The Pratt & Whitney F119 engines roared harder as the jet accelerated.
Supercruise engaged.
The aircraft surged forward at high speed without afterburners, cutting through the night sky silently compared to the violent noise of earlier combat.
Back in the command center, the blue marker representing Raptor One closed rapidly toward the massive red contact.
"Distance?" Adrian asked.
"Twenty kilometers… fifteen…"
The operator paused slightly.
"Sir… the contact is climbing."
The radar signature suddenly rose several thousand feet in altitude in mere moments.
Too fast.
Far too fast for something that large.
Inside the cockpit, warning tones remained quiet.
No missile locks.
No radar interference.
Just, one enormous heat signature ahead.
"Command, I'm approaching visual range," Raptor One transmitted.
The pilot tightened his grip slightly on the controls as the clouds ahead thickened, moments later…
The pilot's eyes widened immediately.
"Holy shit."
