Duke Fisu’s guess was indeed correct; both captains used carrier-based aircraft as their offensive, and thus both had prepared countermeasures.

However, the current problem was that due to the pilots’ formidable combat strength exceeding the captains’ expectations, the ships had sustained significant damage.

“It’s time to decide the victor!”

“Oh, why do you say that?”

“Hmph, that’s why real combat is real combat, and exercises are prepared for real combat. If it turns into an exhibition match, isn’t that like dancing on eggs? It truly lets down these two excellent young captains and their teams!”

“That sounds interesting. To my knowledge, the All-Galaxy’s biggest real combat exhibition isn’t your country’s—”

It began, it began! It finally began! Nishita Chairman was a little restless on the side, wanting to mediate. However, considering that both were respectable individuals, they wouldn’t actually come to blows. Let the commotion continue; after all, this was a matter for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which meant it was the President’s business.

President Nockham looked at the time and asked, “Keith, the exercise duration is one hour, right?”

Nishita nodded slightly: “Yes, if it drags on any longer, the audience will get restless. Moreover, it will affect the dinner arrangements afterward.”

The Chairman smiled and said, “Hmm, the children performed very well. However, whether it’s a festival or a diplomatic occasion, punctuality and trustworthiness are also basic etiquette! They still have many skills they haven’t had time to display, but there’s no need to rush, right?”

He pondered for a moment, looked in the direction of the audience seats where the foreign guests were, and smiled smugly, “Anyway, displaying just that much is enough.”

“Yes, that’s enough. The demeanor they displayed is the demeanor of Blue Star! It is the future of Blue Star!”

Nishita, of course, understood the President’s meaning, and his previous words were actually sincere. While maintaining the same smile, he subtly moved away from the crowd a bit, then directly dialed the exercise directorate’s communication.

“Tell both sides to hurry up.”

There was a pause of a few seconds from the directorate, followed by a resonant voice: “Please rest assured, Chairman, there will definitely be a spectacular ending!”

Then, a few minutes later, Yu Lian also received the directorate’s order relayed by Kardier Shao Xiao: “The directorate requires us… to speed up! I heard this is also from above.”

A hint of annoyance flashed across Zhi Xia’s face; she was about to say something, but Yu Lian waved his hand to stop her, smiling, “Don’t worry, this subordinate was originally preparing for the same.”

Kardier Shao Xiao scrutinized Yu Lian up and down. Although still without a smile, he said in an unprecedentedly gentle tone, “Don’t worry, your team is excellent, and as a captain, even an old captain who has sailed for twenty years might not do better than you. Your achievements have all been recorded in the exercise directorate’s database. Afterward, please feel free to be a bit more reckless.”

Yu Lian glanced at him, a little surprised. This taciturn leader of the exercise supervision team had been on board for several months now, but the total words exchanged between them had not exceeded ten sentences. He had always only played the role of the exercise directorate’s eyes and an insurance.

Not to mention him, probably everyone on the ship heard him speak for such a long time for the first time.

“Our supervision team has had nothing to do since the exercise began; isn’t that enough to prove your excellence?” Kardier Shao Xiao added.

“I understand, thank you.” Yu Lian saluted him, then reined in his smile.

He faced the entire ship, his voice slightly raised, immediately refocusing everyone’s attention: “Repeat my previous command! Begin accelerating, approach the enemy ship! Maximum tactical speed! Reduce shield power, all energy supply to the main gun, begin charging now!”

Aisen, who had just finished repairing the battery pack, ran back to the engine room, panting. If it weren’t for the long period of physical training before, this big fat man would have collapsed from exhaustion just from that operation.

“Captain, are we preparing for boarding?” Zhi Xia asked.

“No, prepare for close-range Artillery Battle! The Blue Faction’s engine has been damaged, and its maneuverability is greatly affected. A gun battle will be advantageous for us!” Yu Lian paused, then added, “Have Gongsun Qing return to the crew quarters to stand by and re-equip. Kou Shan and his subordinates also prepare for battle!”

“Understood!” Zhi Xia relayed all the commands.

“Also, tell everyone on the ship to put on protective suits! Liuli, send me a set of armor from below!”

Isn’t this preparing for boarding? Zhi Xia subtly rolled her eyes, expressing the above emotion with her expression.

Yu Lian, however, shook his head, “No, it’s just a precaution.”

Zhi Xia still looked like she would only believe him if pigs flew, exchanging a glance with Liuli.

As Vice Captain and Chief Purser, they had not only prepared extra protective suits for all crew members but also prepared powered exoskeletons for themselves, and even an additional Emblem Machine for Captain Yu Lian—of course, the kind that was faked by attaching sensors to an exoskeleton.

The Red Tiger began to accelerate forward, circling to the side-rear under Yu Lian’s command. The main gun at the front of the ship began to charge, flashing a strong light towards the Blue Monarch, looking like a large red flashlight at first glance.

If he were in Yu Lian’s hometown, he would have been slapped by someone already. After all, facing the enemy with the bow has been proven to be the most unorthodox of unorthodox methods.

However, in this world where things had gone awry, Kardier Shao Xiao, behind him, nodded in approval once more.

In his opinion, Yu Lian’s commands as captain were very decisive, the navigation trajectory he set while also serving as Navigator was perfect, and the silver-haired girl responsible for steering had excellent piloting skills.

This year, Central Defense University would produce a batch of prominent figures! Thirty years, no, perhaps only twenty years, and they would become the commanders of the Commonwealth army. The grand scene at that time, just imagining it made one anticipate it! Kardier Shao Xiao thought.

“Enemy ship is turning!” Lu Ke, who was observing the radar in front, transmitted another message: “High energy reaction ahead! It’s… a light spear cannon!”

Yu Lian had not closed the blackout armor; he had been determining the enemy’s position and direction through various unesthetic military radar patterns and data. The bridge would not be blinded by the red light from the opposite side.

However, if the blackout armor were opened for observation with the naked eye, one would certainly see a crimson beam of light piercing the sky, like a straight javelin striking the similarly red-painted ship.

Of course, this simulated light spear ray was simulated using a large optical projector, and even if it hit, it wouldn’t actually cause any damage to the hull. But this was enough to make the noble audience on the distant Azure Princess excited, and even those who weren’t experts suddenly felt an imposing and fierce killing intent.

“This should be the decisive moment!”

“Oh oh oh, it’s so exciting! Although I don’t understand it, I think both sides are amazing!”

“Yes! Yes! This is much more exciting than a movie!”

As for those who were experts, their discussions naturally went deeper.

“These young people are really good. It’s just a pity that they are dancing in shackles. If you want to see their full splendor, it would probably have to be on a real battlefield.” The Duke said.

“Oh, how do they compare to the people from the Royal Knight Academy?” Belmont asked with a smile, his words implying more.

“No comparison.” Duke Fisu glanced at him, smiled gracefully, and naturally ended the topic.

The light spear cannon was currently the energy main gun with the longest known range, far exceeding the railguns and ion cannons equipped on the Red Tiger. While Yu Lian and his crew had not yet brought the opponent within range, the crimson light had already grazed their hull.

The Red Tiger was indeed not directly hit, however, the feedback information from the sensors, through the calculations of the directorate’s computer, quickly made the judgment: “Swept by high-temperature energy, shields reacted. Hull damaged.”

This was understandable. After all, earlier, with the backup energy core damaged, Yu Lian had already ordered a reduction in shield output to fully ensure the main gun’s charging.

“This is cheating. How could a light cruiser possibly install a light spear cannon?” Zhi Xia exclaimed.

“Yes, a patrol censor-class energy core and hull cannot withstand this battlecruisers-class main gun!” Liuli frowned, “Captain, we should appeal to the directorate!”

As she spoke, she also glanced at Kardier Shao Xiao.

Yu Lian, however, shook his head, “No, if it were Wien, it might be possible.”

Not to mention Rozes, whose family had been building ships for generations, even Wien himself was a master shipbuilder. It was unexpected that at their early twenties, they were already displaying such craftsmanship.

Why are there so many people around me with such divine skills as “I reckon”? They truly are… people born to achieve that small goal!

Clearly, the Blue Monarch’s engine had been damaged, and if no measures were taken, once they got too close, it would naturally be disadvantageous for them.

And the method they prepared to adopt was also very direct. Taking advantage of the opponent not getting close, they would preempt with precise and fierce artillery fire. Even if they couldn’t directly sink it from a distance, just a few shots like this would cause serious problems for everyone.

Under Wien’s command, there indeed existed such an extraordinary main gunner! The short-range gun battle just now had proven this point.

Yet, even so, a subsequent crimson beam that almost directly hit their own broadside still caused a slight surprise in the already prepared Yu Lian, almost reaching the realm of horror.

Kent and Rozes were both master gunners, and Deng Zhengqing’s skill was also good, Yu Lian knew this. However, the ultra-long-range shelling just now had already surpassed the mundane realm.

…That gunner is definitely a spiritual energy user! Yu Lian confirmed his previous speculation.

The exercise directorate’s judgment was that the ship’s broadside had sustained considerable damage, even a piece of the reactive armor had been stripped off, and more people had died in battle.

If it were on a battlefield with intense fleet decisive battles, such damage would be enough to force the ship to withdraw from frontline combat.

Therefore, even without directly sinking the opponent as originally planned, everyone on the Blue Faction ship couldn’t help but cheer.

“Simon, start charging! Prepare for the second round of shelling!” Wien did not cheer; the more critical the moment, the more he could maintain his composure.

“It will take at least half a minute to charge.” Main gunner Simon sighed, “Also, the light spear cannon can only be fired three more times… otherwise, the hull won’t be able to withstand it. The exercise directorate will definitely rule our ship as falling apart!”

“I understand.” Horatio Wien nodded with a grim face, then pressed his hand into the control helm, preparing to personally take over the Blue Monarch’s operations and evasive maneuvers to buy time for the main gunner.

But at this moment, he heard Vice Captain Kent say, “Captain, the enemy ship is accelerating! It’s about to reach maximum charge speed!”