Ambush

The Captain is in position. This vessel is a mass-produced Scout-class Destroyer with the following performance parameters: Main Cannon LV1, Armor LV1, Engine LV1, Sky Patrol Radar LV1, Hull Structure LV1. Comprehensive combat power evaluation is Destroyer LV1. Remaining Enhancement Points: 1090.

Your current combat power ranking is below the top 0.1% of players. Please continue to strive, Captain.

Familiar appearance, familiar interior.

The Scout-class Destroyer is the starter Warship in the game Star Sea Expedition. It's given away for free at the beginning.

Its prototype was based on the initial form of a Kindling Warship.

Of course, there are differences.

Firstly, it lacks battlefield weapons like Mie Particles. Secondly, the starter ship doesn't provide an energy shield module.

This is to ensure the smoothness of the game flow and gameplay.

A game is, after all, a game.

Wang Dong's original intention for playing this game was to familiarize himself with Warship control and combat.

Beyond that, he couldn't find any better way to understand space warships.

It's been a long time since he played this game.

Before his rebirth, he was constantly on the run. Besides, with a real Kindling Warship, who would play this virtual version?

With a touch of nostalgia, Wang Dong clicked to enter the game.

"Enter 1v1 random match mode."

"Queuing... 3, 2, 1, Match found.

May your voyage be prosperous, Captain."

Time: Star Calendar June 14, 10103

Terrain: Asteroid belt, radius 1 light-minute (Note: A light-minute is the distance light travels in one minute, approximately 18 million kilometers)

Participating Vessels: Mass-produced Scout-class Destroyer LV1 (ID: Han Feng), Mass-produced Scout-class Destroyer LV4 (ID: Newbie Light Abuse)

Victory Condition: One party is sunk or surrenders

Combat Duration: 1 hour

Battle start.

As the prompts flowed across the virtual screen before his eyes, Wang Dong's Warship appeared in an asteroid belt the next moment.

"An asteroid belt, what an interesting coincidence..."

Wang Dong pondered for two seconds and issued a command: "Activate Sky Patrol Radar passive mode. Engine at minimal output. Adjust hull orientation to (X01, Y02, Z01) relative to this vessel's center."

Spatial coordinates are a three-dimensional system. The initial center point is defined to establish a complete coordinate system. Subsequent spatial positions can be located relative to the initial center point, facilitating distance calculations, cannon targeting, and other operations.

Here, X represents the horizontal axis, Y the vertical axis, and Z the depth axis.

Within an asteroid belt, the exploration function of the Sky Patrol Radar is affected. Without the energy signature of the main cannon or full-power engines, an LV1 Sky Patrol Radar alone cannot distinguish the Warship from the asteroids.

Therefore, Wang Dong chose to use the passive mode of the Sky Patrol Radar, not actively probing for the opponent, but passively receiving potential probe waves to calculate the opponent's position without revealing himself.

Simultaneously, to prevent being attacked first if detected, he chose to move the Warship next to a moderately sized asteroid for cover.

Just five minutes later, the Sky Patrol Radar in passive listening mode received the opponent's probe wave.

"Probe wave received. Intensity 0.9. Source coordinates (X13, Y20, Z11)."

This is a "true" newbie, with no concept of stealth maneuvers, just charging straight ahead.

"Engine at second gear output. Use the asteroid as a node, approach the enemy vessel, maintain Sky Patrol Radar passive mode."

"Yes, Captain.

This vessel's engine is at second gear output. Path modeling complete.

Approaching enemy vessel. Estimated engagement time: eight minutes twenty-three seconds."

"Newbie Light Abuse's" active probing waves never ceased. Based on the changes in its position, its approach speed could be determined.

Even though Wang Dong only engaged the second-to-last gear out of five engine power levels, the speed at which they closed the distance was not slow.

Just five minutes later.

"Enemy vessel position (X10, Y10, Z05). Distance 0.3 light-minutes."

The ship's computer automatically prompted as it entered the main cannon's range.

Wang Dong observed his surroundings. There were still many asteroids nearby for cover, but any closer and "Newbie Light Abuse's" Sky Patrol Radar might detect the engine's energy signature, thus revealing his position.

"Cease engine output. Maintain silent running."

After a brief thought, Wang Dong issued a new command. "Newbie Light Abuse" continued its high-speed approach.

Wang Dong's current position was on the flank of "Newbie Light Abuse's" approach vector.

The main cannon of an LV1 Destroyer fires kinetic rounds. Although their effective range is considerable, their projectile speed is limited.

To ensure accuracy, the closer the better, especially in a situation that could lead to an ambush.

"Enemy vessel position (X10, Y03, Z00). Distance 0.12 light-minutes."

Two minutes later, the opportune moment arrived.

At this point, the "Newbie Light Abuse's" Warship's trajectory formed an angle of nearly 90 degrees with Wang Dong's Warship on the same plane, and the distance had already closed to the limit of reaction speed.

"Main cannon maximum charge, lock onto the enemy ship and fire automatically!"

"Charge countdown 10...9...8...7... Warning, charge reaction has been detected by the enemy ship."

With the main cannon charging reaction at such close range, it was impossible not to be detected, but it didn't matter. The distance was too short!

"Continue charging!"

Wang Dong commanded.

"3...2...1, main cannon fire!"