With the aliens gone, the no-flight zone disappeared as well.
During the next days, Andrew prepared everything he could for the warm welcome he expected to receive after their universe was added to the Battle-verse.
One example of such preparations was the decision to give Nairin and Binon their own system where they could test weapons and design whatever they wanted.
Both ladies were over the moon, especially after he spent some credits building a station for them.
With all the work and the activity connected to the preparations, the remaining time went by in the blink of an eye.
A countdown started three days before the transfer, without any explanation or additional information.
From that moment on, they had exactly 72 hours before they joined countless other universes in the never-ending struggle for survival.
-Ladies, we have three days to go, so let's take a break today and do the final checks for the remaining two days.
Andrew said, but their reaction was far from what he was expecting.
-Do we need to remind you what happened every time we took a day off?
Aelita asked, with dissatisfaction.
All the ladies would love to have some time off.
Especially if it meant spending some quality time with their man, but every time they tried that in the past, their free time was canceled when something happened.
Considering that, they were in no hurry to see if this time would be any different.
-Come on, ladies, there are only three days before we go to the battle verse, where we will most likely be in the fight of our lives.
No one is crazy enough to start anything at this time.
Andrew tried to convince them.
As if to deny his claims, an alarm blared as a portal opened in the system.
-You were saying?
Arien asked, while scrambling to get to her ship.
-Alright, no days off.
Andrew sighed.
-What do we have?
-The portal opened at the edge of the system, but it's smaller than the previous ones, and the energy signature does not match anything in our database.
Lan reported the moment she got the readings.
-I'm scrambling the fleet and the fighters; the defense system is coming online.
Whoever they are, they chose the worst possible system to attack.
Runir said over the comms, and she was right.
As the de facto capital system of the empire, it was the one with the heaviest defenses, and over half the fleet was stationed there, not to mention thousands of fighters.
The icing on the cake was the shipyard, with its capability to take on even dreadnoughts if necessary.
-Hold your fire until we know what we are dealing with.
Andrew ordered.
This situation made no sense at all.
Assuming that it was an attack.
It would be the most idiotic way to go about it, and the timing couldn't have been worse, considering that the empire was preparing for the battle verse, so anyone with a shred of common sense would know that it was heavily armed and fortified, so any attacking force could expect to be ripped to shreds the moment they tried to attack.
-A ship has emerged from the portal.
Single vessel, no offensive armaments, only point defense weaponry.
It looks like a cargo ship of some kind.
Lanarine reported when the ship showed up.
-Hail them.
Andrew said, hoping that this was not some elaborate trap or something like that.
-There is no need; they are hailing us.
Sarill answered.
-Put it on the screen.
-I can't, it's audio only.
She said, putting it on speaker.
-This is a refugee ship, Elios. We wish to speak with the ruler or the council of this territory.
A voice sounded desperate.
-Open a channel.
Andrew said.
-This is Emperor Andrew Eagle, Ruler of the Lantean Empire.
Who are you and what do you want?
He asked, trying his best to sound neutral.
-This is Captain Gored, of the refugee ship Elios.
We came here to seek asylum, or if it is impossible, we would like to get permission to pass through your territory.
The alien said.
-You do know that this universe will be transported to the battle-verse in less than three days?
Andrew asked.
As much as he sympathized with the refugees, he was unable to take them in, since there was not enough time to integrate them into the empire.
Additionally, Tanera warned him that some powers used the refugee ships to deliver spies and saboteurs to the new star nations.
-Is this a joke?
The captain asked.
Disbelief was clear in his voice.
-No joke, the countdown has already started, and there is nothing we can do to stop it.
Andrew confirmed.
-I'm sorry, but this is a surprise to us.
The data we found suggested that this universe was added only a year ago, so we thought that it would be at least another decade before it is added to the battle verse.
Giving us time to find a good star nation to join or make our own.
The captain explained and apologized for his outburst.
-Sorry, Captain, but we have three days left.
So, you should be able to understand that we can't take you and your people in at this time.
As for the right to pass through our territory, that can be arranged, but I doubt you will want to stick around in this universe.
-You're right.
I'm sorry to have wasted your time, emperor, and I wish you luck in the battleverse; you'll need it.
Gored said before closing the channel.
A moment later, the ship turned back and disappeared into the portal, which closed a moment later.
-Did anyone else hear fear in his voice when he heard that we will be joining the battleverse soon, or was I imagining things?
Andrew asked the ladies.
-He was not afraid, he was terrified, which is worrisome to say the least.
Tarina said.
-Notice that he was not afraid of us, but of what was to come.
Aelita added.
-I'm starting to wonder if all our preparations are enough.
Runir added her two cents.
-Gored, didn't even consider staying, and left immediately.
This does not bode well for us.
Arien also joined the conversation.
-Alright, enough of these pessimistic comments.
Andrew cut the conversation short before it affected everyone's morale.
-We have no clue where we will even be sent to, and there is no sense pondering about it.
With that said, I'm going to relax in the Jacuzzi and then get some rest.
I advise you all to also get some downtime while we still can.
He said and left the command center.