Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 195-197 - The Silent Deep Space is Deafening (8.4k)

Just as the Chimera was hurtling toward Alrix's flagship, the Resilient, Hogo Schiff received orders.

On the bridge of the destroyer USS Havoc, a soft humming sound came from the information terminal.

Hogo's gaze swept across the screen, and a simple line of encrypted text appeared:

To the "Havoc":
Intercept and destroy the friendly target "Repel".

Finished.

"???"

Hogo's movements froze instantly.

His slender head tilted slightly to the side, and the crew around him could almost feel the confusion spreading like a cold electric current through the Muen people’s brains, which were known for their precise calculations.

Intercept and destroy?
The order itself suited his taste perfectly.

But the target is... "Repel"?
One of our own battlecruisers?
This is simply unbelievable.

From his relatively open position at the rear of the fleet, Horg could have a complete view of the entire battle.

The Confederate fleet was like a giant steel serpent breaking free of its restraints, wildly stretching out its body.

He greedily absorbed every bit of battlefield information.

As is widely known, the Muen people, like the Given people of Yagdul, are renowned throughout the galaxy for their exceptional intelligence.

Most Muen people use this intelligence in the fields of business and finance, but that doesn't stop them from applying their powerful computing capabilities to the art of war.

Hogo Schiff, however, was different from most of his compatriots.

Muen was cautious and meticulous, while Hogo was decisive and resolute.

The Muen people preferred strategic planning, while Hogo enjoyed the thrill of being on the front lines and adapting to changing circumstances.

It was this quality that led him to become the commander of the "Second Strike Division".

But this does not mean that he lacks the talent of Muenren in calculation and keen perception of risk.

He simply prefers to make big bets at crucial moments rather than holding cash and waiting forever.

"Plan an interception route," he ordered the navigation officer closest to him, his voice calm and devoid of emotion.

"Who is the target, sir?"

"'Knockback'"

Hogo's gaze was fixed on the battlecruiser marked "Repulsion" on the holographic tactical map.

It was seventh in the assault formation, following closely behind the Chimera and other warships as they charged toward the Republic's flagship, the Resilient.

But the ship was already badly damaged.

In Sallust's fourth conflict, it was directly sent to confront a Knight-class Star Dreadnought.

Although they managed to escape by sheer luck, the price they paid was extremely high.

Most of the ship's outer armor was melted by the "Majesty's" turbo laser cannon, exposing the fragile inner structure.

The starboard heat dissipation fin array was completely torn off by a deviated starfighter torpedo, resulting in poor heat dissipation efficiency and a high risk of overheating.

It was almost unfit to continue sailing, let alone engage in high-intensity combat.

Rein insisted on sending the "Repulsion" and his five other similarly damaged frigates into battle, ostensibly to give them a final "outburst of glory" to fight to the last.

Hogo expressed reservations about this.

He would have recommended that these ships, which were of great symbolic significance, be removed from the war zone and handed over to Brigadier General Chom's assistants for repair.

However, he privately admitted that this might also be partly due to the Muen people's innate aversion to "loss".

"The interception route has been planned, sir!" The navigator's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Hogo quickly reviewed the flight route data.

In an instant, countless seemingly unrelated fragments of information collided and combined in his mind.

From the Death Spiral's bizarre maneuvers to Alrix's response in adjusting the Republic's battle lines, and then to the Chimera's brazen surprise attack...

Each commander of the 28th Mobile Fleet received only a small piece of the enormous puzzle.

Each of them is merely one head of the Hydra, and the truth of the entire strategy is perfectly concealed.

Hogo had now grasped the entire situation.

He will become a sharp tooth that delivers a fatal blow to the enemy, and by the time the enemy reacts, it will be too late to undo the damage.

But first, he must safely steer the Havoc out of this chaotic storm of steel.

Fortunately, he was a Muyn.

As the data stream from the receiver in his mind was rapidly fed into a sophisticated algorithm model, he navigated the storm with the same composure as his compatriots seizing fleeting opportunities in the turbulent financial markets.

“Right there,” he pointed to an invisible gap simulated on the holographic star map, “cut into that gap! Full speed ahead, execute immediately!”

The "Havoc" suddenly broke away from its formation, and Hogo even took over the helm himself, gripping it tightly with both hands, maneuvering his warship with astonishing skill.

The destroyer, like a nimble shark, weaves through a steel storm of high-speed hull movement, scorching engine exhaust, and chaotic communication noise.

The next few minutes felt like centuries. The crew of the Havoc were on edge, bracing themselves for the impact as their warship tore a path through the storm.

Finally, they broke free of the whirlpool.

The familiar starlight once again filled the viewing window, casting the chaotic spiral of death behind us far away.

Hogo Schiff released the steering wheel with a sigh of relief, leaving two clear splatters of sweat on the control panel... Only then did he realize that they were on the exact opposite side of the spiral, and the Republic fleet's view was completely blocked by the massive spiral.

He quickly pulled up the tactical hologram and saw that the spiral was shrinking as more warships poured out.

Then, a discovery made his pupils shrink.

This time, it wasn't just the "Havoc" that broke free of the spiral.

A dozen or so other ships, whether by coincidence or instinct, followed the trail of the "Havoc" and also successfully weathered the storm.

A cold smile flickered across Hogo's lips.

He quickly checked the system status of the "Havoc" and the unexpectedly added squadron.

In good condition.

This is better than expected.

"Target locked on 'Repulse'," he coldly ordered. "Execute the Major General's command and destroy it."

The engines of the thirteen warships burst forth with dazzling blue light, instantly disappearing from their original positions and accelerating at high speed along a long arc.

The fourth head of Hydra has already made its move without the Republic's knowledge.

For Hogo Schiff, the core of the battle was already over before the full-scale firefight even began.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield tens of thousands of kilometers away.

Brigadier General Kendall Ozer's roar echoed across the bridge of the Star Destroyer USS Majesty. He unleashed a series of stern rebukes into the communications channel while ordering his ship to make an emergency turn, attempting to meet the oncoming threat head-on.

Unbeknownst to him, deep within the surging battle lines of the 28th Mobile Fleet, on the bridge of the "Dark Servant," Commander Asagi Ventress received her instructions.

With a hint of eager curiosity, the cultist clicked on the encrypted command package, and a line of cold code appeared on the screen:

To the "Dark Servant":
Intercept and destroy the enemy target "Majesty".

Finished.

Ventress recognized the call sign instantly.

"Majestic"!
This Republic "Knight-class" Star Destroyer almost single-handedly turned the tide of the battle thanks to its captain's relentless charge during the Battle of Mays.

At this moment, the Force roared like a raging war drum deep within her consciousness, drowning out all the interference and noise on the battlefield.

The chaotic emotions that plagued her Jedi opponents had no effect on her.

Ventress readily accepted the mission, a chilling killing intent burning in her eyes.

The Dark Servant roared to life and accelerated to full speed!
Although the command pack contained only a single sentence, the Force clearly revealed everything she needed to know, perfectly predicting the next move of the enemy she hated.

For a fleeting moment, she felt as if she were standing on the bridge of the flagship of the 28th Mobile Fleet, beside the man who was controlling the entire war as a meticulously planned game of chess.

A sense of almost divine power filled her mind and body.

……

"Captain!" the first officer of the "Majesty" cried out in alarm, "That separatist Star Destroyer... it's hurtling towards us at full speed!"

Ozer turned sharply, instinctively crouching in the shadow of several Vulture fighters whizzing past the bridge windows.

He frantically scanned the tactical screen, locking onto the massive warship that had broken away from the Confederate battle line and was hurtling towards him like an out-of-control meteor.

"Dark Servant"!
He rushed to the nearest navigation control console, roughly pulled the sweating navigator aside, and took over the controls himself.

The fire control system of the "Majesty" instantly locked onto the uninvited guest and precisely calculated its impact trajectory.

“That’s not an interception…” Ozer staggered back, terror freezing his blood instantly. “They’re going to ram us! Helmsman! Emergency evasive maneuver! Hard to starboard! Immediately! Maximum thrust!!”

The massive hull of the "Majesty" suddenly veered sharply to the right amidst the roar of its engines, the inertial compensators humming under the strain, barely maintaining the ship's internal gravity.

Lucky crew members were thrown violently against the bulkhead or floor, while the unlucky ones crashed into the hard edges of equipment or were hit by slipping equipment.

This last-minute maneuver was just what it seemed to work.

The next second, the second head of Hydra, the "Dark Servant," carrying destructive energy, swept past the space where the "Majesty" had been, and the energy turbulence brought up by the ship made the "Majesty" shake violently.

The failure to complete the impact caused Ventress to let out an angry growl on the bridge.

Since only the "Dark Servant" received specific attack orders, all the Confederate warships that followed faithfully carried out that deeply ingrained standing order.

Follow closely behind the spaceship ahead!

In this way, Ventress unwittingly led nearly three-quarters of the 28th Mobile Fleet, like a blazing dagger, directly piercing through the Republic's crumbling battle line.

Kendall Ozer observed the rapidly deteriorating situation amidst the chaos.

The "Majesty" and nearly half of the warships in the "Mediator Task Force" behind it have lost contact with the flagship "Resilience".

All communication channels were blocked by strong electronic jamming from the enemy.

At this moment, they were isolated, facing the closing encirclement alone.

As the supreme commander of this isolated battlefield, Ozer made a decision: "All ships, retreat immediately! Break out of the encirclement at all costs!"

However, Asagi Ventress's flames of revenge are burning fiercely.

The Dark Servant's engine nozzles spewed blue flames as it abruptly turned to the right, locking onto the Majesty, which was trying to break free, like a deadly hook, forcing Ozer's fleet to retreat in disarray along the Republic's original battle line.

The two giant ships engaged in a fierce broadside gun battle at close range. The fire control officers frantically calculated the weak points in the enemy's armor, exposed turrets, and critical systems, while dense turbine laser beams and deadly proton torpedoes crisscrossed in the void.

The missile struck the flickering shield and exploded into a dazzling yet deadly ball of light.

The energy beam melted the thick ship's armor into scorching golden lava, which then rapidly solidified and turned black in the cold vacuum.

At this critical moment when the conflict reached a fever pitch, the last two commanders received their orders.

……

On the bridge of the battlecruiser HMS Krumperinz, Commodore Diederich Greshad stared incredulously at the brief message on the screen:

To the "Crumplinz":
Intercept and destroy the enemy target "Endurance".

Finished.

His warship had just followed the Dark Servant through the Republic's battle lines.

He looked to his right and saw Ventress's Star Destroyer locked in a fierce battle with the Majesty. The two behemoths, each leading their own squadrons, were engaged in a deadly struggle that could only end when one of them was completely destroyed.

Then he looked to his left.

Across the chaotic battlefield, he could clearly see the rear of the front half of the "Mediator Task Force," with the flagship "Resilient's" iconic ice-blue engine glowing in the distance.

Meanwhile, on the port side of the "Resilient," the "Chimera," a "Divine Will-class" destroyer, was fiercely attacking it.

In an instant, Greshad grasped the whole situation.

If the Krumplinz can quickly reach the starboard side of the Toughness, then the front half of the Republic fleet will be completely sandwiched between it and the Chimera!
From such a great distance, it would be almost impossible for ordinary warships to reach the battlefield of the Chimera and the Endurance in a short period of time.

However, the "Crumplinz" was not an ordinary warship.

It is a Tionys battlecruiser, and with the help of stellar winds, no capital ship in the galaxy can match its speed.

Diedrich's gaze swept quickly across the positions of the stars on the star map, confirming that he already knew the facts.

The 28th Mobile Fleet approached the Sulurub asteroid belt from the direction of the Salust star, and at this moment they were being bathed in a powerful stream of stellar particles... stellar wind.

Diedrich Greshad, who was known for his calm and reserved demeanor, now had a smile on his face.

"That's all we need," his booming voice echoed across the bridge, drawing the attention of all the crew. "...All hands on deck! Helmsman, turn 110 degrees to port, target... enemy flagship 'Resilient'! Deploy all solar sails! Catch that stellar wind! All port turrets to combat readiness! I need to be on top of Alex in ten minutes!"

The massive silver solar sails of the "Crumplinz" unfolded like the wings of a mythical creature, greedily capturing the surging stream of stellar particles.

The engines emitted an unprecedented deep roar, and the warship began to accelerate.

It once again followed the consistent, unchanging command.

"Follow closely the spacecraft ahead."

Leading the other half of the 28th Mobile Fleet, about fifty warships, they broke away from the Ventress squadron and shot towards their new targets like arrows released from a bow.

Only Asaj Ventress and her "Dark Servant" remained, leading the last quarter of the fleet in a bloody battle against the remaining thirty-nine ships of the "Mediator Task Force." On the bridge of the "Wailing Sun," a "God-class" aircraft carrier destroyer, Vinok's eyes were fixed on the tactical hologram.

His warship was following closely behind the "Crumplinz" through the Republic's shattered battle lines.

He noticed a stark reality: although Asaj Ventress commanded more Confederate warships than Kendall Ozer, Ventress's squadron was clearly outnumbered in both total tonnage and the number of starfighters it carried.

In this close-quarters, meat grinder-like combat, the Republic's heavily armed Star Destroyers will ultimately overwhelm their opponents with superior sustained firepower.

Just as the "Crying Sun" was preparing to completely penetrate the remnants of the Republic and continue its pursuit of the main separatist forces, Vinok's holographic command terminal emitted a crisp notification sound.

A new encryption command comes into view:
To the Crying Sun:
Turn 90 degrees to the right and annihilate all enemy targets.

Finished.

Vinok's heart skipped a beat.

This order... was practically a direct response to the battlefield situation he was analyzing in his mind!

Was it a coincidence, or had that unfathomable major general already foreseen all of this?
Vinok couldn't be sure, but whichever the possibility it was, it gave him a chill mixed with awe.

"Helmsman, turn 90 degrees to the right." Vinok's command was concise and firm.

His tactical robot TJ-912 immediately emitted a piercing electronic alarm: "Warning: At current speed, a 90-degree turn is not possible due to insufficient turning radius! Collision probability is as high as 97.4%! A catastrophic collision with the Republic's warship is predicted..."

Vinok's voice was as cold as iron: "TJ-912, for disobeying the fleet commander's direct orders, your core program will be reset and formatted. This is the final warning."

"Execute the order! Turn right 90 degrees! Navigate parallel to the Republic's battle line!" TJ-912's synthesized voice instantly rose, almost screaming as it transmitted the command to the helmsman robot, which nearly overloaded due to the suddenness of the command.

The hydra's third head bared its fangs!
The sublight-speed engines of the "Crying Sun" emitted a piercing shriek, the attitude thrusters spewed at full power, and the ether rudder was pushed to its limit. The entire giant ship began to turn at an almost impossible acute angle.

As TJ-912 had warned, the turning trajectory cut directly into the intended course of a Republic "Jester-class" Star Destroyer.

The captain of the Jagdpanzer-class ship was clearly unwilling to perish with his crew and frantically steered to starboard to avoid a collision.

The two enormous ships narrowly missed each other at extremely close range!
The ear-piercing metallic scraping and tearing sounds instantly echoed inside the hulls of the two warships, making one's teeth ache.

The outer armor plate twisted and cracked under immense stress, scattering hot metal fragments.

In the instant they passed each other, the turrets on both sides fired almost face-to-face!
The torpedoes shot straight ahead, trailing plumes of flame, while laser beams swept across the two ships at extremely close range, and the flashes of fire from the explosions flickered wildly between them.

Despite the perilous situation, the Crying Sun managed to complete the fatal turn.

It and the remaining quarter of the 28th Mobile Fleet, like three cold guillotines, locked onto the "Majesty" and its squadron, which were locked in combat with Ventress, from three directions!
Meanwhile, the Chimera and the Cromplinz, which cut in at high speed using the stellar wind, had successfully attacked the Republic's flagship, the Resilient, and its escort fleet from both flanks.

The Alrix fleet was completely divided and surrounded.

Confederate warships, in perfect unison, relentlessly unleashed a barrage of intense and continuous fire upon their respective targets.

The energy beam tore through the overloaded shields, and the missile penetrated the damaged hull and exploded.

In the void, the Republic's warships transformed one after another into silently expanding fireballs, or twisted and disintegrated in internal explosions.

The fate of the "Mediator Task Force" was sealed the moment the encirclement closed in.

Their graves will be a cold, desolate void in the Salust system.

……

However, for Rhys Alrix, the battle is far from over.

She is a Jedi Knight.

Even though it was completely cut off from the other half of the fleet, even though the "Resilient" was violently shaking under the attack from both sides, the friendly markings on the holographic tactical map were fading and disappearing at a breathtaking speed... or quietly falling silent, or being reduced to nothing in a huge explosion that illuminated the void.

Even though the faces of her crew members were filled with despair, acknowledging that their once unstoppable "hundred-day offensive" had come to an end...

She still didn't give up.

Because she can still attempt to break out and regroup with the other surviving Republic fleets in the sector.

The problem lies in the direction: the north is blocked by the star Sallust, the east and west are battlefields, and the only way out is in the south.

She knew deep down that Eliadu was doomed.

The silent screams of billions of souls within the Force lingered like background noise.

Fortunately, she wasn't a strong empathizer like many of her Jedi colleagues, otherwise the devastating emotional torrent would have overwhelmed her long ago.

The South is not without hope.

Governor Tesick is still dealing with the Separatist fleet in the Seswina system.

If they can break through the encirclement and join him, they might be able to organize a counterattack.

Now, she must rely on her most trusted ability—guided by the Force—to find the weakest point in the enemy's encirclement, ignite it, and tear a path to survival!
Her senses swept across the battlefield.

On the starboard side, the "Crumplinz" was like a tough nut to crack; although it had weaknesses, they were not enough to instantly break its tenacious resistance.

However, on the port side...

Her "eyes" were fixed on three Generous-class frigates located about six positions behind the Chimera.

"Repulsion", "Reputation", "Centaur"!
Alrix recognized the warships.

Just two days ago, it was these three frigates that acted as shields, absorbing most of the firepower from Ozer's fierce attack, thus preserving the main force of the fleet.

More importantly, the "Repulse" was Ryan Bontry's flagship!

At this moment, in the Force's view, they appeared so dilapidated, their shields dim, their armor peeling off, and their firepower sparse.

Many of the turbo-laser turrets had been completely destroyed in the previous fierce battles with the "Majesty".

The Force flames, representing the "weakness," had previously been troubled by tiny, flickering embers.

The flames were now raging around the three ships, so bright that they resembled a lighthouse in the night, drawing her attention intensely, as if a moth were destined to fly towards the candlelight.

"The breakthrough is right there!" Aleks's voice was resolute, his Force clearly guiding the timing and angle of the attack. "Helmsman, full ship, port! All energy to the forward shields! Once we break through the encirclement, immediately set the hyperspace jump coordinates to Uvina! We will rendezvous with General Tesik!"

"Yes, sir!" The bridge crew roared with their last fighting spirit.

The order was instantly transmitted to the remaining Republic warships.

The massive ship "Resilience" tilted sharply to the left, narrowly avoiding a volley of torpedoes aimed at its engine nozzles, and led its battered remnants like a burst dam, crashing into the three frail Confederate frigates with almost no slowing down!
The ending was a foregone conclusion.

The dense blue turbo laser beams, like the scythe of death, instantly cleaved the already heavily damaged "Repel" in two!
The "Repulse," which had served as the flagship of Rennes, was lost forever.

A squadron of Republic ARC-170 starfighters launched proton torpedoes that accurately struck the vulnerable midsection of the Centaur, vaporizing it directly into a billowing cloud of metallic steam!

And the "Reputation"...

The massive bow of the "Resilient" slammed into it like a battering ram!

Amidst the chilling sounds of metal twisting and tearing, the "Resilience" didn't even pause. Its super-heavy turbo-laser turrets ruthlessly spun, unleashing volley after volley at the mangled wreckage beneath its feet, until the "Reputation" was completely reduced to floating debris, with only a few scattered fragments of combat robots drifting out from the shrapnel.

As the Endurance, covered in wounds and the blood of its enemies, burst out of the devastated area from the other side, it crashed head-on into the fourth Hydra head that had been waiting for it!

Led by Horg Schiff, eleven brand-new warships in perfect condition and ready to go, like a carefully laid trap, they silently blocked the Republic Fleet's only path to break out.

Just as the Muen had precisely calculated hours earlier, his prey not only arrived on schedule, but also so "cooperatively" rushed straight into the pre-set death trap.

Hogo Schiff coldly examined the scan data. The Endurance and the only Jet-class Star Destroyer following behind it were covered in dents and charred surfaces. Their hangars were empty, their turrets were emitting smoke from overheating, their shield generators were flashing overload warnings, and their armor was riddled with cracks.

Looking at his own fleet, eleven warships hummed with engines, shields were fully erected, cannons gleamed coldly, and Vulture fighter jets were poised for takeoff in the hangar.

This hardly qualifies as a battle; it's more like an execution.

He issued the final verdict: "Target the enemy flagship and escort ships, open fire at will, and destroy them completely."

What followed was brief and brutal.

A devastating torrent of energy erupted from the Confederate destroyer array, powerful enough to instantly melt the core of a small satellite!

In the final seconds before this destruction struck, countless thoughts flashed through Rhys Alrix's mind.

What did she do wrong?
She clearly followed the guidance of the Force, so why...?

Her gaze instinctively searched frantically for another usable weakness within the Force.

No!

Not on the departing Chimera!

Not on the oncoming "Havoc"!

There wasn't any at the tear she had just made!
That deadly flame... seemed to be burning right above her head, engulfing everything.

Did she lose from the moment she decided to attack those three decoy frigates?
Or was her defeat sealed from the moment she chose to face Bontri in Sallust?

Or even earlier, when she refused Anakin Skywalker's reinforcements?
If that "chosen one" had been there then, instead of rushing over from hyperspace right now.

Can he turn the tide?
So unfair!
Aleks was screaming inside.

She conquered the Rima trade route!
She accomplished a feat that even the arrogant generals of Peremian failed to achieve!

The brilliance of the 100-day offensive was entirely her doing!
Now, the Supreme Council wants her to hand all of this over to that nouveau riche?

She could almost foresee that once the "Open Ring Fleet" arrived "in time," even if only to clean up the mess, the Coruscant media would elevate Anakin Skywalker to godlike status, while her name, Rhys Alrix, would be quickly forgotten in the dust of this defeat.

Perhaps, no matter what, this ending was inevitable.

Skywalker is on his way. Can he defeat this "Battle Hydra"?

This monster, which had repeatedly defeated the Jedi, had thwarted him twice.

Of course, Skywalker might be able to, after all, he is the "chosen one".

She was already tired of hearing that title.

But it's still too unfair.

However, Rhys Alrix was ultimately a Jedi Knight.

Only by being devoid of emotion can one find peace.

Knowledge arises from the absence of ignorance.

Peace comes from the absence of passion.

Without chaos, harmony can be achieved.

There is no death, only the Force.

The Force... should be everywhere.

But at this moment, nothing can be sensed here.

A "weakness" in the Force itself that she had never been aware of was blocked from her perception by an impenetrable void.

On the edge of the precipice in the final moments of her life, she finally saw it clearly and felt it.

It burned her spirit like an invisible flame.

I've found you, Hydra.

Your secret...

She could no longer end the monster herself, but at least she could leave clues for those who came after her.

Rhys Alrix mustered her last bit of willpower and reached out a mental hand toward the cold, void flames that enveloped her, pouring her soul into it like fuel, letting this "weakness" burn fiercely in the void until it was discovered by someone who could sense it.

Cherish this final gift from me, chosen one.

No.

There were no deaths.

only...

The Hydra's massive jaws snapped shut, and the destructive energy completely engulfed the "Endurance".

Rhys Alrix closed her eyes, and in her final moments, her consciousness, like a spark thrown into the cold flame, dissipated into the Force with a sense of relief at having seen the truth.

……

On the towering bridge of the Chimera, Renn calmly gazed at the holographic star map.

The light representing the "Perseverance" went out completely, signaling the end of this long battle.

He put a simple checkmark next to the last task on the tactical checklist.

Preliminary casualty reports scrolled across the screen.

The 28th Mobile Fleet paid a price, with as many as seventeen warships permanently lost and more than twenty severely damaged and requiring major repairs.

The seventy-nine warships of the "Mediator Task Force" were all wiped out.

The deep space is silent.

Deafening.

One hundred and thirty-five standard hours have passed since Salust's first exchange of fire.

Severn Tann's predictions were terrifyingly accurate.

From the moment the 28th Mobile Fleet received the attack order, it took only four hours for Rhys Alrix's fleet to be completely wiped out.

The Republic will not learn of this catastrophic defeat for another three days.

When Anakin Skywalker led the Open Ring Fleet to the Salost system, all that awaited them were the wreckage of warships scattered throughout the orbit; the main forces of both sides had vanished without a trace.

Just hours after the Open Ring Fleet arrived in Sallust, an even more suffocating message was about to arrive like a thunderclap.

Eliadu has been reduced to scorched earth.

General Horn Ambigine is leading the Fourth Fleet, a massive force of 1500 warships, in a full-scale offensive against the heart of the Republic along the Rima trade route.

(End of this chapter)