"Shadowmoon"-class High-Speed Destroyers: 42 vessels engaged, 27 remaining. Combat loss rate: 35.7%. Most survivors are also damaged.
"Swift-V" Space Fighters: Four Wings have cumulatively sortied over 1,642 times. The number immediately available for another sortie is 699. Attrition exceeds 31%.
While pilot morale remains high, fatigue is evident from continuous high-intensity combat.
Energy Reserves: The fusion fuel and high-energy batteries "requisitioned" from Langkawi Star have been depleted by 68% due to sustained high-intensity maneuvers, shield maintenance, and main battery salvos.
Although core reactor fuel is sufficient, frontline rapid resupply capacity is nearing critical levels.
Ammunition Stockpiles: Consumption of various missile types and railgun ammunition averages over 40%. Special ammunition like the "Regicide" torpedoes is nearly exhausted.
Hull Status: Shield generators on multiple capital ships require cooling and maintenance. Armor belts on some cruisers are damaged and urgently need docking for repairs.
The results were undoubtedly staggering—Obsidian heavily damaged, Iron Curtain repelled, Megalodon completely annihilated.
However, after cleaving through three tough nuts in succession, the fleet, this sharp blade, was itself showing signs of wear and a dulled edge.
Qin Beiwang did not hesitate.
"Order to the entire fleet!"
His clear voice rang out on the bridge, cutting through the thoughts of some personnel still savoring the victory.
"Cease pursuit of enemy remnants. Abandon deep mop-up operations.
All combat units, execute the 'Homebound' contingency plan. Begin orderly disengagement from the current engagement zone."
The order caused some slight surprise, but no one questioned it.
"Adjust course. Destination: Preset Rally Point, Shiva Star.
Maintain cruising speed. Assume basic alert formation."
"All Swift Wings, recall immediately.
Priority to recovering damaged fighter craft and pilots.
Switch carrier catapult tracks to recovery mode."
"Shadowless-class Reconnaissance Ships, advance forward. Expand the alert perimeter. Focus surveillance on the main warp points of the Savannah Star System and the movement patterns of the Empire's remaining fleet."
"Engineering Ships and Supply Ships, commence operations. Assess damages, perform the most essential on-site repairs, and redistribute remaining energy reserves."
Orders were issued one after another. The massive fleet, fresh from a bloody battle, began to methodically retract its claws like a wolf pack after a successful hunt, licking its wounds as it withdrew towards the shadows of the rear.
Watching the fleet begin its turn, Qin Beiwang offered a simple explanation.
"The gains are sufficient. Greed further, and the blade will snap.
The Empire has suffered consecutive losses to its main force. They will inevitably counterattack with frenzy.
We need time to digest our gains, repair damages, and replenish supplies."
Zhuang Zhixuan nodded in full understanding.
Knowing when to stop, disengaging before the enemy can react and muster overwhelming force, was key to preserving the fleet's survivability and sustained combat capability.
The Commander was not intoxicated by the glorious victory. Instead, he chose to coolly withdraw at the moment of greatest triumph. This restraint required more fortitude than recklessness.
Federal Territory, Galaxy Starfield, Capital Star.
Federal Border Security Bureau (FCB) Headquarters, Deep Underground Analysis Center.
Even late at night, the lights in the analysis center remained brightly lit.
An encrypted intelligence packet marked with the highest priority and the unique identification code "Rose" was delivered to the duty supervisor's terminal through multiple relays and physically isolated channels.
The decrypted text left this well-informed supervisor stunned for several seconds.
He immediately convened an emergency analysis team.
"Intelligence source: 'Rose,' verification passed."
The supervisor's voice was grave as he projected the content onto the central screen.
"Core content: The direct reason for the recent abnormal mobilization of the Megalodon, Deep-sea Jellyfish, Sphinx, and Mermaid sub-fleets by the Opal Starfield Theater Command is to assemble superior forces with the aim of completely annihilating our 'Pluto' sub-fleet within the Savannah Star System."
He paused, pointing to the small annotations below.
"Reason noted: The Pluto Fleet inflicted heavy damage on the Empire's Obsidian Sub-fleet in the Savannah Star System, causing outrage within the Empire's Theater Command, which intends to retaliate and restore its honor."
The briefing room fell silent for a moment before murmurs of disbelief and instinctive skepticism arose.
"To completely annihilate the Pluto Fleet?
Mobilizing four full Empire main sub-fleets?"
A senior analyst adjusted his glasses, shaking his head first.
"This reason... isn't it too 'flattering' to our new fleet?
Obsidian heavily damaged?
Does 'Rose' misunderstand the term 'heavy damage'?
Or is the Empire exaggerating to justify its large-scale mobilization?"
"Qin Bei Wang..."
Another middle-aged official curled his lip, his tone carrying a habitual bias.
"Marshal Qin Qianfan's son.
He performed well in Elvira last time, but who knows how much of that was genuine?
Growing up in that environment, could he lack truly capable deputies and advisors?
In my opinion, that impressive battle report might owe most of its credit to Deputy Commander Zhuang Zhi Xuan.
Young people, building their resumes—it's an unspoken understanding."
His words drew a few soft murmurs of agreement.
Within the FCB, especially among certain old-guard officials, there was always a natural scrutiny and distrust toward young officers like Qin Bei Wang, who came from prominent backgrounds and rose meteorically. They believed his achievements were inevitably aided by his connections and the hard work of his subordinates.
"But this time, the information came from 'Rose.'"
A black-haired female analyst sitting in the corner spoke slowly. Her voice was quiet, yet it caused the discussions to subside.
She was responsible for long-term one-way communication assessments with "Rose." "You all know 'Rose's' level and reliability.
Nine and a half times out of ten, the intelligence she sends back is confirmed to be accurate and critical.
She would not, nor does she need to, risk transmitting vague or exaggerated information on something verifiable like the 'reason.'"
She looked at the words "heavily damaged Obsidian" on the screen, her gaze sharp.
"If 'Rose' says Obsidian was heavily damaged, then it is highly likely true.
And for the Empire to be enraged by this, mobilizing four fleets to completely erase the Pluto Fleet as a warning...
From this logic, it perfectly aligns with the operational style of old-school Empire generals like Strauss—placing extreme importance on honor and accustomed to crushing any provocation with absolute superiority."
"So, are we supposed to believe that a twenty-two-year-old son of a marshal, leading a newly established fleet, 'heavily damaged' one of the Empire's most elite border fleets on the Empire's frontier?"
The analyst who had raised the initial doubts still found it difficult to accept.
"Whether we believe it or not is one thing."
The supervisor rapped the table, silencing the debate.
"The credibility of the intelligence source is extremely high. We must base our warnings and judgments on this. Immediately elevate this intelligence, along with the credibility assessment of 'Rose,' to red-level priority. Send it simultaneously to the Wanshi Star Sector Theater Command and copy the relevant departments of the Supreme Command. Demand that they pay high attention to the potential, far-exceeding-expectations Imperial military buildup in the direction of the Savannah Star System, and conduct an urgent verification of the actual combat situation and circumstances of the Pluto Fleet."
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