Chapter 72 Part 2

The Space Combat Third Department was an indispensable part of the Earth Allied Forces and the Chinese Space Forces. Although he wished he could execute Cao Kun on the spot, he could not abandon the brothers who had once fought side by side in the vast universe.

Missiles rained down, cannons roared, making it impossible to even open one's eyes for a moment.

The Liaoning reported a red light: "Colonel, the Liaoning has run out of missiles."

Yang Ning: "Giant ships retreat, escort ships take the lead, send the retreat route coordinates to Cao Kun, have them assemble in formation and retreat first along the way."

"...Colonel."

The solemn tone made Yang Ning's heart sink.

"The Third Department command ship had its solar panels on one side knocked askew by its own escort ship during the formation assembly process due to improper command."

In his heart, Yang Ning thought: "Curse his ancestors."

But on the surface, he unhesitatingly ordered: "Penglai, report missile inventory."

"Reporting, already below the warning value."

"Good, retreat, escort fleet temporarily take the lead, Penglai and Liaoning implement capture of the Third Department command ship, block the Third Department command ship's command authority, the Penglai captain temporarily takes over the Space Combat Third Department, anyone daring to disobey will be shot down!"

"Wings contract." As Yang Ning spoke, he pulled out the command ship's control panel and manually took over the authority of the entire command ship. "Rear small craft, allocate some reserve energy to the Third Department, load all front-line short-range missiles into the launchers, ship captains with a displayed hit rate below 70% are all to be dismissed and demoted."

Yang Ning said it all in one breath, paused, and continued: "Rear squad becomes front squad, retreat according to the coordinate direction, maintain a distance of 100 to 120 meters between ships, retreat to more than ten range units before the missiles are exhausted, at a uniform speed, emphasizing again, no acceleration, maintain a uniform speed. No matter what happens, do not turn back."

The final wave of frenzied missiles swept out like a sea wave with an extremely high hit rate. The main force of tthe other star system was caught off guard, and it was too late to turn around. They could only rely on firepower to resist. With just a moment's hesitation, the defensive line was as if a dagger had been inserted into their throat, seemingly on the verge of having their throats slit.

Yang Ning: "Zhenhai and its escort ships, retreat, catch up with the front squad, Tianlong follows, from both wings to the center, command ship brings up the rear."

"Colonel!"

"Open broadband communications."

This was... to shout at the enemy?

The broadband indicator light on the command ship soon lit up, and a signal conversion microphone extended out from under the desk. Yang Ning cleared his throat, and in the next moment, the man's pleasant voice, carrying a hint of laughter, was simultaneously transmitted to the enemy ships and our warships.

"Earth Allied Forces, Yang Ning, commander of the Space Combat Second Department, of the People's Republic of China, sends greetings to General Graf."

After speaking, the command ship extinguished its fire with great fanfare and unhurriedly followed the fleet in retreat, launching a missile every range unit, as if seeing itself off.

This ferocious rescue fleet displayed unimaginable combat power from start to finish, finally sweeping across, retreating quickly but not chaotically... no, even in an orderly manner.

The provocative command ship seemed to guide them to chase after it.

Once again, the scene of Zhao Youxuan charging alone into the midst of heavy troops to retreat was reenacted.

Back then, Graf did not dare give the order to pursue. Now, the commander of tthe other star system's fleet should have had the ability to catch up, and their mission was also to lure out the enemy's main force, but after the final wave of ferocious missile sea passed, more than half of their warships were damaged. The commander of tthe other star system became timid for a moment.

Their luring out of the Second Department was a plot, so would the crafty Earthlings' engagement in battle be... another plot?

Watching the Earth rescue fleet command ship withdraw beyond three range units, the commander-in-chief of the main force of tthe other star system finally came to his senses and ordered a direct strike on the enemy command ship with medium and short-range missiles.

At this distance and speed, it was impossible to miss.

Although the command ship attempted to evade, it was struck anyway and shook violently, losing half of its hull.

Yang Ning was thrown entirely from his seat, his head striking the side of the cabin, and he was nearly knocked unconscious.

The communications equipment was in chaos, and the command ship was experiencing severe signal interference. However, all the warships maintained their previous formations, and outsiders could not detect any signs of the internal turmoil.

Yang Ning's Second Department would carry out his orders to the end, even if the commander died. Of course... the few who dared to disobey him were all left at the Saturn Fortress.

A sharp pain shot through his right arm, and Yang Ning's vision went black. The alarms by his ears faded in and out. With his last ounce of strength, he switched to voice command. "Detach the weapon bay... no, no countdown, force detach immediately, sever the connection."

The probability of a violently damaged weapon bay exploding was extremely high, and when that happened, even ten command ships would be annihilated. Yang Ning learned Zhao Youxuan's way of handling things, but didn't plan on also imitating his way of dying.

He took a labored breath, changed his posture, and fumbled to re-secure himself with the seat belt. Breathing felt a bit difficult, and he wasn't sure if it was due to an oxygen leak or if his own lungs were injured.

The weapon bay detached as commanded. Yang Ning gasped for breath, his internal organs going numb. In a voice barely above a whisper, he continued, "Turn on the exterior hull lights."

The appearance of the half-destroyed command ship slowly changed, still displaying the national flag pattern, but unfortunately blown in half, becoming a half flag.

And just as the weapon bay separated from the command ship, it exploded. The command ship was once again subjected to a violent shock. From a distance, the "flag ship" looked like a small fish in a vortex, shaking intensely. But afterwards, it still unhurriedly proceeded towards the predetermined coordinates without panic, evasion or dodging.

...As if the ship had no crew.

The rescue fleet's formation remained unperturbed, cruising steadily behind the half-flag ship, blurring the line between illusion and reality.

The star system commander hesitated for a long while before dispatching all reconnaissance ships in tow to pursue.

Only the Second Department members themselves knew they were putting on a front. Everyone was waiting for orders from the command ship, but the command ship was deathly silent. They appeared composed, but in reality had reached the end of their rope.

No main force, no reinforcements, and the commander's life or death unknown. Energy and weapons nearly depleted. Once the ruse was exposed, they could only be annihilated.

Right at that moment, something unexpected occurred.