Half a standard time later.
The massive forms of the Pluto Fleet emerged within visual range of the Abuja Stellar Ring, like predatory whale pods rising from the deep sea, carrying with them a cold, murderous intent.
The enormous, still slowly rotating outline of the stellar ring was clearly visible. The newly formed, savage gash on its side seemed to silently emit smoke (dispersing fine debris and coolant). Closer still were the Empire's transport ships, scurrying about like headless flies, obstructing each other.
Qin Bei Wang stood on the bridge of the Kunlun Mountain - Modified, his gaze sweeping over the complex structural diagram of the stellar ring and the chaotic points of light representing it on the tactical screen. There was no trace of pity or hesitation on his face.
"Target: Abuja Stellar Ring. All capital ships and cruisers within range. Aim at its exposed structures, energy nodes, weapon platforms, and starship berths." His voice, broadcast clearly and coldly across the fleet. "Freely select targets. Saturation attack. Open fire."
The moment the command was given, the main cannon turrets of over a hundred battleships and heavy cruisers at the forefront of the Pluto Fleet's formation simultaneously erupted with the dazzling light of fully charged energy.
In the next instant, nearly a hundred high-energy particle beams and heavy laser beams of varying thicknesses, all containing destructive energy, tore through the void like a sudden thunderstorm, pouring down in a blanket of fire upon the massive, nearly immobile target of the stellar ring!
Where the torrent of beams passed, some unfortunate Empire transport ships that happened to be in the trajectory were instantly vaporized or blown into brilliant, short-lived fireballs before they could even utter a cry of despair.
Nearly a hundred deadly beams from the Federation Fleet lashed against the colossal body of the stellar ring like divine scourges.
The first to suffer were the outer defense platforms and densely packed berthing zones. When thick heavy particle beams struck clusters of protruding laser turrets, the turrets' heavy armor rapidly reddened, melted, and then vaporized like tin foil under a sustained high-temperature welding torch, disappearing along with the gun crews and personnel inside. Explosive flashes lit up these areas in rapid succession, debris mixing with molten metal droplets spraying in all directions.
Several beams accurately targeted the exposed energy conduits and pressurized storage compartments in the cylindrical section docking zone. Violent explosions penetrated deep from the impact points, tearing apart the conduits and triggering chain reactions of energy leaks and secondary sympathetic detonations. One large storage bay was directly hit; the flammable materials inside ignited instantly, forming a massive fireball that erupted from within the ring's structure, briefly illuminating the void before rapidly extinguishing in the vacuum, leaving behind only a twisted, ruptured black hole.
The entire Abuja Stellar Ring shuddered violently under this first savage volley. Struck areas blazed with patches of searing white and orange-red representing destruction. Thick smoke (ejected fine particles and condensate) poured from countless new breaches, mingling with the material spewing from the massive gap created by the earlier Wildfire Cannon explosion, shrouding parts of the ring in chaotic clouds of dust and smoke.
Jade Kirin-class Carrier.
The sharp scramble alarm pierced every corner.
"All Swift fighter pilots, board your craft immediately!
Repeat, board immediately!
Mission objective: Clear all Empire transport ships from the outer ring and assist the Fleet in attacking surface targets on the ring!"
The Hangar Bay and connecting corridors instantly erupted into a frenzy.
Pilots, already fully geared in form-fitting pressure suits, sprinted toward their fighters, clutching helmets with complex interfaces.
Corporal Ma Xiaoyuan was among them.
He could feel his heart pounding like a drum in his chest.
His palms were slightly sweaty, and he unconsciously, rapidly, and quietly repeated key points from the flight manual.
"Scan upon entering engagement airspace... maintain energy maneuverability advantage...
Avoid getting caught in vertical scissors... wingmen cover each other..."
This was his first real combat mission.
Countless top scores in the simulator now transformed into a tangible, real tension, laced with the smells of rust and ozone.
"Hey! Kid!"
A loud, amused shout snapped him out of his self-repetition.
Ma Xiaoyuan turned to see his squadron leader, Lieutenant Xie Zhixing.
He was sitting in the cockpit of his Swift fighter, call sign Stinger, with the canopy already open.
Xie Zhixing wore his familiar, roguish grin, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's.
"Snap out of it! Who are you trying to impress, wound up tighter than a new spring?"
Xie Zhixing patted the edge of his fighter.
"Nothing to be nervous about!
Remember, on the battlefield, it boils down to one thing.
Either you shoot them down, or they shoot you down!
Forget all the complicated stuff. Just focus on one thing..."
He extended his index finger, pointing first at Ma Xiaoyuan's eyes from a distance, then gesturing forward.
"Do everything you can.
Keep the enemy craft you need to take down firmly, steadily, right in the center of your vision!
Your eyes are your best crosshairs!"
Seeing Ma Xiaoyuan instinctively tighten his grip on his helmet.
Xie Zhixing pointed to the futuristic-looking tactical helmet on his own head, covered in miniature sensors.
"See this?
Our Falcon-IV Helmet isn't afraid of electronic interference!
Because it enhances what's up here..."
He tapped his own temple.
"Focus equals lock-on!
Wherever your eyes look, the Fire Control System's lead indicator follows!
Coupled with visual zoom and enemy trajectory prediction, seeing it is half the battle to locking on!"
He dropped the smile, his tone taking on a rare seriousness.
"Trust your eyes, trust your instincts, kid.
Play it just like you did in the simulator.
Only this time, there's no respawn button.
Now go, board up!
Follow my fighter. Let's see if you left all your skills back in the simulator!"
Ma Xiaoyuan took a deep breath. Xie Zhixing's rough but direct words acted like a shot of adrenaline, dispelling some of his confusion.
He gave a firm nod and ran toward his own Swift fighter, call sign Chick.
In the Hangar Bay, the roar of engines starting up gradually merged into a continuous thunder. Blue ion streams spilled from the fighters' tail nozzles.
The catapult tracks began charging, flashing with green ready lights.
Ma Xiaoyuan climbed into the cockpit, fastened his harness, and donned the helmet.
The world was instantly surrounded by tactical interfaces and data streams, but Xie Zhixing's words still seemed to echo in his ears.
"Stinger to Chick, comms check."
Xie Zhixing's voice came through the encrypted channel, clear and steady.
"Chick receiving, clear."
Ma Xiaoyuan tried to make his own voice sound equally calm.
"Good, follow me.
Remember, center of vision."
"Understood!"
The launch command was given.
One by one, Swift fighters were hurled from the hangar bay by the immense force of the catapults, like arrows released from a bow, charging toward the starry expanse already engulfed in flames and destruction.