PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY — EASTERN THEATER COMMAND SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE — EYES ONLY / DIRECTIVE 9-YULIN CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET // HIGHEST CLEARANCE REQUIRED

OPERATION SILENT TERN (静燕行动)

Mission Type: Amphibious Reconnaissance / Urban Securing Objective: Gain a foothold in Laoag City, neutralize opposition, and secure key infrastructure for the PLA’s joint attack on Taiwan and the Philippines. Location: Laoag City, Ilocos Norte Province, Northern Philippines Date: 1 February 2027 — Night Operation (Preceding Joint Offensive) Status: ACTIVE — Insertion Pending

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

As the PLA prepares for a joint attack on Taiwan and the Philippines in the morning of 1 February 2027, the Ilocos Norte coastline must be secured to ensure a successful amphibious operation. Laoag City, strategically located within the northern Philippine Islands, plays a critical role in the coordination and resupply of enemy defense positions.

Laoag serves as a logistical hub for Philippine military operations, including U.S. military advisors embedded with local forces. The operation to secure Laoag City is a prelude to the joint attack — neutralizing the city will ensure that the Philippine Marine Corps, U.S. advisors, and local militias are unable to provide reinforcements or defend critical airfields in the region.

This mission will pave the way for the full-scale amphibious invasion scheduled for the following morning, when PLA forces will launch a coordinated assault on both Taiwan and the Philippines to assert control over the region.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS ELEMENT

Unit Designation: PLA Amphibious Recon Detachment — “Orchid Group” Task Organization:

• Platoon Orchid One (Jade 1-1) — Commanded by Captain Zhang Mei
• Platoon Orchid Two (Jade 2-1) — Commanded by Captain Lin Qiu

Force Size: 40 operators (20 per platoon) Uniform: Urban camouflage, PLA-spec tactical gear suited for urban warfare

MISSION OBJECTIVES

Primary Objectives:

1. Amphibious Insertion: Both Platoon Orchid One and Platoon Orchid Two will land on Pagudpud Beach at 0200L to establish a secure beachhead and advance inland.
2. Secure Key Infrastructure: The immediate priority is to secure key government buildings, communications infrastructure, and Laoag International Airport.
3. Neutralize Hostile Forces: Engage and neutralize any armed opposition in urban areas, including Philippine Marine units, local police, and U.S. or Philippine security forces encountered.
4. Establish Control: Establish a covert command post within the city to facilitate further PLA operations and logistics.

Secondary Objectives:

1. Capture or Destroy Intelligence: Secure any military intelligence recovered, particularly U.S. communications equipment or intelligence files that might compromise PLA plans for the joint attack.
2. Prepare for Reinforcement: Set up facilities and supply lines for follow-on forces, ensuring the city is ready to support the PLA’s amphibious assault the next morning.

Tertiary Objectives:

• Avoid civilian casualties to maintain plausible deniability for the upcoming invasion. The focus is solely on neutralizing armed opposition and securing infrastructure.

OPERATIONAL THREATS

Primary Threats:

• Philippine Armed Forces (PAF) and local police forces in Laoag City. These include Philippine Marines, Army infantry, and local paramilitary groups allied with the Philippine government.
• U.S. Military Presence: U.S. Marines stationed in Laoag City and U.S. Army Special Forces ODA-3124, tasked with providing training and tactical support to Philippine forces.
• Armed Civilian Resistance: Local militias or armed civilians may resist PLA forces in the urban areas, potentially escalating the conflict.

Secondary Threats:

• UAVs and Surveillance Drones deployed by U.S. and Philippine forces to monitor PLA movements in the area.
• Anti-Air and Anti-Tank Weaponry in the possession of Philippine and U.S. forces stationed at critical locations.

Tertiary Threats:

• Civilian Resistance Groups might engage in sabotage or attacks to disrupt the PLA advance. These groups must be contained quickly to avoid drawing in larger enemy forces.

INSERTION & EXFILTRATION

Insertion:

• Amphibious Assault: Platoon Orchid One and Platoon Orchid Two will depart from the PLA mothership at 0100L, reaching Pagudpud Beach by 0200L.
• Both platoons will simultaneously land and proceed inland to secure the city center, moving under the cover of darkness and utilizing night-vision gear.
• Movement will focus on the key government buildings, airport, and other critical infrastructures.

Exfiltration:

• Extraction by semi-submersible boats will be arranged at H+12, or once the objectives are secured.
• Should the situation become compromised, fallback extraction points will be used in coordination with follow-on forces. Secondary extraction routes include local civilian vessels or unmarked transport for low-profile exfiltration.

TIMELINE

0100L: Departure from PLA mothership 0200L: Amphibious insertion at Pagudpud Beach 0300L–0400L: Secure key government buildings, communication hubs, and Laoag Airport 0500L: Establish covert command post and neutralize any armed opposition 0600L: Finalize control of urban centers and prepare for follow-on forces 1400L: Extraction or transition to next phase for full-scale invasion

COMMAND & SIGNAL

• Orchid One Callsign: Jade 1-1

• Orchid Two Callsign: Jade 2-1

• Comms: Encrypted PRC-152 radios and Beidou GPS for navigation

• Signal SOP:

  • Green IR Strobe: Friendly identification
  • Red Smoke: Emergency exfiltration
  • Radio Silence: Maintain until forced into engagement

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (ROE)

• Engagement of Armed Forces: PLA operators are authorized to neutralize any enemy personnel who pose a threat to the mission or to PLA forces.
• No civilian engagement unless absolutely unavoidable. The primary objective is neutralizing military and police resistance.
• Destruction of key infrastructure is authorized when necessary to disrupt enemy command and communication efforts.

COMMANDER NOTES

• Captain Zhang Mei (Orchid One): Will focus on securing government buildings and infrastructure with methodical precision. Known for her discipline and structured approach, she will prioritize quiet operations, using drones for surveillance and careful team movements.
• Captain Lin Qiu (Orchid Two): Will take a more aggressive approach, pushing her platoon forward to secure the airport and key access routes quickly. Lin Qiu’s fast pace and willingness to take risks often leads to rapid successes, though sometimes it creates friction with Zhang Mei’s cautious planning.

Zhang Mei (The Disciplinarian)

Her fluster is internal, manifesting as a sharp, tightly-controlled anger or a rare moment of flustered, clipped speech that breaks her usual calm.

• On the SDV/Beach: "Qiu. Get back here this instant. That is a direct order. Do not make me— and she's gone. Unbelievable." (Muttered to herself, voice low and tense) "This is exactly why your casualty drills are always ten percent higher than mine. Reckless, insubordinate, and... did you just wink at me?!"

• After the Boat Incident: "A 'solution'? You call that a solution? That was a potential compromise of a top-secret operation! I am not 'nagging,' I am conducting a post-action risk assessment on your catastrophic lack of judgment!" "Do not call me jie right now. We are officers on a mission. And you will refer to me by my rank, Captain Lin." (Her voice is like ice)

• When the Flashlight Finds Them: "Well. Look at what your 'initiative' has accomplished. We are now compromised because you cannot follow a simple— no, do not even speak. Just... get ready to move." "All units, stand by. Weapons tight. Do not fire unless I give the command." (Her voice is strained, trying to maintain professionalism while internally screaming)

Lin Qiu (The Maverick)

Her fluster is external and explosive, a defensive barrage of sarcasm, insults, and exaggerated exasperation.

• On the SDV/Beach: "Oh, relax, will you? My way works. My way always works. Your way involves filling out triplicate forms before we're even allowed to breathe!" "Yeah, yeah, 'radio discipline.' I'm sure the fish are plotting against us. They look shifty."

• After the Boat Incident: "I handled it! They're fish food! Problem solved! Would you prefer I'd sent them a strongly worded letter? Maybe asked for their manager?" "You're not married because you'd try to schedule 'spontaneous romance' in fifteen-minute increments with a five-minute buffer! Lighten up!"

• When the Flashlight Finds Them: "Oh, don't you pin this on me! Your precious 'quiet professionals' over there probably snapped a twig while polishing their optics!" "Shut up, shut up, shut up! Everybody just shut up and let me think!" (A rare moment where her bravado cracks, revealing panic) "Well, this is just great. Fantastic. Party's over, folks. Looks like we're crashing the real one."