Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 312: Releasing the Pirates

Chapter 312: Releasing the Pirates

When Lynn adjusted his stance and stepped out of the chamber, the Empire’s second Supreme had already arrived via the hyperspace portal.

Another grueling battle ensued.

After nearly thirty hours of relentless combat, Lyra had no choice but to retreat to the flagship for some much-needed rest.

She parked her mecha in the charging bay and strode toward the conference room, her expression grim.

The extensive use of her freezing superpower had left her armor coated in frost, leaving an icy trail as she walked.

Inside, several regiment leaders and adjutants stood at attention and saluted as she entered. Lyra nodded briskly and took her seat at the head of the table.

"Report the losses for each regiment," she ordered without preamble.

Aurelius stepped forward and provided a concise summary of casualties and equipment damage. They had lost 3,820 soldiers, most of whom had fallen to the Supreme and level-nine Peculiars.

As for the injured, nearly everyone bore some form of wound. Fortunately, Lyra’s healing pods allowed the injured to recover quickly and return to the battlefield.

Lyra’s frown deepened. She turned to Mandy. "Compile the statistics and submit them later."

Robin, his face set in a grim line, added, "The Empire seems intent on breaking through here. They’ve not only sent two Admiral Corps but are also deploying troops from Voidstar No. 2."

"Legion Apollo and Legion Glory are en route to support us," another officer reported.

"But this can’t go on," Caleb interjected, adjusting his glasses. "Our losses are unsustainable."

The regiment was newly assembled, and many soldiers were unaccustomed to such intense warfare. Fatigue and psychological strain were taking their toll, with some already requiring therapy.

"You’ll take turns deploying," Lyra decided, loosening the top buttons of her collar. The Space Button around her neck swayed slightly.

Phelixes quickly handed her a glass of water, which she drained in one gulp. Her sharp gaze flickered with lethal resolve.

"Phelixes, stay close to me. We’ll focus on eliminating the enemy’s Supreme Peculiars first, freeing Lynn to handle other threats."

"Understood," he replied.

Just then, more bad news arrived: the enemy was sending reinforcements—two Vice Admiral Corps were on their way.

"Are they targeting Rear Admiral Shedd?" Kolan speculated, his face darkening.

"Unlikely," Phelixes countered firmly. "They’d rather avoid her altogether."

Lyra pressed her lips into a thin line, her mind flashing back to the Wyrmtrace star map incident two years prior. Her gaze steeled.

"Make sure enough personnel remain to guard the space station," she instructed.

...

Lyra and Phelixes joined Lynn in facing the two Supreme Peculiars.

Lynn unleashed his full superpower, tearing spatial rifts through the battlefield. The enemy’s Supremes proved formidable, pressing him hard with their combined assault.

Suddenly, their superpowers flickered and vanished without warning.

"What the hell is going on now?" one of them shouted, equal parts shock and rage.

"Be careful! That guy’s power is strange," the other warned.

Before they could regroup, Lyra charged in, her blade slicing downward with precision. Her attack severed one Supreme’s right shoulder, cutting deep into his ribcage. Blood spurted out, only to be quickly siphoned away in the vacuum of space.

The injured Supreme reacted swiftly, using his superpower to stabilize the wound. Without hesitation, both retreated.

"Chase them!"

Lynn used spatial teleportation to pursue, but a field of black holes suddenly blocked their path. If not for Lyra’s quick reaction, Lynn might have teleported them straight into the gravitational trap.

Lyra nodded, satisfied. "Wounding one is enough for now. They don’t have a healer as strong as me; he won’t recover anytime soon."

As the trio prepared to withdraw, they found themselves locked onto by the enemy flagship’s high-energy cannon.

Even someone as powerful as Lynn would struggle to withstand a direct hit from such a devastating weapon.

Just as the enemy flagship’s high-energy cannon locked onto their position, a thunderous explosion ripped through its hull. A well-aimed shot from a high-energy cannon had struck true, sending debris spiraling into space.

The Apollo’s had arrived.

"Hmph, Lyra. Consider this payback for that favor," Admiral Dale sneered from his command center. At least now Valeria wouldn’t hold it over his head that he owed Lyra one.

Shortly after, the Legion Glory joined the fray.

With two Admiral Corps, a Vice Admiral Corps, and a Rear Admiral Corps uniting their forces, the stage was set for the largest battle between the Alliance and the Empire since the war began.

...

The warfront around Voidstar No. 1 grew longer and more chaotic with each passing hour.

Meanwhile, back on Wyrmtrace, in the wartime command office, two young men stood tall before Admiral Frederick, their postures rigid with determination.

"Sir, I request permission to support the battle at Voidstar No. 1," Cohen declared, his eyes fixed intently on his father.

"I want to go too!" Thierry added, his tone equally resolute.

Frederick studied them carefully, his gaze drifting momentarily to the sunlight streaming through the window.

The light framed their youthful fervor, their unshakable resolve evident despite their inexperience.

"It’s too dangerous there right now," Frederick said, his voice weighted by the grim reports he received daily from the frontlines. Even as a seasoned admiral, the situation left him uneasy.

"That’s exactly why we must go," Cohen replied without hesitation.

Thierry quickly added, "Right! The area was just reclaimed. I can help evacuate the residents."

The civilians there had only just escaped the clutches of pirates, only to find themselves trapped in a warzone again. If the Alliance lost this battle, their fate would be unthinkable.

Frederick sighed, recognizing both the naivety in their eagerness and the ironclad determination behind it.

"Very well. Go."

The two exchanged a glance and a smile before heading off to prepare for their mission.

...

The battlefield outside Voidstar No. 1 had devolved into a protracted and chaotic stalemate. Even Supremes struggled to turn the tide decisively.

That day, the conference room buzzed with more officers than ever before.

Admiral Dale addressed the assembly. "Rear Admiral Shedd and Lynn will handle the enemy’s Supremes. Admiral Conners and I will take on their Admiral Corps. The Legion Glory and Legion of Flaring Stars will engage the remaining enemy forces."

When Dale finished, Conners nodded in agreement. None of the commanders voiced objections.

After a moment’s pause, Lyra raised her head. "I’d like to recommend a few individuals. With their help, our burden would be much lighter."

"Who?" All eyes turned to her.

"Broken Blade, Markle, and Gino," Lyra replied.

The names sent a ripple of shock through the room.

"I object!" Conners’ voice rang out immediately, his opposition emphatic. "Those space pirates are ruthless! If they join the battle, they’ll slaughter our Alliance soldiers just as readily as the enemy!"

The pirates had claimed countless lives under Conners’ command, and he had no intention of granting them free rein on the battlefield.

"It’s risky," admitted even Lyra’s usual supporters, their faces shadowed with concern.

"I’m only making a suggestion," Lyra said calmly, her demeanor unshaken by the backlash. "If you don’t want their assistance, I’ll send them to the Legion of Everglow instead."

Before anyone could interject, she added, "If they harm any Alliance soldiers, I will take full responsibility."

Her firm declaration silenced further protests. The Legion of Everglow was under her direct command, leaving no room for others to challenge her decision there.

Conners scoffed. "Let’s hope Rear Admiral Shedd keeps her word."

...

After the meeting, a few familiar faces gathered around Lyra to congratulate her on the successful establishment of her space station.

"Here, my daughter prepared a gift for you," Zinnia said, producing a small metallic box from her Space Button.

Inside was a recorder. When activated, it displayed a hologram of a little girl.

"Godmommy Lyra, here’s the first dance I learned, just for you!" Tammy chirped with a bright smile. Her clumsy movements resembled a waddling penguin, her charm undeniable.

As Lyra held the recorder, her stern expression softened. Watching Tammy’s sweet and earnest performance, a rare warmth spread across her features, momentarily easing the burdens of war.