Right after warping out via hyperdrive, we, along with the rest of the combined imperial fleet immediately engaged in battle with the crystal lifeforms. Our enemies were the crystal lifeform medium-type subspecies Guardian Crystals.
This battle was approved due to the critical information that ‘he’ provided, and there wasn’t even a speck of hesitation in the military’s actions. It was quite difficult to persuade the higher-ups to agree to form a crystal lifeform extermination fleet on the basis of uncertain information, but it was well worth the trouble.
Of course, I was careful not to reveal that the information came from him. Using the combined data from the info we got from him and the data brought back by the 3rd and 4th Recon fleets, I persuaded the rest of the captains and the commander of the forward base using with the greatest eloquence I could muster.
Frankly, I didn’t really have to reveal that my source only heard the information in passing in the form of rumors and that he’s actually a mercenary. I would be able to prevent them from finding out where I obtained the information by doing so.
“It looks like the first phase of engagement with the crystal lifeforms went quite well.”
The assembled Imperial corvettes immediately engaged the Guardian Crystals in battle just as planned. The mercenary ships soon joined the battle as well, and the mercenaries who possessed medium and large-type ships began unleashing long-range barrages as well. The rest of the imperial fleet also got ready to unleash their own barrage.
“Yes. It’s all thanks to your accurate analysis, Captain.”
“That’s right.”
In truth, it wasn’t really thanks to my so-called analysis, but the info that man provided instead. Oh well. I guess there’s no problem as long as we’re both satisfied with the outcome. If this operation succeeds, the credit for it will be entirely given to me after all.
『This is Krishna. We’re going to bypass the front line and hit the enemies from the flank. We will be using anti-ship reactive torpedoes to get their attention, so take care not to get caught up in the blast radius.』
He hailed the entire fleet via the open channel and provided us with his ship’s estimated time of arrival, position, and the anti-ship reactive torpedo’s predicted blast radius.
“He’s as reckless as always, isn’t he?”
“Like I said Captain, the Silver Sword Wings Assault medal isn’t just for show.”
That ship, the Krishna, headed at full speed for the crystal lifeform swarm from an angle and tore a gaping hole in their flank. It looks like he didn’t plan to merely cut through the swarm, but wanted to deal some substantial damage to them as well.
And furthermore, his ship’s charging speed was unreal. The fact that he hadn’t reduced the speed of his ship one bit as he flitted around the swarm more than proves how sublime his piloting skills were. Just what kind of training did he undergo, and what sort of hellish battlefields did he manage to survive through in order to obtain such skills?
“It’s a match with the projected data!”
“Let’s go ahead and crush the enemies while he is getting their attention. Commence synchronized bombardment.”
“Aye, aye, ma’am! Commencing synchronized bombardment!”
All imperial ships will consolidate and share the battlefield data in order to not leave any gaps during the attack, and we will be able to unleash a perfectly coordinated synchronized bombardment. Laser bombardment fired from numerous imperial ships lit up a portion of the normally dark void of outer space.
I slid past the Guardian Crystal that was turning to chase after us and hit it with a few rounds from the shotgun cannons at close proximity. I then destroyed the small-type crystal lifeforms that rushed over with the four heavy laser cannons. I cut a path through the section of space teeming with enemies.
The Guardian Crystals attacked us with light rays and projectiles haphazardly, but Krishna’s solid energy shields managed to easily shrug off their attacks.
“The shields are still stable.”
“Their light rays and projectiles aren’t as destructive as they look after all. The light projectiles pack enough punch, but they’re painfully slow, so you’ll be able to dodge them as long as you read their trajectories. The only thing that poses some danger is their full-body charge.”
“But there’s still a limit, right? Our shield capacity is steadily decreasing after all.”
“You two sure are composed even in this sort of situation……”
I couldn’t avert my eyes from the main monitor right now so I wasn’t able to confirm it, but from the sound of her voice, Mimi was pretty anxious right now. I get her, of course. If I made a mistake and took a head-on charge from a small-type, or if a Guardian Crystal manages to ram us from a bad angle, we’ll end up bouncing around the crystal lifeform swarm like a runaway pinball.
Once that happens, our shields would get depleted in mere moments, and there would be no other outcome except getting surrounded by countless crystal lifeforms and getting destroyed. Well, I have absolutely no intention of committing such a rookie mistake in the first place though.
“We’ve received a bombardment warning from the imperial fleet! Synchronized bombardment, incoming!”
After Mimi’s warning rang out, lots of powerful-looking laser projectiles and beams flooded the spot right behind Krishna. The Guardian Crystals that were exposed to such dense and powerful laser cannon fire emitted intense light right before melting down and exploding. As expected of military combat ships. The firepower of a military cruiser-class ship really was something else. You won’t be able to tank that no matter how many anti-laser countermeasures you had.
“Wow. Their firepower is amazing.”
“There’s a reason why people in the business say that you have to absolutely avoid fighting military battleships and cruisers head-on. You’d probably be alright once you manage to stick to them at close proximity though.”
After that barrage, the aggro was transferred from us to the imperial military, and the Guardian’s attacks on Krishna turned more sporadic. I ain’t one to miss such an opening. I immediately fired the two remaining reactive torpedoes at the center of the clumped up Guardian Crystals, reversed heading, and jumped straight into the ‘hole’ that resulted from the imperial fleet’s bombardment earlier. We immediately got assaulted by strong Gs inside the cockpit due to the consecutive intense maneuvers I performed, but I was already used to it by now.
“Kuh…… The reactive torpedoes have exploded! The Guardian Crystals are coming after us again!”
“Yosh. Let’s take them for a ride.”
“It’s easier than before.”
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