UGT: 11th Ruan 280 a.G.A. / 8:14 p.m.

  ASF Aurora, on the edge of the Woch-T?r’Valen system(red dwarf), Inner-Noran sector, Ruidan Raider Association, Milky Way

  We dropped out of hyperspace on the edge of the Woch-T?r’Valen system, guns primed and formations tight. The standoff with Admiral Thorrison when I had decided to continue onwards as quickly as possible had ended the only way it could right now, with concessions on both sides. He’d agreed to leave behind a detachment, not a token garrison, but a force hardened enough to keep the system under the Federation’s banner. It bought us stability, at least on paper. The rest of his fleet would move on with me, toward Yra-S?l’Vareth, the only blockade between us and the remaining SHF fleet.

  The propaganda machine of course wasted no time. By the time we jumped, I was already hearing SHF broadcasts echoing across open channels telling us how 'the people of Karesh-Ti’Varn rise free once more under the protection of the Federation.' It sounded rehearsed, hollow. They were quick to crown themselves liberators, even though all they’d done was remove the previous occupiers. After all, the entire Iner-Noran enclave once was part of the Republic of Aerondel. They might be human just like the Federation, but they were decidedly not the same.

  The ASF Aurora was of course still damaged, scars etched across her superstructure and too many deep systems waiting on replacement parts we didn’t have. But Fen had pulled off miracles before, and this time was no different. He’d managed to stabilize what mattered, rerouting power grids, coaxing damaged reactors into efficiency they had no right to give. The ASF Aurora could fight. And fight we would, if just to prove that we were by no means helpless. The staggered hypershield was still down, yes, but they wouldn't need them here.

  All our projections, all the intercepted fragments of Association chatter, suggested resistance here. Not a full fleet, they had most of their forces at Karesh-Ti'Varn after all. But at least a screening force should be stationed here. Enough to slow us, bleed us, maybe force us to divert to repairs before we could push into Karesh-Ti'Varn. It was unfortunate for them that we had an unexpected way around them last time. And this time we would take them out instead of going around them.

  I felt prepared. but still planned to be careful. Karesh-Ti'Varn had taught me better than to underestimate them. We had seen how wrong SHF intel could be at times, and I wouldn't blindly trust it again. Not after how much of a failure it had been last time. So, I entered Woch-T?r’Valen wary but steady, forcing myself to breathe in measured rhythm. Focus mattered more than fear. If there was a trap waiting here, I would not walk into it blind.

  “Fen,” I said softly, though I knew he was already running the scans.

  [ Already on it. ]

  The SHF fleet emerged around us in waves, their ships sliding into neat formations like chess pieces. I let my gaze linger on the tactical display. We should be strong enough to destroy everything the Association had stationed here. We would see if that was the truth. Right now, the ASF Aurora wasn't quite as invincible after all.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  [ Captain, the entire system is quiet. However, I found residual drive signatures, strong ones. Multiple hyperspace trails, vectoring straight for Yra-S?l’Vareth. It was a big move, they pushed the whole local fleet through here not too long ago. Two days at most. ]

  A chill sank into me, heavier than any silence. The SHF channels erupted in seconds, Captains shouting across encrypted links. Some argued this was retreat, proof the Association was breaking. Others hissed suspicion, fearing an ambush waiting further ahead.

  I listened in silence, jaw tight, until Admiral Thorrison’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. “They’ve bypassed us,” he said, flat and grim. “They’re going for the detachment fleet under Commander Ashcroft we left behind.”

  His words landed like a hammer in my chest. I pictured the ships we’d left to hold Yra-S?l’Vareth. Strong enough to hold back some checks the Kingdom of Ferron might do, or to hold against reinforcements coming inf from the same direction for a time. But for an Association strike force that shouldn't be all that big, but whose exact strength was unknown? I was unable to say how much of a chance they stood.

  I forced myself to breathe, steadily, before I cut in. “Every second we waste here is another nail in their coffins,” I said. “The detachment at Yra-S?l’Vareth isn’t expendable and while it is capable, it certainly lacks the strength it needs. If we hesitate, we abandon them. We lose their entire detachment before the Ferron campaign even starts. That is not an option.”

  [ For the record, our odds aren’t pretty either. Pursuit means overextending, maybe walking into an ambush of our own. Especially with the ASF Aurora still damaged I'm hesitant to recommend such a dangerous course of action to you. But sitting still and doingnothing would probably be even worse for our long-term goals. ]

  I nodded to myself. He was right. Admiral Thorrison appeared on the main screen instead of just his voice, his expression carved from stone. For once, the weight of politics wasn’t in his voice, just cold calculation and.... maybe even worry? She wasn't sure. “You do realize what you’re asking to do, right Captain Lunaris. Nothing the SHF fleet can match your speed. We won’t arrive in time to still affect the battle. We will be days late either way.

  “I’m not asking,” I replied sharply. “I already told you before, I will not let your petty little concerns sabotage my long-term goals! The FSF Aurora will run ahead. We’ll push the drives to their limit. If we’re fast enough, we might be able to stop the Association fleet from taking out our Yra-S?l’Vareth detatchment. I don't care what you do, my ship will be more than sufficient for that menial task, even damaged."

  For a long moment, Admiral Thorrison simply studied me, as though weighing whether this was resolve or madness. Then, slowly, he gave a short, deliberate nod. “As you wish, Captain,” he said. “The FSF Aurora runs ahead. We’ll come behind you.”

  No hesitation. No speeches. Just agreement, clean and sharp.

  [ I've got the coordinates already plotted. We’ll be burning the drives hotter than even Aetherian doctrine allows on fully functioning days, but doctrine doesn’t usually care about being alive. And I think we'd rather lose a few decades on the life expectancy of our drives than to risk the entire detachment. ]

  I gripped the railing, gaze fixed on the stars ahead. The choice was made. No turning back. "Right now, the jump-drive would be useful," I muttered to myself, before shaking my head. I couldn't change the situation at a whim. No, it was better to face the problems head-on. I looked back up. "Admiral, we're burning towards the next hyperlane entry point. It'll take some time, but we'll give it our best shot. Wish us luck." With these words I disconnected.

  [ No need to say anything. Our engines are roaring to go, we're already moving. Let's go save our SHF detachment. ]

  I just nodded grimly. "Yeah. Let's hope that we're not too late."