Chapter 27: Combat Orders

In the midst of the conversation, several people had already arrived at the edge of the pier. Banrenma and Nengdai each manifested their ship equipment, leaping directly onto the sea, causing the calm sea to stir up wave after wave.

Perhaps because they were battleships themselves, Banrenma, standing on the sea, appeared very excited; even the usually expressionless Nengdai showed a hint of a smile.

"Banrenma, try launching carrier aircraft—first launch one fighter, then slowly form a formation until you reach your limit." Qin Ge stood on the pier, saying to Banrenma on the sea.

"Yes, Commander!" Banrenma replied quickly.

Only seeing Banrenma pick up the large bow in her hand, her fingers resting on the bowstring, a blue-feathered arrow appeared in the center of the bow, which she pinched between her fingers.

As Banrenma drew the bow and then suddenly released, the blue arrow shot up into the sky like a meteor. As the arrow rose higher, a blue light emanated from it, growing brighter; then, the arrow flying into the high altitude, within the light, suddenly transformed into a fighter jet, soaring straight into the clouds.

Hearing the rumbling engine sound from the carrier aircraft and watching its dancing figure in the air, Qin Ge opened his mouth, somewhat dazed. He had always been firmly convinced that science could explain everything, until he saw the shipgirls appear, until he saw an arrow turn into a fighter jet.

After the fighter jet dove and rolled in the sky for a while, it then began to circle above Banrenma's head. At this moment, Banrenma's hand again rested on the bowstring, and she shot a second arrow toward the sky.

This arrow rapidly climbed in the sky; when it reached the height just surpassed that of the previous one, a blue light flashed, and it split directly down the middle, transforming into two different carrier aircraft.

As these two different carrier aircraft appeared, the carrier aircraft that had originally been circling above Banrenma's head also flew straight toward them, joining them to form a triangular formation, which then sped off toward the distance.

And Qin Ge could quickly identify the models of these three carrier aircraft by their appearance: they were precisely the F4U Corsair fighter and the Seafire fighter that Fushun had handed to Banrenma, plus Banrenma's own TBF Avenger torpedo bomber.

Seeing this, Qin Ge closed the mouth he had just opened, and said to Banrenma, "Banrenma, can you still increase it?"

Banrenma on the sea, while controlling the aircraft, replied to Qin Ge, "Commander, this is already my limit; if I launch any more carrier aircraft, I won't be able to control them."

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Then can you control these three carrier aircraft separately while doing something else at the same time?"

Banrenma shook her head, "Perhaps my proficiency with them is still too low; right now I can only smoothly control a formation while doing one thing, and controlling them separately is still somewhat difficult."

Qin Ge nodded and said, "No problem; we'll treat this as an experiment today, and I'll now issue orders."

"Yes, Commander, I'll give it a try!" Banrenma replied quickly, at the same time recalling the three carrier aircraft flying toward the distance, letting them circle above her head.

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Bearing 180, distance 10 kilometers: a possible enemy destroyer has been spotted; dispatch one fighter for reconnaissance and confirmation."

"Yes, Commander!" Banrenma replied in agreement, at the same time directing the carrier aircraft formation above her head to split off one fighter, which flew toward the south.

Qin Ge nodded and, turning to Nengdai waiting for orders nearby, said, "Nengdai, bearing 170, distance 8 kilometers: confirm the enemy destroyer's presence; please sortie immediately and sink it."

Nengdai, who had been waiting for combat orders, upon hearing the command, quickly replied, "Yes, Commander!" As soon as the words fell, she shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, toward the target bearing.

"Banrenma, bearing 170, dispatch one fighter to protect Nengdai and help her complete the clearance mission!" Qin Ge immediately said to Banrenma.

"Yes, Commander!" Banrenma, biting her lip, directed the fighter from the carrier aircraft formation above her head toward the position Nengdai had just rushed to; however, judging from the somewhat shaky airframe, it was clear she was nearing her limit.

Watching Qin Ge's concise and clear command, Anshan beside him nodded and said, "Qin Ge Commander, although I had some doubts when the dean spoke earlier, hearing these few orders of yours I now believe it—you indeed have your own insights on strategy and tactics. However, I have a question: where exactly did you previously learn this kind of systemic command?"

Qin Ge was at a loss for words; he couldn't very well say he had studied at another world's naval command academy. "Well, I taught myself by reading books."

After hearing that, Anshan shook her head and said, "If Qin Ge Commander doesn't want to say, then I won't ask; after all, everyone has their own secrets. But as long as you stand on the Azure Lane side, jointly opposing the Sirens, you are one of us."

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Rest assured, I will forever stand on the Azure Lane side, forever defending this land of Donghuang."

"Hmm!" Anshan nodded heavily; having heard the conviction of protection in Qin Ge's words, she no longer pursued questioning him.

Not long after, Banrenma turned her head and said, "Commander, Nengdai has reached the target sea area, and the 180 bearing has been confirmed to have no enemy destroyer present."

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Tell Nengdai she may return to port, and you should also recall your carrier aircraft."

"Yes, Commander!" Banrenma immediately replied, then focused on controlling the flight of her carrier aircraft.

As time passed, the carrier aircraft that Banrenma had first launched, its airframe wobbling, appeared in the southern airspace, flying uniformly toward her, and re‑joined the formation of carrier aircraft above her head.

After a while longer, a figure appeared in the distance; Nengdai strode over the waves toward this place, and above her head a fighter jet continually flew, shadowing her like a guardian eagle.

As spray flew from the waves, Nengdai glided to Qin Ge's side; a sliding step halted her forward momentum, and she said to Qin Ge, "Commander, the target sea area has been cleared; Nengdai returns to port by order."

Qin Ge nodded and said, "Welcome back to port!"

At this moment, the carrier aircraft above Banrenma's head had re‑formed into a formation and swooped down. In mid‑air, the three carrier aircraft emitted blue light; as they drew nearer, the light merged and finally fell as a single beam onto her hand.

When the light faded, a blue‑feathered arrow appeared in her hand, then turned into light and disappeared; afterward she likewise turned her head and smiled at Qin Ge.

"Following this rhythm, let's begin today's training!" Qin Ge said with a smile.

"Yes, Commander!"