Rendili Raid Battle (III)
Rendili Planet Command Center.
"General, the Imperial fleet has halted thirty light-seconds from us and is reforming its formation," the radar operator ran over to report.
"Chitter chitter chitter... All warships, unleash full firepower. Bombard... the Imperial fleet. Chitter chitter chitter..." General Trench stroked the mandibles at the corners of his mouth and gave the order directly.
"Yes!"
Lieutenant General Malcolm Granger asked curiously, "General, why didn't you order a long-range bombardment when the Imperial fleet first appeared? Why are we bombarding them now instead?"
"Chitter chitter chitter... Because the Imperial fleet will not launch an attack. Chitter chitter chitter..." General Trench said slowly.
"They won't attack? Why?" Lieutenant General Malcolm Granger was even more puzzled.
"When they first appeared... I needed to ensure that the warships' cooling systems were in optimal condition. Chitter chitter chitter... So there was no long-range bombardment. That would narrow the gap in combat power when we fought head-on." General Trench tapped his pointer. "But now, since they will not attack... I need to maintain the pressure. Chitter chitter chitter..."
Apparently very pleased with his own judgment, he stroked his mandibles and said, "Why won't they attack? Chitter chitter chitter... Because of supplies, and morale. Their attacks may be sharp, but they cannot be sustained... Chitter chitter chitter. After months of warp travel, their condition is terrible. The firing rate of the Imperial-class Star Destroyers is declining faster than normal. Chitter chitter chitter..."
Lieutenant General Malcolm Granger said in surprise, "You could even observe something like that?"
"Intelligence lies in the details... Chitter chitter chitter." General Trench said smugly.
As they spoke, bursts of dazzling flashes suddenly lit up beyond the viewport—the flashes of nearby Orbital Defense Cannons firing. Clearly, in order to maintain intense fire suppression, even the ground-based orbital