Episode 33 – Single Player Strategy

The Independence Defense Fleet, after administering first aid to the damaged ships and consolidating the injured, quickly went into action.

First the fleet warped, then the fortress, which took longer to warp in due to its greater mass.

We’re already going to different places.

Based on their actions alone, it would appear as if the Independent Defense Fleet had fallen out and split up.

It was a minor bit of harassment, anticipating that the Federation fleet would surely be scouting the area.

The fortress headed straight for the Zelve system, where the Federation forces were using it as a supply depot.

They didn’t care if they were spotted by federal reconnaissance; in fact, they wanted to be spotted.

Seven days at the fortress’ interstellar warp speed. We have reached the Zelve system.

The fortress has warped out to the outer rim of the system.

“Warp out complete. The surrounding space is clear.”

There is no ambush.

It’s almost impossible to ambush something that doesn’t know where it’s going to warp to.

“We’ve got warp-out signs at close range. Two ships at warp in the system. 20 seconds to warp out.”

The warp out was on schedule.

A few star systems ago, he had Viscount Rich and Kitty scouting for him.

Dragoon reconnaissance has an extremely high survivability rate. The Federation had no ships that could match the dragoon in acceleration performance. As long as they didn’t make any mistakes, the Dragoon, which was dedicated to reconnaissance, would not be captured and sunk.

“Warp out confirmed. This is Dragoon Relvio. Communication established. Receiving reconnaissance data.”

Mitsuki proceeded with the work without Setsuko having to say a word.

“Enemy status on monitor.”

A monitor in the control room showed the situation around the supply depot, the enemy’s position.

The supply depot was located on the surface of an asteroid. It was a space filled with asteroids of all sizes.

The Federals used the crater in the middle of the asteroid, which was about 300 kilometers in diameter and one of the largest asteroids in the world, as a collection point.

A large reactor, tanks for storing anti-matter and propellant, and containers were lined up.

The Federation fleet was already deployed in the vicinity.

“Sixty thousand ships of the Federation fleet. 10,000 of which are believed to be transports.”
“Fifty thousand combat ships. That’s a lot.”

The Federals seemed to have gathered quite a bit of strength here.

I think it’s safe to say that the Imperial Fleet has been mostly neglected. It was a drastic decision. A doubt crossed Settsu’s mind, wondering if the Federation fleet already knew about Count Vaile’s death.

“As far as I can tell from the combat data so far, the threat level isn’t too high.”

Mitsuki assured him.

It was inevitable that their fleet would not pose a significant threat to the fortress.

The Federation’s building philosophy and fleet composition is based on the premise of counter-empire and counter-kingdom.

The basic tactic of the Empire and the Kingdom is for the Dragoon cavalry to break through the battle lines of the enemy fleet. The Federation forces that opposed them were built on the idea of dealing with dragoons, i.e., brutal opponents.

The Federation forces do not envision a massive, heavily armored enemy like a fortress as an opponent in a fleet battle.

“If it’s just the fleet. I think they’re bringing out weapons for the base this time.”
“Weapons for the base?”

Mitsuki’s question would be, what’s in it for me?

“I don’t know what the Federals have, but the Empire had large-caliber beam cannons and mass warhead cannons to place on their bases.”

Although he said so, Setsuko did not know the detailed specifications.

How many kilometers was the effective range? What was the size of the mass projectile? If we had known these things, we could have predicted the weapons of the federal army to some extent.

“I see. It’s a question of how far the Federals are prepared to go. I tried to analyze the surface of the collection point, but I couldn’t identify the guns. We’re running out of data.”
“Yes. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“We’ll be collecting data on this battle.”
“Thank you. As soon as we have Viscount Lich and Kitty in custody, we’re going to attack the concentration camp. Mitsuki, prepare for warp.”

Two ships versus 50,000 ships is a problem before a battle.

Settsu intended to fight the battle only in the fortress as planned.

“Copy that. We’ll have it ready for warp as soon as we get it in.”

Mitsuki recited.

The fortress prepared to warp into the system as soon as the Leruvio and the Glory of the Black and Silver entered port.

The warp-out position is directly in front of the Federation fleet.

A fair and decisive battle.

By defeating the Federation’s preparations from the front, the fortress has proven to be a powerful force in the capture of bases.

“We’re currently about 15,000 kilometers from the Federation fleet, and we’ll be in effective range of the fortress’s main cannon in an hour and a half.”

Settsu nodded.

The Federation fleet changed the direction of its fleet formation when it saw the fortress appear, and there was no other major movement.

The formation of the Federation fleet was strange at first glance. The battle cruisers were lined up in a diamond shape in formation. The frigates stood diagonally behind them.

Gradually, the distance between us grew closer.

When Settsu got the coffee ready and started drinking it, the battle began to move.

The asteroids, large and small, floating in the vicinity, spewed out jet flames and began to accelerate.

Thirty of them.

A small object is one kilogram in diameter. A large one is 8 kg in diameter.

“Trajectory prediction, final trajectory is unknown due to acceleration, but we expect it to take a collision course with the main fortress.”

Mitsuki’s report told us that this was prepared by the Federals.