At the commander-in-chief's order, all the soldiers at the front sprang into action.
As morale rose, everyone from senior commanders to squad leaders could clearly feel the change: the rusty bottlenecks that had once clogged the chain of command now ran with incredible smoothness.
It was like an old, rust-covered machine had been completely overhauled and treated to the finest lubricant.
The assault squads under the First Fleet and Third Fleet began carrying out the next phase of the plan as ordered.
The first phase required large quantities of supplies and people.
These people were all heinous criminals on death row, gathered from various planets over the past few weeks.
They would pose as company employees and make several failed jumps.
They would deliberately deliver the supplies and people into the enemy's hands.
The core of Scalpel's plan was simple: exacerbate the conflicts between these alien races.
In a head-on battle, the company's current forces were no match for any of them.
But being weak had its advantages.
When a weakling appeared before several powerful predators at once, they would naturally gather to hunt it down.
And that hunt would breed conflict.
Meanwhile, as the frontline forces prepared for the next phase with soaring morale...
Malai received another report about the rebellion in the rear.
A chain of explosions had erupted in Planet 16's industrial district, destroying three production lines for military rations.
This instantly sent Malai into a fury.
Even in the interstellar age, military rations remained a key factor in determining ordinary soldiers' combat effectiveness.
Modern technology could produce all sorts of portable Nutrient Beans.
But these Nutrient Beans were generally not eaten on a daily basis.
They were emergency food, used only when there was no other choice.
Their flavor and texture were truly awful; chewing them