But more "Swifts" evaded the attacks like phantoms.
They unleashed their carried missiles and armor-piercing shells in a torrential rain upon the defense platforms, sensor arrays, and energy nodes, triggering a chain of explosions.
Just as the Orbital Defense System Commander was gritting his teeth, preparing to activate his final trump card—the Integrated Energy Defense Shield covering the entire core area of the military port—a heavy particle torrent of an unnaturally thick, deep azure hue, originating from the distant deep space, descended like a Punishment Spear hurled by a deity. It pierced through tens of thousands of kilometers of void with pinpoint accuracy, slamming violently into the defense platform housing the Outer Ring Orbital Primary Control Energy Hub!
The main cannon of the Kunlun Mountain roared with destruction.
That platform, along with the shield generator matrix inside that had not yet fully activated, vaporized instantly before this absolute force.
A chain reaction of energy backflow and explosions propagated along the energy conduits.
The faint blue shield membrane that had just flickered to life in some areas blinked erratically like a faulty lightbulb before extinguishing completely.
Only the orbital wreckage, melted through with a massive cavity, remained, silently testifying to the terror of T5-Class Super Firepower.
Inside the Langkawi Star Military Port, the Core Dock.
The two commanders of the "Fierce Bird" Fleet and the "Owl" Fleet, on the bridges of their flagships, the "Vulture" and the "Night Owl," almost simultaneously received reports of the shield activation failure and the dock coming under attack.
Through the observation windows, they could see the constant flashes of explosions lighting up the external passageways and feel the increasingly intense vibrations transmitted through the dock structure.
"We can't wait any longer! Staying in the dock makes us sitting ducks!"
The Fierce Bird Fleet Commander roared over the communication channel.
"All ships that can still move, activate your engines immediately and break out of the dock!
Form defensive formations in open space!
Now!"
The massive dock gates began sliding open to both sides with a piercing screech of metal, revealing the starscape outside, ablaze with gunfire.
Several of the quickest-reacting Imperial Destroyers and Cruisers spewed dazzling blue light from their engines, eager to escape this deadly cage.
However, at the very moment the bow of the first Destroyer emerged from the gate...
A second heavy particle beam main cannon bombardment from the Kunlun Mountain arrived like a scythe of death that had been waiting all along, traversing the battlefield to strike once more!
This time, it did not target the fixed installations. Instead, it aimed directly at the Imperial Fleet surging out!
The Vulture, the flagship of the Fierce Bird Fleet—a massive T4-Class Battleship—had just completed its turn, its colossal hull facing the dock gate exit.
That devastating pillar of light struck it squarely, penetrating from the front of its bow!
The thick forward armor, capable of withstanding volleys from ordinary Battleship main cannons, was sliced through like butter.
The light pillar continued its unstoppable path of penetration rearward. Everything in its way—armor, structural frames, compartments, weapon arrays, energy pipelines...
All were instantly vaporized or melted!
From the outside, the "Vulture" looked as if a giant, white-hot needle had been thrust into it from the front. Its midsection swelled violently before, in a chain reaction of internal sympathetic detonations, it broke in two!
Explosive fire erupted from countless fractures, utterly consuming the leviathan.
This is only the beginning.
With the dock gates now open, it presented a perfect firing window for the poised main force of the Pluto Fleet.
Main cannons from Pluto Battleships, locked onto the location from various directions, fired in succession, weaving a deadly net of thick energy beams.
Dense swarms of anti-ship missiles surged forth like piranhas drawn to the scent of blood.
A metal storm of high-velocity kinetic projectiles rained down upon the exit zone.
The Imperial Starships scrambling to charge out immediately faced utter devastation.
A cruiser, barely halfway through the exit, was struck simultaneously by three beams on its flank—its shield overloaded and hull torn apart.
Another destroyer attempted to accelerate and evade but was caught by dozens of missiles, exploding into an expanding debris cloud.
Ships following behind were either destroyed while trapped at the gateway or collided with one another in panic, creating a scene of absolute chaos.
The dock exit instantly transformed into a gruesome slaughterhouse. The Empire's fresh forces, not yet fully deployed into battle, were met with a devastating ambush right at their doorstep.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Savannah Star System.
A fleet maintaining a tight defensive formation advanced steadily toward the Langkawi Star.
The cold gray paint on their hulls and the emblem of a shield and chain—symbolizing absolute defense—marked their identity.
The Iron Curtain Fleet.
Further ahead of them were two smaller but fiercely aggressive Blood Blade Sub-Fleets.
They spearheaded the advance like sharp blades.
Aboard the Iron Curtain Fleet's flagship, the "Blood Thorn."
Isabella Marlow had just received the initial combat report: Langkawi Star was under surprise attack, and the military port along with two Blood Blade Sub-Fleets had suffered heavy losses.
Her ice-blue pupils abruptly contracted.
For the first time, a noticeable ripple of emotion crossed her perpetually calm and detached expression.
It was a mix of shock, fury, and deep unease.
"Fuel reserves?"
She turned immediately to her adjutant, her voice a shade more urgent than usual.
"Reporting, Commander. After the long-range submerged maneuver, the average fuel reserves across the entire fleet have dropped to twenty-eight percent.
Sufficient for less than twelve hours of high-intensity combat, or approximately one day of routine cruise.
Resupply is urgently required."
The adjutant's report confirmed her worst fears.
Langkawi Star was not merely a strategic hub.
It was the planned primary resupply point for fuel and supplies for her fleet, which had traveled a long distance under silent running, unable to replenish along the way.
If the military port, storage tanks, and refining facilities on Langkawi Star were completely destroyed by the Pluto Fleet…
Her Iron Curtain Fleet would immediately face drastically reduced mobility and a sharp decline in sustained combat capability!
In the perilous, enemy-held Savannah Star System, that could be fatal.
"Entire fleet, cancel steady cruise!"
Isabella Marlow commanded without hesitation, her voice cold.
"Increase engine output to maximum safety threshold!
Maintain formation and proceed at full speed toward Langkawi Star!"
She glanced at the distant coordinates of Langkawi Star on the star chart, then scanned the fleet's energy readings, adding:
"Notify the two Blood Blade Sub-Fleets ahead. Inform them of the situation, request their cooperation in accelerating, and prepare for enemy engagement.
We must reach Langkawi Star before the Pluto Fleet completely cripples its resupply capacity!
Otherwise, we will all be in serious trouble."
The Iron Curtain Fleet maintained a high-speed yet meticulously organized defensive formation, advancing resolutely toward Langkawi Star like a moving metallic fortress.
Isabella Marlow stood on the bridge, her gaze calm and steady as she watched the space ahead.
The two Blood Blade Sub-Fleets, "Mammoth" and "Dreadwolf," serving as vanguard and shield, protruded slightly forward like twin blades scouting and providing early warnings for the entire fleet.
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