The Navy is back in action. How they show their worth? Enjoy!

---

Majapahit,

Its 0930 hours local time. In the next couple of hours in the dead of night, we will make history as the Marines are to conduct their first landing operation in hostile territory since the corps was raised just after independence. Our mission is obvious; providing air support to the Marines as they will land near the city of Mogadishu, codenamed Limiter. We're not alone; the operation will be conducted as a joint task force under the leadership of a Korean Marine general, Maj. Gen. Ki-Nam Gi. The operation will involve troops from Indonesia, Korea, Japan, US, Australia, and a joint African Union force consist of South Africans and Zimbabweans, along with Kenyans, Botswanans, Ghanaians, Tanzanians, and Namibians.

Personally I have little thrill to work with Somalis, of all people.

"Today we work with them, one day if they are in power they turn against us. Like Ilhan Omar for example up there in the USA, Ma'am." I fumed on Major Stella, in which I will be her wingman.

"Well.. many of those people are simply tired on Caliphate ideology, Fishnet. Yes we will blow up some Somalis on their land but there are such thing as cooperative ones like what we are going to fight alongside. In fact if you read the news, the Americans actually gave two Somalis Bronze Star."

"You're kidding me, Major."

"It's true, Captain. For meritorious service to the Somalian resistance. Their SOCOM commander presented them personally."

Her detailed explanation convinced me that the Major is not lying. But I smell a bit of politics. "Well.. to keep those socialists happy despite we all know Westerners dislike anything left nowadays just like us thanks to their role in Euro's civil war and to keep them in line."

"You definitely know that the region was pretty strategic and the Russians sought it too, which will allow the Chinese to have more presence in the Horn." She answered. "Those guys saved two American Green Berets from danger. I'm surprised that you didn't notice it."

"They're lucky, Major, whoever they are" I said.

"I guess so" she replied in an ambiguous tone, between agreement or a doubt, then continued "But don't worry as any Jihadists among them we will blow them up even women and children if they fired at us."

"Well, so be it, Major" I saluted her before head to my quarter for a much needed sleep.

In the meantime, two days before the op, a joint Franco-British-Israeli-Ethiopian force had recaptured Djibouti and currently fighting UCC-occupied Eritrea. The fall of Djibouti marked another turning point for the war as control of Red Sea are slipping out from UCC hands, allowing resupply via strategic Bab-el-Mandeb strait under heavy escort of Allied warships, fighters, and electronic warfare assets as submarines and land-based missile launchers, along with fighters from Yemen, Eritrea, and Sudan are still a threat.

Meanwhile, the Pact knowing the importance of Somalia in the war effort also conducted their own operation, Operation Eurasian Thunder, targeting the former autonomous territory of Somaliland.

Jumbled politics aside, now the 120 is going to have a little trip to a country which basically, a hell on earth. A network of airbases had been built for the last three years in a breakneck speed by the UCC to challenge our landing op. And so we'll need to neutralize them, a duty for airborne troops. The C flight was assigned to escort a squadron worth of transport planes and tiltrotors filled with multi-national airborne forces ready to be inserted deep in Somalia's territory.

Meanwhile, B flight, with me plotted to be Stella's wingman was to be part of a second joint task force with mission to take out UCC air defenses before the landing. Another part of the first wave of strike is the a KMQ-101 flight from the unmanned 109 NAS "Dolphins" with main job is hunting coastal missile launchers in concert with surface ships and special forces.

We were launching at 0045 local time, with American MALD decoys launched from C-17s to fool UCC SAMs as company.

Our initial, main payload will be brand-new Japanese-supplied AGM-9 supersonic anti-radiation missile, replacing the AGM-88G, along with four Buzzards and four Diamondbacks, all mounted externally on stealthy weapon pods. Trailing us is eight Japanese F-4 Reppuu, a carrier variant of the F-3 Shinshin tasked for air-superiority and escort to four of their F-35FJs tasked as a follow on attack after we expended our ARM payloads.

"Look, Somalia. Did you know back during Sinar Kudus hijacking almost three decades ago if things turn extreme we might land Marines in this very land to take out the pirates' village?" I asked the leader, just as we finished our refuelling.

"Interesting" she said, while implying me to be focused, as the AEW called us.

"This is Cartenz to all units, we're going to start the operation."

Seconds later the AI called "SAM Warning!". Instinctively I fired one of my AGM-9s and the system, a Bavar-373 was knocked out. I can detect, in my display, my flightmates are doing the same.

"Magnum" my lead followed me seconds after.

"Solid hit on the SAM, good shot Lead" I said.

"You too, 2-2" She said.

In the meantime our radars also detected small contacts followed by small explosion lighting up the dark environment, as loitering kamikaze drones deployed from ships along with long-range naval gunfire complement efforts from aircraft in knocking out UCC air defenses. After some time and more enemy radars went offline...

"Be advised we're run out of ARM, should we return to the carrier?" Stella asked Cartenz.

"Negative, assist other forces as needed as they engaging enemy fighters above the city. Cartenz out."

"Roger."

---

"Where are our fighters?" asked an UCC officer, Maj. Ali Abdul Saleh, inside his battery command vehicle as he watched his battery of Bavar-373s went offline one by one. He was so focused on calling the reinforcement and coordinating with remaining air defense assets, resulted of him unaware of a 127mm guided shell from a Korean Sejong-class destroyer is heading toward his vehicle and remaining Bavar launchers...

Scramble, scramble!

Capt. Diini Fidow had just done his Dhikr (Islamic short prayer) as the scramble alarm went off.

As he had suited up and boarding his Su-35 he already see what the enemy has done into the base, with wrecked SAM vehicles littering the taxiway.

With incredible luck, he and other three Sukhois managed to take off just as four Korean F-35Bs are flying low above the base and strafe exposed personnel and aircraft on the ground.

"Reaper 1 to all units, form on me." His leader, Major Sufi Caabas, ordered. They decided to try to close on the F-35 formation that had strafe their base, and the Somali will ensure the Infidels inside the American jet to pay for it. Using IRST, they began to stealthily approached the Lightnings, with their R-73 Archers armed and ready. But to the chagrin of the UCC flight, the F-35 split up in pairs and break off as they are heading away from the city.

"Reaper 1-2, follow me, we're engaging the enemy on the left side. Reaper 1-3 and 1-4, break formation and head right towards the second enemy formation."

"Acknowledged, Insha'Allah (If God wills) we will prevail."

Dilni kept his nose balanced and aimed towards the F-35s as his Korean adversary rolled, climbed, and changing course in general to avoid his Sukhoi.

"Be advised, we have sent a flight of Rafales from Wilayat Kenya to reinforce you, do you copy?"

"Copy that."

"1-3, splash one bandit" The second pair reported they had shot down one JSF.

Then his intended prey increased his speed and started maneuvering, indicating his resolve to fight back.

"Koreans are good warriors, never underestimate East Asians." The word rings over his head. Along with that, he know many of their pilots are hardened veterans from the Second Korean War, called Reunification War in Korea. Dilni later switched on his radar and illuminated the F-35s for an R-77 shot, as the latter's distance had rendered them out of range for the R-73s.

He smiled upon the radar locked on the F-35s, and the only thing he need to done is to press the trigger for the Adder to be launched.

But he then found himself caught by surprise as missile warning tone blared over his cockpit, and seconds later, death embraced him as AIM-10s hit his Flanker.

---

"Splash one Sukhoi" I cheered as my lock-on after launch shot of AIM-10s hit one UCC Su-35 in front of me.

"Fox two!" Arif, just assigned to the squadron two days before the operation, confidently launched his own AIM-10. And it went straight and true as his first kill.

"Excellent work, 2-4!" His leader, Goalkeeper, praised Arif.

"Thanks for saving our skins" the Korean F-35 pair lead expressed his own relief over the radio.

"All Sea Eagle 2 flight you're cleared to return to the carrier" Cartenz reported.

Before the MiG kill I had destroyed two enemy Rafales which unlucky enough to be in range of our -122s as they are on their way from Kenya to challenge us.

"Just as the Marines are about to hit the ground" I said.

"I'm bingo fuel" My lead said.

Upon landing, the CO told us that for next sortie, ordnanceman has been instructed to exchange our payloads with strike profile using JDAMs and Paveways. We're permitted take a little break in the ready room as a flight of 132 NAS "Keris" are being catapulted, with Colonel Edi, the CAG commander on the lead in that sortie, followed by a Kestrel landing on one of the helicopter landing spot after spent almost 1 hour hunting for mines.

"Want coffee?" Bala asked me. His flight is the one which escorted the first airborne assault force.

"Yeah, tell those guys to make my usual; a good-old cappuccino, without sugar. Here's the money"

Two rupiahs went to Bala for that.

"For our comrades which didn't coming back, Arabs." I said to myself as I and Bala enjoyed our coffee altogether in the ready room.

Coffee increased alertness, but in my dictionary, that increased awareness also has a calming effect. Don't know why.

"I don't trust those mainlanders. They are just changing their skin but their views are almost the same as the old..." I can heard my element lead talked to two other Chinese-looking pilots beside my and Bala's table. I don't want to bother my mind with political related question for now, so I decided to ask some more trivial thing to my best friend.

"Has your girl called you in the last week?"

"Yeah"

He gives me an envelope and I, upon prior permit, opened it.

"She send it back, man"

"What did she write?"

"I always love you, Fatimah." he continued. "Nothing stays the same, Yoel. Not our families, not our loved ones, not anyone. Time's not stopping in the real world 'cause we're already in the shit. We're pilots."

"Yeah."

Bala sighed, just as the PA system called me to prepare for launch again.

I am once more in the air, still led by Maj. Stella, this time at 0330 local time, just as amphibious force are on their way with their LCU, LCAC, and helicopters ready to assault Mogadishu from the sea.

Accompanied by naval gunfire and cruise missiles, we make our way to Mogadishu once more.

".. Our future is at stake in this decisive battle, Now, our duty as Muslims is to resist the horde of infidels and their blood will flow like a river.."

Static ".. Alright, those people never change and so their worn-out propaganda. Well folks, and Allied troops ashore, welcome to Somalia. I'm DJ "O" from the Free Somali Radio and we has taken over this airwave!.."

"This is Cartenz, all units be advised, the second phase of this mission has been started. Landing force has been committed to seize Somali coast. Keep supporting amphibious force until they reached their objective."

"Remember, we got information that Somali resistance forces are having an uprising inside the city, in no circumstances you are permitted to bomb the runway of both K50 and Aden Adde International Airport. We NEED both of it intact as the SLF are conducting assault to seize both airports. I repeat, you are cleared to engage enemies in the area but not bomb it's runway. Understood?"

"Roger that, Cartenz, we take note of it." I replied.

The E-2 referred to a Somali unified secular-nationalist anti-Caliphate resistance force, the Somali Liberation Front (SLF) supported by NATO with latest equipment including night combat gears and anti-armor weapons began their uprising with primary aim to take over important buildings in the city. The hijacking of Radio Mogadishu frequency by the SLF "Free Somali Radio" is one part of the resistance operation.

"This is Gurita, we'll be disembarking near the main port of Mogadishu and to secure the beachhead inside the city area."

The 102nd Marine Amphibious Unit, with it's core the Indonesian 2nd Marine Battalion reported their readiness aboard their LCACs, followed by the ground combat element of the 104th MAU, 4th Marine Battalion, deployed aboard LHA KRI 10 November 1945 inserted via helicopter with intention to capture Mogadishu Aden Adde International Airport. At the same time, a formation of joint African ships start disgorging it's troops using LCUs from modified cargo ships and South African-operated Improved Galicia-class LPD SAS Oliver Tambo and SAS Hendrik Mentz.

The western sector have Korean marines from ROKS Marado LPH as lead force followed by a two reinforced battalions of Filipino marines with their lead ship the Improved Mistral-class BRP Manuel Quezon, along with the Australian Army amphibious unit 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment which was embarked on Canberra-class LHD HMAS Canberra.

The eastern sector has a joint American-Japanese force executing the landing, led by element of the Japanese 2nd Amphibious Regiment embarked on Wasp-class amphibious assault ship JNS Ryuuhou (LHD-4030), previously USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7) alongside the US 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed on America-class LHA USS Tarawa (LHA-11).

Surface fleet, UUVs, and USVs have prowled Somalian territorial waters and prior to the start of the operation have destroyed 50 Fedayeen suicide boats, 35 UCC Navy missile boats and USVs, and 7 midget submarines and cleared up to 120 naval mines.

The operation also involve joint Chinese and African Union airborne assault in the neighboring Kenya, definitely to secure the former interests in the country particularly the Port of Mombasa. A separate operation in the country also mounted by British Royal Marines 45 Commando Regiment in an attempt to counteract the Chinese move.

"Air units, this is Gurita, we count on you to take out the remaining bunkers and vehicles in our way."

As our flight entered the port, we saw almost a battalion size of tanks and AFV scattered across the city, in an attempt to deal with the landing and the SLF uprising.

"Target lock, pickle" I released two of my JDAMs which hit one surviving tracked Tor SAM system which exploded, followed by two T-90s in a secondary explosion. Stella, trailling me despite being the lead, turns slightly left and using her Paveways, destroyed two enemy bunkers near the port, followed by a pair of American Advanced Super Hornets firing it's JSOW-LR towards enemy armor concentration inside the city in a standoff range, clear from UCC dwindling, but well camouflaged, AA guns.

We regrouped before releasing another package of JDAMs, this time, we silenced a battery of self-propelled guns firing at the landing crafts.

Below us. "Way to go, pilots!" A group of sailors aboard one of the escort ship involved, Slamet Riyadi-class frigate KRI Benyamin Sueb (FFG-390) cheered upon looking at the flash of explosions rocking the city.

"Target coordinates received!"

"VULCANO guided round loaded, captain!"

"Open fire!" The commanding officer's order saw the frigate with it's sister ship KRI Susi Susanti (FFG-395) took turns with other Allied escort ship, landing docks, and submarines to provide naval gunfire support to further soften up the UCC coastal defenses augmenting the air forces' efforts.

"That's a hit, enemy coastal battery is offline" the ship's weapon officer confirmed the hit from the 5-inch round on its intended target, a group of mobile anti-ship missile/drone launchers disguised as container trucks.

Meanwhile. "All personnel, get ready to disembark. Thanks for the flyboys and gunfire we are taking minimum losses." said an Indonesian LCAC operator.

We are forming up once more to return to the carrier for rearming, had expended all of our bombs, but the AEW interrupted us. "This is Cartenz, contact heading 160, confirmed F-16s and J-7s. They got anti-ship missiles and bombs. Engage!"

"J-7s are only flown by the Fedayeens, but never underestimate those guys. They got numbers and if they used it correctly will hurt you." I remember my CO said during the first day of the war.

"We reached our destination, Go, go, go!" LCUs and LCACs opened their ramps and landed its troops and vehicles.

Allied radio once again caught the SLF broadcast.

"..I'd like to give a shout to our people fighting alongside African, Eastern, and Western armed forces fighting to liberate our beloved Somalia. Here in the Free Somali Radio, we're supporting you 120% !.."

"I got a lock, Fox three!" Two Buzzards went off Arif's left and right wing pod; the older fighters thrown by the UCC was unable to detect ours and they learned it the hard way as two AIM-122, followed by Stella's salvo of two of the same missile, decimated their formation.

One sole surviving J-7 zig-zagging, attempted to move away from the battle. But he run out of options. In the east, the amphibious force, in the west, Ethiopian-led joint force had it's main thrust departed from a city called Baidoa, directly into Mogadishu, already linked up with the Allied airborne force, itself equipped with air-droppable armored vehicles inserted behind enemy lines, rendering him to have no place for landing. He then considered to crash his plane kamikaze-style into a column of SLF forces battling for the control of the city.

But in the end the Fedayeen pilot decided to stay alive by ditching his plane into the ocean, and bailed out, before turned himself to the Allied forces already occupying the Port of Mogadishu.