Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 624 - 598 Warning

Chapter 624: Chapter 598 Warning

After what felt like an interminable takeoff roll, the plane finally took off, smoothly and without any chaotic scenes.

At the moment of takeoff, those who were unaware of the situation would only be relieved to have escaped danger, but those who knew the inside story would become increasingly tense.

One wonders if Ben would shoot down the plane, and if they dare to shoot down the plane.

Perhaps it’s the full load of people on board that made Ben hesitant. Overall, the flight was quite stable, with a smooth takeoff phase.

As the plane gradually reached cruising altitude, Nevan finally breathed a slight sigh of relief and smiled at Gao Yi, saying, "Very good, it looks like we’re safe."

Nevan might have been speaking ironically because as soon as he said the word "safe," the plane suddenly shook a bit, and then red lights began flashing in the cabin.

The alarm beeped incessantly.

Gao Yi was stunned for a moment and looked at Nevan, who also seemed a bit flustered; he then grabbed his headset and urgently asked, "What’s going on, why is there an alarm?"

"We’ve been locked by fire-control radar. Ben is demanding we return to land."

"WTF!"

Nevan got up from his seat and ran toward the nearest observation porthole.

This is a transport plane, and while there are portholes in the cabin, there aren’t many. Nevan had to move around to see the situation outside.

Once at the window, Nevan saw an F-15 quickly fly past from the side.

An F-15 from Ben, flying sideways, revealing its missile-loaded belly.

Showing the belly was a forced landing warning, and there wasn’t just one fighter jet; right after Nevan saw a fighter jet fly past one side of the transport plane, another flew quickly over the top.

The fighter jet’s wake turbulence caused the transport plane to jolt, not too violently but enough to be frightening.

"Four fighter jets around us, demanding we return and land immediately. We’re locked on by fire-control radar, and they could open fire at any moment."

The pilot reported to Nevan, who immediately said without hesitation, "Ignore it, keep flying. They absolutely don’t dare to fire."

Before he finished speaking, the pilot suddenly let out an exclamation.

A fighter jet suddenly pulled up quickly from beneath the transport plane in a stunt-like maneuver, slicing past less than ten meters in front like a sharp sword.

This maneuver was terrifying, and the proximity was so close that the fighter jet’s engine exhaust could cause severe turbulence for the massive transport plane.

The transport plane suddenly shook violently and repeatedly. Some passengers who weren’t strapped into their seats were thrown up and came crashing back onto their seats.

The cabin was in disarray, screams rose and fell, and some even began to vomit from air sickness.

Gao Yi didn’t feel much because he figured if Ben really dared to take action, they wouldn’t have waited until now. They could have taken him out directly at the airport. Why wait until he was in the sky to send planes to intercept?

Rather than an interception, it was more like an exasperated futile attempt.

Of course, there might have been orders to ensure Gao Yi or Amos stayed behind, but Gao Yi felt that possibility was unlikely.

"Where are our escort fighters? Where are the escort planes!"

Nevan was both angry and anxious, with no way to directly contact the ground, resorting to communication via the pilot.

"Our fighter jet is here!"

The pilot exclaimed in delight, and then an FA-18 zoomed in from the side at high speed.

Originally, there should have been fighter jets escorting alongside, but a slight coordination issue likely occurred, causing the transport plane to take off first, with the escort fighter jet arriving a step late.

One against four, a Super Hornet against four F-15Js.

Gao Yi couldn’t see, and hardly anyone on the transport plane could see what was happening outside. The airspace was vast, and the engagement range of the fighter jets could extend over tens of kilometers, with very few moments visible to the naked eye.

But the pilot of the transport plane saw what was happening directly ahead.

Neither side opened fire, but instead engaged in an aerial dogfight of forcing away and counter-forcing away.

Dogfight maneuvering, tail-chasing each other without firing, only using fire-control radar for locking.

"Wow... quite impressive, but we have too few planes. Ben is very arrogant, huh."

An F-15J rushed head-on towards the Navy’s FA-18 at high speed. It’s certainly impossible for the two planes to collide in mid-air, but Ben showed the momentum of not firing but willing to go down together.

Trying to collide head-on in the air is extremely difficult; it requires both pilots to have superb flying skills and to align very carefully, only possible if neither side is willing to dodge.

But the Super Hornet pilot was incredibly gutsy, adjusting flight attitude and path in the air, aligning straight with Ben’s F-15, flying straight ahead.

The F-15 showed no intention of avoiding, with both aligning and heading forward at nearly 0.7 Mach speed.

"They’re about to collide head-on, oh... shit, Falke, yes!"

The pilot yelled, and Nevan, unable to see anything, quickly moved to another porthole, asking, "What’s happening!"

"Ben yielded, it was extreme. Trust me, even pilots in stunt flying teams wouldn’t dare do this, but Ben yielded, the Navy guy really has guts!"

Nevan felt relieved, then urgently said, "Let me talk to the Navy pilot, quickly, help me connect."

The transport plane served as a relay station, allowing Nevan to establish radio contact with the fighter jet, and just as Nevan’s call connected, a voice excitedly shouted, "Come on, come on, come on! Falke you! If you dare, crash into me, Falke you!"

Nevan urgently said, "Buddy, well done, I’m the commander here. I’m asking, how many fighter escorts did you send?"

"It’s just me now, but two more will be arriving soon."

Nevan urgently asked, "What’s the order you received? Do you have permission to fire?"

"Yes, under orders from the Indo-Pacific Command, we can fire to take down any threats to your aircraft when necessary, but we must not fire unless necessary."

Nevan immediately felt reassured.

The Indo-Pacific Command gave the order, meaning the Pentagon had made the final decision.

The garrison’s command only has the authority to manage stationed US Army forces and coordinate combat with Ben, but not the authority to order war.

In other words, the stationed US Army is merely the weapon, while the trigger is in the hands of the Indo-Pacific Command.

Now that the Indo-Pacific Command has authorized firing, it means the trigger has been pulled, not merely that it can be pulled. From now on, the stationed US Army can engage in combat at any time, with anyone as the potential adversary.

This open call ensures Ben can hear it, thus serving as an unmasked warning.