Because Wells could not afford to lose again.
Having one warp disrupted was already a stain on his career. If it happened again—and in open space without any cover—what awaited him wouldn't just be defeat, but the complete annihilation of his entire Directly Subordinate Fleet.
In the space surrounding the Seventh Jump Point, sensor alarms abruptly blared across the Iron Spine's bridge.
"Detecting large-scale fleet signals!" the operator's voice nearly cracked. "Numbers... over sixty ships! Converging on the jump point from three directions!"
Zhao Rui shot up from his command chair and strode to the tactical screen. The once-silent deep space now blazed with dense clusters of red dots, like deadly flowers blooming suddenly in the night sky.
Four fleet insignias were clearly visible: Poison Spider, Fire Fox, Ranger, and Brown Bear. The four Sub-Level Fleets under Wells' command were rushing at full speed from the directions of Shiva Star and Oak Planet. Ahead of them was Wells' Direct Fleet, fresh from their devastating defeat. Over sixty-five Imperial starships were surging toward the Seventh Jump Point.
"Damn it," Zhao Rui cursed under his breath, but there was no fear in his eyes—only blazing combat spirit. "These bastards really know how to pick their timing to regroup."
Adjutant Li Wen turned pale. "Commander, the enemy outnumbers us more than five to one. We only have the Iron Spine and twelve escort ships. Trying to stop them head-on would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Shouldn't we..."
"Shouldn't we what? Retreat?" Zhao Rui turned, his bearded face splitting into a near-feral grin. "Old Li, have I told you what Marshal Qin taught me as his first lesson decades ago?"
Li Wen froze.
"A soldier's duty is to stand firm without retreating when it's time to hold the line," Zhao Rui's voice was iron-clad. "Commander Yang Shao's orders are to blockade the Seventh Jump Point. Until reinforcements arrive, this is our Uranus Fleet's position. Losing this position would be disgrace! Dying here would be our duty!"
He turned away from Li Wen and addressed the entire bridge. "All hands, Battle Configuration One! Shut down all non-essential systems, redirect all power to weapons and shields!"
The command thundered through the ship. The Iron Spine's fifteen-year-old frame began to rumble as main turrets slowly rotated, their barrels glowing blue with charging energy. The twelve escort ships—four cruisers, six destroyers, and two reconnaissance ships—quickly formed a defensive formation, standing like a thin but resilient metal dam between the Imperial fleet and the jump point.
"But Commander!" the tactical officer's voice was desperate. "There are too many enemies—our firepower can't cover all breakthrough routes. They could easily split their forces and bypass us..."
"Then we'll make them afraid to split their forces," Zhao Rui cut him off. "Launch all thermal smokescreens! Cover the area fifty thousand kilometers ahead of us!"
"But thermal smoke is ineffective against optical sensors, it only interferes with infrared and thermal radiation detection..."
"Do it!"
Thirty seconds later, the missile silos on the Iron Spine and all its escort ships opened simultaneously.
Hundreds of specialized warheads screamed through space, detonating into vast clouds of grayish-white fog in the void.
Composed of nanoscale metallic particles and inert gas, the smoke rapidly expanded, forming a barrier tens of thousands of kilometers thick.
Almost simultaneously, Zhao Rui issued his second command.
"Activate the full-band communication array at maximum power! Simulate coordinated multi-fleet communication signals! I want Wells to hear at least three Federation main fleets closing in!"
The communications officer's fingers danced across the console as the Iron Spine's quantum communication array began operating at full capacity, broadcasting countless carefully forged signals in all directions.
Fleet callsigns, tactical commands, fire coordination, even simulated arguments between commanders—every detail was meticulously recreated.
Amplified by the thermal smoke screen, these deceptive signals created an overwhelming illusion. Any Imperial reconnaissance ship intercepting them would reach the same conclusion: at least three Federation main fleets were rapidly assembling ahead.
"Now!" Zhao Rui stared at the hesitant red dots hovering at the edge of the smoke screen on his tactical display. "Let's see if Wells dares to gamble."
Aboard the Imperial Glory's bridge, Wells frowned at the anomalous smoke cloud on the sensor screen. "Thermal smoke, accompanied by massive communication signals..." his adjutant analyzed the data. "We've detected at least four distinct Federation fleet identification codes with overlapping tactical command frequencies. Commander, this could be..."
"Could be a bluff," Wells said coldly, remembering how they'd been deceived earlier by a single cruiser simulating fleet communications.
Yet he couldn't be certain. "Or it could be a genuine ambush." He magnified the scan data from the smoke region. The thermal smoke completely blocked infrared and thermal radiation detection, while the dense false signals severely disrupted the quantum sensors' filtration systems.
To the Imperial fleet's sensors, the area now appeared as an impenetrable fog—they knew something was there, but not what, how much, or where.
"Commander!" the communications officer reported. "Brown Bear fleet requests instructions. Their vanguard has reached the smoke boundary. Should they advance?"
Wells remained silent, fingers drumming rapidly on his armrest as his mind raced through calculations. If this was a bluff, charging through would be decisive—even one or two fleets couldn't withstand his sixty-five elite ships. He could clear the path to the warp point within ten minutes.
But if this was a real ambush... if that monster had again predicted his rendezvous route and positioned heavy forces here in advance...
"Staying here means certain death!" Wells finally gritted his teeth. "We can't afford to gamble."
Turning to the tactical screen, he swiftly outlined a new formation. "Order Brown Bear and Fire Fox fleets to form the vanguard in wedge assault formation. Directly Subordinate Fleet at the center, with Poison Spider and Ranger bringing up the rear. All ships maintain highest combat readiness. Upon engagement, advance at all costs. Our objective isn't to eliminate the enemy, but to break through the blockade and reach the warp point!"
"Understood!"
As commands circulated, the massive Imperial fleet began reorganizing.
The four Heavy Cruisers of the Brown Bear Fleet advanced to the forefront, their thick armor plates and full-power shields glowing with blinding intensity on the sensor screens.
Close behind them, the three Electronic Warfare Ships of the Fire Fox Fleet had their Jamming Arrays fully activated, ready to suppress the Federation Fleet's Fire Control Systems at any moment.
Further back, the four Fast Cruisers of the Poison Spider Fleet and the four Fast Assault Cruisers of the Ranger Fleet lurked like venomous snakes in the shadows, their cannons all aimed deep into the smoke.
"All ships, charge!"
Wells' voice echoed through every Imperial Starship via quantum communication.