Sagitta’s fleet entered the Blue Nebula. Judging by how they deployed in a long, horizontal line, they seemed determined.
“The bait worked.”
I had hidden my forces to the left and right.
“Don’t get greedy. Just do as we practiced.”
Following the Grey Nebula, we had conducted simple drills in the Blue Nebula as well. I wasn’t entirely satisfied. If these people were competent, they would have already made a name for themselves elsewhere. Most of my fleet consisted of a ragtag bunch.
“Chris! Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Our ship led the charge. My fleet followed behind in a long line.
“Master, I’ve identified the enemies’ positions.”
Lysanderbuzz’s eyes flashed. I could see the enemy advancing in their wide formation. The defining characteristic of the Blue Nebula was its illusions. Enemies appeared as multiple overlapping layers.
‘Still, they did a good job identifying the real ones.’
Thanks to Lysanderbuzz’s eyes, we singled out the targets with high accuracy. I immediately marked the points for the other ships.
“The train tactic begins.”
We pulled up right behind the enemy. We were like a second train passing alongside another, except we were facing opposite directions.
The enemy fleet was stretched out and moving toward the 12:00 position. Our fleet moved in long lines from the 9:00 and 3:00 positions toward the center.
Enemy: ↑↑↑↑↑↑↑
Allies: →→→ ←←←
The enemy’s rear was exposed to our flanks.
“Commence autonomous fire!”
As soon as the order was given, our fleet’s cannons spat fire. As we moved, we slapped the enemy’s rear one by one.
*Boom boom boom!*
***
Sagitta was thrown into a panic.
“Large enemy forces have appeared on both rear flanks!”
“All main engines off! Use the auxiliary engines to rotate in place!”
Rotating like a traditional galley while in motion was not easy, especially when moving at high speeds. In space, dark energy surged like waves. If you didn’t want to capsize, you had to rotate slowly.
*Crash! Boom boom boom!*
“Multiple allied ships hit!”
They were being pummeled in a one-sided attack. The rear had no cannons, and the shields there were weak. To fight back, they needed to turn their sides toward us.
“Every captain, counterattack as soon as you complete the turn!”
“Orders relayed, General!”
Sagitta’s fleet desperately rotated their ships.
“Don’t lose heart! Most of the enemies are just corvettes.”
The enemies were passing by at a very close range. Despite that, the attacks were less effective than expected.
“General! Some allied ships have begun their counterattack.”
“Good!”
*Thud thud thud!*
The powerful attacks unique to bombardment ships flew toward the enemies, but…
*Shatter!*
They only tore through phantoms. And then.
“Damn it! What is that now?!”
***
Sagitta’s fleet attempted to rotate while moving. They weren’t called elites for nothing.
“As expected, they’re quick to react.”
It looks easy, but it is a difficult feat. It’s harder than a car performing a 180-degree turn while driving.
“We’re responding too!”
If we were just going to move in straight lines, there would be no reason to fight in the Blue Nebula.
“Operation Dolphin! Execute.”
“Orders relayed.”
“Shake them up — !”
This was a sailing technique rarely used. Due to cosmic waves, vertical movement was twice as difficult as horizontal movement.
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
“Nngh — !”
The crew members gritted their teeth. Even the gravity control devices were optimized for horizontal movement.
*Boom boom boom — !*
The enemy fleet’s attacks missed wildly. Cannons were also weak against vertical movement.
“Is the fleet following well?”
“Yes… sort of. They’re managing to keep up.”
I checked behind us with my teeth clenched. My fleet followed as if they were swimming. They looked less like dolphins and more like drunken eels. They were clumsy — far too clumsy. However…
*Thud thud thud — ! Thud — ! Thump — !*
“Enemy fleet beginning a massive counterattack!”
And yet.
*Shatter — !*
Strangely enough, almost all the attacks hit illusions.
“Damage is minimal.”
“Most allied ships are unscathed.”
I blinked. ‘Are those guys on drugs?’
“Captain. Don’t tell me… did you even predict this?” the first officer asked with a look of shock. The crew members also stood there with their mouths agape.
“O — Of — Of course!”
I spoke with my chin held high, but even as a veteran player, I hadn’t expected this. I had actually proceeded with the operation prepared to take some damage.
‘Ah!’
I realized how it had happened. It was because my fleet was clumsy.
The enemy was elite. They had judged my pathetic fleet by their own standards. Based on those standards, they predicted which of the many phantoms was the real one. Therefore, their predictions failed completely.
“It won’t work a second time. We’re withdrawing for now.”
The enemies were elites and would learn quickly. Getting too greedy could result in a fatal wound.
“Relaying orders. We will rendezvous in the center and pull out!”
Our fleet, which had approached from both sides of the enemy’s rear, met in the center and turned.
“Oh, right! Establish communication with the enemy flagship.”
“Connected!”
*Beep — !*
Sagitta’s face appeared on the screen. He looked absolutely livid, practically foaming at the mouth. I greeted him first, acting friendly and bright.
“It’s Pak Yu.”
[Argh! I’ll kill you!]
“Shouldn’t catching me come before killing me?”
[No matter how much you struggle, it won’t change the fact that your territory will be trampled. I won’t leave a single blade of grass behind.]
“Wait, what? That was your goal? Most of our territories don’t have much land, so there are only a few blades of grass to begin with.”
He had to know that. Most of the Lucifel Holy Army’s colonies were ocean planets.
[You… You…!!!]
“To be satisfied with a few blades of grass… how frugal of you. So it’s true that dogs eat grass. I’ll have some grass pulled and waiting for you, so take your time.”
[Who are you calling a dog…!!]
To the Lang tribe, being called a dog was an insult worse than any racial slur.
*Beep — !*
I cut off the communication unilaterally. Sagitta, seemingly enraged, attacked randomly.
*Boom! Bang bang!*
Enemy attacks exploded like fireworks against the surrounding illusions. Since we were already out of effective range, they posed no threat.
“Whoa!”
— Our boss is the greatest scoundrel in the Empire. No woman can resist the ultimate playboy. Ah — Ah — Who can stop him —
An allied crew member cheered and sang a song filled with Force. My face turned bright red.
“Captain. Should I have them stop the song immediately?” the first officer asked, looking flustered as well.
“No. It’s fine.”
Even the Roman hero Caesar was teased by his subordinates for being bald after a victory. Who was I to complain? Come to think of it, it wasn’t bad for morale or bonding…
“Our casualties?”
“Seven ships sunk, twenty-one disabled.”
It was a truly minor amount of damage. I had expected to lose at least fifty, or as many as 100 ships.
“Then, the enemy?”
“…”
No one answered.
***
Sagitta’s fleet stopped their pursuit immediately.
“That damn Pak Yu!!!”
The engagement was short. Nonetheless, because it was close-quarters combat, they had suffered enormous damage. Not paying attention to their rear had been fatal. Losing so many screening ships while clearing mines was starting to sting.
“Damage report! Seventy-two ships completely lost! 126 ships sunk! 181 ships heavily damaged, 211 disabled! A total of 590 ships are out of action. We are conducting emergency rescue operations for the sunken vessels.”
Due to the illusion effect, even rescue operations were not easy. Screams echoed from all directions.
“Aaaaaah!!! Pak Yu!!!! I’m going to kill you!”
The grand fleet, which had numbered nearly 1,500 ships, had shriveled down to 910.
***
Everyone just stared blankly at my question. Because of the illusion effect, it was difficult to count the downed enemies.
“It’s between 400 and 600 ships.”
Lysanderbuzz, the tentacle monster, answered confidently.
“Ooh!”
Everyone was impressed. At this level, he was at least an A-rank observer. He was a mutant among tentacle monsters. I was flustered because it was my first time seeing such a competent tentacle monster.
‘Why have I never seen a guy like this before?’
I searched my memories. After all, a sharp awl eventually pokes through a pocket.
‘Ah!’
Come to think of it, it made sense. The Dogos tribe’s manor was wiped out by the invasion of Marshal Imperium. They had 600 private soldiers, but they didn’t last long. The combat power of the Dogos tribe was the worst, after all.
‘What about this time?’
There probably won’t be any trouble. Imperium won’t make it to the Dogos territory. Dalip will stab Imperium in the back before that.
The problem was that I couldn’t be satisfied with just that. Once Imperium deals with Dalip, I will definitely be the next target. I couldn’t even sell my territory anymore. There was no one to buy it.
“Captain. How about moving to the Center now to defend? If we hold out, won’t Duke Uganaoda come to support us?”
“No. We have to finish Sagitta ourselves.”
In this war, we had to deal as much damage as possible to Imperium. I disliked Dalip, but he was better than Imperium.
“Duke Uganaoda’s forces must be preserved entirely to strike the Imperium main body.”
“What? Is there a need to go that far?”
“By now, the Allied forces have likely taken a serious hit.”
“But didn’t 1,500 ships come here? That would mean 3,500 are left…”
The first officer seemed unable to understand.
“The rumor was that 3,000 ships were coming here.”
“Ah…!! The Allied forces must be caught off guard.”
The moment they look down on the enemy and push forward, they will be hit by a massive counter-offensive.
***
Naparrere sensed that her chance had come. War was the field she excelled in most.
“Marshal Yugo-girl, you may withdraw to the rear.”
Naparrere’s large ears flapped. She looked full of confidence.
Marshal Yugo-girl felt the opposite. Her bat wings flapped weakly.
“No matter if your forces number 3,000, the enemy is a regular army.”
The 2,000 Imperium ships were of diverse types. The synergy resulting from that could never be ignored. Furthermore, they had even won a battle against the prestigious Marshal Poena.
“They aren’t just 3,000 ships. I have fifty heavy artillery ships.”
“What can you do with only fifty?”
“A great deal. Heavy artillery ships are gods of war.”
“Since you’re so confident, do your best. If you need help, send a signal immediately.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Marshal Yugo-girl.”
“Instead! I’d like you to leave it in writing. I don’t want any misunderstanding that our army wasn’t being proactive.”
“Of course.”
From Marshal Yugo-girl’s perspective, it was good to save her troops. However, she couldn’t help but be mindful of Marshal Humildas.
‘That damn raccoon.’
Marshal Humildas hadn’t even come out of the Center.
*Scritch scritch!*
Naparrere signed with confidence.
“General Naparrere, you are as brave as I’ve heard. If we win, I’ll gift you a fantastic night.”
“I shall consider it the honor of my family.”
The Succubus race was originally very bellicose and dangerous. Only females existed, and they absorbed the essence of men. If they won a war, they killed the women and violated the men.
However, once a year, during the ritual for reproduction, it was different. They gave half of the essence they had gathered over the year to their partner. In this process, the purity of the man’s Force increased. That alone made the Succubus race quite valuable.
‘Now is the time to save our forces.’
Participating in this war was not by choice. Our power had already dwindled significantly.
‘If this brat wins the battle, it’s a free lunch.’
Still, one thing was promised: the right to handle prisoners. It was agreed that any prisoners captured in this battle would belong to Marshal Poena.
‘If we just win this war, we can rebuild our Marshal’s office!’
Marshal Yugo-girl pulled her troops back. Naparrere’s 3,000 ships began to take formation.
*Boom!*
They were divided into thirty groups of 100 ships each. Then, they surrounded the fifty heavy artillery ships, placing them in the center.
***
The Imperium commander watching this let out a hollow laugh.
“Ridiculous.”
The Imperium side chose an open field battle. The army of 2,000 ships took formation and waited for Naparrere’s forces to approach.
But then.
*Boom!*
Gaps opened in Naparrere’s fleet. Through them…
*Flash — !!*
Powerful attacks from the heavy artillery ships surged out.
*Kaboom — !*
In a single volley, over thirty ships were sunk. Half of them were screening ships.
“Damn it. Counterattack!!”
The Imperium side also had heavy artillery ships. Since it was an expedition, their numbers weren’t high. Thirty was all they had.
*Boom! Bang!*
This time, twenty of Naparrere’s corvettes were blown apart. Considering the exchange ratio as well as the quality of the ships, the Imperium side was taking a huge loss.
“Advance — !”
The Imperium side, having fewer numbers, moved first. They had no choice. An artillery duel like this was a losing game.
“Maintain formation!!”
The two armies collided.
“What?!”
Naparrere’s corvettes were pushed back like soft tofu. By the time they sensed something was wrong…
*Boom boom boom!*
Attacks poured out from the heavy artillery ships. Over 100 combat ships were destroyed. The damage was even greater because it was close range.
“They’re digging in!!”
This time, they didn’t get pushed back like tofu. They blocked and held their ground like a swarm of bees.
And then.
*Boom!*
Gaps opened again.
*Boom boom boom — !*
The heavy artillery ships poured out a scorching attack.
“Commander! The damage is too great.”
“Dammit!! We can’t go on like this. Retreat.”
The Imperium army began to withdraw.
***
“Pursue them! Maximize our gains.”
Naparrere chased after the fleeing Imperium army. Yugo-girl’s army, which had been in reserve, was also deployed.
“Incredible!! General Naparrere.”
“This is nothing.”
As they were excitedly giving chase, a sense of unease crept in.
“1,500 enemy ships appearing from the flank planet! It’s the flagship!!”
If it was the flagship, it was Imperium himself. They had timed it to drop out of warp right in their path.
“I thought they went to the Lucifel Holy Army?! Dammit.”
Naparrere and Yugo-girl were panicked. Their formations were completely broken from the pursuit.
“They are charging toward us.”
“The fleeing enemy fleet is turning back!”
At the scout’s report, Naparrere felt dizzy.
***
The first battle against Sagitta was a great victory. The subordinates’ morale was at its peak. Fewer troops. Weaker power. Our achievements were worth boasting about.
“Moving to the next battlefield!”
There was no pursuit. Sagitta would be too busy cleaning up the battlefield.
“Activating warp drive!”
.
.
In the distance, the Grey Nebula looked hazy. It had a dreary feeling, like factory smog.
“Captain. We have arrived in the Greida star system!”
Allied ships arrived one after another from various directions. They hadn’t bothered to bunch up on the main road. Moving in small groups through side paths was enough.
This was why the defending side had the advantage. They knew the geography well and didn’t have to worry about ambushes.
“Prepare the logs.”
I wasn’t talking about actual logs. I was referring to the merchant ships that would block the path. If we placed them on the road according to the enemy’s movement timing, the enemy would have to drop out of warp.
“Captain. Do you really think they’ll follow us into the Grey Nebula?”
“With his personality, 100%.”
“But he was already hit hard by an ambush.”
“He’ll think he was hit because he was careless.”
Sagitta was good at fighting. If you fed him enough experience, he was a fierce general you could use effectively until the late game. The problem was that his personality was violent and impatient. And he was arrogant.
“Captain!! We have contact from the high-speed vessel. They say the enemy fleet has been spotted.”
“Everyone, get ready.”
We waited for the enemy to arrive while half-submerged in the Grey Nebula zone.
*Glance — !*
I stole a look at Lysanderbuzz. The eyes at the ends of his tentacles were moving here and there. Usually, he just looked disgusting, but right now, he was incredibly reassuring.
“We settle it here.”
If that bastard Sagitta followed us into the Grey Nebula? He would get a taste of hell.