While Jalina and Tanera were talking with the independent merchant, the preparations for the Pelozi plan were finished.
These preparations mainly entailed removing the space mines and defense satellites that Giarna's fleet placed around the portal.
As well as rearranging the fleet, in such a way that it could still keep the stubborn enemy bottled up, while leaving the access to the portal clear for the Pelozi fleet.
-Admiral, the preparations are complete, so you can begin whenever you are ready.
Andrew said, while still wondering how the Pelozi fleet planned to remove all the ship's debris from the portal, to open a way for their forces.
-Thank you, your majesty.
The portal to the staging area should open shortly.
Gezrin said.
Not more than five minutes later, a portal indeed had opened at a distance of ten kilometers from the Kinokian portal and facing it directly.
However, the first thing that emerged from it was not the Pelozi fleet but an asteroid that was only slightly smaller than the portal itself.
Seeing that, Andrew understood immediately what the Pelozi were planning, and it was a great plan.
With this rock, they could smash right through the debris field as well as the enemy forces that were entering the portal on the other side.
This was exactly what happened as the asteroid crushed into the debris field, punching through it without so much as slowing down and sending most of it into the portal, which proved to be deadly for any ship that emerged at that moment.
Right after the asteroid entered the Kinokian portal, it was followed by a rain of missiles and torpedoes that emerged from the Pelozi portal.
Tens of thousands of munitions rushed through the short distance between the portals, making Giarna gasp in disbelief, as even her fleet would be unable to sustain such an enormous barrage for more than a few seconds, while the Pelozi fired continuously for the next ten minutes, without even slowing down.
What followed was another asteroid, which was clearly intended to clear the way from any debris on the other side of the Kinokian portal, and it was followed by something resembling defense satellites.
Only after the last satellite disappeared into the enemy portal did the Pelozi fleet rush through.
Hundreds of ships, led by two dozen dreadnoughts, rushed into the breach, hoping that their enemy's forces would be in chaos after their initial attack, and it looked like it was just as they hoped, since the signal to abort the mission was never sent.
-It seems that the attack was successful.
Andrew commented after the Pelozi fleet had sent hundreds of ships between the portals for two hours straight, and the portal remained open.
-Indeed, your majesty, but from the report I just got, it's a tough battle, and our secondary objective was not achieved yet, so it's too early to say if we will succeed in the end.
The admiral said.
-Then maybe, we could help you.
Andrew said with a smile that suggested he had just gotten an idea.
-What do you mean?
Gezrin asked, a bit surprised, as he knew well that the Lantean empire had no spare fleets to send as reinforcements.
-If you can provide me with the coordinates of the system your forces are invading, I might be able to send them some help.
I have a perfectly good jump-gate that's just sitting there, and ten transport ships filled with our defense satellites, as well as two reserve fleets that have nothing to do for now, and I can even throw in two of my patrol fleets, and a carrier.
Andrew smiled, seeing the shock on the admiral's frog-like face.
-Your majesty wants to join the assault?
Gezrin asked.
-And what's a carrier?
The admiral asked.
-Nairin, would you explain your little secret project to the admiral?
Andrew turned to the student, who was as shocked as the admiral since the carrier was her secret project, which she wanted to use to surprise both Andrew and Aelita.
-Alright, but when I find out who blabbed, they are getting spaced.
The girl said angrily.
-A carrier is a heavy ship meant to carry drone fighters, and I just finished building one.
It's fully functional, but was not battle-tested yet, so if we use it now, it would be its first battle, and I have no clue if it will perform as intended.
The vessel itself is the size of a battleship and carries eighty drone fighters, thirty heavy fighters, and thirty torpedo fighters.
It is also equipped with two spinal MAC's as well as an array of other weapons.
Best of all, it is fully AI crewed, so in case of the ship being destroyed, the AI can simply jump ship.
The Idea is to send it with the fleet as support ships, if their performance is up to the standard.
Additionally, its battle group also consists of twenty Nasca-class destroyers with their own fighters, and in case a ship is destroyed in battle, it can take over its escort drones and use them as its own.
Nairin said, while displaying the ship and the whole battlegroup on the main holoscreen.
-Thank you, Nairin, and great work by the way.
Andrew said once she finished speaking.
-Even though I didn't want to use carriers in our fleet, you might have just changed my mind about that.
The emperor added with a smile.
-I hope so, or all my work will go to waste.
The student answered, still pissed that her secret got found out.
-More importantly, who will command this new fleet?
Aelita asked, while beaming with pride at her student's achievement.
-I will, if the emperor allows it.
General Taylor, who was just sitting in the command center and feeling useless, chimed in.
-Your majesty, my advice is not useful for this kind of war, but using drones and fighters is what I trained my whole life for, and as for commanding a fleet, I can learn.
The general stated.
-Are you sure that's what you want?
Andrew asked in surprise as he thought that the general preferred his quiet life on earth.
-Yes, your majesty.
Even though I enjoy the life I have now, I felt that something was missing, and I just found out what it is.
-Alright, consider yourself reactivated, and since I can't give you a rank of admiral, you may remain as a general.
Andrew said, seriously.
-Your first orders are to gather the forcess I specified and prepare to be sent to the operation area.
Your mission is to aid the allied forces in securing their foothold and inflict maximum losses upon the enemy forces.
-Yes, sir.
The old general said, standing at attention and saluting.
Hearing that he was reactivated and once again had forces under his command, he felt reinvigorated, and having a battle before him, he felt excited.
-Get a move on, general. I want to send you to the other side as soon as possible.
-As you wish, your majesty.
Taylor said and rushed out to carry out his orders.
-Your majesty, is this normal for you to simply nominate a fleet commander, just like that?
Admiral Gezrin asked, still shocked at what he just witnessed.
-That's one of the perks of being an emperor.
But this nomination was not made on a whim.
I have read through General Taylor's files, and he is experienced in commanding during combat operations.
Additionally, he is very adaptable to different situations, and the AI he will have with him can always help and advise him if needed, and he has a reputation for being a man who never rejects advice.
Andrew explained and smiled, seeing that he had shocked the Pelozi admiral once again.