No one asked, “Why can’t we tail the enemy ship?” With current space navigation methods, once a ship enters a gravity well and initiates a jump, it can instantly cross light-years, making it impossible to continue tracking.
Furthermore, in this Far Shore Nebula, whether gravity wells exist between star systems, how many there are, and when they activate, are all difficult to estimate, making prediction even harder.
Fortunately, ships can run, but space stations cannot.
As long as the star system is there, the space station will be there.
In short, everyone on the Corsica reached a consensus and reported it to Commodore Markov on the Mist Capital.
“I’ve said it before, the specific matters of combat are left to Colonel Bonaparte.
Since you all deem it feasible, I naturally won’t object,” Commodore Markov mused for a moment, then added, “However, Captain Yu Lian, this enemy space station is in an unknown location within the nebula, and your only reliance is the star map confiscated from the cultists.
Can you be responsible for all the soldiers of the fleet?”
Yu Lian, of course, wanted to say that the Far Shore Nebula was nothing, that he had even fought his way through the more monstrous Abyss Great Nebula seven times over, so they should just leave it to him.
However, what came out of his mouth was: “I cannot guarantee it.”
“Oh?” The Old General looked intrigued, surprised.
“Indeed, I only have one star map obtained from Flores Wanda, and its authenticity is still unconfirmed, but at least it proves that the legendary space city exists!
Sir… pirates and gangs cannot possibly have the strength to build a space base in this great nebula; even the Bakerville Republic, the Angmans Principality, and the Enbu United Elder State cannot.
It can only be the Empire.
They are still eyeing our country covetously, so shouldn’t we make a little response?
If they can build, we can dismantle!
If the enemy can go, I can also go!”
Yu Lian paused, then lowered his voice and said, “However, relatively speaking, our mission is actually complete, and it’s enough to give a satisfactory answer to the higher-ups.
The rest can be left to the big figures to contend with.
As Commonwealth soldiers, we can now return directly as victors and heroes, without further combat or risk.
We can, of course, do this.
So, now it depends on which course of action you, Commander, wish us to pursue.”
The bridge of the Corsica, and the bridge of the Mist Capital behind the holographic projection, fell into a brief silence.
“...Captain Yu Lian,” the Old General said.
“Present!” Yu Lian quickly saluted.
“You are eloquent, but I don’t like to see young people like you be so eloquent.
Marshal Paris doesn’t wish it either.
Do you understand?”
“...Understood.” Yu Lian didn’t actually understand, but when a leader says you understand, you have to understand even if you don’t—that’s emotional intelligence!
Commodore Markov adjusted his military cap, shielding his eyes with the brim, and fell into thought.
He was, after all, a decisive professional soldier, and after only five or six seconds of silence, he calmly stated, “Then, Colonel Bonaparte, begin preparing the fleet formation and formulating the potential stronghold attack plan that may follow.”
Elinore was overjoyed and stood at attention, saluting.
“Additionally, Captain Yu Lian.
For the fleet navigation, I will have Colonel Carlos assist you.”
The implication was that the true chief Navigator of the entire fleet would become Yu Lian.
In a sense, at least during the march, the Corsica would take on full combat responsibilities.
“If, during this period, I discover any unforeseen circumstances, I will immediately revoke your authority and lead the entire fleet back.
Any objections?”
“Before that, I will offer my head!”
The Old General closed the communication again, and in no more than three minutes, the fleet's next operational plan was decided.
Autumn Mountain Yawata had a bit of a headache; his original plan was to end the battle here within three days.
People like him hated nothing more than things spiraling out of control.
However, at this moment, he suddenly remembered that when the fleet departed from the Gibraltar home port, Elinore had requested that the entire fleet be fully stocked with supplies, energy, and ammunition.
Thinking about it now, it might have been premeditated!
Autumn Mountain Yawata hid his keen gaze behind his glasses and looked at Yu Lian; but the latter responded with an even more spirited gaze.
“You saw it… It’s going to be a fortress assault soon, brother Yawata, you understand?”
“I still have no idea about the specifications of that fortress: its general dimensions, structure, firepower, defenses, or personnel.”
What kind of person do you take me for?
How am I supposed to make a plan that makes sense?
If it weren’t for his character setting, Autumn Mountain Yawata would have already cursed out loud.
“You weren’t familiar with the Clear Sky-class either, but didn’t you perform quite well just now?
With these few small ships, we managed to suppress a formidable Imperial heavy cruiser so much it couldn’t even raise its head.”
“That’s completely different!”
Of course, while the Commonwealth Fleet was holding its meeting, the shelling and pursuit of the enemy ship did not slacken in the slightest.
However, although the subsequent battle was fierce, there was nothing much to say about it, merely an uninteresting back-and-forth of you grazing me with a shot and me dodging yours.
After a series of formulaic attacks and pauses, both sides finally broke free from the Ice Crystal Asteroid Belt.
It was now 9:09 PM on November 12th.
Marquis Odgar had already donned his Emblem Machine and ordered all crew members to wear their sealed combat suits and helmets, preparing for a potential boarding action at any moment.
To his slight relief, the overly brutal boarding combat ultimately did not occur.
The Marquis felt no disappointment at having no chance to display his heroism; instead, he ordered power to the thrusters and the jump drive to begin warming up.
Once the Clear Sky-class warship exited the confined airspace, it could finally unleash its full potential.
After only five or six seconds of acceleration, the massive warship entered sub-light speed, instantly leaving the Earth fleet far behind.
It wasn't until this point that Marquis Odgar finally breathed a slight sigh of relief, but he quickly received news from his first mate that left him utterly unable to feel happy.
The escort fighter squadron commanded by Lainong was completely wiped out in the brutal dogfight against more than twice their number of enemy aircraft.
He himself was also out of contact.
In space, being out of contact can be infinitely equated to “killed in action.”
Odgar showed a sorrowful expression, but he had long been prepared, and merely tapped the chest plate of his Emblem Machine.
However, Wolfgang, the first mate, then informed the captain that in the recent attack, over six hundred crew members had died, including more than a hundred Imperial Army personnel.
The majority of these deaths, however, were from the two toxic bomb assaults, where they had died in agony.
“The Earth people actually brazenly used weapons prohibited by the Interstellar Convention!
We must preserve evidence and then sue them at the Galactic Civilization Council!” a Buckwheat Birdmen officer yelled loudly, only to be slapped across the face by a Wolfgang first mate standing nearby.
“Only the weak go whining to some useless Civilization Council!
Are you trying to insult the Empire?” the first mate snarled, baring his sharp canines, as if he might rip out the Bakerville’s throat and drink his blood at any moment.
All the Bakerville on the ship immediately fell silent, not daring to speak.
The first mate let go of the Birdmen, who had almost been scared into a Psyduck, but still sighed.
Although Test 24 could still run, fight, and jump, and had even sunk and severely damaged two enemy destroyers, in terms of casualties, they certainly couldn’t claim “victory.”
“They chose the honor of an Empire soldier!
I have failed them…” the Marquis said sadly.
The Wolfgang first mate also looked mournful and wanted to offer some words of comfort, but he wasn’t good at pretty speeches; usually, this kind of work was handled by Lainong.
“Gentlemen, this defeat is indeed my fault!” the Marquis said to all the officers on the bridge.
The officers exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss.
“In order to test this new weapon, and to satisfy my desire for revenge, I rashly chose the Asteroid Belt as the battlefield.
Unexpectedly, while the narrow battlefield did not allow the space torpedoes to unleash their full power, it gave our enemies every advantage.
Every soldier performed their duties diligently and gave their all, but our enemies also indeed displayed excellent qualities and unyielding courage!
However, gentlemen, Imperial Army soldiers will never be defeated by this one setback.
We have failed, but there is still work to be done!
Now, I demand that each of you once again fulfill your duties until we return to Kerna!”
With the battle having reached this point, while Test 24 was certainly in a sorry state, the hull was far from being unusable, and the number of fallen soldiers did not exceed one-fifth.
So, while everyone was dispirited, they hadn't reached a state of utter despair.
Under Marquis Odgar’s encouragement, the Empire and Bakerville personnel reluctantly pulled themselves together, took their positions, and worked swiftly.
The Commonwealth side thus watched as the Imperial warship transformed into a streak of light and vanished with a “whoosh.”
“Enemy ship… has left our detection range,” the radar technician said.
“Their absolute speed is superior to ours; we can’t pursue them,” Yahata said.
“What a magnificent ship!
A heavy cruiser entering sub-light speed, it’s almost as fast as an assault ship!
I truly wish… I could have kept such a ship,” Elinore said, her eyes shining as she watched the enemy warship depart, her heart filled with disappointment.
However, she also had to admit that with her current strength, she truly couldn’t keep the enemy ship here.
Or rather, winning this battle was already a stroke of great luck.
“Honestly, if it weren’t for Yuli’s reminder, and if we hadn’t initially deciphered the space torpedoes, disrupting the enemy ship’s combat rhythm, we would have had a very hard time winning.”
“We would have been utterly defeated!
The overall quality of the enemy ship’s crew was also superior to ours!
Additionally, we have to thank that Marquis for being so greedy and choosing such a narrow airspace,” Elinore sneered, then added, “But… this kind of space torpedo actually works!
I thought it was just something the Alliance laboratories used to scam funding.”
“It’s not strange; theoretically, it’s viable.
I heard that the Alliance also has prototypes.
However, I truly didn’t expect the Empire to be a step ahead of the Alliance, and to have already used it in actual combat.
Still, using immature prototypes directly in combat is very much in line with their usual practice.”
Autumn Mountain Yawata pushed up his glasses and looked at a certain someone who was drawing on the star map.
“Of course, if it weren’t for Captain Yu Lian’s reminder, we wouldn’t have factored this in.”
“Yuli, was this information also provided by Flores Wanda?” Elinore asked curiously.
“...No, this was actually told by Ke’ermo,” Yu Lian said solemnly, “He’s a prospective Star Realm Knight; he has access to internal references.”
“That Ke’ermo knows a lot.
Anyway, since there’s nothing to do now, bring him up to the bridge; I want to interrogate him too.”
Elinore began to get excited.
“Well, Senior Sister, you should know that when we arrested him, he was so excited during hide-and-seek that he ran into a tree and is now Silly.”
Yu Lian said as a matter of course.