January 9, 2026 — 01:47 PM
The sea had turned violent.
Not from weather—there wasn't a storm in sight—but from the churning force of battle. Shells cracked the air. Explosions sent plumes of seawater high into the sky. Bloom-mutated sea creatures moved in coordinated swarms, not unlike a wolf pack encircling a herd.
But Overwatch was no herd.
On the deck of the OWS Bulwark, Thomas Estaris gripped the railing near the upper starboard wing. Below, sailors worked in synchronized tempo, loading and coordinating fire control protocols. Above, the sky thundered with the sound of F-16s streaking overhead, diverted to assist in strafing the more agile Bloomspawn now appearing in fast-moving pods.
"Targets regrouping," one of the CIC officers called out from below. "Sonar indicates spiral convergence pattern. They're forming up for another charge."
"ETA?" Thomas barked.
"Thirty seconds. Twelve confirmed, multiple unknowns following deep trails."
He turned toward Marcus. "CIWS status?"
