Star Ship Girl Era: My Shipgirls Are Too Overpowered

Chapter 286: Another Abyssal Device?

No confirmed warning had escaped the system. Eirenne’s false relay signals were still holding, masking what had really happened on Karven Spire.

The deeper Kharov command would eventually realize something was wrong, but when that happened, they would not immediately know the truth.

They would have questions before they had answers, and for now, that uncertainty worked in March’s favor.

It gave them a window.

The only question was how they should use it.

One of the branch commanders argued that they should push toward Virell’s Reach immediately. His reasoning was straightforward.

The enemy was confused, the route ahead was open, and the family fleet had all the momentum after their victory.

If they delayed for too long, Varensk would have time to reinforce the system and turn an easy advance into a much harder campaign.

Aurelian understood why the idea was tempting.

Cassian did too.

That did not mean he agreed with it.

"We do not advance while Karven Spire is still stabilizing and the breach site at Vortan remains under investigation," Cassian said calmly. "A successful first strike does not justify a reckless second move. We secure what we have before we reach for more."

The room fell quiet.

The branch commander lowered his head slightly and accepted the correction without arguing. No one else challenged the decision.

Aurelian was quietly relieved.

He wanted Virell’s Reach as much as anyone else because it was the next important objective, but not enough to leave behind a system that was only half secured while an unknown abyssal incident remained unresolved.

Taking another world meant very little if the one behind them suddenly fell apart.

Then Eirenne added another reason to wait.

"The device used at Vortan Redoubt may not have been unique," she said. "While reviewing the captured archives, I found references to three sealed relic shipments that passed through Karven Spire over the last six years. Two continued deeper into Varensk-controlled territory. The third may have been sent to Virell’s Reach."

The atmosphere in the room changed immediately.

Aurelian looked toward her.

"May have?"

"The records were deliberately hidden," Eirenne explained. "The shipment was officially listed as agricultural machinery, but its total mass, the escort assigned to it, and its security restrictions do not match that classification."

Astra spoke quietly.

"Another abyssal device?"

"Possibly," Eirenne replied. "Or something equally old and equally dangerous. I cannot be certain yet."

Rhoswen leaned forward through her live feed, the usual excitement missing from her face.

"So Virell’s Reach might be worse than we expected."

Aurelian looked at her for a moment.

Earlier, she would have smiled at the thought of a harder fight.

This time she did not.

Good.

She was learning.

Cassian’s expression never changed.

"Then our next phase changes with it," he said. "We will not prepare only for fleet resistance. Every operational plan will include relic containment, civilian evacuation, and the removal of local command before anyone has the chance to activate another device."

Several officers immediately began making notes.

Aurelian nodded.

"We also need to question Daskor and the captured fleet commander."

Orvain’s projection appeared beside the command table.

"Daskor may refuse to cooperate."

"He probably will," Aurelian admitted. "But the fleet commander might not."

Astra seemed to agree.

"He valued his crew."

Aurelian nodded.

"That gives us somewhere to start."

Cassian approved the new interrogation priority. Daskor would remain completely isolated while investigators finished collecting evidence for his trial, but the captured fleet commander, Commander Ilyen Marr, would receive proper medical treatment before undergoing formal questioning under military supervision.

Aurelian made a mental note to speak with Marr himself as soon as circumstances allowed.

Not because he expected the man to become an ally.

Not because he thought the commander would suddenly abandon his loyalty.

But because Marr had fought for the Kharov side of the outer chain and had seen things that no one else in the room had.

More importantly, unlike Daskor, he had not tried to murder an entire city simply because defeat had become unavoidable.

That difference mattered.

When the meeting finally ended and the officers filed out, Aurelian stayed behind with Cassian for a few more minutes.

His father stood silently near the armored windows, looking down at Karven Spire below. The planet still carried the scars of battle, but it remained alive.

"You did well today," Cassian said.

Aurelian was quiet for a moment before answering.

"Rhoswen did more."

Cassian nodded.

"She did. Under your command."

Aurelian kept watching the planet.

"She nearly had to stand between thousands of civilians and something we barely understood."

"Yes."

"And she still did it."

"She did."

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Eventually, Aurelian broke the silence.

"I thought we were coming here to capture relay stations and clear Kharov garrisons. I wasn’t expecting abyssal relics."

Cassian let out a slow breath.

"No commander ever receives only the war he planned for."

The words sounded less like advice and more like experience.

Aurelian suspected they were.

He accepted them without saying anything.

After another moment, Cassian continued.

"This is why we are not rushing toward Virell’s Reach. It is not because we fear what is waiting there. It is because we respect what we still do not understand."

Aurelian nodded.

"I agree."

"Good."

After leaving the relay station, Aurelian returned to the Black Crown.

He found Rhoswen already back aboard. She had finally been cleared after what seemed like endless contamination screening, though judging by the expression on her face, she had enjoyed none of it.

The moment she saw him, she frowned.

"I smell like medical foam."

"You were standing inside an abyssal haze."

"I stayed at the edge."

"You still smell like medical foam."

Before Rhoswen could argue again, Astra walked past without slowing down.

"It is an improvement over burnt armor."

Rhoswen blinked.

She slowly turned to watch Astra continue down the corridor.

"Was that... a joke?"

Aurelian looked toward Astra as well.

She never turned around.

"It might have been."

Rhoswen looked genuinely touched.

"Today really was strange."

Aurelian laughed quietly, and for just a moment, the weight that Karven Spire had placed on everyone’s shoulders felt a little lighter.

Later that night, after the command deck had settled into its quieter night-cycle lighting and most of the crew had returned to their duties, Aurelian remained alone with the updated strategic map displayed in front of him.

Karven Spire now glowed blue, marking it as friendly territory, though several warning symbols still covered the system.

Vortan Redoubt carried a black quarantine marker that no one intended to remove anytime soon.

The outer chain had been secured but not yet fully stabilized, while Larkspur Haven continued to grow busier behind them as more people, supplies, and construction materials arrived every day.

Farther ahead, Virell’s Reach shone faintly on the edge of the display.

It was a valuable world.

A strategically important one.

And now it was also a place that might be hiding dangers no captured map had ever admitted existed.

Eirenne quietly appeared beside him.

"I have begun cross-referencing the Vhaloric archives for information regarding abyssal containment procedures."

Aurelian looked at her.

"Find anything useful?"

"Several warnings," she answered. "Very few solutions."

He smiled faintly.

"That sounds about right."

"Yes."

Aurelian leaned back in his chair and looked at the map one more time.

"Keep looking."

"I will."

Outside the Black Crown, Karven Spire slowly turned beneath them, scarred by occupation and battle but still alive.

For tonight, that was enough.

Tomorrow, they would begin asking what other doors the Kharov had hidden, and how many of them were already standing half-open.