BATTLE FOR STARS

"More or less." Elizabeth couldn't help smiling at Vivian's vivid description.

"Why isn't your fleet acting as the bait?"

The moment the question left her mouth, Vivian froze.

In truth, she already knew the answer.

First, Duir Republic fleets had never been as effective in combat as those of the Kramic Kingdom.

Second, the battlefield was located within Duir territory.

From every perspective, her fleet was the more suitable choice.

Sure enough, Elizabeth simply smiled and said nothing.

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Vivian's face.

"I understand. I'll make some adjustments to the fleet according to the plan."

Vivian believed that serving as bait, while perhaps not the most glorious assignment, wasn't particularly difficult. And if the operation succeeded, the rewards would be substantial.

That was also why the plan had been disclosed only to fleet commanders.

If everyone knew they were acting as bait, their behavior might become unnatural. Worse, the enemy could easily see through the deception.

Elizabeth shut down the projection, removed the storage chip, and carefully returned it to its box.

The container was made from specialized materials that rendered its contents virtually undetectable by scanning equipment.

"Then I won't keep you any longer, General. If anything comes up, contact me directly. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid discussing the plan with anyone. We recommend sharing only the portions relevant to each Task Force Commander."

She paused briefly.

"I hope everything goes smoothly and we achieve the victory we're aiming for."

After speaking, Elizabeth glanced at Vivian.

Seeing no objections, she rose to her feet, rendered a salute, and prepared to leave.

There was still plenty of work waiting for her.

"I hope so too."

Vivian stood and nodded before seeing her out.

Once Elizabeth left, silence quickly returned to the room.

Not long afterward, however, another figure quietly slipped inside.

Hearing the faint sounds, Vivian raised her head from her thoughts.

A familiar yet somehow unfamiliar face appeared before her.

It was none other than her aide, Yudora.

The unfamiliar part was the expression on her face.

She was clearly angry.

The moment Vivian realized who had entered, her normally stern expression instantly melted into a smile.

"Come on, darling. Don't be angry."

As the Fleet Commander's aide, Yudora didn't even glance at her superior.

Instead, she stood with her back turned, staring at the scenery beyond the artificial window.

Seeing her reaction, Vivian showed no irritation whatsoever.

She hurried over and gently took hold of Yudora's arm.

"You know I've done my best not to see him all these years. But this time he came to the fleet personally. If I still refused to meet him, it would've looked strange."

The "him" Vivian referred to was none other than her former lover, Iijima Toshida.

Now, however, she stood beside Yudora looking more like a guilty wife trying to make amends.

"Hmph."

Yudora finally spoke.

It was only a single word, but Vivian immediately felt relieved.

Anything was better than complete silence.

"I'm doing all this for your sake too," Vivian whispered beside her ear. "As long as I stay in the upper ranks of the military, you'll have a chance to avenge your family."

"So you're saying you're doing this for me?"

"Of course." Vivian nodded repeatedly. "If it weren't for you, why would I keep pushing myself this hard? I've become a Fleet Commander already."

"That's thanks to me."

"Yes, yes, absolutely."

Vivian quickly agreed.

"Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today. But think about it. What does a woman like me need such a high rank for? If I wasn't trying to help you, the universe is huge. I could've disappeared somewhere long ago. Do you really think Iijima could've found me?"

"Don't mention that disgusting man's name."

Yudora scolded her.

Her attitude remained harsh, but her tone had softened considerably.

"Then could you give your little darling a kiss?"

Vivian spoke in her gentlest voice.

She closed her eyes and pursed her lips slightly.

"Hmph. Come see me after you've washed yourself properly."

Yudora deliberately avoided looking at her.

With that adorable and inviting expression on Vivian's face, almost anyone would have found it difficult to refuse.

"Fine. I'll go wash right now."

As she spoke, Vivian grabbed Yudora's hand and began pulling her toward the bathroom.

"What are you dragging me along for?"

Yudora intentionally slowed her pace.

"I want you to wash me yourself."

"Hmph. No chance."

"What if I miss a spot?" Vivian whined playfully. "I need you to do it personally and make sure I'm completely clean."

Although Yudora still wore an unwilling expression, her feet were already carrying her toward the bathroom.

A few minutes later, the large double bathtub was filled with warm water.

The two women relaxed together in the steaming bath.

...

Some time later, they lay exhausted on a spacious double bed.

The soft feather mattress was thoroughly disheveled, clear evidence that it had endured quite a bit of activity.

"Can you forgive me now, Laojun?"

Vivian's voice broke the silence.

In the Duir Republic, *Laojun* was an affectionate term used for one's husband, while *Laoshi* was the corresponding term for a wife.

"Mhm."

Yudora's reply still sounded slightly annoyed.

But Vivian knew her well enough to recognize that the anger had already faded.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

Vivian asked with a smile, resting against Yudora's chest.

"Of course."

Yudora's expression softened slightly.

"It was your first day as a captain. The first time you boarded your own starship."

"That's right."

"I'd been assigned to welcome you. But most of the crew wanted to play a prank on you. Female captains were rare, after all."

She chuckled softly.

"So they lined up on both sides of the corridor. The moment you walked in, they all turned toward you at once and shouted, 'Hello, beautiful!'"

"Yes."

Vivian laughed.

"I was completely stunned. I turned around and ran, then crashed right into you."

"And that panicked look of yours immediately caught my attention."

"You grabbed my hand and marched forward," Vivian added with a grin. "Then you looked at every soldier there and said, 'This is your captain. Address her properly. Anyone who made trouble, report for disciplinary punishment immediately.'"

"And then all the soldiers saluted me and shouted together, 'Greetings, Captain!'"

Vivian's smile grew warmer.

"Without you, I don't know how long it would've taken before they truly accepted me as their captain."