Starting from the Planetary Governor

Chapter 1017: Chapter 550, Unknown Battle Group_2

On these silver-gray painted ships, there’s a large blood-red shark profile pattern.

They don’t have many ships, only eight; but almost no small ones. Leading the way is a ship truly like a giant shark cruising in space, which should be a battle barge. And the other seven are all Strike Cruisers of the Interstellar Warriors.

The Alliance also has some Strike Cruisers, belonging to the Phoenix Battle Group series, directly allocated for group use, but under the joint command of the Alliance Navy, so Bai Qifan recognized this type of ship.

Strike Cruisers are comprehensively superior to Lunar-Class Cruisers in terms of firepower and maneuverability, and as exclusive ships for Interstellar Warriors, they are equipped with devices for neural connection that can only be used by genetically modified Interstellar Warriors.

Apart from the armor thickness which may be slightly inferior to that of the Lunar-Class, Strike Cruisers are almost superior in all aspects.

And this fleet, the moment it appeared, had a very clear target: it was heading straight for the Fury Fleet behind.

Bai Qifan was overjoyed!

We’re saved!

But then, he fell into hesitation again.

Even so… can we win?

It’s really hard to say!

Counting this way, excluding medium and small ships, just looking at the main large ships, it’s now four versus two. Our three battlecruisers can take on one battle barge, and this new group of unknown Interstellar Warriors can swap one for one with the other.

Looking at it this way, the strengths of both sides are roughly equal.

However, the other side not only has more Lunar-Class and Strike Cruisers but also brings more than thirty destroyers and fast Escort Ships.

In confrontation, it’s not just about comparing the main battleships; the overall fleet strength must also be considered.

Our side is somewhat inferior.

Moreover, Bai Qifan has not forgotten that the enemy also has a battleship and an even larger fleet, but due to the slow speed, they are struggling behind. If the current battle drags on a little longer, with both sides tugging at each other, then perhaps it really is possible to delay until the enemy’s battleship reaches the battlefield.

By then, the battlefield situation will change in an instant again.

If that’s the case, looking at that unknown warship charging towards the enemy so relentlessly, should we… sneak away first?

In the previous communication, they neither reported their identity nor asked the Alliance Fleet for any cooperation, right? So if we retreat, it doesn’t seem to be a big deal.

Taking advantage of this unknown battle group engaging with the enemy, quickly take the fleet and escape, wouldn’t that be safe!? Wouldn’t that achieve his previous goal of preserving the three battlecruisers?

However, receiving assistance from others and then leading the team to flee without hesitation, betraying allies, really makes Bai Qifan feel embarrassed.

Although, as the saying goes for generals, “A compassionate heart cannot command troops.” Cutting off one’s own arm is necessary, let alone this time it’s cutting off an ally’s arm, not their own…

However, even from a purely interests perspective, doing so is not really appropriate.

On one hand, there’s the reputation of the Alliance;

On the other hand, if he betrays this unidentified unit, which seems to be an ally, would the Alliance ships really be safe? If the Fury Fleet, at a relatively low cost, eliminates or repels this unknown group, they might still pursue them later. With Feiyi already crippled, it’s likely they would get caught anyway.

Additionally, if he runs, and the unknown group sees that the Alliance has no moral backbone and stops fighting, what then?

Furthermore, if these are allies, having an additional fleet with a battle barge at its core and an unknown number of Interstellar Warriors join the Alliance’s camp to fight against the Fury Flame Battle Group would significantly aid in future battles.

Helping brings benefits, not helping incurs losses; helping has risks, not helping also has risks.

After weighing all sides, Bai Qifan eliminated the hesitation in his mind and made a decision:

Damn it!

Of course, if they are going to do it, it’s not about stupidly turning around and charging head-on.

A strategy must be observed.

Battlecruisers must leverage their own advantages, and engaging in a direct battle with the enemy, which obviously has superior frontal combat capabilities, is quite foolish.

The three battlecruisers spread out and gradually increased their distance.

The Korolya, guarding the damaged Feiyi, cruised along the edge of the battlefield, skirmishing and firing at extreme distances. As long as the enemy’s target wasn’t focused on them, they would abruptly close in to unleash more powerful firepower on the enemy, making it impossible to ignore their threat; but once the enemy’s target shifted towards them, they would immediately pull back, leveraging maneuverability to evade the enemy’s optimal range, thereby achieving greater survivability.

This skirmishing tactic is a classic developed based on the characteristics of battlecruisers.

This tactic has been sneeringly termed “fly tactics” by naval theorists based on the “decisive battle doctrine”.

Not flattering, yet somewhat descriptive.

Fly tactics are not exclusive to battlecruisers; any ship or fleet with inadequate frontal combat power but excellent maneuverability can adopt this tactic.

However, if battlecruisers act like flies, then this fly is a bit large, and if it bites, it’s not as mild and harmless as flies or mosquitoes.

As for another Alliance Warship, the Fury Owl, under Bai Qifan’s personal command, detached from the previous formation and stuck to the rear of the gray fleet.

This is another use of the battlecruiser.

No matter the ship type, except for carriers, the closer the range, the stronger the firepower it can exert.

After all, there’s a time gap from firepower launch to hitting the target; it’s not instant, even with light lances.

The closer the range, the higher the firepower-locks accuracy, which also means less space to evade.

Given that battlecruisers are relatively fragile and not loaded with strong firepower, how can they leverage firepower advantages?

By getting closer.

But once close, the room to maneuver becomes smaller, and the fragility issue is magnified, so what can be done?

Find a bigger ship up front to take the hits.

The best scenario is having a battleship up front taking hits so that the battlecruiser can unscrupulously output from behind, exerting half a battleship’s firepower without taking hits; otherwise, use a bunch of Escort Ships to take the hits up front, though Escort Ships will be lost, they are cheaper compared to getting the battlecruiser hit.

Now, this is exactly what Bai Qifan intends to do.

He took the battle barge of the gray fleet as a big protector.

He wants to make the Fury Owl into a “shadow” of the other, following its action to enhance firepower.

The battle barge of the gray fleet targets something, and so will the Fury Owl. Working in synchronization, rapidly aiming for enemy casualties.

To achieve better coordination, Bai Qifan repeatedly attempted to establish contact with the gray fleet.

If both sides can maintain continuous communication, their coordination would certainly improve.

However, all his communication requests were almost entirely refused.

Nevertheless, the gray fleet made no resistance to his arrival.

There was an apparent attitude of: do whatever you want, don’t expect any collaboration, just don’t get in my way.

Bai Qifan felt a bit helpless.

This suddenly appearing unknown battle group is truly… distinctive.

Nonetheless, he doesn’t have any other ways.

Now, being in others’ debt, he can only begrudgingly coordinate as much as possible.

Do the best that he can do.

The Fury Owl followed the battle barge of the gray fleet, concentrating its firepower on the Triumph of Fire, the flagship of the Fury Flame Battle Group.

Additionally, the Korolya and Feiyi engaging remotely with skirmishing tactics were also targeting the Triumph of Fire. Though due to the fly tactics, their firepower wasn’t concentrated and their hit rate wasn’t high, as two battlecruisers, they surely still played a role.

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