"Main cannon, firing," the weapons officer onboard the Imperial Down said as, for the third time, an enormous energy beam shot out of the front of the ship.
Just as everyone was expecting the beam to once again hit its target and destroy another enemy ship, the targeted cruiser-class ship began to turn about as if it was intent on retreating.
Its turn was too slow, however, and it was thus unable to avoid the attack, meaning that a second cruiser-class enemy ship was destroyed.
"Good job," Andria said as she looked at the weapons officer.
"Thank you, Captain, but something's strange," the weapons officer replied.
"What? Is there something wrong with the main cannon?" Andria asked with a frown.
"No, ma'am. It was that ship, it almost looked as if it was turning to retreat when the main cannon was fired at it," The weapons officer replied.
"It probably did it in an attempt to evade the attack," the commander replied.
"With all due respect, Commander, I don't think so," the helm officer said as he spoke up and began to explain. "As a helm officer for a cruiser-class ship myself, I can't see someone qualified enough to pilot one making the mistake of doing such a manoeuvre to evade our attack; there are far better and more effective manoeuvres they could have done."
"Then what do you think was the reason?" Andria asked.
"From my perspective, it almost looked as if they were retreating," The weapons officer replied while the helm officer nodded in agreement.
"Retreating?" The commander repeated before asking in confusion, "Why would they be retreating when it appeared as if they were coming in to surround us?]
"Captain, all enemy mechs and fighters are in full retreat, while the enemy ships have stopped advancing," The sensor officer suddenly announced.
"What!" Andria said in surprise before ordering, "On screen."
💫💫💫
"Hey! Where are they going?" Stacey asked in disappointment as all the fighters and mechs turned around and headed back towards the large-class ship they had deployed from, while the large-class ship itself, as well as the remaining medium-class ships, turned about as if to regroup with the other ships.
"Are they retreating?" Aphrodite asked before she had the micro-fighters pursue.
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Retreating? Lame.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Bunch of pussies.]
"It appears so," Rowena replied with a frown before adding, "Don't follow them yet; this could be a trap."
"Copy," Aphrodite replied as she stopped the micro-fighters.
"Adam, are you seeing this?" Rowena asked.
"Yes, and it's not only the enemy forces attacking you that are retreating, the ones over here are also doing the same," Adam replied.
[HackerSu (Trillion): What are they up to?]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Why would they suddenly decide to retreat?]
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): Maybe they realised that they can't win.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): That's plausible.]
"Energy readings from the ships indicate that they are preparing to activate their subspace drives," Spector suddenly announced.
"Seriously? They're actually retreating?" Aphrodite asked in surprise.
[MercheadAnderson (Palaxia): They won? Just like that?]
[StealthAssassin9 (Earth): What a shitty ending to an epic battle.]
[Justiceistruth (Earth): Agreed. It's just like one of those shitty Sweeper novels where he does an epic build-up only to give a cliffhanger that then leads to nothing.]
"So, did we win?" Stacey asked in an uncertain tone.
"Seems like it," Adam replied.
"Do you plan to just let them go?" Aphrodite asked.
"Probably best if he does," Rowena stated.
"Why?" Aphrodite asked.
"Adam's still recovering from the Temporal Displacement Syndrome, which made him go on a crazy killing spree and harm innocents. It's probably best if he avoids shooting them in the back just in case," Rowena explained.
"Ah, I see your point, but it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth to just let them go after they attacked us," Aphrodite replied.
"I know, and normally I would encourage you to chase them down. But I can't get over the feeling that something else is going on," Rowena replied.
"Like what?" Adam asked.
"I'm not sure, but I doubt they would send this many ships just to try and destroy the Imperial Down only to turn tail and leave," Rowena replied.
💫💫💫
"Tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this is suspicious," Revi remarked as they observed the retreating enemy forces on the Holographic dodecahedron.
"No, you're not," Elemence replied with a frown.
"Isn't it a good thing that they are retreating?" Emma asked in confusion.
"That really depends on the situation and from my perspective, things hadn't gotten dire enough for them to retreat just yet," Revi replied.
"Losing all those forces isn't dire enough?" Emma asked.
"Death is something to be expected in war and if a commander can't accept that they will suffer losses, then they're not suitable for command," Revi answered.
"I don't like this; they are definitely up to something," Elemence stated.
💫💫💫
"I agree," Adam said in reply to Rowena's remark.
{Target the capital-class ship and launch the recon drone missile.}
[NOTICE. The capital-class ships' shields are still up and a single missile won't be enough to breach them and impact the hull.
It is recommended that you lower the target's shields first.]
{Don't worry, I have a better plan in mind.}
[Understood, launching now.] Spector replied before it launched a missile.
"Stacey? Are you attacking them?" Rowena asked in surprise.
"I didn't launch it," Stacey replied in confusion.
"I ordered the launch," Adam replied.
"Why?" Stacey asked.
"I will explain later," Adam answered just before the front of the recon drone missile opened and shot out eighteen smaller recon drone missiles.
{A rattler missile?} Adam thought in surprise.
[I determined that a rattler missile has a more likely chance of impacting the target.] Spector replied.
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Rattler missiles? Against a capital-class ship? That's kind of stupid from what you told us before, right?]
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): Agreed. While they would do damage over a greater area as they impact the ship's hull, there is no way they are strong enough to bring down and bypass its shields.]
💫💫💫
"Captain, missiles inbound." The sensor officer of the capital ship suddenly announced.
"How many?" The captain asked.
"Eighteen, sir."
"Defensive control, launch countermeasure and activate point defence lasers," The captain ordered.
"Yes, sir," The defensive control officer replied.
"You think it's a last-ditch attempt, Captain?" The commander asked.
"Most likely," The captain replied.
💫💫💫
{Spector, give me manual control of one of the missiles.} Adam instructed.
[Affirmative,] Spector replied before Adam's point-of-view switched from Spector Unit 6's cockpit to one of the missiles flying towards the capital-class ship.
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Huh! Why are we suddenly getting an onboard POV of one of the missiles?]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Well, I guess it is the only real action taking place since those pussies decided to retreat.]
As the chat watched, they saw the capital-class ship launch multiple countermeasures and rapidly fire energy bolts at the missiles from different parts of the ship's hull.
[Justiceistruth (Earth): What's with all those energy bolts being fired out from the side of the capital ship?]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): They're using point defence lasers.]
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Point defence lasers?]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): They are a type of defence laser that doesn't have much range but fires rapidly. However, because of their energy requirements, you generally only see them on cruiser-class ships and above.]
[HackerSu (Trillion): Errr, guys, our missile seems to be veering off towards one of the enemy mechs.]
[OracleRomy (Elysium): Where's it going?]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Shouldn't the countermeasures make the missiles target them, not mechs?]
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Does it have a malfunction?]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Hey, if it manages to destroy the mech, then bonus.]
[You plan to have my virus infect that mech before it lands back on the capital ship.] Spector stated as it figured out Adam's plan.
{Yup. Since we can't force our way through the capital-class ships' shields to impact the hull and infect their systems, we'll just have one of their mechs carry the infection aboard.} Adam replied.
The mech pilot was not expecting one of the missiles that had clearly been flying towards the capital-class ship to suddenly turn and head towards him, so he was unable to avoid it in time.
Just as he was cursing at his misfortune and untimely death, the missile impacted his mech, but surprisingly, it didn't explode.
The mech pilot sighed in relief and quickly flew away from the missile and back towards the capital ship, just in case the missile suddenly decided it wanted to explode after all.
[Virus infestation of energy mech successful.]
{Good, keep it hidden for now since we need the mech to dock with the capital ship so that the virus can spread to it.}
[Affirmative.]
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): A dud? Dammit 🤬 Talk about bad luck.]
[Gunlovergirl (Earth): And here I was hoping to see at least one more explosion.]
[NonpareilRaphilia (Aaru): I guess even the streamer's tech can fail or glitch out at times.]
[OfficialMuriel (Aqua Primus): Damn it, they're about to escape.]