Charge through the front lines!

The Fubuki's rapid-fire cannon struck the second engine of the Imperial cruiser.

The cruiser, losing thrust balance, slowed down, disrupting its coordination with the following destroyer.

"Now!"

Mireina seized the fleeting opening and thrust the Fubuki straight into the midst of the Imperial fleet.

"Andy, follow me!"

"Got it!"

Shinnosuke kept the Imperial ships occupied with his Gatling gun.

The Imperial fleet, momentarily thrown into chaos, quickly regrouped—after all, they were the Imperial Navy's正规 forces.

But Shinnosuke's group was just slightly faster.

Fubuki and Tsukikage slipped through the narrow gap between the cruiser and the destroyer.

"Good, we've broken through. Milliena, bring the controls back over here!"

"Understood. You've got control."

"I've got the hub. Andy, get in front of Fubuki. I'll cover the rear."

Understood. I'll move to the front.

Tsukikage moved in front of Fubuki.

Meanwhile, the imperial ships had already begun their pursuit.

"Good work. You switched to pursuit quickly. Miliena, handle fire control. Keep them occupied—no need to hit directly. Just slow down their pursuit."

"Understood! I'm taking control of the weapon systems."

Miliena began her distracting barrage.

Using the Gatling guns mounted on the ship's stern and underside to efficiently lay down a barrage, while skillfully employing rapid-fire cannons to keep the imperial vessels at a safe distance.

"Syunosuke-san, message from the Damura Stellar Confederation forces. They've dispatched one fast battleship and two cruisers to our aid—hold on for twenty minutes, they said."

"Understood. Twenty minutes is no problem. We'll maintain our current course and escape!"

Even though the combat zone was limited, space was still vast.

Twenty minutes—something we couldn't realistically expect rescue within five or ten—was a welcome reprieve.

While Shinosuke instructed Milena to keep the enemy occupied, he unleashed space mines and fled at full speed.

One pursuing destroyer, drawn to the mines, was destroyed and left unable to move.

"To the Akneria Galactic Federation escort vessel Fusuki, this is the fast battleship Orion, 28th Fleet of the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth Navy. We'll handle the imperial fleet—continue on your current course without deviation."

The fast battleship and cruiser approaching head-on fired their main guns directly at the imperial fleet as they passed each other.

The imperial fleet, wary of Fusuki's depth charges, slowed their pursuit and were successively destroyed.

"True to form, the renowned high-speed, high-mobility Damura Star Alliance Fleet Space Force."

With this, there's no need to worry about attacks from behind.

However, due to an unexpected course change, their destination is now right in the middle of a fleet battle.

"Shinosuke-san, a communication has just come in from the central colony."

From Planet Wesley Central Colony, escort vessel Fukubuki. Due to combat effects, safe navigation within this colony's control airspace is currently unattainable. You are permitted to dock at Dock 241 in Sector C, but we cannot transmit a guidance beacon. Proceed on your own; do your best to maneuver through and dock safely.

To reach the designated dock in the shortest distance, you'll need to cut straight through the heart of the fleet battle.

There are alternative routes, but they take too long, and even if you spend time on them, there's no guarantee the situation will improve.

The likelihood of it worsening is higher.

Shinnosuke sped past Tsukikage, overtaking Fubuki.

"Andy, we're breaking through the battlefield. Keep your shield at maximum output and follow Fubuki. No weapons other than for emergency self-defense are to be used from here on out. You can shoot Imperial ships in an emergency, but don't even think about firing at the Damura Republic's ships by mistake. You'll get yelled at, and they won't let you dock anymore."

"Understood. I won't do anything like that."

Shinnosuke smirked.

Ahead lies the heart of the fleet battle—the shortest route to the colony.

On the bridge of Tsukikage, following after Fubuki, Andy grips the steering wheel with a desperate expression.

"Andy, don't let Fubuki leave you behind!"

"It's fine. I'm as calm as the raging cosmic currents."

"That won't work!"

Andy, babbling nonsense from nervousness, and Eren giving him a timely, precise rebuttal.

Meanwhile, Marks observes the two of them as he oversees the overall command of Tsukikage.

(Andy: body temperature 37.1°C, breathing irregular. Mild temperature rise due to tension acknowledged. If temperature increases further, physical cooling will be necessary. Eren shows no temperature increase, judged to be maintaining optimal tension.)

Markus confirmed the presence of a mineral water bottle in the holder of the pilot seat where Andy was seated.

(Contents approximately 350 milliliters, temperature 13.2 degrees)

A sufficient amount and temperature for cooling the head.

Fubuki and Tsukikage plunged into the midst of a naval battle between the Rimlia Galactic Empire and the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth.

Neither side seemed to have time to focus on the two civilian ships that had somehow penetrated right into the front lines, but it was still a point where attacks from both sides were crossing each other, regardless of being targeted.

"Shin nosuke, fire from bearing 11±0! It'll graze the bow—reduce speed! Next, from bearing 3-4, avoid moving in the negative direction, even if you miss!"

"Seira, leave the attack predictions to me. You focus on navigation and communications!"

Understood, please take care of it.

Milena cut into the shared channel between Fubuki and Tsukikage.

A red glowing eye appeared on her forehead.

"Master Shinnosuke, Mr. Andy, I'll predict the threats ahead and rate their danger level on a five-step scale. The evasion methods are up to each of you—okay?"

"Got it."

"Whoa, understood!"

Milena began using her precognitive abilities to predict threats along their path.

"Maintain course... Tsukikage, bearing 9, threat level 4, impact in 5 seconds."

"Got it! Avoiding!"

"Fuuki, bearing 2, threat level 2, impact in 12 seconds."

"Understood. Taking it head-on with shield, course unchanged."

"Tsukikage, bearing 3, threat level 3, impact in 9 seconds. Next, bearing 11, threat level 5, impact in 15 seconds."

"Got it... Avoid, no—shield! No, wait, avoid after all!"

The two charged straight through the front line's midst.