The Commonwealth still had a sizable defensive fleet at New Jade Gate. It consisted of three to five light cruisers, more than a dozen destroyers and assault ships, more than a dozen in-system gunboats, and the particularly troublesome torpedo ships, which were said to number at least thirty. In addition, the Outer Ring Fleet stationed at Southern Heavenly Gate could come to their aid at any time.
The Imperial officers aboard the Fire God Airan unanimously believed that the greatest obstacle they would face was likely to be at New Jade Gate.
But when the Imperial vanguard fleet, made up of high-speed cruisers, arrived at New Jade Gate, they were astonished to find the place eerily quiet. The orbital shipyards, space stations, and power arrays had almost all been destroyed. Only a small number of automated turrets remained, firing ineffectually at the Imperial fleet.
The Imperial fleet suspected a trap and hesitated to advance, lingering in the outer orbit for at least six hours.
Zidianlong fighters escorted the reconnaissance craft as they circled the system several times, trembling with fear that they might be ambushed by Lightwing fighters. Even so, they found no sign of danger.
The Imperial fleet then proceeded methodically, cautiously knocking out the automated turrets and clearing the minefields. They took more than three times as long as they usually would, yet still encountered no surprise attack from an enemy fleet.
After that, the cautious Imperial scouts inspected the wreckage of the docks and confirmed the "remains" of the in-system gunboats. The people of Earth hadn't even intended to leave behind these old, clumsy warships, which had little going for them besides their firepower.
Only then did the newly arrived Imperial vanguard fleet belatedly realize that the Earthlings' New Jade Gate fleet might truly be gone.
However,