Chapter 356

Li Chenming, Zhang Xiaotian, Wu Hao, Zhang Shaocheng, Chen Bo Jun… you five form one group, making three groups in total, and then begin patrolling in the sea area.

If you spot any Siren mass-produced type, promptly report via the communication device to the command ship; after I assess it, we'll decide whether to engage the Sirens.

If you detect a Siren fleet larger than a small one, withdraw immediately and report en route; I will arrange carrier shipgirls to assist your patrol.

Yes!

The uniform response came from inside the command ship's cabin; Qin Ge nodded involuntarily, then cut off the communicator's link.

Qin Ge's team is now in the sea area under convoy escort; what must be maintained is that no Siren mass-produced warship or Siren mass-produced fleet appears within this sea area.

Only then can the sea lane's safety be preserved, and the mission accomplished.

"Commander, how should we arrange things?" Weineituo asked Qin Ge.

Qin Ge said, "We'll go to the center of the sea area, then launch carrier shipgirls to release carrier aircraft around the command ship to patrol the entire sea area."

Moreover, I saw on the sea chart that this sea area is a long, narrow strip, with a grade‑three erosion sea area right beside it; therefore, if we encounter a Siren fleet, we must be ready to rush to the target point for support.

"Yes." Weineituo nodded, abandoning the idea of going into the sea right then.

As the command ship continued toward the sea area's center, Qin Ge stood in its command bridge, gazing at the boundless sea, pondering what encountering the enemy would be like.

The other shipgirls were already ready to deploy, awaiting Qin Ge's orders to set out into the open sea.

After Qin Ge brought the shipgirls to the center point of the sea area, he divided all the shipgirls into three teams according to the number of carriers, then sent them out on patrol duty in a watch‑standing manner.

Perhaps this sea area had been taken over from another third‑level grand fleet earlier, so for the whole afternoon Qin Ge and the grand fleet's personnel saw no trace of the Sirens.

However, during this time a few merchant ships passed by, and Qin Ge arranged them in groups of five to escort the merchant vessels through.

Nevertheless, Qin Ge did not lower his guard; past combat experience told him that danger always lies in the next second, and the present calm is merely the lull before the storm.

Sure enough, as the afternoon waned and the sunset's afterglow gradually covered the sea, Qin Ge's command ship received Wu Hao's voice over the communicator.

"Report, Commander! A large Siren fleet has appeared at bearing 153 in the northeast sector of the sea area!"

Immediately afterward, the communicator on Qin Ge's own command ship also crackled with Bumblebee's voice.

"Report, Commander! I've detected a large Siren fleet at bearing 153 in the northeast sector, and there are Siren humanoid units and fallen shipgirls present; please dispatch fleet support immediately."

After those two voices came through the command ship, Qin Ge's eyes, which had been joking with the shipgirls, turned sharp.

He swiftly rose from the sofa, hurried to the command ship's console, picked up the communicator, and said, "Wu Hao, pull back quickly—first ensure your own safety, don't make any pointless moves.

I will immediately have the carrier shipgirls conduct air‑space reconnaissance; also, tell the others to gather at the center, assemble the fleet, and prepare for an encounter battle.

Wu Hao's voice came through the communicator: "Yes, Commander—we're not going up now; we're just watching from afar, though the enemy likely has an aircraft carrier too, so we're currently covering our retreat.

"Received!" Qin Ge replied, then grabbed his own communicator and said, "Bumblebee, you and Listek Xindun's carrier aircraft will conduct long‑range reconnaissance, withdraw toward the center, link up with the fleet, and prepare for the encounter battle.

"Yes, Commander!" Bumblebee answered.

After hanging up both communicators, Qin Ge turned to look at the shipgirls near him, as well as Akagi and Kaga, who were still lounging on the sofa.

"Everyone, immediately go to battle stations—aircraft carriers, destroyers, and cruisers, launch now, escort the carriers to release carrier aircraft, and quickly rendezvous with Bumblebee's group to seize air superiority!

"The rest of you, come with me toward the northeast, link up with Li Chenming's group, assemble the fleet, and get ready for combat!

Qin Ge's orders were extremely concise, and the shipgirls reacted just as fast—without extra words, they immediately began carrying them out.

Watching the shipgirls go down in a ring formation that enclosed both the command ship and the carrier shipgirls, Biyu walked to the console, activated the command ship, and together they steered toward bearing 153.

With the carrier aircraft screaming aloft, several carrier shipgirls launched their planes, which gathered into a carrier aircraft group and then surged toward bearing 153 at high speed.

After traveling less than twenty minutes, Qin Ge's fleet met Li Chenming's fleet; they exchanged horn signals, and Li Chenming's fleet quickly merged into Qin Ge's fleet group.

Not long after Li Chenming's fleet joined the group, Qin Ge's forces also encountered Bumblebee's patrol fleet and the fleet that Wu Hao had withdrawn with.

Once all units had regrouped, the carrier shipgirls began vying with the enemy's aircraft carriers for air superiority.

The carrier aircraft's howls filled the sky, a constant barrage of flaming shells blooming aloft, while now and then a carrier aircraft would flash fire and plunge into the sea below.

Although Qin Ge's shipgirls were still gaining the upper hand against this Siren fleet, even though their carrier aircraft were fewer in number than the enemy's, they held the advantage in the struggle for air superiority.

As the contest for air superiority neared its end, Qin Ge's command ship was less than forty nautical miles from the enemy fleet.

All shipgirls, under the orders of Qin Ge and other commanders, gathered into a fleet formation, and with great momentum rushed toward the direction of the Siren Fleet.

As the distance between the two fleets grew closer, accompanied by a blood-red setting sun, the wind's sound over the sea vanished completely.

On the deck of Qin Ge's Command Ship, two figures stood at the bow, watching this scene about to erupt into fire.

"Kaga, what do you think?" Akagi said lightly.

"A battle of the weak." Kaga stared ahead, tone devoid of any emotion.

"Heh, perhaps we're standing too high, so battles like this no longer arouse our interest." Akagi said with a smile, showing no concern.

"Kaga, remember we used to be like that too, but don't you feel that Qin Ge's shipgirls are growing a bit fast?"

Kaga narrowed eyes, then nodded, "Especially Guanghui..."

"Heh, looks like you've noticed too." Akagi gazed into the distance, unable to help but smile.