He paused and proposed an alternative plan:
"How about this: The three joint fleets (Andumari, Marbas, Abaddon) currently stationed in the Bushman Star System to defend the Stargate are also formidable in strength.
Could we order one of them, for example, the Andumari Fleet, to advance to the Savannah Star System? On one hand, this would strengthen Savannah's defenses, preventing possible Federation infiltration or counterattacks.
On the other hand, it could also serve as a deterrent to the Vault Fleet."
Bradley lowered his voice and added a more practical consideration:
"Moreover, General, the nearly sixty thousand starships from the three joint fleets permanently stationed in Bushman place an enormous strain on the star system's energy supply, military port maintenance, and logistical support chains.
This severely squeezes the energy and resource quotas that should have been prioritized to ensure the stable operation of the Stargate.
Transferring one fleet away could effectively alleviate the logistical pressure, ensuring the Stargate—the lifeline of our current offensive—receives the most ample supply."
Strauss listened to the Chief of Staff's suggestion, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the command console.
He had to admit Bradley made sense.
Sending three Duke-class fleets to pounce on Elvira was indeed excessive, reflecting more his personal desire for vengeance.
The logistical and energy conflicts arising from concentrating too many fleets in the Bushman Star System were also a potential hidden danger.
The stability of the Stargate was paramount.
He pondered for a moment, a cold light of weighing pros and cons flickering in his eyes.
"Agreed."
He finally nodded, amending the order.
"Revised orders: The two Sub-Duke-class fleets, Gorgon and Capricorn, in the Savannah direction, will assemble as originally planned and prepare to attack Elvira."
"Simultaneously, order the joint fleet stationed in the Bushman Star System—the Andumari Fleet—to advance immediately.
Deploy to the strategic node at the border between the Savannah and Bushman star systems to undertake regional vigilance and rapid response missions, and provide support for the attack on Elvira as the situation dictates."
He looked at Bradley, his tone firm:
"As for the security of the Bushman Stargate... the two joint fleets, Marbas and Abaddon, remaining behind are sufficient.
With over forty thousand elite starships, plus the star system's own comprehensive fixed defense system, it is more than enough to handle any attempted harassment or sneak attacks from the Federation.
Prioritizing the Stargate's energy supply—your reminder was timely."
"Yes, General!"
Bradley acknowledged the order, feeling a slight sense of relief.
The orders were quickly encoded, encrypted, and sent into the distant starry expanse.
Strauss leaned back in his chair again, gazing at the clusters of light points on the star chart that were about to encircle Elvira like an iron wall.
"Qin Bei Wang... this time, let's see how you escape."
He murmured to himself.
As if he could already see this rising star of the Federation about to plummet into hell!
Time passed quietly amidst absolute concealment and the tense collection of data.
The massive QW-8195 meteoroid, following the trajectory approved by the Imperial Navigation Authority, slowly slid into the vast, sparse asteroid belt in the outer reaches of the Bushman Star System, littered with celestial debris of all sizes.
The chaotic gravitational environment and ubiquitous debris provided excellent natural cover for the Pluto Fleet's final escape.
Meanwhile, like countless tiny ears scattered into the dark cosmos, the passive detection buoys deployed at great risk by the reconnaissance ships were continuously transmitting the information they gathered to Qin Bei Wang's Commander System.
On Qin Bei Wang's System Star Chart, the activity trajectories of all starships within 980 million kilometers were displayed in real-time.
As for beyond 980 million kilometers, the delay increased with distance.
Although there was a delay in information transmission, traces ultimately could not be concealed.
Through comparative analysis, the system helped Qin Bei Wang filter out duplicate starships.
Finally, the star chart displayed the Imperial starship trajectories from twenty-four hours prior.
Two areas showed a higher concentration of starships: the Abuja Stellar Ring and the B-380 Jump Point, located 2 billion kilometers away.
Undoubtedly, one of these two locations was almost certainly the site of the Stargate.
Starship traffic between the two was frequent, but while vessels heading to the Abuja Stellar Ring came from all directions, most of those bound for the B-380 Jump Point originated from the Abuja Stellar Ring.
Therefore, Qin Bei Wang concluded that the Abuja Stellar Ring was most likely a transfer station.
It was used to supply energy to the Stargate at the B-380 Jump Point and to prepare fleets for transit through the gate to reinforce the front lines.
As expected, the Empire's defensive strength near the Stargate was formidable.
At least 40,000 starships—two full Joint Fleets—stood guard like an iron wall, flanked by multiple overlapping layers of monitoring networks and automatic defense platforms.
The density of their alert perimeter and reaction protocols far exceeded those at Savannah.
Looking at that impregnable defensive ring, Qin Bei Wang knew full well that with the Pluto Fleet's strength of 400 starships, a direct assault would be akin to a moth flying into a flame.
They would likely be torn to shreds by the dense interception firepower and the overwhelmingly superior numbers of the garrison forces long before entering the main cannon effective range.
Just as he was intently pondering a way to break the deadlock...
Outside the viewport, the GC-7712 meteoroid that had accompanied them on their journey, now slowly drifting into the depths of the asteroid belt, once again caught his eye.
Eighty-two kilometers in diameter.
An ice-rock mixture.
Its mass was comparable to that of a small dwarf planet.
Under the influence of inertia and gravity, it was itself a terrifying kinetic entity.
Qin Bei Wang's gaze sharpened abruptly. An idea, nearly insane yet flickering with a cold, intelligent spark, struck his mind like lightning.
A kinetic... projectile?
No, more than just a projectile.
His thoughts raced.
Any currently active Capital Ship of the Empire or even the Federation, even a Battleship of the Kunlun Mountain - Modified class, might severely damage the surface of such a meteoroid with its main battery salvo.
But to completely destroy or significantly alter its trajectory in a short time was almost impossible!
That would require the main cannon of a legendary planet-killer ship, the kind used for assaults on Stellar Fortresses or crust stripping!
Such strategic-grade weapons would never be deployed lightly unless for a Star Sector Decisive Battle or an attack on a planetary core, and they certainly wouldn't be assigned to a mere garrison fleet.
And this meteoroid... what if it were no longer left to drift naturally?
What if we equipped it with a high-power Vector Thrust Engine Array, even if only temporarily?
What if we attached a layer of temporary Composite Armor Plating, or even a rudimentary Energy Deflector Shield Generator, to its sturdiest rocky surface?
What if we performed Directional Demolition Modification on some of its relatively fragile internal Ice Structures, preset with an Energy Focusing Direction?
Then, it would no longer be just an asteroid.
It would become a cosmic-scale, unstoppable by conventional means, purely mass-and-kinetic-energy-forged—Hammer of Destruction!