No hidden ambush waited in the dust.
A few space beast signatures appeared near one of the outer routes, but they were far enough away that Lysara adjusted the path slightly and avoided them without trouble.
Solenne's ammunition remained low, so no one wanted another fight unless it was necessary.
As they moved, Eirenne continued receiving broken aftershocks from the Kharov cluster. Some of the delayed sabotage had triggered after they left.3
A captured ship reached the edge of the research-station fleet and broadcast a false warning that traitors had entered the dock network.
The research fleet locked down even harder. Another corrupted vessel drifted into a mining-area patrol and caused a short exchange of fire between ships that should have been allies.
It was not a victory in itself.
But it was useful damage.
Aurelian took the reports without much outward reaction.
Inside, he understood the value very clearly.
