Chapter 439: Harrow’s Rest 3

Caelira’s thirty-two training missiles split into four groups almost as soon as they left her launchers, each taking a separate route toward the target drones scattered across Helion’s outer training zone.

Aurelian watched their paths on Black Crown’s tactical display while Talyra moved well ahead of the main formation.

The destroyer was already feeding target positions back through Seraphiel’s relay network, letting Caelira fire without relying entirely on her own sensors.

That was the real purpose of the exercise. Aurelian already knew each ship could fight alone. He needed to know whether they could work together without getting in each other’s way.

"Talyra has marked the second group," Seraphiel reported from beside Black Crown, her attention remaining on the information passing through her relay system. "I’m sending the updated tracks to Caelira now."

Caelira adjusted the course of eight missiles before they reached the midpoint of the training zone.

The correction was small, but enough to intercept a group of drones that had changed direction after detecting Talyra.

Four targets disappeared from the display almost immediately, followed by three more several seconds later.

The eighth missile missed.

"That one was defective," Caelira announced without hesitation.

Neris answered from Helion with obvious disbelief. "Of course it was."

"It clearly was," Caelira insisted, only for Neris to point out that the training system had recorded her final correction as being late.

"The training system is wrong."

Aurelian smiled at the exchange but kept his attention on the tactical display. "Keep going. You can argue with the training system afterward."

Farther ahead, Vaelith was already using the confusion created by Caelira’s missiles to approach the larger simulated target near the center of the zone.

Her accelerator stayed below maximum output, exactly as Meridian had ordered, though that didn’t stop her from firing the moment she received clearance.

The training beam crossed the range and struck almost dead center.

"Good alignment," Meridian reported after checking the readings. "The focusing rails remained stable."

Vaelith immediately sounded pleased. "Then increase the output."

"No," Meridian replied flatly.

Vaelith’s satisfaction disappeared just as quickly. "Why?"

"Because I said the rails remained stable. I didn’t say we were finished collecting data."

Aurelian wisely decided not to involve himself in that argument.

Seraphiel, meanwhile, was having a much better time.

Her frigate remained close to Black Crown while the relay network tracked Talyra, Vaelith, Caelira, and the Helion patrol ships participating as escorts.

Information moved through the formation much faster than during their earlier tests, with none of the communication delays that had caused problems before.

The shield-support network was also behaving better.

Two patrol vessels had received the modifications Meridian requested, allowing Seraphiel to balance part of the defensive load without straining their systems too much. It was still limited, but it worked.

"Better than the first test," Aurelian commented, glancing toward Astra.

"Much better," Astra agreed as she studied the formation.

Seraphiel heard them over the channel. "I would still prefer another three exercises before we use the full network in combat."

Aurelian nodded. "Agreed."

"Three?" Vaelith immediately complained.

"At least," Seraphiel calmly corrected her.

Even without seeing her face, Aurelian could almost feel Vaelith’s disappointment through the channel.

The exercise continued for another two hours. Talyra repeatedly moved beyond the main formation, located targets, and returned information without exposing herself for longer than necessary.

Caelira practiced attacking targets she could not directly see, while Vaelith worked with the escort ships instead of simply charging ahead.

That last part required several reminders.

By the time the final simulated target was destroyed, Aurelian was satisfied. There had been mistakes, but nothing serious.

More importantly, the new ships were already learning to work around one another.

After the formation returned toward Helion, Aurelian held a short review aboard Black Crown.

Seraphiel requested several relay adjustments, Talyra wanted more freedom to operate beyond the normal scout boundary, Vaelith wanted permission to use her accelerator at full power, and Caelira wanted more missiles.

Only one of those requests surprised him.

"How much farther do you want to go?" Aurelian asked Talyra.

"Another twenty percent beyond today’s limit," Talyra explained, bringing up the range on the tactical display.

"My ship was designed to operate well ahead of the main fleet. If I remain too close, much of my sensor advantage is wasted."

Aurelian looked toward Eirenne’s projection. "Any objection?"

Eirenne considered the request briefly, then shook her head. "No, provided she maintains two return routes and doesn’t enter unknown space without support."

"Reasonable," Talyra agreed.

"Then it’s approved for the next exercise."

Vaelith immediately leaned forward with renewed hope. "And my accelerator?"

"No."

Caelira raised a hand. "My missiles?"

"No."

Both shipgirls looked equally displeased, prompting Seraphiel to glance between them with the faintest hint of amusement. "I believe my requests have a better success rate."

Astra laughed, and even Aurelian couldn’t keep himself from smiling.

The mood changed shortly after the meeting ended when Eirenne received an update from Valeris.

Her expression became serious as she read through the message, and Aurelian noticed immediately.

"What happened?"

"Harrow’s Rest responded," Eirenne said, bringing the message onto the main display.

That immediately returned Aurelian’s attention to the problem waiting beyond Helion. "Are they surrendering Dane?"

"No. They claim Malrec Dane arrived there as an Orison official and has already departed."

Aurelian frowned. "When?"

"Approximately nine hours ago. His destination is unknown."

That was not good, and Eirenne’s expression suggested the rest of the message was not much better.

"Harrow’s Rest also denies involvement in the attack," she continued. "Their council says several residents may have participated without authorization, but they reject the claim that the settlement planned it."

Aurelian considered the explanation instead of dismissing it immediately. Twenty-two people were enough to crew three small ships, but nowhere near enough to prove that an entire settlement of almost two thousand residents had participated.

"What does Orison think?"

"They believe the council is hiding something," Eirenne replied, then added, "and they’ve assembled six armed ships near the edge of their recovery zone."

Aurelian’s expression tightened. "They’re not moving toward Harrow’s Rest, are they?"

"Not yet."

"Contact Oren."

The legal officer answered several minutes later from Orison, looking as though he had not slept much since the attack.

"Commander," Oren greeted him tiredly.

"I heard about Harrow’s Rest," Aurelian said. "I understand why your patrols are preparing, but I don’t want six armed ships crossing into the settlement’s space while we’re still investigating."

Oren’s expression tightened. "One of our officials may have helped arrange an attack against our own delegation."

"Then find Dane."

"We intend to."

Aurelian gestured toward the six ships displayed on the regional map. "With all of these?"

"They’re security."

"To Harrow’s Rest, they’ll look like an attack force."

Oren fell silent, clearly unhappy with the point but unable to dismiss it.

"Send investigators and a civilian transport," Aurelian continued. "If you need an escort, use one ship and keep it outside the settlement unless their council agrees otherwise."

Oren leaned back in his chair. "You’re asking us to show considerable restraint after someone tried to kill our delegation."

"Yes, because twenty-two people tried to kill you," Aurelian replied evenly. "We don’t know whether Harrow’s Rest ordered them to do it."

That was the important difference. Aurelian had no interest in turning a failed attack by a small group into a battle involving an entire settlement.

After considering it for several seconds, Oren finally nodded. "I’ll take your proposal to our council."

"Good."

The conversation ended, and Aurelian had barely started reviewing the prisoner reports when another message arrived, this time from Cassian.

His father had received the same basic information through the Arcturus communication network and wanted an update.

Aurelian explained Dane’s disappearance, Harrow’s Rest’s response, and the six Orison ships gathering near the recovery boundary.

Cassian listened without interrupting, his attention moving across the regional map as Aurelian finished.

"You’re right not to let them rush into Harrow’s Rest," Cassian eventually said.

"I didn’t order them not to. I asked."

Cassian gave him a slight smile. "An important difference."

"Orison isn’t under my command."

"And neither is Valeris," Cassian added, earning a nod from his son before returning his attention to the map. "Do you need additional Arcturus patrol ships?"

"No. Not unless the situation gets worse."

"Then I won’t move them."

Aurelian appreciated that answer. The Arcturus family had already provided ships, crews, engineering support, and access to better contracts.

Cassian could easily have used that involvement to take a larger role in the dispute, but so far, he had chosen not to.

"Have the Veyrs found anything else in the recovery records?" Cassian asked after a moment.

"Their legal team is still reviewing the later agreements Orison provided, but nothing has changed the main assessment yet."

"Good." Cassian nodded. "Keep that separate from the security investigation."

"I intend to."

There was no reason to turn the investigation into Dane’s actions into an excuse to dismiss every recovery claim Orison had made.

The two issues could affect each other, but they were not the same problem.

Cassian ended the call after promising to keep the family reserve ships available without moving them any closer.