The morning sun slowly cast its light over the carrier deck, illuminating the aftermath of battle. Despite the clear skies, a lingering shadow still loomed over everyone. The previous night’s battle had been brutal, leaving the carrier battle group battered and weary. The Thunderhawk squadron had fought with everything they had, suffering heavy losses. Yet, this hardship did not break their fighting spirit—it became the fuel for their counterattack.

  Song Xu stood at the command center’s window, overlooking the bustling scene on the flight deck. Ground crews and repair teams worked tirelessly to fix damaged aircraft, while rescue teams cleared debris from the missile-stricken areas. Every face bore a look of determination. Even after enduring such a devastating battle, their resolve remained unshaken.

  Although the U.S. had successfully completed its bombing mission, they had not completely defeated the Chinese air force. The Thunderhawk squadron had paid a steep price, but they still had the strength to strike back. The key now lay in timing and strategy.

  “Thunderhawk squadron, prepare to execute the ‘Counteroffensive Plan.’”

  Song Xu’s voice was calm and firm as it transmitted across the comms channel to every pilot. The plan was set—the squadron had to seize the window of opportunity before the U.S. forces fully recovered and launch a decisive counterattack to turn the tide of battle.

  “This time, we won’t rely on electronic warfare suppression. Instead, we’ll use agility and stealth to bypass their defenses.” Song Xu understood that this battle could not be won by brute force alone. They needed precision and tactical deception to disrupt the enemy’s rhythm and create chaos on the battlefield.

  Shen Xue stood beside him, arms crossed, her sharp gaze fixed on the tactical screen. “We don’t have much time or many options. We must seize this moment and strike fast.”

  “Our targets are the B-21 bombers and their F-35I escort fighters.” Song Xu pointed at the tactical map, analyzing the attack routes. “The B-21s have already breached our defenses, but the F-35Is haven’t fully engaged yet. We need to eliminate the F-35Is first to weaken their air superiority before taking on the bombers.”

  “We’ll divide into two groups,” Shen Xue continued, outlining the details. “One group will engage the F-35Is, while the other will protect our strike force and intercept the B-21s. The bombers lack maneuverability—if we break through their escort, they’ll be easy prey.”

  Aboard the USS Washington, the tactical screen still displayed the Thunderhawk squadron’s movements. Despite the heavy damage suffered by the Chinese air force, U.S. commanders remained on high alert. They had learned from experience that the Chinese pilots were far more formidable than anticipated.

  Colonel Graham and Night Owl One stood before the tactical display, closely monitoring their fighters’ positions. The U.S. F-35Is were already establishing air dominance, and the B-21s were approaching their strike zone, preparing for the final attack.

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  “The Chinese air force won’t give up easily. They’re preparing for a counterattack,” Night Owl One said coolly. “In the last battle, the Thunderhawk squadron demonstrated exceptional reaction speed and maneuverability. We cannot underestimate their tactical adaptability.”

  “Yes,” Graham nodded, his eyes gleaming with calculation. “Their ability to recover and counterattack was faster than we expected. We need to accelerate deployment and maximize electronic warfare support to ensure the B-21s complete their mission.”

  Night Owl One’s voice turned grim. “We must identify their counteroffensive strategy immediately and adjust accordingly. At this stage, we cannot afford any mistakes.”

  As orders were relayed through the U.S. command network, the Thunderhawk pilots were already airborne.

  Engines roared as fighter jets raced down the deck and lifted off into the sky. The sound reverberated across the ocean, sending tremors through the carrier deck.

  This time, they were the hunters—and the U.S. forces were the prey.

  The squadron split into two formations. Song Xu’s first group engaged the F-35Is directly, while Shen Xue’s second group maneuvered toward the B-21 bombers. Their attack patterns were calculated and swift, leaving no openings for the enemy to exploit.

  “Thunderhawk One, Thunderhawk Two, confirm targets.”

  Shen Xue swiftly adjusted her flight path using the tactical data link. “We’ll strike from their flank, exploiting their blind spots to hit the B-21 bombers with concentrated fire.”

  The U.S. F-35Is moved to intercept, but the Thunderhawk squadron had anticipated their movements. Using UAVs as decoys, they created a false battlefield signature, confusing enemy targeting systems.

  As the F-35Is scrambled to regain control, Song Xu led the charge.

  His J-31C fighter dived at Mach 1.5, too fast for enemy radar to adjust.

  Lock-on warning alarms blared inside the enemy cockpits.

  “F-35I locked! Fire!”

  The PL-15 missile streaked through the sky, homing in on its target.

  The U.S. fighters attempted evasive maneuvers, but their patterns had been pre-predicted. One by one, their defensive formations crumbled.

  An F-35I spiraled out of control, crashing into the sea.

  But the real battle was unfolding elsewhere—against the B-21 bombers.

  Shen Xue’s voice crackled over the comms. “B-21s are approaching the drop zone—full interception now!”

  The Thunderhawk squadron broke formation, diving at full speed toward the bombers.

  The PL-10E missiles fired in quick succession, striking a B-21 and igniting a fireball in the sky.

  One bomber down—but the others pressed forward.

  “We can’t let them complete their mission!” Song Xu gritted his teeth. “All units—pursue!”

  Diving through the cloud cover, Shen Xue skillfully weaved through the battlefield, using natural terrain and cloud density as cover. Her instincts guided her toward the remaining bombers.

  One final B-21 remained, desperately maneuvering to complete its strike.

  But it was too late.

  Another missile roared through the sky, finding its mark.

  Boom!

  The last B-21 exploded midair, leaving behind a trail of wreckage.

  As the battle ended, the Thunderhawk squadron returned to the carrier, their aircraft scarred but victorious.

  The deck crew stood ready, prepared to receive their pilots. Despite their triumph, they all knew—this was only the beginning.

  “We succeeded,” Song Xu muttered as he removed his helmet, his gaze locked on the distant horizon. “But this battle doesn’t decide the war.”

  Shen Xue patted his shoulder, her voice resolute.

  “This wasn’t just about defeating the enemy. It was about proving we can fight back.”

  The smoke of battle had faded, but the war was far from over.

  The victory in this air battle was just the first step in China’s counteroffensive.