Chapter 380: Boarding Compact transport

The Black Crown accelerated before the Compact transport could finish charging its warp drive.

Aurelian watched the distance fall across the tactical display while Eirenne tracked the transport’s engines, shield output, and power movement.

The ship was large enough to carry several hundred people, but it had only light defensive weapons.

Its strongest protection came from the two Compact destroyers moving toward it from the station.

"Warp charge at sixty-three percent," Eirenne reported. "They will be able to jump in less than four minutes."

"Target the drive system only," Aurelian said. "I want that ship intact."

Astra had already marked the safest firing solution.

"The rear shield is strongest around the drive section. We will have to weaken it first."

"Do it."

The Black Crown opened fire.

Its first attack struck the transport’s rear shield without touching the hull. The field flashed brightly but held, and the transport immediately began turning in an attempt to keep its strongest shield section between itself and Aurelian’s fleet.

That slowed its warp charge.

The Compact destroyers arrived seconds later and opened fire on the Black Crown.

Their weapons barely affected Astra’s Tier V shields.

Rhoswen moved in from the side before either destroyer could fire again.

The Crimson Bulwark hit the first ship hard enough to collapse most of its forward shield in one attack, then moved between the destroyers and the transport.

"Leave the transport alone," she warned over the open channel. "You can make this easy or difficult. I am fine with either."

Aurelian heard her through the fleet channel.

"Rhoswen."

"I am encouraging surrender."

"Try doing it without sounding disappointed if they surrender."

"No promises."

The second destroyer tried to move around her.

Lysara stopped it with a precise laser strike against its forward weapons.

The Compact commander finally realized what kind of fleet had entered the system.

Their two destroyers could not hold back a Tier V flagship, Rhoswen, Lysara, and Solenne’s strike group while protecting the transport at the same time.

The first destroyer turned away.

The second remained beside the transport for several more seconds before following.

Aurelian did not order anyone to chase them.

The transport mattered more.

"Warp charge falling," Eirenne said. "Fifty-one percent. They redirected power into shields."

"Good."

The Black Crown fired again.

This time, several controlled shots struck the same rear shield section. The field weakened enough for Solenne’s fighters to move in and release a small group of precision missiles.

The missiles struck the external warp stabilizers rather than the drive core.

The transport shuddered.

Its warp charge disappeared from the display.

"Jump capability disabled," Eirenne confirmed.

Aurelian immediately opened a channel.

"Compact transport, your warp system is disabled and your escorts are withdrawing. Shut down your weapons and prepare to be boarded. If you resist, we will disable your engines next."

No answer came for several seconds.

Then the transport’s weapons powered down.

Its main engines remained active, but they stopped accelerating.

"Boarding permission received," Eirenne said. "They are transmitting command codes."

Rhoswen sounded disappointed.

"That was fast."

"Good," Aurelian replied.

He turned his attention toward Veyra Nine.

The station’s remaining warships had formed around the central platform, but none were moving toward the transport anymore.

The station commander had clearly decided that saving one ship was not worth losing the entire defensive fleet.

That was sensible.

It also meant Aurelian could deal with the transport first.

"Send security teams," he ordered. "Medical personnel remain outside until we know who is aboard."

Astra looked toward him.

"You are staying here."

"Yes."

Rhoswen immediately opened another channel.

"I can board."

"No."

There was a pause.

"Why?"

"Because I need you between the station and the transport."

"That is less interesting."

"It is also more useful."

Rhoswen sighed.

"Fine."

Two boarding craft left the Black Crown and moved toward the transport. Solenne sent another group from her cruiser, giving them enough personnel to secure the ship quickly without using any of the medical crews.

Aurelian watched the internal feed after they entered.

The first corridors were empty.

No ambush waited behind the airlocks.

The Compact crew had gathered near the bridge and surrendered without fighting.

That left the passenger decks.

The first security team opened the main internal door.

Rows of people appeared beyond it.

Aurelian stopped looking at the tactical map.

The passengers were Human.

There was no mistaking it.

Most wore plain grey clothing with identification tags around their wrists. Some sat in transport seats, while others lay on medical beds along the walls.

Several looked weak.

A few were unconscious.

Eirenne immediately began comparing faces and identification codes against the Sanctuary Ardent transfer records.

Matches appeared one after another.

"Serena Hal confirmed."

Aurelian remembered the older man in the sanctuary hall.

Another name appeared.

Then another.

Within less than a minute, Eirenne had confirmed more than one hundred people from the original transfer list.

Rhoswen’s voice came through the channel.

"They were taking them away."

"Yes."

"To Drann?"

"That was the transport’s route."

Her voice became quieter.

"Then we arrived at the right time."

Aurelian agreed.

Eirenne finished the first count.

"One hundred and eighty-seven Human passengers. One hundred and seventy-one are listed as Sanctuary Ardent transfers. Sixteen do not appear in the sanctuary records."

"Condition?"

"Most stable. Twenty-three require medical attention. Five are in serious condition."

Aurelian opened a channel to Vaela.

"We found them."

Her face appeared almost immediately.

"How many?"

"One hundred and eighty-seven Humans. Most are from Sanctuary Ardent."

Vaela closed her eyes for a second.

"Are they alive?"

"Yes. Five are in serious condition."

"We are moving."

"Neris can bring you forward now. The transport is secure."

Vaela did not waste time answering.

The medical ships began moving before the channel ended.

Aurelian looked toward the station again.

If one transport carried that many prisoners, the remaining people might still be inside Veyra Nine.

"Eirenne, send the station our surrender terms again."

She did.

The station commander responded this time.

A thin Compact officer appeared on the main display. He looked older than Yarric and much more tired than Ruun.