"Commander, we're racing against time to carry out the rescue. Why are we heading for Area 280?"
"Deputy Liang, could you relay my order before questioning it?"
"My apologies!"
Liang Xue instantly realized her mistake and immediately issued the new order.
"All ships, turn toward Area 280 of the Asteroid Belt at once!"
What did a commander fear most? A deputy who failed to carry out orders because they did not understand the commander's intentions. That was a major taboo on the battlefield.
It was fine if you did not understand the commander's intentions, but if that lack of understanding made you hesitate and refuse to act, then the problem became serious. One mistake could lead to the defeat of the entire battlefield.
"Deputy Liang, I don't want what happened just now to happen a second time."
"Yes, Commander. There won't be a second time!"
"Fine. Now I can answer your question. The Oakes Empire fleet is using a tactic of besieging a point to draw in reinforcements. They must have discovered where the resource mining ships were hiding and prepared an ambush for us."
"But how did you determine that their real target was us?"
"Let me ask you this. If you were the commander of the Oakes Empire and wanted to send a fleet into the Asteroid Belt to attack Federation resource mining ships, how would you arrange it?"
"I would organize several high-speed mini-fleets, and then..."
Liang Xue's fundamentals were quite solid; she simply lacked real combat experience. After all, not everyone was like Lin Fan, with a system that could provide 100% realistic combat simulations all day long!
Halfway through her sentence, Liang Xue realized it as well and covered her mouth with her right hand.
"Exactly. That would be the proper approach. But there were two anomalies in this incident. First, they sent a small fleet of 200 warships. Second, the area they chose to attack was not particularly suitable for small fleets to navigate."
"I understand. Their true intention wasn't to attack the resource mining ships at all. They deliberately trapped the resource mining ships in Area 279, then used the complex terrain there to prepare an ambush for the relief fleet!"
Lin Fan looked at Liang Xue, nodded, and wore an expression that said she could still be taught.
He then operated the tactical computer, bringing up the Star Chart of Area 279 and the surrounding sectors before continuing.
"Then where do you think they'll set up their ambush?"
"It should be between where the resource mining ships are hiding and Mars Base, while also having terrain capable of concealing 200 warships. I know—it's here!"
Following Lin Fan's guidance, Liang Xue immediately identified the enemy's most likely ambush location.
No wonder the commander had ordered them to turn toward Area 280. Area 280 was right at the flank and rear of that ambush point!
Liang Xue blinked her beautiful eyes and looked at Lin Fan with curiosity once again. His composure and precise battlefield judgment reminded her of her father, Liang Xingchen.
"Deputy, keep your mind on the mission!"
Seeing Liang Xue staring at him, Lin Fan immediately returned the exact words she had used against him before departure. He instantly felt much better.
This left Liang Xue feeling awful. She immediately resumed her icy expression, turned away, and stopped speaking.
More than three hours later, the 101st Task Force Fleet arrived in Area 280.
"Deputy, have the carrier deploy a reconnaissance ship for scouting. Remember to keep it concealed."
"Yes!"
Soon, a small reconnaissance ship flew out from the carrier. It deliberately chose areas dense with asteroids to conceal itself as it advanced along a circuitous route.
Ten minutes later, Lin Fan received the reconnaissance ship's report. It had discovered the Oakes Empire fleet. Just as expected, they were all lying in ambush at the location they had previously identified, each warship hiding behind an asteroid.
If this position were used to ambush a fleet arriving from Mars Base, the results would be devastating. But Lin Fan's fleet was at the enemy's flank and rear.
In other words, once Lin Fan launched his attack, the warships hiding behind the asteroids would have their retreat cut off when facing his fleet.
Turn around to fight? Lin Fan could tell them that during the turn alone, he could take out at least half their warships. A 180-degree turn for a space warship was an extremely lengthy maneuver.
Not turn around, flee forward, and move in an arc until they formed a circle with Lin Fan's fleet, each chasing the other's tail?
Sorry, had they forgotten that they were hiding behind asteroids? Accelerate straight ahead? That would be smashing into asteroids and committing suicide!
Lin Fan did not rush to attack. Instead, he examined the detailed surrounding environment once more.
Liang Xue, meanwhile, was puzzled. With such a favorable position, why not attack immediately?
"Deputy, notify the carrier to deploy all 9,000 mechs armed with anti-ship weapons. Have them proceed to Area X718 and wait in concealment for orders!"
"Yes!"
Having learned from her previous mistake, Liang Xue did not ask any further questions. She directly contacted the carrier and issued the order.
Soon, large numbers of mechs launched from the carrier and flew toward Area X718.
Ten minutes later.
"Report: the mech force has arrived at the designated location and completed concealment."
"Good. Deputy, plan a concealed route of advance for the fleet, then move out!"
"Understood!"
"Route planning complete. The fleet is beginning its advance!"
Wait, was that really so fast? It seemed like only ten seconds had passed?
It was the same at the port last time. She counted over thirty thousand people in seconds. Do you have a system too?
"System, can you scan Liang Xue's attributes?"
"Ding! Scan complete!"
Name: Liang Xue IQ: 240 Brain Development: 22%
Damn. Her brain development is even higher than mine. System, are you sure you're the only one?
"Ding! No trace of system binding has been detected on target Liang Xue!"
All right. If I didn't have this cheat, then this woman would be humanity's strongest, wouldn't she?
"Deputy, approach as covertly as possible. Get as close as you can. Also, have the reconnaissance ship monitor the enemy fleet. If anything unusual happens, immediately stop closing in and open fire."
"Yes!"
Not far away, aboard the flagship of the Oakes fleet.
"Ninth Prince, it has already been three and a half hours. Based on the calculations, they should have arrived long ago if they departed from Mars Base. Yet they still haven't appeared. To prevent any changes, we should return."
"Rex, are you saying the enemy saw through my perfect operation? Why not consider the possibility that their discipline is lax and their movements are slow?"
Ninth Prince Duran Oakes looked at Rex with undisguised disdain.
Rex shook his head helplessly. He knew perfectly well who was on the other side.
It was that damned Liang Xingchen, the man who had once crushed their 200,000 warships with only 20,000 of his own. Everyone knew just how elite the fleet under his command was. Lax discipline? Slow movements? Was that a joke?
Rex now regretted agreeing to bring the Ninth Prince along. The prince had supposedly come out to relax, yet the moment they left, he seized command and even used Rex's fleet to test his tactics.
Sigh, I can only hope the commander they send isn't particularly capable!
Elsewhere.
"Commander, we've reached the limit. If we get any closer, we'll definitely be discovered. After all, we have a full 144 warships."
"Mm. Then let's begin. Deputy Liang, you will assign firepower and targets. Prioritize the enemy carrier."
"Yes!"
Before you continue