"Please remain calm, General!
Although the docking zone is severely damaged, the main structure of the ring belt, the energy core, and the residential zones have sustained only controllable damage!
Most importantly..."
He deliberately paused for emphasis.
"The zero-point vacuum energy modules prepared for the Stargate activation.
At the first moment of the attack, they were urgently transferred by security forces to the absolute anti-nuclear shelter in the deep living zone!
They are intact!
Not a single one was lost!"
"The zero-point energy modules are intact?"
Nolan and Harrison spoke almost in unison, their tense expressions visibly relaxing.
This news was like a bucket of cold water, dousing the urgent desire that had just risen within them to pursue and annihilate that arrogant enemy force.
The safety of the zero-point energy took priority far above pursuing a Federation fleet.
Preserving these modules was an absolute order.
Nolan and Harrison exchanged a glance, instantly reaching an understanding.
Harrison addressed the communication screen, his tone returning to a steady, businesslike manner.
"Ring Master Wright, we understand the situation.
The immediate priority is to stabilize the Abuja Ring.
Rescue the wounded, assess the losses, and ensure the absolute safety of the zero-point energy modules."
Nolan continued.
"The Priest and the Steel Claw Fleet will temporarily garrison the Abuja airspace to assist in defense and maintain order.
We will report the situation in detail to the Star Gate General Command and request additional engineering fleets."
The possibility of pursuing the Nadler Star was completely shelved.
Wright sighed with relief, offering repeated thanks.
The two massive Imperial fleets began releasing numerous service craft and engineering robots, swarming like worker ants toward the scarred stellar ring.
They deployed defensively and patrolled around the Abuja Ring, but no longer looked toward the deep space direction where the Nadler Star was located.
P-375 Warp Point, Imperial Outpost debris field.
Scattered, drifting metal fragments silently recounted the brief yet thorough sweep that had occurred here not long ago.
The massive forms of the Pluto Direct Fleet and the Tiankui Star sub-fleet hung silently in the void.
Engines operated at low power, all non-essential external lights on the hulls were extinguished, like giant beasts lying dormant in the darkness.
Yet, inside every warship, the final, most meticulous pre-warp inspections were underway.
Energy flows were strictly regulated; shield generators adjusted to warp anti-shock mode.
Inertial stabilization fields preheated at full power; navigation systems repeatedly verified strings of coordinates that would decide their fate.
On the Kunlun Mountain - Modified Bridge, Qin Beiwang stood before the command seat.
His gaze swept across several screens displaying fleet status, spatial curvature readings, energy reserves, and enemy situation alerts.
All was ready.
He activated the fleet-wide broadcast, his voice steady and clear, reaching the ears of every captain and key personnel.
"All fleets, attention. Commence final jump preparation procedures."
"Lock jump coordinates: (BSM 653.383, 83.768, -37.490, V+19.91)."
"All vessels, activate high-precision spatial curvature and gravitational wave background scans to eliminate potential natural interference."
The command was issued, and the communication channel immediately filled with the efficient, emotionless confirmations from each Sub-fleet Commander, like precise gears meshing in sequence.
"Shaking Light Fleet acknowledges. Coordinates locked. Spatial scan initiated. All ships entering transition posture."
"Earth Fiend Star Fleet understands. Coordinates confirmed. Scan in progress. Transition system preheating complete."
"Jade Balance Fleet in position..."
"Opening Yang Fleet in position..."
"Earth Brave Star Fleet preparations complete..."
The voices came one after another, completing the full roster of acknowledgments within tens of seconds.
No hesitation. No error reports.
Qin Beiwang gave a slight nod and issued the second command.
"All fleets, final status report.
Confirm transition channel calculations are stable. No abnormal spatial disturbances or potential mass shadows within scan range."
The channel was once again filled with concise reports.
"Jade Balance Fleet reports: Channel stable. No interference sources. Transition ready."
"Opening Yang Fleet reports: Channel clear. Systems green. Ready to transition."
"Earth Brave Star Fleet reports: All normal. Awaiting orders."
...
Each declaration of readiness and stability added another measure of confidence to the bowstring about to be drawn taut.
When the final confirmation signal from the last sub-fleet returned, Qin Beiwang slowly raised his right hand, extending a single index finger that pointed like a blade into the profound darkness ahead.
There lay the entrance to the transition channel—invisible yet calculated with flawless precision.
His voice sounded in the channel, still steady, yet infused with a previously unseen, tranquil power.
"All Pluto Fleet units, jump countdown... begins now."
He paused, adding a sentence, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached every corner.
"May we... arrive safely and achieve victory from the outset."
His gaze seemed to penetrate the hulls, seeing every warship, every crew member.
"It is a great honor... to be your Commander."
The moment his words fell.
Without warning, the communication channel erupted into a low, resonant roar, suppressing boundless fighting spirit and resolve.
From all bridges, all combat stations, converging into a torrent that shook the void.
"Kill!
Kill! Kill!
Kill! Kill! Kill—!!"
This roar was not a chaotic howl, but a uniform, ritualistic battle cry with an ancient quality.
It was the final morale boost before deployment, the ultimate response of trust in the Commander, and the most direct declaration to the hellish battlefield they were about to enter.
Before the echoes of the roar had faded.
A cold, utterly emotionless electronic synthesized voice.
Began the final countdown,
Resounding in every compartment.
"10, 9, 8..."
Qin Beiwang lowered his hand, straightened his back, and locked his gaze ahead.
"3, 2, 1..."
"Jump initiated."
There was no tremendous sound, no blinding flash.
Only at the bows of the several cruisers serving as navigation ships at the forefront of the fleet, space suddenly grew blurred and distorted, as if stretched and folded by an invisible force, forming an instantly expanding dark blue ripple.
Immediately following, the entire massive joint fleet was as if gently erased by a cosmic hand.
Successively drawn into that distorted space, disappearing from the cold void of the P-375 Jump Point.
Leaving only some unsettled space ripples, slowly undulating and dissipating.
The Stargate Defense Perimeter.
Two Imperial Joint Fleets, nearly thirty thousand starships strong, stood like loyal guards.
They were densely and orderly distributed throughout the airspace surrounding the massive Stargate structure, forming a multi-layered Defense Array.
The faint glow of Energy Shields flowed across the hull surfaces, Turrets slowly rotated, and Detection Arrays continuously scanned every inch of space.
Suddenly, almost simultaneously, glaring red alarms flashed on the Main Screens of the Gravitational Wave Detectors on all Imperial warships.
Gravitational readings abnormal!
Coordinates: B-380 Jump Point!
Readings rapidly climbing! Space Curvature Distortion!
The anomalous data spread like wildfire to the Bridges of each warship, then swiftly converged to the Command Headquarters of both Fleets.