speed reached a certain point, the air would become "solid," causing the aircraft to crash.

[Maximum speed! Maximum speed!]

As the onboard voice prompted, aircraft [189]'s altitude had dropped to 14,000 meters. The potential energy lost during the descent had been completely converted into speed, accumulating a large amount of energy. Now, it was time to expend this accumulated energy!