Early the next morning, Qin Bei Wang was awakened by an urgent communication alert tone.
It was Zhuang ZhiXuan.
"Commander, the supplementary officers and new recruits have all arrived at Shiva Star's Military Port No. 3.
The Theater Command orders you to proceed immediately to the A-17 Large Briefing Room for reception and preliminary address."
Qin Bei Wang rubbed his temples, dispelling the lingering drowsiness.
After a quick wash and changing into his regular uniform, he boarded the military hovercar sent to pick him up and headed to the designated location.
The A-17 Briefing Room was located in the core area of Shiva Star's main military base, a venue specifically used for large fleet assemblies or the issuance of important orders.
When Qin Bei Wang, accompanied by Zhuang ZhiXuan, pushed open the heavy alloy door, even though he was mentally prepared, the sight before him still made him pause briefly.
It was enormous.
The circular, tiered briefing room was densely packed with people.
Every seat—roughly estimated at nearly a thousand—was occupied without a single vacancy!
A uniform sea of deep blue Federal Military Uniforms, with epaulettes ranging from second lieutenant to colonel, formed an awe-inspiring blue ocean.
Everyone sat upright, their gazes fixed intently on Qin Bei Wang as he entered, filled with reverence, curiosity, and the quiet composure enforced by strict discipline.
Qin Bei Wang maintained a calm expression as he walked along the central aisle toward the podium at the front. Seizing a brief moment between steps, he tilted his head slightly.
In a voice only audible to the two of them, he asked Zhuang ZhiXuan,
"So many people?
Could it be... even the main cannon gunners from each ship have been summoned?"
His confusion was reasonable.
A standard Federation mother-class fleet (Rapid Maneuver Strike Group) typically consisted of: two main graded fleets (each containing 6-7 Sub-Level Fleets, plus Direct-Attached Ships), along with one Small Carrier Task Force (including one aircraft carrier and its accompanying Escort and Support Ships).
The total number of starships ranged from about 220 to 250.
Accordingly, the highest-ranking officers required to be present for reception would never reach this scale.
Zhuang ZhiXuan followed half a step behind him, responding quickly in an equally low voice, her tone carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
"Commander, our previous estimates... were conservative."
She spoke faster, reporting clearly.
"According to the complete supplementary list and personnel assignment table just received—what the Theater Command is supplementing for our 'Pluto' Fleet is not just one Sub-fleet and one Carrier Battle Group."
"But a complete, standard-organization mother-class fleet, including one Carrier Battle Group and two Classified Fleets."
Qin Bei Wang's footsteps paused almost imperceptibly.
How could the supplementary fleet have more starships than the original fleet!
If outsiders heard this, they might think the Pluto Fleet was being reorganized by the other side.
Qin Bei Wang had reached the edge of the podium.
He stopped, not immediately turning to face the audience below. Instead, he used the action of adjusting the microphone angle to digest this astonishing information.
Including his original Pluto Fleet (already equivalent to the strength of about one and a half Classified Fleets).
Now under his command, he would have: two carrier battle groups, three classified fleets, and eight fighter wings.
A "Rapid Maneuver Strike Group" of this scale had already subtly surpassed the scope of "rapid maneuver" in terms of actual combat strength and strategic projection capability, enough to serve as the core assault and decisive battle force in a strategic direction.
The Theater Command... or rather, the higher-ups, had made a startlingly grand move this time.
This was no longer merely a commendation, but a heavy expectation, and... the unimaginable pressure and risks that might follow.
Qin Bei Wang turned around, facing the nearly thousand pairs of eyes below.
The massive circular briefing room was dead silent, with only the low hum of the ventilation system.
His gaze slowly swept across the audience below.
These unfamiliar faces would soon become his new subordinates, soon to join him in commanding this suddenly expanded steel behemoth, heading toward an unknown and inevitably more brutal stellar battlefield.
He did not speak immediately, simply standing there quietly, letting the silence and the gathered gazes linger for over ten seconds.
Then, he pressed the microphone switch.
A clear, steady voice spread to every corner of the hall:
"Good morning, everyone."
"I am Qin Bei Wang."
"Starting today, most of you will serve with me under the banner of 'Pluto.'"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the highest-ranking commanders in the front row as if it were tangible.
"I know you come from different star domains, different star systems, with different experiences, and you may even harbor doubts or expectations about being here."
"I will only say three things."
"First, forget your past. Here, there is only 'Pluto.'"
"Second, I don't care who stands behind you or what your credentials are. Here, we only look at ability, only at military merit, only at whether you can keep up with the fleet's pace."
"Third, and most importantly—"
His voice suddenly rose, carrying a cold, sharp edge that belonged to a survivor of Savannah.
"What we are about to face is the Empire's most elite, most brutal fleet. They will not show mercy just because we have more ships."
"Glory is earned with the enemy's blood and steel, not with paper organization."
"Take your people, familiarize yourselves with your ships, and get to your posts."
"In seventy-two hours, I want to see this newly formed fleet begin to take shape as a combat force."
"Dismissed!"
No unnecessary words, no impassioned mobilization.
Only clear, cold commands and the heavy responsibility weighing on everyone's hearts.
The officers below rose in unison, their thunderous response echoing through the hall.
"Yes, Commander!"
Amid the roar, Qin Bei Wang turned and left the podium.
Zhuang ZhiXuan quickly followed, speaking softly.
"Commander, here is the detailed list of all newly supplemented ships and the files of the key officers, as well as the encrypted documents from the Theater Command regarding our new defensive zone and recent mission briefings."
Qin Bei Wang took the military datapad she handed over, his fingertips sliding across the screen.
Ship codes, parameters, and personnel information scrolled rapidly, densely packed.
He looked up, toward the heavy alloy door of the briefing room.
As if he could see through it, to the newly arrived warships quietly docked in the military port outside—now his new fleet.
Destroyers, cruisers, integrated supply ships... most were standard models, brand new but still within his expectations.
Until his fingertip paused on a special category entry, and the holographic projection beside it automatically enlarged, revealing a three-dimensional structural diagram of a starship.
His gaze was instantly captivated.
It was a battleship.
But its appearance was completely different from any main force battleship currently in service with the Federation.
The hull lines remained sleek and powerful, yet the most striking feature was its bow.
There were no traditional battleship features like thick particle accelerator cannon barrels or missile vertical launch arrays. Instead, it was replaced by an exceptionally complex multi-layered structure.