Ch.601Storm Battle. (2)

Following the instructions of Rio Grande, who boasted 8th place in the clan rankings, more than 30 reconnaissance squadrons scoured the map filled with flashing lightning and chaotic ion turbulence…

*Crackle!*

“Commander, the 33rd, 34th, and 35th reconnaissance squadrons have been shot down simultaneously.”

“Get the spatial coordinates of that location and send a destroyer squadron to the corresponding upper region.”

“Understood.”

When the scattered reconnaissance squadrons were shot down like they’d hit an anti-aircraft network in a specific area, Icarus had likely ordered interceptions to avoid revealing his fleet’s position. But Rio Grande turned this to his advantage.

Using triangulation from the three downed squadrons’ locations, he actually detected the position of Icarus’s “main fleet” and immediately dispatched a light vessel squadron to obtain proper reconnaissance information.

Of course, if it weren’t for this cursed terrain, Rio Grande would have simply used the electronic warfare ships in his fleet instead of this troublesome method.

Unfortunately, given the circumstances, Rio Grande had no choice but to use this roundabout approach to identify the location of Icarus’s main fleet.

‘Rushing in recklessly against an unknown force is the fastest path to defeat.’

But that didn’t last long.

*Beep!*

“Commander, the reconnaissance squadrons advancing on the central left and right flanks report they haven’t found any fleets.”

“They only encountered about 2-3 reconnaissance squadrons similar to themselves…”

*Beep beep!*

“Enemy fleet detected! Confirmed three Krakens and five Dreadnoughts! It’s Commander Icarus’s main fleet!”

“Ohoho, I didn’t expect to get an opportunity this quickly.”

As the numerous reconnaissance squadrons reported back saying “We don’t see the Unlimited Mercenary Corps anywhere,” while simultaneously pinpointing the location of Icarus’s “main fleet,” Rio Grande let out a joyful cheer, believing he had seized the perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately for him, his moment of celebration didn’t last very long.

“Enemy fleet spotted! They’re attacking!”

“Intercept—no, evade! Incoming artillery fire!”

“Commander, your orders!”

“Damn it all, pull back the fleet we sent as reconnaissance immediately!”

As soon as the reconnaissance team spotted Icarus’s main fleet, enemy light vessel squadrons approached, unleashing merciless artillery fire toward the reconnaissance team.

With the light vessel squadrons charging in and providing targeting calculations and accuracy buffs, additional supporting fire from the main fleet came pouring through the asteroids toward the reconnaissance team.

If left unchecked, Rio Grande would lose forces equivalent to a Level 5 base mercenary corps right from the start, so he hastily ordered the reconnaissance team to retreat.

About five minutes after this brief initial skirmish…

“Damn it all.”

“What’s wrong, sir?”

“We couldn’t get complete information about Icarus’s presumed main fleet.”

“Ah, I see.”

Rio Grande had succeeded in discovering the existence of Icarus’s main fleet—the user’s own fleet—but he struck the armrest of his command seat in frustration at not being able to determine exactly how many ships were there.

Of course, his frustration didn’t last long.

“Penny, let’s compile the information from the reconnaissance team.”

“We confirmed three Krakens and five Dreadnoughts, but the remaining capital ships were obscured by asteroids or ion turbulence.”

“Hmm.”

“And judging by the different colors of other ships detected nearby, it seems at least three mercenary corps are accompanying the main fleet.”

“Three, huh…”

Upon hearing Penny’s report, Rio Grande quickly began calculating the approximate strength of Icarus’s “main fleet” by combining the remaining information.

“So conservatively speaking, we’re looking at the user’s main fleet plus three mercenary corps gathered there?”

“They would have moved their small ships to the upper region like we did, so exclude those.”

“Right, but what about those powerful artillery shots fired at our reconnaissance team? Do we have records of how many were fired at once?”

“Yes.”

“Bring those to me. The number of shots was too powerful even considering they have five Dreadnoughts.”

“I understand… I’ll bring it right away!”

And a moment later…

“The reconnaissance team confirmed, and our previous intelligence indicated that Icarus’s main fleet definitely had five Dreadnoughts, correct?”

“Yes, that’s certain.”

“But the artillery fire that came through the gaps between the ion turbulence and asteroids was clearly more firepower than three ships could produce.”

“Does that mean there are more hidden Dreadnoughts there?”

“Yes, and not just one or two—it’s firepower equivalent to at least four additional ships.”

“Commander, that means…”

“Exactly what you’re thinking. That bastard Icarus has definitely concentrated his mercenary corps to protect his main fleet.”

Icarus’s main fleet only has three Dreadnoughts.

= And the only way more Dreadnoughts could be deployed is through the newly hired Level 9 base mercenary corps from Daedalus.

= Plus, the images and photos captured by the reconnaissance team show “something colorfully numerous?”

= Oh, that bastard has concentrated his mercenary corps with his main fleet!

As this miraculous formula was established, not only Rio Grande and his adjutant but also the rest of the mercenary corps and superhumans accepted this conclusion, increasingly suspecting that Icarus was leading them toward a fleet battle.

To be precise, Icarus’s approach was (similar to?) their own—pushing small ships to the upper region while concentrating all large ships in the middle region.

“Commander, this is…”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

“It’s definitive proof that there’s no Leviathan Squadron.”

From Rio Grande’s fleet’s perspective, if Icarus had the Leviathan Squadron, rather than advancing in such a concentrated formation, the Leviathan Squadron—which could easily tear through ion turbulence and neutron storms—would be mindlessly charging forward.

Meanwhile, Icarus would have pulled back considerably with the rest of his forces, leisurely watching as the Leviathan Squadron, deployed as hunting dogs, tore them apart.

“We can definitely conclude the Unlimited Mercenary Corps isn’t present.”

“If they were, our reconnaissance squadrons still in the field would have spotted at least one ship by now.”

“Good, so no Unlimited Mercenary Corps and no Leviathan Squadron…”

Having quickly assessed the situation, Rio Grande determined there was nothing more to fear.

“Penny, relay to the entire fleet! All ships advance toward the front immediately!”

“Yes, Commander!”

He began confidently advancing with his grand fleet, which included all ships except the small vessels deployed to the upper region, along with mercenary corps and faction delegations.

Although information came in that a massive neutron storm would soon form in their advance route…

“Well, we just need to push forward anyway, so it doesn’t matter since we won’t need to turn back, right?”

“That’s true.”

Under the judgment that “there’s no need to return anyway,” they simply ignored this information.

And while Rio Grande was correcting his own misunderstanding and beginning his advance in earnest, our Icarus was at this point showing signs of deep regret, thinking, “Come to think of it, I should have deployed the Leviathan Squadron here.”

==========

Why is human life always so full of sad events?

And why does regret always come after the fact rather than before?

Of course, no matter how much one regrets, time that has already passed cannot return.

“Jessica, Jessica, I have one major regret at this point.”

“What is it, Commander?”

“Well, since this is the 10th battle and therefore the last one, if I had deployed the Leviathan Squadron right here, wouldn’t everything have gone smoothly?”

“…Wouldn’t it have been better to have such regrets before we started?”

After sending all large ships except cruisers down from Alcazar, eliminating the enemy’s reconnaissance squadrons that had rushed in, and dealing with their reconnaissance team, I was lamenting like this when Jessica beside me gave me a scolding, making me wonder anew why I hadn’t brought the Leviathan Squadron.

But I couldn’t help thinking this because…

*Flash! Rumble…*

“Damn these ion turbulences and neutron storms.”

“A new neutron storm is forming behind us.”

“Tsk, all fleet advance.”

If only the Leviathan Squadron were here, I could have sent them charging in with a “not my problem” attitude toward these damned ion turbulences and neutron storms.

I could have quietly watched from behind, munching on popcorn.

Instead, I didn’t think of that and plunged in, causing myself unnecessary hardship.

“This is why being stupid makes your body suffer.”

“It can’t be helped, but looked at differently, isn’t this your subconscious effort to protect the base even after the event ends?”

“…Well, I appreciate you putting it that way.”

In the midst of all this, I could feel my irritation subsiding somewhat thanks to the naturally flattering Bunny-Bunny Jessica (IQ 250).

And as if a person can’t stay irritated forever…

*Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!*

“Commander, a large fleet has been detected through the ion turbulence ahead!”

“Super Dreadnought confirmed in the enemy fleet!”

“Oh, they’re coming quickly.”

Seeing Rio Grande’s fleet rushing in at the perfect timing, I pulled myself together and began the battle.