Chapter 554 Watch Carefully, This Is How the Infinity Is Used
Under the synchronous command of Stoner and Benelli, the warships of the 17th and 18th fleets of the Federation Navy activated their attitude control nozzles at the bow and stern.
In the flashing of blue light, these warships still maintained their high-speed raiding course, but adjusted their axes to point to the huge "light ball" that was getting closer and closer.
At this time, Stoner and Benelli had realized that the "Atlas Fleet" discovered first was a "fake fleet" composed of a large number of baits + a small number of warships.
And through the laser coding recognition of the warships that could not be tampered with, they also found that these few warships used as bait were actually the warships of the Rubion galaxy garrison fleet.
This indeed confirmed the fact that the garrison fleet of this galaxy had been completely wiped out, otherwise it would be impossible for even the warships to be captured by others.
So the real enemy in front of their two fleets was actually that huge "light ball".
Although the 17th and 18th fleets are unable to determine how many warships are hidden in this "light ball" due to the interference of the "visible light band jammer" and the radar wave cancellation device.
But according to the approximate volume of the "light ball", the two commanders of the federal navy fleet judged that even if it was full, it would only be the size of a full fleet.
This also made them still judge at the last moment that the size of Atlas' fleet here was fluctuating around a full fleet, so they gave up the plan to deploy the formation for a counterattack, and continued to choose a high-speed raid.
For Randall and his team, this is naturally a good thing. After all, with the size of the third task force, if they deployed the formation to fight against two full fleets, there would be no chance of winning.
But if they wanted to cover the safe evacuation of the freight fleet, they had to prevent the two federal fleets from paying attention to them.
"How long will it take for the second wave of plasma torpedoes and anti-ship missiles to arrive?!"
On the Infinity, Randall, sitting in the captain's seat, asked as he looked at the federal fleet approaching at high speed and beginning to adjust its axis and slightly loosen its formation.
He knew that the other side had already entered the salvo preparation, and every second that followed, the "light ball" he had set up might be hit by the other side's salvo.
And the plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles that had not been intercepted in the first wave were originally used to attract the other side's attention in his plan, and to pull the fleet air defense forces of the two federal fleets to the two wings of the formation.
To create enough space for the second wave of attacks that were really used to deliver a "fatal blow".
"Report! We have entered the attack range of 5,000 kilometers. The plasma torpedo and heavy anti-ship missile seekers have been turned on to bind the target!"
At the same time as the tactical information coordinator reported loudly, the bridges of the 17th and 18th fleets of the Federal Navy also sounded a shrill alarm again.
"Warning! A large number of small incoming targets have been detected in the rear hemisphere of the fleet! The distance is 5,000 kilometers. According to the characteristics, they are plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles."
"Warning! The radar of the incoming target has been turned on! Enter the acceleration sprint phase!"
When Bernelli and Stoner heard the warning, they broke out in cold sweats almost at the same time, but in the next second they also breathed a sigh of relief and issued the same order.
"The remaining escort detachments behind the fleet began to organize air defense operations! Other cruisers and battleship formations nearby assisted simultaneously! This is the opponent's real killing intention, do your best to intercept it!"
Soon, several escort detachments originally hidden behind the fleet gave up the plan to prepare for salvos with the fleet, but quickly adjusted their positions, blocked the plasma torpedoes and the fleet, and began air defense operations.
When the first wave of plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles attacked from both wings, Stoner and Benelli did not release all the air defense ships, but retained some as "reserve air defense forces".
As a result, they really waited for this moment. The attack of the Atlas combat fleet was not as simple as they imagined, but one ring after another.
You will never think that the attack you are experiencing now is paving the way for the next round of attacks
Looking at the destroyers and frigates that quickly blocked the "gap", as well as other warships around that assisted in air defense, Stoner and Benelli, who were originally a little nervous after hearing the warning, also relaxed a little.
If these warships hadn't been there, it wouldn't be long before these plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles would come from the back hemisphere of the fleet, causing huge damage.
Randall, on the other side, was not so happy after seeing the images synthesized by the detection unit of the Infinity.
After all, for the Third Task Force, this was the best opportunity to cause casualties to the two federal fleets.
However, this "rookie commander" who grew up quickly in the battle still reacted immediately and issued a new order.
"The main gun of the Infinity is ready to fire, the target is the anti-aircraft operation ship group in the back half of the enemy fleet! After completing the attack preparation, this ship immediately jumped out of the formation and started to attack!"
At this point in time, no one came out to question Randall's order.
Because everyone knew that now was a time of every second, and all they had to do was to execute the fleet commander's orders with the highest efficiency.
The "pre-loading" feature of the super-heavy purification beam generator of the Infinity once again played a key role in this meeting.
When the air observation team discovered that the federal fleet had begun to conduct sporadic interceptions of plasma torpedoes, the super-heavy purification beam generator of the Infinity had completed the sweep preparation.
Since Randall's previous order was "After completing the attack preparation, this ship immediately jumped out of the formation and began to attack!".
So the helmsman of the Infinity immediately activated all the attitude control nozzles arranged on the bottom deck of the Infinity and turned on the "maximum thrust" after receiving the instruction "Main guns can attack!" while quickly broadcasting "This ship will perform emergency maneuvers".
The effect of doing so is that Stoner and Benelli in the federal fleet saw from the surveillance screen on the panoramic porthole that a huge super flagship suddenly rushed out from the top of the "light ball", like a giant whale jumping out of the water!
Then, the bow of the giant ship glowed, and the alarm sounded on the bridge where the two were.
"Warning! High-energy reaction detected. Feature matching completed! Identified as 'Atlas-Unknown Battleship' super-heavy purification beam irradiation!"
After the battle of Pyra IV, the main gun attack characteristics of the Infinity class were included in the characteristic database of the Federation battleship, and now it was also the first time that it was identified by the ship-borne control personality.
But Stoner and Benelli could not care about these at this time. Their eyes were focused on the golden light visible to the naked eye at the bow of the 'Infinity'.
The next second, a surge of energy was released, and the golden purification beam, which also belonged to the 'near-light speed' weapon, crossed a distance of nearly 20,000 kilometers in an instant, accurately hitting the air defense fleet formation that had just formed behind the Federation fleet.
These 'air defense operation groups', mainly composed of air defense destroyers and frigates, had no possibility of defense at all in the face of the super-heavy purification beam generator's sweep.
After being illuminated by the thick purification beam, almost entire ships were disintegrated one by one, and from time to time, the flames of the superconducting battery stacks and fusion furnaces that were not completely disintegrated could be seen.
Under the action of the attitude control nozzle of the "Infinity" ship, this super flagship slightly adjusted its axis, just like when the main gun was irradiated before, and also allowed the purification beam thousands of miles away to sweep across a huge range during the irradiation time, almost completely covering the entire "air defense operation group".
"Report! The casualties of the second drive and escort detachment exceeded 70%! The detachment commander is organizing self-rescue and cannot continue air defense operations!"
"Report! The casualties of the first drive and escort detachment exceeded 40%! The leader ship "Kahn" was sunk, and the "Fisher" is taking over the command!"
"Report! The casualties of the fifth drive and escort detachment exceeded 50%! The detachment commander said that he would continue to organize air defense operations, but needed the assistance of surrounding warships to rescue survivors!"
"Report."
On the bridge of the flagship of the 17th and 18th fleets, "good news came frequently".
Bernelli and Stoner never expected that the opponent's super flagship would suddenly attack the "air defense operation group" behind the fleet from a distance of nearly 20,000 kilometers, and the accuracy and killing effect were so high.
Although destroyers and frigates do not have a high status in large-scale fleet battles, they are almost the same consumables as "toilet paper".
But in some cases, these small warships can still play a lot of roles-for example, in the current air defense battle, these destroyers and frigates with more maneuvers and main weapons are also air defense weapons, which have become somewhat irreplaceable.
So when they heard that this batch of reserve air defense forces was seriously damaged, the expressions on the faces of the two fleet commanders, Bernelli and Stoner, were not very good.
Especially when there will be a large number of plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles poking towards the fleet's "chrysanthemum"
So Stoner immediately issued a new order:
"Pass my order, the fifth and sixth cruiser divisions behind the fleet will join the air defense operation! All warship air defense commanders set the incoming plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles as the highest priority targets!"
Bernelli on the other side also issued a similar order, and the cruisers assigned to the task in the two fleets immediately began to adjust their positions.
At the same time, the captain of the warship also ordered the redistribution of energy circuits, temporarily reducing the energy supply of the main weapon, and then increasing the energy supply ratio of the attitude nozzle, air weapon group and deflection field generator.
However, everyone, including Stoner and Benelli, seemed to have forgotten that the main gun of the Infinity was not only capable of firing one round. --
If Randall were to classify himself, he would classify himself as a "firepower commander" without hesitation, because in his opinion, the best way to win in a fleet battle is to completely overwhelm the enemy in terms of firepower and power.
So for the use of the super-heavy purification beam generator of the Infinity, he always followed a principle-"either don't use it, or maximize the damage in one go."
This also made the main gun irradiation of the Infinity the same as before. After completing the first round of irradiation, the second and third rounds of irradiation were immediately carried out.
For the second round of irradiation, Randall still chose the "air defense operation group" behind the formation of the federal fleet.
When the golden purification beam swept over, the three escort detachments originally responsible for air defense operations were basically lost.
Randall's idea is very simple, that is, to directly use the main gun of the Infinity to clear out the opponent's air defense forces, so that the plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missile groups can more easily complete the penetration.
Because he knows that compared to using the Infinity to directly strafe the opponent's fleet, direct hits from plasma torpedoes and heavy anti-ship missiles can cause significantly higher damage.
Moreover, this wave of plasma torpedoes attacks from the rear hemisphere of the opponent's fleet, and the seeker will most likely lock onto the main propulsion array of the battleship first.
Whether it is a plasma torpedo or the plasma warhead of a heavy anti-ship missile, as long as it hits the plasma propulsion array of a battleship, it will be a "grand fireworks."
In the following third round of irradiation, Randall set the target at the cruiser detachment that the federal fleet had just replenished.
"Come to fill in for air defense, right? Sorry, whoever dares to defend against air will die. Gunnery officer! Aim at the opponent's filling cruiser detachment and fire!"
As the golden purification beam swept through this space for the third time, and then heard the tactical information coordination officer report that the rear "air defense operation group" had suffered heavy losses due to continuous attacks, Stoner and Benelli's mentality completely changed. Something has changed.
"It's this beam again. Are the elves really planning to interfere in human affairs?!"
On the flagship of the Seventeenth Fleet, Benelli shouted excitedly.
"TMD, is now the time to talk about this?" No matter how well-educated Stoner is on weekdays, he still cursed speechlessly at this moment:
"Let the rear fleet evade on its own. The torpedoes should be unable to stop it. The main strike force in the front of the formation is now attacking the opponent's fleet. We can't just suffer a loss like this!"
Under Stoner's order, the Eighteenth Fleet led by him took the lead in making adjustments, and Benelli, who reacted, quickly followed up and issued orders.
The warships at the rear of the entire federal fleet suddenly became confused. All warships in the threat area began to evade, and released some HCP to cooperate with the ship-borne air defense weapon unit and began a desperate terminal interception.
The battleship group at the front, dominated by battleships and heavy cruisers, began the final preparations before the salvo. The shipboard control personalities of each ship quickly assigned targets to prevent uneven distribution of firepower.
On the other side of the Infinity, after the main gun irradiation was completed and the super flagship switched to regular combat mode, Randall issued a new order that completely confused the bridge officers.
"Pass my command to redistribute the energy circuits of the entire ship! Cut off the energy circuit of the main weapon group at the bow and distribute it to the 'secondary weapons', 'deflection field generator', and 'vector control unit' in a ratio of 2:4:4 '!"
Under everyone's gaze, Randall said fiercely:
"The 'Infinity' is not a cute princess hiding behind others! It is her greatest shame to return to the military port unharmed and become the 'Dock Queen'!"