The starfield ahead wasn't empty anymore. It was clogged.
One moment, there was the clear black of the transit lane. The next, a wall of ships flickered into existence, their running lights painting the void in hostile reds and oranges. A full Omni-Stellar blockade fleet, flanked by the jagged, patchwork silhouettes of hired mercenary vessels. Their combined mass blocked the path forward, weapons ports already glowing with charge.
Lucian let out a long, tired sigh. It was the sound of a man who'd seen this coming.
"We should have taken the void jump," he said, his voice flat.
From the co-pilot's seat, Reia didn't look up from her screens. "The dimensional shift would have scrambled Lira and her uncle's neural chemistry. It was too risky with civilians on board."
Another sigh. This one was heavier. "Right." Lucian unclipped his harness. "Evelyn, plot a direct lightspeed jump to the Citadel's coordinates. The second I'm clear, you go. Don't wait for a signal."
