New Shenzhou 2 maintained the extreme speed of a first-level charge, darting nimbly past the outermost planetary orbit of the Tianshu system like a swift swathed in rosy light. Then, without slowing down at all, she executed a smooth turn that seemed almost to defy physics. In that instant, the several-dozen-meter-long warship looked nothing like it was performing a normal maneuver. It was as if a god had reached out an invisible giant hand and twisted the ship around on the spot.
The officers and men aboard the distant fleet all witnessed the sight. Those who knew what they were looking at immediately cried out in astonishment.
Even Brigadier General Bazan, aboard the Roselight, couldn't help getting to his feet. He was a veteran sailor who had also served as a ship's engineer. He had seen all kinds of state-of-the-art ship equipment with his own eyes, but New Shenzhou 2's performance still left him stunned.
At that moment, New Shenzhou 2 spread her enormous "wings of light" again and began accelerating. Before long, she had surpassed the absolute charge speed of most assault ships and even high-speed interceptors. The distance of one-third of an astronomical unit between the fleet and the ship of light seemed like a little ditch anyone could step across.
While everyone was still reeling from the absolute speed reported back to them, New Shenzhou 2 had already crossed the fleet's perimeter. She then nimbly slipped through the interception fire of the vanguard warships and charged straight into the fleet.
Then, in just five seconds, she went from a sublight charge to deceleration and finally a complete stop, abruptly hovering beside the fleet's flagship, the Roselight cruiser.
The entire fleet fell silent.
The ship's wing structure had been modeled on the solar sails used by small craft.