Chapter 53: Fleet Command
Lin Zhichen nodded repeatedly as he listened. Although these multi-role fighters might not match specialized fighters in single performance aspects, they were the most suitable for the still-small Meteor Mercenary Group. Their various combat equipment configurations could handle complex battlefield situations.
In the interstellar era, air forces were typically organized into squads of 12 fighters, with 12 squads forming a wing, and 12 wings forming a group.
The Tiger Whale-class Carrier I carried 5 wings, totaling 720 fighters. While this might not be significant in large-scale battles, it could serve as a crucial factor in achieving victory in smaller engagements.
Due to its enormous size and the large number of pilots, the carrier, even with highly automated and intelligent systems, still had over 1,500 NPC crew members.
At least until the turmoil caused by the introduction of NZT-50 subsides, Lin Zhichen did not plan to recruit too many natural humans for important positions.
After all, NPCs had certain limitations and were unlikely to become double agents.
The fleet of flying cars responsible for transporting NPCs made several trips to complete the crew assembly. After spending some time on resupply, the fleet, which had been docked at the space starport for several days, finally departed and headed into space.
Including the carrier, the fleet consisted of 3 destroyers, 5 frigates, 1 army transport ship, along with 3 pirate gunboats and 20 pirate raiding boats. This small-scale fleet grandly departed from the starport, heading towards the asteroid belt.
Sitting in the captain’s chair of the transport ship, Wei Peng, feeling bored, quietly opened the Earth star network and immediately saw extensive coverage.
The most eye-catching was the live broadcast of the carrier fleet’s departure.
“Wow, a carrier fleet! This fleet could easily sweep through the entire solar system, right?”
“You’re underestimating the Earth Defense Fleet. They have 3 battleships alone. In comparison, the carrier is just a big pie.”
“Meteor Mercenary Group is mighty~ Has everyone found out? Commander Lin is a grassroots hero from the East Continent, a first-generation entrepreneur!”
“666~ Heroes are made by the times.”
“Heh~ As if anyone can take off. There are plenty of pigs that fall off the wind.”
“Meteor Mercenary Group is recruiting. Who’s going?”
“If they don’t provide ships, whoever wants to go can go.”
“I’ll go, I’ll go, even if it’s just to sweep the floors.”
“A newly risen mercenary group that rivals the fleets of old thousand-year families, psionic warships are terrifying.”
“…”
“Big brother, the internet has gone crazy,” Wei Peng said. At this moment, they had already set up a local area network using holographic communication, forming a small conference room:
“Your fame has increased again. Online polls now rank us as the number one civilian fleet in the solar system!”
“You also know it’s just the solar system?” Lin Ke chuckled. “When we become the number one fleet in the Federation, then we’ll have truly made it.”
“Keep dreaming, anything is possible in your dreams,” Wei Peng retorted bluntly.
“Alright, the carrier is slow. It will take our fleet a month and a half to get there, which is too wasteful,” Wu Tianyi interjected:
“Big brother, should we practice fleet combat formations and train the pilots in the meantime?”
“Good idea, we should indeed rehearse in advance,” Lin Zhichen agreed. Fleet command and combat were different from single-ship battles, emphasizing formation and coordination.
Taking advantage of this time to train, they wouldn’t be caught off guard when they reached the asteroid belt for combat.
For ease of command, the destroyers and pirate gunboats were organized into a team, with each group of three flanking the carrier on either side. The frigates formed a wedge formation in front of the carrier, advancing in a V-shape like migrating geese.
Although the carrier was the largest in the fleet, Lin Zhichen still commanded the entire fleet from within the “Qinyuan,” directing their progress.
The “Qinyuan” had completed its second-generation upgrade, with a hull length exceeding 200 meters and equipped with six small turrets.
The construction of the new destroyers and frigates had exhausted the Meteor Mercenary Group’s liquid funds.
“Fleet combat feels completely different from single-ship combat,” Lin Zhichen remarked as he watched the fleet displayed on the holographic projection, continuously directing the formation changes.
Since they were just getting started, the warships’ maneuvering was slow, and the fleet formations looked crooked and rather comical. He suspected that without the intervention of the fleet’s electronic control computer, he wouldn’t even be able to complete the simplest maneuvers.
“Big brother, the beginning is always the hardest. After all, we are all latecomers, unlike those Federal military elites who start training from a young age,” Wu Tianyi consoled:
“With the Qinyuan, we have the time to adjust our strategies no matter what.”
Lin Zhichen nodded and opened his personal panel:
“Name: Lin Zhichen · Elite (Red)
Gender: Male
Age: 21
Talents: 1: Heaven Rewards Diligence (Purple): Effect 1: Effort brings rewards; skill practice leads to improvement. Effect 2: Members within the faction benefit from this talent.
2: Gate of Time and Space (Blue): Opens once a month, searches for time-space imprints, and opens temporary instances.
3: Psionic (Red): Effect 1: Awakens psionic abilities. Effect 2: Skill learning speed +10%.
Occupation: Captain · Elite (Red, Apprentice)
Skills: 1: Psionic Cultivation (Red, Warrior 37.14%)
2: Lethal Strike (Red, Beginner 37.13%): Critical hit +2%
3: Fleet Command (Red, Apprentice 12.71%): Fleet formation change speed +7%
Psionic Combat Techniques: 1: Ship Command · Elite (Red): Effect 1: Ship evasion +25%*10 Effect 2: Sub-light speed travel speed +25%*10; Psionic Consumption: 50; Duration: 30 min
2: Sub-light Speed Assault · Elite (Red): Effect 1: Sub-light speed cannon accuracy +25%*10 Effect 2: Sub-light speed cannon damage +25%*10; Psionic Consumption: 60; Duration: 30 min
Psionic Energy: 315
Evaluation: Watch my celestial flight!”
Fleet Command had already appeared, differing from Ship Command by just one character, but the two were entirely different fields.
“Some command-type skills, once fully psionized, will form a pseudo-domain, providing bonuses to the entire fleet.”
Recalling what Liu Manjun had said earlier, his heart burned with excitement.
Forming a pseudo-domain wouldn’t allow him to advance to Hero, but it already involved some of the Hero’s abilities. Mastering this skill would provide significant bonuses to the entire fleet.
In the starry sky, the carrier in motion suddenly opened its hangar doors, and space fighters swarmed out, quickly forming formations in space and guarding the fleet.
Due to their small size and high speed, these fighters could easily serve as reconnaissance aircraft, conducting early searches for the enemy.
The fighter groups and fleet formations continuously changed, with the initially scattered forces gradually coalescing into a cohesive whole.
Suddenly, a holographic communication came through. Lin Zhichen looked down and saw that it was from the Rockefeller family.
Upon opening it, it was indeed Kadier Rockefeller.