A young intelligence officer was sipping coffee, his eyes scanning the key phrases on the screen.
"Undying Dignity confirmed destroyed," "Amethyst and Jade Fleets completely annihilated," "Total casualty rate estimated over 50%."
His hand holding the cup suddenly froze, splashing scalding coffee.
He didn't even notice the burn on his hand, his mouth agape as he stared at the screen, seemingly unable to comprehend the meaning of those words.
"This... this can't be..."
The veteran officer beside him, responsible for fleet organization statistics, was the first to lose his voice, his tone distorted from excessive shock.
He abruptly stood up, nearly knocking over his chair, his trembling finger pointing at the screen.
"Obsidian? Crippled? Over half losses?
'Indomitable Dignity'... that's an Emperor-class T5-level Battleship.
Who did this?
How could there be such power in the Savannah Star System!"
"It's... it's that newly formed Federal Garrison Fleet, the Pluto Fleet."
Another officer in charge of enemy analysis turned pale, quickly pulling up Qin Bei Wang's pitifully brief file.
"Commander, Qin Bei Wang, twenty-two years old, son of Federal Marshal Qin Qianfan...
The previous battle report confirmed he annihilated the Wells Sub-Fleet, but... but that was Wells!
Completely different from Obsidian!"
"Could the intelligence be wrong?
Or did Obsidian encounter a Federal main force ambush?"
Someone raised doubts, but their voice lacked conviction.
The fragmented battlefield data and high-energy radiation residue evidence from different surviving ships attached to the report all pointed to an extremely brutal and one-sided defeat.
"Two T5s, uniformly T4-level Starships, a scale of over sixty main force starships..."
A three-star general murmured, unconsciously tapping the table, his face filled with absurdity.
"To be beaten like this by a recruit fleet established just months ago, with main forces possibly at Tier 3 or even mixed...
What the hell was Lancaster doing?!"
Low exclamations, incredulous doubts, and the sound of rapidly flipping through documents intertwined in the briefing room.
The originally solemn military hub was now permeated with an almost absurd sense of shock.
Obsidian had been defeated, and so devastatingly, it nearly overturned their long-standing understanding of border strength comparisons.
At that moment.
Bang!
A heavy, thunderous slam drowned out all the noise.
All eyes instantly focused on the head seat.
Theater Commander-in-Chief, General Strauss, slowly withdrew his palm from the thick alloy table.
The knuckles on his hand were slightly pale, revealing the force used in that strike.
His face was terrifyingly dark, like storm clouds gathering countless lightning bolts before a tempest.
The veins at his temples throbbed slightly, his hawk-like eyes fixed on the battle report on the screen, swirling with shock, fury, and a trace of cold killing intent from severe offense.
Obsidian!
That was the most combat-effective and promising border iron fist under his command, aside from the elite core sub-fleets!
Two T5-class "Emperor-class" battleships—moreover, they were authorized by his own signature, allocated to the Obsidian Fleet as the Sea-Calming Needle to intimidate the Federation's border!
A full lineup of T4-class capital ships represented the Empire's technological and strength advantage in this region!
Now, this needle had snapped, this fist had shattered!
And it was crushed by an unknown Federation rookie fleet, whose commander was younger than his own grandson!
Utter humiliation!
It was also a heavy blow to Strauss's personal authority and the theater's strategy!
Cold fury replaced the initial shock.
Strauss raised his head, his gaze sweeping like a blade over the staff officers who were still whispering.
His voice was not loud, but it carried an unyielding, iron-blooded tone, each word striking the now-silent room.
"Orders."
The staff officers immediately held their breath and stood at attention.
"Megalodon Fleet, Deep-Sea Jellyfish Fleet, Sphinx Fleet, Mermaid Fleet!"
He listed the designations of four sub-fleets equally notorious in the Opal Star Sector.
"All four fleets are to immediately cease all current tasks and enter the highest combat readiness status.
Within seventy-two hours, complete assembly and resupply, and proceed via the fastest jump route to reinforce the Savannah Star System."
"Theater Command authorizes: Upon arrival at Savannah, the Megalodon Fleet commander will coordinate all operations. Primary objective—locate and annihilate the Federation's 'Pluto' sub-fleet, completely erase this unit, and restore absolute control over the Savannah region.
If necessary, request cooperation from the Iron Curtain, Bloodblade, and Obsidian Remnants.
I don't care what methods you use. I want to see Qin Bei Wang's fleet turned to dust in the starry skies of Savannah. I want the Federation to understand clearly the price of provoking the Empire!"
The orders were given, but the briefing room fell into an eerie silence once more, even more oppressive than before.
Many staff officers could not hide their astonishment, and some younger ones even exchanged incredulous glances.
Four sub-fleets! Combined with the existing Iron Curtain, Bloodblade, and Obsidian Remnants in Savannah... the scale of forces being mobilized.
A rough estimate put it at over seven times the known strength of that "Pluto" fleet!
Was such a massive, disproportionate response necessary against a newly formed rookie fleet that had merely won a single battle by luck?
If word got out, not only would the Federation mock them, but even colleagues from other star sectors of the Empire would likely think the Opal Star Sector was overreacting. Where would their dignity be?
Strauss, a man of keen perception, immediately took in his subordinates' expressions.
He did not erupt in anger but instead curled his lips into a cold, slightly mocking smile.
"Think it's an overreaction?
Think we'll be laughed at?"
His voice echoed in the silence, carrying a somber understanding of the situation.
"Losing the Obsidian Fleet isn't just a military failure—it's a severe blow to the Empire's deterrent power in this star sector!
If we don't crush this provocateur with overwhelming, absolute force, then today it's a Qin Bei Wang, and tomorrow there could be more 'Qin Bei Wangs' emerging!
How arrogant would the Federation's hawks become?"
He paused, his gaze growing sharper.
"This isn't just a simple retaliatory war. This is a punitive war, a prestige-establishing war!
I don't want a victory of equals. I want an unquestionable, utterly devastating annihilation!"
"We must use this overwhelming force to show everyone that the Empire's borders cannot be provoked, and the Empire's dignity cannot be tarnished!"
"Even if it requires sevenfold or tenfold the strength, as long as it achieves absolute deterrence and lasting peace, it is worth it!"
"Face?"
Strauss sneered coldly.
"Losing a battle is what truly loses all face!"
"Crushing the enemy and all potential challengers' wishful thinking with absolute power—that is true strength!"
"Execute the orders!"
The staff officers shuddered, their doubts vanishing instantly, and they responded in unison.
"Yes, General!"