Vol 4 Chapter 1 (1/2)
Chapter 1: The Battle of Kemal Gate
”ETA to space-time fusion: 5 minutes”
The second captain of the assault frigate ”Flicaubh”, Deputy Hecto-commander Ablïarsec Néïc Dubleuscr Bœrh Parhynr Lamhirh nodded to the report from her subordinate
Considering that the co with eneator and Executive Officer—was suprisingly calm
”Incoshi+p,” Communications Officer Rear Flyer Yateshu continued to report, ”All shi+ps are to co individual space-time bubbles, 1-1-0-7”
”Send a signal of acknowledgement” Lafiel nodded as she looked at the Kreuno on her hand
”1-1-0-7” actually means the time at which to commence the battle In other words, 11:07
The Flicaubh of the Scourge Squadron was in pursuit of what appeared to be four space-tiainst the flow of the dense space-tie Squadron readied to commence their ambush
”Deca-commander,” Lafiel ordered, ”space-time separation at 1-1-0-7”
”Without a plan” Ekuryua murmured as she prepared the shi+p for space-time separation
Lafiel felt likewise
Although it increased the mobility of each individual shi+p, once separated into their own space-ti their overall defensive strength They were flying directly into a barrage of mines with a very frail formation
”Should we evade?” asked Ekuryua
To a certain extent, a pilot's skill could take advantage of the assault frigate's mobility and compensate for the lack of defenses
”No,” Lafiel quickly decided ”Even if we can evade some of the mines, the squadrons behind us would not be so lucky”
The Scourge Squadron was currently the vanguard of four divisions whichassault Squadron ”Bosuru”, each squadron following the one ahead of it
In spite of this, assault shi+ps were particularly hen defending against mines
In the past, guard shi+p squadrons specializing in anti-mine operations would protect the fleet They were kept near the front lines allowing quick fores as the flow of battle shi+fted This time, however, they were nowhere to be seen The fierce front line combat had incurred heavy losses to these squadrons and Headquarters changed policies in an attee
However, by doing so, the assault frigates froe Squadron and the cruisers froer assault shi+ps behind them
”Ten seconds until space-tiht, seven, six, five ”
Lafiel stood up from the commander's chair and drew her sword to direct the battle
The assault frigate was not designed with the control interface that allows the captain to feel what the shi+p feels Because of this, Lafiel felt that her inability to control the shi+p leaves her with a semblance of imbalance
However, she had better get used to this sensation, because from this day forward, unless she is demoted, she will probably never have the chance to use the hand interface to pilot a shi+p again
”space-time separation” Ekuryua said in a dull tone
The four assault frigates separated, each at the center of their own universe
”Ninety-two seconds until space-time fusion with enemy mines,” reported Ekuryua until the next phase of the operation
”Deploy the netic defense shi+elds,” Lafiel ordered
”Deploying the netic defense shi+elds, no abnorineer Gurinshi+a reported
”Sixty seconds until space-time fusion”
”Set laser cannons to auto targeting and set distance to one-hundred,” Lafiel gave out the next set of orders
There are countless laser cannons built on the side of the assault frigate Although older model cruisers caet about half the power Thus, Star Force designed the assault frigate with laser cannons instead
”Laser cannon banks set to auto targeting, distance to fire: one-hundred” The chief engineer is actually responsible for the laser cannons, because the assault frigate e system This system limits the amount of human interaction, but the functionality of this systeate Shouldering such a heavy responsibility, Gurinshi+a waited a bit before reporting, ”Setting complete, the safety on the cannon has been released, banks one through eight show no abnormalities”
”Thirty seconds until space-time fusion”
Ekuryua's voice ht have expressed a sliver of nervousness, butoversensitive
Lafiel suddenly felt an intense gaze on her This tiaze ca Flyer Gunomuboshu
Lafiel knohat is on hisFlyer, too
Gunoned any task at all His job on this shi+p is to transate, the 'order transunner, the assistant coations officer In other words, the 'order trans but miscellaneous chores
Usually order transmitter's primary responsibility is the operation of the shi+p, however, habit-wise e officers When there is work for the junior officers, usually it is when the shi+p is docked soe officers would often utilize whatever free tiunnery officer, no other officer on the bridge could utilize the hand interface to e their stations which makes most feel a bit down Even if there is a new flyer onboard, there is still little opportunity to operate the shi+p, usually just assigning them some miscellaneous tasks to do
Lafiel thought about her little brother, as now probably fighting somewhere in Plane space, too
”Guno battle ”I will allow you the controls to the laser cannon banks on your console Before the end of coet really comfortable with those mobile cannons”
Although the task of controlling the mobile cannon banks can be accomplished even by a half-hearted child, to hiood experience A soldier with nothing to do during combat would certainly feel very uneasy, and that fear would make him needlessly panic
”Thank you very” Gunomuboshu was just about to say, but he quickly felt to express gratitude in this situation would go against coot to Lafiel's ears were, ”Yes, Ma'am”
Lafiel, on her console, gave the controls of the cannons to Gunomuboshu After she finished this easy task, she then used the sensors to scan the interior of the space-time bubble
The interior of the space-tin that space-time fusion is about to occur
She glanced at the bubbles on the Plane space ates squadron fro
”This is good no need to painstakingly go after the ht Lafiel
”Three enemy mines in space-time fusion,” Ekuryua reported, ”fusion complete”
Three enemy mines came at the Flicaubh simultaneously However, Lafiel did not respond to them, as it was unnecessary
”Cannon banks two and three have begun to fire, everything functioning normally” Gunomuboshu reported in an excited voice
”You sure said that pretty suard Flyer Arubofu said in a teasing voice, ”Marvelous, si”
Looks like Gunomuboshu already didn't have tihtly affixed to his console
So far, the mobile cannons on the shi+p had taken care of the mines They lock on to individualspace eapons fire
Lafiel didn't really believe that the weak firepower of the laser cannons could take care of the ate's netic rail cannons, it wouldn't really raise their chances of survival by much Therefore, it was best for her to endure this outlook
These three ed their h the mines are unmanned weapons, they are still a fully equipped shi+p that can travel through Plane space One ate, and a laser cannon beah to destroy it
The ine power, so it started to dive straight into the shi+p, where it was met by ten beams all focused on it
Theout antimatter fuel When anti the trajectory of the mine, antimatter fuel struck the Flicaubh
However, this ser to an assault frigate, because y before it ever hits the shi+p The antinetic Defense shi+elds
Another mine was destroyed by the cannons; its antimatter explodes har to be difficult to deal with
”Adjust course!” Lafiel orders ”Up 4-0, left 2-5, after course adjustment, fire port thrusters full blast”
The assault frigate iood distance away from the mine Of course, the speed of the ate's, so the only reason for doing this is to give et Of course to Lafiel, the tiained is ever so precious
The cannons on the left side of the shi+p ile, concentrating all beams on the mine
And their target finally exploded into pieces
”Four ,” Ekuryua said
Lafiel didn't even have time to take a breath, but she still believed that she could e it
If the mine attacks are still at this low level, then there should be no reason to defend by fusing with other shi+ps
Although thea lock-on froate, the mobile cannon's laser beams still dealt fatal blows to the mines
While occasionally giving out orders to adjust course, Lafiel also continued to keep a close eye on the Plane space map
Currently, there were ten enemy cruisers in a horizontal for to welcoe Squadron
It is very likely that this shi+p will engage in one-on-one coainst those cruisers later
However, the enee of mines Situated at the rear are battle shi+ps who have no shortage of e Squadron directly fusing with the enemy's space-time bubble
Neither side used any et of every mine that both sides send out is not other e both sides will sustain by using this tactic
Knowing this, Lafiel starts to frown, shi+fting her attention from the Plane space map to the space outside of the shi+p
The threecomplex trajectories to try to flank the left side of the shi+p Relying only on the cannon banks on the left side of the shi+p h to deal with these mines
Lafiel gives the order to change course in an atteain more time At the saet, hoping to shoot them down one by one
At the saetting close undetected The laser cannons i the mine The shi+p shook as the mine exploded close to the shi+p
”Dae report?” Lafiel asked
”Very light, as far as the interior of the shi+p is concerned,” Vanguard Flyer Linn Ssynec Rocr Ïarlucec Dreuc Haïder Ghintec (Jinto) reported
”Laser cannon nued,” Gunomuboshu also reported ”I am very sorry, captain”
”This isn't your fault, right?” Lafiel felt a bit uneasy
She doesn't knohy, but new soldiers are unusually fearful of her What's worse is that she has already gotten used to this behavior
”Is it repairable?” Lafiel asks Gunomuboshu
”Yes, I’ll initiate repairs now” The junior officer says as he began to shut down the daed laser cannon
”Chief engineer, begin repair operations” Lafiel ordered
”Understood” The chief engineer quickly relayed orders to the repair tea for the third laser cannon banks deck!”
”The other three ” Ekuryua said, ” they're here”
Luckily, this wave ofafter the Flicaubh, fused in separate locations
”Pankov's space-time bubble, destroyed!” Yateshu reports the loss of a friendly vessel
Lafiel nodded her head lightly Actually she did not even need the report, because just now she felt a huge surge of space-time particles flow from the Pankov's collapsed space-time bubble
She had, once before, experienced such a nervous feeling A si happened when she was still the captain of the assault shi+p Although now she has mobile cannons as protections, however this fact alone cannot rid the roots of her nervousness Maybe in the next second, both she and her subordinates will all forfeit their lives To prevent this regretful thing fro to the best of your ability
”The engineers dispatched to the ineer said, ”They would at least need three hours to fix it”
”Chief engineer, what is your take on this?” Lafiel asks
”I don't have any doubts about the estiave”
Lafiel also felt that same, at the least she trusts Gurinshi+a's very much
”Then, order your subordinates to continue to stay on standby”
”Yes, ma'am”
Her logic was that it is better to let the soldiers rest than to work on repairs that would not be coineers will still have to carry out a lot of troublesome tasks later on
A sound suddenly cas She checks it to see ants to secretly communicate with her
Of course this isn't an appropriate setting for a chat Even if you are not faards to how the Ablïarsec clan members all have a dark fearsome nature Also those who are fa combat, even if it is Jinto
”Captain,” it turns out to be the chief engineer, ”May I suggest so?”
”Make it short”
”I will; I think that we should let the engineers start on their repair work”
”Why?”
”Because this way it allows them to calm their minds”
”Really?” Lafiel nodded Since the chief engineer said so, then it should not be incorrect After all, the chief engineer is promoted from below, so of course she would understand their fra a battle, there is a big psychological difference between the officers and the crewmen
At this tierously Lafiel terave out orders for the shi+p to change heading
Then she gave the chief engineer an order, ”Rescind ineers start the repairs on the mobile cannon, with low priority”
”Yes, Ma'aineer Gurinshi+a said in a voice that reflected the thoughts in her heart
The er has yet to start The Flicaubh will soon officially meet with the enemy cruisers
”Inter-bubble shi+p” Yateshu reports, ”The Flicaubh is to fuse with enemy space-time bubble 1-0-2”
”Send a signal of acknowledgement”
Looks like the commander chose the one-on-one duel tactic The next step is to see if the enee
The enemy took the bait
The ene with each other As if each becoainst the assault frigates
Lafiel looks over at her left hand, it would be so much better if this hand could be used in a control interface
”Accelerate to conetic rail cannons”
”Accelerating to combat speed” Gurinshi+a responds to Lafiel's orders, and then continues to report in a depressed voice, ”Main engine output maximum; no abnormalities”
”All electro normally” The Gunnery officer continues to report, ”Safety device disabled, and nuclear fusion warheads have been loaded, ready to fire at any time”
”This is the captain,” Lafiel starts to talk on the shi+p-wide intercoo into shi+p-to-shi+p co this time, the shi+pthe liravity device can compensate Therefore, everyone be prepared to brace yourselves”
”Point the shi+p's bow at the point of fusion” Lafiel then orders Arubofu, ”Youin your hands”
According to her esti into one-on-one combat, it is best to completely leave the movements of a shi+p in the hands of the pilot; also she herself should not object or intervene
”I've waited a long time for those words” Arubofu couldn't refrain his enthusiasained co, ”No, I understand”
Lafiel slowly starts to have a feeling of envy
Although the people on this bridge are few in nuhts They all want this whale of a shi+p tobody To the Abh people, this sensation is a perfectly natural thing to feel
Lafiel turns her head towards the Plane space reen dots represents our forces, and the red dots represents the ene on each other
When the red dot and green dot finally meet, they become a purple dot On a Plane spaceplace in that bubble
Then, in to appear So now, it is the Flicaubh's turn to become a purple dot The Flicaubh fused with enemy space-time bubble 1-0-2 A bit off in the future, this space-time bubble will be temporally referred as ”space-time bubble battle 1-7”
”Firing!” Arubofu fires the electroan to fuse with the enemy's space-ti sound
”space-time fusion complete” Ekuryua murmured in a soft sleepy voice
When both space-tiuided nuclear warheads eht for the Flicaubh; everythis, the guided warheads accelerate to one percent of the speed of light, et than the mines Still, theit into harmless debris
Arubofu lets the shi+p glide horizontally in an atte warheads One of those warheads passed by the left side of the Flicaubh, and the cannon banks i at it
The warheads that the Flicaubh shot earlier at the eneet, therefore a second round was loaded and ready to fire
Quickly, the electroorously fires its next shot, but this shot also ca that at this ht in front of her
Although during times of war, every shi+p feels like it doesn't have enough ets the least ae officers are of no exception Let's take the gunnery officer for example, on the Flicaubh there is only Arubofu, if he were to become incapable to carry out his duties, the only person that could replace him would be the captain herself
Of course, no captain would like to see their own subordinates getting hurt, even if they were joking If the shi+p were to be daed to a point where someone becomes critically injured, then the lives of the rest of the crew are also in grave danger
Therefore, she only hopes that Arubofu collapses due to overwork Even though she continues to burn with jealousy, being the captain still means that there is other work for the captain to do
”Gunoe to infinite”
After exchanging fire, the Flicaubh and the enemy shi+p pass by each other
Compared to the set to hit Before, it was difficult to knoas the best distance to set for in order to hit the mines, but now the beams I fire will most likely hit the cruisers no matter the distance
Both shi+ps fire theirboth shi+ps; of course these are just flesh wounds Suppose these laser cannons were enough to sink a large shi+p, then there would not be a need to install things like the antiproton cannon or the electronetic rail cannons
After the shi+ps pass by each other, both sinetic rail cannons on the rear of the shi+ps
A missile from the enemy exploded near the Flicaubh The shockwave and shrapnel from the missile hit the rear of the shi+p
”Nu a leak,” Jinto reports, ”No casualties reported, no disturbance in shi+p pressure”
In seeking to deal a critical blow to each other, both shi+ps joust for the best position
Lafiel's directs her attention on the Plane spaceplace in a space-ti seen is that space-tied fro unknown identity Additionally, this space-ti slowly towards here
”We have yet to receive any identification signal” Yateshu reports, ”looks like the Takukov has already been sunk”
The once fornated enemy space-time bubble 211, and continues to approach this location
”Hurry up and finish this!” Lafiel said to Arubofu, ”A new enemy will soon arrive Unless you think that there is no accoo with that too”
”Captain, you can stop teasing me,” replied Arubofu, ”This also pertains to my life as well!”
”And my life doesn't matter?” Ekuryua interjected
”Just thinking about nificant life has already overwhelmed me!” Arubofu explained
”Executive officer,” Lafiel said, ” towards 10 o'clock”
”Yes ma'am” Ekuryua starts on her space-time bubble task
However currently, the space-tier its own; after all, the eneenerator
To the Flicaubh they are a new enemy, to the enemy they are reinforceet near each other
The two space-ti-of-war
When it coh the orbit is not very centered, but the space-time bubble battle 1-7 already starts to move towards 10 o'clock
However, the perusing enemy space-time bubble is still relatively fast
Although the Flicaubh possesses the better firing position and even though they shot at the enemy shi+p’s side abdoed by the enemy
When it coht into the enemy's mobile cannon’s line of fire