To retreat at this juncture, after losing two carrier-class warships, and without even having properly engaged the enemy?

If they followed that order, there was no doubt that upon returning to base, they, the commanders and staff officers, would be immediately apprehended by the Military Police and hauled before a court-martial.

Not only would their infinitely bright and rapidly ascending careers be utterly ruined, but there was a high probability—perhaps even certainty—that they would be condemned for cowardice in the face of the enemy and face the ultimate penalty. This was no jest; wartime military law was notoriously stringent. Such a grave dereliction of duty would almost certainly receive no leniency.

The realization of these dire consequences sent a visible tension through every person present, tightening the muscles in the back of their necks. An unspoken, palpable anxiety spread through the crowd.

"I object to the retreat," declared the Chief of Staff, the only one at this critical moment capable of standing against the Fleet Commander. He met the Commander's gaze without yielding an inch.

Seeing that they utterly refused to obey his command, the Fleet Commander erupted in fury. "I will bear all consequences myself. I will face the court-martial alone. Retreat immediately!"

The Commander's long-established psychological dominance made the others hesitate. They glanced at one another, unsure of what to do.

"Your Excellency, Fleet Commander, that is too immense a burden for one man to carry." The Chief of Staff did not back down, his aged face—as weathered as the Commander's own—was alight with righteous indignation.

Suddenly, the main control room shuddered once more, and a few personnel, caught off guard, were thrown off balance.

Silence—

A wave of profound sorrow washed over everyone. They knew. Another of the fleet’s pride, a Federally treasured warship, had just been destroyed.

An atmosphere heavy with grief and somber resolve permeated the air, pressing down on every heart, a weight so dense it choked the breath from them.

"I am the Fleet Commander. The decision rests with me here. I command a retreat. All hands obey. Retreat now." Seeing the Chief of Staff still delaying, the Commander grew agitated and angry. What time was this for debate?

Did they not understand that every second they lingered meant an added fraction of danger for his entire fleet?

"While you are the Fleet Commander, the entire fleet is not yours to command alone," the Chief of Staff stated coldly, his voice ringing with finality. "As Chief of Staff, I hereby initiate an Emergency Vote."

A ripple went through the assembled personnel. The Emergency Vote was, in fact, a wartime measure designed to check the absolute power of a Fleet Commander.

No nation would grant a supreme commander unchecked authority during wartime; thus, safeguards were built into the command structure to prevent actions detrimental to the state.

The motion for an Emergency Vote could only be initiated by the highest-ranking officer present, excluding the Commander himself. If the Chief of Staff were absent, the Deputy Chief of Staff would assume that role...

"What?" The Fleet Commander was utterly stunned. Of course, he was aware of this provision in the Federation's highest laws, but he had never, in his wildest imaginings, expected his subordinates to invoke that power against him.

For a Commander, having his orders questioned by his own subordinates to the point of demanding an Emergency Vote—this would be the greatest stain on his entire career.

He had served his life with unwavering loyalty and patriotism, never taking an action harmful to the state, only to meet this end. A profound sadness washed over him.

The Chief of Staff ignored the Commander’s ashen, defeated expression and strode to the console to access the Emergency Vote interface.

"Commencing Vote."

This vote was anonymous. Furthermore, there was no possibility of tracing the ballot records through the optical computers, specifically to prevent any future retaliation from the Fleet Commander.

And the initiator of the vote would, upon the conclusion of this conflict, be permanently reassigned from this warship, ensuring no future professional overlap with this Commander.

The Fleet Commander sat with his back to the massive display screen. His posture, once ramrod straight like a sturdy pine, was now stooped and frail. The vibrant spirit that once commanded legions had vanished, replaced by a crushing loneliness and the desolation of a heart that felt truly lost.

The Chief of Staff regarded the sinking Commander with a look bordering on pity. You possess unparalleled tactical genius, but you fail to understand the hearts of men!

Did you not see the look in their eyes? They will never agree to retreat, no matter the reason. They will not pull back without firing a single shot. Even if I hadn't stepped forward, someone else would have risen to stop this.

The results of the vote were displayed. Excluding one abstention, every single ballot was cast against the motion.

"Total voters: 162. No votes: 16. This exceeds the ninety percent threshold. Your order is overruled," the Chief of Staff announced with an unreadable expression, causing the Commander’s frame to slump further.

"Please issue a new order." The Chief of Staff inclined his body in a formal bow.

"Please issue a new order." Every officer present bowed in unison.

The Fleet Commander slowly raised his head, gazing upon the faces etched with shared guilt and urgent anxiety. Their sincere eyes sent a sudden, warming current through his isolated heart.

The warship shuddered violently again. Everyone braced against the floor, their faces slowly shifting to a mix of sorrow and grim determination.

Seven of the most advanced warships, the pinnacle of the Federation's hopes, now stood reduced to only three.

"Commander, order a counterattack against the enemy!" The Ensign Staff Officer suddenly shouted with raw passion.

This single cry ignited the hidden fire in the bones of every person present. They roared in unison, "Commander, order the counterattack!"

The heartfelt shouts of over a hundred individuals coalesced into a single torrent, instantly reigniting the Commander's fighting spirit. He swept away his listlessness; his face was now full of defiant vigor.

Yes, this is not the time for despair. If I do not rally now, at this critical juncture, the entire fleet will be lost.

Regardless of whether they had their own agendas, it was undeniable that every soul present was fundamentally patriotic.

"All hands, heed my order! All ships advance at full thrust, primary batteries charged, prepare to fire upon the enemy!"

"All ships deploy every single Mech and fighter craft. Disperse and engage the enemy!"

"All ships, prioritize self-evasion maneuvers!"

He issued several rapid commands, and the surrounding staff and officers sprang into busy action.

"Come then, no matter what faction you hail from, I will make you pay a price!" The Fleet Commander clenched his fists tightly, his face set with an expression of absolute determination—a will to fight to the end, even unto mutual destruction.

"Is it too late to counterattack now?" Aboard the Mars, Zhong Yun watched the movements of the Hongxian Federation fleet clearly through the probes, immediately grasping their intentions.

The Mars carried four Super Main Cannons, possessing unparalleled destructive power capable of obliterating an enemy flagship with a single shot. However, their drawback was equally obvious: the excessively long charging time significantly diminished their threat.

The four main cannons had already fired one round; the first one would require another twenty minutes to fully recharge.

"Let them taste my secondary batteries first," Zhong Yun commanded. "Prepare secondary batteries one through ten. Target... Fire."

Ten brilliant pillars of blue light erupted, streaking toward the three remaining enemy warships. A distance of a thousand kilometers was not vast, and the speed of the Mars's light cannons was utterly incomprehensible. The three Hongxian Federation warships didn't even have time to execute evasion maneuvers before they were struck by the cannon fire.

Massive explosions bloomed across the outer hulls of the three flagships, with the lead vessel receiving the brunt of Zhong Yun's focused attention.

The reason the previous four Super Main Cannon blasts hadn't targeted the flagship was that it was enveloped by the other vessels, resulting in poor firing angles. The Mars’s energy reserves could not withstand repeated main cannon expenditure, so Zhong Yun had opted for safer targets to ensure efficiency.

The violent shaking barely affected the flagship's main control room; such turbulence was commonplace during their intensive combat training.

"Good," the Fleet Commander felt a surge of relief. "It seems their main cannons have reached their limit." If the enemy could keep firing those super light cannons indefinitely, the battle would be unwinnable.

It seemed this heaven-defying main cannon power was not limitless. This meant victory might not be entirely out of reach.

"All secondary batteries, prepare to fire." The Commander issued the order.

This command was sent to all remaining carriers, causing the lead officers to pause momentarily. Fire now? They hadn't reached optimal range yet.

Energy weapons like electromagnetic cannons or light cannons were not truly 'light'; they were projectiles, meaning their speed was finite. Moreover, their speed was inversely proportional to their power: the greater the power, the slower the velocity.

When designing a warship's main cannons, designers always accounted for this factor, avoiding making the primary weapon overly powerful. Because the slower the light cannon's velocity, the shorter its effective range. The enemy would hardly remain stationary to serve as a target. A slow shell gave the adversary ample time to evade. Therefore, one had to close the distance significantly before firing, ensuring the enemy couldn't dodge. But in closing that distance, one would inevitably absorb numerous incoming strikes.

Consequently, designing a main cannon to possess excessive power was considered profoundly foolish.

The Hongxian Federation military had never encountered the type of light cannon currently hidden in the dark—one with immense power yet possessing an incredible, almost unbelievable velocity. This completely overturned their established understanding.

This was precisely one of the key reasons the Fleet Commander had begun contemplating retreat.

The secondary batteries on the three remaining flagships were not weak, with an effective range around two thousand kilometers. Firing now would make hitting the enemy highly improbable.

This thought flashed through his mind, yet they mechanically prepared their secondary batteries for firing sequence.

"Attention! Disperse the firing vectors of the secondary batteries, target bearing... forward..." The Commander swept his hand down. "Fire!"

Tens of thousands of crimson beams ignited, resembling a dense, magnificent meteor shower, hurtling toward the Mars.

"Evasion," Zhong Yun commanded with complete calm the instant the enemy muzzles flared. Little Zero instantly calculated the optimal evasive trajectory.

Hundreds of powerful thrusters engaged simultaneously, propelling the massive Mars forward, its speed rapidly increasing...

P: Only thirty-six more votes needed. Strong appeal for monthly ticket support.