Symphony in the Sky (A Your Lie in April AU and AH fanfiction)

Stand Fast

January 22nd, 2019. Skies above Tokchon, North Korea

As the Coalition forces once again switched into defensive posture and solidified their position on occupied important objectives such as Pyongyang, Wonsan, Nampo, Kaesong, and Ongjin in light of increasing number of Chinese forces in the North and offensives by the latter, the skies over the peninsula has seen no day without combat.

Large part of North Korean government functionaries has been confirmed to be located in Chongjin, near the Russian border, heavily guarded by SAM and AAA.

After spending three weeks in reserve and "assist the mentoring" of fellow pilots, despite not combat instructors per se, both in Japan and South Korea. Arima Kousei and Igawa Emi have once again took off into the skies. The entire northern part of North Korean territory bordering China and Russia has become the new "MiG Alley" in the war as the area has become the most common and fierce dogfight site between Coalition and Resistance Axis warplanes. Especially as the Axis air force has taken advantage of prohibition of Coalition fighters to cross the Chinese border, rendered the latter a good sanctuary for the remnants of the KPAF and it's allies. As the war in general has also saw the first combat debut of 5th Generation fighters, some pilots also called the area as "Stealth Alley", while in reality the 4th and 4.5th Generation jets are still considered the majority for both parties.

For sake of allowing junior officers some leadership experience, "low risk" mission such as today's tactical recon run, are increasingly delegated to them as flight leaders. Kousei and Emi are such officers, despite high-kill numbers, they are not yet flew as flight leaders. Emi was assigned to Symphonia 2 while he was assigned to lead Symphonia 1, with Taneda "Lancer" Risa as his wingman. 

Tokchon had since a week ago retaken by North Korea, and effort is underway for the coalition to reclaim the city before it threatens Pyongyang. Along with Japanese and American F-15s, the SEAD component are made of RAF Typhoons work in tandem with US F-16CJs.

They also know that in Kunsan, South Korean and Indonesian KF-25s are in standby in case of 5th Generation threat materialized.

"Eel 1-1 is at IP, commencing recon" A lone South Korean KF-16s with TARS reconnaissance pod proceeded to pass at its intended target in the mountains, The roar of its single Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229 bounced across the mountains as the it passed through SAM-free corridors the SEAD has blasted upon. 

Kousei's radar are filled with contacts as friendly aircraft of various types pounded North Korean and it's allied forces entrenched in the city and the nearby mountains. 

A South Korean B737 AEW then pipes in. "Be advised, we have change of mission. Multiple bandits identified as MiG-23 Floggers, angels 9, 250 miles north-southwest. Second group, heading north-south, angels 15, 450 miles, MiG-35 Fulcrum-Fs. All aircraft, intercept and destroy before they can threaten our strike assets!

"Affirmative!" Kousei replied. He orders the 8-ship formation to form up on their respective flights and positioned themselves for engagement, as the recon bird was immediately ordered to head south as fast as possible.

Soon Lt. Kurosaki Yamada, mostly assigned into D flight and currently, the element leader of Symphonia 2, reported. "Those MiGs might be decoys" as his eye detected six MiG-23s passing below them.

Emi, know the Russian tactic too well, ordered. "Break hard left!" as tracers from six KPAF-marked Fulcrums lighten the sky, aimed towards the F-15s. The Eagles soon dived too in order to attack the MiGs as they are recovering from their dive. It paid off with three out of six destroyed, while three more managed ro recover and as the result, Emi assigned each of her pilots to destroy one surviving Fulcrum each.