October 15th.
A convoy of seven 3-kilometer-long T3-class interstellar transport ships departed from the Fourth Base, navigating toward the star gate of the Bas System.
Two escort fleets consisting of sixteen warships flanked the convoy. A T3-class carrier was positioned centrally, flanked by two T3-class battleships, one leading at the front and the other guarding the rear, each shielded by two T3-class destroyers. The remaining nine frigates formed a protective perimeter around the convoy.
"This is our escort route," Elpan began, outlining the strategy. "Since the fleet is a mix of T3 and T2 ships, we'll be using synchronized secondary warp drives and shared radar systems for coordinated hyperspace jumps. We'll travel in three separate warp jumps over three days, crossing three star systems. Once we reach the frontlines, we'll switch to conventional navigation. It will take three days to reach the North Gate Space Station, and from there, another six days to reach the Xuanwu Fortress. This stretch is the most dangerous."
"Altogether, we should arrive at Xuanwu Fortress on October 27th. Any revisions needed?" Elpan scanned the room. Seeing no objections, she continued, "Very well, we proceed as planned. Huaqin, alert the fleet to synchronize radar systems. We'll initiate synchronized warp travel in ten minutes."
"Understood, Captain!" Huaqin replied.
The synchronized radar and warp mode transformed the fleet into a cohesive unit, sharing radar data from the battleships. They would enter and exit warp space simultaneously, maintaining formation and combat readiness.
The fleet of twenty-three warships followed this routine for the first three days: half a day in warp travel, followed by half a day of rest at designated starports. On the fourth day, they arrived at the main planet of the Fengtian System.
Once there, the fleet had to halt hyperspace travel. The route from the North Gate Space Station to Xuanwu Fortress was lined with warp disruptors. These devices distorted space, preventing the compression and expansion necessary for hyperspace travel, designed to stop any stray Hive Mother ships from warping directly to the station.
Deploying these disruptors was costly, so the Human Federation only used them in frontline sectors. They affected all ships below T5-class. Feng Mo's fleet, therefore, had to switch to conventional navigation from Fengtian onward, especially since this leg of the journey involved frequent checkpoints.
Over three days of conventional travel, the fleet was inspected three times before finally reaching the North Gate Space Station. The security measures there were even more stringent. After a brief half-day rest at the station, the fleet embarked on the final leg of their journey, hoping the next six days would be uneventful.
However, fate had other plans. On the third day of travel, alarms blared across all command centers.
"Warning! Hive Mother ships detected ahead. All crew, prepare for combat!" The alert rang out, jolting the fleet into action. Gun ports on the warships opened, and massive laser cannons emerged, ready for battle.
"Xiao Meng! Deploy all drones from the T3 Rottweiler-class interstellar carrier. All warships, charge primary and secondary laser cannons!" Feng Mo commanded, and the ships lit up, readying their weapons.
"Damn it! What is Xuanwu Fortress even doing, letting this many Hive Mother ships slip through?" Cui Zhihua cursed over the command network, his frustration palpable.
"All frigates, scatter and scout!" The alluring woman in his fleet dropped her flirtatious demeanor, her voice tinged with urgency.
"No need," Feng Mo interjected. "Radar shows seventeen T3 Hive Mother ships. We can't let them get near the transport ships. We must intercept them now!"
He issued orders swiftly. "Xiao Meng, your carrier and the nine T2-class frigates will form Team One. Use a fish-scale formation to intercept twelve of the Hive Mothers. Your goal is to hold them off."
"Cui Zhihua, your two T3 battleships and two T3 destroyers form Teams Two and Three. Concentrate your fire on the remaining five Hive Mothers. You take two; we'll handle three. Make it quick—Team One can't hold forever!"
The bewitching woman opened her mouth to object, but Cui Zhihua cut her off. "Understood! We'll handle two of the T3 Hive Mothers!"
Xiao Meng's excitement was palpable. "Don't worry, Feng Mo! I'll make sure those bugs get blasted to hell with my drones."
Xiao Meng's vice-captain had anticipated Feng Mo's strategy and tried to object, but Xiao Meng had overridden the concerns.
"Team One, move to intercept! Teams Two and Three, standby. We're lucky it's an ambush and not a full-scale encirclement. That would've been far worse," Feng Mo said.
Sixteen warships split from the convoy, moving forward to engage. Feng Mo's plan was to divide the enemy forces, with Team One's drones holding off most of the Hive Mothers. The frigates formed a defensive line in front of the carrier, giving it time to reload drones and sustain the fight. This strategy would buy enough time for Feng Mo and Cui Zhihua to focus fire on and eliminate a few Hive Mothers quickly.
As expected, the Hive Mothers zeroed in on the carrier, ignoring the frigates. They surged forward, intent on overwhelming the defense line and destroying Xiao Meng's T3 carrier. It was a logical strategy: carriers and battleships were always priority targets in any fleet engagement.
"Teams Two and Three, pick your targets and fire at will! Focus on taking out two Hive Mothers first!" Feng Mo barked.
The nine T2-class frigates in Team One formed a barrier, intercepting bio-plasma and suicidal drone attacks from the Hive Mothers. The frigates quickly sustained damage, their armor battered by the relentless assault.
The drones from Xiao Meng's carrier arrived just in time, providing critical relief to the frigates and launching a devastating counterattack. The sky lit up with orange-red explosions as the drones carpet-bombed the enemy.
"Fire!" Feng Mo roared, and twenty laser beams converged on two of the Hive Mothers. The concentrated barrage was too much, and the bio-ships shattered into float
ing debris, becoming the first casualties of the battle.