From cannon fodder to sweeping across thousands of stars.

Chapter 370: The future of Atlas depends on this battle
"General! Atlas' fleet is moving!"

When the tactical information coordinator's voice sounded, the three-dimensional schematic diagram of Pella IV and its surrounding orbit was also displayed by the holographic projection device.

Guterres, commander of the Federation's 13th Main Fleet, looked at the Atlas "Humanitarian Aid Fleet" that was unabashedly maneuvering towards the airspace where its own orbital attack ship detachment was located, and his expression gradually became more serious and cold.

"Is Atlas not going to settle this peacefully? Conflicts on the ground can be resolved through negotiations or other means, but conflicts in space... Don't they really realize the consequences of actively firing at the Federation Fleet?"

The fleet operations officer floating beside Guterres looked at the route presented on the three-dimensional schematic diagram and spoke with some uncertainty.

"They must know the consequences of doing so, but they have to do it now unless they intend to abandon their ground forces," Guterres said calmly.

"But obviously from previous situations, Atlas Group attaches great importance to their employees, and their boss obviously can't sit idly by and watch their employees on the ground being attacked from orbit."

After hearing what Guterres said, the fleet operations officer leaned close to his ear and asked in a low voice, "So you are using the orbital attack ship as bait to force them to fire at us?"

"Yes, this is the effect we want."

Guterres sneered and ordered:
"The main fleet began to maneuver and adjust its orbit to approach the Atlas fleet. Tell the cruiser formation covering the orbital attack ship detachment that if the enemy opens fire on the orbital attack ship, immediately return fire!

The enemy fleet doesn't even have a battleship. Let's fight hard and try to defeat them in one go!"
-
"Boss, the Federation Fleet has taken action. It seems that they have determined that we will attack the orbital attack ship."

On the bridge of the Hermes, Cliffs looked at the three-dimensional schematic diagram that was updated in real time and spoke to Amber on the screen.

"I understand. The fleet will continue to proceed according to plan."

Amber on the screen nodded, and the background of the full-circle cockpit behind him changed from the previous hangar to the deep space. At this moment, he was riding in a plane fixed on the ejection track outside the bottom deck of the Hermes.

Then Amber glanced at Cleves and gave him a trusting smile.

"Cleves, it's up to you now."

"Boss, you're really putting me under a lot of pressure by saying that." Cliffs responded with a bitter smile, and there were even blisters on the corners of his mouth because of his anger.

"Don't be afraid, you will win."

"Then I'll take your good wishes, Boss. At the same time, I wish you good luck in martial arts. We'll meet at the predetermined coordinates!"

Cleves' eyes gradually became firm, and he raised his hand to salute Amber. After Amber saluted in return, she temporarily closed the communication with the bridge and then answered the communication request from Isabel.

"Amber, can't you really have someone else go out with you?"

"Why are you crying again?"

Looking at Isabel on the screen with tears in her eyes and a sobbing voice, Amber sighed softly.

"The HCP troops will be very useful in the next battle, but the current mission is too dangerous. If they follow me, I don't know how many of them will come back alive.
Believe me, I am enough to fight Isa this time."

Amber's voice was calm, but it also contained a tone that could not be refused. Isabel, who had been with him for a long time, naturally understood what he meant.

The battle was imminent, and she knew that if she continued talking, it would definitely disturb Amber, so she took back what she wanted to say, and all her words finally merged into one sentence.

"Amber, I'll wait for you to come back."

"Well, just wait for me to come back~ Also, stop crying, it's like you're saying goodbye to a dead body."

"Bah! Disgusting!"

Not long after the communication with Isabel ended, Atlas' fleet approached the first predetermined coordinate point of this fleet battle.

On the catapult track on the bottom deck of the Hermes, the various external cables connected to the huge red heavy HCP have been detached, and the number representing the current voltage of the catapult track on the virtual screen on the side of the track is also rising. "The voltage of the electromagnetic catapult track has risen to 520, and all subsystems are operating normally. The front is clear, and there is no obstacle to the route. The low orbit monitoring data will be shared through the D2 channel."

The flight deck controller was the first batch of Roma crew members to complete full-subject training, and her voice also had the unique accent and rhythm of female Roma.

"Boss, the ejection authority has been transferred. You can now decide when to eject."

"Confirm the handover."

Amber took a deep breath, looked at the light green virtual track line on the full-circle display, and then decisively took a picture of the volumetric light representing "ejection".

"Amber 'Giant 01', attack!"

Everyone on the Hermes only felt that the light cruiser shook slightly, and at the same time, the attitude control nozzles in various parts of the ship kept flashing, offsetting the reaction force caused by Amber's plane being ejected.

Ordinary HCPs would not make such noises when ejected. Only this "Heavy Lancer" that appeared in front of the world for the first time would announce its appearance to others in this way.

The size of the machine is much larger than that of a normal machine, with thick external armor and heavy shield, a huge auxiliary propulsion unit, an exaggerated back weapon storage box, a large heavy particle cannon with abundant martial virtue, and Amber's iconic dark red and light pink color matching.
This is Amber's exclusive space combat aircraft, 'ATLAS', which was newly built based on the actual combat data of the 'Experimental MK1' after a lot of optimization and modification.

At this moment, everyone in the Atlas Fleet simultaneously looked at the nearest screen beside them, watching the "meteor" attacking the Federation Fleet in low orbit. At the same time, they couldn't help but hear the last words Amber said during the pre-war mobilization:

"Fight, everyone! The future of Atlas depends on this battle."
-
"Wait. Atlas' fleet has already crossed the attack orbit. They don't seem to be attacking the orbital attack fleet?"

After hearing the slightly puzzled voice of the Tactical Information Coordinator, Guterres frowned.

In his prediction, Atlas should attack the orbital attack ship detachment preparing for orbital strikes to prevent their attacks from causing heavy casualties to the ground forces.

But this move of crossing the attack trajectory and maneuvering towards the other side of the planet Pella IV was really something Guterres had not expected.

Just as he was thinking about the opponent's commander's tactical intentions, a new information report came again.

"Both the Second Orbital Attack Ship Squadron and the escorting cruiser formation reported that they detected a suspected HCP target maneuvering towards their position. It seemed that it had just separated from the Atlas fleet!"

"HCP?"

Guterres was stunned. He had just guessed a lot of possible tactical intentions, but he never expected the situation to be like this.

"Breaking through the enemy line alone? Is this crazy?" The combat staff officer beside Guterres was also stunned.

"Who knows? Maybe the pilot realized that this was a hopeless battle, so he wanted to die heroically?"

Guterres raised his eyebrows in disapproval. Although he had not expected the current situation, he did not think that an HCP could play any role in space combat.

But he finally gave the order:

"Let the escort fleet issue a warning and drive it away. If it continues to approach, we will kill it."

Before Guterres could finish his words, a fireball suddenly exploded in the area where the orbital attack fleet was located, interrupting his order.

The battleship's optical sensors also quickly captured the situation at the explosion site, and when the image was projected onto the main screen of the bridge, everyone exclaimed.

A Minotaur-class orbital attack ship lost control of its posture in the flames of the explosion, and rolled and disintegrated as it gradually fell towards the planet.
Then, the true face of the "attacker" captured by the escorting cruiser formation was also synchronized.

Looking at this flamboyantly painted and murderous machine, Guterres felt an inexplicable fear in his heart.

"What the hell is this?"

(End of this chapter)