The Austrian Imperial Navy's reconnaissance vessel flashed its lights in warning; after all, the two sides were theoretically still in negotiations.
"Captain! The Austrians are warning us!"
At that moment, General Robert, commander of the British Army fleet, waved a hand.
"Ignore them. Keep moving forward. Sink it before they realize what's happening!"
The British Army fleet remained silent, offering no response as it slowly closed in on the Austrian naval reconnaissance vessel.
The British had a terrible reputation in Austria; there had never been much trust between the two sides to begin with.
The Austrian naval reconnaissance vessel immediately fired a signal flare into the sky, then began keeping its distance from the British Army fleet.
General Robert knew he had been exposed, but that was precisely what he wanted. He would lead his fleet in a direction completely opposite to the main force, misleading the Austrian Imperial Navy's main fleet.
As for that reconnaissance vessel, it would naturally serve as witness to all this. But if they were putting on an act, they had to see it through, so as not to arouse the other side's suspicions.
"Open fire!"
The British Army fleet immediately began firing at will, but because the Austrian reconnaissance vessel had kept its distance in advance, none of the shells struck it directly.
At that range, the firing was less an attack than an attempt to drive it off or issue a warning.
Yet the Austrian reconnaissance vessel did not flee. It continued to keep its distance, occasionally launching more signal flares.
"Damn British! Can't they just surrender obediently?"
"Something's off. They're opening fire from so far away? Are British sailors really that poorly trained?"
"Haven't the British always been like this?"
There was a group of military academy students aboard the reconnaissance vessel,