Chapter 840: Shadow Over the Canyon

Chapter 840: Chapter 840: Shadow Over the Canyon

Ethan stood motionless, staring at the half-open hangar built into the mountain slope. The hum in the air foreshadowed a trap organized with absolute precision.

"Vaelen, take the essential personnel and retreat with the others aboard one of the secondary ships," said Ethan, without turning his eyes from the front. "I will press forward with the main fleet."

Vaelen stepped forward, gripping his sword hilt as his eyes burned with determination.

"No, General!" said the veteran warrior. "We will not leave you alone. If this is where we are meant to fall, we will die together in battle holding our honor high."

"Do not be reckless, Vaelen," said Ethan, turning slightly to glance at him. "There is still much I need from you all. You cannot fall in this place."

"My men and I swore to serve you until the very end!" insisted Vaelen, refusing to yield an inch. "Do not ask me to retreat while you walk into a trap!"

"It is an order," said Ethan in an icy voice that chilled the veteran’s blood.

Vaelen clenched his teeth, feeling Ethan’s authority crush his resistance. Having no choice but to obey, he rendered a military salute and retreated toward the lower decks. Moments later, a dozen small warships detached from the main formation, positioning themselves at a distance in the rear. They did not flee; they hovered in mid-air, watching as the convoy maintained its course toward the mountain hangar.

"How much time do you need, Crul?" asked Ethan mentally.

[I am already on it, Master], the synthetic voice replied in his mind. [However, this base is different from the rest. It lacks a direct remote access portal; its internal network is isolated from external frequencies. To take control, we will have to breach through by force and physically seize the central node.]

"Good... I have an idea," said Ethan.

The thousands of ships in Ethan’s fleet continued their descent toward the canyon coordinates, adhering strictly to landing protocols. On the fortress’s Control Center displays, radio signals and clearance tags began flashing.

[Identification required], echoed the automated base system over the comms array. [High-capacity aerial convoy, identify yourselves and present flight credentials and military command clearance.]

Crul responded instantly, injecting encrypted clearance keys acquired from previous sectors:

[This is General Soren’s flagship. Imperial Authorization Code: Alpha-Nine-Seven. Requesting entry for emergency resupply and maintenance following border patrol.]

[Verifying credentials...], the fortress console replied. [Authentication code correct. General Soren’s credentials validated. Transmitting docking vector to hangar three.]

While data exchanged on the surface, deep within the mountain’s central command post, General Vane observed the holographic monitors with a grim expression. Vane was a suspicious man by nature, a battle-hardened veteran who left nothing to chance.

"Something doesn’t add up...", muttered Vane. "The convoy is far too massive for a routine patrol."

He stepped up to the main console and pressed the channel to the Imperial High Command.

"Requesting confirmation of General Soren’s credentials and mission status," commanded Vane firmly.

Seconds later, the voice of an intelligence officer echoed from the Capital:

[General Vane, General Soren was recently dispatched to Iron Falcon Fortress to investigate a distress signal. Upon arrival, we lost communication with his flagship, receiving only automated reports indicating he was en route to his new objective. According to tactical logs, General Soren should be heading toward the Golden Dragon Empire front. He should not be at your position under any circumstances.]

General Vane clenched his fists, confirming his suspicions.

"He is requesting permission to enter hangar three with his entire convoy," said Vane. "I require immediate orders."

[Stand by], the officer replied. [We will notify superiors to verify the anomaly. Keep them under watch with heavy artillery and order them to hold in the containment zone outside the dome until further notice.]

Vane looked back at the display. Surprisingly, the incoming fleet showed zero hostility; ship after ship was docking at the assigned bays inside the hangar, complying with every automated protocol.

"Understood, Command," said Vane. "Awaiting confirmation."

Meanwhile, deep within the Capital’s High Command, the intelligence officer who had handled the call disconnected and dashed through the corridors of the military complex. He sprinted past the doors of the Tactical Logistics Department, coming to a halt before the desk of the Logistics General, the officer in charge of border resupply.

"General!" wheezed the officer, fighting to catch his breath. "We have an irregular situation at the Pass of the Two Gorges! General Vane reported the arrival of General Soren’s convoy."

The Logistics General looked up from his holographic maps, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.

"Soren’s convoy?" asked the Logistics General, frowning. "What is Soren doing at the western canyon? His orders were to march to the Golden Dragon Empire front to reinforce our positions. Why has he diverted toward the Two Gorges?"

"That is the problem, sir," replied the officer. "We lost communication with Soren’s flagship months ago. We only received automated en-route logs. Vane suspects something is amiss and requests instructions. Soren’s fleet consists of hundreds of vessels, and they are docking in the mountain hangars."

The Logistics General’s expression turned grim. Without a thought, he channeled mana into a golden runic communication talisman hanging around his neck, activating the line to the Empire’s Grand General.

The talisman vibrated before a deep voice heavy with authority echoed through the runic stone.

"Speak," commanded the voice from the Capital. ℴℴ𝘮

"Grand General, my apologies for the interruption," began the Logistics General with reverence in his tone. "We have an anomaly along the western perimeter. General Soren’s fleet has appeared at the Pass of the Two Gorges requesting resupply. However, there are no records of him being ordered there, and we haven’t been able to establish direct verbal contact with him since he inspected Iron Falcon Fortress."

A silence dominated the link for several seconds before the Grand General replied.

"Soren at the Two Gorges?" questioned the high commander. "That is impossible. The route charted for his division does not pass within a thousand leagues of that canyon."

"Precisely, my Lord," continued the Logistics General. "General Vane holds the fleet in the containment zone and is unsure whether to open fire or allow them to disembark. What are your orders?"