Suddenly, the standardized warning announcement from the Navigation Authority came through the fleet's public channel, precisely regarding the course information of the QW-8195 meteoroid.
"Hey! Guys, good news!"
An excited voice immediately sounded in the channel.
"See that? That big rock is right in front of us!
According to Article 7, Clause 3 of the 'Regulations for Avoiding Encounters with Large Natural Celestial Bodies,' we can apply to end this patrol cycle early, return to Outpost 7 on standby, and wait for the celestial body to pass before rescheduling!"
"Really? That's great! I've been sick of this damn patrol for ages!"
"We can go back early for a couple of drinks again!"
"Hurry up and apply, Captain!"
The patrol team's communication channel was instantly filled with relaxed and cheerful laughter.
In the monotonous patrol duties, any legitimate reason to end work early was worth celebrating.
However, a slightly serious voice, out of sync with the others' cheerfulness, chimed in:
"Captain, everyone, hold on a moment."
The speaker was Deputy Team Leader Sergeant Eli Spencer, his tone carrying a hint of doubt.
"I believe we shouldn't simply avoid it.
That meteoroid has a diameter of over eighty kilometers—it's massive.
According to the Standard Anti-Infiltration Regulations, for such an abnormally large celestial body approaching from the direction of the combat star sector and large enough to accommodate small to medium-sized craft, we should at least conduct a basic scan and close-range observation."
He paused, his tone growing more earnest.
"Is it possible... that Federation forces used some technology to hollow out part of the meteoroid and hide assault ships or even special operations personnel inside?
Or, more covertly, their fleet might be lurking in the rear shadow zone of the meteoroid, using its size and radiation signature as cover?
Haven't we learned enough from the Savannah Campaign?
If that's truly the case, letting them approach our core region, especially near the Stargate, would be unthinkable."
The cheerful laughter in the channel abruptly ceased, and the atmosphere suddenly turned subtle and awkward.
A few seconds later, Team Leader Lieutenant Simon Blanchard's voice, dripping with obvious sarcasm, rang out, drawn out in tone.
"Oh—our brave and wise Sergeant Spencer actually understands such profound tactical strategies?
How astonishing!"
His tone was full of disdain.
"What a pity, truly a pity!
The Imperial Navy Personnel Department must be blind to assign a tactical genius like you to our little peripheral patrol unit!
This is the Empire's greatest loss!"
Blanchard raised his voice, mimicking an exaggerated oratorical style.
"If only our Sergeant Spencer had been present to command during the last Savannah Campaign.
Would that so-called 'Pluto' fleet from the Federation have dared to act so arrogantly?
I'm sure our brilliant Sergeant Spencer would have seen through all their schemes and wiped them out with a wave of his hand, right?
Hahahaha!"
Suppressed, low chuckles from other team members echoed in the channel.
Once Blanchard had laughed enough, his tone suddenly shifted to impatience and reprimand.
"Enough, Spencer!
Drop those unrealistic fantasies of yours!"
"A meteoroid eighty-two kilometers in diameter!
Hollow it out to use as a transport ship?
Do you have any idea how much engineering time and energy that would require, and how obvious the modifications would be?
The patrol teams and monitoring stations in Savannah aren't just for show!
If something that big passed right under their noses, do you think they wouldn't inspect it?"
He snorted coldly.
"Or perhaps... our far-sighted Corporal Spencer simply looks down on the work of our Savannah colleagues and despises us brothers tasked with simple patrol duties?
You think we're all blind, and you're the only one who sees clearly?"
These words were quite harsh, directly escalating to contempt for comrades and insult to their own posts.
Eli Spencer opened his mouth, wanting to argue further.
"Captain, that's not what I meant. I was only suggesting the minimum according to regulations..."
"Regulations are dead!"
Blanchard cut him off roughly.
"All I know is, we have a legitimate reason right now to let the men go back and rest early!
Not to risk everyone getting caught in the meteoroid's gravitational disturbance or hit by debris just for your far-fetched possibility, getting up close to some dirty big rock for a close-range observation!
If an accident happens, will you take responsibility?"
He gave Spencer no further chance to speak, directly issuing the order.
"All units, attention!
In accordance with the Navigation Authority's early warning and avoidance procedures, I declare this patrol mission concluded ahead of schedule!"
"Change course, set course for Outpost 7!"
"Go back and rest well. This rock... let the next shift's 'lucky ones' worry about it!"
At this moment, Blanchard felt immensely satisfied.
He and Spencer had been classmates. The latter, due to his excellent grades, had gone on to military academy for further studies.
While Blanchard had inherited his father's position as patrol team captain.
He had thought their paths would never cross again in this lifetime, but Spencer had offended high-ranking officials due to his upright and unyielding character.
In the end, he was assigned here.
The former genius had become his adjutant, and Blanchard naturally wouldn't miss any opportunity to humiliate him!
The order given, the three destroyers of the patrol squad turned first, followed closely by the escort ships, neatly carving an arc away from the QW-8195 meteoroid's projected course, heading toward the warm lights of the base.
Only the escort ship carrying Eli Spencer seemed to hesitate slightly during the turn, as if still struggling internally.
But in the end, it followed the formation, disappearing into the backdrop of stars.
The patrol channel relaxed again, with some even starting to discuss what drinks they would have after returning.
No one mentioned the meteoroid again, nor did anyone care about Spencer's untimely groundless worries.
In the eyes of most junior officers and soldiers of the Empire, this was just a minor episode in another tedious patrol, one that allowed them to get off duty early.
However, in the long river of history, it is often those coincidences, time and again, that create one miracle after another.
Opal Starfield Theater Command, General Strauss's private command hall.
The air was filled with an atmosphere utterly different from the smoke of the front line, one that was almost intoxicating.
On the massive circular tactical screen, red arrows symbolizing the Empire's offensive continuously pierced the Federation's blue territory, the occupied zones expanding rapidly like ink drops on rice paper.
One after another, reports of victories from assault fleets across the front lines, like the finest wine, were continuously delivered to his desk.
[Blue Moon, Flowing Light, full clearance report for Vast Mansion Star System.]
[Suppression of main defensive nodes in Myriad Phenomena Star System completed.]
[Jump Point in Lou Yang Star System secured.]
[Resistance in Yayang Star System is collapsing...]