He walked to the tactical console and pulled up the coverage area diagram of the reconnaissance ships.
A massive, translucent crimson arc enveloped the front and flanks of the Obsidian main force.
"Within this range!" Colonel Sloan tapped the screen. "Any large fleet's fusion engine heat signatures or gravitational disturbances, even from eighty million kilometers away, absolutely cannot escape our detection. This provides us with over 260 million kilometers of strategic early warning depth."
He looked at the Chief of Staff, then at Lancaster. "If Qin Beiwang's fleet truly dares to split its forces for an ambush or attempt any sudden turnaround attacks, as long as they enter this alert perimeter, we'll have at least forty minutes of reaction time to adjust our deployment. Moreover..." Colonel Sloan paused, his tone growing more confident. "According to the continuous contact reports from Emerald and others, the movement patterns of the Pluto Fleet's main force consistently align with our earlier predictions. They're 'stuck' behind us. I don't believe any rational commander would suddenly turn their guns at this moment, abandoning a severely wounded prey right before them, to attack our fully prepared main force with absolute warning time. It defies logic and would be equivalent to suicide."
Lancaster nodded slowly. The Deputy Commander's analysis matched his understanding of battlefield technology and common sense. He turned his gaze back to the blue dot representing the Pluto Fleet's main force on the star chart. "The Chief of Staff's caution is commendable!" Lancaster finally spoke, his voice steady. "But Colonel Sloan makes a stronger point. We possess sufficient technical early warning distance, and Qin Beiwang has no motive to risk attacking us now. His choices are either to continue pursuit, trying to eliminate the bait before we encircle them, or to sense the danger and begin considering retreat." His eyes sharpened. "Order the forward reconnaissance ships to intensify monitoring of suspicious areas but avoid venturing too deep. Simultaneously, urge Bloodblade to accelerate! The main fleet will maintain formation and advance at full speed!"
He had made his decision—based on experience, technological confidence, and his "insight" into the enemy's psychology.
The Chief of Staff's lips twitched, but he ultimately said nothing more, the worry between his brows deepening.
The "Unbreakable Bulwark" led the massive Obsidian Fleet, continuing steadfastly along the set course toward the predetermined hunting ground. The scouting network spread before them like invisible tentacles, as if everything was under control.
At the edge of the "Ghost Nebula" in the Savannah Star System, the Obsidian Fleet's advanced "Night Owl"-class reconnaissance ships patrolled back and forth like vigilant sentinels. Their powerful sensor arrays projected various probe beams into the chaotic region swirling with ionized gas and cosmic dust, attempting to penetrate the natural electromagnetic fog.
The feedback data was reassuring: aside from the nebula's inherent energy turbulence, material density variations, and some harmless cosmic ray bursts, nothing else was detected.
No regular signatures of fusion reactors, engine thermal radiation, or significant gravitational disturbances characteristic of a large fleet were detected.
The depths of the nebula showed only the "noise" consistent with natural features.
"Reconnaissance report: Eastern sector of the Ghost Nebula shows no abnormal starship activity. Visibility and detection depth are affected by nebular matter, but we confirm no ambush forces in the near-edge regions."
The report was transmitted back to the "Unbreakable Bulwark."
Lancaster glanced at the report and dismissed further concern about the nebula.
His attention was completely focused on the Pluto Fleet ahead.
They neither slowed down nor showed excessive caution toward the recently scouted "safe" nebula.
The fleet sailed majestically past the nebula's edge at combat cruise speed, maintaining a distance of approximately 400,000 kilometers.
Just as the majority of the Obsidian Fleet's main force aligned parallel with the nebula's edge—
The silent, multicolored nebula mist was abruptly torn apart by dozens upon dozens of blinding, thick energy beams!
It was as if the nebula itself had opened vengeful eyes, or a dormant volcano had suddenly erupted!
Over sixty Federal Main Fleet starships—
Battleships, heavy cruisers, and destroyers—burst forth from behind the churning ionized gas and dust!
Their hulls still shimmered with traces of nebular matter, as if draped in a deadly, dreamlike glow.
No warnings, no probes.
Every Pluto warship emerging from the nebula had its main cannons glowing with the terrifying light of fully charged energy, missile silo covers already open, and dense clusters of warheads locked onto the Obsidian Fleet's vulnerable flank at point-blank range!
"Enemy attack! Flank! From the nebula!"
On the bridge of the "Unbreakable Bulwark," piercing alarms and panicked shouts erupted almost simultaneously.
On the tactical screen, the previously empty nebula edge was instantly flooded with a dense swarm of blue cursors so numerous it was unnerving!
These cursors were practically overlapping with the red markers representing their own fleet!
The composure on Lancaster's face shattered abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply as if an icy hand had clenched his heart.
His Chief of Staff beside him widened his eyes in shock, while the Deputy Commander stared in stunned disbelief.
"How is this possible? The reconnaissance ships clearly—"
Sloan's words caught in his throat.
"Evade! All ships, emergency evasion! Maximum shield power! Turn! Turn now!"
Lancaster, a veteran of countless battles, shook off his shock in less than a second, his roar echoing through the command channel.
He understood—the fleet's most vulnerable flank was now fully exposed to the enemy's guns!
But the distance was too close! The Pluto Fleet had launched their surprise attack from practically point-blank range!
"Open fire!"
Qin Beiwang's icy voice transmitted via quantum link to the bridge of every Pluto warship.
BOOM——!!!
The vacuum of space itself seemed to tremble from the volley's roar!
The first synchronized salvo from over sixty capital ships converged into a torrent of destruction, illuminating the entire sector!
High-energy particle beams, plasma torpedoes, heavy kinetic projectiles, and swarms of shrieking anti-ship missiles—
All firepower was not scattered randomly but focused with extreme precision on a clear, concentrated target.
The largest, most prominent, and strategically critical command and firepower core within the Obsidian Fleet's formation.
The two mobile fortress-like [Emperor-class] T5 super battleships.
"Unbreakable Bulwark" and "Undying Dignity"!
As the Empire's most advanced strategic weapons, the Emperor-class battleships possessed not only terrifying firepower but equally formidable defensive capabilities.
The moment the alarm sounded, the experienced Defense Officers aboard both vessels instinctively pushed the multi-layered combined shields into overload state, emitting a dazzling blaze of intense light.
Simultaneously, the loyal escort ships surrounding them desperately maneuvered, attempting to physically shield the flagship from incoming fire.
In that instant, the Pluto Fleet's first devastating volley arrived!
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