Chapter 194
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Chapter 194: The Return of the FC-1 Fighter Jet
At the same time, the mechanics began emergency repairs on-site with various equipment. Even though the FC-1 Fighter Jet was a mass-produced and inexpensive model, the Pakistani Air Force couldn’t simply leave it behind; after all, it was worth around 30 to 40 million RMB.
“Hey, Captain Feng!” Lin Mo was surprised to see Captain Feng among the last people to exit the helicopter. He thought the commander should be stationed at the command center instead of coming such a long way for his ordinary emergency landing.
“‘Dragon Knight,’ come here!” Captain Feng’s expression seemed a bit strange as he pulled Lin Mo to a corner between two helicopters where others couldn’t see.
“What’s wrong, Captain Feng?”
Lin Mo saluted.
“Are you hurt?!”
Captain Feng looked Lin Mo over, appearing relieved to see him in good spirits, energized, and not panicked at all from being forced down from the sky.
“I’m fine; it was just an accident, not a direct hit.” Lin Mo grinned, saying that if an FC-20 had detonated missiles from such a close distance, he wouldn’t say he wouldn’t encounter shrapnel damage.
After all, fighter jets are not armored vehicles; to pursue speed and maneuverability, they would surely sacrifice some defense.
“How’s the pilot of that Tejas fighter jet? Did you see him?” Captain Feng glanced towards the still-burning wreckage of the Tejas fighter, his expression strange.
Lin Mo shrugged, regretfully replying, “He didn’t make it out; it exploded directly. What a shame.” However, his hand subtly made a cutting motion.
Captain Feng caught the gesture instantly but pretended not to notice, nodding, “What a misfortunate guy; his family will mourn for him.”
Both Lin Mo and Captain Feng shared an unspoken understanding. The Night Special Forces were not comprised of the kind-hearted; each member had a dark side and a ruthless streak. Those who came from there wouldn’t show mercy to enemies, it was as absurd as a tiger courting a rabbit.
Seeing Captain Feng’s reaction, Lin Mo realized that the unfortunate American major he had just eliminated must have had an unusual background to have reached Captain Feng so quickly. It seemed the Americans had taken quite a hit this time.
In light of how Lin Mo was handling the situation, Captain Feng silently cursed the sly little fox for getting into trouble and expecting his superior to clean up the mess. Now he had witnessed this lad’s knack for stirring up crises.
Let him pretend to be ignorant; such matters are like blind people eating beans—everyone is in the know but doesn’t openly discuss it. Once on the battlefield, life and death follow fate, and nobody can guarantee that accidents won’t happen.
Handling it this way was better; at least it ensured that the other side had to swallow the bitter pill in silence.
Leaving this unresolved, they waited for the mechanics to finish. Others began clearing the high ground, creating a makeshift runway that would barely suffice for takeoff, removing loose stones and marking straight landmarks, while appropriately raising the takeoff area. The workload was considerable.
However, this temporary high ground runway was only 500 meters long, and every inch of acceleration had to be precisely calculated. A miscalculation by even an inch could lead to a direct drop off the mountain cliff.
To avoid prolonged delays, it would be best to get the damaged FC-1 back as soon as possible.
Accompanying the helicopters was Colonel Adu, the captain of the Black Spider Squadron, sent by Pakistan to ensure the aircraft was flown back after it was repaired.
Lin Mo greeted Colonel Adu but had no intention of letting him take over his fighter jet. Although there was some danger involved, Lin Mo was confident in his skills to take off successfully.
He would fly back from where he had landed. If he were afraid, he wouldn’t have the right to discuss flying in the skies again.
Originally concerned about the safety of the Chinese volunteer pilots, Colonel Adu ultimately relented and agreed to let Lin Mo pilot his own fighter jet to take off again.
The best mechanics from Peshawar Air Force Base performed a joint diagnosis, and after urgent repairs, they finally addressed the FC-1’s structural issues. They replaced several components temporarily and conducted emergency measures that would hold until returning to Peshawar.
They reapplied the skin surface using metal composite adhesive tape for emergency reinforcement. This aviation-grade aluminum foil tape looked like regular packing tape but could quickly eliminate the effects of high-altitude, high-speed airflow on the aircraft. As long as it didn’t exceed supersonic speeds, there would be no problems.
By sunset, Lin Mo’s FC-1 had been tuned up and refueled. They took measurements to check wind directions and weather conditions, and fortunately, the tailwind from when he landed had turned into a headwind for takeoff— this was a good thing for the FC-1 preparing to take off from the high ground.
The four helicopters began taking off one after the other. After all, this high ground was too small; they couldn’t allow the FC-1 fighter jet to take off while helicopters were present—the jet’s engine’s airflow alone could wash a helicopter off the mountain.
“All systems normal, wind direction is normal!”
Several special forces soldiers dispersed among the nearby hills acted as weather observers. Thankfully, as long as they had practiced their sniping skills, they could accurately gauge small-scale airflow changes.
Boom!
The FC-1 Fighter Jet adjusted its stance as its tail emitted a crimson plume that swiftly transformed into a blazing bluish-white.
“The engine output is stable!” Lin Mo felt the vibrations of the engine and aircraft stabilize as they began the hot start.
Nearby, aboard the helicopter, Captain Feng, who also served as the navigator, spoke over the radio, “You can take off.”
“The runway lighting is ready.”
The lights below the four helicopters illuminated the makeshift runway for the FC-1 fighter jet.
As the output power increased, a chain-like flame appeared.
Taking off from this rudimentary high ground runway was quite challenging. Under the powerful thrust of the jet engine, the wheels of the landing gear began to accelerate.
This takeoff was unlike the usual airport launches; it resembled a short takeoff from an aircraft carrier, needing to reach maximum speed in the shortest amount of time to generate enough lift. Every second counted, giving the fighter jet more power.
The speed of the FC-1 increased rapidly, causing everyone to sweat for Lin Mo. This environment tested not only the pilot’s flying skills but also his mental resilience.
The searchlights of the four armed helicopters followed the FC-1 as it advanced, carefully lighting the nose of the aircraft while maintaining distance to avoid distracting the pilot with their beams.
With full throttle, Lin Mo pulled the ailerons and steadied the rudder, pushing the engine to full power. He needed more acceleration.
The FC-1 stirred up sand and stones on the high ground, covering the 500-meter distance in an instant. Just as the nose of the aircraft shot off the runway, the fighter jet suddenly sank from view, disappearing before anyone could react. In a heartbeat, the FC-1 broke through the high ground’s altitude and arched beautifully into the sky.
“Good!”
Cheers erupted in Lin Mo’s helmet as his performance became a classic case for flight instruction textbooks. Thanks to Lin Mo’s successful takeoff, this once worthless hillside gained some military strategic value.
Anyone with military knowledge could see that this place could easily be converted into a covert temporary airfield for front-line operations.
Many safe flight routes and landing spots are often validated by pilots risking their lives; otherwise, aerospace bases would be everywhere.
“Welcome back!” Captain Feng congratulated Lin Mo over the radio.
“Thank you, everyone. Now, the Dragon Knight is heading home.”
The wounded FC-1 vanished into the night, flying towards Peshawar Air Force Base.
The four armed helicopters remained on-site to manage the aftermath, taking nearby special forces soldiers to continue clearing the wreckage of the Tejas fighter jet.
After the Pakistanis left, it was already 3 AM in Islamabad. A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, hidden in the night, flew low through the valley and landed slowly on the high ground.
Five people jumped from the aircraft, searching and photographing the area, focusing on the remains of the burned Tejas fighter jet.
Only two hours later, as dawn broke and the sky lightened, the five individuals quietly boarded the Black Hawk and departed.
“The Dragon Knight almost thought you wouldn’t make it back. I was scared to death the moment your nose hung over the cliff.”
Once safely back, Lin Mo stepped off the plane and instantly received a solid punch from Meat Sauce. He didn’t dodge and took the hit, answering back without hesitation, “If I’m not scared, why should you be? Worst case, I’ll eject; it’s not like anything would happen.”
“Eject? What height are we talking about? Be careful not to land right on top of the exploded jet and end up as Roast Chicken,” Meat Sauce said, his face turning serious. This guy had no filter. After many days of working together, their bond had grown close enough to withstand attacks from each other and protect each other from missiles.
“Not a chance! I’m lucky to be alive. Surviving a disaster like that means I’ll have good fortune coming!” Lin Mo chuckled, shaking his head.
Honestly, this guy truly was lucky, having survived perilous situations like the Absolute Spatial Prison Forbidden Spell, proving that his luck was unparalleled.
“Just keep boasting!” Meat Sauce noticed that his partner was overflowing with confidence, being stubbornly cocky. Suddenly, he lowered his voice and asked, “What happened to that Indian pilot? I thought he landed near you, but he didn’t have your luck. I wonder if he got out.”
Lin Mo spread his hands and shrugged, displaying a look of shared sorrow, “He exploded shortly after landing. There’s nothing left of him.”
The truth of the matter would forever remain hidden in his heart. Secrets like that filled Lin Mo’s mind, and any slip would ensure that he, too, would meet a fate of “nothing left to be found.”
