Airbase outside of Hanoi, Vietnam. 1100 hrs.
The airforce base just outside of the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi was tasked with the defence of the city. Out of special reinforced hangars rolled their main asset: a squadron of French built Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft, almost as good as the Chinese Su-27's or Su-30's. The Vietnamese squadron leader, callsign "Guardian Leader", fired up his aircraft's engines. "This is AWACS aircraft 82650. We've spotted a squadron of H-6 bomber aircraft en route to Hanoi escorted by a squadron of Su-27's. Engage. Repeat, engage." In less than 4 minutes 10 aircraft were airborne. "The Vietnamese airforce, although badly mauled, still had a card to play. Form up," Came the cool voice of the squadron leader. The Mirage's roared off towards the attacking squadron.
Vietnamese Airspace. 1105 hrs.
The H-6 is a formidable bomber aircraft. Armed with both laser guided and "dumb" bombs, it can pack quite a punch. Now add ats missiles, as (anti-ship) missiles, ata missiles, and three 30-mm cannons, and you have a bomber capable of striking targets with uncanny precision. But the H-6 is large and unwieldy, which is why the attacking bombers were protected by Su-27's. The Su-27 squadron leader radioed the rest of his squadron and the leader of the H-6's. "Phoenix flight, this is Phoenix Leader. There are 10 hostile aircraft coming our way. Intercept. I repeat, intercept. They must not reach the bombers. Turtle 1, keep formation." The Su-27's peeled away from the bombers to intercept.
"Guardian flight, this is Guardian leader. The bombers are priority 1." The Mirage's launched their ata missiles at the maximum range of 12 miles. The Su-27's were surprised by the launch. "Break, break! Missiles incom-arrgh!" The Su-27 to the left of the leader blew up spectacularly. "What! The Vietnamese shouldn't have missiles with that kind of range!" Gasped the leader. "Launch ata's!" The full squadron launched their "Alamo" missiles. The Vietnamese Mirage's dived, attempting to escape. Several released chaff, but 4 were still destroyed by the Alamo's. "Guardians 2 and 5, with me!" The leader pulled his fighter upwards, firing as he did so. The shells thudded into Phoenix 3, but the pilot ejected before the plane exploded. Seconds later he was avenged by Phoenix Leader, who downed 2 Mirages, one with an Alamo and one with his 30-mm cannon. The Guardian Leader was destroyed by an Alamo, and with the loss of their leader the Vietnamese turned tail. "This is Phoenix Leader. Phoenix's 2,4,5,6,7, and 8, pursue the enemy. The rest of us will stay here. The chosen fighter's opened their throttles and sped off in pursuit of the fleeing viets.
Phoenix 2 was closing in on Guardian 6 as the green jungle of Vietnam rushed below them. The pilot of the Su-27's eyes narrowed as the Mirage slid into his sights. He fired a short-range "archer" ata missile. Guardian 6 released chaff, and the pursuing Sukhoi flew through the debris of its' own missile. Undeterred, Phoenix 2 opened fire with his 30-mm cannon. The hits sparked off the Vietnamese fighter, who dived. The Su-27 followed, still firing. Another cannon shell smashed into the Mirage. Black smoke streamed from the fighter. The Su-27 launched another archer. This time Guardian 6 plunged earthwards, the canopy blowing off as the pilot ejected. By now the rest of the Guardian squadron had turned. "We'll go down in glory!" Exclaimed Guardian 2. They launched missiles, downing Phoenix 7. 30-mm cannon fire and Alamo missiles at the loss of 2 more Su-27's destroyed the other enemies. The H-6 bombs dropped unhindered on Hanoi. The heavily damaged Guardian 10 crashed on landing. The pilot died in the crash. 10 of the 30 known Vietnamese Mirage's had been destroyed in one attack.