"The small fleet in Aventinium orbit is not moving. They neither reacted to our arrival nor took action regarding the ground conflict." Pell examined the visual screen, asking.
"What is happening on the ground?"
"Auspex analysis suggests Aventinium is in a civil war." the Master of Vox said.
"As you can see, the orbital fleet remains. Augur scans show orbital defense installations are still operational."
"The current situation might be due to Aventinium's internal strife, causing the orbital fleet's indecision, unsure which orders to follow, creating confusion."
"Transmit full-spectrum broadcast. Demand the orbital fleet surrender to us. Cease the civil war immediately." Pell ordered.
The Eleventh Chapter's fleet deployed formations, steadily advancing toward Aventinium.
Forty-one warships, nearly triple Aventinium's fleet, pressured the defending fleet.
The fleet admiral nervously watched the holographic screen. In his ears, a looped message played.
"We are the Shadows of Order, scions of the great Primarch, the Monarch of Vostroya. We demand your immediate surrender."
"Shadows of Order are…"
The fleet admiral examined the visual screen. The enemy fleet not only outnumbered his but also had significantly larger ship classes.
His flagship was matched by at least twenty-five ships of equivalent or larger scale in the enemy fleet.
"Orbit the defense installations. Execute tactical maneuvers."
More concerning than the enemy's powerful fleet were the contradictory orders from the Council and the Yellow Clad Academy.
The Yellow Clad Academy rose fifteen hundred years ago. Advocating eugenics and noetic, it played a decisive role in Aventinium's rise.
They trained numerous elites. Even within the noble Council, many families were affiliated with the Yellow Clad Academy.
Over a millennium of development, the Yellow Clad Academy had infiltrated every aspect of Aventinium.
Recently, the Yellow Clad Academy launched a coup, plunging Aventinium into chaos.
The Osopohl family, to which the fleet admiral belonged, wasn't affiliated with the Yellow Clad Academy but acknowledged its ideology.The family remained neutral in the conflict.
Osopohl donned his helmet, switching to the family's private channel, transmitting a message.
"An entity calling itself the Eleventh Chapter of the Shadows of Order suddenly appeared within the system. They possess a powerful fleet."
"If we intend to resist, relying solely on my fleet is impossible. Requires Aventinium's full support."
"Request the Patriarch make an immediate decision."
Osopohl attached the received audio message to the transmission, sending it to the family Patriarch.
Osopohl nervously watched the visual screen, awaiting the Patriarch's order. He knew the Shadows of Order fleet wouldn't give him much time.
The clock's second hand ticked. After two full circles, a weary voice sounded in Osopohl's helmet.
"Delay them…"
"Currently, nobles and the Yellow Scholam are in conflict across all thirty-six hives. Neither side has gained advantage."
"You will receive no support… Be prepared. Conflict will likely soon reach the ground-based anti-air batteries."
Osopohl remained silent for several seconds. He wanted to roar, utterly powerless to defend Aventinium's space. But he knew shouting was futile; the Patriarch couldn't change the situation.
Even if the Osopohl family joined either side, they couldn't overwhelm the other faction. Losing composure would only draw other officers' attention, causing panic.
Ospohl removed his helmet. He took a deep breath, calming himself, speaking in a steady tone to the communications officer.
"Transmit message to the other side: We require three days to consider."
Aboard the Son of Vostroya, on the command throne, Pell heard the Master of Vox's report, his lips twitching.
"Inform them they have only thirty minutes."
"Also, tell them we know Aventinium is in civil war. If they wish to end the conflict swiftly, their best choice is surrender and cooperation."
Gibbs heard Pell's orders, agreeing.
"The orbital fleet commander likely belongs to neither faction in the civil war. Otherwise, they wouldn't be inactive."
"Currently, both sides in Aventinium's civil war focus on each other. Third parties are also affected, unable to make quick decisions. Acting now, we can achieve victory fastest with minimal expenditure."
"I think they will neither agree nor refuse. They'll dispatch one or more ships to test our stance." Pell considered the opponent's contradictory mindset, devising countermeasures.
"Gunnery, prepare to attack."
"Honor Guard, prepare for boarding actions."
"We shall strike with thunderous force, seize their ships, give no time for thought, even resistance."
Pell then walked to the tactical table, staring at the holographic display.
Aboard the Aventinium flagship, Osopohl issued orders:
"Dispatch two ships. Activate aetheric shields. Test their response."
The Yellow Clad Academy advocated intellectual development, scholar supremacy, and psychic power utilization, granting Aventinium's void ships unique technology, aetheric shields.
The distance exceeded forty thousand kilometers. Even penetrating aetheric shields wasn't easy. He could use this time to fulfill the Patriarch's delay task.
If the other side retreated due to his unyielding stance, that would be an unexpected boon. He'd become Aventinium's great hero.
Aboard the Son of Vostroya, Pell saw two ships. From auspex scan signatures, one corresponded to ImPellial frigate class, the other destroyer class.
"Fire!"
The relic-class ship's prow lance crossed the void, striking the frigate.
Dazzling light blossomed in the void. Pell saw the feedback image flashing on the visual screen above the tactical table.
He switched comm-bead channels, ordering the liutenant in charge of the Augury Chamber.
"Lance attack ineffective. Analyze!"
Merely two seconds later, the "Reader"-led three Shadows of Order squads specialized in ship command, with fifty auxiliary officers, completed battlefield data analysis.
"Lord, the Aventinium fleet employs a special energy shield."
"Based on readings, it likely utilizes aetheric technology."
"Recommend deploying aetheric cannons for attack. Estimated probability to penetrate enemy shields: ninety-four Pellcent."
The "Reader" orderly reported: interpretation, analysis, suggestion, supporting Pell's decision-making.
"Aetheric cannons, fire."
On the Son of Vostroya, the aetheric cannons mounted below both sides glowed with piercing light.
Aboard the Aventinium fleet flagship, Osopohl stared in shock as two beams with anomalous readings flashed across the screen, striking the frigate.
Then, the enemy ship fired another piercing beam, readings identical to the earlier ineffective energy weapon.
But this time, the beam pierced the frigate he dispatched.
He lost the frigate.
The enemy fleet suddenly accelerated. Countless cannons fired at his fleet.
"Report, mid-deck A-13 under attack. Deck breached. Enemy boarding the ship."
"Report, upper deck A-5 lost."
After a moment of stunned silence, Osopohl weakly issued the order.
"Surrender."
He felt as if a weight lifted. The next moment, light flared. He slightly closed his eyes, adapting to the sudden intense brightness on the bridge.
Pell, clad in Saturnine Terminator armor, walked before him.
"You made a wise choice. Now tell me, what happened on Aventinium?"
One solar hour later, Pell teleported back to the Son of Vostroya.
Before issuing the orbital assault orders, he went to the altar, praying to the Black Empror.
"Kingdom of Disorder." After hearing Pell's report, Nareth thought to himself.
'Yellow Clad Academy. Psychic powers, advocating eugenics and noetic. The Cognitae?'
.....
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