Sending his son to the front lines, under Wen Tingtao's command, was an act of trust and tempering by Qin Qianfan, likely also containing a deep, unspoken entrustment.
The Savannah campaign saw Qin Beiwang achieve earth-shattering results, but it also truly brought him into the shadow of death.
Now, the Empire had made it clear they intended to completely snuff out this rising star.
If he were to be sent on another such near-suicidal mission, deep into the Empire's heartland...
Wen Tingtao could almost see Qin Qianfan's deep-sea-like eyes, how cold and... disappointed they would be upon receiving the news.
No, perhaps it would be more than just disappointment.
"I can't push Qianfan's son... into the fire pit again."
This thought emerged with crystal clarity in Wen Tingtao's mind, overriding all strategic considerations.
The camaraderie of an old friend, the Marshal's entrustment, and even a deeper, more profound dread of the unbearable consequences "if something were to happen" ultimately gained the upper hand.
He could accept the failure of a campaign, endure the fall of a star system, even prepare to sacrifice an entire fleet.
But Qin Beiwang's life could not be buried, so senselessly and by Wen Tingtao's own hand, deep within the Empire.
Otherwise, he would never be able to face Qin Qianfan again for the rest of his life.
Almost the instant he made this decision, all struggle and hesitation vanished from Wen Tingtao's face.
It was replaced by a near-ruthless "prudence" and "severing of ties" characteristic of the highest echelons of the bureaucratic system.
He turned around, no longer looking at that tempting yet dangerous star chart. His voice regained its usual, unquestionable authority as he issued a clear order.
"Command."
Everyone in the command room held their breath.
"Promote the former Pluto Fleet Commander, Senior Colonel Qin Beiwang—to Navy Brigadier General."
"Transfer and appoint him as Deputy Commander of the Nine-Tails Duke-Class Fleet, directly under the Myriad Stones Star Domain Theater."
"Promote the former Deputy Commander of the Pluto Fleet, Zhuang Zhixuan—to Navy Senior Colonel."
"Appoint her as Commander of the newly reorganized Pluto Fleet."
The orders were concise, yet contained immense information and personnel changes.
The room fell into silence, but the staff officers' faces showed little surprise.
Instead, there was an understanding of "as expected" and "as it should be," even a hint of relief.
Transferring the Marshal's son, the young hero who had just achieved unparalleled feats and was at the peak of his fame, away from the most dangerous frontline position as a carrier fleet commander—where he would be the Empire's primary target—and promoting him to Brigadier General.
Assigning him to a relatively rearward, safer Duke-class fleet as a deputy (though a promotion, his real authority was clearly less than that of an independent carrier fleet admiral).
Simultaneously, promoting his loyal and capable deputy to take command of the fleet destined to become the eye of the storm.
This maneuver was all too familiar to everyone present.
A protective transfer. A promotion in name, protection in reality.
Strategically, the Pluto Fleet, as a new and formidable force, still needed to be positioned at the forefront, bearing the responsibility of destroying the Empire Star Gate.
But politically, Qin Bei Wang personally had to be extracted to ensure his safety.
Even if the Pluto Fleet were ultimately exhausted or wiped out in battle.
As long as Qin Bei Wang, the "person," remained, as long as he did not die under Wen Tingtao's direct orders or due to "inadequate protection,"
then there would be an explanation to Marshal Qin Qianfan, to the higher-ups, and to public opinion.
The Federation could afford to lose a fleet, even an enhanced mother-class fleet.
But losing a "hero" with deep connections and immense symbolic significance,
especially under circumstances that could be accused of being "sent to die," would trigger chain reactions no one could bear.
If any of them were in Wen Tingtao's position, they would likely make the same, or even more "prudent," arrangements.
Chief of Staff Wen Shiheng's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only nodded silently.
He understood the Commander's predicament and considerations.
The young staff officer who had proposed the surprise attack saw the light in his eyes quickly dim as he lowered his head.
He knew that with Qin Bei Wang's transfer, this most audacious and potentially miraculous plan had lost its only possible executor.
Whether the remaining "Pluto" could launch a long-range assault deep into the Empire's heartland and destroy the Empire Star Gate under its new commander was now an unknown.
"The order takes effect immediately. Notify the entire Theater and report it to the Joint Staff Department and High Command for record."
Wen Tingtao added finally, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Notify Brigadier General Qin Bei Wang and Senior Colonel Zhuang ZhiXuan to prepare for the handover.
The garrison location for the Nine-Tails Fleet will be notified separately."
"Yes, Commander."
The adjutant immediately recorded the order and turned to relay it.
Wen Tingtao sat back in his chair, feeling a deep weariness.
Soon, an encrypted transfer order from the Theater Command was delivered directly to Qin Bei Wang's Command Terminal.
Promoted to Brigadier General.
Transferred as Deputy Commander of the Nine-Tails Duke-Class Fleet.
The order, in black and white, was concise, clear, and indisputable, stamped with the Theater Command's highest authority electronic seal.
Qin Bei Wang read it silently, showing no joy from the promotion. Instead, his expression was as if covered by a thin layer of ice, eerily calm.
He closed the screen and turned his gaze to the viewport, where countless starships of the Pluto Fleet operated according to daily procedures, their lights flickering in the shadow of Shiva Star.
He was not a native of this world and had no deep-rooted notions of military seniority.
But precisely because of this, he could step outside the framework and see the cold, realistic logic behind this order.
A promotion in name, a transfer in reality.
The fleet would be pushed to the front line to carry out a near-suicidal mission.
And he would be safely moved to a relatively rear position.
A few months ago, he might have accepted this coldly, as he was still an "outsider" back then.
But now, the artillery fire at Savannah, the sleepless nights on the bridge, the trusting and even fervent gazes of his subordinates, and the cheers when the three hundred thousand tons of organic food arrived at the port…
These memories were vivid and burning.
This fleet, these people, were no longer just organizational charts and symbols on paper.
They were the soil in which he had taken root in this unfamiliar universe, the most tangible weight behind the name "Qin Bei Wang," apart from bloodline.
"Commander..."
Zhuang Zhixuan's voice sounded softly beside him.
She had also received the corresponding promotion and appointment notice.
Qin Beiwang turned his head to look at her.
There was no joy of promotion on Zhuang Zhixuan's face either, only a calmness that came with understanding, and even... a hint of relief.
She had experienced too many battlefields, had grown accustomed to sacrifice and trade-offs.
It seemed she had long been mentally prepared for taking command of "Pluto" and likely leading it toward an extremely difficult, even doomed, end.
A soldier must eventually be wrapped in horsehide for burial—only the time and place differ.
Seeing the rare, suppressed turmoil in Qin Beiwang's eyes, she spoke softly.