Operation Ironclad Advance is set to kick off with a straightforward yet critical mission: to secure a beachhead in Hong Kong using a combination of LPD ships and AAVs to transport ground forces across the West Philippine Sea. The focus is on delivering troops to the shores efficiently for an amphibious assault aimed at establishing a strategic foothold in the region of Hong Kong.

The operation hinges on detailed planning and coordination between the naval fleet responsible for transporting the marines and the air support tasked with providing cover and engaging enemy defenses. The primary goal is to capture key beach areas, setting the stage for further military actions and establishing a secure base for advancing forces.

Marines, trained specifically for this type of operation, will lead the assault, tasked with overcoming beach defenses and securing the area for follow-on forces. Their training has included simulations and drills tailored to the expected conditions and enemy fortifications they will face.

Integral to the operation’s success is the synchronized effort of all involved units. Naval bombardments and air strikes are timed to soften enemy defenses before the Marines land.

At 1500 HRS, the fleet began their sail towards Hong Kong.

As the fleet neared the coast of Hong Kong, the calm before the storm was shattered by an unexpected threat. Large, mutated birds, the size of vultures and clearly infected, began to swarm the ships.

Onboard one of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the crew sprang into action. "All hands to battle stations! We have incoming aerial threats," the ship’s captain barked over the PA system. The crew, trained for a multitude of scenarios, reacted swiftly.

"Flyers in the air!"

The Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), an automated defense mechanism designed to detect and destroy short-range incoming threats, whirred to life.

"CIWS is online and tracking," announced the weapons officer, eyes glued to the radar screen as it lit up with incoming targets.

Simultaneously, the ship’s missile defense systems were activated.

"Engage with RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles on my mark," the captain ordered, assessing the swarm’s size and trajectory.

"Missiles ready, sir," confirmed the missile system operator. "Awaiting your command."

As the Flyers closed in, the CIWS began its deadly dance, firing bursts of 20mm rounds at the incoming birds. The rapid-fire system’s radar-guided accuracy ensured that each shot was calculated to intercept the mutated creatures, their bodies disintegrating under the onslaught.

Despite the CIWS’s efficiency, the sheer number of Flyers necessitated additional measures.

"Fire RIM-116s now!" the captain commanded, and a series of missiles streaked into the sky, each seeking out and destroying its target with precision-guided lethality.

"Targets neutralized, sir," reported the weapons officer, as the last of the Flyers fell into the sea, defeated by the ship’s formidable defenses.

The captain nodded, a brief expression of satisfaction crossing his face before he turned back to the task at hand. "Maintain vigilance, everyone. This was just the first wave. We proceed with Operation Ironclad Advance as planned."

Just as the crew aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer began to breathe a sigh of relief after neutralizing the initial wave of Flyers, the radar operator’s voice cracked over the intercom, "Incoming! Another wave, approximately 200 Flyers, is approaching fast!"

The situation escalated quickly. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser, part of the fleet and equipped with a more sophisticated suite of missile defense systems, sprang into action to support the Arleigh Burke in fending off the new threat.

"Arleigh Burke to Ticonderoga, we’re engaging a second wave of Flyers. Requesting missile support," the captain of the Arleigh Burke communicated swiftly.

"Ticonderoga copies. Engaging with SM-2 missiles," responded the captain of the Ticonderoga. The cruiser’s Vertical Launching System (VLS) was already targeting the incoming swarm, calculating the optimal firing solutions to intercept the Flyers.

The Ticonderoga’s SM-2 missiles, designed for fleet air defense, soared into the sky, their rocket motors igniting the morning light. As they reached their apogee, the missiles’ onboard guidance systems locked onto the mass of incoming Flyers, directing the missiles toward their targets with lethal precision.

Meanwhile, the Arleigh Burke continued its barrage, the CIWS systems tracking and eliminating Flyers that slipped through the missile defenses. The coordinated defense between the two ships showcased the effectiveness of combining close-in defenses with long-range missile strikes.

"SM-2 impact successful. Multiple targets neutralized," reported the Ticonderoga’s combat information center. The sky was lit with the explosions of intercepted Flyers, the remnants of the creatures plummeting into the sea below.

Despite the overwhelming numbers, the combined firepower of the Arleigh Burke and Ticonderoga proved devastatingly effective against the mutated threat. The air around the fleet cleared as the last of the Flyers were destroyed, their numbers too diminished to pose any further risk to the mission. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Arleigh Burke, Ticonderoga, excellent work. The sky is clear," the fleet commander, Johnson, announced, acknowledging the successful defense against the unexpected aerial threat.

***

Meanwhile, in Beijing China.

Lin Feng has been noticing a fluctuation in his system. The number of flyers that he summoned in Beijing was decreasing rapidly. He wondered what was causing it.

"Could it be that the Blackwatch is attacking?"

To confirm this, Lin Feng linked his mind to one of the Flyers on the scene, and there he saw a fleet of warships approaching the coast, their guns blazing and missiles arcing through the sky to intercept his creatures. Through the flyer’s eyes, he witnessed the advanced technology and coordinated tactics of the enemy forces. The realization hit him with the force of a physical blow. The Blackwatch is invading him, and he needs to react fast.

He rose to his feet, facing his harem.

"Get up! There is an enemy coming towards us! Based on their heading, they are approaching Hong Kong. Now I know it’s far from us but I want all of you to get moving and get there as quickly as you can. I need them stopped before they even set foot on the land."

With that, his harem dispersed, disappearing from his sight. Su Xue remained next to him.

"So, this is what they meant when they were going to return huh?" Su Xue commented.

"Yeah, they plan to end this war once and for all. And I’m all for it. If Blackwatch loses this fight, then world domination is just within our grasp. This world shall change under my vision."