"Change course," Qin Beiwang said without hesitation.
He paused.
"Destination—the Galaxy Starfield."
"Set out."
The orders were swiftly relayed.
Over two hundred battered warships simultaneously adjusted their course.
Engine exhaust flames ignited once more, trailing blue streaks of light across the void.
They slowly advanced toward the direction of the Galaxy Starfield.
From the Ten Stone Starfield to the Galaxy Starfield.
Several star domains lay in between.
They would need to rely on warp points and undergo over a dozen warps to reach their destination.
Thus, it would likely be several weeks before they arrived at the Galaxy Starfield.
While the Pluto Fleet was en route.
The Army Breaker Fleet and the General Slayer Fleet had already engaged the Imperial Fleet on the outskirts of the S-22 Jump Point.
But the situation was completely different from what Chen Song had anticipated.
It wasn't over ten thousand ships.
It was over forty thousand.
Nearly two full joint fleets.
A dense swarm of red dots pressed down like a tidal wave.
Chen Song stood on the bridge of the City-Crusher, staring at the tactical screen, his face ashen.
"That little brat..."
He couldn't help but mutter.
"When you said over ten thousand ships..."
"Was that just the first wave?"
Beside him, his adjutant's voice trembled.
"Commander... how... how do we fight this?"
Chen Song didn't answer.
He took a deep breath.
And shouted.
"What's there to fear? It's just over forty thousand ships!
We have nearly forty thousand warships on our side too. It's just a matter of attrition!
Let's see who breaks first!"
His voice exploded across the bridge, carrying a desperate, all-or-nothing resolve.
"Relay the order..."
"The entire fleet, hold formation!"
"Hold the line!"
The battle raged for a full three hours.
The Army Breaker Fleet and the General Slayer Fleet launched ferocious assaults against their evenly matched opponent.
Casualties skyrocketed.
But they did not retreat.
Because behind them lay the Z-78 and S-22 Jump Points.
Those were the channels they had fought hard to secure.
The only entry points for reinforcements.
At that moment.
Within the S-22 Jump Point, a blue light suddenly flared.
Five thousand warships abruptly emerged!
Like a torrent surging from the abyss, instantly filling the entire airspace.
Chen Song stared at the flood of blue dots for a second.
Then he grinned.
"They're here..."
Chen Song continued.
"Finally waited for the bastards..."
Those five thousand Federation warships didn't hesitate for a moment.
The moment they surged out of the transition channel, they immediately deployed into formation and plunged into the battle.
Five thousand warships, like a giant beast awakening, fiercely charged toward the opposing Imperial Fleet.
The balance of forces.
Instantly reversed.
The commander of the Imperial Fleet, his face pale.
"Hold the line!"
"Hold, it's only five thousand more!"
"We have another Sequence Fleet behind us!"
However, an hour later.
The Imperial Fleet commander's face darkened completely.
From the opposite S-22 Jump Point, another ten thousand warships warped in succession.
The balance of forces was instantly shattered.
He watched the blue dots pouring out on the screen.
Those Federation warships deploying into formation.
The battle situation spiraled completely out of control.
His lips moved.
Letting out a hoarse whisper.
"Retreat."
"Full fleet withdrawal."
The Imperial Fleet began to pull back.
But the Federation Fleet did not let them go.
They pursued.
They fought.
They slaughtered.
Thirty thousand Imperial warships were forever left in the void of the Savannah Star System during this pursuit.
Wreckage formed a deathly trail stretching tens of millions of kilometers.
Flames illuminated the entire airspace.
That once ferocious Imperial reinforcement fleet.
Ultimately, less than ten thousand ships remained, fleeing in disarray back to the Bushman Star System.
Meanwhile.
At the Joint Staff Department, in the Supreme Strategic Simulation Hall.
A massive holographic star chart hovered at the center of the hall, slowly rotating.
The full scope of the Ten Stone Starfield and the Opal Star Sector was completely displayed.
Veteran officers gathered around the holographic star chart, discussing animatedly.
Admiral Tang Huaiqian stroked his chin with one hand, his brow slightly furrowed.
He stared at the star chart for a long time before speaking slowly.
"If the Sirius, Greedy Wolf, and Golden Pavilion Sequence Fleets successfully capture the warp points of these four star systems in Tyrol..."
He paused, tracing an arc on the star chart with his finger.
"Then the Imperial Fleet on the front line will be completely surrounded."
His finger tapped the four star systems: Tyrol, Savannah, Turkmen, and Galton.
"Moreover, with their numerical advantage, these three fleets could even gain full control over these four star systems."
He looked up, meeting the gazes of the others present.
"Even if the Empire tries to send reinforcements to retake them..."
He shook his head.
"It probably won't be easy."
A low murmur of discussion filled the Wargaming Hall.
Four star systems.
If they could truly be captured, it would be solid strategic gain.
Just then.
An exaggerated laugh shattered the quiet of the hall.
Admiral Zou Qishen leaned back in his chair, laughing uproariously, rocking back and forth.
The laughter was too loud, too flamboyant, drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Hahahaha!"
He spoke between laughs, tears nearly welling in his eyes.
"Losing four star systems in one go..."
He paused, his laughter growing even louder.
"Strauss is probably in for big trouble!"
He extended his hand, miming a throat-slitting gesture in the air.
"That Theater Commander position..."
"is likely to be stripped from him!"
A wave of laughter rippled through the hall.
Ruan Xingwei sat to the side, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
For once, he did not play devil's advocate but instead agreed.
"Good riddance."
His voice was not loud, yet clear enough for everyone to hear.
"Better yet, replace him with some clueless noble scion."
He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"So we can exploit victory and pursue."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Someone whispered.
"Right, if they send up an incompetent one, things will be easier for us."
Another chimed in.
"What do those noble brats know besides boasting?"
"Let them take command, and within three months, we'll drive the Empire back to their homeland!"
Laughter rose and fell.
But as the laughter continued, some expressions grew complex.
Strauss's strategic decisions were simply terrifying.
Every time they recalled that portable stargate embedded deep in the hinterland of the Ten Stone Starfield, a chill ran down their spines.
If the stargate in the Bushman Star System hadn't been destroyed.
The Federation might have lost eight star systems.
If he could truly be replaced, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous boon for the Federation.
Just then, a knock at the door drew everyone's attention.
"Come in!"
Lü Yanlin said softly.
Immediately, the door slid open.
A communications officer entered, holding a paper report in hand.
"General, this is the combat report from the Pluto Fleet!
Please take a look!"
The communications officer handed the paper report to Lü Yanlin.
Lü Yanlin raised his hand to take it and focused his gaze.
Immediately, his eyes widened.
A shocked expression appeared on his face.
Seeing Lü Yanlin's ghostly expression, everyone else was also astonished.
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