Zhuang Zhixuan stood before the viewport, gazing at the increasingly close Capital Star System and murmuring to herself.
"Finally here..."
Qi Xiangbei nodded.
"Yes, finally here."
He turned and looked at the communications officer.
"Send a message to the Galactic Sector Command, requesting docking coordinates."
The communications officer nodded, his fingers dancing rapidly across the control console.
Soon, a message came back from Command Headquarters.
The communications officer stared at the reply that had just appeared on the screen, stunned for a second.
Then he looked up, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Reporting, Commander..."
"Sector Command's reply..."
Qin Beiwang turned his head to look at him.
The communications officer continued.
"They're telling us to proceed directly into the Capital Star System and head for the Capital Star!"
The bridge fell silent for a moment.
Then Qi Xiangbei was the first to react, his voice suddenly rising.
"What?"
"Proceed into the Capital Star System?
Head for the Capital Star!"
Zhuang Zhixuan was also stunned.
"But... aren't frontline units prohibited from entering the Capital Star System?"
The communications officer checked the reply on the screen again.
"That's what the reply says."
"Proceed directly into the Capital Star System..."
"Head for the Capital Star."
The bridge fell completely silent.
Everyone exchanged glances.
The Capital Star System.
That was the heart of the Federation.
A place countless people could only see on the news in their entire lives.
To ensure the safety of the Capital Star, frontline combat units like theirs.
Had always been prohibited from entering the Capital Star System.
Let alone.
Approaching the Capital Star.
A staff officer murmured.
"This... this isn't according to regulations, is it..."
Discussions continued.
Some were excited, some puzzled, some quietly worried.
Zhuang Zhixuan stood beside Qin Beiwang, her brow slightly furrowed.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
But Qin Beiwang spoke first.
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly silencing all the discussions.
"If the higher-ups want us to go..."
"Then we go."
The bridge fell silent for another moment.
Qin Beiwang's gaze swept over everyone present, a faint curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
"If they're not worried..."
"What are you worried about?"
Everyone was taken aback.
Then someone chuckled.
Right.
What was there to worry about?
What kind of place was the Capital Star System?
It was the heart of the Federation.
The location of the Supreme Command.
The most heavily defended, most terrifyingly armed place.
If their two hundred-plus battered warships
really made any suspicious moves.
They probably wouldn't last a minute.
Before being blasted into cosmic dust by the Capital Star's terrifying defense array.
Qi Xiangbei shook his head with a laugh.
"The Commander is right."
He leaned back in his chair, relaxing.
"Our little fleet isn't even enough for one volley from them."
Zhuang Zhixuan also smiled.
"That's true."
Her brow smoothed out.
"If the higher-ups dare to let us into the Capital Star System..."
"Then it means they trust us."
Qin Beiwang nodded.
He didn't speak again.
He just turned around and looked back out the viewport.
A thought flashed through his mind.
Having them go to the Capital Star at this time.
Probably meant they were planning a grand victory ceremony.
After several more warps.
The Pluto Fleet finally arrived at the Capital Star System.
Blue warp light erupted in the void.
The Pluto Fleet slowly emerged from the warp point.
However, the scene outside the warp point left everyone astonished.
Outside the viewports, densely packed starships hung silently around the periphery of the warp point.
Their massive hulls, their cold, hard lines, their familiar silhouettes.
T5 Mountain-class Battleships.
Giant beasts of the same model as the Kunlun Mountain - Modified.
A full one hundred of them.
They were arranged in a neat formation, like two steel walls flanking the exit of the warp point.
At that moment, everyone on the bridge couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.
"Holy cow..."
A staff officer muttered.
"One hundred Mountain-class..."
Someone beside him chimed in, disbelief in their voice.
"Is... is this to block us?"
Another shook their head.
"Block what? We're on the same side!"
"Then what is this..."
The communications officer's voice suddenly rang out, cutting off everyone's speculation.
"Report, Commander!"
He stared at the screen before him, his voice trembling slightly.
"The First Fleet of the Galactic Star Sector, Admiral Xu Jingyao, is requesting communication!"
The bridge instantly fell silent.
All eyes fell upon Qin Bei Wang.
Qin Bei Wang slowly stood up.
He straightened his uniform, then walked to the communication screen.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Put it through."
The communication screen lit up.
A powerful figure appeared on the screen.
It was a middle-aged man in his fifties, broad-shouldered and sturdy, with a resolute face.
On his epaulettes, five military stars shone brightly.
It was unmistakably Admiral Xu Jingyao.
He looked at Qin Bei Wang, a slight curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
Then he spoke.
His voice was deep, carrying a reassuring steadiness.
"Vice Admiral Qin Bei Wang!"
"From here on, we will provide your escort."
The bridge fell silent once more.
Qin Bei Wang stood there, looking at Xu Jingyao on the screen.
He was silent for a second.
Then he raised his right hand.
Fingers together.
Touched it to his temple.
A standard military salute.
Qin Bei Wang said slowly.
"Thank you for your hard work."
Xu Jingyao also raised his hand.
Returning the salute.
His voice held a sincere respect.
"Clearing the way for a hero!"
"Is our honor."
The communication ended.
Outside the viewports, the one hundred Mountain-class Battleships began to move slowly.
The fifty ships on the left flank turned right.
The fifty ships on the right flank turned left.
They were like two massive doors slowly swinging open, clearing a wide passage in the void.
Then they began to move.
One after another, they took up positions flanking the Pluto Fleet.
Neat as if measured with a ruler.
They hung there silently.
Like two rows of the most loyal guards.
Protecting the Pluto Fleet in the center.
"Set off!"
At Qin Bei Wang's command.
The massive fleet slowly began its journey toward the Capital Star.
Everyone on the bridge unconsciously straightened their collars.
To have one hundred T5-class Battleships as an escort—there was no greater pride.
The journey from the warp point to the Capital Star took about eight hours.
Yet, those eight hours felt exceptionally long, as if a century had passed.
Eight hours later.
The outline of the Capital Star began to appear in the viewports.
Immediately after, everyone saw three signal flares of different colors slowly rising.
White, blue, and gold—it was unmistakably the Three-Luminaries Salute!
At that moment, everyone's sense of pride soared.
As the distance continued to close.
The outline of Capital Star grew increasingly distinct.
Yet no one's gaze fell upon the planet.
They stared at the airspace ahead of Capital Star.
There, warships were arrayed in orderly ranks.
Not a hundred.
More.
Dense and countless, stretching all the way to the horizon.
They stood in two columns, like twin steel fortresses, clearing a broad navigation route through the void.
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