The bridge of the Iron Spine was filled with the pungent odor of smoke mixed with ionized air.
Three hours earlier, the Uranus Fleet had engaged the Poison Spider Fleet in the outer orbit of Shiva Star.
This was a fleet renowned for its speed and cunning.
The battle had reached a stalemate from the very beginning.
The Poison Spider Fleet used the asteroid belt as cover, launching harassing hit-and-run attacks repeatedly.
Zhao Rui was seething with frustration.
What made it even more aggravating was that the Poison Spider Fleet was clearly stalling for time.
They weren't seeking a decisive battle; instead, they circled like flies, occasionally taking a bite.
"Commander, the enemy fleet is retreating again," reported the sensor supervisor, his voice weary.
"Just like the previous five times, they've stopped at the edge of the asteroid belt, maintaining their distance."
Zhao Rui slammed his fist on the control panel.
"These bastards are toying with us!"
Adjutant Li Wen stood beside him, his eyes behind his glasses fixed on the enemy ship trajectories displayed on the tactical screen.
He adjusted his glasses, his voice calm but filled with concern.
"They're not toying with us—they're stalling us. The Poison Spider Fleet's mission is to prevent us from reinforcing the Shiva Orbital Shipyard. Every minute they delay us increases the risk of the shipyard being attacked by other Imperial fleets."
"I know!" Zhao Rui gritted his teeth.
"But what can we do? Chase them into the asteroid belt? It's full of their ambush points! Not chase them? Just stand here and watch?"
As he wrestled with the decision, the enemy ship signals on the tactical screen suddenly began to turn collectively.
Not retreating—turning.
Abandoning their current formation, they accelerated toward the outer reaches of the star system.
"The enemy fleet is... retreating?" the navigation officer said uncertainly.
"Full-speed retreat," the sensor supervisor confirmed. "All Imperial ships are turning, engines at full power, rapidly disengaging."
The bridge fell silent for a few seconds before erupting in suppressed cheers.
"They're running!"
"They're scared of us!"
"The Imperial scum aren't so tough after all!"
Zhao Rui didn't join the celebration. He stared at the rapidly receding red dots on the screen, his brow furrowing deeper.
Something wasn't right.
Although the Poison Spider Fleet had suffered some losses, they were far from crippled.
Given their style, they could have harassed them for at least another five or six hours.
Why were they suddenly retreating at full speed?
"Communications officer," he said gravely. "Contact the Indomitable and report—"
Before he could finish, the communications console lit up with a red alert of the highest priority.
"Receiving an emergency directive from the Indomitable!" the communications officer's voice rose sharply.
"Encryption level: Top Secret. Content: The Uranus Fleet is to immediately terminate the current combat mission and proceed at full speed to the Seventh Jump Point in the Elvira Star System to execute a space blockade. Repeat: Execute immediately!"
The directive was brief, but every word hit like a hammer.
"The Seventh Jump Point?" Li Wen hurried to the tactical screen and pulled up the star chart. "That's on the other side of the Elvira Star System, at least 10.56 light-minutes away! Even at full speed, it'll take us twenty-five minutes to get there! And... a space blockade? Who are we supposed to blockade?"
Zhao Rui was equally puzzled.
The Seventh Jump Point was one of the main warp points in the Elvira Star System, typically used for long-distance travel between star systems.
Why suddenly blockade there?
Could it be that an Empire fleet is planning to warp in from there?
But the Poison Spider Fleet is clearly retreating...
"Commander, there's another message."
The communications officer's voice sounded strange.
"Play it."
A new information window popped up on the right side of the holographic screen.
No video, no audio, only concise text combat report:
[Combat Report for the Agbag Planet Theater, Elvira Star System]
[Result: Commander Qin Bei Wang led the Pluto Fleet to completely annihilate the Ferry Empire's Dragon Lizard Fleet (8 ships)]
[Enemy Situation: Welles' Direct Fleet's emergency warp was disrupted, currently fleeing in disarray]
[Our Forces: Pluto Fleet + Scorpion Squadron, total 14 ships, currently in pursuit]
[Recommendation: Immediately blockade all safe jump points within the star system to prevent enemy fleet escape]
On the bridge, a deathly silence fell.
Everyone stared at those lines of text as if reading divine scripture.
Zhao Rui was the first to react. He strode to the screen, almost pressing his face against it.
"Completely annihilate the Dragon Lizard Fleet?
The Pluto Fleet?
That guy Qin Bei Wang?"
Each question mark carried heavy skepticism.
Li Wen adjusted his glasses and quickly operated the console to pull up the intelligence file on the Dragon Lizard Fleet.
"Although the Dragon Lizard Fleet is a second-line unit, its commander, Gore Victor, is renowned for defensive warfare.
To completely annihilate such a fleet would require at least double the forces, and readiness to sustain over 30% casualties.
The Pluto Fleet only has eleven ships, annihilating eight enemy ships with zero losses?
This..."
"Impossible."
Zhao Rui stated categorically.
"Absolutely impossible.
Either the intelligence is wrong, or..."
He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Or it was Zhuang ZhiXuan who did it."
These words acted like a key, unlocking everyone's confusion.
"That's right!"
A young officer blurted out.
"Deputy Commander Zhuang graduated top of her class in the Tactical Command Department of the Federation Starsea Academy!
If she was the one actually commanding, leveraging the Pluto Fleet's equipment advantages, it's indeed possible to achieve such a result!"
"But the report credits Qin Bei Wang," Li Wen reminded.
"Just a name on paper."
Zhao Rui sneered.
"Have you forgotten the incident with the White Shark Fleet three years ago?
The Chief of Staff's son led a team to a brilliant victory.
Later, it was exposed that his adjutant was the one actually commanding.
And the result? The credit still went to that kid; the adjutant only got a symbolic reward."
The more he spoke, the more reasonable it seemed.
"What kind of character is Qin Bei Wang?
Bottom of his class in the Command Department, constantly drunk and causing trouble, can't even read a basic star chart!
He could annihilate an entire fleet?
Ridiculous!
It must be Zhuang ZhiXuan commanding from behind, with Qin Bei Wang stealing the credit.
How often does this kind of thing happen in the Federation military?"
The officers exchanged glances, most showing expressions of agreement.
Qin Bei Wang had too many past absurdities, too many to believe he could achieve such a feat.
And Zhuang ZhiXuan's capabilities were evident to all.
If not for her lack of connections, she should have been commanding a fleet long ago.
"But Commander!"
Li Wen said cautiously.
"The report also says Welles' Direct Fleet was severely damaged and is fleeing in disarray.
If that's true, then it's not just about defeating the Dragon Lizard Fleet.
Welles' Direct Fleet has 12 ships, all elite.
To make them flee..."
"Equipment advantage."
Zhao Rui interrupted him, his tone tinged with bitterness.
"Don't forget what the Pluto Fleet has."
The T5-class Kunlun Mountain, the latest Gale-Class Cruiser, and Shadowmoon-Class Destroyer.
Such firepower would indeed put pressure on Wells.
He walked to the observation window, watching the receding signals of the Poison Spider Fleet outside.
"And did you notice?
Why did the Poison Spider Fleet suddenly retreat?
It's likely because something happened to Wells—they received orders to rush to support or extract him."
The chain of logic closed.