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The northern defensive fleet of the Colonial Dominion, the guards of the so-called Gate, weren\'t able to defeat the northern fleet of the United Navy, Libertas. But it was an expected outcome.

After all, regardless of the magic they utilized. The strategies employed by modern warships and their deeper understanding of warfare provided a gap that wasn\'t exploitable by the magic of their enemies.

However, naturally, their victory wasn\'t without a price. One of the frigates was directly hit by an Inquisitor\'s offensive spell and became critically damaged. Ten sailors died from that attack and the warship was undergoing temporary repairs.

Some of the remaining frigates were also damaged, but were still operable for further operations.

At the moment, Charlotte was faced with a question whether she should continue Operation Septentrionalist Libertas and attack the northern colony.

\'While we have gotten complete victory over the naval battle. The fleet is exhausted and continuing onward would prove detrimental. The northern colony might also have its remaining fleet on standby in the shores.\'

\'Although we would be able to handle it, the casualties might grow farther than expected. A warship or two might actually be sunk by them.\' Charlotte carefully thought and realized the implications of foolishly charging in.

"Give me a detailed report about our current status." She turned her gaze towards the intelligence officer behind her, who immediately followed her orders and gave a response. "Current status has been analyzed, Vice Admiral."

"Three of our frigates have been met with minor damages during the naval battle. No casualties stood within these warships, but their combat capabilities have been significantly lessened. Ammunitions have also been significantly drained."

"On the other hand, one of our frigate have been extremely damaged from the bout. Ten casualties were recorded and their combat capabilities are reaching zero. At the moment, most of the sailors are repairing the warship, making sure that it won\'t sink into the depths of the northern abyss."

"Our fleet is more or less okay, but obviously. We aren\'t in our utmost state. Extending our operation naval time would be problematic." The intelligence officer concluded his report, and it didn\'t sound good for the northern fleet, Libertas.

"That doesn\'t sound good. It looks like their sacrifices weren\'t in vain." Charlotte turned her gaze towards the sunken debris of the battleships that dared to face her. Hundreds of enemy sailors now find themselves floating in the ocean as a corpse.

But what they had done wasn\'t in useless at all. They have given time to their northern colony since the northern fleet, Libertas, wasn\'t in its top standards to fight even more into the northern waters.

"As disappointing as it may, Vice Admiral, it is the best option for our fleet." The intelligence officer wasn\'t against the upcoming decision of the Vice Admiral. Although it was unfortunate that they couldn\'t take down the northern colony.

Bidding their time was better than impatiently charging into enemy territory. The best option for them was to repair their warships and stock up for supplies.

"You\'re right... It is the best option. If one warship had sunk, the Fleet Admiral would have been bothering me day and night about how it could have happen under my command." Vice Admiral Charlotte sighed as she thought about the attitude of her fleet admiral.

He was the best person she had ever met. A man worthy of her admiration, respect, and love. The fleet admiral cared for his subordinates, and didn\'t think of wasting their lives for victories. It was a trait she appreciated from the fleet admiral.

It was saddening that he already had the dragoness on his side. Otherwise, Charlotte would have tried chasing after him. After all, who wouldn\'t try taking a golden goose for themselves?

\'Sadly, the golden goose has a dragon guarding it.\' Charlotte lightly chuckled and decided to rid her mind of such thoughts. After all, it would be problematic if it grew and became troublesome in the United Navy.

At any rate, it was time to turn her attention to their current circumstance. This wasn\'t the time to hesitate. It was finally time to make a move.

"Connect to the data link. Order the retreat of the northern fleet. Be sure to assist the critically-damaged frigate along the way. I don\'t want it to sink out of nowhere." Vice Admiral Charlotte issued a couple of orders to her naval personnel.

The intelligence officers inside the bridge saluted after receiving her orders and immediately began following it. The calm bridge became hectic as everyone was trying their hardest to prepare for the retreat.

Charlotte maintained her gaze to the northern seas shrouded in cold and rough waters. The debris of their enemies were nowhere to be found, consumed by the wretched waves of the north. She wondered if she should have kept some trophy, but quickly decided against it.

There was no need for her to keep trophies, a raise was enough.

"Also, contact the command center about our retreat. Give them details about our current status." She gave a follow-up order, which was instantly accepted by a nearby intelligence officer. It was good to have many intelligence officers relaying her orders.

\'It would have been better if I don\'t have to tell the orders and simply let them do the work.\' Charlotte quietly thought and realized that her subordinates were human, not robots of some sort. But perhaps, there would be a time where this ship could have that extreme efficiency.

"Anyhow, for now, let\'s go back."

...

Meanwhile, in the northern colony was the colonial lord who was frozen in shock. Reports of the fleet they had sent to intercept the enemy fleet flooded his office. And the results were shocking for the old man.

The entirety of the fleet he had sent was destroyed. Almost no one from that fleet was left alive, and now dwelled in the abyss of the northern waters. It was a horrifying fate, but an expected one for sailor.

Nevertheless, the destruction of over a dozen battleships and hundreds of sailors wasn\'t to scoff at. The defensive capabilities of the northern colony had been affected by the lost, and their upcoming adversaries might give them a lot of trouble.

\'I didn\'t think they would fall so easily and fast against the metallic fleet of the United Navy. I thought with the assistance of the Inquisitors, they would be able to defeat them. It appears that the Inquisitors didn\'t do good.\'

The northern colonial lord gritted his teeth in annoyance. He had heard about the fall of the southern colony and the sieged of the archipelago colony. Of all the major colonies in the sea region of Terra, only the north stands against the onslaught of the United Navy.

And sooner or later, it might fall.

He was sure of it. After all, the northern colony was the gate of the Colonial Dominion of Terra. One can\'t take over a territory without breaking through the gate. In simpler terms, the fall and collapse of the northern colony was paramount.

"The United Navy are too strong. With their advance technology and strange tactics, along with the power of the dragoness. Conquering the entirety of the Colonial Dominion seemed to be not-so farfetched for the heretical organization."

"However, I am the colonial lord of the northern colony, akin to the gatekeeper of the Colonial Dominion. Even if defeat seems inevitable, I must fight even if it results to my death." The colonial lord became determined, not wanting to be a coward in the face of history.

Fortunately for him, his colonial commander hadn\'t merely stood in front of him to give bad news. There was also some good news from the devastating naval battle.

"My Lord, their sacrifice weren\'t in vain. The metallic fleet of the United Navy had begun retreating from the northern waters, returning to where it came from." Hearing the words of his colonial commander, the colonial lord felt as though hope had dawn upon him.

"I see... It appears that they have fought with bravery and didn\'t give up until the very end. Because of them, the northern colony gets to live in peace for another day. Though, perhaps it wouldn\'t last long forever." The colonial lord sighed and felt saddened by the recent events.

"I hope the Sovereigns will make their move and stomp out the heretics before they could grow even further." He knew that such hopes were useless as the Sovereigns never considered the Colonial Dominions of the Ferus Sea as of much importance.

To them, it was merely an extra resource for them to become even more stronger. After all, humanity had to contend against other great races with their own respective god-like beings akin to the Sovereigns.

Before the colonial lord could put much thought to the problem, another report came into his office. Its origin was none other than the Colonial Dominion of Terra.

"M-My Lord... The Viceroy of Terra has called upon you. He orders for the entire northern forces to be relocated to the Colonial Dominion of Terra."