system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[General Sci-fi] Why are large cruisers in space battles always oriented parallel to each other?

In space battles ships have artificial gravity, so isn't up and down always relative? Planets are definitely going to be on different XY planes from each other. That being said, why don't commanders try to approach an enemy force from their underside? Large cruiser ships wouldn't be able to reorient themselves very quickly to adjust, and the only area where I could forsee this being an issue would be when a battle occurs near a planet.
gpt
Sensors don't operate on a single plane and have incredible range. There's really no hiding in space either. Any ship will radiate heat and stick out like a sore thumb against the cold black of space. So, you can't really sneak up on anyone unless you're hiding behind something. This means that two big warships in space will typically see each other coming a mile away. Any attempt to maneuver along the z axis will only be met with an a counter maneuver. This leads to the inevitable strategy of "fuck it, will just hit her with the broadside cannons."