Chapter 373: End Of Saevor Drann

The Compact scout entered the dust front almost exactly when Lysara expected it to.

For the first few minutes, nothing happened.

The ship continued along the same route while the interference around it grew stronger, slowly cutting away its long-range sensors and making communication increasingly unreliable.

Whoever commanded the scout clearly understood that the region was dangerous, because the vessel reduced speed and began sending short sensor pulses ahead instead of trusting its normal navigation systems.

It was careful.

It simply did not know someone was already waiting.

Lysara had placed two patrol ships beyond the thickest part of the dust front, far enough apart that the Compact scout could not avoid both without turning back.

A third ship remained farther away to watch the route in case the scout had support following behind it.

The moment the Compact vessel passed the center of the interference, both patrol ships moved.

The scout detected them almost immediately and tried to turn away, but there was nowhere useful to go.

Returning through the dust would take several minutes, while continuing forward would carry it directly between the two Human ships.

Its commander chose the only option left and increased power to the engines.

Lysara watched the movement from Helion Bastion Twelve.

"They are trying to run."

The patrol leader answered through the command channel.

"We can disable them."

"Do it before they clear the interference."

The first Human ship fired across the scout’s path rather than directly at it, forcing the Compact vessel to turn.

The second patrol ship used the opening and struck the scout’s rear shields with two controlled volleys.

The Compact ship shook but remained intact.

Its engines continued pushing it forward.

Then its communication array began powering up.

Lysara noticed immediately.

"Disable the transmitter."

The next shot struck the upper section of the vessel and tore through the communication mast before the transmission could leave the dust front.

The scout finally stopped trying to escape.

Its weapons powered down less than a minute later.

The entire interception had taken less than four minutes.

No distress signal escaped.

More importantly, the ship had been captured largely intact.

Lysara sent the result to Sanctuary Ardent.

Aurelian received the report while reviewing the final security arrangements for the approaching Alliance survey vessel.

"Captured?" he asked.

"Yes," Eirenne replied. "Eleven crew members. Two injured. No deaths."

"What about the ship?"

"Engine damage, shield damage, and the main communication array is destroyed. Most of its internal systems remain usable."

That was better than Aurelian had expected.

"Have Lysara search everything before the crew has time to destroy anything."

"She has already started."

Rhoswen was sitting on the edge of a nearby console while waiting for the next patrol report.

"See? She got all the fun."

Aurelian looked at her.

"You wanted to fly seven hours just to shoot one scout?"

"I didn’t say it was a good use of time."

Astra looked over from the Alliance arrival schedule.

"At least you admit it."

Rhoswen gave her an offended look but didn’t argue.

The capture changed the immediate problem around Helion. Drann now had two scouts missing, and unless he had sent more without the courier captain knowing, neither had managed to report the exact location of the Crownward March’s main settlements.

That did not mean the problem was finished.

If anything, two missing scouts would tell Drann that something important existed along the routes he had been searching.

Aurelian had no intention of pretending otherwise.

"Increase passive monitoring around Mournveil," he said. "Do not start placing warships everywhere. I want to know when something enters before we show them exactly what we’re protecting."

Eirenne acknowledged the order.

A few minutes later, Lysara sent the first recovered navigation files from the captured scout.

Aurelian opened them immediately.

The ship had been ordered to locate Human supply routes and identify possible settlements, just as they expected.

It had also carried instructions to avoid combat and return to Saevor Drann if it discovered any major Human military position.

But another set of orders had been added shortly before departure.

The scout was supposed to locate possible evacuation routes for Compact ships leaving the outer territories.

Astra read that part twice.

"Drann isn’t only worried about us attacking."

"No," Aurelian said. "He’s preparing somewhere to retreat."

That explained why the scout had entered Mournveil despite the obvious danger.

Drann needed routes the Crownward March did not control.

If his outer stations became impossible to defend, or if political trouble inside the Compact became worse, he wanted somewhere to move ships and important personnel without passing through known Human patrol areas.

Rhoswen moved closer to the display.

"Can we find out where he plans to go?"

"Not from this file."

Eirenne opened several damaged navigation records.

"The scout was mapping possible routes rather than following a prepared one."

"So Drann doesn’t know either."

"That appears likely."

Aurelian considered that useful.

A retreating enemy with a prepared destination was dangerous.

A retreating enemy searching for one was vulnerable.

He returned to the reports from the outer Compact positions.

Movement had already started.

One of the three supply stations had transferred most of its fuel reserves to a convoy heading deeper into Compact territory.

The military depot near Taran’s old withdrawal route had begun moving ammunition and replacement parts.

Civilian traffic around one of the mining settlements had also increased sharply.

Drann was not abandoning everything yet.

He was preparing to.

"How many ships are escorting the fuel convoy?" Aurelian asked.

"Six combat vessels and eleven transports."

"Too many for a quiet interception."

Rhoswen looked at him.

"Not too many."

"For a quiet interception."

"Oh."

Aurelian enlarged the convoy route.

Attacking it would certainly hurt Drann, but it would also confirm that the Crownward March was actively hunting Compact logistics.

That would encourage Drann to increase escorts, change routes, and move faster.

For the moment, information was worth more.

"Track it."

Eirenne marked the convoy.

A second movement appeared not long afterward.

This one was smaller.

A research transport had left the Compact outpost with only two escorts.

The ship was heading toward Saevor Drann.