Chapter Twenty-Two: Preparations

"They still underestimate the Ruvanians way too much...", he sighed.

"Even if you know your skills, your training, your equipment...everything is better...even if you know it, one must not underestimate the enemy, for being unpredictable can be a greater advantage than all the previous ones combined.", Dmitri added.

Anthony overheard Dmitri's response to Leon as he was walking to the new planes and decided to join in.

"With all due respect Roskoff...I have squared off with the Ruvanian's on many occasions...i've also been shot down when fighting their newest birds. My wingman and my best friend had also been shot down and my fiance wounded in action. I have also seen many of my fellow pilots die by the hand of Ruvanian pilots. I as a Boomslang do not underestimate my enemy and I will do what I must to defeat those responsible for this war so we can all go back to our homes and loved ones." Anthony said with a serious tone.

"If your words are true, good; do whatever it takes to reach your goals, kid. But don't make the same mistake I have seen many Kesalian pilots doing, thinking that just because their hardware is superior, that they are undefeatable. I have seen a lot of cocky personnel get killed because of this stupid assumption.", he responded.

"I've seen the same on both sides...I come from a family of pilots. My dad was an F-16 and he was killed when he was shot down by an Esknarian MiG and my uncle was a POW after being shot down many years ago. I know the risk and that it is unwise to underestimate the Ruvanian forces. I've also seen Ruvanian pilots fall to WePAC fighters that they considered inferior." Anthony added

"What I said about the Kesalian pilots apply to everyone, no one is perfect Mr Cleroux."

"I mean no harm Mr. Roskoff as we are all in this together...I just wanted to put things into perspective." Anthony replied.

"None taken. Like I said...no one is perfect, I would not go defending my people for doing wrong just because I am part of them."

"Yeah...I hope so.", he finally displayed a friendly gesture by reaching out his hand for Voodoo to shake.

Anthony shook Dmitri's hand and smiled

"Alright you two...hopefully you can maintain this new found camaraderie in the air. But now we have a meeting to get to so Cleroux hightail it over to the ready room, it turns out that Ebinger guy might have some intel for a very important op." Leon said.

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10:00 Hours (10:00AM)

The pilots entered the ready room and took their seats to wait for Nathan and General Celuchu.

"Alright everyone, it's nice to see you all once again and to also see some new faces too. During the past few months the Ruvanian military made a hasty retreat back to Ruvania following their defeat and the loss of their HQ in the city of Visvasa back in August. Mr. Ebinger has provided us with some valuable intel in the past few months as well...Nathan you have the floor." The general said stepping down from the podium. 

"Thank you, General.", Nathan walked toward the podium and began his briefing. "Welcome, everyone. As the General said, we have valuable information regarding a critical point for the campaign: we believe we have located the Ruvanian leaders' main base: a DUMB, or Deep Underground Military Base, deeper within their territory than any previous sortie."

"Large gates were detected quickly opening and closing near the top of the Baikal Peak, some 3,000 meters high. We think the entire Peak is the base, going several miles underground, a huge complex."

"Our guess is that a tactical nuclear bunker buster can clear out the location and wipe out their leaders, but the air defense network above and around the area is massive, with hundreds of SAM batteries and probably fighters of all kinds, conventional and stealth. Not to mention...the Triton. We've had trouble locating it in the past few months and we now confirmed the Electrosphere can also effectively cloak the ship. For all intents and purposes...it's invisible."

"Mr Ebinger...will we be able to pull this off with legacy birds or is this a stealth only mission?" Kim asked

"For this mission, you're gonna have to use stealth fighters. That's why the WePAC nations have been mass-producing F-35's and F-15SE's for the task. Thanks to our Fully Autonomous Aviation Production Plant, or FAAPP, we can deliver a lot more planes in a shorter time."