Here in the Minoara system, things were different. The defense force was larger, yes, but more importantly, it had a commander worthy of his station—unlike the spineless Korvus. Helran's calm, steady confidence carried weight even as every high-ranking Minotaur under him understood the truth: survival was unlikely.
Yet Helran never spoke of surviving. His focus remained fixed on two goals—inflicting maximum damage on the enemy, and formulating some plan to at least warn the colonies of this star system, to give them a chance to escape, or to send word to the Elder Council before it was too late.
And so, indirectly, every warrior under his command was prepared to give their life if it meant buying even a fragment of hope—whether in the form of a warning, or a chance for their clan to understand the enemy that had emerged suddenly from the endless dark of space.
