The Emperor’s Angel of Death

"Course heading 270, release the first and second bomber squadrons to attack the designated target!"

"Phil 1, Phil 2, launch torpedoes at the enemy Dreadnought!"

Upon receiving the orders, the Arrow's flight decks on both sides opened fully, and Starhawk bombers slid out of their bays, quickly forming up and heading towards the enemy fleet.

At this time, the Red Corsairs' fleet detected the incoming air wing. They maintained course 270 and accelerated again, attempting to flank the Imperial formation. The two Imperial Cutlass-class frigates also turned to 170 to secure a favorable torpedo launch position at the enemy's bow.

Subsequently, they launched torpedoes aimed at the enemy Dreadnought. However, the enemy commander misjudged the situation, believing both the torpedoes and the fighters were targeting him. He immediately called upon two Marauder-class ships to intercept the attacks, leaving another cruiser briefly isolated and unsupported.

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When the Starhawk bomber squadron suddenly turned and entered the light cruiser's firing range, it hastily activated its defensive weapons. But as a small vessel with extensive, crude modifications and extremely poor combat readiness, it was utterly unable to withstand the assault of two bomber squadrons alone. Various explosions, missile trails, and lasers made the scene appear chaotic, but not a single bomber was shot down before they breached the void shields.

Dozens of plasma missiles streaked from the bombers' bays, most detonating against the light cruiser's hull, tearing massive holes. Two missiles directly struck the bridge, turning the superstructure into an inferno.

After the missiles came a barrage of plasma-magnetic bombs and melta missiles. The small ship shuddered amidst the bombardment like a dying, trapped beast. Bombs pierced layer after layer of armor, exploding in the ship's compartments, dark shrines, and slave decks. Its main guns, engines, fuel stores, and cargo holds were obliterated.

Countless pieces of burning metal fragments spewed from its ruptured internal structure into the air, and plasma flames gushed from its wounds like blood.

As a bomber dropped its final bomb into the ship's exploding internal structure, the vessel's engines suffered a catastrophic eruption. The Starhawks swiftly departed from the target, now a shattered wreck split in two, reduced to countless pieces of filthy scrap metal.

At this point, the enemy Dreadnought and two Renegade-class Marauders were still evading the twelve torpedoes launched by Phil 1 and Phil 2. None of them could withstand such weapons and could only attempt to intercept them at long range with firepower, leaving them unable to aid their besieged ally.

As a result, when the cruiser broke apart in a cataclysmic explosion, the Red Corsairs' fleet experienced an unexpected event.

One Marauder directly broke formation, accelerating away in another direction.

"Ha, that's the nature of heretics. Fleeing in the face of battle truly suits their reputation."

With just a glance, Chinedu knew that the ship intended to abandon its allies and escape on its own. This was a common occurrence in battles against the Red Corsairs. The word "pirate" dictated their combat style and fighting spirit.

"Ignore it. Concentrate fire on that Dreadnought. First and second bomber squadrons, land sequentially on the left deck. Third bomber squadron, take off from the right deck."

"Change course to 160, enemy ship course 090, bearing 188, elevation 20 degrees."

Three minutes later, the Arrow fired again, hitting the enemy Dreadnought's void shields.

Likewise, the enemy's main guns struck the Arrow's void shields, creating ripples.

"Shields reduced by approximately 24%!"

"Reactor power increased by 10%!"

"Engine output reduced by 17%!"

Chinedu remained unfazed, knowing this was merely the enemy's death throes. Even in perfect condition, a Dreadnought's speed was comparable to a Defiant-class ship, let alone one with such low combat readiness. It had no chance of escaping pursuit.

At the same time, Phil 3 and 4 broke formation and moved to the Arrow's port bow, concentrating fire on the enemy cruiser at extreme range, but ceased firing after five minutes because their guns could not effectively threaten the enemy's void shields at that distance.

Chinedu ordered the frigates—

"Approach and attack the enemy with torpedoes!"

But as the order arrived, the enemy cruiser suddenly and drastically changed course, charging towards the Arrow as if intending to go down with it. However, Chinedu had fought the Red Corsairs for so long that he knew they were likely attempting a boarding action, which meant the ship probably carried Chaos Space Marines.

These guys were very dangerous. If they managed to board, even a dozen of them would be more than the ship's guards could handle.

However, boarding in naval combat wasn't so easy, especially when they were using a light cruiser not designed for close-quarters combat.

Chinedu ordered all ships to change course to 215 and arranged the frigates in a line formation. The enemy cruiser and the remaining Marauder also turned to 215, intending to maneuver to the Arrow's flank.

The frigates fired at maximum range for several minutes. The enemy Marauder changed course to port, attempting to cover the cruiser's approach to the Arrow and to intercept the bomber squadron that had reached attack range, but it was actually the bombers' target.

Phil 1 and Phil 3 used sustained fire to weaken its void shields, and then the Starhawk bombers pierced the enemy ship's weak defenses, launching a barrage of plasma missiles and melta missiles.

Most Marauders emphasized speed and carrying capacity, so their defenses were usually poor. Thus, just a single bomber squadron caused its entire superstructure to collapse, turning into a mass of burning metal and exploding into three sections a minute later.

With the last escort destroyed, the enemy Dreadnought began a desperate charge, its guns turning back to the Arrow at bearing 210, firing wildly, trying to weaken the void shields.

However, it faced an entire frigate squadron, and at this distance, it had no chance of landing a boarding torpedo.

As the returning bomber squadron arrived, the Lightning fighter squadron was released, along with another bomber squadron.

"Phil 3, Phil 4, prioritize your own safety, and launch torpedoes at the enemy Dreadnought from extreme range!"

Twelve torpedoes were launched, but the Dreadnought's single-ship firepower was completely unable to intercept them all. It could only change direction to maneuver and launch decoy beacons, but hitting a medium-sized warship with torpedoes at extreme range wasn't easy.

Six torpedoes missed their target, two were fooled by decoys, and two were shot down, but two still penetrated the void shields and struck the target.

The Red Corsairs' Dreadnought stopped. One torpedo hit its stern port side, likely damaging the propulsion system, causing the electrical systems to fail as well. The turrets and steering mechanisms stopped, and all the lights went out. The other torpedo hit the bow, completely obliterating its lance array in a massive explosion.