Chapter 381: Fatigue

Night battles are actually much harder than daytime ones, especially in the aspect of seizing air superiority. The duration of the fighting is far longer than during the day.

Fortunately, Qin Ge had a backup plan, letting Yue Ke Cheng and Aisaikesi, who led the 2nd and 3rd Aviation Fleets, first help the other three aviation fleets seize air superiority, then return to the 2nd and 3rd channels to conduct the seizure of air superiority.

In this, the shipgirls of the 1st channel and the 4th-5th channels can launch carrier aircraft to assist, while the 2nd and 3rd channels retake air superiority.

So although the difficulty is greater than during the day, for Yue Ke Cheng and Aisaikesi, the two awakened shipgirls, it is still not much trouble.

The seizure of air superiority lasted over an hour, and during that time, the entire Siren main force fleet gradually sailed into the target sea area.

When air superiority was fully secured, those troops also began to follow Qin Ge's orders to sortie, just like in the day, and they variously lured the Siren main force to dispatch small or large fleets, then lured them into the ambush sea area to wipe them out.

The battle lasted a very long time, but compared to daytime lure operations, nighttime lure seems somewhat simpler. Because during the day one had to operate near the radar detection range of a three-ship fleet, while at night it suffices to release a flare nearby, causing a Siren fleet to split off.

After the battle ended, it was already morning of the second day, but everyone knows the Siren tide is not over yet, because just as that Siren main force was destroyed, another wave of Siren main force fleet was discovered at the edge of the sea area.

The Siren tide is now finally revealing its true strength; although the shipgirls of the stationed grand fleets are not highly trained, they are extremely numerous, wave after wave, leaving no time to rest.

Fortunately, Qin Ge is employing a mobile warfare method: when one fleet goes to lure the enemy, another fleet can take the opportunity to rest, thus complementing each other so the commander does not become overly fatigued.

But if we were to maintain the previous static defensive stance, after a big battle just finished, another big battle would immediately follow, with the commander's nerves constantly strained to the limit, making mistakes absolutely inevitable over two to three days.

On such a battlefield, any mistake means there is no chance to recover. Therefore, commander casualties are rarely seen on the first or second day, but from the third day until the final battle, commander losses begin to appear.

Thus, the commanders of those grand fleets, even if they feel extremely fatigued after fighting a day and night, upon hearing that another Siren main force is approaching, they all rally their spirits and prepare to meet the enemy.

But Qin Ge can do nothing now, for the current situation is already the best possible; such a prolonged war will inevitably test the endurance of personnel and units.

If we persevere and maintain the previous state while executing orders, victory can be clearly seen not far away; but if any link slackens, the resulting consequences and impact will also be relatively large.

Whether it concerns shipgirl casualties or commander casualties, nobody wants to see this. But since it is war, we must prepare for the worst, and what Qin Ge must do is reduce those casualty numbers to a minimum.

"Grand Fleet 73, to your right, Grand Fleet 71 is engaged in fierce combat; rush to support."

"Yes!"

"Grand Fleet 45, cooperate with Grand Fleet 46 to complete the annihilation of the Siren fleet; after that, you will go to the rear of the Siren main force to lure the enemy, while Grand Fleet 46 sets up an ambush, and together we will destroy them once the bait takes."

"Understood!"

"4th Aviation Carrier Battalion, heading 125 of the 4th channel, the 62nd Grand Fleet is struggling in combat; request bomber support."

"4th Aviation Carrier Battalion received, bomber squadrons have been dispatched to support."

the …

Qin Ge's voice kept echoing in the command department, perhaps because last night was chilly, or perhaps because he had spoken too many times within this day and night.

At this moment his voice was slightly hoarse, his eyes filled with red bloodshot lines; he looked somewhat disheveled, yet all the more sharp.

Nobody laughed at him; everyone in the command department who saw Qin Ge's gaze felt a certain reverence. For even so, he kept battlefield command orderly, nipping in the bud any possible or impending uncertain factors.

Finally, as the afternoon sun set, the third wave of Siren main force was completely wiped out, and all members and shipgirls of the defending grand fleets of Shenhua City gained a brief respite.

Inside the command department, Qinglong took the meal boxes sent from outside and distributed them one by one to the busy shipgirls. When the last edible meal box was placed before Qin Ge, he was still watching the real-time sea situation on the big screen.

"Qin Ge, take a break and have a meal." Qinglong said to Qin Ge.

Qin Ge turned his head to look at the meal box in Qinglong's hand, did not decline politely, but instead nodded and took it directly, saying, "Thank you, Director Qinglong."

He then sat at a nearby table, opened the meal box, paid no attention to his appearance, and quickly began to eat, wolfing down all the food in the box.

From sitting down to finishing the meal took less than three minutes; after eating, Qin Ge casually put the box aside, turned and stood beside the display screen, and began to intently watch the dynamics on the screen.

This scene made Qinglong feel a twinge of pity; Qin Ge need not have been like this. He could have commanded his own shipgirls like other commanders, roaming the seas.

However, at this moment he chose the most exhausting way, participating in this battle. Without his own shipgirls beside him, he relied solely on himself to support the entire deployment of this battle.

"Take a rest." Qinglong said to Qin Ge, "Although I don't know when the next Siren main force fleet will come, being able to rest awhile is still awhile, and I'll keep watch here."

Qin Ge shook his head, speaking with a slightly hoarse voice, "I'm not tired, and the current Siren main force attacks at a rapid pace; I fear that if I fall asleep, upon waking my awareness will be somewhat unclear."

Qinglong fell silent; indeed, the Siren main force's attack tempo is very fast—perhaps just after Qin Ge falls asleep, a new wave of assault will appear.

Just as Qinglong was having trouble deciding, Qin Ge smiled and said, "Don't worry, although I now look somewhat disheveled, at the very least I can hold out until this war ends.

"So rather than resting now, it would be better to wait until the war ends, then have you tell the Dean to let me take a proper vacation."

Upon hearing Qin Ge's joke, Qinglong did not laugh and said, "Alright, then it's settled; when the time comes, I will personally explain the situation to Wales so you can get proper rest."