"I'd planned to use the nearby defensive nodes in conjunction with our fleet to fight a decisive battle. Who knew the enemy would be so cautious despite their apparent arrogance? They didn't take the bait. They're forcing us to change battlefields!"
The three sighed.
This was the most frustrating part of being the defending side.
In a battle for a star system, the defenders certainly enjoyed an overwhelming home-field advantage, but the initiative undoubtedly remained firmly in the attackers' hands.
Earth, Mars, and a series of vital industrial bases and spaceports in space were all vulnerabilities the defenders had to protect-or, to put it another way, "strategic linchpins"!
Even the most comprehensive system-wide defenses could not arm every location to the teeth. Once the enemy broke through to a dangerous range, another volley like the one just now could wipe out everything they had built overnight.
With such a strategic advantage, the experienced Ironwall Fleet naturally would not be foolish enough to fight on a "battlefield" carefully selected by the Earth Defense Force.
When to fight and where to fight were entirely up to the attackers.
"The Asteroid Belt is our final red line. If they break through, our core regions will be in danger."
"Order the fleet to maneuver. We can't just let them drive straight in unopposed."
"There's no need to conceal the Solar System's outer defenses anymore, either. Open fire as soon as the enemy enters range!"
"Issue a general war mobilization order. Have all major hangars prepare for mass launches!"
"..."
As the string of orders went out, engines roared aboard the fleet previously hidden within the Kuiper Belt and integrated into its network of defensive fortresses. The ships slowly emerged from the Fortress Group...
After the shipyards' recent frenzy of round-the-clock overtime, churning out ships