The remnants of the United Fleet's officers and enlisted personnel all understood that they were facing unprecedented danger, yet they were utterly helpless against the fierce Artificial Whale, as they waited with bated breath for the next onslaught of anti-ship missiles. However, upon receiving the order to retreat from Yamazaki, they breathed a collective sigh of relief, opting to evacuate the area at full speed without even attempting to rescue their own struggling compatriots in the Sea Surface.
Even in retreat, the vessels of the United Fleet did not dare to sprint at high speed but instead maintained an anti-aircraft formation as they slowly backed away. Their anti-aircraft radars were scanning frantically for any potential threats. Moreover, they marshaled even more satellites over this territorial waters, conducting uninterrupted surveillance in the vicinity of what remained of the United Fleet, desperate to locate that terrifying Artificial Whale and prepare their response.