Although he suddenly encountered a huge change, Colonel Koopman showed that he was not alarmed by the changes - after all, as a designer of tactics, he had naturally planned all possible situations in his mind.
"Don't panic!
First officer, organize the entire box formation to retreat as a whole, and then prepare the Drake-class Frigate on the back to move forward to fill the position!
Chief Gunner, due to the entanglement between ourselves and the enemy, the enemy ship's firepower has been weakened! Turn to the new aircraft that is lagging behind, and don't let it fire easily again!
Flight Control Officer, contact Team Moebius and reiterate that it is forbidden to chase the battleship out of the close fire network. Team One will continue to contain CGUE, and another team will be divided into two new aircraft to contain the two new aircraft!
Weapons Control Officer, maintain coordination of the firepower of Drake-class. As long as we don't mess up our position, the enemy's assault will definitely pay the price!
Communications Control Officer, inform all ships of the above situation and ask all ships to stay calm!
War Situation Control Officer, keep an eye on all aspects of the situation and report any new situations immediately!
'Atlantic Federation requires everyone to fulfill their duties!'"
Under the clear command of Colonel Koopman to all departments, the chaos on the Montgomery bridge was immediately restored;
While many people, including the first mate, were working hard, they were repeating the famous saying quoted by Colonel Koopman that has been passed down from the era of sailing battleships to this day:
'Atlantic Federation requires everyone to fulfill their duties!'.
Under the strong command of Colonel Koopman, the entire advance fleet also quickly responded to various changes in a timely manner.
The Drake-class Frigate aspect that was attacked by D Equipment Ginn.
Since the brief period of chaos was exploited by D Equipment Ginn, who was always actively looking for opportunities, only 3 of the total 8 anti-ship missiles were intercepted at a relatively short distance, and the entire ship directly entered a state of destruction.
However, the Drake-class Frigate completed the start-up of the main thruster before the last moment, and was able to inertially break away from the box array forward, leaving space for the friendly forces to reorganize their formation.
On the other hand, although more than 70% of the ship's hull was disabled, a large number of personnel were killed, injured or escaped;
However, thanks to the efforts of the automatic damage control system and remaining personnel, a small number of weapons are still available and are being discharged at full capacity until ammunition is exhausted.
In addition, during the interception of anti-ship missiles, one of our own heat-inducing missiles hit one of the Ginns in the chaos. Unfortunately, it was dodged at the last moment and only caused damage to one thigh.
Drake-class Frigate was attacked by two new aircraft models.
Under the cover of the pre-production model GuAIZ equipped with a large attack shield, another pre-production model GuAIZ equipped with a large trident-type beam weapon completed a forced breakthrough into the ship's fire network and destroyed the ship's main bridge with a large beam weapon.
Fortunately, our own Moebius team arrived in time and temporarily forced back the two new enemy aircraft.
Fortunately, the ship's communication room and fire control backup bridge, which serve as auxiliary nodes, are safe and sound, allowing the ship to partially restore its combat capabilities under the direct command of Montgomery. It is currently retreating at full strength and is planned to be used as a backup auxiliary force.
And as the overall close-in firepower network was reconstructed under the strong command of Colonel Koopman, the two new aircraft were temporarily further forced back.
As for the last ship on the front, Drake-class Frigate.
Due to the temporary confusion and the adjustment of the priority of the fire network, the Moebius team that contained CGUE suffered certain losses.
Four of the team's five Moebiuss were reported to have been hit, and two of them had to be returned for repairs.
Fortunately, all the results of ZAFT only stop here.
Although the tight box formation composed of the entire advance fleet was in chaos for a time, under the strong command of Colonel Koopman and the hard work of the first officer in organizing and coordinating:
Including the Drake-class Frigate that was initially attacked by an unknown beam weapon, the two destroyed Drake-class Frigate were the first to break away from the box array;
Then the two Drake-class Frigates behind the box array completed the forward replenishment, re-forming the box array into a complete close fire network of Drake-class Frigate with three in front and two in rear to protect the core Montgomery;
The Drake-class Frigate, which lost its bridge, provided additional firepower.
While the 8th Fleet advance fleet completed its own reorganization, the combat situation control officer successively notified three of the latest developments regarding the enemy mobile suits.
"The enemy's D Equipment Ginn has begun to retreat towards the battleship!"
"The enemy's new type of machine using beam weapons is approaching our warship!"
"Another enemy D Equipment Ginn began to retreat towards the battleship!"
Although he was worried in his heart, Colonel Koopman still tried his best to boost morale in front of his subordinates.
"Very good, it seems that the enemy's new beam weapon cannot fire continuously!
All departments should pay attention and don't let it succeed easily next time!"
After completing the remedial measures, Colonel Koopman continued to boost morale.
"Although we were hit just now and failed to take adequate measures, our losses are not fatal!
All we have to do here is press buttons inside the battleship, but those ZAFT pilots are much more tired!
As long as they persist, they won't be able to twist like that forever, and victory will definitely belong to us!"
Although Colonel Koopman's morale-boosting words were obviously evasive, it cannot be said to be completely unreasonable.
However, as the morale of Montgomery and the advance fleet stabilized, Colonel Koopman himself understood:
The impact of the enemy's next wave of offensives launched with beam weapons may be the key to whether the advance fleet can withstand another round of strikes;
But even if it survives the next wave, the advance fleet still has to face another wave.
The hope of winning or repelling the enemy cannot be said to be absent, but it is slightly slim:
First, Montgomery's main gun successfully drew the prize and caused fatal, or at least greater damage to the enemy's Laurasia-class.
Second, what Colonel Koopman just said is that the enemy's pilots acted abnormally due to fatigue and were severely damaged by missiles or torpedoes that were unreliable under our own electromagnetic interference;
Considering the physical quality of Coordinator who can become the pilot of ZAFT mobile suit, we can only say that there is still hope.
The third and last hope is that our own reinforcements appear.
But who else could Colonel Koopman count on?
There is no news and it is believed that Moebius·Type Zero has been destroyed, leaving only Archangel of Strike Gundam?
Or is it 'Celestial Being' who was messed up by our own side even though there was no fight in the end yesterday?
On the other hand, the ZAFT on the opposite side may be aiming at the 'Celestial Being' in its current posture. Instead, there may be reinforcements. Judging from the fact that the beam weapon of the new machine is intact but there is no forced attack, I am afraid that this guess is quite accurate.
In such thinking and calculation, Colonel Koopman ushered in a fateful moment.
"The enemy D Equipment Ginn who retreated before has attacked again after rearming!"
"The enemy CGUE and two new aircraft have stepped up their attacks!"
"The enemy's new beam weapon type aircraft is retreating and seems to be planning to use beam weapons again!"
Faced with ZAFT's undisguised tactical intentions in front of him, Colonel Koopman could only do his best and obey fate.
"Let Moebius, who is under maintenance, find a way to attack!
Each ship's close fire network goes all out to strengthen interception and containment!
This ship's firepower is concentrated to attack the enemy's new aircraft using beam weapons, don't let it fire at will!"