These jets were the 65 F-22SR Super Raptor jets and 8 B-1R Archer bombers that had taken off from Kadena Air Base at Okinawa.

  The surprise attack did not deter the 21 CF-21P Phoenix jets from retaliating, and each of them launched two rounds of their S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake missiles. They flew towards the F-22SR Super Raptors at high speed. The F-22SR Super Raptor jets launched their own black AIM-120F AMRAAM missiles.

  The AIM-12F AMRAAM missile was the final improved version of the AIM-120D missile. The range was reduced drastically from 180km to 100km, but its maximum speed was increased up to Mach 6, allowing the missile to become a hypersonic one that could ignore the evasive maneuvers of the target.

  Dozens of AIM-120F missiles were launched from the eight B-1R Archer flying 50km behind the F-22 Super Raptors.

  The B-1R Archer was able to load 32 rounds of AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to mitigate the lower weapons capacity of the F-22SR Super Raptor jets.

  Also, the B-1R Archer was equipped with an integrated aerospace system that allowed them to receive data from the jets engaged in battle. After receiving data from the other jets, it could attack the enemy from the rear.

  Each B-1R Archer was equipped with 16 rounds of AIM-120D AMRAAM missiles and the AIM-120F AMRAAM missiles. To sum up the total of all the missiles that the 65 F-22SR Super Raptor jets and 8 B-1R Archer bombers had, there were 340 rounds for the AIM-120F AMRAAM jets alone. Even excluding the first rounds they launched, there were still 339 rounds remaining.

  Woosh, woosh.

  Hundreds of air-to-air missiles launched from both sides flew across each other, and they started to fly towards the enemy’s formation.

  Each CF-21P Phoenix jet had four rounds of missiles tailing them. As the jets sprayed chaffs and flares while raising their altitude to make evasive maneuvers, the missiles started to gather towards the CF-21P Phoenix jet that was being piloted by Lieutenant Colonel Park Tae-gwang, the battalion commander.

  However, the powerful SECM jamming waves had caused two AIM-120F AMRAAM missiles to lose track of their targets and made them fall to the ground and explode. Also, one of the AIM-102F AMRAAM missiles crashed into the metal shrapnel of the chaff.

  The final round of the AIM-120F AMRAAM missile was tailing the CF-21P Phoenix jet and was about to turn its trajectory to hit its target. The Phoenix jet immediately turned 180 degrees and started to dive down. If the CF-21P Phoenix jet did not have the ACS (Antigravity Control System) equipped, then the pilot would not have been able to attempt such a maneuver and fainted from the 10G force.

  The high-tech maneuver that the CF-21P Phoenix jet made had caused the AIM-120F missile to lose its maximum maneuverability and made a wider turn than necessary. The jet raised its altitude, and once the missile was in view, the pilot aimed towards the tail of the missile and fired the 12mm laser Vulcan beams.

  The white laser beams flew towards the target in a downward spiral. When the laser beams struck the missile, it exploded.

  The surviving CF-21P Phoenix jet started to fire its remaining missiles towards the F-22SR Super Raptor jets.

  The skies on the other side had America’s F-22SR Super Raptors making evasive maneuvers to avoid the S-AAM-200 Rattlesnake missiles, but they started to be struck down by the missiles.

  * * *

  February 20th, 2021, 08:45

  The skies southwest of Honshu, Japan

  Twenty minutes ago, the skies above southwestern Honshu started to look like fireworks were going off from all the explosions.

  The three Corean flight battalions consisted of CF-21P Phoenix jets and CF/A-25P Black Phoenix bombers were fiercely battling against the 160 F/A-18E jets, 72 Super Hornet jets, 72 Lightning II jets, and 18 EA-18G Growler jets that had taken off from three U.S. aircraft carriers.

  The 20 minutes of aerial battles had caused both sides to exhaust their missiles, and the jets were now in a dog fight with each other at their tails.

  Through the white clouds, the two rounds of S-AAM-50 heat-seeking missiles were chasing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets flying down while spraying chaffs and flares from both sides. One of the S-AAM-50 Magpie Viper missiles crashed into a flare and exploded, but one of them was still tailing the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets.

  Boom!

  The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jet split into two pieces and exploded in the sky. All 72 F/A-18E/F SuperHornet jets were taken down, and now there were only 22 F-35C Lightning II jets and 11 EA-18G Growler jets.

  Meanwhile, the three Corean flight battalion’s Phoenix and Black Phoenix jets were unharmed. The performance of the Black Moon flight wing, being commanded by Major Choi Young-ho, the top gun, was excellent. The Black Moon flight wing had taken down 22 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and F-35C Lighting II jets. Eleven of those were taken down by Major Choi personally.

  The 20-minute-long dog fight between the 200 jets and the tide of the battle favored the Corean air force. The enemy jets started to turn around and move southwest while raising their altitude once the order to retreat came in.

  “I will not let you go that easily, you bastards,” Major Choi thought.

  Major Choi had taken down his 12th F-35C Lightning II jet that had turned tail with his 12mm laser beams. As he was about to chase after the EA-18G Growler jet that had caused the most trouble for them, the RWR alarms started to sound.

  “What the-!”


  Major Choi checked his radar when the RWR alarm started to sound, but he did not see any new planes being detected on the screen.

  Beeeeeeeeeep.

  Then, the alarm changed to the missile launch alarm and the radar’s display showed two missiles headed towards him at 2 o’clock, 90km away. There were also 100 missiles on the screen. It seemed that the enemy had launched two rounds of missiles towards each allied plane.

  The voice of each battalion commander came through the radio, and every flight wing, including Major Choi’s Black Moon started to split in both directions to make evasive maneuvers. When the missiles were somewhat closing in, the jets started to spray chaffs and flares.

  The missiles flew at high speed and struck many Phoenix jets and Black Phoenix bombers. Three Phoenix jets and one Black Phoenix bomber were taken down by the missile attack despite none of them being harmed during the dogfight.

  Luckily, the pilots of the four jets all escaped safely. Lieutenant Colonel Yeon Ho-il, the commander of the 110th flight battalion, started speaking with the other battalion commanders and gave orders to his own battalion-

  White Angel 1! This is the commander. Our battalion is to fly towards the launch point at high speeds and engage in battle. Each flight wing is to transition into the fingertip formation and move using afterburners. Over.

  The 24 CF-21P Phoenix jets under the 110th flight battalion raised their altitudes and started to fly towards their 11 o’clock using their afterburners. The 159th flight battalion’s 21 CF-21P jets also followed suit. The remaining 23 CF/A-25P Black Phoenix bombers under the 162nd flight battalion remained and chased after the fleeing jets.

  A second wave of missile attacks was headed towards the 110th flight battalion’s jets traveling at Mach 8 using their afterburners. The unidentified objects started to slowly show up on the radar.

  There were 44 F-22SR Super Raptor jets detected on the radar.

  * * *

  February 20th, 2021, 08:55

  The national emergency situation bunker under the Blue House, Seoul

  President Suh Hyun-woo had moved into the underground bunker once the air-raid sirens rang across the entire nation. After he evacuated, he watched through the TV the scene at downtown Daegu after it was hit by the BU-43/B MOABs.

  Excluding the 11th fighter wing base, four MOAB rounds were dropped onto downtown Daegu. The Dongseongro area, the most populated in the city, suffered the greatest. The air-raid sirens allowed some of the citizens to take shelter in the nearby subways, but since it was commuting hours, many people had sought shelter in buildings and there were severe casualties.

  The buildings within a 50m radius of the blast site had all collapsed with half of their steel frames exposed, emitting black smoke. Many citizens seemed to be trapped under the collapsed buildings, and there were many citizens and drivers injured on the road. Many firefighters and brave citizens were risking their lives to rescue those trapped inside the buildings.

  President Suh Hyun-woo, who was watching the scene through the television, had a somber look on his face. The chief secretary and the national security director also had grim looks on their faces as well.

  President Suh Hyun-woo placed his palms on his face to think, then grabbed the phone and started dialing.

  “This is the president.”
-

  Yes, sir.

  The other person on the line was Chairman Kang Ui-sik of the Joint Chief of Staff.

  “I hope I am not calling you during a crisis.”
-

  No, sir, Mr. President! It’s fine.

  “I just heard the news about Daegu being bombed through the news.”
-

  Apologies, sir. The situation is grave, so I was going to report in once it was taken care of.

  “I didn’t call you to scold you about not reporting in.”
-

  Then, why did you……?

  “I am giving you an order as the commander-in-chief of Corea. I am giving full authorization to the Joint Chief of Staff to use tactical weapons against America. Please do your best to prevent another outcome like Daegu from happening.”
-

  Mr. President! Are you authorizing us to attack mainland America as well?

  “If you judge it to be appropriate, then do so. I will speak with the Minister of National Defense.”
-

  Yes, sir. Then we acknowledge receipt of the authorization to attack mainland America and the use of tactical weapons and head into battle.

  “Since we are in an emergency, let’s finish the call.”
-

  Understood, sir!

  After he put down the receiver, Chief Secretary Na Sung-tae and National Security Director Oh Jang-soo stood up and glanced at the president with a bewildered look on their faces. When Director Oh Jang-soo was about to say something, the president raised his palm as if to stop him, and called over the chief secretary.

  “Secretary Na, please call the Minister of National Defense.”


  “Yes, sir.”


  “Also, once the situation settles down a bit, I would like to make a national address.”


  “I will make the preparations, sir.”


  “Please call the NSC in attendance within 30 minutes as well.”


  “Yes, Mr. President!”