Side conversation: Large Fleet Battle

Captain Sasaku Alma, commanding the Super Large Battleship *Okitaka*, faced a fleet of approximately 150,000 SU Space Navy vessels, leading a fleet of about 90,000 ships.

"Dawson's bastard. Pushing troublesome work onto me."

Strike the Space Navy’s rear with决战 cannon, targeting their fleet division. After the Space Navy split their forces, target the Super Large Battleship remaining with Dawson’s fleet using the决战 cannon.

And lead a fleet of nearly 100,000 ships in battle against the 150,000-strong Space Navy fleet.

Alma, burdened by this series of unreasonable demands, felt no amusement.

"If Dawson’s the one in charge of this operation, he should be leading the large fleet. Why is he the decoy instead?"

They are fighting five times as many enemies over there. Shouldn’t they be praised for taking on such a dangerous assignment themselves?

I know that already, I know that!

Major General Alma replies to Lieutenant Colonel Chikuchiri Ling, her expression conveying 'troublesome' despite her words.

The movements of our allied pirates are inadequate. If such individuals were in my army, I would send them straight to intensive training course—far worse than that.

Some pirates are oddly reckless, others are quick to flee at the first sign of danger.

Pirates aboard newly constructed ships are acceptable, but other pirate vessels and ships vary widely in equipment quality.

Nearly ten thousand ships operate under such constraints.

Commanding them added unnecessary burden to Major Alma.

Special Lieutenant Dawson seems to be making good use of it.

I don’t like that part either!

Major Alma grows displeased. Despite being a special officer, she feels outmatched by a mere lieutenant.

Of course, she is not actually outmatched.

Dawson understands the temperament and equipment of pirates from years of operating as one. Alma does not.

The difference manifests only in operational skill.

She knows this. Yet Alma is a young officer who rose to captain a battleship. She is confident in her own abilities. That confidence obstructs her acceptance of reality—that she cannot manage pirates effectively.

“Tch. Regardless. If the pirate ships are unreliable, treat all of them as light vessels. That would be a sound judgment when considering capability and ship performance.”

“That line of reasoning is acceptable. But wouldn’t it reduce our calculated combat strength?”

"There's no alternative. And I can't entrust these difficult units to the captains of other battleships or Major Miko Neikoji."

The *Ozuhakata* serves as the flagship of the pirate fleet positioned near the star. Beneath it, other battleships and the *Afuekuto*, commanded by Major Miko, are assigned as flagships for their respective squadrons.

This arrangement was ordered by Captain Dawson, the operational commander. Role assignments that deviate from standard rank or tenure are disregarded.

There is some friction, however. Lieutenant General Alma therefore allocated more manageable AI-controlled vessels to the battleships and the *Afuekuto*.

This decision reflects political calculation. It also reflects Alma's lack of confidence that the battleships and the *Afuekuto* could handle the troublesome pirates effectively.

Artificial intelligence ships were transferred in large numbers. Even if combat weight is shifted toward them, there should be no repercussions.

Alma, gathering an unreliable pirate force, entered the full-scale confrontation with SU Space Force.

SU Space Force lost numerous Super Large Battleships equipped with决战 cannons.

According to Dawson’s prior prediction, only one remained, or at most two or three.

Considering Alma’s side had three battleships, the number of决战 cannons was now equal or superior.

Yet SU Space Force held a strength Alma’s side lacked.

It was the widespread deployment of barrier ships.

"Damn. Those ships can’t be penetrated by standard hull armor."

"Launching决战 cannon."

The battleship Aokagata fires its决战 cannon at the barrier ship designed to deflect charged particle beams. The other two battleships launch their决战 cannons in unison.

Three direct hits strike the enemy barrier ship. A significant number are destroyed.

Yet, as if to say reserves remain plentiful, other barrier ships close the gaps left by the sunken ones.

Then, as if in retaliation for the destroyed vessel, numerous charged particle beams respond in counterattack.

"Status of the surface flares from the star we are facing?"

"Active and strong. The stellar wind is intense. The enemy charged particle beams will be amplified accordingly."

The current artillery fire from the space fleet is like shooting arrows into a headwind. Charged heavy particles are deflected by the star's solar wind, just as arrows are pushed back by strong gusts.

This phenomenon acts as a simulated barrier, protecting the pirate fleet led by Admiral Alma.

"Enemy artillery damage is minimal. Only one vessel sustained minor damage."

"Then continue the attack. The capital battleship will focus on its决战 cannon, while the other vessels concentrate fire on one enemy barrier ship at a time."

The space fleet's barrier ships are known in detail, as their core components were transported to Amato Imperial Japan after Dawson captured one.

The system could deflect Charged Particle Beam fire, but it would reach processing saturation and shut down if subjected to sustained bombardment.

That was precisely why the order emphasized concentrated attack.

Even so, the artificial intelligence vessel could execute the maneuver. The pirates under General Alma, however, varied widely in training and equipment, making even concentrated attacks unreliable.

"Still, misfortune often brings advantage."

The space fleet had recognized the weakness in General Alma’s pirate forces. The barrier ships, previously evenly distributed along the front line, now shifted to thin out on Alma’s direct front while thickening at other positions.

Redistributing surplus to high-consumption areas was a standard measure. The space fleet’s actions followed fundamental principles.

Fundamental actions were reliable. But because they were fundamental, they were also predictable to experienced operators.

"Been waiting for this. Gradually advance the fleet. At this effective range limit, there can be no decisive outcome."

"Without letting even allies notice."

"Exactly. We'll quietly bring the foolish pirates close enough that even they can hit the enemy."

"Even low-qualified pirates can achieve results at weak points in the barrier ships' shields."

Major Alma manipulated the fleet with precision, advancing incrementally, inch by inch.

Such gradual changes were difficult for humans to perceive.

Especially the S.U. Space Fleet, which operated its formations manually despite auxiliary computer support, making it prone to deception.

Thus, as Alma had planned, both sides had unknowingly approached a position where artillery accuracy was high.

"Now comes the real test. Full firepower. Begin!"

At the moment General Alma gave the order, the pirates finally realized they were in the heart of the kill zone. Even those who had hesitated, frozen in panic, now committed to full broadside fire.