But she quickly calmed down, pondering the execution details and raising a crucial question.
"Commander, should we follow the usual practice and dispatch some reconnaissance ships ahead to the meteor trajectory for early warning and reconnaissance, to clarify the navigation route in advance?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Beiwang shook his head, his tone resolute.
"No need."
The trajectory of this meteor had over 70% overlap with the assault route they had chosen during their previous attack on the Savannah Star System.
They had also left behind many passive detection buoys in a dormant state.
Powered by faint starlight, these buoys only listened without transmitting, making them extremely difficult to detect through conventional scans.
As long as the fleet was close enough, the system could receive real-time data from them.
Whether there were anomalous mass signatures, gravitational disturbances, or energy radiation where there shouldn't be any...
He would know in advance.
Soon, at the Wanshi Star Sector Theater Command, Wen Tingtao received a reply from Qin Beiwang on his encrypted command terminal.
The message was brief, devoid of unnecessary formalities, and even omitted formal titles.
Thank you for your high regard, Commander.
The brigadier general shoulder boards—I will ask you to personally pin them on me upon my triumphant return.
The entire Pluto Fleet vows to complete the mission of destroying the star gate at all costs.
—Qin Beiwang
Looking at these lines, Wen Tingtao was stunned for a few seconds.
Then, the gravity on his face melted away, replaced by a helpless yet somewhat relieved bitter smile as he muttered under his breath.
"That stubborn kid... just like his father, Qin Qianfan!
Utterly unyielding!"
Even so, the furrowed brows he had worn for days seemed to relax slightly because of these few words.
Qin Beiwang had not accepted "protection." Instead, he had chosen the most dangerous path—yet possibly the only one with hope of breaking the deadlock.
This courage and sense of responsibility made this old general feel a surge of emotion, even a hint of pride—the son of his old friend was truly no ordinary man.
Beside him, Chief of Staff Wen Shiheng also saw the reply.
A complex expression crossed his face—concern, but even more, undisguised admiration.
"Senior Colonel Qin... is a true man!
To place oneself in a deadly situation and then fight for survival—such resolve is beyond ordinary people."
He shifted the topic, his eyes gleaming with the sharpness of a strategist.
"Commander, since Qin Beiwang has chosen this path and has already begun to act, we cannot remain idle either.
We must fully cooperate, creating conditions for him and diverting the Empire's attention!"
"What do you mean?" Wen Tingtao looked at him.
"Apply pressure to the Imperial Fleet on the front lines!"
Wen Shiheng's finger jabbed forcefully at several salient points of the Empire on the star chart.
"Especially the 'Erebus' and 'Ares' fleets wreaking havoc in the directions of Blue Moon, Flowing Light, and Vast Mansion, and 'Pandora,' which is being held back by 'Cangqiong'!
We must keep them busy, leaving them no time or energy to carefully screen for any 'minor anomalies' that might appear in the rear star domains!"
A glint of sharp light flashed in Wen Tingtao's eyes as he instantly understood the Chief of Staff's intent.
This was to launch a large-scale, multi-front strategic feint and diversion, using thunderous offensives to send a message to the Empire.
The Federation has not been defeated. We still have the strength and resolve to strike back!
Thus, the attention and reserve forces of the Empire's command will be firmly pinned to the frontline battlefield.
As for Qin Bei Wang's fleet that quietly vanished?
Amid the immense information noise and urgent pressure generated by such a vast frontline battlefield, it is all the more likely to be overlooked.
"Good!"
Wen Tingtao hesitated no longer, decisively issuing a series of commands in a resonant voice, carrying a long-absent sharpness of offensive.
"Orders!"
"The Canglong and Fuyao Sequence Fleets are to assemble all reserve forces, no more conservatism!
Launch uninterrupted, powerful counter-assaults against the Empire's occupying forces in the Flowing Light and Vast Mansion Star Systems!
Do not count starship losses. What I demand is sustained, high-intensity pressure!
Make Erebus and Ares feel the pain, feel their rear lines unstable, and dare not easily divert forces back to reinforce the Bushman Star System!"
"Order the Vault Fleet!
Tell their commander, I don't want casualty numbers—I only want results!
Hold the Pandora Fleet tight!
Entangle it, wear it down, and never allow this beast the chance to disengage and interfere elsewhere!
Even if half the ships are lost, drag it down in the Shang Yu Star System!"
His gaze turned toward the distant direction of the Savis Star System, another meat grinder where Federation and Empire heavy forces were locked in confrontation.
"Order the Savis front line—my Kunwu, Kunpeng, Bai Ze, and Qing Luan Sequence Fleets!
Abandon all defensive postures and transition to full-scale assault!
Fear no losses, commit all our assets, and strike hard!
Beat the shit out of those four Empire Sequence Fleets across from us!
I want them overwhelmed, completely extinguishing any thought of drawing forces from Savis to reinforce the Opal Star Sector's heartland!"
Finally, he looked at Wen Shiheng.
"Old Wen, in the name of the Theater Command, immediately send the highest-level distress signal to the neighboring Guangfeng Star Sector!
The wording must be urgent, the situation described as critically perilous!
Demand they dispatch at least one full Sequence Fleet, demonstrating an emergency reinforcement posture toward our Ten Stone Starfield!
The bigger the commotion, the better!"
Wen Shiheng immediately understood.
"Yes! A feint, to further mislead the Empire, making them misjudge that our reinforcements are imminent, forcing them to focus more attention on the frontline defenses!"
"Exactly!"
Wen Tingtao slammed a fist on the edge of the star chart, his eyes burning with fierce combat spirit.
"The Empire wants to crush us with a pincer offensive?
Then we'll give them blooming flowers everywhere and a breakthrough at the center!"
"That kid Qin Bei Wang is going to stab them in the heart."
"And we, on the front lines, will put on a full-scale martial spectacle for them!"
"Let's see who falters first!"
Orders like a mountain, swiftly transmitted to each fleet.
In an instant, the previously gloomy and oppressive Ten Stone Starfield battlefield, weighed down by successive defeats, underwent a sudden, dramatic shift!
On multiple fronts, Federation Fleets abandoned their defensive stance, like enraged beasts, launching ferocious, reckless and fierce attacks toward Empire-occupied zones or standoff lines!
War erupted across a broader expanse of star domain, with even greater intensity, in a spectacular outbreak!
The void at the border of the Elvira and Savannah Star Systems.
This place seemed a forgotten corner of the universe, where starlight was sparse, and only eternal darkness and cold prevailed.
A giant ice-rock composite meteor, designated GC-7712, silently glided along its ancient, predetermined orbit.
Its surface was rugged, covered in a gray crust of cosmic dust condensed over billions of years, reflecting a dim and lifeless glow under the faint light of distant stars.
No one would give it a second glance.
It was merely an unremarkable one among countless wandering celestial bodies.
Yet, in the "shadow" of this meteor's forward trajectory—the absolute shadow zone completely obscured by its massive form—
A deeper, more oppressive "darkness" followed closely, moving at an identical speed and along the same path.
That was the Pluto Fleet.