Two Shadow-class reconnaissance ships glided like phantoms toward Planet Agbag.
On the bridge of the Kunlun Mountain, Qin Bei Wang watched the holographic star chart updating situational data for the entire star system in near real-time.
The two blue dots representing Ghost Shadow and Dark Shadow had already crossed the 550-million-kilometer line and were following their planned trajectory, moving above the ecliptic plane toward the planet's dark side.
[Reconnaissance ship distance: 577 million kilometers]
[Communication delay: 0 seconds]
[Sensor coverage: 89%]
The data stream scrolled steadily—everything appeared to be proceeding according to plan.
Yet Qin Bei Wang's brow furrowed slightly.
The holographic star chart had just flagged an anomaly.
Not a warning, not a highlighted alert, but an indescribable sense of "incongruity."
Behind the first moon in Agbag's orbit.
The gravitational gradient (active gravitational wave detector) registered faint, periodic fluctuations.
The amplitude was so minimal that the Federation standard sensor array would classify it as "background noise."
But the star chart system extracted it separately, marking the location with a translucent gray outline.
Unidentified object. Blurred outline, dimensions unmeasurable, but fluctuation analysis suggested at least medium-sized vessel scale.
Qin Bei Wang stared at the gray outline for three seconds.
Then he looked up.
"Lightning."
He opened a channel to the Gale-class cruiser.
"Break formation. Turn fifteen degrees west, full speed ahead for 45 million kilometers."
Several officers on the bridge turned to look at him simultaneously.
"Upon arrival," Qin Bei Wang continued, "send encrypted quantum orders to Ghost Shadow and Dark Shadow: maintain course, do not decelerate, do not alter trajectory, proceed to predetermined surveillance position as planned."
The voice of Lightning's captain, Lieutenant Commander Li Zhen, came through, clearly puzzled. "Commander, confirming orders: break formation alone, advance 45 million kilometers west by fifteen degrees. Then send 'maintain course' instructions to the reconnaissance ships?"
"Confirmed," Qin Bei Wang said.
"But Commander," Li Zhen couldn't help asking, "these orders could be transmitted directly from the main fleet. Why dispatch Lightning so far?"
"Execute orders," Qin Bei Wang cut him off, his voice calm but leaving no room for argument.
The channel closed.
Brief silence fell over the bridge.
Zhuang ZhiXuan was the first to approach. Her expression was controlled, but her eyes brimmed with confusion. "Captain, sending Lightning out alone increases its ambush vulnerability. And as Captain Li said, relaying orders to the reconnaissance ships could be done through the main fleet's communication array. Why take this unnecessary step?"
"This isn't unnecessary," Qin Bei Wang's gaze remained fixed on the star chart. "It's a necessary tactical maneuver."
"What tactic?" Zhuang ZhiXuan pressed. "Sending a cruiser 45 million kilometers away just to say 'maintain course'? The reconnaissance ships are already maintaining course! And by the time the message reaches them, it'll be half an hour later!"
Several other officers gathered around.
Navigation Officer Jiang Zhongwei murmured quietly.
"Commander, there might be undetected enemy ships near Planet Agbag. Dividing our forces would weaken our firepower..."
Qin Bei Wang finally turned to face them.
His gaze swept across every face.
Doubtful, confused, concerned.
"I am the Commander of the Pluto Fleet."
He said, his voice not loud but each word ringing like metal striking metal.
"I issue orders, you execute them. Any questions?"
That silenced everyone.
The atmosphere on the bridge froze.
Zhuang ZhiXuan opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing, merely nodding before turning back to her station.
But her clenched fists betrayed her inner turmoil.
Through the observation window, the Lightning began to turn.
The streamlined cruiser activated its engines at full power, blue exhaust streams drawing brilliant trails of light in the darkness as it accelerated toward a course fifteen degrees off the main fleet's trajectory.
Soon, it became a distant point of light, then disappeared from sensor range.
Qin Bei Wang refocused his attention on the star chart.
The blue dot representing the Lightning was moving rapidly, growing increasingly distant from the formation.
Meanwhile, behind Satellite One, that gray silhouette remained motionless.
Time passed minute by minute.
The atmosphere on the bridge grew oppressive.
The officers deliberately softened their movements at the control consoles, as if afraid to break some delicate balance.
Zhuang ZhiXuan occasionally glanced at Qin Bei Wang's back, her expression complex.
She couldn't understand this order. Couldn't understand it at all.
If Qin Bei Wang suspected an ambush behind the satellite, he should have sent a reconnaissance ship to investigate, or put the entire fleet on high alert.
Sending a cruiser away to deliver a meaningless message? It made no sense.
Unless... it wasn't meaningless?
A thought suddenly struck her.
Zhuang ZhiXuan's fingers paused over her console, her eyes widening slightly.
"Commander!"
She spoke again, but this time her voice held no doubt, only a tentative quality.
"You sent the Lightning to that specific direction to deliver the message because of... the quantum harmonic direction finder?"
Qin Bei Wang didn't turn around, but a barely perceptible smile touched the corner of his mouth.
"Continue."
Zhuang ZhiXuan's mind raced.
"If there really are enemy ships behind the satellite, and they're equipped with quantum harmonic direction finders, then any commands sent directly from the main fleet might be detected.
But if sent from another direction..."
"If sent from another direction,"
Qin Bei Wang took over.
"The enemy would think the main fleet is in the Lightning's direction!
They might even attack toward the Lightning!
Then we could strike their flank!"
He paused before adding.
Zhuang ZhiXuan's pupils contracted sharply.
On the bridge, the other officers understood too.
They exchanged astonished looks.
This seemingly absurd order actually concealed such deep calculation?
"But Commander!"
Communications officer Lieutenant Liu couldn't help asking.
"What if there's nothing behind the satellite? Then the Lightning's trip would be wasted, unnecessarily increasing risks!"
"Then consider it a communications security drill."
Qin Bei Wang said calmly.
"On the battlefield, caution is never excessive."
Having said this, he offered no further explanation, turning his attention back to the star chart.
Now, the officers present couldn't help but regard Qin Bei Wang with newfound respect.
While this strategy might not necessarily work, it was certainly better than his previous do-nothing attitude!
Four minutes had passed, and Lightning was about to reach its designated position.
[Lightning distance: 44.8 million kilometers]
[Approaching command transmission position]
On the star chart, the blue dot representing Lightning came to a halt.
A few seconds later, a dotted line extended from it, pointing toward two distant reconnaissance ship markers.
It was the simulated path of quantum communication.
"Lightning reporting: Arrived at designated coordinates, transmitting command now."
Li Zhen's voice came through.
"Received."
Qin Bei Wang responded, but his eyes remained fixed on the gray silhouette on the satellite's far side.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Nothing happened.
Zhuang ZhiXuan felt her heartbeat quicken.
She didn't know what she was expecting.
Part of her hoped Qin Bei Wang's judgment was correct, proving he wasn't just giving reckless orders.
Another part wished there was nothing there, so the fleet wouldn't have to face additional enemies.