Everyone seemed taken aback by Lu Tianming's words. They truly hadn't expected their anticipated main combat force to essentially call a strike at this critical moment.
Lu Tianming took a deep breath and continued explaining:
"The vanguard fleet has already come under attack. Even if we rush to their aid at full speed, the chances of saving them are minimal... Just as the enemy stated in their communication, rather than making a futile rescue attempt, we should take advantage of the time they're buying us and turn the ship around to retreat."
"Both the Nazca-class and the Archangel are high-speed battleships. With the vanguard fleet covering our retreat, we could smoothly evade this assault."
Despite Lu Tianming's explanation, those who had seen a glimmer of hope refused to give up. Though they remained silent, their eyes betrayed their thoughts.
'Is he afraid?'
'The Montgomery ended up in this state because of us. How can he be so cold-hearted...'
'Is he deliberately saying this to prevent Flay from reuniting with her father...?'
Disappointment, regret, suspicion—though unspoken, these emotions were vividly written across their faces.
Noticing the tense atmosphere, Murrue was about to intervene when Lu Tianming let out a resigned sigh:
"I see... Very well. If everyone wishes to proceed with the rescue, I have no objections. In that case, notify the maintenance team to equip the Strike Suit with air combat equipment."
"I'll sortie first. This way, I can reach the battlefield ahead of the Archangel."
Hearing this, the crew visibly relaxed—this was the Lu Tianming they knew.
"Then, Captain Ramius, please give the order."
Lu Tianming turned to Murrue, made his request, and then left the Bridge without looking back.
Captain Ramius...
Murrue felt an inexplicable distance growing between them at this seemingly unintentional change in address. Watching his retreating back as he accepted the mission with a smile, a profound ache spread through her heart.
Gripping the armrests of the captain's chair tightly, she channeled all her frustration into her hands. Clenching her teeth, she forced out the words with great difficulty:
"...Hangar, prepare air combat equipment for the Strike Suit. This ship will immediately proceed at full speed to assist the attacked Eighth Fleet vanguard!"
Badgiruel let out a long sigh, pounding one fist against the armrest beside her while supporting her forehead with her other hand, shaking her head helplessly.
"Wh-what's wrong? Shouldn't we be helping them?"
Tolle looked confused by Badgiruel and Murrue's reactions.
"...The vanguard fleet's original order to us was to retreat. By insisting on this rescue mission now, we're essentially violating military commands," Mu explained, shaking his head in resignation at Tolle's ignorance.
"While this particular communication doesn't carry the weight of a formal military order, making it less problematic to disobey... even if we are going to assist, those words needed to come voluntarily from Lu Tianming."
"...But he did say it himself just now..."
Tolle pursed his lips, his youthful nature compelling him to defend himself.
"Did he go on his own accord? He was forced into it by all of you!"
Mu took a deep breath, his voice noticeably louder as he finally lost control of his emotions and couldn't help but reprimand them.
"When he suggested following orders earlier, what kind of looks did you all give him? Disappointment, regret, even suspicion? Just because he didn't want to fight a battle you thought could be easily won?"
"But have any of you considered—what right do we have to force him into a fight that's optional? Think about it: in the past, relying solely on the Archangel would've been too slow. He'd almost certainly have to pilot the Strike Suit alone to provide support!"
"He's fought one against three before, but every time it was Lu Tianming risking his life to pull it off!"
"Besides, if this support mission succeeds, he gets no reward. If it fails, who bears the risk of pursuit and the blame? He does! And regardless of winning or losing, he still has to fight a life-or-death battle. Would you be willing to do that?"
"If you ask me, this decision to provide support is purely reckless."
At this point, he sighed deeply and walked out of the Bridge, filled with helplessness:
"But... who would've thought this kid would actually be willing to accept your recklessness..."
In the maintenance bay, Lu Tianming sat in the cockpit of the Strike Suit as usual and relayed the mission objective to Xia Chuan:
"Get ready, bring the Striker Pack. We'll fly straight to these coordinates at full speed to support the Eighth Fleet's vanguard unit."
"The vanguard unit... the one Flay's father is in?"
Xia Chuan paused for a moment before asking.
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Then why bother saving him... It's all effort with no gain."
Xia Chuan said reluctantly, then after thinking for a while, tentatively added:
"You're not being forced to sortie by the people on the Archangel, are you?"
"Yes and no... Actually, I was already hesitant about it before. Their pressure just helped me make up my mind."
Lu Tianming shook his head indifferently, as if it didn't matter to him at all.
"After all, if I had followed my initial suggestion to use them as bait and escape, I probably wouldn't be able to shake off the guilt."
Lu Tianming smiled. His earlier proposal to flee was mainly considering things from the Archangel's perspective.
If it were really up to him to choose, he couldn't bring himself to make that decision.
His moral compass simply wouldn't allow it... to let strangers die just to buy time for his own survival.
"You're quite contradictory..."
Xia Chuan sighed helplessly. Was Lu Tianming being indecisive or overly compassionate? He couldn't quite define it.
He only knew that if he were in that position, he might make the same choice.
After all, if they really abandoned those people and left them behind, wouldn't that make them no different from those who treat human lives as chess pieces?
"Haven't you considered the risks of this sortie? No matter what, going out there is risking your life."
Xia Chuan asked with some concern. During previous missions when they had no choice but to sortie for self-defense, he could understand why Lu Tianming would go out and fight alongside him.
But now that the situation wasn't so urgent, he still willingly got into the cockpit, which genuinely puzzled Xia Chuan.
Lu Tianming didn't directly respond when he raised this question, merely curling the corner of his mouth slightly as he answered half-jokingly yet earnestly:
"When you're fully prepared... Death won't come knocking."