Chapter 348: Saevor Drann

The last of Marshal Orvek Taran’s ships disappeared beyond the jump boundary, but nobody inside Sanctuary Ardent treated the withdrawal as a final victory.

Aurelian remained in the command center with Astra, Rhoswen, and Eirenne while the evacuation continued around them.

The main tactical display no longer showed an enemy fleet, yet Solenne kept her ships in formation and sent scouts along every likely approach route.

Taran had left because staying had become too costly.

That did not mean he had given up.

"He’ll report directly to Saevor Drann," Aurelian said.

Eirenne stood beside the tactical table, her projection linked to the sanctuary network.

"Most likely. He will also send a complete record of the battle, including our fleet movements, the sanctuary batteries, and the defense cutters."

Rhoswen leaned against the edge of the table.

"So next time they will know where the guns are."

"They will know where some of them are," Eirenne corrected. "Several sections of the defense network remain inactive, and Taran never saw the lower launch vaults."

Rhoswen seemed pleased by that.

"Good. We still have surprises."

Aurelian was less interested in surprises than preparation.

The Compact had learned that Sanctuary Ardent could defend itself, but Aurelian had also learned how fragile that defense still was. Several main batteries had overheated after only a short battle.

The eastern launch vault could support small cutters, but not larger warships. Half the station turrets had failed when Eirenne tried to activate them, and many power lines beneath the mountain were too unstable for sustained combat.

The sanctuary looked stronger from the outside than it truly was.

That would not last, but repairing it would take time and materials.

"How long until the batteries can fire again?" Aurelian asked.

"The main line will recover partial function in three hours," Eirenne replied. "Full output will take at least eleven hours unless Meridian can replace the damaged cooling sections."

"She is not here."

"I’m aware."

Aurelian studied the sanctuary map.

They could request Meridian later, but the Thornwake sisters were still under repair, and Helion Bastion Twelve also required engineering support. Pulling Meridian away would slow other work.

The Crownward March had grown quickly, and every new victory had created another place that needed ships, workers, fuel, repairs, and protection.

Sanctuary Ardent was the largest burden yet.

It was also too valuable to abandon.

"Commander," Neris said over the channel, "the final standard transport is loaded. We are keeping three medical ships inside because the patients are not ready to move."

"How many civilians remain awake inside the sanctuary?" Aurelian asked.

"Two thousand, eight hundred and eleven. Most are medical workers, support staff, or people who refused to leave family members behind."

Aurelian could understand that.

Some of the people in the preservation halls had only just opened their eyes after centuries.

They had woken in the middle of a battle, surrounded by strangers, and been told that everyone they had once known was gone.

Asking them to leave injured relatives behind, even for a short time, was not reasonable.

"Keep the medical ships docked," he said. "They move when Vaela says the patients are stable."

"Understood."

The transport display updated as another group left the mountain.

Solenne moved two cruisers and several destroyers around them, forming an escort before the ships began their slow journey toward the system edge.

Aurelian watched until the formation cleared the immediate defense area.

"Where are they going first?" Rhoswen asked.

"Temporary shelters near Larkspur Haven," he answered. "The medical cases will continue to Helion Bastion Twelve if they need equipment Larkspur doesn’t have."

Rhoswen frowned.

"Can Larkspur take this many people?"

"Not comfortably."

That was the truth.

Larkspur Haven was still recovering from the Kharov plague. Its farms were functioning again, and Elowen had stabilized the damaged environment, but the settlement was not prepared to receive tens of thousands of survivors at once.

Most would have to remain aboard transports or inside temporary shelters while Astercourt arranged food, housing, and medical care.

Aurelian had already sent her the population records.

Her first response had been a long silence.

Her second had been a request for every available construction unit in the Crownward March.

Aurelian had approved it.

Eirenne opened another report.

"Helion Bastion Twelve has confirmed it can receive six thousand people immediately. Seris is clearing the lower habitation levels, and Meren has opened two reserve storage areas."

"Any concerns from the population there?" Aurelian asked.

"Several. Most are practical. Food, water, work assignments, medical capacity, and security."

"Good."

Rhoswen looked at him.

"Good?"

"Practical concerns can be solved. Panic is harder."

Astra nodded slightly.

"Helion understands what it means to wake inside a ruined station."

That was true.

The people of Helion Bastion Twelve had lived among ancient systems, hidden dangers, and broken infrastructure for years.

They would not look at the Sanctuary Ardent survivors as something completely unfamiliar.

Larkspur Haven could offer open land and room to grow.

Helion could offer shelter, machinery, and experience.

Neither place was enough by itself, but together they gave Aurelian options.

Eirenne’s projection changed as a new communication entered the command center.

"Message from Cassian Arcturus."

"Direct?"

"Yes."

Aurelian opened it.

Cassian appeared above the tactical table, dressed more formally than usual, which suggested he had sent the message from somewhere inside the Arcturus family’s central territory rather than from a private room.

"Aurelian," Cassian began, "your request reached us, along with Eirenne’s emergency summary. Eighty-one thousand survivors is not a minor recovery, and Sanctuary Ardent is not a minor station."

Rhoswen glanced at Aurelian.

"He sounds pleased."

"He sounds worried," Astra said.

The recording continued.

"The Arcturus family can redirect six civilian transports, two medical vessels, and one mobile fabrication group without drawing immediate attention. More support is possible, but it will require council approval, and that means the Veyr family and several others will learn exactly what you found."

Aurelian expected that.

A rescue of this size could not remain secret for long, especially when tens of thousands of survivors needed food and housing.

Cassian’s expression hardened slightly.