Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 257: War Breaks Loose

Chapter 257: War Breaks Loose

In the dead silence of the hospital ward, Cohen and the other two lying in their beds suddenly stirred, turning over as if pulled by an invisible thread. Their faces were set like stone, full of hardened resolve.

"Send the command—emergency battle readiness, now!" Chuck ordered, voice steely and decisive.

Cohen buttoned his uniform with swift, sure movements. Then he shot a glance at Kogar. "Did the distress signal go out?"

Kogar shook his head, grim and frustrated. "Our comms were obliterated in the attack. Repairs are underway, but it’ll be a while."

On Wyrmtrace, the communication base was a shared lifeline, used by the military, government, and trading caravans alike. With it offline, they were totally cut off from the Alliance.

To make matters worse, the Empire had managed to steal the star map, leaving them stranded and exposed.

Unease spread through the ranks, tightening like a noose around every heart.

Cohen’s gaze drifted to Lyra, who stood with a defiant smirk. "I fired off a message to the surface right after handling the enemy. It should’ve gone through...now it’s just a matter of whether the military believes us."

Over on Planet Nagano, Lyra’s employee at LE Energy turned pale the moment he saw the alert—the star map of Wyrmtrace had been stolen by the Empire.

Abandoning everything, he grabbed the emergency code Cohen had given him and rushed to the military.

The guard on duty recognized the emergency code and ushered him directly to the central command center, where he came face-to-face with Admiral Frederick.

The young man could barely swallow under the admiral’s piercing gaze and managed to stammer, "Sir, my employer, Lyra Shedd, sent an urgent message. The star map on Wyrmtrace has been stolen, and the communications base is down. They... they need immediate reinforcements."

Frederick’s brow furrowed as he assessed the young man with a piercing stare. "The base is out, yet LE Energy still managed to get a message through? What, did you build your own base? That’s illegal."

The young man’s throat tightened. Frederick’s scrutiny was as unnerving as a loaded weapon.

"It... it was Captain Whyte’s, uh... implicit authorization," he mumbled, fighting down a tremble.

"Oh, was it?" Frederick’s face revealed nothing, maintaining an ironclad calm. "Then tell Lyra to keep the line steady. I’ll dispatch someone to reinforce immediately. You’re dismissed."

The young man left, torn between confusion and relief. He felt the weight of Frederick’s authority fade as he stepped out.

Behind him, Frederick’s expression darkened further. He looked over at the officer beside him. "Is communication back up yet?"

"Not yet, sir."

Frederick tapped a finger rhythmically on the table. "Dale’s fleet is patrolling close to Wyrmtrace, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then send him the directive: Fleet Admiral Whyte noted on what happened. Admiral Dale is to proceed to Wyrmtrace for immediate support."

The order was swiftly delivered to Admiral Dale, who skimmed it with a faint scoff. "Captain Whyte talks big, yet he can’t even keep a star map secure. Didn’t take him long to make a mess."

In the command center of his warship, his secretary noticed his expression and hesitated. "Sir... should we delay our response a bit?"

Most of Wyrmtrace’s people weren’t exactly on Dale’s favorites list, and waiting might cost them dearly, which would both complete the mission and satisfy an old grudge.

But Dale turned on him with a fierce glare. Just as the secretary’s mouth twitched with a grin, Dale’s hand came down in a brutal slap.

"Do you think I’m an idiot?" Dale thundered. "The Empire’s gone all out to snag the star map. You really believe my people alone could stand against what’s coming? If Wyrmtrace falls, the whole Alliance is toast! Get real!"

Dale may not have cared for political scheming, but he knew his way around a battlefield. Holding back might feel good, but if things went south, he’d be the Alliance’s next scapegoat. He wouldn’t risk it.

He wasted no time, shouting for the pilot to set a course straight for Wyrmtrace.

Suddenly, the pilot’s alarmed voice cut through the room, "Incoming high-energy projectile! Activate the quantum shield, now!"

The flagship’s hull lit up as a glowing shield enveloped it, but even with the defense, the blast rocked the vessel, throwing most off balance. But not Admiral Dale. He stayed steady, striding toward the command console with blazing determination, ready to face what was coming.

As the fleet patrolled through the void of space, intelligent satellites scouted ahead, mapping every nearby star and planet.

These advanced devices scanned for moving celestial bodies and pinpointed potential threats, ensuring the fleet stayed one step ahead of danger.

Dale’s gaze locked onto the holographic map before him, a chill settling in his gut as his pupils contracted.

"The Empire fleet!" he barked, snatching up the microphone and issuing a command that reverberated throughout the fleet. "All personnel, enemy fleet spotted! Prepare for battle!"

As he meticulously organized the fleet’s maneuvers, a troubling thought clawed at his mind.

Even if their navigation data had fallen into enemy hands, it shouldn’t have allowed the Empire to move at such astonishing speed. Not even the most advanced hyperspace channels could transport a fleet of this size instantly; if they could, the Alliance would have been overwhelmed long ago.

One grim answer loomed in his mind: someone had betrayed them.

Meanwhile, on Wyrmtrace, Cohen’s eyes remained glued to the satellite feed. The Empire warships appeared as ominous shadows, moving with deadly intent. "How could they have arrived so fast?"

"What do you think?" Chuck growled, his fists clenching. "Someone within the Alliance’s high command has sold us out."

Only the Alliance’s upper echelon knew the precise coordinates of Wyrmtrace. For the Empire to be lying in wait, ready to strike the moment the map was intercepted, the betrayal had to come from the very top.

"Those parasites!" Zarek spat, his voice laced with fury. "Prepare for combat! We cannot let them land."

"Exactly," Cohen replied firmly. The planet housed countless civilians, and if the Empire managed to breach their defenses, it would be a disaster. Without hesitation, the three officers sprang into action, coordinating their forces and preparing for a brutal battle to defend Wyrmtrace’s orbit.

While the commanders braced their troops, Lyra reached out to the Alliance’s leader on Planet Nagano. She listened closely as he recounted every detail of his recent meeting with Frederick.

"Frederick questioned the communication base?" she asked sharply, her mind racing.

"Yes, he did," the man confirmed.

Lyra’s eyes narrowed in thought. "Jarven, from now on, you and Vivian will oversee all affairs on Planet Nagano."

Jarven and Lucia were siblings of Crag. They had once been sponsored by Lyra through university.

Now, they’d become adept leaders, loyal to both the Alliance and Lyra herself.

Jarven’s face lit up with pride at the assignment. "Yes, ma’am!"

With a quick nod, Lyra turned her attention back to the impending battle. She relayed updates on reinforcements to the military command. Soon, the news spread through the ranks, kindling renewed hope and determination among the troops.