Chapter 69: The Fatal Weakness of Outpost Three

Outpost Three?

When Lin Yu said that, everyone in the room was caught off guard.

People quickly pulled up the star maps for Outpost Three and started checking over the details.

But soon enough…

Isn’t this supposed to be the most defensible and least vulnerable of the Federation’s three outposts in the Asteroid Belt?

A natural barrier made up of celestial bodies makes attacking from most directions nearly impossible. On top of that, there’s an asteroid more than 50 kilometers across, with clusters of even more massive rocks, all forming part of the stronghold.

And the Federation has mounted a heavy arsenal on those hundred-meter-class asteroids.

In other words, the only real way in is a direct assault—and even then, there’s little room for fancy maneuvers.

Because…

The opening for the attack is so narrow the defending fleet and their installations can easily cover the entire gap with focused fire.

Anyone trying to break through would have to charge right into a wall of cannons.

So, why target this place?

No matter how you look at it, aren’t the other two outposts much easier to crack?

“The reason’s simple!”

“First, there’s a critical flaw in Outpost Three’s defenses!”

“Second, because everyone believes it can’t be taken, the other fleets usually steer clear of this region. That means the attackers won’t have to worry about reinforcements swooping in and pinning them from behind once the battle starts.”

“And finally, I’ve tangled with their commander before. By now, I’ve got a pretty good read on their character. To put it bluntly…”

“They’re a lot like George used to be—capable, but desperate to prove themselves. Sometimes enough to take risky chances.”

At that, every eye in the room turned straight to George.

Even George himself looked a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and looked up awkwardly.

Wait, how did I end up getting dragged into this?

——

The next day, after temporarily reallocating fifteen warships from the other fleets…

Lin Yu’s Special Mixed Fleet—no, it had officially been renamed as the Fourth Sub-fleet under the Federation’s Fifth Fleet—now boasted thirty warships.

That included one heavy cruiser, two light cruisers, eight destroyers, eighteen frigates, and a medium aircraft carrier.

“Lin Yu, I’ve already reported it. But are you really sure this is where they’re heading?”

Inside the Zhulong, Mu Qingxue’s form was projected by the ship’s holographic interface.

“I’m about seventy percent sure. If I had to pick a target, it’d be there.”

“Got it. Qin Xuan is currently escorting the mining fleet back. As soon as they’ve cleared the Asteroid Belt, she’ll turn around and follow the coordinates you sent, heading straight for the rendezvous point.”

Mu Qingxue nodded in acknowledgement, then said,

“Yes, Commander!”

——

More than ten days later.

Federation’s Outpost Three, deep within the Asteroid Belt.

Inside the vast control room, everyone was deadly serious.

After all, more than ten days ago Headquarters had already issued a warning: there was a high chance the Klein fleet spotted in Federation-controlled space would attack here.

And by their estimates, given the distance from the last ambush site at the Second Fleet to here, it should be right around these days.

Every weapon in the outpost was already powered up, primed, and ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

Two sub-fleets stationed here, both under the command of the First Fleet.

Both had elevated to the highest battle readiness.

“Any feedback from the perimeter sensors?”

“Nothing at all. Not a blip.”

“So either they’ve managed to slip past all our detectors—or… did we get bad intel?”

The First Fleet’s Chief of Staff, Guo Kai, frowned ever so slightly.

It had been said before: this outpost wasn’t fully completed yet. Guo Kai was stationed here with the sub-fleets mainly to guard the construction crews.

With tensions mounting, as highest-ranking officer present, command of the entire base had naturally fallen to him.

He held the same rank—Lieutenant General—as the First Fleet’s own Commander.

In contrast, over in the Fifth Fleet, the Chief of Staff was only a Colonel, which was highly unusual for someone in that post.

Usually, that position was held by someone at least a Major General.

But Mu Qingxue didn’t care about the other candidates. She wanted Serena, and only Serena—as she had done previously with Lin Yu.

Even after Headquarters compromised, they only gave Serena the post as Acting Chief of Staff; she couldn’t be officially named until she was promoted to general.

Everyone claims ability comes first, but seniority still matters…

Even in this day and age, you can’t really dodge that hurdle.

Unless you’re like Mu Qingxue or Lin Yu—one’s the first human ever born with more than a 25% innate brain region activation, the other smashed right through at 30%.

Only then do you get the privileges to bypass most of the barriers of experience and seniority.

Most. Not all.

For anyone else, it’s nearly impossible to sidestep these rules.

“Stay alert. We’re in the high-risk window now, so don’t let your guard drop for a second!”

“Yes, General!”

At the same time—

About 1.2 million kilometers from Federation Outpost Three.

Shivana’s fleet had already come to a halt, busy preparing for what was next.

Had Guo Kai been able to see what was happening out there, he would have been stunned speechless.

Because…

Those Klein crews were copying Lin Yu’s old move—using every warship they had to haul a huge asteroid, over a kilometer across.

Yes, all thirty-four of Shivana’s remaining warships, including her flagship.

Every last one of them was taking part in the effort.

After all, these were warships, not specialized Asteroid Tug Ships.

Just using a dozen crafts like Lin Yu did wouldn’t have cut it. Truth be told, even thirty-four was barely enough.

Accelerating that rock needed even more distance and time than Lin Yu’s first try.

That’s exactly why they were still holding position over 1.2 million kilometers away.

And this was precisely the fatal flaw Lin Yu had noticed at Outpost Three.

A natural barrier all around—not bad, right?

Honestly, it’s great.

Forcing the enemy to funnel through a narrow gap—what’s the downside?

That’s good too.

By all accounts, this spot is a strategic gold mine.

But…

It seriously limits your options when it comes to defense.

If someone sends a giant asteroid, hundreds or even thousands of meters wide, crashing straight in—

If it were one of the other two outposts,

worst case the crews evacuate, and the fleets scatter to safety.

But here?

Those dense asteroids forming your shield will instantly turn into a cage, trapping every warship inside.

The violent impact will send a shockwave ripping outward, frying or destroying every external system on the ships in one go.

And the debris from the collision will blast out in every direction, a deadly storm sweeping the entire field like shrapnel.

Even if a handful of ships make it through by pure luck,

the Klein fleet arriving after will easily finish what the asteroid started.

That’s the answer Shivana came up with.

You used an asteroid to wipe out over eighty of our ships.

Then I’ll use one too—

and take out sixty of yours, along with your outpost!

If human commanders can pull off tricks like that, so can I.

I’m—

just as good as anyone else.