In the end, Tanera decided to join Andrew in the bath.
-You look exhausted.
Andrew commented when the elf was neck deep in water, enjoying the bubbles.
-Well, you can guess who I owe it to.
Tanera shot back.
-Not only do I have my own work to worry about, but now I have to babysit my cousins as well, and it's all thanks to you.
She sent him an angry look, like he betrayed her.
-Then why don't you ease up a bit on your work and spend some time with family?
Andrew asked.
-It's not like you need to worry about the noble status anymore, and at least your family seems to love spending time with you.
He said, his expression darkening with sadness.
The trauma he had might have been erased, but the memories remained.
This made her remember his past, which pushed her to think that he was right.
Even though Sani was like an annoying little sister to her, she also liked to spend time with her and her two overprotective brothers.
-Thank you for your concern, but you really didn't need to force us to spend time together.
Like Sani said, after the business is done, we will spend some time just relaxing and catching up.
Tanera smiled, finally figuring out why he wanted her to spend more time with her cousins.
She was touched that he cared so much, even though he didn't have to.
The merchant wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Andrew's comms bracelet.
-Andrew, sorry to interrupt your bath, but we have a fleet of a hundred and seventy ships coming our way, standard design, but we don't have any information about where they are coming from, and their markings don't match anything in our database.
Lanarine reported.
-I'm on my way.
The human said, getting out of the water and drying himself in a hurry.
A hundred and seventy ships strong fleet was hardly a challenge for his fleet, or even his systems defenses.
So the question was, who were they and what did they want?
Tanera joined Andrew, walking into the command center right after him, earning her some knowing looks from all the ladies.
-What's the situation?
The human asked as he took a seat in the command chair.
-Ghost 1 spotted this fleet while he was placing another relay, and he contacted us immediately.
Aelita said.
-A hundred and seventy ships, fifty destroyers, the rest are frigates and corvettes.
Lanarine reported.
-Did you try to hail them?
-No, not yet, they are still over a thousand light years away from our borders, and we don't want anyone to know about the relay net.
Sarill shook her head.
-Runir, go greet our guests, but stay inside our borders.
Andrew ordered.
Something was definitely wrong with this whole scenario, as no one around would be stupid enough to challenge the Imperial fleet with less than two hundred ships of standard design.
So they were either not from anywhere close to the empire, or this was some kind of trick.
But there was not one thing that came to mind as to the purpose of sending such a fleet to the empire.
At first, Andrew suspected that this might be another move made by the Federation, but this fleet was coming from the opposite direction, so the chances of that were minimal.
-How do we even know their markings?
Tanera asked.
-It's something we discovered not that long ago.
If a fleet comes into a range of less than a light day of a relay, then even if they are in FTL, we can scan them like they were just parked in a system.
Lanarine explained.
-Not like that helps if we don't have the markings in the database.
She added with a shrug.
It took a while for the incoming fleet to reach the borders of the empire, which is where they dropped out of the FTL.
Runir used this chance to contact them again, as it seemed that they didn't respond to any previous communication attempts.
-This is Admiral Runir Roan, of the Lantean Imperial Navy. You are approaching Lantea's Empire's borders, state your intentions, and do not cross into our territory; failure to comply will be considered as hostile action and dealt with accordingly.
She said in a commanding and authoritative voice.
Her fleet was stationed at the edge of the empire within a system with a station that was turned into a fortress, the same as any station in the empire after the war, with its neighbors.
This time, however, the incoming fleet answered the hail.
-This is Captain Grine, of the Galactic Peacekeeping Force. We came here to apprehend a dangerous criminal, Andrew Sparrow, aka Andrew Eagle, and free two females he is holding hostage, Lieutenant Lanarine Einethe, and Engineer Aelita of clan Charr.
Please don't interfere with our business unless you want to be accused of obstructing justice.
A male alien in a space armor looking like a uniform said officially, like he was a judge passing out a sentence.
Hearing this, Runir started to laugh, and her crew was no different.
In the command center, everyone was stunned at first, and they also burst into laughter.
This whole speech delivered by some space police wannabes was just too hilarious to be taken seriously.
-Let me get this straight.
Runir said, doing her best to control her laughter.
-You want to arrest the Emperor of the Lantean Empire to free two of his empresses, who, as far as I know, are staying here of their own free will?
Are you kidding me, or are you delusional?
Runir asked.
-I am neither.
Andrew Sparrow, aka Andrew Eagle, emperor or not, stands accused of kidnapping, murder, theft, killing the prisoners of war, rape, assault, and many more crimes presented to us by six different star nations.
The Galactic Peacekeeping force demands that he be handed over into our custody to be tried for his crimes.
Captain Grine said, visibly irritated with the Admiral not taking the matter seriously.
-First of all, Captain, you have no jurisdiction here, nor do you have any power to demand anything, so turn around and go back to the hole you and your wannabe police force crawled out of.
Runir said, turning serious, and her cold turning ice-cold.
-Or you can face us in battle.
She said, not feeling the need to say anything more since everyone knew that there was no chance his fleet could defeat hers.
-Admiral, do you realize that you will also be wanted for aiding a criminal, if you dont move out of our way?
Grine asked.
-So be it, but if you don't back off, you and your whole fleet will be destroyed.
She shrugged.
-As you wish, Admiral, but don't blame me for what happens next.
The captain said and cut communications.
A moment later, the whole fleet of the Galactic Peacekeeping Force simply disappeared, like they were never there.
-Where are they?
Runir asked.
-They are here.
Sarill's voice responded as the fleet reappeared in the main system a moment later.
-Everyone, get back to the main system as fast as possible.
Runir ordered immediately.
-You don't need to rush, they are not going anywhere.
Andrew said with an amused smile.
-What do you mean?
Whatever they did, it used up a lot of power, so now they are in this system surrounded by the rest of the fleet and system defenses, without any power and adrift.
He explained.
-Are they crazy?
She asked, not understanding what the enemy fleet was thinking, doing something as pointless as this.
-Not exactly, there is a wave of shuttles making its way here and refusing to answer any hails.
Andrew said with amusement.
-So what, they won't reach the station in one piece, and even if they do, there are legions of battle droids and guardian drones waiting for them.
She sneered.
-This is a suicide attack if I ever saw one, and a poorly planned one to boot.
-Can't argue with you there.
Andrew agreed.
This whole attack had no sense to begin with.
Just as Andrew was shaking his head, a powerful electromagnetic pulse emanated from one of the GPF's destroyers, spreading through the system.
Only then did Andrew understand the enemy's plan, and he had to admit that it was a clever one.
The problem was, it didn't work.