Got some grand update here, so if you tuned to this fic, thanks for stay tuned and i'm very sorry for the long damn thing. I've currently worked on an Need For Speed Fanfiction, so again...

Very Sorry! Very Sorry!

Got it updated to three more chapters, but it's still an Experimental so corrections is due, Thank you! :)

Tucson International Airport, Arizona

December 4th 2026, 5.32pm

"I'm alright mom, its okay in here!" Major Alex Hunter said talking to his mother by the satellite phone given by Crenshaw some days before he get to the HAWX, "How was danny there?" Then he were stopped on his walk looking to the window by his right where he could see a new type of civilian airbus parked by the terminal area, he were looking to the Airbus A501 (AC3 R-501 Rinchodon) of PAN-AM, a new animal looking transport aircraft bearing design based on the Tigershark genus from its fuselage shape, its tailwings on top of the stabilizer and main delta wings similar shape to the tailwings with four twin engines planted into the lower wing area with enough power to undertook journey as far as moscow in two hours, it weren't the only 501 on the airport, the one of Singapore Air were flying above west he assumed the destination as Changi, then there were another one of the Emirate Air ready to leave the airport, "Tracy just dropped from the PAN-AM aircraft?" He asked resuming his steps, "Oh great! I'm gonna give them a call tonight, right now I'm being posted for another work" then he paused again, "Alright mom...I love you..okay, bye!", the sat-phone were put back to his uniforn pouch strapped with flight gears and G-Suit.

"Major Hunter!"

"Major Haruka..."

"Have we started yet?" Asked the woman pilot already outfitted with her flight gears and G-Suit same to her squadron leader she talked to, "Nope, change of plans, We're not gonna be flying abroad yet, we just tasked for a one time routine air patrol, just tomorrow. We'll be flying to the mexican border area B7R located between San antonio and Chihuahua, recently there is been an attempt to smuggle drugs from Monterrey to an undiscovered spot in arizona by military transport, we gonna catch one of them tomorrow from the air, CBP and DEA is now cooperated with the Army of US and Mexico to get some on the ground making sure nobody made it through the tunnel further north", "Drug op? While the Federations were at it?", "This would gain support from inside, says they cheap down the price tag in return they would help the feds get inside...believe it or not, Major, they say we'll catch one or two fighters without or with federatiom markings, and they will be armed and piloted pretty well, for now our first order of business will be a routine CAP with standard Vipers to Ciudad then to Albuquerque before back here again..." He paused for a second before back from his watch, "30 mikes from now".

"All units scramble, I say again All units scramble! Unidentified joyriders from 160 to 310, no comms respond, unclassified bandits suspect hostile intent. Launch the alert, Launch the alert"

Area B7R, USA-Mexico border

Angles 8

December 5th 2026, 9.51am

Two tyndall raptors glide in group of other three F-16Cs from the Mountain Home AFB, Idaho in separate two groups, "This is AWACS Citadel, detected multiple heat signatures from vector 170, looks like they were going straight up to you", "Mobius 1 Lima Charlie, we saw em from here, spank them hard if they engaged" Alex commed up, he has four AIM-9X-3s on the inner wing hardpoints with other two inside the side bay plus six AMRAAMs in the lower bay, others were eight Sidewinders and AMRAAMs, ahead of them were ridges recently discovered to be rich with minerals, mining were not yet done as it sit right in the borderline, political were severe even if its six years after the devastating World War III, wrong move and it will be the second rebellion, "Mexican squadron will scramble from the base near Torreon, fire when fired!", "Copy, we're on em!"

Far on the other side of the ridges were fifteen in three separate wing formation of dark gray Su-35S Flanker-Es with round of gold stars marking by the left wing with eight R-74s and R-77s on both, "Target all air squadron scrambled the airspace, give the room to the paratroopers transport", "Si, capitan. Weapons hot, no mercy!". In no time AL-41 powerplants in their crafts has brought them above the mineral resources, heavy radio interference from it prevent radio communications up to 2.000 feet from it, If ejected they will have a hard time to go home, more unfavorable for the Feds as joint US and Mexican team were patrolling the area, might be dead or end up in the Albuquerque state prison.

"Holy shit! fifteen?" One of the Viper shocked

"This is the US Air National Guard to the unidentified aircraft approaching the Airspace of Texas, you are unauthorized to entry without clearance. Cha...Whoa!"

Hunter were cut off when the Flankers passed them in high speed while also firing the 30mm guns

"Oh my god! We're engaged, slap those motherhubards!" He announce and pull his flight stick downward heading to the passing planes, "Mobius 2, weapons hot!" She said as she banked left from the group now sprawling around picking their targets.

"Viper 3, engage!"

"Viper 9, engage!"

Hunter has quickly approached the first todays prey, its about to turn right in airspeed around 600 knots unaware what's really behind him, he fired some machine gun rounds to it befitting his distance to the federation aircraft, hit all of it to the right engine housing which eventually tumble the powerplants to the ground as its about to pull himself to the higher sky. "...I'm going down..." Statics end up the radio communications from the bailed out pilot, his viper were tumbled in flames before blown up entirely, "National Guard scrambled three F-15s from ellington, less than three Mikes", "Roger barn, but are ther..." Haruka cut off as she pulled Cobra maneuver letting slip two trailers and level back against them, launching simultaneously two AIM-9 heatseeking missiles streaking to the Exhaust and other one slammed the rear sting housing the Flankers RWR which also tumble both engines, eventually her pursuers ejected and if lucky they were captured for chit chat with CIA, "...any closer...support?" She panted by the High G she just done, "Two fifty mikes of three Delphinus drones from Torreon, doesn't really makes difference. Like it or not, they'll be there" their field commander replied, "Alright..less than four M and that's still good!" She relieved from her G-force, steadily steered right 180 degrees after a group of three bogeys passed her with trailing vipers. Hunter on the other side of the clash must deal with four Flankers right in very front of him, gun range, "God, I hope I won't regret this!" He murmured as he about to launch two Sidewinders, sending all available on his right wing to the so close preys obliterated beyond recognition with debris he braved through as he switched and fired his machine gun to the third bandit left of his view diagonally zigzag with the other four, some went through the rightside engine while others missed or hitting the control surfaces, thick black smoke and tiny parts coming out from the right engine, nearly endangering himself persistently going after the remaining in his sight flying wildly still trying to shake him off.

Barrel rolling and sudden turnings weren't helping against the HAWX pilot, still with his gun aimed to it and firing when his target a bit staticstic, suddenly (and stupidly he thought) his prey about to pulled cobra maneuver at the same time he pressed the trigger, although his shots holed the engine section which would tumble off the two AL-41s, his nerve still clinched to keep the trigger pressed even though trainings and combat experiences clearly state that split second gun press is enough for kill, as the result the originally Venezuelan Su-35S were ripped to two pieces cut from the right rear wing to the Gsh-30 bay, second and largest near misses for Alex today, a plane wrecks instead munitions shot to him. "Mierda! How come we lost seven planes already?!", "I don't know, Marco. That one in the raptor are absolute Puta!". Somewhere around were Haruka chasing one Flanker trying to get the F-16 flying wildly as it trying to get away from his hunter, "No good, he's right behind!", "I got your six, Viper 3, Stand 2!", she assured as she fired her machine gun to her prey, splats of fluids and tiny shattered parts hit her canopy not strong enough to crack it, her prey still flying normally, eventually its slows down and spool up fires from both exhaust, the occupant ejected safely some seconds before the plane blown up to pieces, "Thanks for the save!", "You owe me some, Margaritas!", "Roger! Blended, no salt!" He simply replied as he turned right upward with her follow him back to the mining area within the B7R, "Heads up! Additional bogeys from 173 to 325 at Mach 2 angles 7, 3 miles" Citadel reported from his E-3D over the Tucson, "Hey! Where's the Alert 5 gone? There's still many more bogeys here!", "Viper 1, Goodfellow, Mike one!"

It was the flight of five Afterburned F-15Es from the Ellington IAP flying on altitude 15.000 feet, has on their tail emblazoned a red ribbon and under it 'Air National Guard', "Counting five M2 Fulcrums with eight heat and radar tracking weapons, here we go, stay sharp!", "Goodfellow to Bone Arrows, we're now commence mission operations", the lead Strike eagle rolled his plane downward and dive onto the furball, there he were greeted by four Fed Flankers trying to shoot him down with an R-74 missile, he bravely still with Afterburner barrel rolled upward with flares fired behind, then he fired an axis of four AIM-120Fs to the four targets ahead, the R-74 missed him some inches from his Canopy and rightside stabilizer, his shots has no misses, "Break off, weapons free!" His wingman called up and break away from him, "Twelve bogeys to go! More coming in from 180, 8 miles!" Citadel called in. Hunter in the other side with Haruka gone after the remaining three Flankers breaking away from each other, "You go after left, I'm going straight!" Hunter ordered her, she turn left keep pace with her target now zigzag left and right, then rolled couple times before turned hard left and back to zigzag again which she could barely keep up with him.

Alex on the other hand have to deal with a target just turn the table on him, he were chased by now two Su-35s instead one, diving 20 degrees in 500 knots airspeed, "Oh shit! He's on me!" His wingman called in, he barrel rolled twice dumping flares and chaffs before suddenly pulled full 360 kulbit maneuver and full afterburner as the two. Federation Flankers were overshot and decided to full on getaway from him, leaving the gap that have him to open the side bay doors and resort to the remaining four AIM-9X-3 Sidewinders, in no time his targets were locked on, clear for trigger press, suddenly his wingman crossed ahead him with her trailer within range, making up three simultaneous shots of his heatseeking missiles, one of it rushed to her trailer while other two smashed the rear sting and through the left exhaust, ripping both to four wreckages falling down to the ground and for the third time two of it nearly crashed to him as he tilt 20 degrees rightside avoiding collision, "Damn! So close!" He grumped, he noticed an orange sprawls left of him, Haruka were getting away from it, "Thanks, Major!" She called him.

Goodfellow somewhere tried to saved an F-16 of two MiG-35s, the four dive in left their safe altitude of angles 10 straight to the harddeck of 2, right to the mining interference effect, quickly the strike eagle pilot fired the machine gun to the closest Fulcrum to him, the viper pulled up followed by the other one have his missile shot trashed, "Splash one! Splash one!" Goodfellows WSO exclaimed, the markless russian built frontline fighter has its control surfaces chopped of from where it should be, its barrel rolled slowly ang getting faster, the two occupants ejected leaving their vehicle to smash to the ridges below, "Dammit! I'm going down!", followed by a distant boom, the Viper he would save were shot down, statics filled up the comm at the same time the occupant bailed out from his burned Fighting Falcon, he also see the MiG attempt to turn hard right but too late, a white smoke trails smashed head on the engine housing areas, exploding it, leaving only the canopy area tumbled down in dizzying spins.

"This is Bone Arrow 2, airspace is secured, no blips!" Called in a female pilot, her F-15E opposite direction to her wing leader passed above him and dive down formed portside rear to Goodfellow. "Citadel to all planes, Scope is clear...Crisis Center requested you to Stand 2 until further instruction", "Mobius 1 10-4, I knew he were not us go home so quickly just yet". The remaining planes got formed to Hunters formation circling around the ridges on angles 5, "I thought there would be Delphinuses coming here, Citadel, what's the status with the R-102?" Haruka asked, "Torreon base lost contact with their drones five miles northeast from their base...for now on we have three raptors from Holloman inbound to your ai..."

"...What was that..." Someone cuts in.

Silent filled in their Op Airspace then.

"Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Javelin 3 down!"

Then followed by another statics.

"Citadel this is Mobius 1, requesting sitrep"

No response.

Then someone humming a tune to their headphones, "Mappy?!" Haruka baffled to the fact a girl humming a Mappy song by their frequency.

"Hey! Multiple blips from west!"

And it was a crimson red CFA-44 with four Tu-3 Vultures with a lense on its nose. "This is General Keating of the Crisis Center taking over the command of this operation...AWACS Citadel were destroyed by un PID enemy, no one survived. Destroy the remaining bandits, don't let them get any further into the United States. Engage!" He said calmly but a bit stern. By that the seven aircrafts turned west directly to the turns out to be source of the humming, the Fandance itself. "Mach 2 angles 10, 8 miles" Alex noted, his and Harukas F-22 were one of few Raptors with independent IFF systems kept them from relied too much on AWACS, considering that he just lost Citadel by a mysterious attack not even the ANG or Crisis Center figured out what's really happening he surely quite happy the first time flying his current plane until now "5 miles and closing rapidly!" He noted again, he doesn't feel doing it right as he about to readied his missile, something far out of usual, "I'm going for the Fox Three!" Viper 1 fired his last AMRAAM, the eight seconds travel were stopped to four when suddenly a Vulture light up Red laser to it, "Holy Shit!" Haruka shocked with that, the Fandance just fly idle like nothing had happened, "Let's get to its six o'clock, see if we can slap her hard", "Mob 1, Viper 1, We're right behind ya!". But it went awry, the drones fired the laser to the US planes sliced the missiles, which also the F-16 and two F-15s as the group launched barage of missiles to her head on, "Hopman has been hit...Gah...he's bailed out!", "Yeah I can see that Bone Arrow 2, stick to what we're about to do!" Her wing leader assured, though himself actually not sure about it, "I have five R-102 drones inbound from Cannon, do whatever it takes to destroy that plane", "Roger General, any way to ease up our job here?" Goodfellow asked, "The drones seems programmed to fire the laser to any incoming missiles to her planes, meaning you have to destroy all four drones before you could take her out!".

By that Alex leave the formation and gone after the jet powered drones, there he saw a neat diamond vertical formation around the target plane, he paced up to the group to gun range, he still not sure about firing a missile, "Might worth trying!" He thought, as the CFA-44 maneuvered hard right trying to shook him off the four drones perfectly keep up with the diamond formation around it which awed everybody witnessing it, the turning radius were too small for raptor to match, opening a wide gap between him and his target, Haruka catch up to him with bay doors storing AMRAAMs opened and readied all six to the drones, "You sure about that, Major?" He look to his rear portside, "Just shoot down the drones first!" She said confident as she pressed the missile trigger, sending an axis of four radar tracking missiles to the drones in six seconds travel, with ease the Vultures evaded all the missile, others tried the same but also taken no hit whatsoever, "I'm going in!". He's the only one who hasn't fire the second missile to the target even not the drones yet, he turn up his AB closing to the five planes now maneuvering up to the sky high, above Angles 10 and keep climbing idle which give a window for Hunter to fired his M61 Vulcan machine gun, bullets went through the exhaust and ripping the tail and main wings appart and tumbling it upward and slow it further before the gravity pull it downward again, the Fandance loop back down as it reach Angles 25 in turning rate nobody can match again, that is inhuman Alex thought seeing it.

The target plane opened its upper bay doors showing two MLRS like dispenser betwen the spine of the plane, and like the MLRS it do fired many missiles hard to evade, "Oh my God!" Her F-22 blared with warning tones, Haruka shocked to see so many missiles coming at her as she climb up approached the Fandance, she pulled the flight stick and power up her thrust to the max to get away from the kill zone, other two Strike eagles managed to flee the attack but not for the R-102s, all of it were destroyed in the kill zone left only to no change of four air power, the second Tu-3 were shattered by Alex again, the 30mm machine gun from the enclosed rightside cannon bay rip appart the torpedo shaped UAV and has it spun out of control to the earth far bellow, that happened just in time the three more targets leveld the aircraft in sudden, but he still managed to keep up, "Mobius 2, talk to me!", "I'm still here but I got heavy damage...weapon system is offline, lost all electronics...", he still pacing with the three targets now forming up side by side neatly, "Bone Arrow flight, respond!" He fired his last AIM-9X-3 to the third drone on the left side, the white smoke arched left to where its prey intended to go through by reading its control surface movement, precisely destroyed its target in one shot, "Right on your six!".

Behind him were the remaining two F-15Es with plenty missiles to use, "Mobius 2, depart the mission airspace to Tucson and check the damage of your craft!" Alex ordered her while trying to keep up with his targets, Haruka has her plane trailed with black smoke from both exhaust due to the missile attack, its a clear view for her to see her wingleader 2.000 feet abover her struggled to shot down the last drone accompanied the Mappy plane flying zigzag left, right, up and down to shake him off, only Alex whose so far able to keep up with it while the others were struggling to keep their pace, "Bone Arrow 1, fire your sidewinder!" Alex asked, the X-2 launched from the F-15s left wing streaked the skies and precisely hit the fuselage with guidance from the JHMCS of the WSO from the backseat, then their target suddenly pulled the Kulbit maneuver 180 degrees and fired the machine gun to her pursuers, the bullet screeched the skin of the evading F-22 tilting rightside and some split seconds later smashed the left engine by the intake of the F-15E leader a bit too late to react, the Crimson red aircraft were stopped and overtaken by the three, it uses full afterburner and flee west of the B7R airspace. "Goodfellow, Bone Arrow 2, what's your status?", he didn't replied, he looked many times outside to the fleeing plane and to the radar, both assured him its gone westward in high speed nearly Mach 3, "Goodfellow to Crisis Center...do you have eyes on our target?", "This is AWACS Eagle eye, confirmed target going west egress from the B7R...comm logs confirmed its going away from NORAD, All planes return to Tucson for debriefing", "Bone Arrow 1 10-4, Mob 1...my navigation and radar system is offline...everything else is okay but I don't wanted to lost to Mexico without green light...", "I know, are you wounded?, "That's 10-10, A-OK on other else", "Roger" Alex replied plainly, he steered his plane leftward, heading north back to the United States airspace with two F-15Es formed three ship wing due to Tucson, with Haruka supposedly landed already.

Tucson International Airport, Arizona

5.35pm

"Horseman 15, this is Tucson tower, you're clear for take off"

"Roger"

Alex and Haruka were onboard the A501 of the USAF for VIP transport, the weird plane were adorned in plain white with the AF logo and marking by the sloppy side part of the fuselage. Seated within the exclusive cabin of the 501-200 series were two more important personnels on the opposite side of the small fixed dining table filled with photographs and intel reports, Brigade General Todd Barry of the Joint Chief of Staff and General Joshua Keating himself looked furiated and confused. Atmosphere inside were not relieving. "The attack in the Round table...were a diversion...at Kennedy Space Center, yet none of us or our agencies could decipher it" Keating tell up what's stressed him, "Wh-Wait...What is the Round table?" Haruka whispered to her wingleader, "Its the circular ridges surrounding the wasteland right in the border between the US and Mexico, in other words... Its the mining area we have just sent and engaged within the Mexican airspace" Alex briefed her silently too, "Sir...diversion? Kennedy Space Station? What's going on here? Are the federation cover up a foreign squadron for Miami?" he asked, "Could be, Major, the multilateral space project Sephia II, involving NASA and JAXA (Japanese Aerospace and Exploration Association), I bet its related to the presidents Freedom Star program that still hyped today worldwide, or the history of our past that sooner repeat once again...I don't know really but..but my worry were now centered to the particular program and whatever the federation squadron did recently at the Round table is worried me to no end I honest" said the JSOC, "That's why you will be headed back to Tyndall...further briefing will be commenced on 8...dismissed" Keating finished, the two pilots get up from the seat and saluted the two Generals before went to the door behind them out to the second cabin with some other officers. On the table were the photographs of the whole project and the satellite shot of the space center, rockets, modules, and the Freedom star itself as well Profile photos of the austronauts from NASA and JAXA.

Extra notes

- The B7R in this fic is made different from the original one, everythings on south were flipped to north, so basically, players start from north and the bogeys comes from south. :v I mean it

- Brigade General Todd Barry is the alternate version for this fic of wingman of the Protagonist turned Antagonist Osean fighter squadron led by Anthony 'Bediever' Palmer, the Sorcerer. According to the Assault Record, after he walked out the B7R after shot down by Cipher, he were worked as the Tech Advisor for the OADF (Osean Air Defense Force).