On the bridge of the Storm, Ai Er stood behind Feng Mo, both watching the virtual display of the battlefield.
Hua Qin's front was progressing smoothly. Her task of dismantling the planetary defense installations, especially with the mech squad's support, was almost complete. Typically, a T2 planetary defense system couldn't destroy a T3-class starship outright, but it could deplete its shields and leave it vulnerable. However, Flame Planet's defenses were a shoddy patchwork. They could take down T2-class ships but stood no chance against Hua Qin's T3 Mantis.
While Hua Qin was efficiently clearing her objectives, the Melo sisters were reveling in a one-sided slaughter. Their half-orc blood made them natural warriors, and the thrill of combat had them grinning wildly. If Feng Mo had been there to witness it, he might have had to fend off their overzealous advances.
The main fleet's display showed a mass of T1 civilian ships taking off, rallying around the Ninth Boss's fleet. Despite the Melo sisters' best efforts to intercept and destroy them, a few managed to break through and join the fight.
Out in the starry expanse, four T2 Black Bear frigates tore through enemy vessels, their enormous claws ripping starships apart. Even though they lacked energy shields, being constructed with T3 materials helped mitigate damage, but they were still taking hits.
Meanwhile, the Ninth Boss's T3 White Eagle was locked in a fierce skirmish with Silia's T3 Mantis, the two destroyers exchanging relentless volleys.
"Ai Er, order the T2 Black Bears to retreat. The Storm is advancing at full speed. Target all enemy T2 and T1 ships. Deploy point-defense lasers to intercept incoming fire, and prepare the main and secondary guns for firing," Feng Mo commanded.
The Storm surged forward, rapidly accelerating to over 100 star knots, then holding steady at 130 under Ai Er's control.
"Report: The enemy T3 battlecruiser is advancing toward our fleet," the Ninth Boss's deputy called out. Despite trembling from nerves, the Ninth Boss sneered. Did they think an overwhelming swarm couldn't bring down a mighty foe?
"Once the enemy ship is within our trap, fire all weapons at once. We'll shatter its shields and crush it!" the Ninth Boss bellowed.
In the virtual display, the Storm was bombarded by enemy fire as it pierced through the formation. The ship's point-defense lasers intercepted over 90% of the attacks, with its shields absorbing the rest. The T2 starships bore the brunt of the assault, while the T1 vessels hardly made a dent, barely scratching the shield.
The Storm's main gun, the 2600mm turbo laser cannon, had yet to fire. The secondary laser cannons were more than enough to obliterate the T2 ships, picking them off one by one.
On the T3 White Eagle's bridge, reports of disaster poured in.
"Report: The ground defense systems are mostly destroyed!"
"Report: Headquarters has been overrun by mechs!"
"Report: The spaceport has fallen to a T3 destroyer and four T2 frigates! Most of our civilian ships are gone!"
The Ninth Boss's face twisted in rage, veins bulging in his forehead. Panic gripped him as he realized the dire situation.
"We must execute a decapitation strike to save Flame Planet! Prepare the main and secondary guns! Disable the engine speed limiter! Target the enemy T3 battlecruiser!" he shouted.
Hua Qin, observing the White Eagle's reckless acceleration past 200 knots, immediately alerted Feng Mo.
"Commander, the enemy T3 White Eagle has fully disengaged its speed limiters and is accelerating to 230 knots. The main and secondary guns are primed and aimed at the Storm," Hua Qin reported.
Feng Mo smirked. "Looks like we've cornered the rabbit, and now it's trying to bite back," he mused. Watching the White Eagle push its engines to the limit, he cringed a little. Such acceleration would severely shorten the lifespan of its engines.
"Alright, let's end this," Feng Mo said softly.
The Ninth Boss, now desperate, ordered his cannons to fire. Orange beams streaked toward the Storm, slamming into its shields.
At the same time, the Storm retaliated with its colossal turbo laser. The White Eagle's shields, already weakened from fighting Hua Qin's Mantis, stood no chance. The powerful blue beam shattered the shields and punctured the bridge, leaving a gaping hole.
The Ninth Boss felt the weight of despair crush him. His prized T3 White Eagle, a symbol of his power, was no match for the enemy's overwhelming firepower.
Hua Qin, in her T3 Mantis, gave the final order. "Fire all four proton torpedoes at the White Eagle!"
Four torpedo launchers activated, and the deadly projectiles raced toward the crippled ship. The White Eagle's point-defense guns tried to intercept, but only one torpedo was destroyed. The remaining three slammed into the hull, triggering devastating explosions.
Feng Mo watched as the White Eagle's hull split into three pieces, the once-proud ship reduced to wreckage. Even a T3-class starship couldn't withstand such firepower; a lesser T2 ship would have been obliterated entirely.
"Deploy the tractor beam to haul the White Eagle's remains to the spaceport. Inform all captains to salvage anything valuable. We have a big family now,
and we need to be frugal," Feng Mo ordered.
"Yes, sir!"