Somewhere just off the coast of Daitō
16 January, 2023
2019 Hours
The hulking L-16 Suzume travelled along the Daitōjin coast, mimicking a typical flight-path for any aircraft travelling from Tenkyō to the Tokara Islands. Officially, it was out "transporting standard heavy-duty equipment to the Islands", but in truth, its payload was anything but standard. The aircraft was carrying five pallets—a key component in the Kaisoku Ryū missile system—which together had forty-five JASSM-XR cruise missiles. They were the sort of low-observable missiles which you would use if you didn't want the attack being detected ahead of time. Just an L-5 with a single pallet of six missiles would be necessary to sink a carrier under the best of circumstances, or to deal a knock-out blow to an airfield if needed. This mission, however, would require far, far more than that, and thus, a larger aircraft.
Over the coast of Kikai Prefecture, with the lights of the distant Shinkyō metropolis in view, the lumbering aircraft shifted course away from its previous flight-path, heading instead for Awara. Its crew broadcasted a message, claiming that they were low on fuel and would need to land there instead, but this was a lie. Officially sanctioned, so the proper authorities played along, but still, it seemed odd for the crew, knowing that they would be firing the first Daitōjin salvo of the Second Great East Ardian War, their target, rather innocuously, being communications sites and power plants. After all, the first day would be spent targeting primarily the Rokkenjiman Military's ability to effectively communicate amongst itself and to organize an effective response.
A few minutes prior to zero hour, as the aircraft neared Awara, its loadmasters made the final checks on their strike package. Then, its large rear door opened, and the first pallet was away, followed by the second, then the third, and so on until all of them were out, dragging their parachutes with them.
"Good chutes... Sensors are good, missiles are armed... And we are... away." The aircraft's co-pilot said as the aircraft banked into a left turn, heading for refueling. In but a few minutes, the missiles would reach their targets, and then they were in business. This was but one such strike of many going on roughly at the same time, from aircraft deployed out of various air force bases on the mainland and on Tsukishima. Furthermore, numerous Tomahawk missiles would be launched off various surface ships, their targets likewise communications and electrical equipment.
Somewhere in the Skies over Pyrettania
16 January, 2023
2035
The pair of P-3 Yajirushi stealth bombers slowly approached, roughly 15 km above the city of Pyrettania, which had settled in for a long night. And indeed it would be long, sleepless for many, but such was life, and such was war. It was a shame to see such a beautiful town on the list, Jirō thought as he steered the plane, his mission commander waiting to deploy their payload. Their objective was to hit key communications infrastructure in the city, hindering Rokkenjima's ability to coordinate its air defense sites around the country. One of the major targets was Rokkenjima's Ministry of Defense Building, through which a significant percentage of military comms traffic was routed. For the sake of the assault in the coming hours, this attack needed to succeed; it was a high risk, not because of any particular difficulty, but because of the price a single P-3 carried with it. As the minutes counted down to Zero Hour, the P-3's mission commander placed his finger over the trigger, awaiting the chance to drop their payload: 26 JSOW glide bombs, each pre-programmed with the coordinates of a given target, be it a power station or communications equipment. If these two aircraft didn't accomplish the mission, then the missiles launched by CSG 3 from the Dauntel would. 10:40 PM. Zero Hour. With a pull on the trigger, the bombs were away. Now, it was time to flee the area.
Near the Daitōjin-Rokkenjiman Border
16 January, 2023
2039
As Zero Hour neared, a two flights comprising four GH-28 Hoyau attack helicopters and 1 MH-31Ka Nurarihyon multi-mission helicopter flew just above the surface, heading east. Their call-sign was Taskforce "Shinohara", and their job was to sneak up on and destroy two key enemy radar positions near the border, which would cut a vital gap in Rokkenjima's radar coverage, through which Daitōjin and any allied aircraft based in Daitō could stream through to hit their targets. A few minutes prior, guided by E-2, E-3, and E-4 AEW&C aircraft which were orbiting relatively near to the border, they passed under swarms of friendly aircraft comprising the Imperial Daitōjin Air Force. By now, aerial tankers were undoubtedly refueling this enormous first striking force, which was waiting upon them to complete their mission.
While the first shots of the war had already been fired, it would be the Imperial Daitōjin Army which would make the first shots to explode during Operation "Phantom Fury". By just a few seconds early, the two flights reached their targets, forming a rows, four abreast, from which they could rain down death and destruction. Then, at precisely 10:40 PM and seemingly unnoticed, the time had come. The Hoyaus fired off their AGM-114 Hellfire missiles upon the sites, first aiming for power generators then following it by firing more missiles and unguided rockets at their radar dishes, command vehicles, and command equipment. As they moved closer, the helicopters engaged whatever was left standing with their 30mm cannons, cutting a swathe into Rokkenjima. With their mission now complete, they turned back as Daitōjin and allied aircraft screamed overhead, using the opening to begin the air campaign. The war had begun.
