286: Bonus Chapter ● The US-Iran Conflict in the Persian Gulf 2

However, Lieutenant Colonel Ben Taylor had not truly given up.

After flying fifty kilometers away from Iran's airspace, he slowed down and looked back at that dark coastline.

Captain Kaplan's voice came over the comms: "Taylor, what's the situation?"

"They've withdrawn," Ben said through gritted teeth. "Captain, if I go back like this, it'll be too embarrassing. I want to try again."

Kaplan was silent for a moment: "Are you sure?"

"Sure. They just launched two fighter jets, so they must have consumed a lot of fuel and won't be able to take off again for a while. I'll take advantage of this gap, get closer one more time, take some photos, and then withdraw."

Kaplan finally nodded: "Be careful, and keep the comms open."

The Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft turned around again and flew toward Iran's airspace.

At the Bandar Abbas monitoring station, radar operator Ali Hosseini stood up abruptly: "Report! The USA reconnaissance aircraft is back!"

Major Private First Class Amir's face turned livid: "Asshole! They are playing with us!"

Brigadier General Jafari received the report and slammed his fist on the table: "This is too much! Order the Su-30s to take off again! This time, let them know what a bottom line is!"

Lieutenant Colonel Hamid and his wingman had just landed and hadn't even finished refueling when they received the emergency takeoff order.

He cursed, pushed the throttle again, and the fighter jet roared into the night sky.

This time, they pursued even faster.

As soon as the Orion Reconnaissance Aircraft approached the airspace, the Su-30's radar had already locked onto it.

Lieutenant Colonel Hamid said coldly: "USA fighter, this is your last warning! If you don't leave within ten seconds, I will fire a missile!"

Lieutenant Colonel Ben Taylor's pupils shrank.

He saw on the radar that the Su-30 had activated its fire-control radar, a precursor to an impending attack.

He dared not hesitate any longer, yanked the stick, and the fighter turned with maximum G-force, fleeing frantically.

"USS Harry! They are really preparing to fire! I'm withdrawing!"

This time, he flew toward the aircraft carrier without looking back.

Lieutenant Colonel Hamid watched the enemy aircraft fly away, took a deep breath, and said to his wingman: "Report to headquarters, the enemy aircraft has fled, requesting permission to return to base."

Brigadier General Jafari received the message and said coldly: "Return to base. It should be quiet tonight."

However, he was wrong.

At 3:00 AM, the Bandar Abbas monitoring station's ear-piercing alarm sounded again.

Ali Hosseini stared at the screen, his voice trembling.

"Report... two unidentified aircraft, low altitude, slow speed, are flying toward our airspace! Feature analysis... they are drones! USA Reaper Drone!"

Major Private First Class Amir's face turned pale: "What... what are they trying to do?"

Brigadier General Jafari received the report, stood up abruptly, and anger burned in his eyes.

"First a reconnaissance aircraft, now drones! USA, do you really think Iran is a pushover?"

He strode to the command console, staring at the two dots on the screen.

They had crossed the border and entered Iran's airspace, but they were only loitering at the border, not continuing to penetrate deeper.

The adjutant said cautiously: "General, perhaps they are just testing us, they won't really..."

"Won't they?" Major Jafari sneered. "They have provoked us again and again tonight, and now they've sent drones to scout our air defense positions! Pass on my order: 'Sky Thunder' Type 4 air defense missiles, enter launch status!"

Outside the Bandar Abbas air defense position, two missile launchers slowly raised their launch racks, the milky white missiles gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

The operator stared intently at the radar screen, his finger hovering over the launch button.

"General, the targets are still loitering at the border. Shall we fire?"

Major Jafari was silent for a moment: "Wait. As long as they dare to penetrate deeper, fire!"

The drones circled the border for a full twenty minutes.

The Iran Air Force did not scramble any fighter jets to intercept.

The operator of the Reaper Drone at Al Dhafra Air Base, thousands of miles away, curled his lips into a smug smile: "See, they're scared. Keep going deeper, fly over their heads and take photos!"

The two drones did not hesitate any longer and accelerated, flying deep into Iran's airspace.

Brigadier General Jafari stared at the screen, watching the two dots getting closer and closer, finally crossing the red line in his heart.

"Fire!"