Admiral Mu Kongdong's reply was blunt, and his tone left no room for argument. "Even if we left immediately, we wouldn't arrive in time to make a difference. It's better to focus on our strengths and prepare for the next battle."
It almost felt like he ignored what was going on in the Lieutenant Commander's head.
Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong was taken aback by the admiral's response, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief. "But we can't simply abandon our fellow soldiers to their fate!"
At the Lieutenant Commander's words, Admiral Mu Kongdong shrugged his shoulders lightly, still maintaining his calmness, "I understand your concerns, but we must also consider the bigger picture. If we continue with our current plan, we'll play right into the enemy's hands. Their tactic of attacking each group separately will ultimately lead to the destruction of all three fleets. We must act strategically to ensure our victory." He said.
"Not necessarily," Xiu Yong interjected optimistically. "The Fourth Fleet won't go down without a fight. If they can continue to hold out..."
Admiral Mu Kongdong's response was dismissive, and he spoke with a sense of apathy. "Lieutenant Commander Xiu Yong, the reality is more complex than heroic calculations. The enemy commander is experienced and ruthless. You may be a seasoned warrior, forged in countless battles, but compared to him..."
Admiral Mu Kongdong's words trailed off, conveying the grim truth that they were facing a formidable foe.
He knew that they had to match the enemy's ruthlessness to have any chance of countering their methods. "Iron cuts iron," he concluded.
Four hours had passed since the start of the battle. By this point, the Fourth Fleet of the Alliance could hardly be called a fleet at all.
There was no tidy, well-organized battle formation. No unified chain of command. It was nothing more than scattered pockets of desperate resistance. Isolated, cut-off, single ships in every quarter waging a losing battle.
The once-mighty Flagship Enterprise, which had served as the heart of the Fourth Fleet, now floated in space as a colossal hunk of metal. Within, there was nothing left that lived.
The body of Admiral Chen Liang had been sucked out of the Flagship by the pressure differential created the instant that concentrated enemy fire had opened up a large crack in the Flagship's hull.
Whether he lived or died, what condition his body was in and where in space it was drifting, nobody knew.
Meanwhile, Luo Yin, the enemy commander, knew that victory was within his grasp. His complete triumph was evident as he surveyed the battlefield on his display screen.
"Organized resistance has ended. From this point forward we're to switch over to mop-up operations, but–" The report came in from Admiral Zhang.
Before Admiral Zhang could finish his words, Luo Yin interjected with a firm objection. "No need."
Admiral Zhang's narrow eyes narrowed even further, puzzled by Luo Yin's interruption.
"The battle is only one-third finished," Luo Yin explained. "Leave the remnants be. We need to conserve our strength for the next battle."
"Further instructions will follow. Until then, reorganize our formations," Luo Yin ordered.
"As you wish, Your Excellency," Admiral Zhang responded with a solemn bow of his head.
His image vanished from the display screen, leaving Luo Yin to contemplate his strategy for the upcoming battles.
Luo Yin turned to Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng, noticing the change in Admiral Zhang's attitude just now.
"Even he has changed his attitude towards you, albeit slightly," remarked Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng with a smile.
"Yes, he must have little choice," Luo Yin replied, acknowledging the possible reasons behind the change in attitude.
"This is a great first-round victory," Luo Yin thought to himself, realizing that his tactical plan had worked well. "Even the admiralty will have to admit it. The soldiers will take heart, and the enemy will be stunned when they see their unbeatable formation destroyed."
Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng then asked, "Which fleet do you think we should attack next, Your Excellency?"
Luo Yin considered the options. "It's possible to circle around to the aft of either, but I have already made up my mind," he replied confidently.
Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng guessed, "Their Fifth Fleet, positioned as support in the Cerberus Formation, must have weaker force strength, correct?"
"Exactly," Luo Yin confirmed with a satisfied smile.
Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng expressed his concerns, "The enemy may be expecting that. And that's the one slight concern that I have, but…"
Luo Yin interrupted him, saying, "There's no danger of that. If they do guess what we're doing, they won't continue with a battle plan that uses divided forces. They'll try to rendezvous as early as they possibly can, after all, together they still outnumber us vastly. The fact that they aren't doing so is proof they don't understand our fleet's intent. We'll circle around to the Fifth Fleet's flank and attack them there. How many hours will we need?" Luo Yin shook his head and said.
"Less than four," Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng replied almost instantly.
"Look at you, you've worked it out already," Luo Yin smiled.
However, his smile vanished in a heartbeat as he realized that several sets of eyes were looking intently at him from all across the vast Bridge of the Flagship Infallible.
"Relay that to the whole fleet. Gradually shift our course clockwise as we proceed, and attack the enemy's Fifth Fleet on its flank," Luo Yin commanded.
"As you wish!" Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng replied, but he was looking at his white haired Young Lord with a lingering expression, as if he still had something to say.
"Do you have any objections?" Luo Yin inquired, his brows furrowing in suspicion as he returned the stare.
Lieutenant Commander Lin Feng shook his head. "It isn't that. I was just wondering if we might let the men have a break since we now have some time to spare," he explained.
Luo Yin nodded, realizing his oversight. "Oh, that's right. I hadn't realized," he admitted.