*** La America Libre
As the night slowly engulfed the entire region, setting it towards path of sleep and peace, something completely opposite happened in LATRAD (Latin American Aerospace Defense Command) located under Mt. Túquerres in Gran Cuscatlan. Now, victorious after the pacification of uprising in far away land and ending it's own internal troubles, the original founding member of SACTO and closes ally Inyursta even dreamed of having was growing more prosperous than now deceased General Raul Martinez de Santa Ana, first El Caudillo de Gran Cuscatlan, even dreamed of achieving. General Carlos Araujo Silva, coming from Portuguese speaking part of Federación de Gran Cuscatlan, returned to power and successfully pacified most of the internal troubles this tropical nation has been dealing with for ages. Except few areas, drug trade became history, with one of biggest exoduses of druglords to neighbouring counties happening just recently; most of paramilitary groups were given a simple order to disarm and / or be integrated into newly formed Guarda Civil, or face elimination by force. Communist insurgents were pacified with extreme prejudice. It was indeed heavy, but just hand this former general of BOEP used in combat against the internal threats - but in this land violence was something normal, and he had neither regrets nor complaints about making sure that drug lords learn their lesson - in blood.
Yet not everything was over. Cuscatlani leadership, allied with Inyursta in eternal friendship, have always been fighting against foreign influences in the region. After throwing out Dorian - sponsored insurgency in Chucara and even striking the land of whom they seen as "colonialists" itself, Carlos Silva had far bigger problem on the horizon; COSTAL treaty. There was no way he was going to abandon his fellow allies from Inyursta, no matter what could happen; and Nihon was one of biggest Cuscatlani trade partners, where the Federación exported tons of oil, feeding the great tiger's eternal hunger for the black gold. By this decision, Carlos Silva decided to stand by his friend Jean - Baptise Calderone, no matter what the future may bring.
Future was manifesting itself at that very moment in LATRAD command center, when Gen. Miguel Tapia Suárez looked at the shining displays of the combat information center (CIC) he was in. On first glance, General Suárez was not imposing - he was barely 170 centimeters high, his body posture like a bamboo tree, thin, but extremely firm. Below a white cap of the Ejercito Cuscatalno was a thin, oval face, filled with tanned skin and pair of almond - shaped, mesmerizing green eyes, that deeply contrasted with raven dark hair emerging from below his cap. When one added to it short mustache and general seriousness coming from his figure, this could be how some foreigner imagined typical member of Junta Militare De Restoración Nacional. Indeed, this very officer had a long career in Fuerzas Arearas, including taking part in development of it's operational doctrine. For that reason he was given command of LATRAD.
"Command, new contact, bearing two two zero, distance two nine zero zero, attitude ten zero zero zero zero kilometers, speed assigned call sign "Biara", over!" said nervously man from OTH early warning station in La Paz on a phone. On his over the horizon radar they could barely distinguish the incoming contacts from the surroundings; poor resolution of the OTH radar prevented the Fuerzas Arearas from performing any identification. Yet, target was going far quicker than a mere civilian plane, and it's behaviour and lack of transponder excluded it from being a civilian jet. After the recent events, General Staff in Santiago suspected coming Hayesalian retaliation. Yet, in mind of Gen. Tapia Suárez this action was suicide - both Gran Cuscatlan and Inyursta operated fully modern air forces and air defense forces, more than capable of ripping to shreds any threat.
Was this a diversion?
"Scramble the aircraft from 2nd Fighter Aviation regiment for interception. Forward the information to our Inyrstan counterparts and alert 2nd Surface to Air Missile brigade at Chucara."
The silence fell among the room as operators quickly went forward to carry out their tasks. One of them would inform Inyurstan Military of the situation, including specific data about the target plane's location, speed and attitude. Very soon a new voice was heard:
"Interceptors inbound for randez-vouz. Muçurana zero two and Muçurana zero three from Norte de Santander. Estimated intercept Muçurana zero two next one zero, Muçurana zero three next one five." came the information as the enormous screen displayed the aircraft starting for the intercept. Meanwhile Inyurstans would be informed of the situation. LATRAD firmly believed in their capability to do what is needed with the incoming threat. Constant cooperation will be kept between military authorities in both counties to make sure of mutual knowledge and readiness.
It was well known that since the civil war, and overthrowing of Amelia Campos's liberal government by Cuscatlani backed Admiral Rosario - Salazar, Chucara served as extension of Cuscatlani air defense network. Having build several airbases, almost two aviation regiments were stationed on the island; one composed of IEK-88 Taipan, second one of MiG-31PMU, a local Cuscatlani upgrade. Unlike classic MiGs - 31, this version was fitted with newest Nihonese Ta-Ki 48 (being based on Riysan R20) that given them range of over 450 kilometers on X-band. With range like that, potential enemy bombers would have a very poor life, citing the fact that MiG-31 could outrun them with ease, and Inyurstan made C-300 Scapèle XLRAAM could hit a target as far as 315 kilometers away. With each MiG - 31 carrying four, they posed a threat that one could be forced to deal with.
Eight MiGs started from their airfields that infamous night, lighting the sky with their jet engines, all of them carrying four C-300 Scapèle XLRAAM and two drop tanks to increase range, with single enormous tanker based on Ki-56 Ryusei starting from another airfield, alongside an enormous AWACS based on the same craft, from which the interception mission was going to be coordinated. As eight MiGs flew forward, It was only a question of time before they would reach the dedestinated area. While the AWACS will lag behind, datalink with each MiG would allow it to see what they see, and plan the operation accordingly. In addition to that, the enemy had no OTH radar and it would be Cuscatlani aviation that will see them first.
Now complete picture has entered into view as the entire Hayesalian task group - all the four bombers and their refueller - entered wholly the OTH coverage spectrum. Pilots of the MiGs adjusted their courses, and headed directly per two of each bombers. Soon their radars made contact, quickly identifying the unknown threat as CSU-160 Super Blackjack. Knowing that this aircraft was in Hayesalian service, but not wanting to assume too much, Cuscatlani pilots were going to give them a single demand:
"This is colonel Juan Rodriguez from Cuscatlani Aerial Forces" suddenly a heavily Hispanic accented voice sounded in ears of Hayesalian pilots after the hails "You are approaching Cuscatlani air space. You are to identify yourself and state your intended course of action. Failure to do so will result in action guarantee security of Cuscatlani air space!"
All eight MiGs cruised at speed of Mach 2.35 at high attitude, additionally helped by the fact that all targets were going on them head on. Bombers were going to enter their BVRAAM range roughly 1500km from Inyursta, far above any range they could carry out the attack from. And a single chance of identifying themselves was all they had.
Finally, four IEK-88 Taipans were launched as eventual backup, staying behind the MiGs and keeping their distance, but ready to assist in eventual combat. As the early morning sunlight slowly begun to rise on the horizon, New Hayesalian Air Force was going to be utterly humiliated, their arrogance cast deep below by few Cuscatlani MiGs.
ORBAT:
- All tracking assets of LATRAD
- 8x MiG-31
- 4x IEK-88 Taipan
- An AWACS & Refuelling aircraft
- 2nd Surface to Air Missile Brigade at Chucara
*** Santiago de Cuscatlan
El Caudillo Carlos Silva was a patient man. Not willing to bother himself with issues of time, he carefully waited at arrival of his long time friend, Jean - Baptise Calderone, on the Salvador López international airfield, in a section that was on purpose closed just to receive the Inyurstan president. The Populist Junta that government Cuscatlan might have different in methods, but never cased to deviate from common goals both counties had: fighting communism, socialism, imperialism, progressivism and "LIEberalism" and together defending La Contra Revolucion in America Libre from colonialists.
"Hola Signor" Silva was quick to greet in Inyurstan counterpart. Like he usually was, even religious men were surprised by the very calmness this man presented. He barely shown any emotion, not even anger "I take you enjoyed the trip?"
Silva led him and his family to an enormous limousine, with an entire motorcade of Guarda Civil to escort them. As it moved, Silva opened a locker holding highest quality tequilla. After all, being a dictator, even benevolent like him, had it's advantages in terms of finances too...
"I heard recently that Hayesalian gringos are trying to get nasty" Silva's voice never dropped his level of calmness "Appropriate Air Defense authorities in RNI have already been alerted. I wish we met under better circumstances amigo."
