"We found the reason. A squad of knights attacked a supply fleet. Based on the post-battle cleanup and analysis, it was likely an Energy Supply Fleet, and the timing matches exactly."
After hearing the report, List finally understood the reason behind the Federation Fleet's unusual behavior.
Unfortunately, by now, those who were supposed to escape had probably already gotten far away.
"If we'd taken a bigger risk, we could probably have kept another half of their ships." List sighed regretfully.
But under those circumstances, there had been no need to take such a risk. Winning would only have meant destroying a few more ships, while losing might have affected the defense of the entire fortress. It simply wasn't worth it.
Virut, who had been listening beside him, took the opportunity to comfort him. "What's there to regret? What use is it to leave behind a few more ships? They're nothing but piles of industrial steel."
That was true. Holding the fortress was success. The damage they inflicted served that purpose; it was not simply for the sake of causing casualties.
Winning a hundred tactical victories would still make it difficult to reverse a single strategic defeat.
List understood that principle. He was merely a little disappointed.
He quickly composed himself and returned to reality. "Our opponents are decisive. Those who were meant to escape have escaped, but the scapegoats they left behind shouldn't even think about getting away.
"And... prepare the rewards as soon as possible. I want to use this opportunity to build an Ace Knight Order."
The Northland Knights could not possibly be inherited by him, and List was currently acting under the identity of a duke of the Dark Empire.
But knight orders held extraordinary significance, whether in the old planetary era or the interstellar age.
Therefore,