41: Is the intelligence accurate?

"What?"

A middle-aged man drinking coffee jolted, spilling coffee all over himself.

But he didn't care at all, just widened his eyes, staring fixedly at the television screen.

"It can't be real, right? Eighteen for thirty-six? And they destroyed a base? How is that possible!"

"More propaganda, right... Every time before they said it was a great victory, but what was the result?"

"Exactly, Lang Country's F-14 Tomcats are so powerful, how could we possibly fight them?"

The public discussed animatedly, but most people wore expressions of doubt and disbelief.

The truth was that previous battle reports had been so full of hot air. They had been 'victorious' too many times already and were long since numb to it.

However, the words of the television host that followed left everyone stunned.

"I know many people may find it hard to believe this astonishing battle outcome."

"But! This time, it's real!"

"Because our Air Force is equipped with brand new, advanced fighter jets from the Eagle!"

The host's words were firm and resounding.

"Now, please watch the precious footage we have transmitted from the front lines!"

The scene changed.

A clear video began to play.

In the video, a sleek, graceful, and powerfully imposing silver-gray fighter jet.

was taxiing on the runway, then suddenly pitched its nose up, pulling a dazzling trail of afterburner flames as it soared straight into the sky.

That aerodynamic shape, full of oppressive force, that formidable posture, was something the people of Iraq had never seen before.

"This is our new war eagle—the f-15 'eagle' fighter jet!"

The host's voiceover was filled with pride.

"It is precisely thanks to its unparalleled performance that our pilots were able to thoroughly defeat Lang Country's F-14s in the blue sky!"

Although the video was brief, the impact it delivered was immense.

"My God... this plane... it's too cool!"

"So we have new planes! No wonder we could win!"

"F-15! Eagle! A good name!"

Suddenly, everything became clear.

All doubts vanished in an instant upon seeing the agile and powerful form of the F-15.

People embraced each other, cheering and jumping for joy, some even shedding tears of excitement.

Meanwhile, extra print runs of major newspapers were delivered to every street and alley.

"Our Military Shoots Down Thirty-Six Enemy Aircraft!"

"The Miracle Over Sanandaj! The F-15's Debut Battle Seals Its Legendary Status!"

The entire city of Baghdad, no, the entire country of Iraq, awoke from the dull oppression of war, plunging completely into a sea of joy.

In stark contrast to Iraq's nationwide jubilation was the capital of Lang Country, Tehran.

Inside the military operations command center, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The Supreme Leader, Khomeini, sat at the head of the table. His deeply lined face was now clouded over, his eyes cold enough to frost over.

Below him, a group of generals was as silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe loudly.

The Air Force Commander's forehead was covered in cold sweat. He held a casualty report in his hand, his wrist trembling slightly.

"Speak."

Khomeini squeezed out a single word through gritted teeth.

"Yes... Supreme Leader."

The Air Force Commander swallowed hard with difficulty and reported in a dry voice.

"The Sanandaj... air battle... we... we lost thirty-six aircraft, including twelve F-14s."

"The Sanandaj base was completely destroyed. The runway, fuel depot, hangars... everything is gone."

A deathly silence.

In the command center, only the heavy breathing of the generals could be heard.

"F-14s... our most advanced Tomcats, we lost twelve of them too?"

One general asked incredulously.

"The Iraqis... what planes were they using? Could their MiG-23s be that powerful?"

"No... not MiGs."

The Air Force Commander's face grew even more grim.

"According to reports from surviving pilots, and the last intelligence we obtained... the Iraqis deployed a type of aircraft we have never seen before."

"They call it... the F-15, 'Eagle'."

"F-15?"

Khomeini's brow furrowed tightly.

The Air Force Commander hurriedly explained, "Yes, the F-15 'Eagle'. Like our F-14 'Tomcat', it is a top-tier third-generation fighter produced by the Eagle."

"In terms of overall performance, our F-14 is actually stronger in radar and beyond-visual-range combat capabilities."

"Then why did we lose?!"

A hot-tempered general slammed the table.

"Our pilots are elite veterans with extensive combat experience! Our Tomcats are the world's strongest fighter jets! Why did we lose so badly?!"

"It's the missiles!"

The Air Force Commander's tone suddenly rose, carrying a note of resentment and anger.

"It's a missile problem!"

"Our 'Phoenix' long-range missiles, due to a lack of technical support and parts from the Eagle, have an extremely low serviceability rate. They simply cannot perform as they should!"

"Meanwhile, the Iraqis' F-15s are equipped with advanced medium-range missiles we've never even heard of!"

"Our pilots report that the enemy's missiles are almost impossible to evade after launch, terrifyingly accurate!"

He paused, then summarized.

"We didn't lose to Iraqi pilots, nor did we lose to the F-15. We lost to the Eagle's missiles!"

"The Eagle!"

These two words changed the complexion of every general present.

"They actually sold F-15s to the Iraqis!"

"What does this mean? Is the Eagle going to openly support Iraq and oppose us?!"

"Bastards! Those treacherous, oath-breaking scoundrels!"

The generals were roused to fury.

"Enough."

Khomeini spoke coldly, cutting off the argument.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over each person.

"The defeat has already happened. Arguing is meaningless."

"Since our missiles are no good, then we will buy better ones!"

His hand slammed down heavily on the map.

"Send people immediately! Go to Russia! Go to China!"

"Tell them, as long as they are willing to sell, we will pay double the price!"

"I don't care about the model. As long as it's a missile more advanced than the Eagle's, buy it for me!"

A flame of vengeance burned in Khomeini's eyes.

"I will make them pay back this humiliation twofold!"

The outcome of the Sanandaj air battle swept across the globe like a magnitude-12 super earthquake.

The news spread at the speed of light to the intelligence centers of all major powers.

When it was confirmed that the Iraqi Air Force was equipped with f-15 "eagle" fighter jets

and had completely annihilated a Lang Country F-14 fighter wing with overwhelming force, the whole world was stunned.

Everyone's first reaction was: Impossible!

That is absolutely impossible!

The F-15? That's the Eagle's trump card, its top-tier air superiority fighter!

Apart from the Eagle itself and a few of its most core, staunch allies, no one else could possibly get their hands on it!

What rank does Iraq hold?

A Middle Eastern country currently fighting a bloody war with Lang Country.

A country on the Eagle's sanctions list—how could it possibly acquire such a formidable weapon?

And not just one or two planes, but an entire combat-ready fighter regiment, a full thirty-six aircraft!

This is simply a fairy tale!

However, satellite photos don't lie, reports from surviving Lang Country pilots don't lie, and battlefield wreckage certainly doesn't lie.

The facts were laid bare.

Iraq truly possessed the F-15.

Instantly, the world's gaze focused on the land of the Middle East.

Countless speculations and analyses stirred up a stormy sea within the highest decision-making echelons of the major powers.

Moscow, the Kremlin.

The atmosphere in the huge office was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Gorbachev held a cigarette between his fingers but hadn't lit it, just letting it slowly turn.

His face was dark, his eyes sharp as knives, fixed intently on the KGB Director before him.

"Are you certain the intelligence is accurate and without error?"

His voice was not loud, but each word carried a chill.

"Yes, Comrade General Secretary."