Chapter 1113: Using the tiger's skin as a banner?

Li Rui and his wingman pilot carefully observed the three aircraft from the Eastern Theater Command.

The clear Zhou Bang flying wing logo on the Y-9JB fuselage and the familiar "dragon" outline of the G10A further confirmed their identities.

"Command post, Vulture 1-1 reporting in. Visual identification has been completed, confirming the targets are one Y-9JB electronic reconnaissance aircraft from the Eastern Theater Command and two G10A fighter jets."

"The aircraft's livery is clearly marked and matches the database. The other party is cooperating well and has not yet engaged in any hostile actions."

At the ground command center, Du Yuming, Zhao Jie and others all showed excitement on their faces when they heard the confirmation report.

Du Yuming immediately ordered, "Excellent! Try to obtain more detailed information, especially which base they came from and their final destination. Remember to remain professional and...friendly."

"Vulture 1-1 understands."

After the words fell, Li Rui cleared his throat and opened the public channel again. This time, his tone was more formal, but with a hint of intimacy:

"Eastern Theater Air Reconnaissance Squadron, this is the Central Plains Theater Air Force, J-16 heavy fighter formation. We have been ordered to confirm your identity. Thank you for your cooperation."

"J-16?!"

"Heavy fighter formation??"

This model name was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly causing huge waves in the hearts of the Y-9 and G10A crews!

Although the naked eye can clearly see that the fighter jet in front of him is different from any domestic model, the shock he felt when he heard it with his own ears is still different from what he saw with his eyes alone.

They know the G10A, they know the G11....but the J-16?

This is a completely unfamiliar number!

Furthermore, they claimed to be heavy fighters! This meant that their payload, range, and combat capability were far beyond the reach of the medium-sized G10A fighters they were flying!

What the other side has is a mature and powerful heavy fighter platform that they are completely unfamiliar with!

So the question is, how could the other party, who is obviously a domestic military, operate this... such an unfamiliar aircraft, it is simply unheard of!

Not to mention domestic ones, as professional Zhou Bang Air Force pilots, they knew at least 99% of the various types of military aircraft in service around the world, but no matter how hard they racked their brains, no aircraft from any country or region could match the ferocious model in front of them.

So, what exactly is the origin of this Zhongzhou War Zone? Could it be that the country has a secret air force hidden from us?

"Roger that... J-16 formation." Thinking of all this, the Y-9JB captain's voice was filled with unconcealed shock:

"I'm Lieutenant Colonel Wang Lei, captain of Stargazer aircraft No. 719, from the Eastern Theater Command. We're conducting... a routine coastal reconnaissance mission."

He did not disclose the specific base from which the plane took off, which is a basic principle of confidentiality.

"Captain Wang Lei, nice to meet you," Li Rui responded. "Given the current complex airspace situation, and to ensure flight safety for both sides, I suggest you follow our aircraft to our Gucheng Lake base for further communication and coordination. General Du Yuming, our commander, hopes to establish direct contact with you."

This invitation carries both opportunities and risks.

A heated, whispered discussion immediately erupted inside the Y-9JB.

"Going to their base? Isn't that too risky?! Our superiors only ordered us to conduct aerial reconnaissance..."

"Yes, once our plane lands, we'll be like a phoenix on the ground, worse than a chicken. There won't be any room for resistance..."

..

However, just as the crew members were arguing, the Y-9JB captain's words immediately killed the game:

"Do we have the power to resist now..."

.....

As soon as the words fell, the entire reconnaissance formation's communication channel fell silent, the occasional electrical noise sounding particularly harsh at this moment...

Especially the two G10A pilots who were performing the escort mission, their faces turned red and warm under their helmets.

"Given the overwhelming technological advantage currently demonstrated by the other side, if they harbor malicious intent, we won't be able to fly back at all..." The Y-9JB captain showed no mercy and continued to chase and kill.

"Furthermore, the other party mentioned a commander...who is of a very high rank. This may be a key opportunity for us to reestablish contact with the interior of the continent!"

"Gucheng Lake...it seems that the fleet from yesterday was indeed theirs!"

Finally, Captain Wang Lei weighed the pros and cons again and again, looking at the two J-16s flying outside the window like the gray Grim Reaper, and knew that although the other party was openly asking for advice, he actually had no room for bargaining.

"J-16 formation, we agree in principle to follow and guide you. But we need to report the situation to the rear theater command center and request instructions." Wang Lei answered cautiously.

"can!"

Faced with the request of the Eastern Theater Command military aircraft, Major Li Rui, the pilot of the lead aircraft of the J-16 twin-plane formation, naturally had no objection.

.....

Zhoushan Islands, Eastern Theater Command, "Longyuan" Base Underground Command Center

When the encrypted emergency communication of the "Stargazer" No. 719 was relayed back to the command center via the hidden base station on the ground, the core layer of the entire "Longyuan" base seemed to be dropped with a depth bomb.

The operations staff quickly delivered the translated message to Commander General Gao Jianguo, his voice trembling with an uncontrollable tremor:

"Report to the Commander! Stargazer is sending an urgent message! They... they were intercepted in the designated airspace!"

Gao Jianguo frowned as he took the message and quickly scanned it. As his gaze shifted downward, the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen. The fingers gripping the message tightened slightly, their knuckles turning white.

He handed the message to Lieutenant General Zhou Wei, Director of the Joint Political Department, who took one look at it and gasped, muttering, "Zhongzhou Theater? J-16 heavy fighter jets? An invitation to land... at Gucheng Lake?"

These key words were like thunder, exploding among several core members of the Standing Committee.

"J-16? When did we get this fighter?" A deputy commander in charge of equipment said in disbelief.

"I've never heard of any project codenamed 'J-16'! Could it be... secretly developed by the Northern or Central Theater Command?"

"Impossible!" Chief of Staff Li Zhenguo categorically denied:

"Such a mature heavy fighter platform, from research and development to mass production and then to combat effectiveness, requires a huge industrial system and a long cycle. It is absolutely impossible to carry out in complete secrecy, let alone after the end of the world!"

"Moreover, the other party calls themselves the 'Zhongzhou War Zone'!"

"Zhongzhou War Zone... Zhongzhou..." Gao Jianguo muttered to himself, his mind rapidly searching his memories:

"It seems that this organization has never existed in the military sequence of our Zhou State. It seems to have appeared out of thin air."

"Could it be that some local garrison or surviving force is using the tiger's skin as a banner? Or naming it on their own?" someone raised doubts.

.....