That was all well and good, but given the Imperial military's usual way of doing things, even if they really did plan to charge in recklessly, they wouldn't be completely reckless.
They still seemed worried that the people of Earth might pull some crazy stunt and get themselves into trouble. They formed up and charged furiously toward the rear of the research vessel, but didn't actually attack its stern in a pincer maneuver. Instead, while cruising at high speed, they executed a beautiful turn behind the enemy and circled around to the target's flank.
The flanking maneuver went very smoothly. The Imperial warships maintained their usual cautious attitude and didn't open fire right away. They advanced step by step in an elegant formation. The main guns in their prows began charging, and the missile bays along their sides opened their menacing jaws. Even the fighters aboard the carriers were ready to launch.
Perhaps because the target's bands of light had looked so fearsome just moments ago, the Empire didn't intend to send its fighters in to die. Instead, the entire fleet closed to within three million kilometers of the target and began its first round of bombardment. That was already the maximum attack range specified in the Imperial gunnery manual.
After all, the Imperial Navy's record for firing on a moving target was only eight million kilometers, and it had stood for more than five hundred years.
Fortunately, the Imperial warships seemed to have some excellent gunners. And with more than ten warships firing together, a vast barrage of shells promptly poured out, blanketing all the space around the silver ship. Surely a few of them would hit.
Sure enough, the hull of the "research vessel" shuddered faintly once again, and the halo surrounding it flickered. Then, as if she'd