The urgent intelligence from FCB, marked with a "Red" classification and backed by the "Rose" credibility endorsement, was delivered to the core operations room of the Theater Command.
When several senior staff officers and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Wen Shiheng saw the contents of the report, the entire room seemed to fall into a stunned silence.
The rustling of papers ceased, low conversations came to an abrupt halt, leaving only the faint hum of equipment running.
A few seconds later, an uncontrollable exclamation broke the silence.
"It's... it's actually true!"
A young lieutenant staff officer standing behind Wen Shiheng widened his eyes, his face filled with shock and excitement.
"The Pluto Fleet!
It really was Lieutenant Colonel Qin Bei Wang and his men!
They dealt a heavy blow to the Obsidian Fleet!
My God... a single fleet deep behind enemy lines, facing a formidable force like Obsidian, and still achieving such results... this, this is simply..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear—unbelievable, nothing short of a miracle.
Wen Shiheng took a deep breath, gently placed the intelligence report on the table, his usually steady face revealing a complex expression—surprise, admiration, and a hint of belated realization.
He nodded slowly, his voice tinged with emotion.
"Heroes emerge from the young... We had all underestimated the son of Marshal Qin Qianfan.
Twenty-two years old, daring to lead a new fleet to execute the 'Dawn' plan, thrusting straight into Savannah, and managing to hit Obsidian so hard that the Empire had to mobilize four fleets for retaliation...
Such boldness and achievements, looking across the entire younger generation of the Federation, there probably isn't a second one."
He had previously held reservations about Qin Bei Wang's risky plan, even believing it needed restraint.
Now, the facts had given him the most powerful response.
Just then, the door to the inner commander's office slid open.
Theater Commander Admiral Wen Tingtao walked out. He had clearly already read the intelligence through the internal terminal.
Gone was the usual composure he displayed during briefings; his brow was furrowed, and his steps were quicker than usual.
"Now is not the time for amazement."
Wen Tingtao's voice rang out, carrying a clear sense of urgency. He walked straight to the massive star chart, his sharp gaze sweeping over the Savannah Star System and its surrounding regions.
"If FCB's intelligence is accurate, and the Empire's mobilization of the Megalodon and three other fleets is targeting Qin Bei Wang!"
Wen Tingtao tapped his finger heavily on the location of the Savannah Star System.
"Then, combined with the originally present, heavily damaged but still existing remnants of the Obsidian Fleet within the Savannah Star System..."
He quickly calculated in his mind, his expression growing increasingly grave.
"What the Pluto Fleet is about to face is not one or two enemy forces, but possibly an encirclement force equivalent to four and a half Imperial sub-fleets!
And it's an encirclement fueled by rage and determined to succeed!"
This number made everyone in the operations room gasp.
Four and a half fleets! This far exceeded the scale of a typical border skirmish; it was almost a force deployment for a small-scale campaign!
No matter how capable Qin Bei Wang's Pluto Fleet was, it absolutely could not withstand such a disproportionate force head-on.
"We cannot stand by and do nothing!"
Wen Tingtao spoke with resolute certainty.
"Relay my orders!"
"First, send immediate directives to the garrison fleet commanders of the Hailan, Purple Bamboo, Nelson, and Vesta Star Systems!"
He pointed to several Federation frontline star systems bordering the Empire's control zone in the Opal Star Sector on the star chart.
"Within twelve hours of this order being issued, organize a medium-intensity 'Border Deterrence Exercise'.
Make a significant show of force. Have the fleets advance, conduct active radar scans, and posture as if a cross-border attack could be launched at any moment.
I want the attention of the Empire's Opal Star Sector Theater Command firmly fixed on these traditional hotspots. They must not dare to easily divert more forces from these directions to Savannah, and we may even force some already dispatched fleets to turn back for defense!"
"Second!"
Wen Tingtao's gaze shifted to the depths of the Federation's control zone.
"Immediately order the Balrog Fleet, Snow Leopard Fleet, Divine Arrow Fleet, and Swift Cavalry Fleet to conclude all current non-critical missions and enter First-level Combat Readiness.
Complete resupply and assembly at maximum speed. Proceed via secure routes and maneuver towards the Elvira Star System!"
He looked at Wen Shiheng and the assembled staff officers.
"Elvira is the home port of the Pluto Fleet and the closest Federation support point to Savannah.
Upon arrival, these four fleets will be under the unified command of the Balrog Fleet Commander.
Their mission is to establish a powerful forward fortress and deterrent force in Elvira.
On one hand, to potentially receive and support the Pluto Fleet if it withdraws from Savannah;
On the other hand, to pose a flanking threat to the Imperial Fleet in Savannah, tying down a portion of its forces and alleviating pressure on Qin Beiwang."
"Tell them: move fast, make a big show!
Let the Empire know the Pluto Fleet is not fighting alone; the Myriad Stones Star Domain Theater stands behind it!"
Wen Tingtao added finally, his tone brooking no argument.
The orders were swiftly recorded, encrypted, and dispatched.
The vast Federation war machine, spurred by astonishing intelligence from behind enemy lines and the miracle (or perhaps the major trouble) created by a young commander, began to partially accelerate its operations.
Feint attacks, deterrence, support...
A series of combination strikes were launched, aimed at that distant Savannah Star System, to fight for a sliver of survival for that heroically deep-penetrating fleet, to hold open an umbrella that could offer some shelter from the storm.
Opal Starfield Theater Command, Strategic Briefing Room.
The gloom brought by the previous battle report concerning the Obsidian Debacle had not yet dissipated when another piece of intelligence, with an even higher encryption level and carrying even more terrifying information, landed like a second heavy blow squarely on the hearts of every Imperial senior officer present.
The intelligence officer's voice sounded strained from the effort to remain steady as he read aloud, word by word, the dreadful news pieced together from different surviving units in the Savannah Star System:
"...Langkawi Star Military Port attacked. Primary defensive orbits in the outer ring and dock structures completely destroyed...
Confirmed: the 'Fierce Bird' and 'Owl' Sub-Level Fleets, under the Bloodedge Sub-Fleet, were caught in port by enemy carrier-based fighter craft and capital ship surprise attacks. Losses... are extremely severe, nearly total annihilation."
A collective hiss of indrawn breath filled the briefing room.
Langkawi Star was a logistics hub, and more importantly, the designated reinforcement rally point!
But that wasn't all.
"...The Iron Curtain Fleet, while rushing to reinforce the Savannah Star System, was ambushed by the main force of the Pluto Fleet at the edge of the star system."
After the fierce battle... the two Sub-Level Fleets under his command, 'Bastion' and 'Fortress,' along with the two Sub-Level Fleets from the cooperating Bloodblade Fleet, 'Colossus' and 'Dire Wolf'...
Suffered devastating blows and have been confirmed to have lost their complete combat organization.
The flagships 'Steel Plate,' 'Iron City,' 'Mammoth,' and 'Gray Wolf'... were all either sunk or critically damaged, losing their command capabilities."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
If the failure of Obsidian could still be attributed to underestimating the enemy or an accident, then the subsequent attack on Langkawi Star and the ambush that crippled four Empire Sub-Level Fleets while they were on the move...
This series of blows could no longer be explained away as "accidents" or "luck."