The Second Asteroid Belt War (8)

In the Solar System's Asteroid Belt, Sector 016.

As the last Oakes Empire battlecruiser was sunk, the entire void was filled with wreckage.

Until the very last moment, not a single Oakes Empire vessel had transmitted a surrender signal, leaving Lin Fan to admire their tenacious fighting spirit.

Throughout the entire engagement, the Fourth Fleet's main force lost 3,800 battlecruisers in the first few hours, and an additional 500 during the pincer attack on Cody's fleet later on.

Lin Fan's 101st Fleet lost 27 battlecruisers when intercepting Duolun in Sector 027 during the initial phase, and 31 battlecruisers during the pincer attack on Cody's fleet later.

Finally, there were the other reinforcement fleets, which only sustained minor damage to a few battlecruisers in Sector 027 initially, and lost 528 battlecruisers during the pincer attack on Cody's fleet later.

After calculations, the total battle losses for the Fourth Fleet were 4,886 battlecruisers and 3,617 mechs. As for personnel losses, they could not be accurately calculated until the battlefield was cleared.

The Oakes Empire's fleet losses, on the other hand, were 30,000 battlecruisers, plus Prince Duolun.

"Lin Fan, you did an excellent job, but a major challenge awaits us!"

"I understand, Adams's follow-up fleet!"

"Yes, that's right. It's estimated to be around 90,000 battlecruisers. Currently, we have less than 15,000 battlecruisers still combat-ready. The situation remains grim!"

"Commander, how did they manage to pass through the Asteroid Belt without us detecting them? Have we figured it out?"

"Your father has apprehended the key members of the Scott Family. They successfully gained control of some of our detectors within the Asteroid Belt and transmitted false information to us."

"What's the reason for the Scott Family doing this? I can't see any benefit."

"This goes back many years. Back then, Wood was still the captain of a battlecruiser in the Second Fleet. When the Proxima Centauri Star Path defense line failed, he was ordered to join the rearguard fleet to cover the retreat of the remaining 2,000-plus battlecruisers.

Seven years ago, when everyone believed he had died at Proxima Centauri, the battlecruiser he commanded returned to the Solar System via the Star Path. Of course, it was in no condition to navigate, with not a single part of it intact, and he spun a convincing tale of escaping after a fierce battle, so no one suspected anything.

Looking back now, it's likely that he and his crew were captured at that time and deliberately sent back as moles. All the crew members from that period, whether on Earth or at the Mars Base, have now been apprehended.

As for the Scott Family, your father has confirmed they were unaware of the full extent of the situation. Wood merely exploited the patriarch's ambition by using his authority without his full knowledge."

"So that's how it is. We now know the advance route of Adams's follow-up fleet?"

"Exactly, look!"

Liang Xingchen sent Lin Fan a star map of the asteroid belt, with a twisted red line drawn through it.

"Commander, our best course of action would be to infiltrate the asteroid belt deeply and find a suitable spot along this route for an ambush!"

"That's my thinking too. The key is choosing which spot and what method to use for the ambush. Adams was ambushed by me once seven years ago, so he'll definitely advance cautiously this time; finding a weakness won't be easy!"

"Commander, do you remember the tactic I used during our mock battle at my graduation ceremony?"

"You mean?"

"Exactly, but we can adapt the tactic flexibly. We just need to..."

Three minutes later, Liang Xingchen's eyes widened.

He was quite shocked by the tactic Lin Fan proposed. If successful, it would undoubtedly be the most classic tactic in human history.

"Alright, we'll proceed with your tactic. The reinforcement fleet will remain under your command for now, responsible for the fleet's left flank!"

"Yes!"

After discussing some more details, they ended their communication and began preparations according to the plan.

An hour later, after clearing the battlefield, recovering numerous escape pods, and collecting as many bodies as could be found, the remaining approximately 14,000 combat-ready battlecruisers of the Fourth Fleet set off towards the depths of the Asteroid Belt.

At 6.2 AU away, the Oakes Empire's follow-up fleet of 90,000 battlecruisers was advancing within the Asteroid Belt.

Adams's mood was complex at this moment.

Just over an hour ago, he had received Cody's farewell communication, informing him of Prince Duolun's death and the impending annihilation of the vanguard fleet.

A brilliant plan that he thought was foolproof had encountered an unexpected deviation. Duolun's death, in particular, meant that the entire Third Imperial Guard Legion might have to pay the price.

Oakes Empire soldiers were proud. If you asked them to die on the battlefield, they wouldn't hesitate, just like Cody's vanguard fleet, which fought to the last man without surrendering.

However, if they were to learn that they were about to be executed by the Emperor en masse, rather than dying gloriously on the battlefield, the situation would be entirely different, and mutiny would be highly likely.

The only way was to defeat Liang Xingchen's Fourth Fleet and then conquer all of humanity. With such merit, perhaps he could plead with His Majesty to punish only himself and spare the others in the Third Imperial Guard Legion.

Therefore, Adams did not inform anyone else of Duolun's death. He knew very well that once the news spread, let alone the upcoming battle, even if the fleet didn't mutiny, morale would definitely plummet to absolute zero.

The Oakes fleet continued to advance along its predetermined route, while the Federation's Fourth Fleet had also entered the depths of the Asteroid Belt. The entire Asteroid Belt was eerily quiet.

It wasn't until the third day that the two sides finally encountered each other.

"Commander Adams, we've detected a human fleet ahead, numbering approximately 15,000 vessels!"

"Hmm?"

Adams stroked his chin, a look of disbelief on his face!

Cody's final report had indeed mentioned that they had sunk about 5,000 human battlecruisers, leaving around 15,000 remaining. But the question was, what was Liang Xingchen trying to do?

Was he planning to confront my 90,000 battlecruisers head-on with their last remaining strength? He shouldn't be someone who would seek his own death like that."

Or was it just a chance encounter, with both sides happening to face each other directly?

Over the years, Adams had also obtained a lot of human intelligence from Wood.

Although Liang Xingchen's ambush during the great battle in the Asteroid Belt seven years ago had caused Adams to lose 80,000 battlecruisers, the Federation fleet's own losses were also considerable. After the battle, the Fourth Fleet was left with only 12,000 battlecruisers.

And within those seven years, because humanity was confined to the Asteroid Belt with limited resources, they were unable to mass-produce warships.

Thus, after seven years, they had barely managed to restore the Fourth Fleet's roster, with no surplus warships to speak of.

No matter how you looked at it, the opposing force was likely humanity's final fleet. This situation could only be explained by coincidence; it seemed humanity was destined for extinction.

"Order the fleet to advance and crush humanity's last resistance!"

"Yes, Commander Adams!"