"ADC will launch the largest unmanned probe to Mars in history."
On January 17th, B4043 launched Lightning Number again in the South China Sea, successfully placing the Departing Fire Detector into orbit.
The Aerospace Development Committee notified the international community of the launch only a short time before liftoff, but even before the word "nuclear-powered" could cause a stir, an Island Country's P3C detected something was amiss.
Each launch of Lightning Number is a major event, and because the launch from the aircraft is so flexible, they always look for the most fuel-efficient spot over international waters. Each time, two to four fighter jets are escorting.
The An-1250's huge radar cross-section would appear on USAAF radars as soon as it took to the skies, and this time was no exception. An on-patrol P3C quickly approached and the pilots soon realized something was off.
