Contradictory emotions made her palms sweat.
Fifth second.
Qin Bei Wang's System Star Chart suddenly refreshed violently!
[Warning: Detecting numerous Engine Activation Signals!]
[Location: Behind Agbag's first moon, coordinates marked]
[Energy Signature Analysis: Fury Empire "Stinger-class" Fast Assault Cruiser (87% confidence) "Angel-class" Battleship (98% confidence)...]
[Quantity: 24 vessels]
[Status: Accelerating. Two Shadow-class Reconnaissance Ships will enter enemy Fire Coverage Area in approximately twenty minutes.]
Qin Bei Wang's heart sank heavily.
Twenty-four starships.
This was the number typically found in two Sub-Level Fleets.
This far exceeded what the Dragon Lizard Fleet could deploy.
This was the Well Sub-Fleet's main force.
Qin Bei Wang stared at the Enemy Ship Cluster on the star chart.
System Deduction was in progress, with hundreds of possible Tactical Routes unfolding in virtual space.
Soon, one risky tactic was formulated.
Eleven versus twenty-four.
Even with equipment advantages, they were at an absolute disadvantage.
To win, they had to outsmart the enemy.
"We must disrupt them!"
Qin Bei Wang muttered to himself.
"Commander?"
Zhuang ZhiXuan looked at him.
Qin Bei Wang didn't respond.
His fingers tapped several points on the Holographic star chart before him.
Soon, the positions of all twenty-four enemy starships from the System Star Chart were marked on his display.
"Commander, what is this?"
Zhuang ZhiXuan asked.
"These are the enemy starship positions!"
Everyone present was stunned.
The forward Shadow-class Reconnaissance Ships hadn't transmitted any information yet.
How did Qin Bei Wang know?
Before anyone could process this, Qin Bei Wang opened communication with the Lightning.
"Lightning."
"Proceed at full speed toward the Ghost Shadow and Dark Shadow's position."
Everyone on the Bridge turned to look at him.
Captain Li Zhen's voice came through the communication channel, filled with confusion.
"Commander?"
"How long to reach a position 380 million kilometers from the reconnaissance ships?"
Qin Bei Wang interrupted.
A brief silence, followed by quick calculations.
"At maximum cruise speed... twenty-two minutes."
"Sufficient."
"Upon reaching the position, immediately execute a 180-degree turn."
"Simultaneously activate the Full-band Quantum Communication Array."
"I want you to simulate command communication signals for at least an entire Sub-Level Fleet."
"Random frequencies, random encoding, random callsigns."
Deathly silence enveloped the Bridge.
Zhuang ZhiXuan was the first to understand, her eyes widening slightly.
"You're creating... false fleet communication?"
"Correct!"
Qin Bei Wang's finger swept across the star chart, circling several Asteroid Belt regions.
"If the Well Sub-Fleet's main force is truly here, they would have deployed Outpost Scout Ships."
According to the Standard Tactical Manual, the optimal lurking positions for scout ships are here, here, and here."
The three points he marked were all within the signal coverage range of Lightning's planned route.
"Lightning's false signals will be intercepted by those scout ships."
"Then they'll report to the main fleet."
"[Detection of multiple Federation fleet communication signals converging toward Planet Agbag]"
Zhuang ZhiXuan quickly grasped the plan.
"The enemy will think we're attacking from the Lightning's direction. But... this is too risky. If their reconnaissance ships are equipped with advanced signal analysis systems, they might see through this false signal."
"The battlefield changes in an instant—they're making a long-range assault! They want to strike fast and withdraw fast! By the time they figure it out, they'll have already missed their opportunity!"
Qin Bei Wang pulled up a Federation Fleet Communication Protocol Document.
"Standard quantum communication has seventeen verification mechanisms in its encryption layer. But 99% of real-time battlefield reconnaissance only checks signal strength and basic characteristics—they don't perform deep decryption. It's too time-consuming."
He looked at Zhuang ZhiXuan.
"We need to design a complete false command chain. Ten starships, each with callsigns, organization, and command hierarchy. We also need to simulate tactical discussions and firepower allocation. The more complex, the more realistic."
Zhuang ZhiXuan stared at him for two seconds, then took a deep breath.
"I understand. Give me three minutes—I'll generate the fake data."
She turned back to her console, fingers flying across the touchscreen. The Federation Fleet's organization database was accessed. She began fabricating a non-existent Sub-Level Fleet—numbers, commander names, ship models, even down to each vessel's identification code.
Qin Bei Wang continued giving orders to the Lightning.
"Captain Li, listen carefully. After you reach the position, make the turn obvious—make sure any observer can see you're [turning back after receiving the reconnaissance ship's signal]."
"Understood." Li Zhen's voice grew firm. "The Lightning will complete the mission."
"Good luck."
The communication ended.
Through the observation window, he looked toward the Lightning's position. A faint blue glow was visible, speeding at full throttle into deep space.
Zhuang ZhiXuan soon completed the false communication data packet.
"Commander, the data is ready. A full fleet—false organization for ten starships total, including complete command chain and tactical instructions."
Qin Bei Wang quickly reviewed it. The data packet was highly professional, even simulating different commanders' speech habits—some concise, some verbose, some preferring technical terms, others favoring plain language.
"Excellent."
He had the communications officer encrypt and transmit the data packet to the Lightning.
"Begin execution."
The next twenty minutes were a long wait. The atmosphere on the bridge was so tense you could wring water from it. Everyone watched the tactical screen, monitoring the two red enemy ship clusters slowly moving on the star chart.
As time ticked by, Qin Bei Wang continuously updated the enemy's speed, course, and formation data.
Twenty-two minutes later, the Lightning reached its designated position. A corner of the main tactical screen switched to a real-time feed of the cruiser. The Lightning drifted alone in the empty cosmos.
Then its communication arrays on both sides fully deployed.
"Lightning reporting. In position, beginning broadcast."
Invisible quantum signals began spreading in all directions. On Qin Bei Wang's holographic star chart, pale blue ripples representing communication coverage rapidly expanded from the Lightning's position. The ripples swept past the three potential enemy ambush points he had marked, covering most of the Planet Agbag battlefield area.
"How's the signal strength?" Zhuang ZhiXuan asked.
The sensor supervisor watched the readings intently.
"Full power output.
Any receiving equipment in those three asteroid belts, as long as it's not shut down, will definitely detect these signals."
"What about the enemy?"
Lieutenant Liu's voice tightened.
No one could answer.
Qin Bei Wang stared intently at the Enemy Ship Cluster on the star chart.
Time passed second by second.
In the void over 500 million kilometers from Planet Agbag, a sparse asteroid belt floated silently.