Empire Conquest

Chapter 569 - 565: Missing

After the landing operation began, Bai Zhizhan’s mood had not been very high, or rather, he was not particularly happy despite the smooth progress of the landing operation.

The reason was that he had not received any news from the Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet.

Although according to Li Mingbo’s words, no news is the best news, Bai Zhizhan had always felt that the current calm was too abnormal.

Regardless, for Newland Navy, it was now an excellent opportunity to launch a reprisal.

Furthermore, the operation to bomb the Northwest airfields in Aus started on November 11, the day after the landing operation, and the two Special Mixed Fleets from the East Ocean had also appeared.

Thus, the only one yet to appear was Liu Xiangzhen’s Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet.

From Spur’s standpoint, whether searching for the Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet or launching a sneak attack on the two Special Mixed Fleets active in the Alaphra Sea, there was ample time.

Yet until now, the Newland Fleet had not appeared.

Moreover, even the Sixth Bureau had not obtained any intelligence on the Newland Fleet.

That meant that after leaving Sydney in early October, the Newland Fleet had not returned to any port.

Previously, everyone thought that Spur had led the fleet to Perth.

But now it seemed that might not be the case.

If Spur did not go to the Fan Flame Ocean, where would he go?

Clearly, the Howay Islands were very likely.

To put it, that was also what Bai Zhizhan was worried about. The Newland Navy might use this opportunity to gather all their forces and strike back at Transfer Island.

The key point was that currently, there were only two small carriers active near Transfer Island.

The four small carriers that had previously protected the Marine Corps had split into two groups at the end of October; two had gone to the East Capital Bay in Saiyi Imperial Country to meet up with the pre-deployed floating docks for the first comprehensive inspection and maintenance after becoming operational and also made a few necessary improvements.

The most crucial improvement was to extend the flight decks by a few meters to accommodate new ship-borne aircraft.

As such, only two small carriers remained near Transfer Island.

According to the plan, these two small carriers would swap with the two that had undergone maintenance and modification by the end of the year.

In fact, the Navy headquarter had long recognized the risks of this adjustment, and thus necessary preparations were made to ensure that the information would not leak.

For this reason, East Capital Bay was chosen as the maintenance and modification site for the carriers.

If the information had already leaked, the Newland Navy might very well use this as an opportunity to send Spur with three small carriers to launch a sneak attack on the fleet near Transfer Island.

After capturing sea control, they could send the Marine Corps to counterattack Transfer Island.

Even if they could not capture Transfer Island, they would be able to force the Imperial Navy to return their forces, thereby eliminating the threat to Aus.

If the counter-attack momentum was strong enough, they might even capture Transfer Island, forcing the Imperial Navy to attack Transfer Island again several months later.

On a strategic level, it might even prompt the Imperial Navy to advance into the Southwest East Ocean.

The reason being, after the Newland Navy reclaimed Transfer Island, Imperial High Command might think that they had missed the best opportunity to take the Howay Islands. Because recapturing Transfer Island would be very difficult, Imperial High Command might conclude that advancing into the Southwest East Ocean was the ideal choice.

In short, there might be no need to make a move in the Northeast Fan Flame Ocean.

As such, on the 11th, Bai Zhizhan sent a telegram to the Navy headquarter, warning the fleet active near Transfer Island.

If possible, it would be best to strengthen patrol intensity.

Subsequently, the Navy headquarter sent a reply.

In addition to intensifying the search efforts around Transfer Island, the Navy headquarter also issued an order to all submarines active in the Southwest East Ocean, as well as the Middle East Ocean, to closely monitor any vessels and warships heading towards the Howay Islands and report any suspicious findings immediately.

In addition, several submarines were urgently dispatched to Tuk Fortress.

Simply put, on the East Ocean side, the Empire’s Navy was already prepared.

Even so, Bai Zhizhan was still anxious.

The reason was that, just like it, Liu Xiangzhen’s Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet had also disappeared.

Although according to the unwritten rule, the Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet was on a covering mission and would only break radio silence after spotting the enemy, no one could guarantee that Liu Xiangzhen would stick to the plan and honestly wait in the Northeast Fan Flame Ocean for Spur to meet his demise.

When advancing into the Fan Flame Ocean, didn’t Bai Zhizhan deviate from the plan?

At that time, if Bai Zhizhan had followed the plan honestly, even if he could have entered the Fan Flame Ocean smoothly, there would never have been a great victory in the Southwest Fan Flame Ocean Battle.

Wouldn’t Liu Xiangzhen emulate him?

If Spur took his fleet to the Northeast Fan Flame Ocean, or if intelligence proved he was there, Liu Xiangzhen might remain nearby the battlefield.

The problem now is, there’s no intelligence proving Spur is still in the Fan Flame Ocean.

On the contrary, several indications suggest that the Newland Navy might seize this opportunity to commence operations in other directions.

Thus, for Liu Xiangzhen, who is eager for achievement, it’s quite possible that he would take a risk with the Twelfth Special Mixed Fleet.

By November 19, to be exact, the early morning of the 20th, after refueling, Bai Zhizhan ordered the fleet to turn and leave Aden Bay.

The landing operations had entered the second phase, and the Army’s combat troops began to go ashore.

Furthermore, the Army’s Seventh Tactical Air Force Wing had already been stationed on Socotra Island, planning to deploy about 1200 combat aircraft within the month.

Though named the Tactical Air Force, half of them were twin-engine bombers.

According to the Land Air Force rules, only four-engine heavy bombers and twin-engine long-range fighters are categorized under the Strategic Air Force; all others are part of the Tactical Air Force.

Even transport planes with four engines also belong to the Tactical Air Force.

Because of the transport planes, Li Yunxiang even made a fuss at the Prime Minister Mansion.

Only after Li Yunxiang’s effort did the Army Headquarter grant permission for the main battle zone’s transport planes to also obey the orders from the Strategic Air Force.

Now, Li Yunxiang had already established a transport air force headquarters under the Strategic Air Force Commander.

Of course, these are all digressions.

Moreover, the first-to-land engineering troops were also preparing to construct a field airport north of the fortress.

In short, there was no longer a need for Special Mixed Fleet to provide air cover and support.

As for fire support, that was the job of the support fleet.

Having stayed up all night, Bai Zhizhan had no intention of sleeping.

During the day, he would have to meet with the returning Fast Combat Support Ships to replenish some of the ammunition used in combat.

Concerned about the upcoming anti-ship combat missions, Bai Zhizhan specifically arranged for two Fast Combat Support Ships to return to Colombo in advance, to load several hundred tons of torpedoes and aviation armor-piercing bombs, and also to bring back a batch of local fruits and vegetables, especially some that are storable.

Summarily, the latter was more important.

Since attacking Socotra Island, the Eleventh Special Mixed Fleet hadn’t received any supply of materials, and the fresh fruits and vegetables initially loaded in Colombo had already been consumed.

Without victories, eating well is a primary means to maintain morale and fighting spirits.

Not to mention the rank-and-file soldiers, even Bai Zhizhan, after eating frozen foods and various canned products for half a month, had long lost his appetite.

Fortunately, the Imperial Navy maintained the highest dietary standards in the world.

It’s not nice to say, but many officers and soldiers, especially the rank-and-file, joined the Navy specifically to enjoy various delicacies from the mountains and seas.