"Greetings, Black Dragon Fleet Commander. I am Captain Victoria Shaw, Commander of the Fifth Fleet, part of the Third Regiment, Seventh Legion of the Star Glory Empire's Imperial Army. Your support is truly timely. May I ask how many starships you've brought?" Captain Shaw asked excitedly.
The arrival of reinforcements meant that the five million people on that planet could safely evacuate!
"Our fleet has two starships," Zachary Chase stated directly.
Two?
Captain Shaw immediately wondered if she had misheard. She looked at her deputy next to her and whispered, "Did I just hear 'two' instead of 'twenty'?"
"I… I think I also heard 'two'," Commander Elena Vance nodded, her expression blank.
Captain Shaw hesitated for a moment, then confirmed again, "Did you just say your fleet only has two starships?"
"Yes," Zachary replied.
"Are you just an advance fleet, and the main fleet is still on its way?" Captain Shaw tried to salvage some hope.
Zachary said, "Only our two starships have come to provide support this time. As for the mission issued by the Commander, no one else was willing to accept it besides us."
Two? Only two starships?
Captain Shaw instantly felt her hope plummet from its peak to rock bottom.
"Are you… T3 starships?" Captain Shaw asked, still unwilling to give up.
"Two T2 starships," Zachary replied.
Captain Shaw was expressionless at this moment. Perhaps… she really shouldn't have chosen to hold out at P331 Asteroid; she shouldn't let her fleet sacrifice themselves here for her so-called sense of justice and responsibility.
"Thank you very much for coming to support us, but with only your two starships, you cannot salvage the current dire situation," Captain Shaw said, her spirits low. "So I've decided to give up…"
"Are you giving up without even trying?" Zachary retorted.
Captain Shaw was stunned.
"You were willing to defy your lord's orders and insist on covering the evacuation of five million civilians on P331 Asteroid, even though this puts your fleet in danger and might even jeopardize the safety of tens of millions of civilians behind you, thus losing the big picture for a small gain. You might not be a qualified commander, but you are a commendable soldier. I don't believe that you are willing to abandon the conviction you hold dear when there is still hope," Zachary looked directly into Captain Shaw's eyes.
Although separated by the virtual window of the video communication, Captain Shaw felt a jolt, as if she had been electrocuted. Goosebumps rose all over her body.
Captain Shaw opened her mouth…
But Commander Vance directly interrupted, "Captain, perhaps you don't understand the current situation. With just your two T2 starships, you absolutely cannot salvage the situation. You must know, there are thirty T2 starships of the Imperial Army here! A mere two starships…"
Commander Vance had initially admired this man, but now she mostly thought he was another fool. Just when her young mistress had finally been persuaded to retreat, this young man suddenly appeared, trying to incite her young mistress with a few words. Did he not know her young mistress's identity? If anything happened to her here, the entire Arctic Fox Star System might have to pay a heavy price.
"Then perhaps you should first explain the current situation," Zachary looked at Captain Shaw.
Captain Shaw stopped Commander Vance from continuing to speak. She said seriously, "The current situation is like this: This Interstellar Zerg force came from a Level 2 Cosmic Insectoid Hive, which has now closed. A total of four T2 Zerg Nest Motherships and thirty-five T1 Zerg Hive Motherships appeared; so far, we have destroyed four T1 Zerg Hive Motherships and heavily damaged one T2 Zerg Nest Mothership. However, the number of Insectoids is simply too vast, and we are finding it difficult to maintain our defensive line."
Zachary inquired, "What is your fleet's battle damage situation? How much combat capability do your starships still have?"
Captain Shaw was startled but still replied, "All thirty of my fleet's starships are still intact. Two of them have sustained some damage, but it does not affect their combat capability. More than 50% of the weapons on board still remain. But our firepower is insufficient… the number of Insectoids…"
"I understand. I believe we still have a chance to fight," Zachary interrupted Captain Shaw, stating firmly.
Commander Vance covered her face. Where did this hothead come from? Why was he just like her young mistress… Bah, bah, bah, what was her young mistress's status? Could this person compare?
"Hey, do you even understand what the situation is right now? We can't just drag thirty starships to risk it here with your two starships just because of your words!" Commander Vance now even omitted any honorifics when addressing Zachary, shouting directly.
Zachary ignored Commander Vance and only stared at Captain Shaw.
"What is your plan?" Captain Shaw asked Zachary.
"There's no time to explain too much now. You just need to have your fleet follow my instructions. Defeating the Interstellar Zerg in front of us is impossible, but buying about two more hours for the P331 Asteroid behind us is still feasible." Zachary looked at the young and beautiful commander before him: "You just need to tell me if you are willing to trust me, and if you are willing to gamble one more time for your inner conviction!"
Captain Shaw clenched her fists and bit her lip, clearly showing her intense internal struggle.
"Are you done or not? If you want to die, no one is stopping you!" Commander Vance, unable to bear it any longer, pointed at Zachary and yelled.
Zachary added, "If you still don't believe me, I can give you a guarantee. When you believe this battle is truly hopeless, you can retreat at any time."
"Alright! I agree! My fleet will now obey your command and deployment!" At this moment, Captain Shaw's eyes once again emitted a gem-like radiance.
"Young mistress!" Commander Vance stamped her foot in exasperation.
"Just let me be willful one more time. If… it truly cannot be changed, then we can still retreat in time," Captain Shaw murmured.
Commander Vance was helpless; she knew that once her young mistress made a decision, she couldn't change it. Her young mistress was someone full of a sense of justice and particularly stubborn.
"My Interstellar Drone Swarm will provide you with cover. Now, your fleet will retreat at full speed. At this position, form a one-way Aircraft Carrier Battle Formation with my T2 Carrier Starship as the core," Zachary said seriously.
"There are so many Insectoids. Are you sure your Interstellar Drone Swarm can really hold them back?" Captain Shaw asked worriedly.
Zachary said without changing his expression, "Please trust me, Captain Shaw."
Captain Shaw looked at the man before her. For some reason, she felt as if there was light emanating from him.
She began to issue orders to her fleet: "All fleet units, withdraw from combat and retreat at full speed toward coordinates **. At position **, form a one-way Aircraft Carrier Battle Formation with the allied Aircraft Carrier Starship as the core!"