MNS Defensor
Somehow both South of the Iberian Peninsula but north of the English Channel. IDK i just work here
Defensor Carrier Strike Group, Marasalian Naval Security Forces
"Attention Romanic Imperium Naval Forces in the English Channel. Attention Romanic Imperium Naval Forces in the English Channel. This is the naval forces of the Greater Remnant Cooperation Sphere. The GRCS has observed your unlawful and expansionist invasion of the southern British Isles and has observed your unlawful blockage of naval lanes in violation of the concept of freedom of navigation. Romanic Imperium Naval Forces, you are trapped and surrounded. We request that you surrender. Land all aircraft, surface all submarines, and that your fleet takes on parade position in anticipation of being detained. I repeat, the military forces of the GRCS demand that the naval forces of the Romanic Imperium within the English Channel surrender. If you resist, it will be taken as an act of open war. Romanic Imperium naval forces, respond and comply.
A frantic phone call from the Protetor demonstrated the blindside this came with. This was a notable shift in the engagement pattern that Marasalia was attempting to employ, but this was not within itself an issue. In fact, it gave the respective admirals a little bit more room.
As the two carrier groups previously involved with Phenyzia moved closer to theatre, new commands came from Marasalia: The three carrier groups would form an ad hoc command known as the North Atlantic Command, placed under the command of Vice Admiral Jacó Fernandes, one of Marasalia's highest decorated admirals. With them, three Amphibious Warfare Expeditionary Groups, with 3 total LHAs, another 72 escorts, and 2 LSDs, a significant advancement in the combat capability to the 3 existing carrier groups moving into theatre already. The command also would have submarine units attached to it, but it was not yet clear which units would be attached.
But in the mean time, the command would begin harrassment while trying to keep the location of the carriers vague. A single 5th generation fighter from the deck of the Defensor was chosen to take this role.
5th generation fighters were by no means undetectable, but the detection envelope for them was incredibly small to surface based radar, and even smaller still when they followed the ocean. And that's what this lone fighter was gonna do. To keep the advantage to which the stealth design offered, the fighter was only carrying internally mounted weapons, to which it had 4 bays which could each in theory hold two missiles, but of course this depended on the missile.
This fighter, piloted by Lieutenant Téo Machado, held a rather simple armament: 6 Hypersonic Anti-Shipping Missiles and two short range anti-aircraft missiles, that could be used as anti-shipping missiles in worst case scenarios, though the fighter would not get close enough to a ship for this to be a feasible option. The hypersonic missiles aboard were significantly shorter ranged than the full variant that was in the vertical launch systems on the escorts of the group. These had a maximum range of roughly 60 nautical miles, still technically outside the range of ground-based radar detection of a low flying craft. And while the smaller missile had a shorter range and was a bit slower, it still performed its entire 60km flight in just 34 seconds, and its detection range to impact likely took less than 12 seconds.
While these weapons were all well and good, there was a plan to them. Instead of just randomly firing at these ships who technically had not done anything to Marasalia, it is just an offensive armament in the event that the aircraft is somehow spotted and engaged. It will dump its hypersonic missiles into the endless targets which are in the channel for some reason, and then flee in a series of complicated directions to throw off followers and limit detection of the carrier. It will also come in a direction that is not in a straight line from the carrier, looking to once again lead Roman Imperium search aircraft on a wild goose chase, and also limiting the reasonability of them attempting to search in other directions.
The electromagnetic catapult for the carrier locked into place, and Machado maneuvered his plane onto it. He watched the deck crew intently, mentally preparing himself for another launch. The flight instructor made his launch movement, and Machado felt the surge of G forces as his plane was launched into the air. An easy mission, don't get caught and if you do, don't die. he mused.
