In the dark firmament, a small spaceship was hidden behind Ruminar 5, using the gas giant’s magnetic field to conceal its status.
Inside the spaceship, a blue-skinned Minlanian sat on the bridge of his “small boat,” watching the battle unfold on a projection, as if enjoying a war movie.
The screen displayed a rather fantastical scene: a Commonwealth armored airship was sliced open by a Ruminar warrior, who wielded a blade while riding a giant beast resembling a dragon from mythology.
It was as if the airship’s exterior was not bulletproof alloy armor, but rather a shell made of paper.
The Ruminar, clad in armor, riding a giant dragon, and wielding a three-meter-long saber, appeared like an ancient person who had stepped out of a fresco into the Present.
Although his armor was made of composite materials and his saber was a sci-fi product infused with Zero Element, he still looked like an ancient person.
However, in just one minute, this ancient warrior had already taken down four armored airships.
Including the soldiers waiting to board them, the casualties must have exceeded thirty.
The armored airships’ autocannons and missiles certainly caused a significant amount of damage to the Ruminar.
Those Ruminar warriors riding forest flying fox beasts were torn to shreds by various firepower before they could even get within a hundred meters of the armored airships.
However, that ancient warrior riding a giant dragon single-handedly ripped through the airships’ formation.
Perhaps the General Headquarters itself had no determination to win the battle, as after a brief entanglement, they still retreated.
Their tactic of a frontal breakthrough with armored airships was once again declared a failure.
Of course, this time they did not lose too badly; a few special airships deployed a dense magnetic storm net in the sky, blocking the rebels’ pursuit route.
Even that Ruminar, who seemed like an ancient War God, sustained some injuries, and the giant dragon he rode was so electrocuted that its scales flew off, letting out a few wails before carrying its master directly to escape.
Perhaps the scales flipping up from his mount scratched the soft flesh of his groin, as he only let out a low groan but did not stop his mount from flying further and further away with him.
Some airships took the opportunity to land, using firepower to drive away the surging beast hordes on the ground, and quickly turned to evacuate the wounded and the bodies of the dead.
At least this set of actions—rescuing comrades and retreating—was very professional and swift.
This point is commendable.
All in all, this aerial assault once again ended in the Commonwealth army’s defeat.
However, the losses were not significant; only four airships crashed and five were damaged, with casualties only in the double digits, and they also killed over a hundred enemy riders.
It was much more respectable than the time they were overwhelmed by the beast tide a few days ago.
The General Headquarters did indeed suffer another defeat, but it was not a tragic rout that was unbearable to look at.
They could still report to their superiors that they had launched another “probing attack,” killing and wounding a certain number of enemies, ascertaining a certain amount of enemy intelligence, and that victory was just around the corner, and so on.
However, a defeat is indeed a defeat.
“Oh, no wonder little brother Flores is so arrogant! Didn’t he just win again? His Ruminar friends are truly brave!” the lawyer exclaimed, a cold sneer appearing on his face: “But the Ruminar’s victory isn’t your victory!”
He was contemplating whether to send another warning to his arrogant organizational colleague when the central system beside him suddenly blared an alarm.
The Minlanian glanced at the terminal, confirming that it was a signal from a probe he had scattered at the edge of this star system.
He did not hesitate, quickly operating it twice.
Instantly, the entire passenger ship he was on immediately shut down all external signals, entering a completely quiet state.
Even the ship’s hull itself seemed to have been directly erased from the starry sky, slowly blurring into transparency, and then directly vanishing from the universe.
Almost simultaneously, a fleet of not particularly large scale had just exited the gravity well, officially arriving in the Luna Star System, and switched to sub-light speed cruising within the star system.
The hull number of each ship prominently displayed “13” and the red Star Fleet emblem.
“13? Red Star? An unfamiliar fleet designation! Has the Commonwealth organized a new fleet?”
The lawyer was certain this was not part of the Distant Shore Defense Fleet, and of course, he wasn’t too surprised.
After all, unlike ground forces, a single ship in a fleet can often represent an independent combat unit, and they frequently undergo expansion and contraction, and disbandment and re-establishment, due to different strategic and tactical objectives, which is quite normal.
Judging by the troop configuration of this fleet, it was clearly a small sub-fleet used for patrol, security, anti-theft, and pursuit.
The Minlanian fell into thought until the small fleet, composed of about twenty medium and small warships, had left the probe’s detection range, and only then did he slowly start his vehicle’s engine.
He activated the most stable and quiet cruising mode, but for safety, the hull remained cloaked.
This meant both the cloaking effect and cruising speed would be affected, a so-called “neither here nor there” mode.
However, the lawyer had great confidence in the technology from his organization; as long as he didn’t act recklessly, even the Alliance and Empire’s reconnaissance fleets might not detect him, let alone the mere Commonwealth.
This unnamed small ship created ripples in space that were difficult to discern even with the naked eye from a distance of ten meters, trailing behind this Thirteenth Fleet of the Commonwealth, maintaining a distance of at least five million kilometers, slowly sailing towards the twin blue and green stars in the distance.
Everyone on the Thirteenth Fleet, of course, did not know that a small ship was following behind them.
As external visitors, their first task, of course, was to communicate with the local power, which was the Distant Shore Defense Fleet.
Fortunately, for now, the communication was very smooth.
On the bridge of the fleet’s new flagship, Mist Capital 14, the communication terminal projected the image of a burly, resolute, and firm-eyed middle-aged man, clearly a strong-willed and decisive individual.
He was Vice Admiral Brandon Sylvester, Commander of the Distant Shore Defense Fleet and Warlord of the Frontier Military District, responsible for the security of the Commonwealth’s “Northern Gate.”
Given such an important position, it naturally had to be commanded by a fierce general.
At least according to rumors, this general, who had just turned 50 this year, was indeed an unyielding iron man.
Fortunately, this general, who commanded a large fleet and was responsible for the defense of an entire star sector, did not display any arrogance or disdain towards the command staff of this newly formed small fleet; overall, he was quite friendly.
“A very warm welcome to you all! After you arrive at New Seville, you can port at Antioch 18 Star Fortress.
I have already arranged your accommodation and the fleet’s supplies.
In three days, my cruising sub-fleet will also arrive at Ruminar to rendezvous with you all.
I hope there will be a splendid exercise then!”
The Vice Admiral paused, then added: “Three days, do you understand?”
“Understood! Thank you for your hospitality!” Commodore Markov, sixty-five years old, also saluted: “And please be sure to prepare for any unexpected situations!”
“I will! Well then, good luck, old Captain.” The Vice Admiral forced a smile.
“Good luck, rookie.” The old man returned a smile, then closed the communication channel.
He took a deep breath, looked at the people on the bridge, pondered for a moment, and sighed: “All right, you’ve all seen it; everything I, this old man, could do, I have done.
Please prepare for battle… I mean, the exercise.”
“Everything is ready, sir,” Colonel Elinore Bonaparte said gravely.