He discovered that by concentrating his mind, he could summon the System Panel at will.
He could control its transparency, information hierarchy, and display range.
After brief testing, Qin Bei Wang found that this Commander System possessed the following functions:
1.
A System Stereoscopic Star Chart that could display the real-time positions of fleet starships, linking with their detection instruments with zero signal delay.
2.
Real-time display of commanded starship status, weapon range, course, speed, and other information.
3.
The information panel could link with the Flagship AI, allowing real-time data access and tactical simulations.
"Commander!"
Zhuang ZhiXuan reported at his side.
"The Kunlun Mountain has completed all system self-checks. Both Sky-Opening class Heavy Particle Beam Main Cannons have passed charging tests.
Peak output reached 101% of design specifications.
The warp jammers on the two Gale-Class Cruisers Thunder and Lightning are operating stably.
The two Shadow-class Reconnaissance Ships Phantom Shadow and Dark Shadow have departed ahead of schedule as planned."
Qin Bei Wang nodded while observing his System Star Chart.
This information was presented more intuitively here.
Eleven vessels appeared as eleven blue dots, each accompanied by status bars, equipment lists, and brief data.
He could even see the specific speed and course of each starship.
His Pluto Fleet consisted of one Kunlun Mountain Battleship, two cruisers, six destroyers, and two reconnaissance ships.
This was considered a standard Sub-Level Fleet configuration.
However, while the Kunlun Mountain was a T5-Class starship, the other ten vessels were all T4-Class.
Such high-end configuration was uncommon in Sub-Level Fleets.
After all, both T5 and T4-Class starships were expensive to build, typically deployed to Sub-Level Fleets only in core battle zones.
At this moment, Qin Bei Wang couldn't help but think of his father.
That legendary Federation Marshal.
Who had repeatedly saved the Federation from crisis, and even pushed the Frye Empire back from the Galaxy Starfield all the way to the Ten Stone Starfield.
It was thanks to his father's great achievements that Qin Bei Wang received such preferential treatment.
Meanwhile.
Zhao Rui returned to his flagship "Iron Spine" with heavy footsteps.
This was a T4-Class "Mount Tai-class" Battleship that had been in service for over fifteen years.
Its hull was covered with fine maintenance marks and several incompletely repaired battle scars.
Compared to Qin Bei Wang's brand new, gleaming T5-Class Kunlun Mountain.
The Iron Spine resembled a battle-scarred old war elephant.
"Commander!"
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen met him at the bridge entrance.
He appeared about thirty-five years old.
Wearing glasses, he always maintained a calm and restrained demeanor.
Forming a sharp contrast to Zhao Rui's fiery temperament.
"Speak your mind."
Zhao Rui waved his hand and strode directly to the command seat.
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen followed behind him, lowering his voice.
"Commander, during the meeting earlier... publicly questioning Commander Yang Shao's deployment and directly targeting Lieutenant Commander Qin, wasn't that somewhat..."
"Somewhat what?"
Zhao Rui spun around abruptly, his eyes wide as copper bells.
"Too much? Let me tell you, Li Wen.
I've endured this for five years! Five years!
Watching those privileged children riding in the newest and best battleships.
They take a quick tour of the battlefield and return to get promoted and decorated, while my brothers..."
He pointed toward the observation window, where the ships of the Uranus Fleet were docked.
Most were outdated T3 and T4-class starships.
"We could easily crush the enemy with superior firepower using advanced starships, but they insist on hoarding the good equipment.
Forcing us to fight them head-on!
Don't you feel heartbroken seeing the casualty numbers after every operation?!"
His voice echoed across the bridge, and several crew members operating consoles instinctively shrank back.
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen adjusted his glasses, his tone still calm.
"I do feel heartbroken, Commander.
But openly defying your superiors and targeting your colleagues like this serves no purpose other than pushing you further down the promotion list.
Do you know why, after the 'Blood Moon Campaign' five years ago,
despite your monumental achievements, you were only promoted one rank,
while others from the same period who performed worse than you are now colonels or even brigadier generals?"
Zhao Rui's face darkened.
The Blood Moon Campaign.
It was a brutal encounter between the Federation and the Fry Empire at the border of the Ten Stone Starfield.
Back then, still a captain, Zhao Rui led a hastily assembled Sub-Level Fleet
and stubbornly held off three of the Empire's main fleets for seventy-two hours, buying precious time for the Federation's main forces to assemble.
In that battle, his flagship was destroyed three times, and he switched ships each time.
The laser burn on his cheek was from that period.
Yet after the war, he was only promoted from captain to lieutenant commander and still commanded the same poorly equipped Sub-Level Fleet.
"Because I don't know how to flatter or suck up to those high-and-mighty officials sitting safely in the rear Command Headquarters!"
Zhao Rui gritted his teeth.
"Not entirely!"
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen shook his head.
"It's because you've offended too many people."
"I walk the straight path! If they weren't up to their shady dealings, I wouldn't even glance their way!"
Zhao Rui argued.
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen sighed.
"Commander Zhao, you can't keep doing this.
Do you know who Lieutenant Commander Qin Bei Wang's father is?"
Zhao Rui snorted coldly.
"Marshal Qin Qianfan, Commander of the First Fleet in the Galaxy Starfield.
One of the seven Marshals of the Federal Starfleet.
What, am I supposed to be afraid of him?"
"You may not be, but what about your brothers?"
For the first time, Lieutenant Commander Li Wen's voice carried a hint of emotion.
"If Marshal Qin holds a grudge over today's incident,
do you think our applications for new engines, upgraded shields, and weapon system replacements for the Uranus Fleet will get approved smoothly?
After this operation, if we need ship reinforcements, will we get new vessels or hand-me-downs from other fleets?"
Zhao Rui opened his mouth but couldn't speak.
His fists clenched and unclenched, knuckles cracking audibly.
"I'm not saying you're wrong, Commander,"
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen continued, his tone softening slightly.
"I know you're fighting for your brothers.
The Pluto Fleet's equipment is indeed far superior, unfairly so.
But openly challenging them like this only makes things worse.
If Lieutenant Commander Qin Bei Wang truly holds a grudge, all it takes is a few words in his father's ear…"
"He won't."
Zhao Rui interrupted abruptly.
Lieutenant Commander Li Wen was taken aback.
"What?"
"That kid Qin Bei Wang might be useless, but his father..."
Zhao Rui's tone grew complex as his gaze drifted toward the starscape beyond the observation window, as if lost in recollection.
"Marshal Qin Qianfan isn't that kind of person. Back when I enlisted fueled by sheer passion, I had the honor of serving under his fleet. He treated his subordinates with kindness, yet showed no mercy to his enemies! Under his leadership, we won battle after battle!"