32: Chapter 32: Another Attack

Although Li Ming wasn't very keen on doing so, as soon as unknown maritime target signals appeared on the radar and reconnaissance planes confirmed a Siren Type II Fleet was approaching, Fujian immediately requested her Commander to prepare for battle.

Though it wasn't the ideal time, since they had already arrived, she made thorough preparations and told Li Ming to prepare for the worst.

Li Ming did not refuse; although caught off guard, he had already mentally prepared himself. Being around Ship Girls, fighting alongside them sometimes seemed inevitable.

Taking advantage of this period of leisure, Li Ming hadn't completely immersed himself in dreams. After converting a significant portion of resources into the production capacity of the research center, naval and naval aviation technology had seen relatively good development.

Although they were still hard-pressed to fight the Sirens, with Fujian's support, it was by no means an impossible battle.

The main force of the operation remained The four little ones. The Commander's role was minimized as much as possible—even Laffey's current command ability could run circles around Li Ming.

Li Ming boarded the latest mass-produced flagship as part of the rear transport and auxiliary unit.

The flagship had become an Eagle Union Navy Omaha-class cruiser. As the vanguard for the main (battleship) fleet, the Omaha-class led the Destroyers in pre-battle reconnaissance to provide reliable intelligence for the main fleet.

For now, she needed to serve as a temporary command ship.

Six land-based B-25s, under the cover of P-47s, flew into the high skies for reconnaissance.

The Type 2 and Type 3 Fighters, being short-range aircraft, could not cruise for long. Li Ming arranged for them to be stationed at a temporary airfield on a nearby island, ready to take off for support at any time.

The P-51s set out along with the other P-47s, following Fujian's direct orders alongside the Ginga Model 11s.

Four Omaha-class ships set sail accompanied by all the Destroyers.

By now, the Destroyer formation had grown to a total of 48 ships. Aside from a few old "Gnevny-class" ships, they were all Fletcher-class.

Although they still lacked capital ships, Fujian compensated for this well, and fighting on home turf could maximize their advantage to offset the weakness.

Forty-eight newly deployed SBD Dauntlesses were stationed at the Industrial Zone airport, ready for transfer. This was the final trump card; hopefully, it would prove useful.

After a brief exchange of tactics, The Big Three left first, leaving Li Ming and Fujian alone to make the final preparations.

"Commander..."

Now that the moment had arrived, the most hesitant one was actually Fujian. She had never been prepared to put her Commander in danger.

In fact, she was unwilling to have her Commander come to the front lines personally, but Li Ming had come anyway. He didn't mean to play general; he just didn't want to exist solely under the wings of the Ship Girls.

That was safe, but it wasn't what he wanted. One day, he would face everything himself—enemies that even the Sirens couldn't defeat. Even if he hid, how long could he hide?

"My plan is to deploy 24 Destroyers on the flanks to attack and draw fire for them, while trying to keep the enemy restricted to their front." Li Ming looked up. "Do you think it's feasible?"

"With air support, it's worth a try." Although Fujian was experienced, she hadn't faced the Sirens many times. "But the losses will be heavy this way."

"Soldiers are trained for years for a single moment. If it can help you all, this loss is worth it."

"Loss... worth it..." she murmured softly.

This was vastly different from the Li Ming in her memory. He wouldn't just throw away the lives of soldiers so casually...

"I think it would be better for the Destroyer formation to stay near your command ship," she replied after some thought. "This is just a Type II Fleet. Z23 and the others have plenty of experience dealing with them; there's no need for us to increase our losses. Right now, the most vulnerable link is actually you, Commander."

Fujian's own safety didn't need consideration; she was equipped with CIWS and electronic jamming. Unless she went to the front lines to trade blows with battleships, nothing could go wrong.

Li Ming opened his mouth, speechless.

It seemed he was holding them back again.

An inexplicable sense of frustration washed over him, but he quickly suppressed it.

"I understand. Then I'll leave full control of the battlefield to you." Li Ming nodded.

At that moment, her attention was drawn away by first-hand information that had just arrived, and she didn't notice the change in Li Ming's mood at all.

"Almost no aviation units? Or are they hidden elsewhere?" She put down the document sent by the Yellow Chicken staff—as middle-to-high-level command, the Yellow Chickens were still a bit weak. "Maintain reconnaissance and notify me as soon as there's news."

"Chirp."

She turned her attention back to her Commander, only to see him poking at something on his tablet. "Commander?"

"Hmm?" Li Ming looked up.

"I'm about to disembark. Take care of yourself. Contact me if anything happens."

"Okay." Li Ming indicated he understood.

Watching her leap off the Bridge, Li Ming's expression darkened.

He was being coddled like a child again.

Closing his eyes, Li Ming took off his glasses, wiped them carefully, and put them back on. Picking up the tablet, he was remotely adjusting the production lines, accelerating the speed of production. The originally surplus funds quickly turned red, and the stockpiled resources were also rapidly consumed. High-speed production was good for everything, except it wasted a lot of resources.

However, in an emergency, a bit of extravagance was always necessary.

One day, I will stand in front of you all, instead of continuing to be an ostrich, Li Ming thought to himself.

The only reason he wanted to be a Commander was to be with them, but if he could only stand behind them and let them protect him, he would once again become a burden to everyone. This was not what Li Ming wanted to see.

Humans don't live just to satisfy emotional value and survival needs.

Since he couldn't go directly to the front lines, he would use indirect means to do something. As the supreme controller of the entire base, the management system required no one else's consent, allowing him to bypass Fujian and change the production lines. Hopefully, she wouldn't scold him for it later.

More armed forces were the source of his confidence. They were strong, but Li Ming always believed they needed more backup and support. As their Commander, it wasn't just their emotions that needed his soothing; he should also be responsible for their safety.

If something happened to them, that would be Li Ming's true failure. To prevent such a thing, he wouldn't change his actions even if they developed a bad opinion of him.

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