Qin Bei Wang raised an eyebrow and pulled up the message.
After listening to Yang Shao's recording, he fell silent.
He could hear the anxiety in Yang Shao's tone, and the caution behind those final words: "This isn't a question of your capabilities." It was typical phrasing used by a superior trying to preserve a subordinate's dignity.
"Commander... is very worried about us," Zhuang ZhiXuan said.
"He's worried about the political consequences," Qin Bei Wang calmly corrected. "But it doesn't matter. Once the new battle report reaches him, his worries will disappear."
He turned his gaze to the main tactical screen.
There, fourteen blue dots representing Federal Starships had formed into a pursuit formation.
Ahead of them, the red dots representing Welles Fleet were fleeing in panic.
"Reply to the Commander!" Qin Bei Wang ordered. "Just eight words: Enemy forces routed, pursuit underway."
"That's all?"
"That's all."
Meanwhile, aboard the flagship Indomitable of the Iron Fist Sub-Fleet...
A sharp alert suddenly sounded from the communications console.
"Incoming encrypted transmission!" The communications officer nearly jumped from his seat. "Source... Kunlun Mountain! Priority: Highest!"
"Play it!" Yang Shao spun around sharply.
An information box popped up at the center of the holographic screen as data began scrolling. Not voice, not video—just a battlefield report so concise it was almost cold:
[Timestamp: 14:50:12]
[Combat Report: Dragon Lizard Fleet (8 ships) completely annihilated]
[Enemy Direct Fleet Status: Emergency warp attempt interrupted, currently retreating]
[Current Forces: Pluto Fleet (11 operational) + Scorpio Squadron (3 ships) = 14 ships]
[Operation Status: Pursuing routed enemy direct fleet]
The message wasn't long—just five lines.
Yet everyone on the bridge stared at those five lines, unmoving.
After the first read-through, nobody spoke.
After the second, someone began rubbing their eyes.
After the third, the adjutant's lips moved, emitting a meaningless syllable.
"...Huh?"
The Dragon Lizard Fleet—completely annihilated.
Welles' Direct Fleet's desperate warp attempt—interrupted.
Fourteen ships pursuing an enemy fleet that still numbered at least twelve.
And that final line of smaller text: "Has assumed command of Scorpio Squadron."
Each piece of information struck like a heavy hammer against everyone's understanding.
"Confirm... confirm the message source and encryption signature," Yang Shao's voice was unusually calm, though his knuckles were white where he clenched his hands behind his back.
"Triple-confirmed, Commander." The communications officer's voice trembled, though this time not from nervousness but from some indescribable excitement. "It's Kunlun Mountain's standard battle report format, encryption signature intact, quantum anti-counterfeiting code verified. This... this is real."
Real.
The Dragon Lizard Fleet—that second-line unit famous for its stubborn defense—had been completely annihilated.
Not repelled, not heavily damaged—annihilated.
All eight starships confirmed destroyed.
Welles' Direct Fleet—the strongest fleet in Welles Sub-Fleet.
Forced to "risk emergency warp."
In space combat, emergency warp is the last resort, with a success rate of less than 30%. Failure means the complete destruction of the entire ship.
For a veteran like Wells to make such a choice shows just how desperate the situation had become.
And the one who brought this about was Qin Bei Wang.
That twenty-eight-year-old "gilded young master," who ranked at the bottom of the Command Department and only became a Fleet Commander thanks to his father's connections.
"Heh…"
Yang Shao suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
Everyone turned to look at him.
The veteran's face was first expressionless, then the corners of his mouth began to twitch slightly, and soon his entire facial muscles relaxed.
It wasn't a forced smile, but a kind of absurd, uncontrollable mirth welling up from the depths of his heart.
"Heh heh… Ha ha ha ha!"
The laughter echoed in the silent Bridge, starting as a suppressed chuckle, then growing louder and louder until it became a hearty, unrestrained roar.
Yang Shao laughed so hard he doubled over, tears streaming from his eyes. He leaned against the back of the Command Chair, his shoulders shaking violently.
"Commander?"
The Adjutant asked cautiously.
"I'm laughing at myself!"
Yang Shao wiped the corners of his eyes, his voice still tinged with laughter.
"I thought that kid was a fledgling who needed protection, but it turns out he's a tiger capable of tearing a pack of wolves to shreds!"
He straightened up, the smile on his face gradually fading, but the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Annihilating the Dragon Lizard Fleet… with zero losses!"
He shook his head, not finishing his sentence, but his expression said it all.
This was a result that could be called a miracle.
"He dares to think and act more boldly than any of us."
Yang Shao turned around, a smile reappearing on his face—but this time, it was one of relief and admiration.
"Equipment advantage? Of course.
But to leverage equipment advantage to this extent, to employ psychological tactics to this degree… this is no longer just about equipment."
He paused, his voice turning solemn.
"This is talent. Talent for battlefield command."
Coming from Yang Shao, these words carried immense weight.
The veteran walked to the communications console and stared at the brief battle report for a full ten seconds.
Then he looked up, his eyes now free of hesitation, filled only with resolve.
"Chief of Staff, reassess the battlefield situation."
His voice regained its usual steadiness and strength.
"Qin Bei Wang is pursuing Wells, but Wells still has at least twelve ships. Cornered, he may still have the strength to counterattack.
We need to create the best possible environment for the pursuit."
"What do you mean, Commander?"
"Dispatch the Uranus Fleet and the Polaris Fleet immediately.
Along with our Directly Subordinate Fleet, head to the three Safe Jump Points in the Elvira Star System."
Yang Shao's fingers tapped three Coordinates on the Star Chart.
"Qin Bei Wang's earlier suggestion was correct.
If we can completely cut off Wells' escape routes, this battle can shift from a defensive engagement to an annihilation."
"But Commander,"
the Adjutant reminded him,
"the Uranus and Polaris Fleets are originally responsible for the coordinated defense of Shiva Star and Oak Planet. If we withdraw them, those two strategic locations will…"
"Wells has already lost a Sub-Level Fleet. He won't be foolish enough to stay here and give us a chance to annihilate him completely.
His other fleets have likely already received orders to retreat!"
Yang Shao waved his hand.
"Now, the greatest achievement would be the complete annihilation of the Wells Sub-Fleet.
If we succeed, it will be a decisive blow to the entire war situation in the Elvira Star System."
He looked at everyone, his gaze sharp.
"Relay my orders: the Uranus Fleet is to proceed to the seventh warp point. The Polaris Fleet will split forces to the third and ninth warp points.
The mission is not interception—it's blockade.
Lay minefields outside the warp points and activate jamming devices.
I want the Wells Fleet to have no escape route."
"Yes, sir!"
The command was issued like a thunderclap.
Yang Shao settled back into his command chair, watching the rapidly moving blue arrows on the tactical screen.
He recalled the final line of Qin Bei Wang's combat report.
"Currently pursuing the enemy's directly subordinate fleet in disarray."
"Kid," he murmured into the void, a faint smile curling his lips again.
"I've blocked your retreat. The rest is up to you."
Outside the window, the deep space was as dark as ink.