This strike of 560 bombers abandoned fighter escort and air superiority entirely. Banking on the raw performance of "hero" aircraft—and on the carriers' command, technique, and maxed-out attributes—they pushed those planes to their absolute ceiling for one purpose: surprise the enemy and inflict maximum damage.
The chosen targets were the two Abyssal unique flagships and the nameless Abyssal flagships that served as their nodes of command. Sink those, and Musashi's control over the Abyssal center would plunge into chaos—this was a three-million-strong host, not something even she could steer alone.
Missouri's first idea had been to send all 560 to blast Musashi herself, but Bismarck weighed the risk: Musashi's "retaliatory shield" passive (the tougher she's hit, the more she bricks up) made a clean kill unlikely. At best they might push her into heavy damage.
If so, then crippling the command net was better than trading into her core.
So the 560 hero bombers split into six groups. Groups 1 and 2—roughly 280 planes—went after the two unique Abyssal flagships. The remaining 280 divided four ways to hit the center's control hubs.
Judging by the results, it worked. By prior recon, no fresh unique Abyssal flagships had joined the host.
Setting aside the Airfield Princess and the Fortress Princess, that left Musashi as the only unique flagship standing.
Even so, when Bismarck smiled at the outcome, Lexington shook her head.
"Bad news. I've spotted two Abyssal N-class flagships."
Bismarck blinked. "Which type?"
"Type I," Lexington said, expression tightening. "It's the lowest tier, but their presence still dings the value of this whole run."
Ranger cracked her knuckles. "Then we bomb them next."
"Not with the same payoff," Bismarck said, still sounding unbothered. "Type I? Old acquaintances. Hardly terrifying."
Vittorio Veneto sniffed. "I can take two by myself."
She was bragging—but she wasn't entirely wrong. The N-class are jacks-of-all-trades (bombing, torpedoes, gunnery, ASW), yet their base stats lag. A four-star Type I sits around: AA 50, armor 110, firepower 90, with evasion and HP at roughly 45 and 180.
Not weak, exactly—but behind true unique flagships.
By contrast, the just-sunk Abyssal Hindenburg and Flagship M. M both hovered near 200 HP with firepower/armor/AA all comfortably above an N-class.
The N-class's lone perk is level, but Type I sits only a hair over 100. Bismarck's side wasn't losing sleep.
"In any case, we need another wave—keep the Abyssal center's command crippled," Lexington said after a beat, then asked Bismarck, "Do we mass on the N-class, or spread out to delete more ordinary flagships?"
She had an opinion, but Bismarck was the commander—and by plan, Bismarck's team would soon punch into the enemy core—so Lexington deferred.
"Spread and hunt ordinary flagships," Bismarck decided. "The N-class will be wrapped in extra guard, and they carry their own interceptors. Without surprise, the return won't match our first pass." She tipped her chin toward the wind and rain to the north. "The bomber group's job is to stall their center. They took our opening; now it's our turn to eat theirs."
Musashi's face had gone ashen—sickly green, then white.
The Fortress Princess stormed up, raging. "Order every plane south. Two million aircraft in a single mass strike—blood for blood!"
"No." Musashi's eyes cut sideways, words squeezed between her teeth. "All aircraft: wall-of-steel defense."
"You can hold the fighters back—send the bombers and torpedo bombers south!" the Fortress Princess protested.
"She's right," the Airfield Princess said, still rattled as she hurried over. "Their bombers are too strong. We need every plane we have to bog them down—even if it means ramming!"
The Fortress Princess shot back another retort—then followed the Airfield Princess's pointing finger and fell silent.
[End of Chapter]