Meanwhile, at the General Staff Department.
Zhou Donglai strode into the combat monitoring and analysis room, his expression unusually solemn, his eyes filled with a gravity unlike anything anyone had ever seen before.
All the staff straightened instinctively when they saw him enter.
"Everyone, listen up!" Zhou Donglai's voice echoed through the silent monitoring room. "The following orders are top secret. Do not disclose them to anyone. Violators will be dealt with under military law!"
The monitoring room fell silent, save for the faint hum of the equipment.
"Immediately deploy every available satellite to locate Principal Lin Yi's Star-Glitter Fighter and track it in real time!" Zhou Donglai ordered gravely. "At the same time, put all East Wind short-range ballistic missile units on Level One alert. Be prepared to provide fire support at any moment!"
"Yes, sir!" The communications officer immediately began relaying the orders.
As the orders went out, the monitoring room sprang into action.
The operators' fingers flew across their consoles as one command after another was transmitted across the country through the highest-level encrypted channels.
On the holographic screen, red dots representing the missile units quickly lit up across the map.
Meanwhile, at missile bases around the country, East Wind short-range ballistic missile launch vehicles slowly emerged from their depots and deployed to their designated positions. Their massive launch tubes gleamed coldly in the sunlight.
The personnel quickly took their positions. The missile systems entered standby, and the launch tubes slowly rose, ready to fire at any moment.
Zhou Donglai watched the live satellite feed with a grave expression, his hands unconsciously gripping the armrests of his command chair.
"Report: all East Wind short-range ballistic missiles are on standby and ready to launch!"
The screen clearly showed the Star-Glitter Fighter hovering in the air, fifty kilometers away,