Chapter 285: Counterattack, Dragon Fire Launch!

"Reports indicate over 70% of the Rocket Shells were intercepted! Most of the remainder also deviated from the target area!" the Intelligence Officer reported in a panic.

Technical Supervisor Meisen's face turned pale, "This is impossible... How could Long Country have this kind of technology? Even we don't have an Anti-aircraft System capable of intercepting Rocket Shells on a large scale!"

General Maikewosi slammed his fist onto the command console, "Damn it! This doesn't match our intelligence! How could their Anti-aircraft System possibly intercept Rocket Shells?! This completely defies common sense in military technology!"

The electronic warfare monitor was even more confused, "They aren't using a conventional Radar System; the signal characteristics are completely different, it's like... it's like some kind of technology we have never seen before."

Amidst the chaos, an emergency call from the General Staff reached the Frontline Command.

A few minutes later, General Maikewosi hung up the phone with a deathly pale face and turned to the other officers:

"The General Staff is demanding we immediately assess the losses and adjust our operational plans. They... they simply cannot believe Long Country possesses this kind of anti-aircraft capability."

"Then what now? Our surprise attack plan has failed completely," the deputy commander asked.

Maikewosi was silent for a moment, "Launch the second wave of attacks, double the firepower this time, 1,000 Rocket Shells launched simultaneously. Let's see if their Anti-aircraft System can withstand this!"

At the rear General Command, General Maise was listening to the frontline reports; his expression shifted from disbelief to shock, and finally into deep fear.

"You mean to say, Long Country not only foresaw our attack but also possesses an Anti-aircraft System capable of intercepting Rocket Shells? This completely overturns my understanding!"

General Maise couldn't help but raise his voice, "What has our intelligence department been doing? How could such a major technological breakthrough go completely unnoticed?!"

Intelligence Department Head Wallis broke into a cold sweat,

"General, our intelligence indicated that Li Mingyuan's team was indeed developing some kind of new Anti-aircraft System, but all analysis concluded that this system would need at least two more years before it could be put into use, and its interception capability was limited... No one expected them to not only deploy it early but for the interception results to be so astonishing."

"This is no longer a simple intelligence failure!" General Maise roared, "This is a catastrophic error in judgment!!"

……

Meanwhile, on the Long Country frontline, the second interception battle had just ended.

Although the enemy forces launched more Rocket Shells, the results were minimal, as the vast majority were still intercepted at high altitude by the "Steel Umbrella 2.0".

Inside the Frontline Command, Li Mingyuan sent a concise and clear battle report to headquarters:

"Over 1,200 enemy Rocket Shells intercepted, interception rate 87%, our positions have suffered minor losses, no strategic points damaged, requesting authorization for counterattack."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a firm reply: "Authorization granted, initiate the 'Dragon Fire' plan!"

Li Mingyuan put down the phone, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. He looked around at everyone in the command center and spoke slowly:

"Comrades, the interception battle is over. Now, it is time for us to 'return the favor'."

"The Dragon Fire plan is officially initiated, all rocket artillery positions are to enter launch preparation immediately!"

A cheer erupted inside the command center, but Li Mingyuan raised his hand to signal for silence.

"Don't be happy too soon, the battle has only just begun. I want to let the enemy see what true precision strikes are."

He walked to the operational map and pointed at the enemy positions,

"Enemy rocket artillery position coordinates have all been locked, the 'Dragon Core' Fire Control System has completed ballistic correction calculations, all units prepare for a salvo, countdown 5 minutes."

On the Long Country frontline, dozens of concealed launch positions were rapidly deployed.

Unlike traditional rocket artillery, these launchers were loaded with the newly developed "Dragon Fire-1" Rocket Missile—another masterpiece from Li Mingyuan's team.

Each missile was equipped with an Integrated Circuit guidance module at its tail, capable of real-time ballistic correction during flight.

"Attention everyone, 'Dragon Fire' salvo countdown, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, launch!"

Following Li Mingyuan's order, dozens of flashes of fire rose from the Long Country positions, and nearly three hundred "Dragon Fire-1" Rocket Missiles roared into the night sky, forming a spectacular Fire Dragon.

Unlike the enemy's blind bombardment, the flight trajectories of these missiles were surprisingly regular, as if every single one knew exactly where it was going.

The "Dragon Core" Integrated Circuit Control System was performing real-time calculations and corrections, accounting for wind speed, temperature, humidity, and all other factors affecting the trajectory, ensuring every missile could hit its target precisely.

Meanwhile, at the enemy positions, the soldiers were still immersed in the shock of their own failed rocket attack, never expecting Long Country to immediately launch a counterattack of such scale.

"Report! Radar has detected a large number of unidentified flying objects approaching our positions at high speed!" the enemy Radar Operator shouted in terror.

"What is it?" Major General Hopkins stood up abruptly.

"Assessed as Rocket Shells, quantity... at least three hundred! Currently about 20 kilometers from our positions, approaching at a speed of 300 meters per second!"

"What? Where did Long Country get so many Rocket Shells? Quickly organize anti-aircraft defenses!" Hopkins was sweating profusely in his urgency.

"Sir, we don't have an Anti-aircraft System capable of intercepting Rocket Shells!" the staff officer replied with a mournful face.

Hopkins then remembered that just a short while ago, they were mocking Long Country for being unable to intercept Rocket Shells—because even they themselves couldn't do it.

Now, this terrifying reality was backfiring on them.

"Everyone take cover! Quickly!" That was the only desperate order he could give.

A soldier rushed into the underground bunker and threw open the heavy blast door. "Get in quickly, the Rocket Shells are coming!"

"Don't panic, Long Country's Rocket Shells have terrible accuracy, they can't hit us," an old soldier mocked,

"Last time they fired three hundred, less than ten landed on the position."

"But... those missiles look like their flight trajectories are very strange..."

Before his words could finish, the first wave of "Dragon Fire-1" had already whistled in.

Unlike the random impact points of traditional Rocket Shells, these missiles almost all hit their intended targets—the enemy's rocket artillery positions, ammunition depots, communication centers, and command posts.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The earth shook, flames soared into the sky, and Mushroom Clouds rose one after another over the enemy positions.

Hopkins felt a series of tremors inside the command post; the lights flickered a few times before going out completely, and the emergency lights cast a ghastly pale glow.

"What is the situation?" He struggled to steady himself and shouted to the Communication Officer.

"Communications interrupted... unable to contact frontline units..." the Communication Officer's voice trembled, "Radar System... completely paralyzed..."

Just then, a loud bang came from overhead, cracks appeared on the command post ceiling, and concrete chunks and dust rained down.

"Direct hit! The command post has taken a direct hit!" someone screamed.