The three-nation allied fleet had already gathered at Bloodgate with a force more than one and a half times the size of the Outer Ring Fleet. Before the four Main God-class ships returned, the dreadnoughts had outnumbered them nine to four.
...Of course, now it was nine to eight. The good news was that the Empire's main force still hadn't arrived. They probably hadn't expected to lose six dreadnoughts in the Great Open Sea. Even with the Empire's resources, mobilizing troops would take time.
After a brief moment of thought, Yu Lian spoke firmly. "So, sirs, we have to crush this horde of imperial auxiliaries before the Empire's main force arrives! This week might be our last window of opportunity."
Lieutenant General Sylvester took off his cap and sank back against his chair, seeming a little unaccustomed to Yu Lian's pace.
Admiral Bonaparte's eyes lit up. The proposal seemed very much to her liking.
But after that moment of delight, she still said worriedly, "I've considered this too. Before your fleet arrived, Lieutenant General Sylvester and I agreed that we should first focus on lifting the crisis here at Southern Heavenly Gate, and deal with the Far Shore afterward. But you've seen the battle reports from the past few days, haven't you?"
Yu Lian nodded. "They've been clever this time."
The three-nation allied fleet gathered at Bloodgate had the advantage in numbers, yet it hadn't thrown its entire force at Gibraltar. Instead, it sent in medium-sized fleets in rotating waves to probe the defenses. If the Commonwealth fleet they encountered was equal in strength or weaker, they would engage. But if it was stronger, they would immediately flee all the way back to Bloodgate.
It was a classic war of attrition.
Admiral Bonaparte had naturally considered attacking them herself. But