"If we have to commit this many fleets, then our Leon Family will have to withdraw. The cost is far too great compared to the potential returns—it's simply not worth it!"
Discussions rose and fell. Even the Marshals who had initially supported Esther's plan were now wavering. After all, the scale of 44 Sequence Fleets had already exceeded what most families could bear.
Facing the doubts from the crowd, Raphael's tone remained steady.
He slowly began to clarify, "I never said we need to deploy military fortresses in all five star systems. We only need to arrange three thousand fortresses in the Bushman Star System, arranged in a Hive Structure. Combined with the original Himiel Fleet supporting the Opal Star Sector and the remaining defensive fleets in the Theater, we can just barely fill these three thousand fortresses to meet our defensive needs."
As soon as he finished speaking, a Marshal immediately raised a hand to ask, his voice full of concern. "Then what about the star systems bordering the Federation, like Machu Picchu and Bedros? We can't just leave them undefended, can we?"
Another Marshal quickly added, "If we concentrate all our forces in the Bushman Star System, what if the Federation Fleet doesn't come through there? What if they outflank us through weaker systems like Bedros or Serbon? Our fleet would be encircled again, repeating the failure of the Stargate Project!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, feeling this concern was entirely reasonable. Abandoning the defense of other star systems would undoubtedly give the Federation an opening.
Yet Raphael showed no panic; a confident smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He explained slowly, "Then we'll make them attack the Bushman Star System! Or rather, we'll force them to attack the Bushman Star System!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the conference room fell silent. Then, a low murmur erupted. Everyone looked at Raphael with disbelief, even thinking he had gone mad.
"Is he talking nonsense? Can he command the Federation Fleet's movements?"
"Exactly! Why would they choose to attack the heavily fortified Bushman Star System with three thousand fortresses instead of the weaker, undefended systems? The Federation commanders aren't fools!"
Everyone knew that even the Empire's weakest Fortress Cannon could obliterate a Sub-Level Fleet with a single shot. Three thousand fortresses meant three thousand formidable Fortress Cannons, forming an impenetrable fire net. If the Federation Fleet were to launch a direct assault, the losses would be unimaginable.
Raphael cleared his throat. The cough wasn't loud, but it acted like an invisible ruler, instantly silencing the noisy conference room. All eyes refocused on him.
He lightly tapped the Star Chart before him, his finger tracing the navigation route nodes of the Bushman Star System, and explained in a calm, assured tone, "Right now, the Federation has just won a victory; their morale is high, and they hold the advantage in numbers. The likelihood of them launching an offensive is very high. If, at this moment, we 'accidentally' leak information that we plan to deploy three Portable Stargates in the Bushman Star System for rapid reinforcement from the rear, the Federation will inevitably make a decision."
He paused, and the star chart immediately displayed the Federation Fleet's conventional marching routes and shortest warp paths. Red lines clearly pointed toward the Bushman Star System.
"The enemy, in order to prevent our reinforcements from reaching the Bushman Star System via the portable stargates, will undoubtedly choose to invade the Bushman Star System in the shortest possible time and personally destroy those three portable stargates. Directly breaking into the Bushman Star System is undoubtedly faster than detouring through star systems like Bedros and Serbonne, and it also allows them to seize the initiative."
As Raphael finished speaking, the simulation on the star chart slowly froze. That sole shortcut resembled an unavoidable rope, firmly locking the Federation Fleet's movements within the Bushman Star System.
Everyone present, seeing this clear strategic logic, gasped in unison. The skepticism on their faces had long been replaced by shock. This was no empty talk—it was an unsolvable open scheme. All conditions were laid out plainly; even if the Federation saw through the trap, they would have no choice but to walk right into it.
Even Reinhardt, who had consistently maintained a confrontational stance toward Raphael, now set aside his mocking expression. He stared at the red course on the star chart, his fingers lightly tapping on the armrest, remaining silent for a long while. Yet, deep in his eyes, waves of astonishment were unmistakable—clearly, he too was impressed by this scheme that accounted for every move of the enemy.
The more everyone thought about it, the more they marveled at the brilliance of Raphael's plan. The Federation had already suffered losses from portable stargates before, having experienced their potency firsthand. Once the Empire successfully deployed three portable stargates in the Bushman Star System, the rear Sequence Fleets could rapidly arrive through the stargates. The previously imbalanced military strength would instantly reverse, and the Empire would then hold the advantage.
If the Federation wanted to hold onto the four star systems they had already captured, or even covet the entire Opal Star Sector, they absolutely could not allow the Empire's plan to succeed. Even if three thousand heavily fortified fortresses lay ahead, they would have to grit their teeth and attack.
At that moment, a Marshal couldn't help but slam the table, his face filled with admiration as he exclaimed, "Truly worthy of being the genius who broke a five-hundred-year record! This open scheme is masterful—absolutely brilliant!"
His words echoed the thoughts of everyone present. Many nodded in agreement, and the looks they cast toward Raphael held noticeably less contempt.
Raphael gave a slight nod and added, "And those three thousand fortresses are not just defensive barriers—they will also make the Federation even more convinced that we genuinely intend to deploy three portable stargates in the Bushman Star System. Without sufficient defensive power to protect them, such a crucial deployment would be utterly untenable."
As soon as he finished speaking, another Marshal showed a look of regret and sighed, "What a pity. If only the original stargate in the Bushman Star System were still intact, our fleet could swiftly head to the Bushman Star System. Those guys in the Empire's R&D department are really something—such a useful thing as portable stargates, yet their production is so low! The entire Empire only has a handful of them!"
He paused, his tone full of regret. "If we could actually deploy three portable stargates there without needing to deliberately disguise it, this scheme would be even more perfect. The Federation would only be more desperate to attack!"
Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of agreement. The atmosphere in the conference room had shifted from initial skepticism to recognition of this scheme and consideration of the subsequent deployments.
Raphael's tone grew increasingly serious as he continued.
"However, it's better to be safe than sorry. I still hope to seal off the warp points in both Serbern and the Bedros Star System.
Back when the Pluto Fleet warped to the B-380 Jump Point near the Stargate, they were able to carry out their operations unscathed.
Either the Fleet Commander had a sudden change of heart, or they employed some new technology that prevented the Imperial Fleet near the warp point from attacking them.
To prevent such an incident from happening again, it would be best to inject spatial anchoring devices into all the warp points in these two star systems, temporarily disabling them for a period of time."