285: Bonus Chapter ● The US-Iran Conflict in the Persian Gulf (Part 1)

Nights in the Persian Gulf are never quiet.

Moonlight spilled over the calm surface of the sea, reflecting the massive and cold silhouette of the aircraft carrier USS Harry.

The radar on the island rotated slowly, like an eye that never closed, monitoring this sensitive stretch of sea.

On the flight deck, ground crew members were performing final checks on an Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft.

Mechanic Jack Harrison patted the skin of the fuselage and shouted to the pilot in the cockpit, "Ben, fuel is full, the electronic reconnaissance pod is normal, you're clear for departure anytime."

Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Commander Ben Taylor gave a thumbs up, a hint of a disdainful smile on his face.

"Just another 'stroll' to the Iran border. What can those Iranians do besides shout? Last time they chased me for twenty nautical miles in Su-30s, and in the end, didn't they just watch me leave?"

Jack frowned. "Ben, don't be careless. Their anti-aircraft missile deployments have been getting denser lately. Intelligence from above says they might be equipped with the new 'Sky Thunder' system."

"Sky Thunder?" Ben laughed and started the engine.

"That's just a remake of Russia's obsolete technology. Don't worry, I'll stick to the international line; they won't dare to actually fire. USA pilots aren't people they can afford to mess with."

The roar of the engine drowned out the conversation.

The Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft slowly taxied toward the catapult. The ground crew signaled, the steam catapult let out a sharp hiss, and the fighter jet, like an arrow shot from a giant bow, instantly disappeared into the night sky.

Inside the aircraft carrier's command center, Captain Robert Kaplan stared at the blip on the screen.

His adjutant, Major David Miller, asked in a low voice, "Captain, today's mission area is ten nautical miles deeper than usual. Isn't that too risky?"

Kaplan picked up his coffee and said indifferently, "Central Theater Command wants to know the actual response of Iran's southern anti-aircraft fire."

"We have electronic warfare jammers on standby nearby; even if they fire, they won't hit anything. Let Lieutenant Colonel Taylor go; he's experienced."

Miller hesitated, "But..."

"No buts," Kaplan interrupted him. "We are the USA Navy, not a sightseeing boat. Let those Iranians know who calls the shots in these waters."

The Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft soon flew past Camelman Bay, entering the edge of Iran's southern airspace.

Lieutenant Colonel Commander Ben Taylor looked at the flickering boundary line on the radar screen, gave a contemptuous snort, pushed the control stick, and the fighter steadily crossed that invisible line.

Inside the anti-aircraft monitoring station at Bandar Abbas, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Radar operator Ali Hosseini stared intently at the screen, his fingers rapidly tapping the keyboard to lock onto the blip that had suddenly intruded.

He turned and shouted to the officer on duty, "Report! A USA reconnaissance aircraft has intruded into our airspace, bearing 035, distance 120 kilometers, altitude 8000 meters, speed Mach 0.7!"

The officer on duty, Major Amir, immediately grabbed the phone. "Report to the National Guard's Bandar Abbas Command immediately! Also, notify the airbase to put the fighter jets on emergency standby!"

The news reached the command center within minutes.

The person in charge, Brigadier General Jafari, was studying troop deployments in front of a map. Hearing the report, his brow furrowed.

"Them again," he said coldly. "We drove them away once, and now they're back. It seems they think we don't dare to take action."

The adjutant asked cautiously, "General, should we scramble the jets immediately?"

Jafari was silent for a moment before waving his hand. "Scramble the Su-30s, but order the pilots to warn them first and not to fire proactively. We want the world to see that they are the ones provoking us, not the other way around."

At the Bandar Abbas Airbase, two Su-30 fighter jets were already fueled up, and the pilots quickly boarded.

The lead pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Hamid Rezayi, buckled his seatbelt and shouted to his wingman, "Ali, keep up with me. Remember, maintain formation and follow my lead."

"Understood!" replied the wingman, Captain Ali Mohammadi.

With a command from the tower, the two Su-30s spat out glowing tail flames, pierced through the night, and headed straight for Camelman Bay.

A few minutes later, Lieutenant Colonel Hamid's radar locked onto the target ahead.

He adjusted the channel and issued a warning in fluent English.

"USA reconnaissance aircraft, you have entered Iranian airspace! Leave immediately! Leave immediately! Otherwise, we have the right to shoot you down directly!"

Inside the Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft, the smile on Lieutenant Colonel Commander Ben Taylor's face froze when he heard the warning.

He looked down at the radar; two Su-30s were rapidly closing in, the distance already less than fifty kilometers.

"Damn, they reacted this fast this time?"

Muttering, he quickly adjusted the comms. "USS Harry, this is Orion. Iran has scrambled two Su-30s and they are closing in. Requesting instructions!"

In the carrier's command center, Captain Kaplan stared at the screen and said in a heavy voice, "Lieutenant Colonel Taylor, maintain your course. Do not back down. Do they have the guts to fire?"

Just as he finished speaking, Major Miller cried out, "Captain, the Su-30s have entered missile range!"

Cold sweat broke out on Lieutenant Colonel Commander Ben Taylor's forehead.

He saw two balls of fire getting closer in the night sky—those were the Su-30s' afterburners.

He gritted his teeth and finally chickened out. "USS Harry, I've decided to withdraw."

The fighter jet banked sharply and accelerated to escape.

Behind him, Lieutenant Colonel Hamid gave a cold laugh. "I knew they didn't have the nerve to push it."

The two Su-30s circled the border for a moment, and after confirming the enemy aircraft was far away, they turned and headed back to Bandar Abbas.