Chapter 107: Genesis Strain
Onboard the bait ship, the Kahirnate raiders finally breached the false core chamber. They found nothing but hollow compartments and a glowing sphere of concentrated energy—designed to mimic a valuable power source but rigged to overload. The raiders hesitated, confusion spreading through their ranks.
The Virean drones entered moments later, their cold precision clashing with the raiders' brute force. The interior of the bait ship became a battleground, plasma fire and metallic screeches filling the air.
"Chancellor," Kaiser's voice carried a note of tension, "both factions are fully committed. If we're going to detonate, it has to be now."
Cassian's eyes flicked to the tactical display. The bait ship was surrounded, swarmed by drones and raiding parties. The Virean and Kahirnate were locked in a violent scramble for control, their forces vulnerable and concentrated.
He toggled the fleet-wide comm. "Let them tear each other apart a little longer."
Cassian counted the seconds as the melee escalated. The Virean drones were disabling Kahirnate crawlers, while the raiders hacked apart the drones with brutal efficiency. Each side believed they were close to claiming the prize.
"Do it." Cassian said, his voice steady.
The bait ship's core reached critical mass instantly. The explosion tore through the battlefield, a brilliant sphere of light consuming everything within its radius. Virean drones disintegrated in mid-flight, their metal frames vaporized. The Kahirnate crawlers, still clinging to the hull, detonated in fiery bursts.
The shockwave rippled outward, scattering debris and disabling nearby ships. Cassian's fleet, positioned just outside the blast radius, remained untouched.