Strong hands clamped down on the two men's shoulders. The generals and staff officers around them fell silent, and the command room instantly went quiet.
The Cariman family's grand elder, the supreme leader of this campaign, stepped forward.
"All it takes is uncertainty about the enemy to throw you into this panic? Where is your dignity?!"
Everyone remained silent. Some sweated profusely, some stared blankly at the ceiling, and others lowered their heads in thought. Losing the battle might not cost them their lives, but angering the old man before them would almost certainly cost them their heads.
"Foss, what did that person say?"
"Grand elder, he said they definitely aren't a force he arranged. We needn't worry about friendly fire."
"Then he means for us to attack with everything we have, without any reservations. Blood descendants of Cariman, tell me: what do we do when we encounter a powerful enemy?"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
"Our Cariman family built its power on mighty ships and great guns. Have just a few years of peace made you timid and indecisive? They're nothing but gnats, far weaker than us. What is there to fear? Even if the Lord Regent stands behind them, could he touch our Cariman family?"
Those words sent the Cariman family's morale soaring. They had dominated the galaxy for eleven millennia. Why worry about such things?
"Pass on my orders. All units are to conceal themselves. Do not expose your positions. Once the enemy enters our encirclement, immediately call for reinforcements. Our entire fleet will set out together and tear apart these fools who dare oppose the Cariman family."
Having said his piece, the grand elder fell silent and left the staff officers to coordinate each ship's movements.
He seemed to have said a great deal, but had actually said