Chapter 111: A vote
Cassian stood at the head of the briefing room, his gaze steady as the holographic display projected the recent battle's events. It had been 12 hours since the fleet's hard-won victory, and the tension in the room was palpable. Around the table, his key officers sat, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and determination. Kaiser, Eric, and a few other senior commanders watched intently, the weight of the battle still evident in their stances.
"Let's get started," Cassian said, his tone authoritative yet measured. "Report on the fleet's current status."
Kaiser keyed in a command, bringing up a detailed readout on the holographic display. "The Panther and the Ajax took significant hits during the flanking maneuver. Damage control teams are deployed. Casualties are low, but our ammunition and energy reserves are critically depleted. We'll need resupply within the next 48 hours to sustain combat readiness."
Cassian folded his arms, his gaze sharp as he absorbed the information. "What's the status of our reinforcements?"
Eric leaned forward, his tone clipped but steady. "Minimal damage reported across the reinforcement fleet. Their response time was excellent, but their resupply situation is as critical as ours. They're equipped for rapid skirmishes, not prolonged engagement."
Cassian's expression tightened. "Understood. The Erythians will not retreat quietly after this. They'll be regrouping and likely mobilizing reinforcements of their own. We need to preempt their next move. Kaiser, identify the closest resupply points within our operational range."
Kaiser nodded briskly, his hands already moving over the console. "Yes, sir. I'll conduct a threat analysis and provide the safest candidates for resupply within the hour."
"Eric, I need the fleet ready for a stealth operation," Cassian continued. "Coordinate with engineering to enhance emission dampening on all ships. Lock down all quantum communication channels immediately—restrict any signals that could betray our location. We'll deploy decoy signals to divert potential Erythian pursuit. No unnecessary transmissions until we're clear of this sector."
Eric replied. "Understood, Chancellor. Stealth protocols will be implemented fleet-wide."