"The enemy has been scared out of its wits! They're running! The Empire has won a great victory!"
Xi Yan launched straight into a wartime rally over the comms channel: "With their courage and their lives, our warriors have proven that humanity is no weaker than any alien race! Through sacrifice, we defend the Empire's glory and drive the aliens from its territory!"
The destroyer Community turned and fled in disarray along the edge of the star system. The corvettes under its command had lost their earlier fighting spirit as well, covering the destroyer as they attempted to break out.
Xi Yan's fleet chased them down with blue lasers and flak cannons. Flak shells shattered their deflector shields, and the blue lasers that followed melted their armor before wreaking havoc inside their hulls.
The tide had turned. The fleet began pursuing the fleeing Community fleet, while Xi Yan silently watched it all from aboard the Galactic Throne.
Those who had sacrificed themselves in the banzai charges had utterly crushed the Community Security Fleet's will to fight, forcing them to flee.
An idea occurred to Xi Yan.
From now on, every battle could start with a massive, spectacular banzai charge, followed by the fleet closing in from all sides. The shock it delivered to the enemy would be unparalleled, dealing a devastating blow to their morale.
As for the potential casualties, frankly, Xi Yan did not care.
As long as alloys and population kept being produced, any losses could be replenished. Winning a war mattered more than avoiding sacrifices.
With that thought, and certain that the enemy had completely lost its will to fight, Xi Yan turned around. "Beta, open a channel to them. I'll have a little chat."
"Oh? You're not wiping them out?"
Xi Yan shook his head. "Never