Scott pursed his lips tightly, staring at the star chart as his chest heaved several times.
He understood that Armstrong's concerns were justified.
The Stargate was the key node of the entire campaign and could not be compromised. Anger and urgency could not replace rational deployment.
After a few seconds of silence, Scott let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Let's proceed as you suggested!"
Kunlun Mountain - Modified, Core Intelligence Room.
A massive holographic star map hovered at the center, clearly outlining the force deployment within the Empire Controlled Zone.
At that moment, two conspicuous cursors, representing large-scale fleet clusters, were detaching from the periphery of the Empire Star Gate Defense Perimeter, steadily moving toward the coordinates of the recent battle.
They were unmistakably the Empire's Claw and Angel Fleets.
Qin Bei Wang stood before the star map, his gaze calmly tracking the trajectories of these two fleets. A faint, cold smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Finally, the turtle has poked its head out."
He murmured to himself, his tone devoid of much emotion, as if merely stating a fact.
However, his gaze did not linger excessively on these two Duke-class fleets about to enter the search zone. Instead, it slowly shifted upward.
Ultimately, it settled on a far larger and more critical structure on the star map.
The Abuja Stellar Ring.
It was a giant ring-shaped space station and energy hub constructed around a star, comparable in scale to a small planet.
It was one of the Empire's most crucial frontline energy supply and starship maintenance centers, as well as a vital node supporting the operation of the forward Stargate.
After observing for a moment, Qin Bei Wang turned to Zhuang ZhiXuan, who stood nearby, and asked.
"How is the progress on the meteorite modification?
Has the final debugging of the Zero-Point Energy Detonation Device been completed?"
Zhuang ZhiXuan immediately pulled up another engineering report. After a quick check, she replied.
"Commander, the covert engineering team reports that the installation of the meteorite's surface armor, shield generator, and engines is fully complete.
The quantum stabilizer for the Zero-Point Energy Detonation Device is undergoing final synchronization calibration. It is estimated..."
She glanced at the time.
"...it will require approximately eight more hours."
"Eight hours..."
Qin Bei Wang mused, his fingers unconsciously tapping twice on the edge of the control console.
"Notify them to expedite the process.
The time window won't remain open indefinitely."
"Yes, sir!"
"Convene a combat conference."
Qin Bei Wang issued the order.
"All fleet commanders, twenty minutes from now, First Briefing Room."
The order was swiftly relayed.
Twenty minutes later, the First Briefing Room was filled with a gathering of star generals.
When Qin Bei Wang synchronized the system's star chart to the holographic star chart at the center of the conference table, a slight stir rippled through the room.
What appeared before everyone was no longer just a rough outline of enemy and friendly positions.
Instead, it was an incredibly detailed, almost transparent Empire Defense Zone Deployment Map!
The specific location of the Stargate, the troop density of the three-layer defense perimeter around it, and the positions and garrison fleet strengths of each major supply base.
Even the real-time estimated trajectories and compositions of the two Sub-Duke-class Fleets, [Claw] and [Angel], which had just departed, were clearly listed!
This level of precision was far beyond what ordinary intelligence reconnaissance could achieve.
It was as if... they had directly obtained the enemy's highest command headquarters' combat plan sand table!
Several squadron commanders exchanged looks of shock.
The officer in charge of intelligence stared incredulously at the constantly updating detailed data.
"Commander... this..."
A seasoned veteran captain couldn't help but speak up, his voice tinged with suppressed astonishment and doubt.
"These defensive details are far too detailed! The Empire's protection of the Stargate is Top Secret; our previous infiltration efforts have never reached this level..."
His question voiced the thoughts in everyone's mind.
Even Zhuang ZhiXuan felt another chill.
The method of obtaining this intelligence was beyond her authority and comprehension.
She even wondered if their commander had hacked into the Empire's combat system to acquire such detailed defense maps.
Qin Bei Wang pointed at the Stargate and the Abuja Stellar Ring.
"The enemy's attention has already been partially drawn away by us.
But their core defenses remain solid.
Our objective has never been merely to eliminate a few patrol fleets."
Although Qin Bei Wang avoided addressing it directly, the storm of shock within the officers below did not subside.
Privately, among some of the older soldiers who had followed Qin Bei Wang for a longer time, certain rumors had long been quietly circulating.
Some said the commander was one of the legendary Cosmic New Humanity, having undergone genetic and spiritual dual evolution, possessing some indescribable precognitive or perceptive ability.
Others claimed he was backed by the Federation's most mysterious Special Agency, with authority reaching the highest levels, and that he controlled unknown intelligence channels.
Looking at this terrifyingly detailed enemy situation map before them...
And recalling how in previous battles, Qin Bei Wang could always accurately predict the appearance locations and attack timings of Imperial Fleets, even deploying highly targeted new-type equipment in advance...
These rumors, once dismissed as exaggeration or superstition, now seemed considerably more real and credible in the minds of many officers.
Regardless of what ability or resources the commander relied on to achieve all this, at least for now, they were standing on a battlefield that was nearly one-way transparent.
This realization was both exhilarating and deepened the awe they felt for that young, calm figure on the command seat.
Qin Bei Wang tightened his grip on the laser pointer and drew clear, bold attack paths on the detailed Imperial defense map.
His voice was steady, yet each word carried immense weight, striking deep into everyone's hearts.
"The combat plan is as follows."
He first marked the Abuja Stellar Ring.
"Phase One: In 13 hours, the entire fleet will launch a surprise attack on the Abuja Stellar Ring.
The operational objective is not complete destruction, but precise strikes against its energy core, main berths, and navigation beacons, depriving it of its basic functions as a core logistics hub and fleet transit station."
Immediately after, the laser pointer's focus warped to a hidden gravitational node billions of kilometers away.
"Phase Two: After completing the surprise attack, the main fleet will not engage further. It will proceed at full speed to the P-375 Warp Point.
The main fleet will split into two parts!"
His pointer tip came down with emphasis.
"The Directly Subordinate Fleet and the Tiankui Star Fleet will directly utilize the enemy's transition beacon to execute a one-time forced formation transition.
Target—the B-380 Jump Point, transitioning directly into their core position."
He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the group.
Everyone was visibly stunned, their mouths agape. Transitioning directly into the enemy's interior—this was simply too audacious.
It was undoubtedly a suicide mission!
Qin Bei Wang seemed to see through their thoughts.
He continued.
"Key point one: the moment the transition ends and the fleet emerges.
The cruisers must immediately deploy the Gravitational Disturbance - Active Clutter Nanocomposite Cloud.
We need to create a super optical and signal fog lasting several minutes and covering millions of kilometers, causing the enemy's detected gravitational wave signals to distort.
This will prevent the Empire's defending forces from accurately assessing our actual scale, formation, or even precise location in the first moments."
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