Starting with God's perspective, how to lose an interstellar war?

Qin Beiwang paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"Our real focus, from the very beginning, should have been on this... the Z-78 jump point, and the planets Neva and Barak that could become forward bases for the enemy."

The attack on Langkawi was intended to convince the enemy that we "should" be there, thus creating the opportunity and space for our next truly crucial operation.

The officers suddenly realized what was going on.

The commander's gaze had already moved beyond the immediate target he was about to attack, and was now fixed on the imperial reinforcements that might arrive in the distance, an army several times larger than his own.

Attacking Langkawi is not only a practical benefit, but also the first strategic move laid in preparation for a larger battle that could determine the situation in the Savannah system and even the entire border region.

Or it could be described as a smokescreen to lure the enemy into concentrating their forces in the wrong direction.

"All troops, move out!"

Qin Beiwang gave the final command, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Let Langawei become our next 'battle report' to the Imperial Command."

This also allows them to choose the 'stage' in advance for our upcoming real opponents.

At this moment, everyone looked at Qin Beiwang with admiration in their eyes.

They never expected that a young commander who was only 22 years old would have such a shrewd and insightful perspective.

Not only did they take into account the retreating Obsidian, but they also considered the inevitable wrath and retaliation from the imperial high command, as well as the most likely route and assembly point of reinforcements.

Attacking Langkawi, seemingly a greedy pursuit of victory, was actually a probe into the shadows further away, a bait to lure the enemy into moving their heavy forces in the wrong direction!

At this moment, the fleet commanders who had previously doubted Qin Beiwang were immediately filled with respect.

They shouted in unison.

"Yes, sir!"

Meanwhile, in the S-22 area.

Urged on by Zane Barrett, the Bloodblade Fleet finally arrived at the airspace where a fierce battle had just taken place.

There was no fierce fighting as expected, nor was there the grand spectacle of the Imperial Fleet encircling and annihilating the enemy.

What met the sensors and observation windows was a chilling silence and desolation.

Countless metal fragments of all sizes floated in the vast void.

The fragments of the warship, the torn armor plates, the twisted gun barrels, and the disintegrated engine parts, like garbage carelessly scattered by an invisible giant hand, slowly tumbled and collided.

Some of the larger wreckage is still burning, spewing brief, eerie flames that flicker silently in the vacuum.

The frozen refrigerant, leaked fuel, and crew bodily fluids formed thin, strangely colored clouds of ice crystals, like the starship's cold shroud.

Further away, the wreckage of several imperial warships could be seen, now completely lifeless.

Their shells were charred black and riddled with holes. Some were broken in two, while others had their internal structures completely exposed, like the corpses of giant beasts whose internal organs had been ripped out, casting grotesque silhouettes in the dim light of the stars.

Occasionally, a short circuit occurs in a partially damaged circuit, producing a faint spark before plunging back into darkness.

The entire area was filled with an absolute silence, as if the survivors had survived a catastrophe. Only the faint hissing of background radiation and the occasional dull thud of debris colliding with each other highlighted the desolation and emptiness of the battlefield.

Barrett stood on the bridge of the Gorgon, his usual arrogant smile long gone from his rugged face.

Instead, there was a solemnity mixed with shock, gravity, and a hint of barely perceptible horror.

"It's actually true...!"

He murmured, his voice hoarse. When he received news of Obsidian's crushing defeat, a sliver of doubt still lingered deep within him.

It is believed that this may be an exaggerated excuse Lancaster used to justify his failure.

But now, witnessing this hellish battlefield ruins firsthand, feeling the high-energy radiation and signals of despair still lingering from the sensors.

He had no choice but to believe it.

That Pluto fleet, led by Qin Beiwang, really inflicted such a crushing defeat on the renowned Obsidian on the empire's borders!

"A new fleet... defeated Obsidian?"

There are also two 'Emperor-class' ships...

The adjutant beside him whispered absentmindedly, as if his worldview had been shaken.

Barrett snapped back to reality, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

After a brief moment of shock, his instincts and thought processes, typical of radical generals, began to operate at high speed.

"Reply to Lancaster!"

He spoke in a deep voice to the communications officer.

"We reject the proposal to assemble on Morelos."

The adjutant was taken aback.

"Commander? Aren't we going to join up with the remnants of Obsidian?"

They desperately need support and restructuring…

"Meet up?"

Barrett interrupted him, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Are we just going to gather together and wait to be surrounded and annihilated by that kid surnamed Qin again?"

He walked up to the star map and pressed his finger heavily on the position representing Langkawi.

"Go here! Langkawi!"

Why Langkawi?

The adjutant was even more puzzled.

"That's a logistical hub, but shouldn't our immediate priority be to gather forces and prepare for retaliation?"

"Precisely because that kid is a complete, unpredictable madman!"

Barrett growled, his eyes flashing with an excitement and wariness akin to encountering a kindred spirit.

"Would a madman who just won against Obsidian be content to retreat after just one victory?"

No! He'll want to win more! He'll continue to penetrate deeper and expand his gains!

What is the fastest way to expand the gains?

Cut off the enemy's supply lines!

He pointed to Langkawi.

"This is Savannah's bridgehead connecting to other Imperial star systems. It has stockpiled a large amount of supplies and is also one of the possible gathering points for subsequent reinforcements."

Attacking here would not only bring tangible benefits, but also severely damage our ability to sustain combat operations, and create panic!

If I were him, I would punch right here!

"not to mention!"

Barrett's voice was low, tinged with a hint of ruthlessness.

"We still have some of our Bloodblade sub-class fleets on the way, and the Iron Curtain fleet is also moving in that direction."

If that madman really goes to Langkawi, or ambushes our reinforcements on the way... the losses will be huge!

We must act quickly, either hold Langkawi, or...

Right there, let's settle things with him!

The adjutant suddenly realized what was happening, and at the same time felt a chill.

The commander is completely anticipating the operation from the perspective of that "madman" enemy commander!

"All fleet, turn around!"

Target: Langkawi!

Maximum speed!

Barrett no longer hesitated and gave the order sternly.

He abandoned his plan to regroup with the remaining soldiers and chose to head alone to the critical point where he believed the war would reignite.

Opal Starfield Theater Command, Strategic Briefing Room.

The encrypted hyperspace communication had just been decoded when the full text of the preliminary damage report from the Obsidian Fleet was displayed on the huge central screen.

The previously busy and orderly atmosphere in the room seemed to have been instantly sucked out.

The room was eerily quiet.