Flynn Fairwind, then commander of the First Fleet's First Column, spoke. "First, let me make my position clear. I have great faith in Commander Kainings. After our string of victories off Old Drust, we do need to seek an opportunity for a decisive battle. But don't forget, it has only been a little over ten years since the Third Pirates Extermination War. Memories of how brutal that fighting was still haunt me. The true Iron Tide Fleet is nowhere near as weak as we imagine. I don't want to dampen anyone's spirits, but I fear the Iron Tide Fleet is luring us out to sea."
"Vice Admiral Flynn... Commander Flynn has a point. As you said, the war on the open sea must be brought to an end. This is our best chance to launch a counterattack." Kainings quietly challenged Flynn. His former superior's concerns were valid, but they could not suspend the naval campaign.
Their soldiers had fought bitterly for two weeks. If they simply let the remaining ninety-six Iron Tide warships go, how could they justify it to their men?
More and more people voiced differing opinions, and the meeting meant to pool ideas turned into a war of words.
They were all senior officers from different fleets, with no clear chain of command between them. There was no need to spare anyone's feelings in an argument. If someone rubbed them the wrong way, they would snap back first and worry about the rest later.
For all their arguing, the attendees still had a direction in mind.
Aside from the Third Fleet's senior officers, who shouted the loudest, the other captains and commanders were all considering a foolproof plan.
They needed a way to fight a decisive battle on the open sea while still safeguarding the overall situation.