@Krieghund
Scenario:
In a naval battle, attacker rolls and hits all the defending combat units, but did not get enough rolls to clear the defending transports. The attacker has combat units left at end of that combat round, and now the defender only has transports.
Question:
Can the attacker declare a retreat before the next round of combat? The idea being the attacker wants to get its ships out of the way of a counter attack and is fine leaving the defending transports.
I realize the rule books says:

But the language “you don’t have to” seems like maybe there is discretion here for the attacker to accept the enemy transports are just nuked, or can decide to keep rolling.
Or am I just smoking crazy stuff?