Chapter 387: Moving The Captured Compact Ships To Helion Bastion Twelve 2

Most Compact ships were below the standard Aurelian wanted for the important parts of his fleet, but that did not make them useless.

They could patrol safer systems, escort transports, train crews, guard stations, or be stripped for parts without tying up his better ships.

Quality still mattered to him.

That didn't mean he was going to throw away equipment that could still do useful work.

While the captured fleet was being sorted and prepared for transfer, another report reached the command center. This one came from a different Compact station farther along the outer line.

The station commander had watched Keln's fleet disappear from the route, then lost contact with every ship sent afterward to investigate. Instead of waiting for Aurelian's forces to appear in his own system, he had decided to contact Sanctuary Ardent directly.

The officer wanted terms.

Aurelian accepted the communication request.

A nervous-looking Compact administrator appeared on the main display. He was trying to keep his face calm, but the strain was obvious.

"Commander Arcturus, we have no intention of taking part in any further attacks against your territory."

Aurelian looked at him for a moment.

"You operate a Compact supply station."

"Under Saevor Drann's authority."

"For now."

The administrator clearly understood what he meant.

A short pause followed before the man continued.

"Our military personnel are already preparing to withdraw. The civilian workers cannot leave with them."

Aurelian leaned back slightly.

"What are you asking for?"

"Neutral status."

Rhoswen looked over at the display, surprised.

Astra didn't.

Aurelian thought about it for a moment. He didn't need the station badly enough to fight over it, and if the people there were already trying to pull themselves away from Drann, there was no reason to push them back toward him.

"Shut down all military support to Drann," Aurelian said. "No fuel, ammunition, repairs, scouting reports, communication support, or transport assistance. If Crownward ships enter your system, you allow inspection. Follow those conditions, and we leave the station alone."

The administrator swallowed.

"And after the conflict ends?"

"That gets decided after the conflict."

It clearly wasn't the answer he wanted.

But it was the only honest answer Aurelian could give.

He wasn't going to promise permanent independence, protection, or membership in the March before he knew what the region would look like when the fighting was finished.

After several seconds, the administrator nodded.

"We accept."

The communication ended.

Less than an hour later, another outer station sent a similar request.

Then one of the mining settlements contacted them.

That group wasn't asking to surrender or change sides. They simply wanted to know whether the Crownward March planned to attack civilians if fighting reached their system.

Aurelian gave them the same answer he had already proven at Veyra Nine.

Military forces that resisted would be attacked.

Civilians who stayed out of the fighting would be left alone.

The effect spread faster than he expected.

Drann had started pulling his forces inward because he feared a Human counterattack.

Instead, the withdrawal was making the outer Compact positions question whether staying loyal to him was worth the risk.

They could see military ships leaving.

They could see supply routes being pulled back.

They could see that Drann was preparing to defend his own important territory first.

That told them everything they needed to know.

Aurelian didn't have to conquer those stations.

He only needed them to understand that Drann might not protect them when the fighting came.

Astra looked over the newest messages.

"Your father told you to let Drann wonder where you would attack."

"I remember."

Rhoswen smiled.

"And now his own stations are wondering too."

Aurelian looked toward the Compact territory on the map.

The large fleet Drann had gathered around his inner systems still hadn't moved.

That was good.

Every warship sitting there was one less ship threatening Sanctuary Ardent, Larkspur Haven, or Helion Bastion Twelve.

Every outer station that stopped helping Drann made it harder for him to scout Crownward territory or move supplies safely.

And every ship Aurelian captured was another ship Drann couldn't use later.

This was exactly why he hadn't rushed straight into another major attack.

He could weaken the Compact without trying to take every system between him and Drann.

"Tell Solenne to bring the prisoners and captured ships back through Helion," he said. "Lysara can oversee the transfer."

Eirenne nodded.

"And the stations asking for neutrality?"

"Watch them. We don't trust them yet."

"Reasonable."

Rhoswen stretched her arms over her head.

"So now we're done?"

"For tonight."

She immediately looked suspicious.

"Does that mean you're actually going to sleep?"

Aurelian checked the time.

It was late.

Much later than he had realized.

Astra was already watching him.

At some point during the fighting, the triplets had returned to the command center as well, and all three were now looking at him too.

Even Eirenne seemed to be waiting for his answer.

Aurelian sighed.

"Yes."

Rhoswen smiled.

"Another victory."

"I was talking about sleep."

"So was I."

Aurelian left before she could continue.

Behind him, the tactical display remained active while the results of the night continued to settle into place.

Twenty-six Compact military ships were now moving toward Helion Bastion Twelve under Human escort.

Three outer Compact positions had stopped supporting Saevor Drann.

Two more were asking questions about neutrality and future terms.

And the Crownward March had managed all of that without launching the major offensive Drann had spent so much effort preparing to stop.

For now, that was better.

Aurelian had already learned that taking territory was often easier than making it useful afterward.

Every station captured meant people to manage, supplies to provide, defenses to maintain, and another place the enemy could attack.

He didn't need more territory just because it was sitting in front of him.

Not yet.

Instead, he would keep strengthening Sanctuary Ardent, Haven, Helion, and the other positions already under the March.

He would repair ships, train people, build up production, and let Drann continue wasting resources preparing for an attack that might not come when he expected it.

If more outer stations decided neutrality was safer than loyalty, Aurelian would let them make that choice.

If convoys tried to withdraw, he could watch them.

If Drann sent scouts, he could catch them.

And if a real opening appeared, he could strike when it benefited him instead of when the enemy expected.

Drann was gathering his fleet because he expected Aurelian to come for him.

Aurelian had no reason to correct that misunderstanding.

He could wait.

And while he waited, the Compact around Drann was already beginning to come apart.