Once all the pilots were aboard Alvin's Helicarrier, it took only 24 hours to reach the skies above Kolkata, India...
The Helicarrier engaged all its engines and climbed to its maximum altitude, hiding its enormous bulk in the stratosphere...
Alvin had thought there might be a little trouble when the Helicarrier entered the airspace of a major country...
But when a squadron of Indian "Radiance" fighters approached, one crashed before anyone even began to hail them...
When "Big Bird" took off in an F-35 with his crew, two more of the "Radiance" fighters crashed while attempting evasive maneuvers.
A squadron of fifteen fighters, and before they'd even said a word, three had gone down...
Under Angel's command, the Helicarrier began preparing for battle...
Alvin watched the Indian fighters on the screen, scattering like startled sparrows after being illuminated by the Helicarrier's active radar...
Two more "Radiance" fighters stalled as if they were drunk...
"Angel, shut off the active radar!" Alvin ordered urgently. He said in disbelief, "How did you do that?
These Indians are going to lose their minds!"
"Sir, I didn't do anything..." Angel replied.
After "Big Bird" and the others took off, Alvin watched the big delta-winged "Radiance" fighters flee as if they'd gone mad, forgetting even to hail them...
"What's going on?"
Alvin stared in disbelief as one "Radiance" fighter seemed to be illuminated by the F-35's active radar, then made a high-G evasive maneuver—only for one of its air brakes to fall off...
"What kind of piece of junk is this?
Do the Indian Air Force pilots all fly like their lives depend on it?"
Maria Hammer sat in a chair not far from Alvin, peeling an apple with a dagger.
Hearing Alvin's question, she smiled and said, "It was designed by India itself, and they