2: Deadly fog, an uninvited guest on the radar!

"Yes, Captain!" Vice Captain Gao Qiang didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately turned around, and clearly and accurately repeated Lin Feng's order into the communicator, relaying it to every battle station on the entire ship. His execution was astonishingly strong, as if Lin Feng's will was the supreme law of this steel behemoth.

As the order was given, the entire Type 055 destroyer instantly transformed into a deep-sea leviathan thoroughly enraged!

The roar of the engines suddenly increased by several magnitudes, and the massive propellers furiously churned the seawater, propelling the ten-thousand-ton warship to forcibly accelerate through the violent waves. The ship's hull began a violent zig-zag evasion maneuver at a steep angle, attempting to shake off the deadly lock.

Inside the bridge, the atmosphere was so heavy it could almost drip water. On the massive integrated tactical display, two red light points, dragging tails of death and furiously advancing at just a few meters above sea level, were clearly displayed. The distance numbers jumped mercilessly: 90 kilometers… 85 kilometers… 80 kilometers…

The radar operator's hands moved rapidly over the control console, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead: "Target stably locked! Signal characteristics continuously analyzed… Confirmed! It's the 'YJ-83' series anti-ship missile! Terminal active radar guidance!" His voice carried a hint of disbelieving hoarseness. The YJ-83, this was a model they were very familiar with, but at this moment, it had become a deadly harbinger.

"YJ-83?" Lin Feng's brows were tightly furrowed as he stared at the screen. The analysis provided by the system was even more detailed: [Target: YJ-83 Anti-Ship Missile (suspected improved model). Maximum Range: Approximately 250 kilometers. Terminal Speed: 0.9 Mach. Guidance Method: Mid-course inertial + data link correction, terminal active radar/infrared imaging. Warhead: 165 kg semi-armor-piercing high-explosive. Threat Assessment: Possesses lethal destructive power against ten-thousand-ton class vessels.]

"Fire control data calculated!" The fire control officer reported loudly, his voice taut, "Standard-2 missiles ready! Dual-shot interception plan! Launch channels 1, 2 open!"

Lin Feng's gaze was fixed on the approaching red dots, his brain operating at high speed with the system's assistance, analyzing missile trajectories, wind speed, ship maneuvering status, interception windows… countless data streams flashed before his eyes. He felt an unprecedented pressure; this was no longer code on a computer screen, but real, life-and-death battlefield decisions! Any tiny error could send this giant ship, carrying him and over a hundred loyal crew members, to the bottom of the sea!

"Captain! Target entering Standard-2 effective range!" Gao Qiang's voice was urgent.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, he no longer hesitated, and decisively ordered: "Launch channels 1, 2! Targets A, B! Standard-2 Block IIIB, salvo fire! Launch!"

"Launch channels 1, 2! Targets A, B! Standard-2 missiles, launch!" The command was instantly relayed through the ship's internal communication.

Boom! Boom!

In front of the bow, the covers of two massive Vertical Launching System (VLS) units sprang open! Accompanied by deafening muffled roars and scorching hot airwaves, two slender, white-painted Standard-2 Block IIIB anti-air missiles, like white dragons breaking free, spewed fierce orange-red flames from their tails, vertically ascending instantly propelled by thrust vectoring devices. After reaching their predetermined altitude, they sharply turned, carving two sharp white contrails, and at a terrifying speed exceeding Mach 4, tore through the gloomy sky, rushing unhesitatingly towards the distant targets!

"Missiles away! Flight normal! Radar guidance signal stable!" The fire control officer stared intently at the screen.

Inside the bridge, everyone's hearts were in their throats. Lin Feng held his breath, staring fixedly at the tactical screen. The green light points representing the interceptor missiles and the red light points representing the incoming missiles were rapidly closing the distance in the virtual battlefield space!

"Target A, 30 kilometers!… 20 kilometers!… 10 kilometers! Active radar seeker online! Locked!"

"Target B, 25 kilometers!… 15 kilometers!… Seeker online! Locked!"

"Interception point calculated… 3 seconds… 2 seconds… 1 second… Intercept!"

On the tactical screen, the red light point representing Target A and the green light point of an interceptor missile instantly overlapped!

Boom—!

Even over a hundred kilometers away, captured by sonar and long-range infrared detection equipment, a huge energy signal representing an explosion clearly erupted on the screen! A red light point instantly vanished!

"Target A hit! Confirmed destroyed!" The radar operator's voice held a hint of excitement.

However, before the joy could spread, the fire control officer's exclamation rang out: "Target B! Evasive maneuver! Damn it, it performed a serpentine maneuver! Standard-2 lost lock!"

On the screen, the red light point representing Target B, at the very moment it was about to be hit by the second Standard-2, suddenly performed a violent lateral maneuver at an extremely tricky angle, narrowly avoiding the interceptor missile! It was not completely destroyed; its signal merely weakened slightly, but it was still charging furiously towards Deep Blue 01 at nearly 0.9 Mach! The distance had already closed to less than 40 kilometers!

"Interception failed! Target B broke through mid-course defense! Distance 35 kilometers! Estimated to enter terminal phase in 90 seconds!" The fire control officer's voice carried a hint of despair. The Standard-2's interception window had closed!

"Damn it!" Gao Qiang slammed his fist on the control console.

Lin Feng's heart sank, but he forced himself to remain absolutely calm. The system interface flashed wildly with red warning lights: [Warning! Target B has broken through mid-range defense! Terminal Interception System activated! Estimated contact time: 88 seconds!]

Time was critical! Life and death hung in the balance!

"Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)! Haihongqi-10! All systems online! Maximum power!" Lin Feng's voice was like ice, without the slightest tremor, "Electronic jamming system! Full-band jamming! Deploy chaff barrage! Infrared decoy flares! Maximum density launch! Create a 'fog' zone for me!"

"Yes! Full-band jamming activated! Chaff, infrared decoy flares, launch! Launch! Launch!"

Chirp chirp chirp—!

Bang bang bang—!

On both sides and the stern of the ship, dozens of launch tubes instantly spewed out dense interference rounds. Countless metallic chaff burst open in the air like a goddess scattering flowers, forming a huge 'cloud wall' that strongly reflected radar waves. At the same time, scorching infrared decoy flares, trailing long plumes, created a large number of false heat sources around the ship. The entire area around Deep Blue 01 was instantly enveloped by a 'shield' composed of electronic fog and optical illusions.

"Target B distance 25 kilometers! Altitude 5 meters! Speed 0.88 Mach! Active radar seeker online… It's being jammed! It's re-searching for the target!" The radar operator's voice carried a hint of hope.

"Maintain jamming! Continue deploying decoys!" Lin Feng stared fixedly at the red dot, which, like a headless fly in the electronic fog, slightly altered its course and decreased in speed. He felt the violent pitching of the warship beneath his feet amidst the wind, waves, and high-speed maneuvers. Time passed second by second, each second incredibly long.

"Distance 15 kilometers! It's re-locked!… No, it's hovering at the edge of the chaff cloud… Lock signal unstable!" The fire control officer's voice was full of uncertainty.

"10 kilometers!" The radar operator's voice suddenly rose, sharp and cracking, "It's broken through! Lock signal stable! Target… locked onto this ship! Terminal sprint! Speed 0.9 Mach!"

The final death sprint!

"Haihongqi-10 ready! 1130 CIWS ready!" Lin Feng's voice was like thunder, "Target B! Free fire! Shoot it down for me!"

The final line of defense—short-range anti-aircraft missiles and the 1130 CIWS system, known as the "ten-thousand-round cannon"—both let out a ferocious roar!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several smaller but extremely agile Haihongqi-10 short-range anti-aircraft missiles whistled out from the launchers on both sides of the ship, like nimble venomous snakes, directly striking the slender, death-laden missile that had now clearly appeared on the ship's optoelectronic tracking system screen!

Almost simultaneously, the 1130 CIWS turret in front of the bridge violently rotated, its 11 cold barrels instantly adjusted to the optimal firing angle, emitting a hair-raising high-speed whirring sound!

"Fire!" The CIWS operator roared hoarsely.

Buzz—!!!!

A deafening, terrifying roar, like a high-speed chainsaw cutting metal, echoed across the sea and sky! The 1130 CIWS, at an astonishing rate of over 10,000 rounds per minute, spewed forth a torrent of metal storm, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, glowing white-hot! Thousands of 30mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds, precisely guided by fire control radar and optoelectronic systems, formed an impenetrable curtain of death, violently pouring down on the YJ-83 anti-ship missile, now almost at point-blank range!

Boom! Rumble—!!!

First, two Haihongqi-10 missiles almost simultaneously hit the target, exploding into two huge fireballs in the air less than 3 kilometers above the sea surface near Deep Blue 01! Immediately afterward, the seemingly solid torrent of metal storm fiercely struck the missile wreckage, which was unbalanced by the explosion, trailing thick smoke and raging fire, yet still hurtling forward by inertia!

Violent, deafening chain explosions erupted! Shockwaves, mixed with scorching fragments and seawater, violently slammed against the bow and superstructure of Deep Blue 01, producing a crackling impact sound!

A massive fireball and thick smoke rose into the sky from the sea surface less than 2 kilometers from the bow, like a brief and cruel firework! The scorching airwave rushed forward, and even through the thick bulletproof glass, everyone on the bridge could feel that violent energy!

On the radar and optoelectronic screens, the deadly red light point and image signal completely vanished!

"Target B… confirmed destroyed!" The radar operator's voice, trembling with the thrill of survival and incredible excitement, was almost a shout.

"Threat neutralized! Repeat, threat neutralized!" The fire control officer's voice was also filled with immense relief.

Inside the bridge, a deathly silence lasted for about two seconds. Then, the suppressed cheers and applause erupted like a volcano!

"Well done!"

"We shot it down! We shot it down!"

"Long live the CIWS! Long live the Haihongqi!"

The officers and soldiers excitedly slapped each other on the shoulders, some even with red eyes. To withstand a saturation attack from two sea-skimming anti-ship missiles at such close range and successfully intercept and destroy them all was absolutely a textbook-level anti-missile operation! Enough to be written into the navy's history!

Vice Captain Gao Qiang let out a long breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and looked at Lin Feng, who was standing at the command position, his eyes filled with sincere admiration and deeper loyalty. This young captain's calmness, decisiveness, and precise judgment displayed at the critical moment of life and death were truly admirable.

Lin Feng's tense nerves finally relaxed, his military uniform on his back already soaked with cold sweat. He leaned on the command console, feeling the lingering sensation of his heart pounding in his chest, and an indescribable surge of immense exhilaration and exhaustion after triumphing over death. He looked at the wreckage and oil slick on the sea surface, which was rapidly being swallowed by the waves, his eyes complex.

This was war. Cruel, direct, a matter of kill or be killed.

[Ding!]

The system's prompt sounded in his mind:

[First combat victory! Successfully intercepted and destroyed two incoming anti-ship missiles!]

[Mission completion assessment: S-rank (Perfect Interception)]

[Reward settlement in progress…]

[Obtained: Energy/Points + 500]

[Obtained: Basic Resource Supply Pack × 2 (contains food, fresh water, basic materials)]

[Obtained: "Basic Radar Warning Range Enhancement" Module × 1 (can be installed immediately)]

[Obtained: "Shipborne UAV (Reconnaissance Type)" Blueprint × 1]

[System function "Mission Center" unlocked! Please check, Host!]

The cold system prompt, however, was like a shot in the arm, invigorating Lin Feng's spirit. The combat rewards had arrived! And they were very generous! Energy points, resource supplies, a radar module that could immediately enhance combat power, and a reconnaissance UAV blueprint for future development!

However, before he could carefully examine the rewards, the radar operator's voice, with a hint of surprise, sounded again, breaking the brief relaxed atmosphere on the bridge:

"Reporting, Captain! Detected near Target B missile wreckage… there's a strong metallic reflection signal! It seems… it doesn't seem to be missile fragments! It's quite large! And it's slowly sinking!"

"What?" Lin Feng and Gao Qiang simultaneously looked at the radar screen. Sure enough, at the edge of the missile explosion's core area, a distinct signal source, much larger than ordinary fragments, was slowly sinking in the seawater.

"Optical system! Zoom in! Show me clearly what that is!" Lin Feng immediately ordered.

The high-definition optoelectronic probe in front of the bridge quickly adjusted its focus, penetrating the still-not-fully-dispersed smoke and water mist, and projected the image clearly onto the large screen.

In the murky seawater, a rectangular object, about the size of a suitcase, entirely black, with edges shimmering with metallic cold light, and an unusually precise and complex structure, was slowly sinking into the dark deep sea, trailing tiny bubbles. Its surface seemed to have some interfaces and damaged traces, obviously affected by the violent explosion just now.

"Black box?" Gao Qiang frowned, "Doesn't look like one from a plane…"

"No…" Lin Feng narrowed his eyes, and under his gaze, the system interface automatically highlighted and analyzed the object: [Detected high-strength special alloy… Detected faint encrypted signal residue… Detected unknown energy fluctuations… Preliminary assessment: High-value information storage/transmission device (severely damaged). Recommendation: Immediately salvage!]

"It's an intelligence device!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, and he instantly made a decision, "Target area! Decelerate to minimum speed! Immediately deploy the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB)! Organize a salvage team, bring the underwater robot! You must retrieve that black box for me! Be quick! I have a premonition that thing is vitally important!"