Launching the Chickens
In the afternoon, the "Rainbow Two" drone began its magical "catapult" launch procedure.
The unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, weighing less than a ton, was launched into the air by ten mages working together. The aircraft bounced briefly before stabilizing in the air.
After becoming familiar with the principles, these mages played the game with increasing abandon.
During the search, the drone located the Bright Air Force at a distance of approximately 180 kilometers on the sea. Reconnaissance revealed that the enemy air force had split into two battle groups, about 40 kilometers apart, and the distance between them was gradually increasing.
Zijin marked the enemy fleet's position on the sand table in the command room. Judging from the situation, the Pansy was currently squeezed into the sea between the land of Northern Ice Island and the northern continent, with the Arctic ice barrier behind it.
Meanwhile, the two battle groups of the Light Fleet blocked the exits to the east and south, respectively.
"They know our exact location," Zijin concluded.
"It should be underwater reconnaissance by the Naga Clan," Su Ming replied.
Clearly, Naga Clan scouts are already lurking in the vast waters surrounding the Pansy. Thanks to the Naga's unique abilities, they can also transmit information over long distances underwater.
Although the Pansy is equipped with a sonar system, it cannot completely distinguish these Naga scouts from ordinary marine life in the vast ocean—unless the Naga actively approaches the detection range or engages in unusual swarm activities.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to tell whether the echo was generated by a sea lion or a larger fish.
Above the enemy fleet, "Rainbow Two" once again entered high-precision straight-line flight mode. Utilizing virtual array antenna synthesis technology, it simulated an antenna aperture far exceeding its own size, quickly completing a precise scan of the Light Fleet, with data continuously transmitted back.
Zijin walked over to Su Ming's side, and together they watched the situation map that was being updated in real time on the main screen.
The target ship, "Jade Sea and Tang Valley," was located in the center of the enemy's southern battle group. Accompanying it were three "Dawn Pioneer Class" cruisers and one magic combat ship.
A warning message popped up in the message box at the bottom of the screen: Heavy Snowfall Warning!
The computer system, through comprehensive analysis of multiple factors including radar cloud data, atmospheric pressure gradients, and temperature curves, has determined that a high-intensity blizzard will arrive at 5:00 AM tomorrow!
"This is the opportunity the Light Fleet has been waiting for." Zijin's voice was cheerful, confirming that her prediction of the enemy's intentions was correct.
Although one can sense an approaching blizzard by observing the gathering clouds and sudden drop in temperature with the naked eye, it is impossible to predict its exact arrival time, duration, and intensity as precisely as a meteorological analysis system.
Su Ming frowned slightly. If the snowfall itself was extremely heavy, coupled with the amplification from the enemy's magical weapon "Veil of Eternal Winter," it would pose a serious obstacle to their detection system, which relies on electromagnetic waves.
However, this warning also highlights another point: the optimal window of opportunity for launching a missile strike against the "Jade Sea and Tang Valley" aircraft carrier is now only a short time away.
He immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, "Missile launch site, clear the area! Activate wind magic!"
"Receive!"
On the aft deck, two "Hawk Chicken" missiles, fully fueled and loaded with alchemical explosives, stood upright on launch pads several tens of meters apart, their sharp warheads pointing straight to the sky.
Upon receiving Su Ming's instructions, the surrounding maintenance crew quickly and orderly evacuated to a safe area. At the same time, the wind-element crystals at the missile's air intake were activated and lit up, and the surrounding air was frantically pumped into the ramjet engine, emitting a piercing high-frequency whistling sound.
"Command center, launch site cleared, all personnel evacuated! Magic array activated!" the preparation team reported.
"Receive!"
Su Ming turned to the screen. It showed that the missile system self-test had passed, the navigation device had completed its initialization, and the green "Ready" indicator light on the control button was lit.
"Emission!"
The tails of the two missiles spewed out blazing orange-yellow flames one after the other, breaking free from the launch pad amidst a deafening roar and piercing the air. They then turned eastward, becoming two white streaks as they rapidly shot towards the eastern horizon.
Propelled by the secondary combustion ramjet engine, the missiles rapidly increased in speed. In just over ten seconds, they pierced through the clouds, rose above the sea of clouds, and were bathed in the brilliant golden sunlight.
The missile, spewing a bright trail of flame, left the setting sun behind.
****
Although the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology carried by the Rainbow Two can accurately locate targets, it cannot provide terminal fire control guidance for missiles. Su Ming deactivated the UAV's uniform straight-line flight mode and maneuvered it to hover over the Jade Sea and Tang Valley ".
This time, the radar on the drone started working in normal mode, continuously illuminating the target.
However, the thick cloud cover severely attenuated the radar signal. Su Ming had no choice but to repeatedly lower the altitude of Rainbow Two, flying almost close to the upper edge of the rolling clouds.
The system warning finally disappeared, indicating that the minimum required boot signal strength had been met.
As expected, the "Hawk Chicken" missile roared into the attack envelope about 100 kilometers from the target. Its passive radar seeker successfully captured the continuous illumination signal from the Rainbow Two and instantly locked onto the "Jade Sea and Tang Valley"!
The missile's flight control software reacted immediately, adjusting its flight attitude. One of the missiles even swooped down, piercing through the clouds again and entering a sea-skimming flight mode that skimmed the sea surface.
They exchange information closely with the Rainbow Two above the target via data links to complete positioning, guidance, and cooperation!
Suddenly, several new echoes appeared on the radar screen of Rainbow Two at the location of the "Jade Sea and Tang Valley"! Immediately afterwards, a series of large aerial targets took off from the massive aircraft carrier deck and accelerated their ascent!
"It's the Silver Dragon! They've come out!" Zijin's voice carried a hint of expected solemnity.
As a former dragon, Zijin was well aware of her kind's extraordinary perception. At this distance, they had clearly already sensed Rainbow Two's presence.
Whether from being cooped up for too long or for some other reason, all twelve of these Silver Dragon suddenly emerged! They rapidly ascended, their enormous wings stirring up the clouds, and began to fiercely pounce upwards through the clouds.
Without hesitation, Su Ming slammed the control stick forward! Rainbow Two, like a startled bird, plunged headfirst into the dense, swirling clouds below, nose down, and began a steep dive!
After a brief, breathtaking expanse of pure white, the view suddenly opened up ahead! Rainbow Two abruptly pierced through the thick cloud cover from a height of over a thousand meters, roaring into view beneath the dark clouds.
However, deadly danger was still imminent! Three Silver Dragon, which had just disembarked and had not yet ascended to cloud level, were rushing towards them!
Their cold, vertical pupils locked onto the small aircraft instantly, and they immediately flapped their wings to surround it!
Su Ming abruptly swung the control stick to its limit to the left! Rainbow Two immediately performed a violent roll maneuver, its fuselage spinning at high speed like a top, attempting to use the sudden change of direction to escape the strangulation!
But the clouds above were suddenly torn apart by several enormous silver shadows!
Several Silver Dragon, carrying a chilling aura, swooped down, their ferocious snouts open, and a dazzling white light gathered deep in their throats, surging forth. In the next instant, a deadly, scorching dragon breath shot out like a beam of light!
The Silver Dragon's breath attack was extremely fast and had a very long range. Su Ming tried his best to control it and narrowly dodged the first two attacks, but the third scorching energy stream accurately hit one of the Rainbow Two's wings!
Boom! With a violent explosion and flying metal fragments, the Rainbow Two signal instantly disappeared from the radar screen.
"Truly worthy of being the overlord of the skies—" Su Ming murmured in admiration. With the lightning-fast chase and intensity of the attack just now, even if a fully-fledged fighter jet from the technological side came, the outcome might not have been much better.
In pure close-quarters dogfighting, human technology is indeed no match for dragons.
****
The "Hawk Chicken" missile, which was skimming low over the sea, immediately activated its active radar seeker after losing the guidance of the Rainbow Two. The fire control radar beam was fired again, illuminating the "Jade Sea and Tang Valley".
Above the clouds, the world presented a scene of tranquility. The bright sunlight shone on the coiling Silver Dragon, its shimmering scales reflecting a dazzling brilliance, like flowing liquid metal.
Unfortunately, the sun was already setting, and the angle of the sunlight was very low, only about 15 degrees.
For some reason, all the Silver Dragon except for Yin'er felt an itch under their scales. When the alarm for an incoming aerial target sounded, they almost impatiently crawled out of their cramped and stuffy lower decks and took off one after another.
Instead of enduring the interplay of irritability and itching in a cramped space, it's better to go out and stretch your muscles.
Yin'er cautiously surveyed the vast sky around him, his sharp dragon eyes sweeping across the sea of clouds, but he found no other suspicious targets.
On the battlefield below the clouds, the Silver Dragon, who had just dealt with Rainbow Two, immediately detected the "Hawk Chicken" missile hurtling at extremely low altitude over the sea! Seven or eight Silver Dragon almost simultaneously changed direction, their white dragon breath gathering in their throats once more before shooting out!
Even though the missile was five times the speed of sound, it could not escape the oncoming, dense, rain-like barrage of dragon breath fire. It was shattered in mid-air and turned into a burning wreckage that fell into the cold sea.
The Silver Dragon let out a few short, high-pitched cries, exchanging information.
Yin'er nodded, preparing to lead the Silver Dragon above the clouds to expand the patrol area and fly further away to check if any other fish had escaped.
He spread his dragon wings, which blotted out the sky, and the low-angle golden sunlight shone through his long tail, casting a huge and oppressive shadow on the fluffy, cotton-candy-like clouds in the distance.