On the return course of the Pluto Fleet at the outer reaches of the Savannah Star System.
The massive fleet maintained a strict cruising formation, silently navigating the route back to the Elvira Star System.
Outside the viewports, the starry sky remained deep and vast, but the atmosphere on the bridge had not fully relaxed after continuous high-intensity battles and disengagement from the combat zone.
Everyone knew that the Empire, having suffered such a heavy blow in Savannah, would not let them leave easily.
Suddenly, the destroyers positioned at the forefront of the fleet for alert duty almost simultaneously sent back piercing alarms!
"Alert!
Large-scale mass reactions detected at long range, three o'clock direction ahead!
Numbers... extremely high!
Approaching our course at high speed!"
The sensor officer's voice instantly tightened.
On the tactical main screen, a dense cluster of red dots surged into view far ahead along the course, rapidly growing larger.
Their numbers far exceeded those of a typical patrol formation, even surpassing the scale of a complete sub-fleet!
The air on the bridge froze abruptly. Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.
The fatigue from continuous combat was instantly dispelled, replaced by nerves stretched taut once more and deep concern.
"Is the Empire still laying ambushes?"
"How many fleets did they stuff into Savannah?"
"Can our energy and ammunition... sustain another hard battle?"
Low exclamations and suppressed questions passed among the officers.
Even Zhuang ZhiXuan immediately rushed to the tactical console, swiftly retrieving more detailed data, her expression grave.
If this truly was another fresh force the Empire had pre-positioned along their return route, the situation would be extremely perilous given the Pluto Fleet's current state.
However, Qin Bei Wang, standing at the central command station, showed no trace of surprise or tension on his face.
His gaze calmly swept over the cluster of red dots representing the unknown threat, then glanced at the clearer, more information-rich star chart on his private system interface.
On that chart, visible only to him, the outlines, energy signatures, and even the unique communication frequency identifiers of the approaching fleet had long been delineated.
The zero-latency passive detection network, combined with the system's powerful analytical capabilities, had allowed him to "see" the true nature of the newcomers long before the alarms sounded.
"Stand down from combat alert.
All personnel, maintain cruising formation. No tactical maneuvers required."
Qin Bei Wang's calm voice rang out in the suddenly tense and silent bridge, clear and somewhat abrupt.
Everyone turned to look at him in astonishment.
"Order the forward reconnaissance ships and destroyers to transmit our standard identification signal and Qin Bei Wang's command code."
He continued issuing instructions, his tone assured.
"Simultaneously, prepare to receive the identification code the other side is about to transmit.
Prepare to establish a secure communication link."
His composure infected everyone. Though doubts remained, the orders were swiftly executed.
Seconds later, the communications officer looked up, disbelief, joy, and astonishment mingling in his voice.
"Commander!
The other side... the other side has replied with an identification code!
It's a Federation signal!
Verification passed!
They are... the Balrog Fleet!
And... the Snow Leopard, Divine Arrow, and Swift Cavalry identification signals are also confirmed!
They're our reinforcements!"
"The reinforcements from Theater Command!"
The tense atmosphere dissipated like a punctured balloon, instantly replaced by an incredulous sense of relief and hushed cheers.
"It's the Balrog Fleet! Senior Colonel Nie Xinghe's fleet!"
"And Snow Leopard... our people!"
"Commander, did you already know?"
Qin Beiwang gave a slight nod, offering no further explanation, and simply said, "Adjust the communication frequency, establish a video link with the Balrog Fleet's flagship, Magma."
Soon, one side of the main screen lit up, revealing the resolute and steady face of Senior Colonel Nie Xinghe, commander of the Balrog Fleet. Behind him was the orderly bridge.
"Lieutenant Colonel Qin Beiwang!"
Nie Xinghe spoke first, his sharp gaze scrutinizing his young colleague, his tone formal yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible complexity.
"By order of the Wanshi Star Sector Theater Command, my unit, along with the Snow Leopard, Divine Arrow, and Swift Cavalry Fleets, have come to rendezvous with your unit. You've worked hard."
Qin Beiwang stood at attention and gave a crisp military salute.
"Thank you, Senior Colonel Nie, and our allied forces for the rendezvous. The Pluto Fleet has completed its designated combat mission and is returning to Elvira for rest and reorganization as planned."
Hearing this, Nie Xinghe nodded.
He had no interest whatsoever in the combat mission Qin Beiwang mentioned. Now that he had made contact with the Pluto Fleet, he had essentially fulfilled the orders given to him by the Theater. Next, safely returning to the Elvira Star System would mean the mission was successfully completed.
The return formation sailed steadily along the empty route back to Elvira. The Balrog, Snow Leopard, Divine Arrow, and Swift Cavalry Fleets formed an escort formation, surrounding the Pluto Fleet at the center. Apart from necessary navigation coordination signals, the channels were silent.
Suddenly, a wide-area communication request, encrypted with the highest authority of the Theater Command and forcibly synchronized to all command and public information channels of the participating fleets, popped up on the main screens of all bridges.
[Wanshi Star Sector Theater Command · Theater-Wide Battle Report Announcement]
Everyone's attention was drawn to it.
A steady, clear synthetic voice began to broadcast:
"To all combat units of the Wanshi Star Sector Theater."
"This is an official announcement. The Pluto Sub-Fleet under our Theater has achieved a decisive and significant victory during the recent Dawn Operation in the Savannah Star System."
The synthetic voice paused briefly, as if gathering strength for what followed.
"In the inner region of the star system, the Pluto Fleet successfully inflicted heavy damage on the Empire's main force, the Obsidian Fleet. Confirmed destruction of its T5-class Indomitable Dreadnought Battleship."
On the bridges, the breaths of some officers hitched slightly.
"Subsequently, the Pluto Fleet executed a precise assault, successfully destroying the Empire's key logistics hub in the Savannah Star System—the Langkawi Outer Orbital Base—completely crippling enemy logistics and force projection capabilities in that region. They also annihilated the Direbird and Owl Fleets stationed at the military port.
"Following this, the Pluto Fleet successively inflicted heavy damage on the Iron Curtain Fleet that came to reinforce, as well as the Colossus and Dire Wolf Fleets under the Bloodblade Fleet.
"Finally, at Jump Point Z-78, the Pluto Fleet, having set an ambush in advance, concentrated absolute superior firepower and launched a thunderous strike!"
Many eyes widened. Sounds of sharp intakes of breath began to be heard.
"Annihilated, the Empire's Megalodon Fleet!"
The synthetic voice's pitch suddenly rose, carrying a metallic resonance.
The synthetic voice paused heavily, enunciating each word like iron.
"—Annihilated."
"No vessels escaped."
"Total results confirmed: destroyed or severely damaged Imperial warships of various classes, with total tonnage and organizational scale far exceeding that of two standard Imperial Graded Fleets."
"Significantly disrupted enemy strategic deployment in the Savannah direction, reversing the balance of power in that region."
The entire encrypted communication channel fell into a deathly silence.
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