BATTLE FOR STARS

Since the discussion of the military operation’s details had ended, the group shifted their conversation to other topics.

“I heard that a significant number of unmanned starships are included in the Kramic Kingdom’s fleet this time,” Matthew asked.

“Yes, almost a third,” Elizabeth replied.

“What makes these unmanned starships stronger than traditional ones?” Iijima asked. He was a politician and knew practically nothing about military matters. Fortunately, over the years the military had coordinated closely with the Confederation headquarters, so there was little for him to worry about.

“In fact, space warfare is fairly simple,” Vivian said, explaining to her longtime lover.

“Unlike ancient ground wars, space warfare occurs entirely in space. Its defining characteristic is the lack of cover or concealment. Both sides are highly aware of each other’s capabilities, so victory generally depends on which side is inherently stronger.”

“Then… doesn’t that mean the outcome is already known before the battle begins?” Iijima asked.

From his perspective, the Confederation and the Hill Empire had been at war for a long time, and both sides were fully aware of the other’s weapons and deployments. If nothing was hidden, surely computers could predict the stronger side before combat even started—so why fight at all?

“Not entirely,” Vivian explained. “The absence of cover doesn’t mean there is none at all. Fleets can still conceal their true capabilities. And although computers participate extensively in combat, morale and command remain extremely important. Experienced units with a stronger desire to win are more likely to succeed.”

“Oh,” Iijima murmured. He didn’t understand much of this.

“Why don’t you tell us about the practical realities of space warfare and the basic tactics? None of us have actually been on a battlefield, and even with projections, we only understand a fraction,” Matthew said to Elizabeth. It was both a way to start a conversation and an opportunity to gain some understanding of war. After all, he and Iijima were not familiar with military operations—they just approved budgets and plans, never delving into the details.

“As Sister Weiwei said, modern space warfare really doesn’t leave much room for tactical maneuvers. Except for using planets as cover, hiding large fleets in the vastness of space is extremely difficult,” Elizabeth began.

“With the expansion of reconnaissance and our long-term battles with the Hill Empire, computers can already estimate a fleet’s probability of victory before combat. Typically, forces with less than a forty percent chance of success will withdraw or avoid conflict, while those above sixty percent tend to engage.”

“Modern warfare largely depends on the quantity and quality of weapons. Starships carry an astonishing variety and number of weapons. At close range, they exchange volleys of energy weapons—ion cannons, lasers—and at very short distances, electromagnetic cannons, missiles, and mines.”

“In general, the side with stronger firepower and better defenses is more likely to win,” Elizabeth summarized.

“I’ve heard that some starships are equipped with protective shields. Can those really reduce damage?” Matthew asked.

“You’re probably referring to electromagnetic shields. They generate high-voltage fields that can deflect charged particles in flight. In theory, this can help avoid attacks, but in practice, the effect is minimal. The shield covers a huge area, but the target’s impact points are tiny—like trying to deflect a bullet with a fan. Energy consumption is extremely high, so they’re only useful in very specific situations.”

“Does the outcome depend more on long-range fire or close combat?” Matthew asked again.

“Long-range fire is mainly for attrition. It can destroy some starships, but rarely decides the final outcome. That’s why engagements often rely on close-range combat.”

“But don’t starships have thick armor on the front? How can they be destroyed so easily?” Iijima asked.

“In reality, destroying a starship isn’t easy. Energy weapons are powerful and travel at the speed of light, and space has no atmosphere to slow them, so they can hit ships directly. But ships are not easily destroyed.”

“First, consider the shape of a starship. Whether in the Confederation or Hill Empire fleets, ships are generally elongated. Their frontal area is small, so the target zone is limited.”

“Second, even during exchanges of fire, starships move at high speeds—Hundreds to thousands of kilometers per second, often along irregular curves. Energy weapons can’t maintain prolonged hits on a single spot. Even if a strike lands, energy-absorbing armor reduces its effect. Typically, a few hits on a starship don’t pose a serious threat.”

“Then what’s the point of these exchanges if neither side can destroy the other?” Iijima asked.

“It’s not useless. As I said, each hit may only damage surface armor or weapons. But if a ship takes too many hits, it loses offensive capability and becomes vulnerable to strikes that could destroy its interior.”

“More importantly, long-range fire usually isn’t one-on-one between ships. It involves thousands of ships targeting a portion of the opposing fleet. For example, if ten thousand ships concentrate on a thousand enemy ships, the damage to those thousand can be significant.”

“I see, it’s a war of attrition,” Matthew said.

“Exactly. Many ships lose combat effectiveness or are destroyed in these exchanges. What follows is close-range assault combat. This attrition phase can last a long time, depending on whether both sides engage fully or one tries to retreat while the other attacks.”

“So the retreating side is at a disadvantage?”

“Yes. Although starships use gravitational drives, they also have nuclear engines at the rear for rapid acceleration. During exchanges, fleeing is difficult. If you don’t change direction, your speed is lower than the enemy’s and you’ll be caught. If you turn around, the side of your ship is exposed—its area ten times larger than the front—making it far easier to hit.”

“So, no matter what the retreating side does, its disadvantage grows over time. The best strategy is to withdraw early in the battle. This is one reason we haven’t engaged in major conflicts with the Hill Empire over the past years. Our fleet wasn’t large enough, so the Confederation chose to retreat at the start.”