Chapter 967: This is a God-Given Opportunity

Kaipa-777 Region, Temporary Command Center.

Colonel Walton watched the blue light dots on the tactical screen as they continuously diminished.

The disappearance of every light dot represented the annihilation of a hidden fire point or the fall of a guerrilla vessel.

"Signal lost for fire points No. 14, 17, and 22..."

"Communications with guerrilla detachment '64' interrupted; last signal indicates encounter with enemy Super Soldier boarding action..."

"'Kingfisher' Alpha 3 speedboat destroyed by enemy precision fire..."

Bad news poured in wave after wave.

"Our attacks... are like spraying a mountain of Steel with a water gun..."

Colonel Geluke's voice turned hoarse.

"Their shield technology, individual equipment, combat proficiency... they are completely on a different level! The 'Swarm' simply cannot bite into them!"

Colonel Liara's long, pointed ears drooped, and she spoke in a weary tone.

"My speedboat losses exceed one-third; the enemy's point-defense system efficiency is too high, we cannot even get close to effective range."

How could Colonel Walton not know that the 'Swarm' tactic was failing?

The enemy's response was simple and brutal.

They did not care about your harassment; they only wiped you out with absolute power when you posed a substantial threat.

"The Swarm Protocol... has failed."

Walton spat out these words with difficulty.

Admitting this meant that their initial strategic judgment had deviated severely, and that the warning General Suo'er had exchanged his life for had been misinterpreted by them.

Geluke growled.

"We cannot go on like this! We are sending our boys to die in vain! These piecemeal losses are meaningless!"

Liara also looked at Walton.

"Walton, we must change our strategy. The 'Swarm' can no longer delay them; instead, it is constantly consuming our already limited strength."

Walton nodded and said, "Order... all guerrilla units to immediately cease active attacks! Repeat, cease all active attack actions! All fleets and fire points, shift to a full defensive posture and rely on cover to preserve strength! All dispersed vessels, assemble behind the Ka Lun Star Orbital Defense Platform, 'Ka Lun Eye'! We... need to concentrate our power."

The order was issued.

The frequency of the attacks from the Fengqi side dropped significantly, leaving only sporadic fire.

Walton said to the Communications Officer,

"Contact the Norn Legion Commander, inform him of the change in battlefield situation, and that my forces have ceased 'Swarm' attacks and are assembling toward Ka Lun Star. Request to rendezvous with his fleet at 'Ka Lun Eye' to discuss countermeasures again."

Now, one could only hope that those 100,000 'Guardian' Super Soldiers could coordinate with their fleet to achieve decent results.

Ka Lun Star, surface Command Fortress.

The circular command hall was located hundreds of meters beneath the planet's surface, protected by thick alloy armor and layers of Energy Shield, making it impregnable.

Walton, Liara, and Geluke stood before the Holographic Star Map, their expressions grim.

On the star map, the red light cluster of the Xiuluosheng Fleet remained in the Kaipa-777 Region.

The blue light dots representing the forces of the Fengqi side were contracting from the vast asteroid belt and outer space toward Ka Lun Star.

A staff officer reported.

"Preliminary loss statistics are out; the loss rate for ships participating in the 'Swarm' attack is nearly forty percent. Over seventy outer fire points have been destroyed. Personnel casualties... are still being tallied, but are expected to exceed one hundred thousand..."

One hundred thousand!

And this was only from brief contact with the enemy's Capital Ship fleet, without even a head-on clash!

Geluke slammed a fist onto the Control Console, unable to say a word.

Liara closed her eyes; her psionic senses could feel the wailing of those departed souls.

Walton looked at the star map.

Whether Norn's arrival would bring even more catastrophic consequences.

Just then, a rhythmic, powerful sound of footsteps came from the entrance of the command headquarters, accompanied by the slight hum of Power Armor Servo System operation.

A giant wearing dark gray, master-crafted Power Armor bearing the 'Fist of the Firmament' emblem walked in.

Norn's voice was resonant.

"Colonel Walton, Colonel Liara, Colonel Geluke, my fleet has arrived at the outer orbit of 'Ka Lun Eye'. I have received your battle reports and request for retreat."

Norn walked to the star map and glanced at the current situation.

"So, this is the result of the 'Swarm' tactic? Heavy losses, and then retreating behind the planetary defense line?"

Walton met Norn's gaze.

"Legion Commander Norn, the enemy's strength far exceeds our expectations. Their fleet shields are extremely sturdy, and the 'Swarm' attacks are difficult to penetrate.

Their Super Soldiers... their individual combat power is likely not below that of the 'Guardians', and their equipment is even more sophisticated.

The 'Swarm' tactic cannot wear them down; instead, it has made us pay a heavy price.

Concentrating our power and relying on Ka Lun Star's defense system for a decisive battle is currently the most prudent choice."

Norn sneered and shook his head.

"Prudent? Colonel Walton, war is never won by seeking prudence!

Your so-called 'Swarm', in my view, is just a chaotic attack by a group of headless flies that cannot form a combined force at all! Look at them!"

Norn pointed at the red cluster on the star map.

"They only have one fleet! Their numbers are far fewer than ours! If we had concentrated all our power from the start, including my 'Fist of the Firmament', and launched a thunderous strike, it would have been entirely possible to severely damage or even annihilate them before they could gain a foothold!

Instead of doing what you are doing now, dispersing power to carry out meaningless harassment, only to end up beaten and retreating in disgrace!"

Geluke could not help but retort.

"Legion Commander Norn! We haven't fought them head-on; you don't know how fierce their firepower is! Our ships are just throwing their lives away by getting close!"

Norn interrupted Geluke.

"That is because your ships are not advanced enough! Your tactics are not resolute enough! The existence of the Guardian legion is meant to break this deadlock! Our warships possess stronger firepower and shields, and our warriors can withstand and crush any resistance! If we had led the attack from the beginning, the battle situation would never be like this!"

Liara spoke up.

"Legion Commander Norn, we understand the strength of you and the Guardians. But the lessons of General Suo'er are still fresh in our minds; the risk of underestimating the enemy and advancing rashly is too great. By concentrating our forces now and relying on the Orbital Defense Platform and planetary shields of Ka Lun Star, we can at least remain in an invincible position."

Norn's gaze swept across the three Commanders and finally landed on Walton.

"An invincible position? Hmph, can you win a war by cowering in a Fortress? Colonel Walton, I understand your caution, but the Supreme Council did not commit five hundred thousand Guardians to the Southern Theater for us to hide behind planetary shields with you and wait! The enemy is right before us, and it appears there is 'only' this one fleet; this is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Norn stepped forward and spoke.

"I propose that we immediately integrate all available fleets, using my 'Fist of the Firmament' as the main spearhead of the attack, while you are responsible for flank cover and mopping up the remaining enemies.

We shall take the initiative and engage the enemy in a decisive battle in the orbit of Ka Lun Star! We will crush them in one stroke and reclaim the initiative on the battlefield!"

Walton's heart sank.

The thing he feared most had happened after all.

Norn's confidence had swelled to a point bordering on blindness.

He completely underestimated the terror of the enemy, viewing the Xiuluosheng Fleet only as a target that could be easily devoured.