After losing forty percent of their combat power, the cruisers and fighter squadron of the First Mixed Fleet finally crushed the battleship formation of the enemy. It was a fierce battle where both sides desperately attacked the core of the opponent's formation. Ultimately, an Imperial Fleet carrier was destroyed during the assault. The carrier's explosion blossomed into magnificent fireworks, completely shattering the morale of the Imperial Fleet. The explosion also affected the flagship that was hidden inconspicuously within the fleet.
Without unified command, some battleships began to retreat before the command signal could transfer from the flagship to the vice ship. These battleships were already riddled with holes, and the Empire's officers on their decks were utterly intimidated by the Federation fighters and cruisers' fearless tactics. These lower-rank soldiers comprised over sixty percent of the entire crew, and their morale was rapidly declining. Upon seeing the flagship in trouble, one battleship did not wait for the ship captain's order. The captain in charge of navigation seized the chance to avoid artillery fire and turned the vessel around, never to look back.
At the same time, the Federation Second Mixed Fleet, composed of the Federation's First, Second, and Eighth Fleets stationed in the space jump point area, finally encountered their opponents. This was a mixed formation of six Imperial Fleets. The appearance of six carriers made all the officers and men of the Federation Second Mixed Fleet involuntarily gasp. The enemy had appeared in a region thirty thousand kilometers away from their own fleet two hours earlier and was advancing at a speed of several thousand kilometers per hour. In another two hours, the enemy's vanguard would engage the Second Fleet.
Vice Admiral Chel, the fleet commander, had already received news from the Federation First Fleet. Upon learning that the First Fleet had been entangled by another Imperial Fleet, Chel knew that they could only rely on themselves this time. The Federation's 3rd Mixed Fleet was still forming in the Central Star Domain and couldn't reach the Newton Star System via the space jump point in less than a week.
The Gazalin Empire intended to achieve decisive victory in a single battle. The appearance of so many foes at this time indicated that the Imperial Army had taken advantage of the Federation's Third and Ninth Space Fleets' journey through the Public Star Domain, returning to the Central Leray Star Domain for resupply, to deploy over half of the space fleet stationed in the Galileo Star System to the Newton Star System. Without the restraint of the two Federation fleets, they had no scruples. The Federation's Third and Ninth Space Fleets should now be en route to the capital in the Public Star System.
There were only three paths in front of Vice Admiral Chel: the first was for the entire personnel to die in battle! The second was to retreat the whole army before the Imperial Fleet, still thousands of kilometers away, advanced further. The third path was to retreat to the Federation Central Star Domain.
The most reliable option was to retreat to the Central Star Domain, but it was also the most disgraceful choice! All their efforts would be in vain. Neither the First Mixed Fleet still in the Newton Star System nor the ground resistance forces on Miloke Planet would receive resupply. To reopen this space jump route would require ten times the sacrifices previously made.
As for the first path? Although the Federation Fleet had greatly improved their combat power in recent battles, the disparity in strength was too significant. Confronting them was a mixed fleet of six Imperial Fleets! The best outcome from a fight to the death would be total annihilation on their side while the enemy would lose forty percent of their combat power.
From the choices presented, it seemed only the second path remained. However, Chel knew it was the least likely option. The fleet had already appeared on the enemy's radar, and without sufficient time, they couldn't disappear from it. Also, given the Newton Star System's environment, there weren't many places to hide forces. Without resupply, the fleet would be like a wandering lamb in the desert, and the enemy would slowly catch up and devour them bite by bite!
Moreover, if the Second Mixed Fleet retreated without delay, the Imperial Fleet would immediately divide their forces. Then, not only would they lose the space jump point, but the recently advantageous First Mixed Fleet would also be unable to escape the enemy's encirclement!
Fight or flee?
No one knew what was going through Vice Admiral Chel's mind at the time, nor what the outcome would have been if he had ordered a retreat to the Central Leray Star Domain. Regardless, under the commander's orders, the Second Fleet assumed a defensive formation and was instructed to activate the space jump assist device's energy reserves.
Every minute was an ordeal! The Gazalin Empire Fleet was now less than twenty thousand kilometers away. The flagship personnel, watching their frowning and silent commander, felt a mix of emotions.
At this moment, a major in charge of radar observation in the flagship command room shouted. On the radar, the enemy fleet had slowed down, and a fleet appeared on their flank.
This fleet was assisting the Second Fleet commander in decision-making with practical actions. They hindered the enemy's rapid advance like a moth to a flame, heroically charging toward the enemy.
They weren't foolish. Outside the enemy's firepower control range, this fleet gracefully curved around and maneuvered to the rear of the enemy fleet as if toying with them!
The contact signal indicated that this fleet was not divine reinforcements appearing out of nowhere. It was the Newton Local Fleet, which had made tremendous sacrifices to charge the jump point earlier.
A secondary fleet within the Federation's organization!
What they did stirred the spirits of all officers and men of the Second Mixed Fleet.
The main force of this fleet had only thirty percent left after being nearly decimated in the space jump point battle. Every remaining ship was damaged. Due to the overall plan's needs, they initially received little reinforcement. Only after other main fleets were replenished did the Federation transfer some local forces from other star systems to form the new Newton Local Fleet.
This fleet was now giving a lesson to the Second Mixed Fleet, a demonstration class using passion and life as props, with the subject titled "Sacrifice"!
The Newton Local Fleet was sacrificing their lives to buy time!
The First Fleet was in a favorable position. What they needed now was time. The Gazalin Empire had gone all out, and no other forces could exist in this star system. The current need was time.
The Newton Local Fleet was buying time for the Second Mixed Fleet and ensuring that the First Fleet could come in time post-battle.
How long would this time be? No one knew. The First Fleet might encounter defeat under the enemy's superior forces. Failure would render the Newton Local Fleet's sacrifice worthless, and the Second Mixed Fleet would be no match for the massive Imperial Fleet before them.
Could such a sacrifice be avoided? Of course not. Even if ultimate defeat beckoned, the Federation soldiers would fight to the end for even a one in ten thousand chance.