Two days later, at a Valorian airfield, preparations were underway for the first phase of the military mission in Zambesi. Five long-range bombers, known as the VAF-94 "Thunderhawk," were lined up on the tarmac.
The Thunderhawk has a length of 99 feet and a wingspan of 141 feet. It was equipped with four V-Turbo engines, each producing 2,400 horsepower, allowing the bomber to reach speeds of up to 350 miles per hour. It had a range of 3,250 miles, making it suitable for long-distance missions.
Each Thunderhawk could carry up to 20,000 pounds of bombs, including 500-pound general-purpose bombs, 1,000-pound armor-piercing bombs, and incendiary devices. The ground crews were busy loading the bombs into the aircraft, making sure everything was secure.