The price of not blocking the way is...
"'Cyclops' got taken down!"
The squadron leader "Titan" of the "Zero Point" squadron murmured as if unable to accept this fact.
Suddenly, there was a burst of noise on the public communication channel.
"That... whoever you are, if you dare... come and fight me!!!"
A certain rookie was boasting arrogantly on the communication channel.
System: Ding! Dance with missiles for 18 seconds/60 seconds, maintain a beautiful posture, gain Energy Points +200
The task was not yet complete, and having just tasted the sweet deal of the "Basic Optical Observer," Chen Fei loathed to give up these 200 energy points.
So... dear friend, please stay a while longer!
"Chen Fei, you'd better head back!"
The short-haired girl was yelling frantically on the communication channel.
Having lured these two MiG-28s here and bought enough time, Chen Fei's mission could be considered as having gone according to plan, and now bringing down another MiG was a completely unexpected gain.
The tactical value couldn't be calculated as just swapping a turboprop for a jet fighter.
Looking at the electronic map position, combined with the positioning information captured by the ground-based radar, it was highly probable that he had snatched a bargain.
In a situation where the prepared compete with the unprepared, even veterans may capsize in the gutter, let alone in the Xingdu Kush Mountain Area, which is more complex than any gutter.
Otherwise, with the rookie's previous performance, it was already a miracle he wasn't being chased and howling.
"Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios had already seen that the original tactical plan had been disrupted—the remaining MiG-28 pilot was certainly not to be trifled with. She herself had to be extremely cautious, yet her opponent had suddenly gambled with a big move by firing four combat bombs all at once, completely turning the situation on its head.
If it weren't for Chen Fei suddenly appearing out of nowhere and unexpectedly taking down a MiG-28, this battle might have had an unpredictable outcome.
Chen Fei, this genuine rookie, didn't know when to quit and was deliberately provoking a pilot on the level with Chekhov.
Usually, for squadron leaders, a wingman is closer than a brother. You killed his brother, and said such things, you're forcing him into a fight to the death!
"Kid, I've got you in my sights!"
A chilling voice of "Titan," the squadron leader of "Zero Point," resounded through the public communication channel.
If such deep hatred is not avenged, I swear I am not human!
The MiG-28 suddenly turned around, its nose pointing directly at Chen Fei's plane number 211, as if carrying the fury like thunder, throwing the roaring sound of the engine right behind it.
"I... woah, he's really coming!"
Chen Fei had originally thought that the other side would be magnanimous and let it go, but that guy was as petty as a needlepoint, comparable to Chekhov Big Bear.
In a rush, he frantically turned around and dived down, the vast mountain ridge was my love, and under the lush green mountains "flowers" are about to bloom...
Big Bear(*￣(エ)￣): How am I as petty as a needlepoint!? Clarify that!
Watching the rookie's plane 211 being hotly pursued by the boosted MiG-28 yelling, "Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios was almost at a loss whether to laugh or cry; what on earth was this supposed to be?
From the rear seat, the laughter of the fire control operator "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis drifted up; he couldn't contain himself any longer, pounding on the canopy and bursting into loud laughter, nearly laughing himself to death.
Just as the MiG-28 was closing in on the plane number 211, it suddenly yawed, like a meteor, speeding away, and in a blink, only a bright flare of its tail was left.
"Devil Pepper" Ilinei Rusios: "..."
What does this mean now?
However, the fire control operator "Nutmeg" Salaman Francis in the rear seat guessed what had happened, suddenly realizing, "He's out of missiles!"
Even though the MiG-28 is a jet and can fly super fast and perform supersonic flights, compared to the "Big Mouth Monster," its weapon load is much less.
The MiG-28 jets, swarming into the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron, were armed solely with programmable combat bombs on their wings and tips, and with the central axle in the fuselage, they could only carry as many as five.
The leader of the "Zero Point" Squadron, "Titan," gifted Chen Fei the first of the combat bombs as a welcoming gift, and the remaining four bombs helped "Cyclops," the wingman, break free while also causing trouble for aircraft numbers 212 and 216 of the "Genuine Fragrance" Squadron.
However, this meant all five combat bombs were spent, leaving only some rounds for the aircraft cannon, which severely limited their combat capabilities. Even the leader of the "Zero Point" Squadron could only bluster helplessly, taking the opportunity to slip away swiftly.
Chen Fei neither heard the warning sound of being locked by fire control radar nor saw any predictive trajectory, and upon looking back, he found the sky behind him empty.
Checking the battlefield data link for friend and foe information, he realized that the tough-talking adversary had long since fled.
"Darn it! He's run away!"
While his comrades still needed support, "Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios urged displeasedly, "Rookie, keep up with me!"
With one MiG-28 gone, the remaining jet fighters probably got the news too, and though the Rookie's combat skills were questionable, having him by one's side could still be intimidating.
"I'm coming, I'm coming!"
Chen Fei turned his aircraft around and chased after the deputy squadron leader's aircraft number 212.
"Hey, Yamada, when can you get here? I'm freezing to death!"
Dangling from a parachute, "Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati sneezed, shivering in the cold wind as he slowly descended.
He wondered if the maintenance team had promptly repaired those two Z-9 armed helicopters, hoping Yamada could pick him up soon. He couldn't stand to stay a moment longer in this deserted, haunted place.
He saw the main driver "Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear hanging nearby under another parachute, silent, and shouted, "Hey, 'Scallion Oil,' aren't you cold?"
"Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear replied dully, "Is your face cold?"
The Fire Control Operator thought for a moment and said, "Well, it's sort of okay!"
Compared to his body, his face just felt cooler, not chilling to the bone.
"Scallion Oil" Babarro Big Bear said, "My whole body is a face!"
"Cinnamon Powder" Sug Sati: "..."
In the distant sky, a star twinkled, faintly showing specks of starlight scattered about.
"This is 'Peanut Butter,' reporting my combat results and losses: I shot down two MiG-28s, I'm unharmed, but I'm out of missiles."
The slightly panting voice of Chekhov Big Bear came through the communications channel, finally having a moment to inquire about his teammates' combat status.
True to the "Genuine Fragrance" Combat Flight Squadron leader's reputation, he had successfully shot down two MiG-28 jet fighters on his own.
"Aircraft 213 reporting, I didn't shoot any down, I have one combat bomb left, and my wing-mounted machine guns are out of bullets, sorry!"
"Aircraft 214 reporting, I shot down one MiG-28, I'm out of missiles, with only 20 bullets left, I'll have to resort to tactical deception."
Fighting against jet fighters, the turboprop "Big Mouth Monster" naturally faced immense pressure, relying on its weapons to avoid being shot down instantly.
Even so, the situation was still far from optimistic.
Aircraft 213 and 214 were nearly out of ammo and supplies, uncertain how much longer they could hold on.
"'Dragon Artemisia,' hold on, I'm coming to support you first, Little Chili, how about your side?"
Major Chekhov directly inquired about one of the most critical elements of the tactical plan.
"Aircraft 216 was shot down, one MiG-28 was taken down by the Rookie, another MiG-28 escaped, there's no threat anymore, the Rookie and I are on our way."
"Devil Pepper" Irinei Rusios truthfully reported her situation.
"Uh, the Rookie took one down? Hey, Rookie, are you still alive?"
Major Chekhov had been too busy to pay attention to Chen Fei's earlier conversation with the deputy squadron leader and was now double-checking.
He always felt it was more likely for others to take down Chen Fei rather than the other way around.
Chen Fei responded irritably, "I'm dead, if you need something, burn paper, for minor things summon my soul, for major matters dig up my grave!"