“Attention! Attention! A large number of high-heat sources detected, twelve in total! Thermal imaging comparison complete, similar to the ignition of medium-sized plasma engines.”

“Massive dispersion of Mie particles, signs of electromagnetic interference detected, Sharp Spike Type-7 missiles have lost target lock—”

“Order weapon platforms No. 7 and No. 8 to switch guidance mode to manual control. Before entering the electromagnetic interference zone, preset the detonation time.”

If Brian Carter’s expression was merely grim just now, it had now turned completely ashen.

His opponent, it turned out, was not just one, but two commerce raiders of the same class as the destroyer he was commanding!

As the name suggests, a commerce raider is designed to disrupt enemy shipping lanes and logistics. The design philosophy is to disregard defense and focus solely on inflicting damage. They also feature high speed and a medium-to-small hull that makes them easy to hide and escape. Thus, although their armor is thin—almost nonexistent—their overall firepower is one to two times greater than that of a destroyer of the same class! This ensures that with a single strike, they can destroy or severely damage military transport ships and merchant vessels.

Additionally, for example, a Federation destroyer-class commerce raider is equipped with six medium-sized plasma main engines at the stern to supply energy for the twin positron siege cannons at the bow and to achieve a speed one-sixth faster than a standard destroyer. Although this takes up a lot of space, the hangar still accommodates two light aerial combat mechas.

With all these features combined, commerce raiders not only possess extremely high speeds but also barely maintain combat power just slightly weaker than regular destroyers, with a win rate of nearly three to one.

But this does not mean that a single destroyer can match two commerce raiders! When two commerce raiders join forces, their combined terrifying firepower and up to four mechas are enough to tear the destroyer he commands to pieces within a minute!

No matter what, this simulated battle could no longer be considered a single-ship engagement.

Twelve micro-missiles exploded in succession behind those two asteroids, causing a blinding flash. When the two commerce raiders emerged from behind their respective hiding asteroids and escaped the blast zone, they were in utter disarray.

Brian Carter glanced at the two commerce raiders and keenly noticed that the mecha bay door on the belly of the ship to the left was severely damaged. Repairing it would take at least five minutes. In other words, in the upcoming battle, the enemy could only launch mechas through a single channel.

“Order: adjust all main engines to ninety percent power, prepare to enter the asteroid belt. Target: ten o’clock direction straight ahead, advance!”

Although he could have destroyed the two enemy ships outside the asteroid belt using his precognition ability, his own destroyer would have sustained some damage as well. And to score ninety points in this subject, he had to sink the two commerce raiders before him in the most flawless way!

Chapter 6: Like Splitting Bamboo

Clearly, they had not expected Brian Carter’s warship to charge fearlessly at full speed into the asteroid field from this side. The commerce raider on the left hesitated for a split second, then moved to intercept.

“Carrier mecha squad, all members ejected!”

“Order the second and fourth missile launch platforms on the right. Full salvo at three o’clock to starboard! Continue asteroid belt material analysis, watch out for space mines—”

Sixteen missiles launched in unison from the destroyer’s starboard missile bays, slicing into the void. This was not a semi-automatic tracking, target-discriminating guidance mode, but rather a preset detonation time. As they passed near the commerce raider on the right, a chain of explosions erupted.

Although these fully automatic guided missiles have been relegated to a secondary role on the battlefield, a warship commander with ingenuity can still make great use of them. This is why, after thousands of years, missiles have never disappeared from warship armaments.

Brian Carter’s intention was not to damage the enemy with the missiles, but to use the shockwaves from the explosions to seal off that sector of space, delaying the right-side commerce raider and its two light carrier mechas from entering effective combat range and forming a pincer attack with the warship ahead.

Even if this delay lasted only a single second!

At this moment, the destroyer was already very close to its target. The first to engage were the carrier-based aerial combat mechas on both sides. Contrary to the expectations of those silently watching the simulated battle via live feed, the three mechas did not first destroy the lone blue-side mecha on this side. Instead, one engaged it, while the other two bypassed it and reached the stern of the commerce raider directly ahead.

“Positron siege cannon charging complete, target: enemy ship’s belly mecha launch bay, predictive movement calculated, fire!”

A blinding beam once again lit up the asteroid belt. The blue-side destroyer’s main gun fired a stream of light straight ahead, striking the belly of the commerce raider with pinpoint accuracy. With overwhelming force, it tore open a massive gash in the middle of the commerce raider, nearly blasting straight through.