"Regardless of their purpose or numbers, since they dare to cause trouble in our territory, they must be eliminated immediately. We cannot allow them to continue creating chaos and disrupting the stability of the Stargate area."
"I propose that we each draw two reinforced mother-class fleets from our respective fleets to form a joint suppression task force."
"These annoying maggots will be left to the task force to crush."
"Our main force must remain firmly anchored at the Stargate, with no room for wavering. Who knows if this is a Federation ploy to lure us away?"
Scott pondered for a moment, finding Armstrong's analysis and proposal sound. Four mother-class fleets against a possible infiltrating Federation mother-class fleet would provide an absolute advantage in numbers, sufficient to carry out the cleanup mission.
"Good, we'll proceed as you suggest."
Scott finally suppressed his anger, regaining the commander's necessary composure.
"I'll dispatch Blood Claw and Demon Claw. What about your side?"
"Disciple and Nun mother-class fleets."
Armstrong was well-prepared.
"Have them assemble immediately and conduct a dragnet search and suppression outward from the Stargate as the center. Prioritize securing major navigation routes and energy facilities. If Federation vessels are encountered, eliminate them without warning!"
"I want to see which reckless Federation commander dares to extend their claws into the Bushman Star System!"
The orders were swiftly issued.
Four mother-class fleets, belonging to the Empire's Joint Fleet and possessing considerable combat strength, began detaching from the main defensive zone. Their engines roared as they menacingly surged toward the outer reaches of the star system, heading for the reported attacked airspace.
The Empire's defending forces reacted exactly as Qin Bei Wang's system deduction had predicted—they divided their forces.
Deep within the asteroid belt, at the Pluto Fleet's temporary hiding point.
On Qin Bei Wang's private system star chart, the latest developments in the Bushman Star System were clearly displayed. Among the clusters of light points representing the Empire's defensive forces, four small groups had distinctly detached from the core Stargate defense perimeter. They were fanning out in a search pattern toward the outer reaches of the star system, targeting the previously attacked areas.
Qin Bei Wang's gaze slowly swept over the four detached fleets. His face showed no surprise or tension; instead, it resembled a hunter seeing prey step to the edge of a preset trap.
"Order all assault fleets currently carrying out harassment and seizure missions to cease all activities immediately."
He commanded calmly.
"Withdraw all units to the assembly point in the asteroid belt via the preset concealed courses. Move quickly, but ensure absolute silence."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang ZhiXuan immediately understood Qin Bei Wang's intention.
"Commander is concerned... that the Empire has dispatched heavy forces to encircle and suppress our assault units?"
"Not exactly heavy forces."
Qin Bei Wang shook his head slightly.
"Four conventional mother-class fleets, totaling about twelve hundred ships. More than enough to deal with our dispersed forces outside, which consist of less than one hundred fifty cruisers and destroyers combined. It shows the Empire's commanders take us seriously."
The corner of his mouth lifted into a cold curve.
"Let them search."
"Given the efficiency of this dragnet search and the vastness of the Bushman Star System, it will take them at least several dozen hours just to screen the outer suspicious areas."
"By the time they find nothing, or only discover the wreckage traces we intentionally left behind, and reluctantly withdraw to return..."
Qin Beiwang's eyes suddenly sharpened.
"That will be when their nerves are most relaxed, their formation possibly at its loosest, and they are most eager to return home."
"And also... our best opportunity to strike."
Zhuang Zhixuan's heart trembled.
Here in the Imperial Hinterland, facing four complete mother-class fleets, her Commander was not thinking about how to evade or maneuver, but was planning how to ambush one of them in return!
This boldness and reverse thinking once again reshaped her understanding.
"Yes, Commander! I will relay the orders immediately!"
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Zhuang Zhixuan quickly turned to convey the commands.
The Pluto Fleet began quietly withdrawing its scattered forces like an octopus retracting its tentacles.
However, shortly after the orders were issued.
A senior engineer, his face flushed with excitement, nearly sprinted into the command center, even disregarding strict protocol.
"Commander! Deputy Commander Zhuang! Good news! Incredible news!"
Zhuang Liqun's eyes gleamed behind his glasses as he waved a freshly printed inspection report.
"We found an unexpected discovery in the wreckage of an Imperial transport ship we 'captured' earlier!"
His voice trembled with excitement.
"It's not conventional fusion fuel! It's... zero-point energy modules, preliminarily purified and packaged! The quantity isn't large, but the purity is extremely high!"
"Zero-point energy?"
Qin Beiwang's brow lifted slightly; the term was not unfamiliar, having been mentioned during the System Deduction before.
He immediately thought to himself.
"System, access the fleet database and retrieve information related to zero-point energy."
Almost instantly, detailed information about "zero-point energy" flowed into his mind.
It was an extremely rare and unstable high-density energy form extracted from quantum vacuum fluctuations.
One of the core catalysts and primary energy sources required to activate and maintain the stability of strategic-level Stargate hyperspace channels!
Its production was difficult, its storage hazardous, and it was typically a top-level controlled resource of the Empire.
Qin Beiwang's eyes narrowed slightly.
It seemed those transport fleets were indeed, as the system predicted, not just delivering fleet fuel but also carrying this deadly batch of "zero-point energy"!
This might be supplemental energy urgently requested by front-line Stargates, or reserves for the next large-scale deployment.
"Good!"
Qin Beiwang spoke slowly, his tone betraying little fluctuation, but those familiar with him could sense the sharp intent beneath the calm.
"We've seized the core energy they were transporting to the Stargates."
"With the Empire having lost this batch of zero-point energy, the speed at which they can deploy the next wave of reinforcements to the front line via the Stargates will inevitably be delayed."
"Their commanders must be furious now, having to both hunt down our nuisance of a fleet and worry about energy replenishment."
At that moment, Zhuang Liqun's eyes shone with a near-fanatic light, that of a top-tier tech enthusiast.
An even bolder, almost terrifying idea burst forth from his lips.
"Commander, Deputy Commander Zhuang, I... I have an even more daring idea!"
Zhuang Liqun's voice trembled slightly with excitement. He adjusted his glasses, as if trying to see clearly the terrifying prospect that existed at the edge of theory.
"Can we use Zero-point Energy as a battery or 'catalyst' to enhance our existing weapons?"
He took a deep breath and spoke faster.
"But the essence of Zero-point Energy is the key to leveraging the quantum fluctuations at the vacuum's foundation—it is a force that touches the fundamental structure of spacetime!
What if, instead of using it for power supply, we use it to... create a localized, controlled spacetime structure collapse?"