UGT: 19th Ruan 280 a.G.A. / 6:33 a.m.

  KF Kaiseradler, Grenzmark-Heiligenwacht system(yellow dwarf), (Outer-)Noran Principality, Kingdom of Ferron, Milky Way

  The system of Grenzmark-Heiligenwacht, lying at the far edge of Ferron’s Noran Principality, was a quiet border post. Its purpose was clear but rarely tested, to serve as the first watch on the frontier leading into the Inner-Noran enclave. From here, the kingdom’s eyes stretched out into territory that, for nearly six decades by now, had been owned by their uneasy allies, the Association.

  Admiral Johann von Kr?henfels, eldest son of Lord von Kr?henfels who ruled the Noran Principality, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, boots polished to a mirror sheen, the very image of Ferron discipline. His bridge was an extension of that, rigid, precise, and imbued with the pride of a doctrine that believed in preparedness above all else. Officers moved about in orderly fashion, each report clipped, each confirmation delivered with quiet confidence.

  His fleet was modest but perfectly tuned to its task. The KF Battlecruiser Kaiseradler served as the flagship, flanked by the KF Cruiser L?wenzorn, three Destroyers, three Frigates, and five Corvettes, a reserve and response force, nothing more. Ferron’s true power lay at the kingdom's frontlines with the Federation after all, focused on winning the war that had already started when he had still been a little kid.

  The routine had become almost ritual. System sweeps were conducted on the hour, logs double-checked, the hyperline monitors observed with quiet intensity. The Inner-Noran enclave, for all its turmoil, had never allowed trouble to spill outward in this direction. The Association, with their rough but determined fleets, had been holding the line, united by the sole Grand Admiral leading the enclave on, the very same one who had forged the alliance between Ferron and the Association, before going on to claiming the entire Inner-Noran sector. The name of Grand Admiral Xiè-S?thú was known across the entire Kingdom of Ferron, after all.

  Admiral von Kr?henfels did not trust them, not the Association, not the Grand Admiral and definitely not the 'unity' they tried to represent. It was not like their two nations actually trusted each other in the first place. Still, the knowledge that Grand Admiral Xiè-S?thú was the one in power in the Inner-Noran enclave meant that his own mind could be at peace. He wouldn't have to worry about Federation attacks here.

  Admiral von Kr?henfels was somewhat conflicted at that. Most of his current generation had no idea why the war with the Federation, fellow humans like them, had even begun. They had lived a life of constant danger, knowing that at all times the Federation could crush them if they weren't so occupied with their other fronts. The kingdoms greatest ally, the Independent Systems Alliance, was located on the opposite side of the galaxy with them not being able to support them. And the Association? Until little more then a year ago they had supported the Federation and not them! At least they hadn't actively helped Ferron out like they should have thanks to their alliance.

  No, Admiral von Kr?henfels didn't believe any of the patriotic speeches they had all grown up with. Not many did. No, what instead pushed them to take up arms for their kingdom was their sense of duty and their wish to protect their home. Just like he had, against the desperate pleas of his fathers. If he, a noble, couldn't take up arms to defend his nation next to the civilians, how could he expect them to do so? Especially with the legacy of his father, who was a military veteran in his own right, hanging above his head?

  By now, Admiral von Kr?henfels had seen his fair share of battles. He'd been the CO to another Admiral at the frontline to the Federation for quite few years after all, before being elevated to Admirality himself. But since then, he'd been stationed here, as far away from the war as an Admiral could reasonably get, and he was sure his father head a hand in that. He still wasn't sure what he was supposed to think about that. Either way, he had a duty to his nation to fulfill, and he would not tolerate tardiness.

  “Status report,” Admiral von Kr?henfels said without turning, his voice as clipped as the ticking of a metronome.

  “All patrols accounted for, Herr Admiral. The hyperline into the Inner-Noran enclave is calm. No foreign transits detected in the last cycle,” came the prompt reply from his CN. Admiral von Kr?henfels gave a small nod. It was as it should be. Order, vigilance, and control.

  Then the alarms suddenly flared. The hyperline monitors pulsed with sudden activity, washing the Bridge in amber light. The hum of precision broke into a storm of voices, officers snapping to their stations with military exactness, yet unable to hide the edge of surprise. “Transit detected!” the CN called, eyes narrowing at the surge of signals. “Multiple contacts emerging at the Inner-Noran hyperline.”

  Admiral von Kr?henfels’ brow furrowed. That was impossible. No one had clearance to approach from that direction without notice. Not Federation fleets could have, the Association would have prevented that. Not Association fleets either, they definitely would have informed him of their passing trough first. The same went for wandering traders and consortiums. Also, they would do their best to avoid war zones on their fly. The only other option, the Republic of Aerondel, was also unlikely. Last he'd heard they were still famously neutral, with no signs of that changing soon.

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  “Confirm identity,” Admiral von Kr?henfels ordered sharply. More signals bloomed across the displays. The Bridge went tense, every officer straining to keep their composure under the Admiral’s cold gaze.

  “Contacts stabilizing… We have RRA transponders. It is an Association fleet, Herr Admiral,” the CN reported. “One Battlecruiser, two Cruisers, six Destroyers, four Frigates, and four Corvettes. No more. A sizeable fleet, yes, but not even a fraction of what they have positioned in the Inner-Noran enclave.”

  “Association?” one of the younger lieutenants muttered in disbelief, before catching himself under Kr?henfels’ icy glance. “Herr Admiral, shouldn't they have communicated with us if they moved ships through Grenzmark-Heiligenwacht again?”

  Admiral von Kr?henfels frowned. "Yes, they should have. But they didn't so let's just say I'm... interested in what reasons they can provide. Grand Admiral Xiè-S?thú normally shows more tact than that."

  The disciplined silence of the bridge lasted only minutes after the arrivals had been confirmed. Then, they gat a communication request from the Battlecruiser leading the small Association fleet. The Communications Officer send a questioning look towards his Admiral, who nodded curtly. “Patch them through, officer.”

  The Association crest flickered to life, resolving into the stern face of a battle-worn commander. His voice, however, was sharp, direct, as though he had drilled every syllable into place long before speaking. The translators were already activated. “Admiral von Kr?henfels. We require immediate contact. Priority Alpha.”

  The Admiral’s eyes narrowed slightly. Protocol dictated that any unscheduled Association arrival was already a breach of standing agreements. Yet he allowed the channel to stabilize, his voice a measured blade of formality. “You will explain at once why your ships have left the Inner-Noran enclave without clearance. Now. Otherwise I'm not inclined to grant you anything except a quick way back from where you came. And you can tell that the Grand Admiral as well.”

  The Ruidan wasted no more time. “The Grand Admiral is dead. Has been for months already. There's no enclave left to defend either. The entire Inner-Noran enclave has fallen to the Federation. Seeing how the last two messengers from Karesh-Ti'Varn didn't show up, they must've somehow circumvented my fleet, reached the local capital and brought all of our forces down. We are probably the last survivng Inner-Noran Association fleet."

  A murmur rippled across the bridge. Officers exchanged sharp, incredulous glances, but none dared speak aloud. But to think that what must've been easily 150 ships, a third of what their entire kingdom could bring to the field, was destroyed by the Federation just like that... It was a scary thought. Admiral von Kr?henfels raised a gloved hand for silence. His tone did not falter, though a deep chill settled in his chest. “Repeat that statement.”

  The Ruidan’s face was grim, shadowed by fatigue. “The Inner-Noran enclave is gone. Every station, every fleet detachment destroyed. We alone escaped. And we bring warning. The Federation did not simply advance. They fielded something new. Something we could not stand against.”

  Admiral von Kr?henfels studied the insect’s eyes. No panic. No dramatics. Only the hard edge of soldiers who had seen annihilation firsthand. He inclined his head slightly. “What did you encounter?” The answer came like the toll of iron.

  “A Super Battleship. Spherical in design. Vast, with capabilities unlike any recorded. Our fleets were dismantled like they were nothing. The same must've happened in Karesh-Ti'Varn. It cannot be the FSF Hurricane, the shape was all wrong. No, this was something else. Experimental, perhaps Federation-built, perhaps a gift from the AMU. We could not tell. We only know that nothing in our arsenal could match it.”

  The bridge of the KF Kaiseradler fell into frozen silence. Even the steady rhythm of boots on polished deck plating ceased. A young officer muttered, barely audible, “Impossible…” before biting his tongue.

  Admiral von Kr?henfels’ jaw tightened. A second Federation Super Battleship? The possibility was chilling, yet logical. The Federation, desperate to regain lost ground, unveiling a terror-weapon to rally its crumbling forces. The AMU? Unlikely. They would not so carelessly weaken themselves. But Federation innovation, desperate and reckless? That was believable. They'd had at least 15 years to work on it after all, and most likely ample resources to do so as well. The Federation may be the weakest of the four galactic superpowers, but that didn't change the fact that they still counted as one. Would it be a break of galactic war convention if they'd build a second Super Battleship in secret? Definitely. But he'd seen so many convention breaches in this war personally, he wouldn't be surprised.

  And if the Association’s claim was true, then he had just been handed not only a dire warning, but also the specter of a perfect symbol. Fear could be sharpened into a blade, and wielded with precision. The Federation would make this construct a banner, a rallying cry. And Ferron… Ferron would need to be ready to counter both its power and the myth it would generate. And that would happen under his command. He would finally get to see true action again, all in defense of his homeland, by doing his duty to his people.

  Admiral von Kr?henfels spoke at last, voice cold steel. “You have delivered grave news, Commander. If your report is accurate, then the war has entered a new age. We will prepare accordingly. Until my superiors arrive, you and your fleet will remain under provisional coordination of the KF. Discipline will be expected. Betrayal will not be tolerated.”

  The Ruidan stiffened, but nodded. “We ask for nothing but survival and the chance to strike back. Our warning is yours to act upon. And please, inform the Association of what happened. That's all I ask for.”The transmission cut.

  Admiral von Kr?henfels stood unmoving, the weight of revelation pressing upon him. His officers awaited orders, rigid at their stations. “Signal the Generalstab. Priority Aureum. Full record, all sensor data attached. And maintain full combat readiness. The borders of the Noran Principüality are no longer secure. We will need additional forces.”

  As the command rippled outward, the Admiral allowed himself a single private thought, buried behind his mask of iron. If all this was true, then the battlefield has changed. The Federation has found its banner. And Ferron, no he, had to ensure it did not become the seed of their victory.