Chapter 163: Final Battle – Flank Assault
Dawson succeeded in annihilating one half of the fleet using debris from the star.
The enemy was disoriented. He overcame the numerical disadvantage and secured victory with minimal casualties.
"About a thousand ships lost on our side?"
"Those who took unnecessary risks with torpedoes were inevitably destroyed. But the remaining fleet retaliated with reckless abandon, and we lost ships to that counterattack."
Dawson accepted the unavoidable losses in response to Oine's report.
"Have the ships that lost their torpedoes among those still intact recover the destroyed fleet vessels on site. They'll be under-equipped for direct combat without torpedoes."
"Transport them using the intact 'Carrysh' wrapped in debris. Is that acceptable?"
"What do you mean, 'fine'?"
"Are we to reduce combat strength further, after it has already diminished in battle?"
Dawson understood.
As I said before, the equipment is insufficient for the upcoming artillery engagement. Moreover, our objective is to strike from behind the enemy. We do not require excessive combat strength.
"Support role only on our side—commander Alma and her fleet remain the primary force?"
That is correct. Six thousand vessels would provide more than sufficient force for that objective.
Dawson decided to lead the remaining fleet toward the starfleet engaged in combat with Major Alma, leaving behind the recovery team for the destroyed warship.
The battle between Major Alma and the Space Force was visibly extravagant.
Charged Particle Beams flashed in constant succession, with nearly a hundred vessels sinking at precise intervals, their formation shifting like the movement of a living organism. From the pirate side, three massive beams, from the Space Force side, two—each a super-heavy cannon—exchanged fire at regular intervals.
Dawson, watching the spectacle as reinforcements approached, offered a wry smile.
"Amato Imperial Japan couldn't conduct a fleet battle of this scale—only on an electronic strategy board."
"Such a large pirate fleet doesn't exist in the Amato Stellar Belt."
Kiwaka and Hitokane nodded in agreement.
Dawson's smile deepened at their response.
"Major Alma is likely enjoying this battle to the fullest—she won't experience anything like it again, not even once more."
"Enjoying this battle thoroughly, aren't you—pushing unavoidable damage onto pirate vessels with evident pleasure."
"Unrestricted consumption of forces unrelated to Amato Imperial Japan is troublesome, though."
While observing the battlefield, Dawson's fleet had approached within firing range of the Imperial Navy.
"Right. Execute. All ships, individual targeting. Just draw enemy attention briefly. Do not consider destruction."
At Dawson's command, the pirates fired their Charged Particle Beam.
The shots, fired just short of or barely within effective range, reached the Imperial Navy but mostly missed. A few struck directly, but only resulted in minor damage.
The objective was to draw attention to Dawson's forces, disrupting the enemy's focus on Major Alma's fleet.
The objective achieved, Dawson found the Imperial fleet's rear guard hastily reversing course and counterattacking exactly as intended.
"Good. Enemy is fixated on us. Maintain effective range—keep harassing them."
Dawson adjusted his fleet's formation into a wider horizontal spread while continuing fire toward the Imperial fleet.
The pirate fleet, now appearing astern, delivered shots that were not severely damaging but could not be ignored.
The Imperial fleet hesitated briefly, uncertain whether to focus on the frontal engagement or eliminate the smaller force at their rear.
They chose instead to reverse en masse and charge directly toward Dawson.
Dawson was taken aback by this move.
“Is the enemy commander a competent fool!? If they do that, they’ll be fired on from behind by Major Alma’s main fleet!”
Dawson, flustered, ordered his fleet to retreat at high speed.
The distance between Dawson’s fleet and the space navy fleet was now barely within the effective range of the Charged Particle Beam.
As long as they retreated quickly, they could maintain a degree of safety for a time.
As Dawson hurriedly sent out orders, Oine tilted her head and asked.
“Why are they attempting a coordinated attack against us? No. I understand that focusing all effort on the smaller force is a tactic consistent with military theory.”
Dawson had an approximate understanding of the answer to that question.
From the formation pattern of the fleet, the flagship carrying the high-ranking officer was positioned at the rear. Our fleet attacked from behind, where he had been stationed safely. He panicked at the rear assault, seeking self-preservation out of fear for his own life. That is the result of his decision.
So, you’re saying they’re charging toward us to escape the battlefield?
Our fleet numbers approximately six thousand vessels. The opposing side has suffered heavy losses in intense combat, but still maintains around one hundred thousand vessels. To achieve a breakthrough, charging toward our position is optimal.
Charging with the bow reversed means turning our backs on the enemy we have fought until now?
The ones fighting at the front line should be those the space navy deemed expendable. Turning our backs and retreating would only result in their destruction. They probably think it doesn’t matter to the higher-ups.
Dawson spoke, but clenched his teeth as the space navy advanced in a spearhead formation.
"Damn. If we had决战 cannons, we could destroy them in one strike."
Accepting the lack of such weapons, Dawson turned his attention to maneuvering the pirate fleet under his command.
They maintained the edge of firing range and were now retreating at full speed. A small window of time remained.
Dawson devoted himself to finding a viable tactic before that window closed.
...The disparity in numbers makes containment impossible. Directing the flow is equally difficult. There is only one option left.
Dawson issued orders to his pirates without concealing his reluctance.
Clear a path through the enemy's advance. Split our fleet into two and pass through the center.
The pirates showed no objection to Dawson's command.
They were not fools. None of them believed they could resist the approaching massive fleet.
From the center of the thinly spread formation, Dawson's fleet split left and right.
The military fleet immediately accelerated into the gap. Then, concentrating fire to widen the opening further, they pressed forward.
Dawson did not resist the maneuver. He allowed the pirate fleet to open a passage. A large gap formed—just wide enough for the military fleet to pass through.
The attack on the military fleet did not cease, however.
"Deform the pirate fleet into a cylindrical shape with no bottom. While the military fleet passes through the interior, bombard them with full fire."
The pirate formation shifted, but it did not become a cylinder. It formed instead into a bowl-like shape with an open base.
Given the pirates' low training level, Dawson judged this acceptable. He ordered the pirates to fire on the military fleet.
The military fleet advanced through the bowl-shaped formation. It came under constant fire from all sides.
Yet the pirate fleet, numbering barely six thousand vessels, could inflict only minimal damage. At most, a thousand ships would be lost before the military fleet cleared the formation. For a fleet of one hundred thousand vessels, such losses were negligible.
This was the assessment any observer would make under the circumstances.
But Dawson, and General Alma, whose thinking mirrored his, recognized this moment as an optimal opportunity.
"Come on. I believed you would act once the stage was set."
In response to Dawson’s incomprehensible muttering, three brilliant, thick beams of light emerged from the direction the military fleet had fled, approaching from behind the fleet.
Three massive beams of light, emanating from behind the retreating military fleet, cut through space. They were the main battle cannons of three Super Large Battleships, including the ≪Okitakaga≫. Moments earlier, the Dawson Fleet had targeted a Super Large Battleship of the space navy, concealed behind a star, during the split engagement between the Dawson Fleet and Admiral Alma’s fleet.
The salvo reached the distant battlefield and penetrated the fleeing space navy fleet, racing from rear to front.
The fleet’s formation, narrow and spear-like, had created a vulnerability. The space navy lost approximately 20,000 vessels—one-fifth of its current combat strength—in a single volley.
The damage neutralized the disparity between the pirate forces and the space navy.
From the space navy’s perspective, combat strength had dropped from 200,000 to 80,000 vessels.
In military terminology, losing more than half of one’s forces constitutes a determination of 'annihilation' or 'total collapse.'
Under normal circumstances, such a determination would result in an unambiguous retreat or surrender with a white flag raised.
Yet the space navy, having escaped through the gap in Dawson's fleet, now appears to be reorganizing its remaining vessels for combat.
'This is a campaign to uphold the space navy’s prestige. Retreating in defeat would be unacceptable.'
Dawson accurately perceived the space navy’s intentions. He issued orders to his fleet, altering course to rendezvous with Major Almá’s forces.