CARRIERS Act one: First Blood

February 17 2013, above Karimata Strait 1700 hours local time

Four F-14s in blue-gray camouflaging pattern fly over Karimata Strait in a routine patrol. Karimata Strait is a hot-zone, countless confrontations and interceptions have been done on the water and in the air. For the pilots from 5th Naval Strike Fighter Squadron this is a routine job, but today its going to be very different for them.

It all started when AWACS Gatotkaca warned them about several boogeys coming in from Malaysian side of the Airspace.

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February 17 2030, Bandung, West Java

"It was a usual patrol mission you know? 5th squadron always get the Karimata Strait and Natuna Islands. We're among the best you can get if you don't mind me bragging about it. Anyway... It was a cloudy evening above Karimata that day. AWACS Gatotkaca was yelling Sasha's ears off after one of her neverending chatters" Airforce Major Armani Akasha Wijaya said, reminiscing about the day it all started.

Irfan Widianto pointed the camera around the room, it got numerous old articles and pictures of 5th Squadron. Above all that, on the top half of the wall hung several photos with names underneath them.

"How did the incident happens? What was it like out there that day?" Irfan asked.

"Well, all was calm and nice, we thought the leakers would just turn around and, you know, do nothing, but all change when additional blips appeared" Armani said.

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Karimata Strait

"Grenadiers flight, intercept the leakers as usual"

"This is Grenadier leader, Roger that Gatotkaca, intercepting leakers at 095 t0 100" Major Alvin said.

"Ain't they usually came over from 270 to 280?" Sasha quipped.

"Something feels off here" Agriya Rahman, Grenadier 4, said to all.

"They don't turn back... Shit! did the IFF malfunctioned? I just seen twelve other blips appeared!" Armani shouted.

"What the fuck!?"