Chapter 310: Failed

Under the cover of thick fog, the fighter formation flew at low altitude; the radar was completely calm, and Long Country's anti-aircraft system seemed to have noticed nothing.

Admiral Jackson stood on the bridge, listening to the progress reports coming over the radio, a smug smile appearing on his face:

"It seems the Long Country people have put all their energy into the front lines; the rear is practically undefended."

"Sir, the first wave of fighters will reach the target area in 10 minutes."

"Very good, keep communications clear; I want to hear the bombing results the moment they happen."

Meanwhile, at the Northeast Military Industrial Base of Long Country.

Li Mingyuan had been working for 36 consecutive hours, his eyes as red as a rabbit's, but he still insisted on supervising the deployment of the Graphite Bomb at the anti-aircraft command center.

"Chief Engineer Li, you really should get some rest." Lao Liu handed over a cup of hot tea and said with concern.

Li Mingyuan took the teacup and gave a bitter smile: "Sleep? I'll have plenty of time to sleep when I'm dead."

He glanced at his watch, "According to intelligence analysis, if the enemy intends to attack, the time window between 4:00 AM and 6:00 AM is the most likely."

"Are you really sure they will come?"

Li Mingyuan nodded: "If it were me, I would do the same. Having suffered losses on the front lines, they would want to get back at us from the rear; this is basic military common sense."

Yet in his heart, he was thinking: In war, the enemy often adopts this tactic, using navy aircraft carriers to strike the enemy's rear, cutting off supply lines, and then launching a counterattack on the front lines.

I didn't expect these people to use such an old-fashioned routine; having transmigrated once, I'm glad I didn't waste my time reading history books.

"How is the Improved Graphite Bomb coming along?"

"Installation is complete! According to your design, we have installed a Trigger Device on the High-Altitude Balloon; once it detects an approaching enemy plane, it will automatically release graphite powder to form a Protective Net. At the same time, we have deployed several Old-fashioned Anti-aircraft Guns on the surrounding hills; although they aren't accurate, they can at least interfere with the enemy planes."

Li Mingyuan nodded slightly, but his brows remained tightly locked.

The modification of the Graphite Bomb was a temporary solution; whether it could effectively stop the enemy planes remained an unknown.

……

"Fasten your seatbelts, boys! We are about to enter Long Country airspace!" the enemy squadron leader shouted into the communicator.

"Intelligence shows that the anti-aircraft strength in the target area is weak; it should be an easy mission!"

The fighter formation broke through the clouds, and the lights of the Long Country coastal city were already vaguely visible.

"Sir, no enemy fighters were detected taking off on the radar; it seems we really caught them off guard!"

"Haha, those Long Country fellows are probably still fast asleep!" the squadron leader said smugly, "Prepare to dive, target—that industrial zone ahead!"

Just at this moment, the Radar Operator suddenly screamed: "Sir! There are unidentified objects in the high altitude ahead! A large number of unidentified objects!"

"What the hell is that?" The squadron leader frowned and looked at the radar screen, which showed dozens of small targets suddenly appearing in the airspace ahead.

"Damn it, is it anti-aircraft artillery fire?"

"Doesn't look like it, the movement speed is too slow... it looks like... balloons?"

"Balloons? What kind of trick are the Long Country people playing? Continue forward, ignore those... Ah!!!"

Before the squadron leader could finish his sentence, the lead fighters had already passed through that "balloon zone."

Immediately following, a terrifying scene occurred—all the electronic equipment on the fighters failed simultaneously, the instrument panels went pitch black, and the radio turned into a mess of static!

"Damn it! The Engine has stopped working! All systems have failed!" a pilot shouted in terror.

It wasn't just one plane; throughout the entire formation, every fighter that passed through that area experienced the same malfunction.

Experienced pilots immediately switched to the Mechanical Backup System, barely maintaining flight attitude, but precision bombing was no longer possible.

Even worse, just at this moment, a row of lights suddenly lit up on the ground, and then, anti-aircraft fire poured into the sky like raindrops!

"A trap! This is a trap! The Long Country people knew we were coming all along!" the squadron leader shouted in despair.

Fighters were hit and crashed one after another, fire filling the sky as if fireworks had been lit in advance.

At the military industrial base anti-aircraft command center, Li Mingyuan watched the falling enemy planes through binoculars; there was no joy on his face, only gravity.

"The Graphite Bomb effect is good; the enemy planes' electronic systems are completely paralyzed." He turned to the officer beside him,

"Immediately notify all important facilities along the coast to prepare for air defense; the enemy's first wave of bombing will certainly not be the last."

Lao Liu clapped his hands excitedly: "Chief Engineer Li, we won again! The enemy's tricks were all seen through by you!"

Li Mingyuan shook his head: "Don't be happy too soon; the enemy still has a backup plan. These people won't give up after suffering a loss." He looked at the enemy planes still scattering and fleeing in the sky, "Notify the front line and have them prepare as well; the enemy might change their strategy."

Meanwhile, on the enemy country's aircraft carrier bridge, Admiral Jackson's complexion turned from smug to livid.

"What do you mean 'encountered unidentified interference'? What do you mean 'most fighters lost contact'?" He roared, grabbing the Communication Officer by the collar,

"This is impossible! How could Long Country know our plan?"

"S... Sir, the surviving pilots report that they encountered a weapon similar to a graphite bomb, but it was an improved type specifically targeting fighters flying at high altitude..."

"Nonsense!" Jackson slammed his fist onto the console,

"Graphite bombs need to be released at close range to be effective; how could they pose a threat to planes at high altitude?"

Just then, the Radar Operator reported again: "Sir, the first wave formation has lost over 70%, and the remaining fighters are returning... what about the second and third waves?"

Jackson stood where he was, trembling all over.

He had guaranteed victory to the high command for this operation and invested a massive amount of resources, but the result was a total and utter disaster.

If the news got back home, his military career would be over.

"Recall the second and third waves, retreat immediately!" Jackson ordered through gritted teeth, "Damn the Long Country people, damn Li Mingyuan!"

At the Long Country military industrial base, as dawn arrived, ground rescue teams were already collecting the wreckage of the crashed planes and capturing the stranded enemy pilots.

Li Mingyuan stood beside an enemy plane burned down to its skeleton, looking at the bombs and airborne weapons scattered on the ground, his mood complex.

"These people are truly ruthless; they brought nothing but high-explosive bombs and Incendiary Bombs. If they had actually succeeded, our losses would have been unimaginable."

His deputy Lao Liu looked excited: "It's fortunate that you, Chief Engineer Li, had the foresight! The Improved Graphite Bomb trick was brilliant! The enemy planes were falling like dumplings!"

Li Mingyuan gave a bitter smile and shook his head: "Don't be happy too soon; the enemy failed this time, but they will definitely come back with a different method next time. War is never won with a single move."

……

At the Navy Headquarters of the enemy country, the atmosphere was colder than an ice cellar.