Acting in her capacity as Vice Captain, she suggested, "We could try changing course and see whether our trajectories still intersect."
Zhao Qing nodded as he listened. "Turn the warship 0.5 degrees to the right. Shift engine output from 0% to -35%. Reduce speed to 500,000 kilometers per hour and hold."
The propulsion team answered, "Understood!"
A brief, sharp flash burst from the front left of the kilometer-long warship, nudging its heading almost imperceptibly.
Protective plates opened across the warship, exposing nozzle after nozzle within dark recesses. The reverse thrusters activated.
Ion flames lit up ahead of the warship. Like a glowing hedgehog, it began slowing down. Over millions of kilometers, that tiny half-degree adjustment made an enormous difference.
The warship veered off course to give way, but the research transport Tianhe 1 seemed fixated on it.
Instead of broadcasting again, it continued accelerating toward them. The time until their encounter shortened once more, and the countdown dropped into minutes!
"Tianhe 1 is about to come within three million kilometers! Should we adjust the bow's heading again?"
The Tactics Team leader reported calmly and swiftly. Without hesitation, Zhao Qing said, "Bring the bow around. Prepare the beam cannons!"
After speaking, he looked at the Vice Captain beside him. Seeing her brows tightly furrowed, Zhao Qing said, "With Tianhe 1 acting this strangely, it can't be ours, can it?"
The Vice Captain did not respond. She did not even spare Captain Zhao Qing a glance.
She told the communications team, "Send a detailed report to Water Blue Star immediately. We are about to engage an unidentified target."
The communications team answered, "Yes!"
The warship carried a high-powered electromagnetic communications system capable of transmitting messages back to Water Blue Star. Observation satellites also orbited the planet, and Water Blue Star's Deep-Space Defense