Dodging through the fierce assault

"Shinnosuke! Isn't this a bit of a tough situation?"

The convoy, having just repelled an attack by space pirates in the asteroid belt, now faced a new threat as they neared the 6325 Stellar Federation.

They were being pursued by four suspicious vessels.

"Four Fire Dagger-class destroyers."

Marks identified the type of ships chasing them.

Though an older model now retired, they are still正规 ships of the Rimurian Galactic Empire's navy.

"Those aren't space pirates. They're the Empire's Ghost Units. Be alert on all ships!"

Shin nosuke, commanding the escort fleet.

It seems he has some history with the Empire's irregular forces, the Ghost Units.

The Tsukikage is under concentrated attack, but due to the possibility of an ambush ahead, we can't afford to withdraw A884 and Javelin.

For the same reason, we can't pull back Fubuki either, but Tsukikage alone is overwhelmed.

Shin nosuke ordered Fubuki to turn around and provide frontal firepower against enemy ships from behind, supporting Tsukikage.

"Target the enemy ship. Milena, take over navigation for twenty seconds. Just keep retreating as you are."

"Understood. May I perform evasive maneuvers?"

"I'll adjust the aim, so go ahead with your judgment. You have control."

"I have control."

Shin nosuke released the steering wheel and leaned in to examine the precision targeting monitor.

The target is the last ship in the four-ship formation pursuing us.

Adjusting the aim manually in sync with evasive maneuvers to dodge enemy fire, Shin nosuke carefully aimed the gun.

Unlike automatic radar targeting, manual aiming doesn't alert the enemy ship before firing, but it's far more difficult to hit the target, requiring advanced skill—precisely because long-range artillery is Shin nosuke's specialty.

...Perfect formation. We'll finish off two ships with continuous fire. Five, four, three...

Route locked! Please, Mr. Shinnosuke!

"1, Mark!"

The outstanding chemistry between Milena and Shinnosuke.

Fubuki's main gun pierces the destroyer at the enemy ship's rear.

One shot, one kill—sink him.

"Continue with the lead ship, Mark 2-1!"

The main gun fired in succession tore through the bow and port side of the lead ship.

Though not sunk, it was severely damaged and rendered unable to move.

"Nice one, Shinnosuke! We're going in too!"

Though exposed to enemy fire, Tsukikage did not miss the brief moment when the enemy's advance faltered after losing two ships to Fubuki's attack.

Launching anti-ship missiles, Tsukikage sank another vessel.

"Shin nosuke, new contacts ahead—two more!"

"Ship classification confirmed: one Aqua Arrow-class cruiser, one Muusubu-class cruiser."

Upon receiving reports from Seira and Marks, Shin nosuke took back control of the ship from Milena and turned the Fubuki around.

"If it's a Muusubu-class, it might carry aircraft. Andy, leave the remaining destroyer at the rear to you."

"Got it!"

Shinoseki accelerated the Fubuki forward, moving to the front of the convoy.

"New contact from a Mebius-class enemy vessel. Five units, not missiles. Likely carrier-based aircraft."

Seyra transmitted the new contact data to all ships in the convoy.

"A884, fall back! Form a tight formation and deploy an anti-air barrage to prevent the carrier aircraft from approaching! Marks, take command of the anti-air defense!"

"Understood."

With Fubuki serving as the command ship, the escort vessels and cargo ships established a data link network, entrusting Marks with command while Shinosuke took overall control of the entire convoy.

"A884 and Javelin, maintain air defense but feel free to engage enemy ships at your discretion."

"Got it! Leg, I'll take the Aqua Arrow!"

"Understood. I'll handle the Mebius-class."

"Shin nosuke, the cruiser is ours—don't go stealing it from us!"

Understood. Fukuki will focus on handling the combat vessel.

The A884 and the Javelin open fire with their anti-aircraft guns toward the combat vessel while beginning their attack on the forward cruiser.

Five incoming combat vessels, like the other enemy ships, are Killer-Bee-class fighters retreating from the front lines of the Imperial Space Fleet.

A lightweight fighter known for its high speed and exceptional maneuverability, equipped with only two fixed laser cannons.

"Though outdated, it's still a high-performance craft... but its operational method is problematic. Even though it's assigned special missions, being a secret unit that can't be publicly acknowledged makes things tough."

The Killer-Bee-class fighter is limited in both the range and power of its laser machine guns, making it difficult to inflict fatal damage unless it gets relatively close to civilian cargo ships.

Originally designed as a light combat vessel for fleet defense and air combat, it was never intended for anti-ship attacks.

Currently, the formation is tightly packed, and the convoy is unable to close in due to a layered anti-air defense network linking not only the escort vessels but also the anti-air machine guns on the cargo ships themselves.

"Anti-air combat ongoing. One combat vessel down. Two attempting to slip in beneath the convoy from bearing 4 to 3 are being suppressed by the anti-air guns on each cargo ship. One at bearing 11 is being engaged by a gatling gun."

Under Marks' command, the anti-air combat was progressing favorably, but complacency was impossible.

If even one enemy got too close, there was a risk of friendly fire, potentially reversing the tide of battle.

However, the outcome was decided in the next instant.

"This is Javelin—Mobius-class cruiser has been destroyed."

Leg's Javelin had sunk the Mobius-class cruiser with a naval missile.

The assault craft attacking the convoy had lost its mother ship and had nowhere to return to.