Li Yali and her team sat together watching projections of warships passing various inspections. As the tests progressed, crew members at each station quickly mastered their equipment data, rapidly enhancing the team's control over the vessels.
Within just one hour, crew members familiarized with their assigned warships began maneuvering them out of the Shipyard under the captains' orders, forming a formation with the Heavy Cruiser at the spearhead.
A fleet consisting of four Cruisers, five Destroyers, and ten Corvettes materialized before their eyes.
"Your company's personnel performance has reached military standards. Your group will undoubtedly secure a position in this pioneering endeavor," Zhang Tingyu began with praise.
Returning the compliment, Li Yali responded, "Our performance stems from the excellent warships provided by your company. Their outstanding capabilities enabled such rapid adaptation."
The conversation proceeded pleasantly. After brief formalities, Zhang Tingyu personally escorted them aboard the Heavy Cruiser serving as command ship, watching as the Starsea Fleet vanished into the warp lane.
By the time Liu Hai arrived at Kono Administrative Star's periphery, Li Yali had already conducted two months of training with the fleet in the military-designated space sector.
"How's the training progressing? Combat-ready?" Liu Hai inquired in the conference room, addressing Li Yali and several fleet commanders and staff officers.
"Chairman, the fleet stands ready for combat operations at any moment," Li Yali replied eagerly, anticipating showcasing her six-month training achievements.
"Since you're so confident, initiate the exercise. Show me your results," Liu Hai said calmly. No matter how elite the training, troops unproven in actual combat remained unqualified.
"Aye!" Li Yali and her team stood to acknowledge the order before proceeding to the Control Room.
Within StarNet's virtual combat platform, as Li Yali and staff officers took their positions, the Starsea Fleet's evaluation exercise commenced simultaneously.
"All vessels, battle stations. All personnel to positions."
"Light Cruiser One, standing by."
"Light Cruiser Two, standing by."
...
"Corvette Ten, standing by."
"Transport Ship Three, standing by."
In the boundless starscape, a twenty-one vessel fleet skimmed a stellar periphery. Against the void's darkness, the adjacent star shone dazzlingly, its brilliant light reflecting eerie glows off warship armor.
"Alert! Alert!"
"Space warp fluctuations detected at one light-hour range. Coordinates being verified."
"Confirmed space warp energy intensity: 5,600 degrees."
"Coordinates locked: 23°15°45°."
"All warships, activate Energy Shields at maximum capacity," Li Yali commanded composedly. "Main guns and secondary guns, begin preheating."
"Corvettes deploy to both flanks, reconnoiter surroundings. Transport ships prepare for immediate Warp Drive engagement."
"Target fleet emerged: three Heavy Cruisers, five Light Cruisers, five Destroyers, fifteen Corvettes," radar stations reported rapidly. "Target fleet initiating Warp Drive sequence."
"Transport ships, deploy directional space stabilizer anchors. Intercept them." Li Yali's fingers danced across controls, magnifying the enemy projection for assessment.
"Fleet engaging Warp Drive. Target fleet at one light-minute range."
"Warp Drive activated. Fleet synchronized at one hundred times light speed."
"Entering enemy weapon engagement range."
Data rapidly compiled before Li Yali as holographic projections of both forces' statuses illuminated the control center.
The enemy fleet had swiftly adopted defensive formations upon being intercepted during warp transit, their main guns already charging with energy.
The moment the Starsea Fleet exited warp space, dozens of meter-thick energy beams came streaking toward them.
Facing the incoming Laser Cannon barrage, Li Yali commanded an emergency evasive maneuver. Corvettes on both flanks advanced at full power while launching hundreds of sublight space torpedoes.
Dozens of energy beams grazed past the Starsea Fleet. Before the enemy could launch a second strike, the Starsea Fleet's counterattack erupted with equal ferocity.
Scores of blinding white laser beams enveloped the enemy's outer Corvette screen, forcing their formation to contract inward.
Yet the distance of dozens of light-seconds proved sufficient for the enemy to react, successfully evading while maintaining cohesion.
This mutual charge across millions of kilometers rapidly closed the gap. Within just five volleys, the distance had shrunk to under six hundred thousand kilometers.
Their space torpedoes annihilated each other mid-flight like chess pieces being traded. The Starsea Fleet executed a sharp turn while launching another wave of hundreds of torpedoes.
"Cruiser fire control: lock targets for concentrated fire."
"Corvettes flank and distribute incoming fire."
"Destroyers provide alternating cover fire around Cruisers."
Under Li Yali's command, the Starsea Fleet spun like a top. Dozens of main guns focused on three enemy Heavy Cruisers. At under six hundred thousand kilometers, the laser beams twisted through space like glowing braids before piercing their targets.
One Heavy Cruiser, overwhelmed by concentrated fire, blossomed into a spectacular fireball. The massive energy discharge from dozens of main guns instantly overloaded its Energy Shield, offering no protective delay.
Having eliminated one Heavy Cruiser, the Starsea Fleet now faced the enemy's concentrated retaliation. Over a hundred main and secondary guns merged their fire into a colossal energy spear.
Despite Li Yali's evasive predictions, three Corvettes took direct hits and exploded. Other warships sustained varying damage, their Energy Shields plummeting dramatically.
Before main guns could recharge, the previously launched torpedoes reached their targets.
The enemy's Close-in Weapon Systems wove a defensive net, detonating incoming torpedoes one after another.
While successfully intercepting the torpedoes, the power-intensive point defense systems delayed the recharge of their main and secondary batteries.
The Starsea Fleet's next concentrated strike arrived—dozens of main guns targeting the remaining two Heavy Cruisers. Energy beams crossed hundreds of thousands of kilometers in an instant, with half finding their marks. Two more fireballs erupted across the void.
Simultaneously, scores of secondary guns rained fire upon enemy Destroyers, their Energy Shields flickering blue under the assault.
After two devastating volleys, the Starsea Fleet pivoted sharply, giving chase toward the enemy's rear.
Noticing this maneuver, the opposing fleet likewise reversed course, their fully charged weapons unleashing searing beams of retaliation.
Due to the angle, most of the firepower was successfully evaded by the Starsea Fleet, while the remaining attacks were dispersed and absorbed by their rapidly rotating formation.
This exchange of fire ended in victory for the Starsea Fleet. A dozen seconds later, after completing another recharge, they unleashed superior firepower and sank three of the enemy's Light Cruisers.
The enemy fleet's firepower instantly dropped by nearly a fifth, and their counterattacks were effortlessly absorbed by the Starsea Fleet, with only two Corvettes having their shields broken and hulls damaged.
From the observation room, Liu Hai knew Li Yali had secured victory the moment the enemy's main Cruiser was destroyed. Without the firepower of their Cruiser, the enemy stood no chance against Li Yali's spinning-top defense.
"The exercise is over. Time to retrieve the Pioneer Order." Liu Hai made no comment on the exercise itself. Instead, he simply withdrew from the StarNet with Igor and prepared to board a small shuttle bound for the Kono Administrative Star.