1113 Who is the boss
Hogg never would have understood.
One hundred kilometers, a safe distance from his perspective, was no longer safe in front of Celestial Trade’s electromagnetic pulse cannon. It was just the typical crossfire distance.
After two rounds of upgrades, the s.h.i.+p-borne electromagnetic pulse cannons on the Guardian-cla.s.s frigate was no longer a modified version of the Type-50 electromagnetic pulse cannon, but an actual anti-s.h.i.+p cannon designed for wars.h.i.+ps. A sh.e.l.l 50 kilograms in ma.s.s could easily shred a s.h.i.+p with the same tonnage into two.
Even the 2,000-ton frigate could output damage equivalent to a battles.h.i.+p. The Celestial Trade Guardian-cla.s.s perfectly demonstrated the tactical concept of “small boats equipped with giant cannons” to the extreme. They pioneered the naval warfare to the 22nd-century era where “destroyed upon observation” was the moto.
Just as the two F-35Cs took off from the Ford-cla.s.s aircraft carrier deck, the two Guardian-cla.s.s frigates were already locked onto the hull of the aircraft carrier.
If a conflict broke out between the two sides, the seventy-five aircrafts on the carrier would not have the opportunity to take off and would sink to the depth of the Pacific Ocean. As for the two F-35Cs that already took off, they would be taught a lesson by the laser anti-missile system if they dared to approach closer.
On the frigate leading the way, the captain stood in the bridge and stared silently at the aircraft carrier battle group on the holographic map.
From the moment the aircraft carrier battle group crossed Hawaii, they were locked on by the “Sky Eye” Observation Satellite.
It was the reason Jiang Chen did not consider this aircraft carrier battle group a threat because it never left his “sight”.
“Report. Two aircrafts took off from the aircraft carrier and are approaching us in a straight line. The type of aircraft has been confirmed to be F35-C with unknown weapons.” The first officer saluted and reported to the captain.
The captain nodded, and a vicious smile formed.
“Teach them a lesson.”
“Roger!” The first officer saluted again and jogged away with the order.
Soon, a searchlight-shaped device rose from the middle of the frigate and pointed into the distant airs.p.a.ce.
If the two F-35s knew they were already on someone else’s radar, they would certainly reconsider their choice of approaching the frigates
But unfortunately, they knew nothing about power.
“This is Sea Lion-1 (Sea Lion-2), I’m approaching Celestial Trade’s frigates. No submarine activity is detected. The enemy has yet to detect us. Requesting further instructions.” Celestial Trade’s frigates already appeared on the radar as the pilots immediately reported to the aircraft carrier.
A hint of ridicule appeared on Hogg’s face after he received information from the pilots.
Earlier, he was worried that Celestial Trade may be playing some tricks, now they seemed to just be bluffing.
“Show them who’s the real boss,” Hogg nonchalantly said. In the end, he didn’t forget to add, “Pay attention, don’t overdo it.”
“Roger that.”
The two F-35Cs changed their formation in the air and descended to approach the two Celestial Trade frigates.
Perhaps because of their self-confidence in their maneuverability, perhaps because of certainty that Celestial Trade wouldn’t dare to be the first one to shoot, the two F-35Cs entered cruising att.i.tude and even left the cover of clouds. They were about to skid over the top of the frigates to suddenly appear on the enemy radar before vanis.h.i.+ng again.
With the invisibility of the F35, this provocative action was tried and tested.
Although they only tried this move against second-tier naval forces.
Giles opened the photoelectric detection pod mounted on the bottom of the aircraft and was preparing to “suddenly appear” on the enemy’s radar when he saw a white light on the frigate in front of him.
Before he could react, the strong glare shrouded his c.o.c.kpit in an instant.
Giles closed his eyes out of reflex, the burning pain in his eye sockets reminded him of what had happened.
“AHHH— MY EYES, I CAN’T SEE! FU*K, WHAT IS THAT THING!”
There was a hoa.r.s.e cry from his comrade. Giles wanted to open his eyes to understand what happened. However, the glare blinding him made it all an unrealistic thought.
The two planes were like blinded flies. Their formation was no longer intact and was close to cras.h.i.+ng in air.
Sweating profusely, Giles used his experience to make several maneuvers in succession, but he still could not escape the blinding light locked onto him.
The light seemed to be following him and was stuck to his c.o.c.kpit.
He could swear he has never seen such a weapon!
If it was just ordinary glare, it would never achieve this effect. He was convinced that when he was maneuvering in the air, his c.o.c.kpit was no longer facing the frigate, but he was still blinked by the light, unable to escape.
There was only one explanation. Celestial Trade must have used some kind of microwave weapon that he has never heard of before, and turned the gla.s.s on the c.o.c.kpit, and even his goggles, into light bulbs…
“Sea Lion-1, this is the headquarters, what is going on? Please report back… I repeat, please report back…”
“G.o.d, G.o.d, G.o.d… please, don’t do this, please…”
Giles prayed the deity’s name and used his years of experience to barely pull the plane back above the clouds. But even then, he was still unable to escape the light.
He didn’t care if there was no warning for a missile being locked onto him. He fired all the flares and chaff jams equipped on the aircraft.
He flew in fear for five minutes.
Even he himself did not know whether he escaped or Celestial Trade just spared him.
The blinding light on the c.o.c.kpit finally disappeared. Giles was drenched in sweat. After he confirmed his position on the radar, he went north for more than 20 kilometers before he finally adjusted his course to return to the aircraft carrier.
As for the two frigates, he didn’t even have the courage to look back.
“Sea Lion-2, what’s the situation on your side?” Switching to the team channel, Giles asked his comrade.
“This is Sea Lion-2, I need some eye drops… except that, everything is fine.”
“Is there a problem with landing?”
“No problem… probably.”
After Giles confirmed the safety of his comrade, he let out a sigh of relief and immediately contacted the aircraft carrier to report what just happened.
Until now, he still didn’t believe what had happened.
If it weren’t for the lingering pain in his eyes and the wetness on his back, he would rather believe that everything that happened was a dream.
A nightmare…
After he ended his communication with the command center, Giles’s tensed muscles began to relax.
The crisis was averted, and he could soon return to the aircraft carrier.
Out of curiosity, he reached out and touched the c.o.c.kpit gla.s.s.
However, just as his hand touched the gla.s.s, his expression turned peculiar again.
Not only the gla.s.s but the goggles on his helmet and even the instrument dials in the c.o.c.kpit…
Even with his gloves on, he felt his fingertips were being burned.
What the h.e.l.l!