Him and their stars.

Chapter 2080 Allies or Enemies
It was a string of sub-light-speed missiles that suddenly rose from the uninhabited deep hole, numbering in the tens of thousands. They were like a swarm of enraged bees, suddenly appearing from an unseen hive, and swarming towards the flank of the Imperial fleet.

Of the more than 10,000 missiles, at least 9,000 were aimed at the Dawn Angel.

Thus, the new Privy Council Chief Minister of the Holy Galactic Empire was attacked on his own territory while on his way back to serve the King.

...Although it's within the territory of the Kingdom of Kete, who says a satellite country isn't part of the country?

This was, of course, an unexpected turn of events.

Even so, none of these battle-hardened veterans in the entire fleet showed any sign of panic. They immediately sprang into action without waiting for orders from above.

Moments later, a piercing tactical alarm blared throughout the ship, replacing the previous, relatively mild, high-energy response alarm. Red combat lights flashed and spun wildly in the passageways and on the bridge.

"Missile attack! Repeat, missile attack! Quantity between 10000 and 12000, classified as sub-light speed penetration missiles! Terminal assessment: over 90% of the priority targets are this ship!" The tactical intelligence officer's voice was quite loud and extremely clear.

"Navigator confirmed, the number is between 11000 and 11500. Ninety-two percent!" The navigator, whose name was not important, provided further analysis. His voice wasn't loud, but his presence was astonishing.

"All personnel, enter first combat configuration! Concentrate shields forward in three zones, maximize deflection power!" The captain issued the first command before the navigator had even finished speaking, his voice as steady as a mountain.

The responses and reactions from various departments were naturally orderly and methodical.

"All close-in weapon systems activated! Turbo laser array activated!"

"Combat robot swarm, prepare to intercept! High-powered photon missile, prepare to deflect, prepare to interfere with its terminal guidance!"

"Force field shield fully protected! Prepare for active kinetic energy deflection shield!"

"Active kinetic energy deflection system is online! Ready to intercept missiles at any time."

"Order the escort warships to disperse, and have the fighter jets equipped with reconnaissance systems prepare for attack! Begin wide-area search!"

"Active gravity source detection has begun. The emission source has been captured, and profiling and mass profile reconstruction have begun."

Needless to say, the responses from all departments of the fleet were swift and precise, like the meshing of fine gears that propelled the massive steel fortress into the most terrifying war machine.

Every crew member's eyes were fixed on the screen or readings in front of them. They had experienced battles far more dangerous than this, and although the current crisis was sudden, it was far from enough to make them panic.

At the same moment, two smaller but more agile Imperial destroyers accelerated sharply and rushed towards the dense cluster of lights in the distance.

The same action was taken by the fighter jets released by the Dawn Angel and the two escort light carriers.

They were, of course, searching for the attackers hidden in deep space. However, judging from their actions, it seemed at first glance that they were preparing to use their fragile bodies as shields for their flagship.

On the bridge, Brunhilde and her not-so-loyal chief of staff were secretly observing.

They did not intend to interfere with the captain's command, but simply watched quietly as the cluster of lights on the main screen rushed in like a torrent of death, as if they were observing a large burst of fireworks.

"At three o'clock, two astronomical units away, there's a group of three dwarf planets with a three-star structure," the chief of staff said. "There are launch silos there, quite a few of them."

She made the following judgment without even waiting for her subordinates' investigation report, which seemed a bit arbitrary, but she was very confident.

Of course, her lord completely agreed with this assessment: "An impenetrable saturation attack, but meaningless. What real threat could a sub-light-speed missile coming from two astronomical units away pose?"

"Perhaps... I just want to give it a try? What if it succeeds?"

"Heh, even the simplest automatic launching device can provide food for tens of millions of people."

Ostana nodded slightly, but then slowly shook her head: "If you have connections in the interstellar food market, you could earn at least 100 million. However, in the past year, due to the breakdown of basic governance, the number of displaced, starving, and freezing people who have died is unknown, and could be several hundred million."

In fact, if it weren't for the timely intervention of the Empire, which provided free pancakes covered in synthetic protein powder to the civilians of Kete, the number would have already been approaching ten figures.

"When the world prospers, the people suffer. When the world falls, the people suffer." Brunhilde recited a line of poetry. As a highly cultured member of the royal family, she had recently become fascinated with the poetry of Earth's classical era, considering it a treasure of human civilization.

If the Earth can truly be completely integrated into an empire, wouldn't these artistic treasures also be part of human civilization?

“I think we should change the direction of our postwar support for Kete.”

"However, it cannot yet be determined whether this attack is related to the new kingdom government of Bamyu."

No sooner had the Chief of Staff finished speaking than a tactical intelligence officer sent in the latest news: "A jump reaction has occurred ahead, at Gravity Well No. 2, at the 12 o'clock position."

"Number 14, deploying! It's a standard V-formation. Fleet maneuvers are underway."

"Second airquake has occurred! The jump reaction is spreading! Quantity 20! Repeat, quantity 20!"

"It has been confirmed that an unidentified fleet is maneuvering toward our fleet."

"Demand that they reveal their identities immediately! Demand that they reveal their identities immediately!"

"no respond."

"...Prepare for battle! Activate safety on main guns. Where is the nearest Imperial fleet?"

"In the Ironclaw D72 system, 125 light-years away, there is an Imperial engineering command center with a fleet, but it belongs to the Royal Merchant Guild's security fleet."

Brunhilde, who had been watching from the sidelines with his hands in his pockets, let out a playful laugh, but made no move to disturb the soldiers' battle.

"Send a warning to the Garan Merchant Guild and the Imperial Fleet stationed in the Mengji system."

"An unidentified fleet is approaching, which has been identified as a hostile act."

"Their main guns confirmed... Guns, fire!" "Third warp signal detected!"

"We have detected a signal from the enemy fleet's active gravitational source."

Clearly, these uninvited guests, while not responding to any communications, made no attempt to conceal their actions and hostility. Upon entering the system, they immediately deployed into formation, using ship-to-ship maneuvers for tactical organization while advancing at full speed to close the distance with the Empire.

This is a very standard Imperial-style fleet attack tactic.

Their tactical movements were fairly skillful, but they always seemed stiff and rigid. They were clearly well-trained but lacked practical experience, like elite rookies who were still novices.

Half a minute later, the fleet's projection appeared on the screen, and the military emblem of the Kingdom of Kete shone brightly on the prow of the standard imperial spindle-shaped warship.

It was an Arbitration-class battlecruiser of the Empire, a versatile capital ship well-suited for interstellar patrols, border guard duties, and planetary suppression. They had largely been retired from active service in the Imperial Guard, but were still widely used in local fleets, by border lords, and by vassal states.

More importantly, after the entire fleet of the Kingdom of Ketai was wiped out, out of basic sympathy and the need for security in the star system, the Empire provided them with a number of warships as aid, almost as if they were being sold off. After all, the most capable henchmen in the Empire's camp should at least be put to good use, even if they were just empty shells. Perhaps this was a kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

This includes four Arbitrator-class ships. And now, they're all here.

The Dawn Angel, along with its escort warships, began tactical maneuvers, successfully creating a safe distance from the missile group.

Imperial fighters and destroyers also successfully acquired targets on the dwarf planet side: a large number of automated missile silos and long-range gravitational wave signal relay stations.

As for those "unidentified" Ketai warships, they deployed a standard wing-shaped battle formation, displaying an attitude of wanting to annihilate the entire Imperial fleet on this spot, like a group of wildcats with flared tails that had taken too much catnip.

"Judging solely from their courage and fleet operations, the Ketai have done a truly remarkable job in military reconstruction," Brunhilde commented objectively.

“They have a long but rigorous military tradition, so even if a billion people starve to death, they won’t lack manpower. Of course, if this gets out, Katya will be very flattered,” Ostana said.

"But do they really think they can intercept and kill me with just a few dilapidated ships?"

The Kete fleet, which has jumped into this system three times, now has more than fifty ships, but neither the soldiers on the Dawn Angel nor the other escort ships showed the slightest sign of tension.

They didn't take these uninvited guests seriously at all.

The chosen emperor and the chief of staff certainly thought so too. They were too lazy to even leave their seats, and the soundproofing field surrounding the throne-style command pod was still running smoothly and steadily.

The officers and soldiers below the rank of captain and staff did not seem to intend to consult Prince Brunhilde on his next move. They all expressed that it would be inappropriate for them to bother His Highness with such a trivial matter.

“Speaking of which, Ostana, what were you trying to tell me just now?” Brunhilde looked at her strategist again, her eyes filled with a hint of amusement and scrutiny. “Speaking of which, you were just telling me that the Kingdom of Kete only officially established a densely populated royal government last week, with five heads alone. So, when exactly did the reconstruction of this royal army begin, and who was in charge? And who took over those warships?”

The chief of staff did not answer immediately.

She gazed at her lord, her face showing signs of being moved to tears: "Your Highness, my Your Highness, your journey is unlike that of any emperor in history! I have understood this ever since you awoke from that eternal dream. Today is just the beginning. We are walking on thin ice, as if on the edge of an abyss. We must be fully prepared to reach the other side."

The emperor, annoyed, said, "So what? You're not only starting to worry about my resolve now, are you?"

“No, I’m just worried that your resolve is too strong.” Ostana wiped away the tears she had just squeezed out. “Following a lord like you, I might be shattered to pieces one day, but that is my fate. I accept it willingly, and I have nothing but boundless glory left to me.”

Brunhilde, hands behind her back and a stern face, said, "I haven't said you have to die, so you have no right to die, Ostanna."

The chief of staff said, "I will do my best, but I am prepared for the worst. If I were to die on the battlefield while following your great cause, I would probably not even be able to find my last bit of ashes. But even if I could just have a memorial tablet placed in the Hall of Heroes, I would have no regrets at all."

The Empire has many memorial halls and cemeteries for its soldiers, but the Hall of Heroes has always been the most prestigious. In theory, only the Emperor has the authority to approve new memorial tablets for entry into this highest hall of honor for the Tirerov warriors, where they can enjoy the highest honors and the veneration of the entire Empire.

However, there's no need to delve too deeply into the subtext of the Chief of Staff's words.

These uninvited guests, suspected to be the fleet of the Kingdom of Ketai, began shelling from beyond their limited range. The flickering lights in the dark sky seemed as if thousands of stars had been ignited in an instant.

"The firing rhythm was fairly even, but it started too early. This is also a sign of complete training but a lack of real combat experience!" Brunhilde continued his objective commentary, just like a strict military academy instructor.

At the same time, the monitoring department also sent a new report, which showed that they had observed a new transition signal.

"A jump signal has been detected at 8 o'clock, which is the direction of gravity well No. 3. Jump complete! The mass response has stabilized."

"Number 37. They've sent us a friendly signal... um, are they reinforcements?"

The captain was a bit conflicted. He felt that if these guys were enemy forces, they would be easy to deal with; he could simply take them all out at once. But the fact that they claimed to be "reinforcements" made things much more complicated.

He hesitated for a few seconds before finally reporting to Brunhilde in the command room: "Your Highness, it is a patrol fleet from the Republic of Terrabi, claiming to be reinforcements."

Brunhilde continued to scrutinize his bewildered chief of staff with a critical gaze, then reached out and stroked the armrest of his chair. Finally, a very clear light flashed in his golden eyes, surrounded by a menacing and intense aura.

"Ostana, isn't this era interesting?"

“Naturally, for us incurable battle fanatics of Tirello, times of war are certainly interesting. But, Your Highness, this doesn’t fit the progressive image you’ve cultivated in the public eye!”

"No, I'm talking about the era of supreme succession. Besides, my progress has never been a persona! I've progressed far more than that white fox, and even Yu Lian here would have to admit that."

……

Amida Berencaster shuddered involuntarily, and was about to instinctively activate her spiritual senses, but she withdrew them at the last second. She certainly sensed a trace of malevolent curse from the shadows, but this was never something that should have alarmed her.

She glanced around before looking down at the girl in front of her, a hint of mockery in her voice: "So, little Frey, this is your plan? To have the Ketai intercept Tachibana... intercept Brunhilde?"

"This isn't our plan, it's our collaborator's plan." The purple-haired girl, Frey, smiled demurely, almost shyly, but her thoughts and words were clear:
"Yes, he used to be one of us, but he's gone now. We were just doing some supporting work. You see, Sister Yani, we've already reformed. To prove our sincerity, we have to do something for Big Brother's great expedition. Since our former collaborators have this plan, why not carry it out? Big Brother would be very happy to know."

"Don't call him 'big brother' in front of me, it's disgusting."

"I'm sorry, but a brother is a brother!" This time she even omitted the prefix.