Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 302: A New Voidstar No. 1

Chapter 302: A New Voidstar No. 1

In just one day, the three major space pirate crews of Voidstar No. 1 were obliterated.

Their three level-nine leaders were captured, and nearly all high-ranking officers were eliminated.

Among their subordinates, squad leaders and regular members suffered devastating losses, with over half either killed or injured.

When Lyra returned with Gino in custody, the teams led by Aurelius and Robin had already regrouped.

Each team was escorting ships packed with prisoners, forming an imposing sight. Most of the pirates had been stationed at Gino’s base, but fewer than one percent of them had survived the assault.

At the center of the battlefield, near the wine cellar, the bodies of fallen pirates were piled high, forming a grotesque mountain.

Lyra descended atop it, where soldiers clad in white military uniforms stood at attention and saluted her in unison.

A swirl of green light enveloped her, cloaking her figure.

As the glow faded, her flowing dress was replaced by a sharp military uniform. Her long hair cascaded down her back, swaying gently in the breeze.

In this age of interstellar civilization, few sights could rival Lyra’s radiance at that moment—perhaps only the brilliance of a star itself.

Returning their salutes, Lyra surveyed the thousands of prisoners kneeling before her. A faint softness touched her otherwise icy demeanor.

"Well done, my warriors," she said.

A surge of pride swept through everyone present.

In a single day, they had annihilated not one but three space pirate crews that had plagued the military for decades. Their achievements, once recognized, would surely be enshrined in history.

The three captured leaders were herded together. Staring at the woman whose presence exuded imperial authority, Gino found himself unable to meet her gaze, frozen by an all-encompassing fear.

With the prisoners secured aboard the ships, the Legion of Everglow launched a thorough sweep of Voidstar No. 1. The remaining pirate factions, terrified by the sudden onslaught, fled without offering any resistance.

For the residents of Voidstar No. 1, it was a surreal day.

Space pirates fled en masse, their starships and fighter crafts streaking through the skies like migrating birds, vanishing into the vastness of space.

At first, civilians, unaware of the details, feared the onset of a massive war. Anxiety and panic gripped the populace until the satellites reconnected to the Alliance Network.

Hundreds of drones patrolled the skies of Voidstar No. 1, broadcasting a uniform announcement around the clock:

"As of today, Voidstar No. 1 is officially under Alliance jurisdiction. All residents are required to relocate to the newly established settlement and register their identities. The settlement is located at latitude 39°N, longitude 29°W. For those without transportation or maps, please request assistance from the drones."

Equipped with advanced recognition systems, the drones descended automatically upon spotting humans, offering maps and access to aid applications.

As they patrolled, they also documented Voidstar No. 1’s terrain, integrating the data into a detailed 3D map of the region, complete with information about its wildlife, water sources, and land formations.

...

For the next month, everyone was consumed with relentless work.

Unlike the development of Wyrmtrace, which involved external stakeholders, Voidstar No. 1 was managed entirely by the Legion of Everglow.

The workload was enormous—they had to construct bases while conducting a full census of the population.

Fortunately, Lyra’s caravan had brought a fleet of specialized machinery, allowing for rapid progress.

Naturally, some criticism arose over her use of the caravan for public projects, but Lyra dismissed it without concern.

Rather than leave room for external contractors to cut corners in secret, she preferred to manage the work herself—and keep the profits outright.

The second task, the population census, was less challenging due to Voidstar No. 1’s sparse population. Many residents could trace their ancestry back six or seven generations to a common forebear.

For instance, in Gultong’s village, considered a mid-sized settlement, there were only about 130 people.

Across the entire region, the total population barely exceeded 100,000. Even the temporary shelters prepared by the Alliance remained largely unfilled.

By the end of the month, Voidstar No. 1’s integration into the Alliance was well underway, heralding a new era for its inhabitants.

Lyra issued an announcement that instantly sparked excitement across Voidstar No. 1: all residents were invited to help build the new settlement. Those who contributed would earn a free apartment in the residential district as part of their reward.

The news electrified the populace. Lines formed at registration points the moment they opened, stretching far longer than anyone had anticipated.

Some people even camped overnight, laying down bedding to secure their spot, eager to start working and claim the best homes.

Beneath this surface unity and enthusiasm, however, trouble was brewing.

"Helion caught two more space pirates," Mandy reported as she entered Lyra’s office.

Although the three main pirate crews had been eliminated, many of their members had slipped away in the chaos. These fugitives were now hiding in the shadows, hoping to rescue their leaders and reclaim their former power.

Naive as their ambitions were, they didn’t grasp how much the situation had shifted.

Gino and the other two leaders had already expressed a willingness to defect. But Lyra, unmoved by their offers, had other plans.

She intended to leverage their lives to secure greater recognition for herself and the Legion.

"This can’t keep happening," Phelixes said, entering with his own report. "I caught a few more myself, but I’m certain there are still others blending in with the crowds."

"I know," Lyra replied calmly, her tone as casual as if she were discussing a light drizzle.

Her composure reassured the room, and the conversation moved on.

Development on Voidstar No. 1 surged ahead at an intense pace. Among the many construction projects, building the first school became a top priority.

Lyra wanted the children living idly in temporary shelters to have a space where they could learn and grow.

When the project reached the planning stage, Lyra gathered the administrative staff and posed a simple question:

"Who’s willing to take charge?"

Becoming the principal of Voidstar No. 1’s first school sounded prestigious, but no one seemed eager to step up.

The director of logistics scratched his head awkwardly. "Ma’am, we may be administrative personnel, but we all joined the Legion for action, not for teaching kids. That’s... not really our strength."

Even those with desk jobs in the Legion of Everglow were trained for combat. The admin team had recently taken part in the pirate eradication mission. While they could wield weapons, guiding children was an entirely different challenge.

Lyra’s gaze fell on Caleb, who adjusted his glasses before politely refusing, "Though I wear glasses, ma’am, I’m a strategist trained by the NMA Department of Command and Strategy, not an educator."

Mandy frowned. "This isn’t a great time for external recruitment, either. We can’t risk hiring a spy, a pirate, or someone working for another Legion."

Just then, Robin, who had been silent throughout the discussion, spoke up. "I have someone in mind. He’s in the shelters now. If you approve, I believe he’d be willing to take the position."

Lyra’s eyes flickered with interest as she considered the suggestion.

Phelixes’ fingers curled slightly on his lap. "This job should be handled by a professional. I’m willing to act as a temporary principal until we can recruit someone properly qualified."

The other regiment leaders exchanged glances, quickly guessing who Robin was referring to.

And Phelixes’ reaction only confirmed their suspicions.

Helion, who often clashed with Phelixes, saw an opportunity and leaned into it.

"Father Kyle... or rather, as I prefer to call him, Kail Shedd. Since leaving the military, he’s spent years here taking care of children. If anyone’s qualified, it’s him."

Phelixes glared at Helion, his eyes sharp enough to cut steel, but Helion merely smirked, relishing his rival’s discomfort.

All eyes turned to Lyra. After weighing the arguments, she gave a decisive nod. "Prepare a formal invitation for Kail to serve as the principal of the school."

Despite the personal tensions in the room, Kail’s reputation across Voidstar No. 1 was stellar.

When Kail received the invitation letter, bearing Lyra’s personal signature, his hands trembled.

"She’s forgiven me..." he murmured softly, his expression a mixture of relief and sorrow.

Phelixes, however, couldn’t resist taking a jab. "Don’t read too much into it. She’s just using you as a tool."

Nearby, Mandy wiped her brow, exasperated. Though Phelixes had grown skilled in handling major tasks, his immaturity still showed in moments like this.

Turning to Kail, she added diplomatically, "In any case, come with me to finalize your appointment. Just keep in mind, this is a government position. We can’t get you return to the military now."

"I understand," Kail said with a nod. Having worked within the system before, he was well-versed in the protocols.

Years of working with children had become second nature to him, so stepping into this new role felt like a natural progression.