UGT: 7th Ruan 280 a.G.A. / 9:41 a.m.

  SHF Defiance, above Karesh-Ti, Karesh-Ti’Varn system(yellow dwarf), Inner-Noran sector, Ruidan Raider Association, Milky Way

  The bridge of the SHF Defiance was silent save for the soft hum of cooling systems and the faint crackle of damaged comm relays. The tactical holomap before Admiral Kael Thorrison flickered, struggling to keep up with the sheer amount of wreckage filling the battlespace. By now all of the enemy icons had faded, leaving only drifting debris fields and a graveyard of burning hulks.

  Still, Admiral Thorrison did not relax. His eyes were fixed on the single icon still blazing in the center of the map, positioned right next to his own flagship, though the FSF Aurora was easily surpassing his FSF Defiance in size.

  She floated there like a wounded beast, her power signature erratic, shield envelope almost entirely collapsed. The most powerful ship the Admiral had ever seen, perhaps the most powerful ship left in the galaxy, was scarred, damaged, and had only stopped wenting debris into the void a few minutes ago. For the first time since he met Captain Lunaris, her ship looked less like a demigod’s weapon and more like a warship. A warship that could, given enough punishment, be killed.

  And Admiral Thorrison, with a hint of pride, knew that it was the presence of his fleet that was essential to keep the FSF Aurora alive. Without the SHF’s constant fire harassing the Association flanks, the Aurora would have been swarmed by even more ships. She would have been cut apart before she ever reached the enemy flagship. Even that last, suicidal push had been made possible only because SHF ships had drawn off enough of the escorts to open a gap. The existence of the FSF Aurora had saved his fleet, yet, but he had saved Captain Lunaris in return.

  The memory of the moment played again in his mind, the FSF Aurora’s shields collapsing in a flash of light so bright the sensors had nearly burned out. The sudden, terrible silence as they waited to see if the giant would fall.

  Admiral Thorrison shook himself out of his thoughts. He turned away from the tactical display, pacing toward the forward viewport. The FSF Defiance’s bridge was still running on emergency lighting, painting everything in deep crimson. The stench of burnt circuitry lingered, smoke curling in the air. Crew were exhausted, yes, but they were alive and more importantly, they were victorious.

  He ran the numbers in his head. SHF losses had been high, higher than he would have liked, but his fleet was still combat-effective. They had lost a Cruiser, two Destroyers and three Frigates. But he still had a total of twelve ships under his command now, more then he even started the mission with. The strength of the SHF fleet had thanks to the Association ships they'd taken over only grown since he had started the attack on this last deciding system.

  The FSF Aurora, on the other hand… That behemoth was crippled. If not forever, then for a long time. Captain Lunaris had sucessfully bullied the Association into retreat towards the Eastern Hyperline, where their last forces collected themselves. He wouldn't have to worry about them. And with the Association out of the picture and Captain Lunaris power weakened? That changed everything.

  For months now, Captain Lunaris had treated him and his fleet as little more than a tool, a blunt hammer to be swung wherever she pleased. They had essentially been conscripted into her war effort, forced to follow her timetable, her strategy. He had endured it because there had been no alternative. No fleet in this sector could hope to oppose Aurora without being annihilated. But now? Now that wasn't the truth anymore.

  He did not need to defeat Captain Lunaris. Trying to have her bow to his commands? He might as well just order his fleet to self-destruct, the result would be the same. But he only needed to make it clear to her that the SHF was no longer a subordinate asset but an essential partner. Something that he was sure, he could force Captain Lunaris to acknowledge. But that meant setting new terms, here and now, before the window of opportunity closed.

  He forced himself to think through his goals carefully. This was not the time to act recklessly. First, operational control. No more unilateral charges into the heart of enemy formations. Captain Lunaris had always decided the pace of their attacks. No more. And there would be no more solo efforts from the FSF Aurora. The next engagement would be fought with SHF command in the loop, if not outright in charge of the battle plan.

  Second, technology and coordination. He would demand at least partial access to Aurora’s targeting telemetry and fire control data under the pretense of improving fleet coordination. If he could get even a fraction of her systems understood, it would give the Federation leverage for years to come. The Federation would finally stop to lack behind the other galactic superpowers in advanced military technology.

  And third, perhaps most importantly if he valued the existence of his fleet, timing. He knew Captain Lunaris was already preparing for her offensive against the Kingdom of Ferron. That was the entire reason she had decided to 'help' the SHF take over the Inner-Noran sector after all. Thorrison did not oppose the plan outright, but he could not allow her to charge ahead while his fleet and even the FSF Aurora was licking their wounds. Right now they were to weak to take on an entire starnation, even if said nation was currently occupied on the main front of the war. No, he would insist on a delay, just long enough to regroup, resupply, reconstruct his fleet and of course long enough to finally get the SHF homeworld to act on the news of the FSF Aurora's appearance. Despite the gigantic distances involved, it was about time for a reaction of some kind from them.

  All in all, the Admiral's demands would not be unreasonable. Captain Lunaris would have to acknowledge that. And it gave them the little edge in their balance of power he'd hoped for the entire time. He turned back toward the communications officer. “Signal the Aurora,” he said, voice steady. “Demand direct line to Captain Lunaris.”

  The officer at comms hesitated, glancing at him, as though asking if now was truly the time, with both fleets still licking their wounds.

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  “Yes, now,” Admiral Thorrison said, his tone brooking no argument. “While the memory of this battle is still fresh. While she knows what it cost her.”

  Because this was the truth, there would maybe never be a better moment to remind Captain Lunaris that even she wasn't invincible in that galaxy she regarded as to 'primitive' to actually matter to her.

  Soon after, the comm screen flickered to life, stabilizing after a half-second delay. Captain Lunaris cut a sharp figure. Smoke curled behind her, damage-control was visibly still going on in the background. But her eyes were still clear, bright and unmistakably defiant.

  “Admiral Thorrison,” she said, her voice level. “I take it this is not a courtesy call.”

  The Admiral clasped his hands behind his back and let a moment of silence stretch, framing his words carefully. “Captain Lunaris,” he began, “first, allow me to commend you. The destruction of the Association flagship was a decisive blow. The Karesh-Ti'Varn system is as good as ours and that is thanks to you, your crew, and the FSF Aurora. I hope you hadn't too many deaths?

  Her expression did not change. "Only a handful. The consequence of our action was expected, and the loss of life could be held to a minimum. Now get to the point, Admiral. Otherwise I have more important things that require my atention quite urgently," she said with a pointed look around the FSF Aurora's bridge.

  Admiral Thorrison sighed. “Very well, Captain. I'll get to the point. Let’s not pretend this was a one-ship victory. Without SHF guns holding the flanks, without my Cruisers buying you the window to punch through, the FSF Aurora would be nothing but wreckage right now.” He let that sink in before adding, his tone sharpening: “We just fought at the edge of annihilation. Next time, we might fall over it. I will not see another engagement fought like this, full blind charges and near-suicides that are only possible because the FSF Aurora pulls some ridiculously advanced technology out of nowhere to change the tides of battle. It is time we formalize coordination. Shared planning, joint command structures. We cannot afford to gamble with the survival of the entire front.”

  A muscle in Lunaris’ jaw twitched, but when she spoke her tone was deceptively calm.

  “Your ships fought well,” she said. “I won’t dispute that. And yes, the FSF Aurora took some damage.” She gestured faintly to the smoke and chaos around her. “But we are still here. Still mission-capable. And we will continue the campaign as planned and on schedule. That is not up for debate. You will not get control over my ship, and I will not allow you to derail the entire mission due to your trite concerns about our success either.”

  Her voice was like steel, not angry, simply immovable. Admiral Thorrison felt the familiar spark of frustration but didn’t let it show. He had expected her to dig in. That was why he had prepared the next strike. “You may still be operational, Captain,” he said slowly, “but I doubt even you would call your ship battle-ready.” He let his gaze flick to the damaged compartments visible behind her. “Another engagement of this scale without time to repair in between could destroy you, and it would take my fleet down with you. That’s not a risk I will allow.”

  He leaned forward slightly, voice dropping to a more measured, almost conciliatory tone. “I am offering you SHF shipyards, escorts, logistical support. We can shield you while you bring the FSF Aurora back to strength. But I will require two things in return: first, a delay to the Ferron offensive until my fleet is resupplied and your ship is fully repaired. And second, joint strategic planning sessions, no more unilateral operations that drag the SHF into the fire without warning.”

  There it was, laid on the table. His price. For a long moment, Lunaris said nothing. The only sound was the faint hiss of fire suppression behind her. Then she snorted once. "And all our technological secrets you'd need to 'help us repair' with SHF personal running all across my ship. Maybe even a takeover if the opportunity is good enough. I appreciate the offer, but we only need raw materials and then we will manage our damages by ourselves." So she did notice the trap. The Admiral opened his mouth to answer, but Captain Lunaris just talked over him.

  “You’re not wrong in most points. Right now, your fleet and my ship are both wounded. You can see that. So can I. And yes, we’ll accept your logistical support, though I expect said logistical support to be under my command. And I am willing to be more considerate towards your opinions in upcoming engagements. But there will not be a delay in the Ferron campaign. Every day we wait gives the Association time to regroup. Every day the Kingdom of Ferron digs in deeper. We strike soon, or we risk losing momentum altogether.”

  Her tone never rose, but the finality in it was absolute. Thorrison’s lips thinned. She had given a little ground but not nearly as much as he wanted. “You really expect to push into the Kingdom of Ferron with your flagship at half power at best? Still damaged and weakened?” he asked.

  “We won’t be at half power for long.” The faintest ghost of a smile touched her lips. “The FSF Aurora will be ready sooner than anyone expects.”

  It was a bold statement, bold enough to make him wonder if she was bluffing. Could the ship really repair herself that quickly? He believed her that it could repair itself with time but that quickly? He doubted even the First federation had the technology necessary for something like that. No, Captain Lunaris was playing a dangerous game of bluffing.

  "Well, if that's the case, how about we start the Ferron campaign once the FSF Aurora is repaired? We will give you the materials necessary, everything else you will have to repair by yourselves." That was where Captain Lunaris would have to either call off her own bluff, or agree to quite a long preperation phase. Both outcomes were acceptable from his perspective. He had nothing to loose from it. But Captain Lunaris surprised him.

  "That is acceptable. The SHF shall be granted the time necessary to restrcuture while I make sure the FSF Aurora is back to the best state possible. Once that is done, we will start the Ferron campaign." It was not the answer he had expected, but it seemed his play for time had worked. Captain Lunaris pride would not see her back down from a claim she'd made, however unreasonable said claim was.

  “Then we are in agreement. But there is still one thing I want to adress. If we are to fight alongside each other again my gunners need reliable firing solutions. I am requesting access to the FSF Aurora’s targeting telemetry, limited, encrypted if you like, but enough to synchronize our salvos. Efficiency saves lives, Captain. Or would you prefer another engagement where every ship fights half-blind?”

  Captain Lunaris silence stretched again, but this time it was shorter. “Very well,” she said at last. “A limited link. Encrypted and firewalled. You will have coordinated firing data, but nothing more.”

  It wasn’t everything he had hoped for, but it was something. A foot in the door. The Admiral inclined his head. “Acceptable.”

  The comm screen went dark a moment later, leaving the bridge of the FSF Defiance bathed once more in red light.

  He turned back toward the tactical holomap. The debris fields were still drifting, fires still burning, but the board was theirs. “This is only the first step,” he murmured to himself, low enough that no one else on the bridge could hear. “The next battle will not be fought in vacuum. It will be fought in shipyards, in councils, in war rooms. And this time…” His gaze lingered on the icon of the FSF Aurora, still pulsing faintly, almost defiantly, in the center of the board. “This time, Captain Lunaris will not hold all the cards.”

  sigtyrGullmynt you all have the chance to read a bloopers of sort. Why? Because I found the idea funny so I decided to write it! It's obviously not part of the main story in any way and can be ignored, but maybe you'll enjoy it who knows!

  [ Integration handshake complete. ASF Aurora, you are now under ASO-17309’s protective grid. Primary restoration protocols engaged. Please refrain from high-energy maneuvers during the next three minutes. ]

  that in reserve this entire time?” Admiral Thorrison asked, incredulous.

  [ Hull repair at 63%. Weapons grid synchronization complete. Aurora firepower restored to seventy-two percent ]

  never getting control over that woman, are we?”

  dangerously whole again.