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[h1][b][color=f72f39]Alexander Kherol[/color][/b][/h1]
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The group of Ascendancy military ships are also moving in the opposite direction as the Akriem's Razor. As they were moving in formation, they were slower and more gradual in their approach to the Deilos fleet. But the Grand Admiral need not worry much however. The initial airstrikes had yielded nigh flawless results. The two heavy cruisers are now without an arm and a leg. Communication disruption seems to have done the trick perfectly, considering these folks don't have counter-technology. Now from what seems to unravel is that their flagship is just straight-up routing, abandoning their own comrades and their allies. Kherol's not surprised in the slightest, but this provided him the perfect advantage to send in the gunships to finish them off...

[color=0b4cb5]"Grand Admiral?"[/color] At that point, his diligent and faithful captain furrowed her two brows. [color=0b4cb5]"The second space wing just reported in. Apparently...there is an unidentified corvette around the area."[/color]

What? Unidentified? Hmm, could that one slip under the radar of the observation posts? Or they're some random civilians somehow slipping through the blockade he was setting up. Either way, someone's going to be in trouble. 

[color=0b4cb5]"Here's what it looks like. They're also sending signals marking themselves as neutral."[/color] 

[color=f72f39]"Hmm..."[/color] Alexander stroked his lips once. [color=f72f39]"Doesn't look like something the Deilos possess or they could ally themselves with."[/color]

He could be wrong and that they pulled some weird strings behind his back, but the simplest answer to this theory could be that they're actually neutral vessels. 

[color=0b4cb5]"Oh?"[/color] Carina perched her brows as she tapped her earpiece. [color=0b4cb5]"The Akriem's Razor is attacking that lone corvette."[/color]

Ok that settles it then...

[color=f72f39]"Can our squadrons still attack the cruiser?"[/color] 

Carina gave a quick back and forth before replying. [color=0b4cb5]"They can, but only from one side, because...umm..."[/color] She scratched her head in big confusion as she relayed what she was told back to Alexander. [color=0b4cb5]"They're actually closing the distance to the Akriem's Razor. More specifically, to the bridge."[/color] 

Wait...what? 

[color=f72f39]"Hmph, interesting~"[/color] Alexander chuckled, being just as surprised as his captain. Whoever is commanding this ship is either a medically diagnosed nitwit, or... [color=f72f39]"Are they actually trying to board the ship?"[/color] Ramming could totally be an alternative explanation, but it would fall into the 'dumb crew' category. 

[color=0b4cb5]"I don't know, we'll have to see. For now, I am ordering the squadron to attack the cruiser from one side. The rest can choose their own targets on the remaining portion of the fleet."[/color]

[color=f72f39]"I agree."[/color] Alexander nonchalantly nodded. [color=f72f39]"Also lower the ECM and establish direct contact with that corvette."[/color]

[color=0b4cb5]"Roger."[/color][hr]
Elsewhere in the battle, the pilots, having received their orders, decided to ignore the Xuanzang. A sizable portion of the squadron peeled off to attack the other parts of the Deilos fleet that got left behind and now were desperately trying to catch up. The attack result were just like last time, but this time the Deilos weren't caught by surprise anymore. Anti-starfighter flaks managed to bring down several spaceplanes, mostly the bombers, which were the mid-war models that the Deilos already had experience dealing with. Nevertheless, the positive results still outweighed the negatives. More ships were lagged behind, thinning out the already disorganized fleet. They are just food to be preyed upon. 

Meanwhile, the ECM field began to dissipate - whatever disruption it had left now completely gone. Not shortly after, the Xuanzang would receive this broadcast. The voice would be clearly female, and the Xuanzang captain would be able to quickly identify it. 

[color=0b4cb5][i]"This is ANS Manfred von Richthofen of the Ascendancy Navy. You are in unauthorized territory and are potentially undermining our military operation. Identify yourself, your intention and what is it that you are attempting to do?"[/i][/color]