"Only automated identification requests. Eirenne answered them."
Eirenne gave a small nod. "The captured codes remain valid. The relay still believes we are carrying replacement components for the sanctuary’s geothermal system."
"That should get us close," Aurelian said.
"It should," Eirenne agreed. "But once we enter the inner system, visual inspection may expose us."
Aurelian had expected that.
The Compact had weaker long-range security than the Alliance, but Sanctuary Ardent was too important for Drann to leave completely unguarded.
Even with most of his fleet away, several defense stations, patrol groups, and planetary security units would remain.
They did not need to defeat those forces in a large battle.
They only needed to keep them confused long enough to reach the sanctuary.
Astra stood beside him, quietly watching the map.
"How long until Taran arrives at Talis Verge?" she asked.
Eirenne brought up the estimate.
"Between five and eight hours. The exact time depends on whether his fleets maintain concealment until they are fully positioned."
Aurelian studied the number.
That was their window.
Drann currently believed he was winning. His hidden fleet was committed to the ambush, and his attention would remain fixed on the battle until Taran entered it.
Once that happened, the situation would change quickly.
Drann would call for every available ship. He would order the sanctuary prepared for evacuation.
If he believed escape was impossible, he would activate the demolition controls.
Aurelian looked toward the sanctuary marker.
"We move now."
The convoy crossed the final relay under false authorization and entered the Ardent system.
The system was quieter than Larkspur Haven or Nhalis. One pale star sat at the center, surrounded by several barren worlds, two mining stations, and the inhabited planet holding the sanctuary.
The planet itself looked cold from orbit. Most of its surface was covered in gray mountains, frozen plateaus, and narrow bands of dark forest around warmer valleys.
The sanctuary lay beneath the largest mountain range on the northern continent.
A Compact station held orbit above it.
Several patrol ships moved nearby.
Eirenne immediately marked every active weapon platform and communication array.
"Seven hundred and twelve military vessels in the system," she reported. "Mostly Tier II, with fewer than one hundred Tier III ships. No confirmed Tier IV hulls."
Solenne looked at the numbers without concern. "Enough to cause delays, but not enough to stop us."
Aurelian nodded.
"Do not attack unless they challenge us. Keep the false inspection formation."
The fleet continued inward.
For nearly twelve minutes, nothing happened.
Then the orbital station sent a direct communication request.
A rough-looking Compact officer appeared on the display. His uniform was darker than those worn by frontline commanders, and a metal badge on his chest marked him as a member of sanctuary security.
"Technical convoy, transmit final access authority."
Eirenne sent the prepared authorization.
The officer checked it.
His expression changed slightly.
"This clearance was issued by Drann’s central office."
"That is correct," Eirenne replied through the false convoy identity.
"What repairs are you carrying?"
"Geothermal control replacements, preservation coolant, and emergency power modules."
The officer frowned. "We received no notice."
"The request was classified under internal continuity procedures. Your station was not included because the replacement package concerns sealed preservation sectors."
That answer made him more suspicious rather than less.
Aurelian watched the officer’s eyes move across information outside the visible display.
He was checking the convoy’s formation.
Possibly the ships.
Possibly the size of the transports.
The security officer spoke again.
"Reduce speed and prepare for inspection."
Aurelian had hoped to avoid this.
He had not expected to.
Solenne looked toward him through the command channel.
Aurelian gave the order quietly.
"Begin phase two."
The false convoy formation broke apart.
Solenne’s drones launched first, spreading around the orbital station and cutting off its external communication arrays before the Compact officer fully understood what was happening.
Eirenne flooded the station’s local network with false alarms and maintenance failures.
Several defense turrets began rotating toward the transports, but Astra had already marked them.
The Black Crown fired four controlled shots.
Each one removed a weapon mount without striking the station’s main body.
At the same time, Rhoswen moved between the patrol fleet and the civilian transports.
Her voice came through the open channel.
"Compact patrols, stand down. We are not here for your planet or your stations. Anyone who fires will be disabled."
Aurelian glanced at her image.
She looked back calmly.
"No greeting this time," she said.
"Good."
The patrol fleet hesitated.
That was enough.
Solenne’s drone wings moved around them in a wide screen, locking weapons and marking engines without opening fire. Most of the Compact captains understood the position immediately.
Their ships were older, slower, and already inside the Black Crown’s range.
Only one patrol group tried to attack.
Three destroyers fired on Solenne’s drones and turned toward the transport formation, probably hoping to damage the evacuation ships before being stopped.
Rhoswen intercepted them.
She did not ram the first vessel.
Aurelian noticed that.
Instead, she fired into its engine section, turned sharply, and placed the Crimson Bulwark directly across the second ship’s line of fire.
The third destroyer tried to escape toward the far side of the orbital station, only for Lysara to disable its drive with a single precise shot.
The entire exchange lasted less than two minutes.
After that, no one else resisted.
Eirenne gained control of the orbital station’s external communications and sealed every channel leading out of the system.
"No warning transmitted," she reported. "Local networks are isolated."
"Good," Aurelian said. "Solenne, orbit is yours."
Solenne nodded. "Understood."
The Black Crown shifted into a defensive position above the northern continent while the transport ships remained outside the immediate combat zone.
Aurelian left the command chamber with Astra beside him.
Rhoswen and Lysara would meet them aboard the ground shuttle, while Eirenne would accompany the team through a mobile projection unit connected to the Black Crown.
Before he reached the hangar, Solenne contacted him privately.
"Commander."
Aurelian stopped near the shuttle access corridor.
"Yes?"
"I have orbital control."
"I know."
"If Compact reinforcements return early, I will hold them away from the planet."
Aurelian looked at her image for a moment.
This was the responsibility he had promised she could handle.
Now the moment had arrived.