Ch.528The Struggle with the Scout Unit. (1)

While various random discussions continued circulating, I spent my time productively by finalizing equipment setups and leveling up my fleet.

Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, the final countdown had begun.

And right after the final countdown ended.

—————————————-

<Global Event Message>

<<<‘Grand Cross’ Event Start!>>>

<Details>

<The event has finally begun, and the vanguard forces from the Grand Cross Fortress are advancing toward the Commanders’ bases!>

<Engage in battle against these vanguard forces and prove your skills as a Commander!>

<Status>

<The vanguard fleets will enter based on your ‘Current Combat Power’ (excluding base defense fleet).>

<Your current combat power: Main force worth 1,148 points, Mercenary Group 1 worth 700 points, Mercenary Group 2 worth 500 points, Direct Mercenary Group 1, Allied Force Detachment worth 550 points>

—————————————-

As the event officially began, I received a message indicating roughly what level of fleet would be coming for me.

I immediately felt this would make for an excellent battle.

But while I was thinking this, Jessica tilted her head curiously and raised a question:

“By the way, Commander, the fortress vanguard forces are directly attacking here, right?”

“Hmm… that’s right?”

“But wouldn’t that mean it’s not just forces targeting you that are coming…?”

“…Huh?”

Just as Jessica voiced her concern and I realized something was off—

-Beeeeeeeeeep!!!

“Whoa!”

“Commander, a massive fleet is advancing toward us from the front!”

“Wow, that’s a lot coming our way.”

“…Come to think of it, there are 2,500 users docked here, so naturally there would be vanguard forces coming for all 2,500 of them.”

I had to hold back tears as I watched the “vanguard” forces completely flooding the base command center’s radar screen like a red tide.

==========

However, once the users including myself began combat in earnest, the first phase of battle ended more anticlimactically than expected.

The reason was none other than…

-“Fortress main cannon 100% charged, ready to fire at any time!”

“Oh, fire away~”

-“Firing!!”

-KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

The “fortress main cannon” that I had built and first tested in combat against the “Punishment Fleet,” but had suffered too many humiliating moments because the enemy was too strong.

More specifically, the Tannhäuser fortress main cannon was now inflicting devastating damage on the incoming enemy fleet.

If the enemy fleet had consisted of many large ships that could “reasonably” distribute the impact of the fortress cannon among themselves, it might have been different…

-“Direct hit from main cannon confirmed!”

-“10% of enemy fleet annihilated!”

-“Ship destruction count approximately 7,000!”

“Oh.”

“They’re being swept away like moths to a flame.”

Unfortunately for the poor invasion force—or rather, the vanguard—as already announced in the event notice:

The vanguard never had any large ships capable of withstanding the main cannon’s firepower, so whenever we fired, massive numbers of ships were deleted.

Of course, no matter how powerful the fortress cannon was…

The scale of the vanguard forces equaled the combat power of 2,500 Commanders plus Tannhäuser’s base defense fleet, so completely eliminating them in one go was impossible, but…

—————————————–

<Tannhäuser Mercenary Network Official Chat Room>

<Notice: PVP disabled during event participation>

-[So satisfying every time the main cannon fires]

-[Yummy~]

-[Wait, more coming in from 11 o’clock]

-[Got it, going to intercept]

-[They’re coming from 5 o’clock too, need additional support]

-[I’ll go, got it]

-[Me too]

—————————————–

Not only was the fortress main cannon impressive, but the firepower from the defensive installations of bases docked at the stronghold was formidable as well.

And the fleets of users who were docked weren’t just sitting idle either…

Exactly 6 hours, 17 minutes, and 39 seconds after receiving the message about the vanguard invasion:

—————————————–

<Event>

<Successfully repelled the vanguard invasion!>

<Details>

<The vanguard forces attempting to invade the Commander have been completely annihilated!>

<This astonishing fact was immediately reported to the ‘Grand Cross’ command AI, which has now ordered the deployment of the main force to eliminate the Commander!>

<However, it will take considerable time for the main force to reach the Commander, so it would be wise to use this time for rest and reorganization!>

<Result>

<Vanguard annihilation allows progression to phase 2.>

—————————————–

“Hmm…”

“Commander, you’re making an expression that suggests you find this rather anticlimactic.”

“Hmmmm.”

“I see I was right.”

As I watched the vanguard forces that had invaded my territory get completely annihilated, with the remaining ships being captured by “raiding parties” formed by other users,

I experienced a peculiar feeling that was difficult to put into words.

And it seemed I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

—————————————–

<Most Sacred and Great Icarus Republic Official Chat Room>

<Notice: Preparing for Grand Cross Event!>

-[Save us, Mr. President!]

-[AAAAAAAARGH]

-[The village is in danger!!]

-[Wait, you guys aren’t dying, you’re looting vanguard ships;;]

-[Avalon is sweet]

-[How about Barracuda and Spiralis?]

-[Well, we came from different sectors so we managed to hold out]

-[Save me]

-[Those guys seem to be dying]

-[Help!!]

-[I just took one down and another fleet popped up from the side, it’s chaotic]

-[Mr. President, please help]

-[?](Icarus)

-[Come put out this fire]

-[LOLOLOLOLOLOL]

-[LOLOLOL]

—————————————–

Seeing how other stronghold users and even village cluster users were mostly handling things with ease,

I couldn’t help but wonder if they had intentionally made it easy since this was just the beginning of the event.

While I was watching the chat:

—————————————–

<Most Sacred and Great Icarus Republic Official Chat Room>

<Notice: Preparing for Grand Cross Event!>

-[I was positioned near the Leviathan Squadron]

-[When the vanguard came toward me, Jormungand-class ships came and fired flame cannons before leaving lol]

-[<jormungand_class_5_ships_firing_salvo.jpg>]

-[Oh]

-[Guess those flies were annoying them]

-[Hmm, maybe I should live near there next time]

-[There are no resource zones near the Leviathan Squadron, and you have to go really far to find any, so not recommended for long-term gg]

—————————————–

Seeing how these mindless drone fleets had even picked a fight with the Leviathan Squadron and gotten destroyed,

I was increasingly convinced that the developers had intentionally made the first round easy.

Of course, breezing through the first phase like this only applied to users or clans with powerful strongholds like mine.

With no sign of additional invasions, I was leisurely checking the gallery while fondling Jessica’s ears, intelligence pouch, and soft stockinged thighs when suddenly…

—————————————–

-[THESE FUCKING!!!!VANGUARD!!!!BASTARDS!!!!!!!](54,656)

—————————————–

Seeing this post of someone cursing and wailing as soon as I opened the gallery, I realized that phase one truly followed a strong-weak-weak-strong pattern.

‘Holy moly.’