This time, the target of the operation was the United States Navy, with a particular focus on the Sixth Fleet.
This fleet, which had participated in the Libya War, the Gulf War, the large-scale airstrikes against Yugoslavia, and the Iraq War, had long patrolled the Mediterranean and was the most active of all U.S. Navy fleets. America's boldness in interfering in the Middle East and Southeastern European political landscapes was backed by the presence of this fleet. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, the fleet was nicknamed the "Mediterranean Police," and its chief rival was Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Following Solomon's speech in Hungary, the fleet began mobilizing. The intelligence division and the Imperial Guard had full knowledge of the Mediterranean fleet's movements via reconnaissance satellites. Coupled with intel from General Hale, the Eternal City even possessed the fleet's personnel manifest and weapon system serial numbers. Were it not for the United States' concerns over Latveria's orbital strike capabilities and their ongoing efforts to counter that threat, an airstrike might have hit Latveria or Hungary as soon as the day after the speech. The existence of this fleet posed a major threat to Latveria. Relying solely on air defense systems was not sufficient. If Latveria wanted Serbia's cooperation, the Sixth Fleet's Mediterranean strike group had to be destroyed.
After Solomon's assault shuttle squadron landed, he immediately marched—flanked by Hammurabi and other Sisterhood operatives—into the mountain-surrounded bunker fortified by dense anti-aircraft artillery and missile defenses. This underground War Council bunker, constructed during the Latverian Liberation War, was only 20 kilometers from the former militia camps but known only to high-ranking officers. Once the civil war ended, the newly completed bunker was immediately activated, and the Ministry of War deployed anti-air systems to defend it, giving it the capability to retaliate even under air assault.
Inside the temporary base of the Latverian War Council, data terminals lined every surface. Intelligence operatives from the Eternal City and engineers from the Martian Foundry processed streams of information and reports from across the globe within the brightly lit bunker. Solomon walked down concrete-and-alloy corridors to his private prep room, summoned his power armor, and donned it.
After checking his explosive gun, he pushed open the door and joined the Imperial Guard and Sisterhood to proceed to the command center where Victor von Doom was located. Upon entering the gray concrete command center, the holographic projections of Victoria Hand, Tita, and Konstantin appeared around the conference table—they were the operation's core leadership.
To strike at the assembling U.S. Navy, the Eternal City's military forces had to split across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Arctic Oceans to achieve a total kill. On the holographic globe projection, carrier strike groups—formerly under S.H.I.E.L.D. and now under the Eternal City—were moving toward the Arctic. Sky carriers, sky battleships, and sky destroyers each faced different carrier battle groups across various theaters. Solomon was tasked with leading the assault shuttle fleet from Latveria, planning to dive from beyond the atmosphere for a decapitation strike against the Sixth Fleet's carrier formation in the Mediterranean.
"We've made covert contact with the Russian Black Sea Fleet," Victoria Hand said as she adjusted her glasses, every strand of her hair realistically rendered by the projection. "They won't intervene in this operation, but they've agreed to accept the gift. If we achieve our strategic objectives, we'll gain a new friendship."
"Let the Russians collect that gift themselves—we don't have the manpower to sail a carrier group into their naval bases," Victor von Doom replied bluntly from the other end of the table. "The fleets in the Arctic and Atlantic must be annihilated. I recommend beginning targeted strikes on European air defense systems at the start of the assault. Electronic warfare alone will only stall them temporarily—NATO will eventually find a workaround. We need to act fast and ramp up strikes against satellite systems."
He seemed impatient—because he understood that the longer the operation dragged on, the more detrimental it would be for Latveria's civilian welfare.
Latveria still relied heavily on the Eternal City's support. Hungary had only recently aligned with the Eternal City behind Latveria, and Orbán's government was focused on stabilizing its own domestic situation, unable to offer assistance. Even though Stephanie's Ministry of Internal Affairs had begun organizing Latveria's Urban Planning and Construction Division to build housing and biotech farms for its people, daily life had yet to improve significantly. The foreign ministry needed to sign trade deals with other nations for basic industrial goods, household necessities, and essential commodities to improve living standards—but their leverage depended entirely on the War Council's performance. Conquering Hungary in a single day was a notable military feat, but for Latveria, it still wasn't enough.
Tita and Konstantin remained silent. The strike teams led by the Sisterhood and the Imperial Guard had long been ready.
Their assault shuttles were equipped with large quantities of anti-ship missiles, and by leveraging their electronic warfare superiority, they could avoid radar detection and carry out beyond-visual-range strikes. Sky battleships and destroyers could also provide fire support and serve as aerial platforms to complete missions swiftly. Even so, that alone couldn't fulfill the broader strategic objectives. The strike teams would need to engage in close combat—this military operation wouldn't involve many regular Latverian army units. Not only because of the mission's intensity, but also because the army's priority was clearing out illegal armed groups within Latveria and eliminating Albanian gangs smuggling people and weapons across the borders.
Under Silver Marten's command, the Sylvania Wild Warband had become a formidable standing army. Armed by the Eternal City, they took responsibility for most border operations. Solomon had read their operation reports and praised their professionalism. The Warband and the Latverian regular army were under the joint command of Victor von Doom, who, as regent, had to stabilize the domestic situation while also formulating military plans against NATO. If he could, Victor von Doom would march straight into the White House himself and force politicians to sign an accord.
"Split the strike force into two other groups. You and I will handle the Mediterranean Fleet," said Victor von Doom. Each strike team included a hundred fully equipped gene-enhanced soldiers—more than enough to overwhelm an entire city. Let alone the various vehicles accompanying them. Once heavy tracked armored vehicles and main battle tanks landed on carrier decks, victory would be assured. Those warriors would deliver triumph to their masters. "It's the most efficient and fastest method. You and I can wipe out the Mediterranean Fleet on our own. We should let the world witness our individual power—it will benefit the upcoming negotiations."
"Offensive capability at the individual level should only be displayed when necessary," Solomon replied. "Otherwise, former allies might flee in fear. Most people are ordinary, and ordinary people are afraid. And if you're not in Latveria, I'm concerned a sudden U.S. airstrike might hit." He skimmed the battle plans, double-checking final coordination with the strike teams. Malbas's support forces were about to arrive—those equipped with experimental weapons had docked their shuttles at the Sky Sword orbital station, awaiting orders to rendezvous with the main strike force.
Malbas danced on the edge of AI development like a seabird pecking along the shore, chased by waves foaming white. He had handed Solomon a batch of combat robots requiring human brain-based command and insisted on deploying them into combat immediately. The accompanying engineers needed field data for further refinement. After confirming that these robots were not true AIs—and that Mars had a vested interest in creating a fully robotic army from command to maintenance—Solomon chose to tolerate Malbas's little experiment.
Mars was the Eternal City's most crucial research center. Many weapons of mass destruction had come from Malbas's mind—not to mention prototype extinction-level weapons. Wakanda outright refused to touch such research. Some darker, more dangerous technologies were developed, simulated, and perfected by silicon-based lifeforms, not by humans.
Solomon activated the protective field of his power armor for self-check. This mysterious tech, developed jointly with Malbas, could only be issued in limited quantities to key figures. "We must achieve our strategic objectives before the Sokovia Accords conference begins. I want to bring home a war trophy before the meeting starts."
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