[TN:Last chapter of the day]
"You can't just open fire freely in international waters like this!"
Aboard the warship, the captain was visibly agitated.
This mission was questionable from the start: navigating a warship past Somali waters and operating close to international boundaries risked straining relations with Somalia and other African nations.
Moreover, retaliating against pirates should adhere to the principle of proportionality. Normally, they would use water cannons to repel threats—not immediately resort to lethal force.
Naval operations must consider international consequences! Both these actions were dangerously reckless—like dancing on a tightrope!
"We can," Erik replied coldly, staring down the captain.
The captain's anger flared even more as he snapped to attention. "This is my ship. The mission is only to assist in recovering cargo. The choice of force used should be my call!"
As he spoke, he marched toward the control panel, intending to discipline the operator and disable the weapons—
But the operator smacked his hand away!
The captain froze in disbelief.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before he could unleash more rage, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Bang.
Four ironclad soldiers marched to the deck's edge, weapons raised high, aiming at the control cabin, as if in salute.
Then, they mounted their machine guns on the ship's railing and unleashed a massacre on the approaching pirates.
The sight chilled the captain to the bone.
The carnage itself was horrifying—but even more terrifying was the international fallout such actions might bring. His own career now hung by a thread.
"You're mistaken," Erik said coldly. "I'm in charge of this mission. You're just... present."
The captain reached for his gun, but Erik moved lightning fast. Before the captain could aim, Erik had disarmed him.
"Seize him!" the captain shouted, struggling in Erik's grip.
Only the rookie who had earlier cheered a direct hit stood up to help.
Bang!
But his comrade next to him struck the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
Silence fell in the control room. The captain stood frozen, cold sweat dripping.
This... isn't my ship?
Turns out, only he and that rookie were on the same side.
Erik's combat skills were exceptional. He pinned the captain to the wall.
"Relax, Captain. This is still your ship. Don't do anything foolish—it's better for everyone."
With that, he chopped the captain's neck. The man collapsed.
[Static—]
[This is the African Union Security Patrol. You are encroaching on AU maritime territory.]
The Wakandan patrol ship had issued another warning via radio.
Unfortunately, warnings from the weak to the strong often vanish like whispers in the wind. This was the lowest-class warship in the U.S. Navy, but to Wakanda, it was still a terrifying machine of war.
After the transmission ended, static filled the airwaves.
"Their ship's jamming our signal," the operator noted.
"Is it serious?"
"Not really. Their equipment's weak—I can switch to an unaffected frequency. Target's slowing down—likely out of fuel."
"Good news," Erik waved his hand. "Ignore Wakanda. Keep pushing forward. Clear the pirates. Prepare to board."
Boom!
The main cannon fired again—this time missing, splashing water beside the pirate ship.
Stark's targeting AI was powerful, but not infallible. Hardware limitations still applied.
But…
Why did it feel like there were more pirates?
Erik frowned.
The sea was littered with wreckage and blood, but pirates kept coming, wave after wave—
Like the entire ocean's pirate population was descending on them!
Boom!
Another shot grazed the side of a pirate boat. Then radar picked up a cargo ship!
It wasn't a hallucination—pirates really were multiplying.
Soon, new speedboats entered the Iron Soldiers' firing range—dangerously close!
Speedboats swarmed the destroyer. Some fled under fire, but many screamed forward, fueled by confusion and greed.
Though the two escort ships held absolute firepower superiority, the pirates were just too many!
The more crowded the battlefield got, the more new pirates were drawn in—convinced by radio rumors of "gold" and the fantasy that cannon fire would miss them, that they would be the lucky survivor.
Boom!
A rocket finally struck the ship!
"Damn it!"
Erik was an expert in special ops and intel—but naval warfare?
Were the military rumors false? Were pirates really suicidal lunatics?!
He raced to the highest point on the ship, binoculars in hand.
He was stunned—boats everywhere!
He spotted the allied ship nearby—pirates had slipped past the defenses and broken the perimeter!
Too many!
And with only four Iron Soldiers per ship, their effectiveness on this scale was limited!
The pirates had achieved saturation assault.
Then came a distress signal from their allies:
[Ally: Sta—static—Pirates below! Check beneath your hull!]
Exactly what they wanted to warn the other ship about.
But didn't the pirates realize their weapons were useless against warships?!
Rocket launchers and AKs could harm people or land vehicles—but were mosquito bites to a warship.
Erik's target finally came into view: the ship carrying their objective.
Despite pirate harassment, he whispered, "What a shame…"
A shame they couldn't provoke Wakanda into an international incident.
On deck, the Iron Soldiers stowed their weapons, preparing to board the cargo ship—
But suddenly, their sensors snapped downward—
Boom!
A rocket struck one of them dead-on!
Erik whirled around—one Iron Soldier stumbled and fell into the sea!
Exosuit-clad soldiers leapt from a hidden position, rifles raised!
Bang!
Erik ducked just in time—bullets sliced through where he had just stood!
What the hell?!
The Iron Soldiers turned, machine guns roaring. Erik now faced the truth:
The enemy had boarded—and succeeded!
[Frank: Split up. Ghana, Lopo, Khan—handle the bots.]
Twelve enemy troops, enhanced by exosuits, zipped across the ship's superstructure with jet boosts, web lines, and magnetic pads. The Iron Soldiers couldn't lock targets in real-time!
Their machine guns opened fire—deadly on land—but at sea, accuracy dropped due to environmental factors.
Ghana ducked behind cover while Frank leapt upward using his webbing.
Bang!
He sprinted along the superstructure's wall, propelled by jets—before the bots could react, Frank was already above them!
The Iron Soldier sensed the threat and moved to aim upward—
But Ghana fired a rocket!
The AI locked onto the bigger threat.
[Iron Soldier Fire Control: Excessive threat detected. Unlocking heavy ordnance.]
Bang!
Frank pushed off, leapt away as the Iron Soldier opened its shoulder missile pods.
He reacted instantly—firing webbing, pulling himself away, changing direction midair!
Boom!
Ghana's rocket exploded midair—bullets even struck his external armor.
Frank, mid-spin, passed behind ship structures—missiles exploded uselessly on metal.
He dove from the smoke, data knife in hand—stabbed it deep into the Iron Soldier's weak point!
Electric arcs flared—the AI shut down!
Its indicator lights flickered from blue to red, then dark.
Erik saw this and felt dread: Stark's tech had advanced warfare—but so had the enemy!
Frank twisted the knife, using scanned schematics to dismantle the bot. He seized the heavy machine gun—
Another Iron Soldier appeared!
Frank turned the salvaged gun—missiles and bullets rained down, obliterating the new bot!
Atlas Group troops moved with terrifying precision, suppressing the Navy crew inside. Erik, hiding in the control room, felt metal death swirl around him.
"So this is Stark Industries' version of advanced warfare?!"
As he scrambled for a countermeasure, another Iron Soldier lost control.
A rocket soared upward—
One missile headed straight for the control room!
Boom!