Ambush

"The captain is in position. This vessel is a mass-produced Scout-class Destroyer. Performance parameters are as follows: Main Cannon LV1, Armor LV1, Engine LV1, Sky Survey Radar LV1, Hull Structure LV1. Overall combat power rating: Destroyer LV1. Remaining upgrade points: 1090.

"Your current combat power ranks below 99.9% of players. Please keep striving, Captain."

The familiar exterior, the familiar interior.

The Scout-class Destroyer was the beginner warship in Star Sea Expedition, given away for free right at the start.

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

Of course, there were definitely differences.

First, it lacked a battlefield weapon like Mie Particles. Second, the starter warship didn't come with an energy shield module.

This was to ensure a smooth, enjoyable gameplay experience.

At the end of the day, it was just a game.

Wang Dong had started playing it to learn how to pilot warships and fight.

After all, he couldn't think of any better way to familiarize himself with space warships.

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

Before his rebirth, he'd been too busy being hunted. Besides, now that he had a real Kindling Warship, who would bother with a virtual one?

Feeling a little nostalgic, Wang Dong opened the game.

"Entering one-on-one random matchmaking mode."

"Waiting in queue... 3, 2, 1. Match found.

"May fortune favor you in battle, Captain."

Time: Star Calendar, June 14, 10103

Terrain: Asteroid Belt, radius of 1 light-minute (Note: A light-minute is the distance light travels in one minute. One light-minute is 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 conditions: One side is sunk or surrenders

Battle duration: 1 hour

Battle begins.

As the prompts scrolled across the virtual screen before him, Wang Dong's warship appeared in an asteroid belt.

"An asteroid belt? What an interesting coincidence..."

Wang Dong pondered for two seconds, then issued his orders. "Switch the Sky Survey Radar to passive mode. Set the engine to low output. Adjust the ship's position to (X01,Y02,Z01), with this vessel as the center."

Spatial coordinates used a three-dimensional system. The initial center point was defined to establish a complete coordinate system; subsequent positions could be plotted relative to it, making it easier to calculate distances, aim weapons, and so on.

X was the horizontal axis, Y the vertical axis, and Z the longitudinal axis.

The asteroid belt would interfere with the Sky Survey Radar's detection capabilities. Without the energy signature of a main cannon or an engine running at full output, a Sky Survey Radar at only LV1 couldn't distinguish warships from asteroids.

So Wang Dong chose the radar's passive mode. Rather than actively searching for his opponent, he would wait to receive any incoming detection waves and use them to determine the enemy's position without revealing himself.

He also moved his warship beside a moderately sized asteroid for cover, in case the opponent spotted him first and attacked.

Just five minutes later, the Sky Survey Radar, listening passively, detected the enemy's scanning wave.

"Scanning wave detected. Strength: 0.9. Origin coordinates: (X13,Y20,Z11)."

A true newbie. He had no idea how to maneuver stealthily and was charging straight in.

"Engine at second-level output. Use the asteroids as waypoints and approach the enemy vessel. Keep the Sky Survey Radar in passive mode."

"Understood, Captain.

"This vessel's engine is at second-level output. Route modeling complete.

"Beginning approach. Estimated time to contact: eight minutes and twenty-three seconds."

Newbie Light Abuse's active scanning waves never stopped. From changes in its position, Wang Dong could estimate its speed.

Even though Wang Dong had set his engine to just the second-highest of its five power levels, the two ships were closing in quickly.

Just five minutes later...

"Enemy vessel at coordinates (X10,Y10,Z05), distance 0.3 light-minutes."

The Shipborne Optical Computer issued the alert once the enemy entered the main cannon's range.

Wang Dong surveyed the surroundings. There were still plenty of asteroids nearby to hide behind, but if he moved any closer, Newbie Light Abuse's Sky Survey Radar might detect the engine's energy signature and give away his position.

"Shut down the engine. Maintain silent running."

After thinking briefly, Wang Dong issued a new order. Newbie Light Abuse's warship was still closing in at high speed.

Wang Dong was positioned on the flank of Newbie Light Abuse's heading.

The LV1 destroyer's main cannon fired kinetic rounds. Though they had a relatively long effective range, their velocity was limited.

To ensure a hit, the closer the target, the better—especially when setting up an ambush like this.

"Enemy vessel at coordinates (X10,Y03,Z00), distance 0.12 light-minutes."

Two minutes later, the moment arrived.

Newbie Light Abuse's flight path now crossed Wang Dong's ship's plane at an angle close to 90 degrees, and the range had closed to the limit of his reaction speed.

"Charge the main cannon to maximum. Lock onto the enemy vessel and fire automatically!"

"Charge countdown: 10... 9... 8... 7... Warning: The enemy vessel has detected the charging energy signature."

At such close range, there was no way the enemy wouldn't detect the main cannon charging. But it didn't matter. The distance was too short!

"Keep charging!"

Wang Dong barked.

"3... 2... 1. Main cannon fired!"