The Imperials had launched their attack, the Prisma Cannons fired volleys in synchronization.
The soldiers on the Flagship Enterprise watched in awe as the cannons' vast outputs of energy and accompanying bursts of light threatened to scorch their eyes.
The Alliance's Fleet erupted in flashes of sparkling, rainbow-colored brilliance as enemy beams struck energy-neutralization fields.
Low-energy particles collided at terrific speeds, annihilating one another in a cannibalistic phenomenon.
"Vanguard formation, return fire! All ships, get ready for all-out war!"
The Admiral, Chen Liang, ordered the Vanguard formation.
But on the bridge of the Imperial Fleet's Flagship Infallible, Luo Yin's blood-red eyes danced with cold contempt as he muttered, "Your responses are slow, you incompetent fool!"
Chen Liang's order had not been intercepted, but the enemy's readiness was a cause for concern.
"Launch fighters! We're switching to close-quarters combat!" ordered Rear Admiral Yang.
His keen vitality shone in his face and resonated in his voice, exultant from the thrill of battle and the confidence that came from seizing the initiative.
"Even if the brat ends up taking the credit, the important thing is still to win!" he thought.
The single-seater, cross-winged fighter ships known as Suiren launched one after another from their giant carriers.
Their momentum propelled them forward, reaching speeds that exceeded those of the carriers, eliminating the need for catapults or runways.
The Suiren were small craft, and so their firepower was not as great, but they excelled in maneuverability and were extremely effective in a dogfight in the starry skies.
The alliance also had single-seat fighters corresponding to Suiren, known as Archangels.
The Alliance's Archangels did not trail the Suiren in fighting ability, but a terrible disadvantage dominated all beyond their nose cones, and they found beams awaiting them the moment they separated from their carriers, aiming to destroy both the Archangel and its pilot together.
Flashes of exploding fusion furnaces ripped across every quarter, and maelstroms of unleashed energies shook the ships of both sides in chaotic swells.
New clusters of energy beams lashed across the area and dodging between them the Suiren soared, four-winged cavalry of death clad in glistening silver.
Not too long after the start of the battle, the Fourth Fleet's vanguard had been almost entirely destroyed by the withering onslaught of the Imperial Fleet under Rear Admiral Yang's command.
Of the 12,300 vessels composing the vanguard, not even 20 percent were still participating in combat.
Numerous battleships met their demise due to the explosion of fusion furnaces, while others sustained severe damages that made it impossible for them to continue fighting.
Some vessels, though not extensively damaged, had to bear the brunt of losing their crew and were left drifting aimlessly in space.
In this dreadful condition, the front line's collapse seemed not a half step away.
Admiral Chen Liang's outcry of "What are you people doing?!" echoed through the chaos.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Yang, observing the dire state of affairs, murmured disdainfully, "What are you people doing?"
The two commanders watched the catastrophic events unfold on the screens of their respective starships.
In the words of one was a cry of hopelessness and panic; the words of the other mocked, with all the confidence that comes from a comfortable margin.
The stark contrast between the two voices was a reflection of the circumstances faced by their respective fleets.
The Second and Fifth Fleets of the Alliance were thrown off balance, having received word of the sudden turn of events.
Despite this, the fleets remained committed to their original plan and advanced towards the battlefield, unperturbed.
Amidst the chaos, Admiral Mu Kongdong, the commander of the Second Fleet, observed the ongoing battle on his display screen with a keen eye.
"Now that the things have come to this, sticking with the Cerberus Formation perhaps holds no meaning."
As he pondered his next move, Admiral Mu Kongdong murmured to himself, "As much as I hate to admit it, this might be our last opportunity."
The gravity of the situation hung heavy on his shoulders, and he knew that a strategic decision could turn the tides of the war in their favor.
The fate of the Alliance rested on their ability to remain composed under pressure and seize this fleeting chance.
"We must rush to the battlefield without delay to reinforce the Fourth Fleet. If we strike the enemy from behind, we can turn the tide of the war in one decisive blow!" Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong exclaimed with urgency in his voice.
"That probably won't work." Admiral Mu Kongdong sounded unconcerned, which almost made Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong let his words pass by unacknowledged.
"What makes you think it won't work, sir?" Xiu Yong asked, seeking an explanation.
Mu Kongdong turned his head towards the screen, but then looked back at the Lieutenant Commander before replying, "By the time we reach the battlefield, the fighting would have already concluded. The enemy will retreat from the field, and while the Second and Fifth Fleets rendezvous, they'll attack one of them from the rear."
"Given that the Fifth Fleet is smaller, it is highly likely that they will be the ones targeted. The Empire has taken the initiative, and for now, they hold the upper hand. We cannot afford to play into their hands any further," Mu Kongdong replied, maintaining a calm demeanor.
The gravity of the situation was not lost on Admiral Mu Kongdong, and his strategic thinking would prove pivotal in the forthcoming battle.
As the Alliance struggled to regain control of the battlefield, it was imperative that they make the right moves to secure victory.
"What do you mean, Sir?" Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong's question hung in the air, his face contorted in a mixture of disbelief and concern.
Admiral Mu Kongdong took a deep breath before replying, his voice unwavering and confident.
"We will change our strategy, Lieutenant Commander. Rather than joining the Fourth Fleet in battle, we will rendezvous with the Fifth Fleet immediately and prepare for the next engagement in that sector. By combining our forces, we'll have twenty-seven thousand vessels, which should give us better than fifty-fifty odds of victory."
Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong's response was quick, and his tone carried a deliberate reproach. "So, you're suggesting that we turn our backs on the Fourth Fleet and abandon them to their fate?"
"That is one cold-blooded thing to say!" Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong Thought.