If they had blown everything apart, the fragments would not have made up for the loss.
Capturing the surviving Tier III ships was worth far more than reducing them to drifting scrap.
By the end of the operation, Crimson Bulwark had gained a lot from the battle and the cleanup that followed, climbing fast enough that even Aurelian had to admit her leveling pace was good.
His own level rose too, though more slowly, which was expected.
Shipgirls always gained combat growth more directly than commanders did.
Aurelian cared less about that right now anyway.
What mattered more was the location of the clue.
Once the pirate problem had been crushed hard enough that no one nearby would be foolish enough to interrupt him again, Astra sent mechs into the marked section of the asteroid field to begin excavation.
It took time.
Far more time than the actual battle had.
That was just how these things went.
Fights were often decided quickly.
Digging through rock was not.
