The Second Asteroid Belt Great War (7)

Two new fleets joined the main battlefield.

Although these two fleets had very few warships, they were nothing compared to the Fourth Fleet and the Oakes Empire's fleet, which were engaged in a fierce battle.

However, the key was that thanks to Liang Xingchen's strategy, the Oakes Empire's fleet was now completely immobilized, only able to move in a constant circle.

When these two fleets arrived and deployed their formations, they revealed their deadly fangs.

"Report, the fleets have finished deploying. The Oakes Empire's fleet will enter our firing range in one minute."

"Very good. Once they enter the firing range, open fire immediately. Pass this order to the fleet on the other side as well!"

"Yes!"

After Lin Fan issued the order, he continued to watch the virtual tactical panel. Fleets A and B, the reinforcement fleets, were currently positioned on the left and right sides of the "Four Snakes Biting Tails" formation. Therefore, the Fourth Fleet and the Oakes Empire's fleet, a total of four fleets, would pass in front of the two reinforcement fleets in turn, fully exposing their sides to the reinforcement fleets as they passed.

At this moment, in front of the more than 2,400 warships led by Lin Fan, were the tails of the five sub-fleets of the Fourth Fleet. After they passed, the pursuing Oakes Empire fleet would appear, and that would be the time for the reinforcement fleets to open fire.

One minute later.

"Open fire!"

After the main body of the Fourth Fleet passed, Lin Fan decisively issued the order to fire. The more than 2,400 warships unleashed a torrent of fire towards the sides of the Oakes Empire's fleet.

The sides of a fleet were the areas that received the most damage and were also the most vulnerable positions. Therefore, the warships led by Lin Fan not only had a high hit rate but also achieved a considerable number of sinkings!

On the other side, the Oakes Empire's main fleet also entered the firing range of Reinforcement Fleet B, similarly suffering fierce attacks from the sides and sustaining heavy losses!

Ten minutes later, the two Oakes Empire fleets finally broke free from the flanking firepower, but the battle damage left Cody somewhat distraught.

"Commander, in the last round of attacks, the main fleet lost 4,800 warships, and the sub-fleet lost 3,200 warships. If this continues, we'll be finished in just 3 or 4 more rounds."

"Hmm, we have no choice but to take a gamble. Next time we pass through the firing range of those two fleets, the entire fleet will immediately turn and charge directly towards the human reinforcement fleets. As long as we are fast enough to break into their formation, we can avoid being hit from the flank by the human fleets behind us."

Cody was preparing to take a gamble because if he didn't try now, continuing in the "Four Snakes Biting Tails" formation for another 3 or 4 turns would inevitably lead to complete annihilation, with no possibility of turning the tide.

However, the risk of this gamble was also extremely high. If they failed to break into the enemy reinforcement fleets' formation in time, they would be exposed on their flanks by the pursuing human fleets.

This time, it wouldn't be just over 2,000 warships, but nearly 10,000 warships. Once their flanks were exposed to them, the entire fleet would be wiped out in a very short period.

But did Cody have a choice? No, not at all. He could only gamble.

Ten minutes later, as the two fleets were about to enter the human reinforcement fleets' firing range again, Cody gritted his teeth and issued the order.

"Maintain speed, turn right in an arc, begin the charge, target the human reinforcement fleets."

"Yes!"

The two fleets immediately began to turn right, drawing an arc in the void as they advanced towards the two human reinforcement fleets.

"Report, the Oakes Empire's fleets have begun to turn. They are likely trying to break into our formation to avoid being hit from the flanks."

"Hmm, that's expected. The enemy is bound to try something at this point. However, by turning like this, they won't have time to specifically form an assault formation. They are still maintaining a linear formation, so only the 'head' of their formation, less than ten percent of their ships, can open fire."

"Should we order all fleets to converge in the center to increase our depth and prevent their charge?"

"No, if we do that, we will also have fewer ships able to fire. Even if we can block their charge, our losses will be significant."

"Then?"

"Adjust the fleet formation. Deploy 1,400 warships in the central formation, and 500 warships on the left and right flanks respectively, forming an inverted 'pin' shape. This will create a three-directional crossfire against the enemy's forward ships! Also, notify Fleet B of this tactic."

"Yes."

At this moment, Cody's fleet's head had already swung around, targeting the human reinforcement fleets.

"Commander, the human reinforcement fleets have changed their formation!"

"Not good!"

Cody looked at the battlefield screen and was greatly alarmed.

The human reinforcement fleets had split into three parts. The largest part was positioned in front of his fleet, while the two smaller parts were on the flanks, angled at 20 degrees towards him.

This was clearly a deployment designed to maximize firepower. It was evident that the humans were not trying to increase their depth to block the charge, but rather to directly use maximized crossfire to seal off their advance route.

If the enemy had adopted a deeper formation, Cody wouldn't have been worried. After all, with a deeper formation, fewer ships would be able to fire, and he could simply lead his fleet to ram straight into it.

But the enemy had not chosen a deeper formation. Instead, they had deployed a three-directional crossfire, using the maximum firepower that 2,400 warships could unleash to seal off his route.

Keep in mind that his current formation was not a tight assault formation, but a linear one. Only about 500 warships at the very front of the formation could simultaneously fire. How could they withstand the crossfire from the enemy's 2,400 warships?

Stop and form an assault formation before advancing? That was even more impossible. This was a race against time. Once they stopped, Liang Xingchen's nearly 10,000 warships would immediately catch them on their flanks, and that would be the true end.

It seemed the only option was to charge headfirst, escaping with as many ships as possible, and then relying on the terrain of the asteroid belt to block and delay until Lord Adams's follow-up fleet arrived!

Having made up his mind, Cody immediately ordered his fleet not to worry about casualties and to charge desperately.

Meanwhile, inside the flagship of the Fourth Fleet.

"Lin Fan is quite something. If it were me, I might have just thickened the formation and accepted some casualties to slow them down!"

Liang Xingchen couldn't help but sigh as he watched Lin Fan's formation change. This kid's tactics were always so unconventional, just like that move he pulled during his graduation assessment, which had cost him dearly back then.

"Adjutant, have the forward half of the fleet set a course of 045 and engage them from the rear-flank on their right. Have the rear half of the fleet set a course of 020, and after advancing 10 million kilometers, turn to 090 and engage their tail. We'll cooperate with Lin Fan for a three-sided encirclement. Also, notify Fleets One through Five to do the same."

"Yes!"

Jiang Hai couldn't help but admire Lin Fan at this moment. This kid was only 20 years old, yet he had orchestrated this entire major battle.

After this battle concluded, as long as he didn't fall, his military achievements would likely allow him to be directly promoted to Vice Admiral and command a sub-fleet.