Chapter 217: High-Altitude Reconnaissance

10,000 words every day, five chapters presented. Everyone, please give some encouragement, click the "urge to update" button too, because I am full-time and have no other job.

……

"No nuclear radiation signature." The scientist interrupted the General's roar, "We tested the samples brought back from the battlefield; there are no radioactive elements whatsoever. This weapon is more like some kind of high-efficiency incendiary device, possibly utilizing aerosol technology and high-energy fuel."

The General was stunned, and the others in the conference room also fell silent.

"You mean to say, the Long Country people have invented a new type of conventional weapon, yet the effect is close to a small Mushroom Egg?"

The scientist nodded: "According to eyewitness descriptions and these photos, I believe this is an advanced thermobaric weapon, possibly utilizing oxygen in the air for secondary combustion, with a temperature high enough to melt metal. Technically speaking, this is even more complex than building a Mushroom Egg."

General Johnson's complexion became exceptionally ugly.

He pulled open a drawer and took out several intelligence reports that had previously been shelved.

"It seems now that these reports were not nonsense." He opened the first one, "A portable Anti-aircraft System capable of shooting down an F-86 Sabre, it looks like some kind of Infrared Guidance system."

He opened the second one, "An All-Terrain Tracked Vehicle capable of rapid maneuvering in mountainous terrain, equipped with a Multi-barrel rocket launch system."

The scientist leaned over to look: "These technologies are feasible in principle; it's just that we thought it impossible for Long Country to possess such industrial and scientific research capabilities, so we kept ignoring these reports."

"But now they truly exist, and they have already made us pay a heavy price." Johnson said in a low voice, his eyes gradually becoming sharp, "I need to know the specific performance boundaries and weaknesses of these weapons."

……

As the morning light just tore through the curtain of night, at a top-secret airport of Di Guo, several military trucks escorted a silver-gray, slender aircraft toward the runway.

This aircraft had a peculiar shape, with a massive wingspan, but the fuselage was exceptionally slender, like a silver needle.

"The U-2 project was originally expected to take another three months before its maiden flight," Doctor Coleman, who was in charge of this project, rubbed his hands nervously, "Now that it's being rushed into service, the risks are very high."

The General standing beside him said coldly: "The battlefield situation waits for no one; we must understand the deployment and weapon performance of the Long Country troops as soon as possible. This is the highest directive from headquarters."

The test pilot boarded the U-2 prototype. This aircraft, designed specifically for high-altitude reconnaissance, had previously only been tested in laboratories and wind tunnels; today would be its first combat flight.

"The target is the Long Country frontline position, flight altitude 10,000 meters. According to our projections, the Long Country's Anti-aircraft System cannot pose a threat to targets at this altitude."

"What if your projection is wrong?" The test pilot's tone was calm, but there was undisguised worry in his eyes.

"Then you will become a national hero, just like those F-86 pilots who were shot down." The General patted his shoulder, "Good luck."

The U-2 prototype slowly taxied toward the runway, as light as a large bird.

The sound of its Engine was surprisingly small, almost covered by the morning wind.

The aircraft accelerated, lifted its nose, and then pierced straight into the clouds at a near-vertical angle, soon disappearing into the high altitude.

The ground command center stared nervously at the Radar screen; as the aircraft's altitude increased, their hearts also rose to their throats.

"8,000 meters... 9,000 meters... 10,000 meters! Success!"

The Communication Soldier shouted excitedly, and a burst of cheers erupted in the command room.

"The Long Country's Radar seems to have already discovered the target, but there is no reaction from any anti-aircraft fire."

"Continue to observe, maintain this altitude, and fly according to the planned route."

……

In the early morning, the Long Country frontline position was a scene of busyness.

Li Yunlong had just finished deploying a new round of defensive fortifications and was checking the layout of the fire points with Zhao Gang.

"Lao Li, look at the sky!" Zhao Gang suddenly pointed to the high altitude, his tone carrying a trace of nervousness.

Li Yunlong looked up and saw a shining silver dot in the blue sky, with sunlight reflecting off its metal surface like a distant star.

"Enemy plane?" Li Yunlong squinted his eyes and picked up his binoculars to observe carefully, "It's so damn high, what kind of new gadget is this?"

A Communication Soldier ran over to report: "Frontline Commander-in-Chief, the Radar Station has discovered one enemy plane, altitude approximately 10,000 meters, higher than anything we have seen before!"

"10,000 meters?" Li Yunlong frowned, "'Feilong-1' can only reach 6,000 meters at most, and the Tianluo System only covers 7,000 meters; isn't this bullying us?"

Zhao Gang also picked up his binoculars to observe: "The shape is very peculiar, the fuselage is slender, and the wingspan is huge; it's clearly a reconnaissance plane."

Li Yunlong's face was gloomy: "The Di Guo people have finally started using their brains. This son of a bitch flying so high must have figured out the limits of our Anti-aircraft System."

The Communication Soldier reported again: "The Radar shows the enemy plane is circling above us, seemingly taking pictures."

"Damn it, let him take all he wants!" Li Yunlong put down his binoculars in annoyance, "Pass the order down, everyone stay in position, don't make any big moves. Since we can't hit it, don't let them know we care."

Zhao Gang said worriedly: "If it is taking pictures, then our position deployments and fire points will all be exposed..."

"I know!" Li Yunlong gritted his teeth, "But we can't hit it now; we can't just throw rocks at it, can we?"

Just then, the Radar Operator ran over hurriedly: "Frontline Commander-in-Chief, the enemy plane is descending! Now 9,500 meters... 9,000 meters... 8,500 meters... still descending!"

Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang looked at each other, a glimmer of hope flashing in their eyes.

"What is the situation?" Li Yunlong walked quickly toward the Radar Station, staring at the light dot slowly descending on the screen.

"8,000 meters... 7,500 meters... 7,000 meters..."

"What is it doing?" Li Yunlong was puzzled, "Could it be an Engine failure?"

Zhao Gang shook his head: "Doesn't look like it, the descent speed is too uniform. I guess this is intentional, perhaps... testing our reaction."

Li Yunlong's eyes lit up: "This son of a bitch is probing our anti-aircraft capability! Wants to know how high we can hit!"

"6,500 meters... 6,200 meters..."

"Order 'Feilong-1' and the Tianluo System to all stand by," Li Yunlong ordered immediately, "but don't act rashly, let's see what this guy really wants to do first."

The anti-aircraft troops quickly took their positions, the "Feilong-1" operators gripped their launch devices tightly, and the aiming Radar of the Tianluo System also locked onto the target, but all were waiting for the final launch order.

"6,100 meters... 6,000 meters... 5,900 meters..."

Li Yunlong's heartbeat accelerated, and sweat soaked his back.

That reconnaissance plane had already entered the theoretical range of "Feilong-1"; as long as it descended a little more, the hit rate would be greatly increased.

"Should we open fire?" The anti-aircraft Company Commander asked for instructions nervously.

……

Everyone, please click the "urge to update" button; this is really important to me. Thank you, big bosses; your "urge to update" is the motivation for my writing.