Elisabeth had to admit she is not fit for the overall Commander of the team. But the Prince who certainly was told them openly he will not do this for political reasons since few Terran nobless already doesn't like how he is always "the best".

He won the argument with the professor about it as well. "In real combat situations, only the best should lead, but how others can learn if those supposed the Best always decide even at training?"

He was right but it was frustrating. Elisabeth for the last three years tried to catch up with the brilliance of Johan who was ordering almost like he could see the future. Catching up with Thuel was impossible since he almost for sure could see the future with his space magic. She was at loss for how to proceed now. They were dropped and received more or less coordination about where they should go so she moved her Fleet at a slow march and began scanning for precise coordinates.

What next? She planned to jump a few light hours away from the system and gradually check it.

Daring or safe attempt? She gave up. She will proceed with her instincts even if she got scolded or fail this test.

"Freya! Start calculating the jump for Fleet. We are approaching the system under an ecliptic 5 light hours from the border. Full stealth!"

15 light second away from her Thuel who couldn't see the future as everyone thought he could, was pleased with the decision Elisabeth made. He felt terrible that he was thinking more like another teacher and not a fellow student but he can't help it.

All Alinti students were phenomenal. The grueling studies of Admiral MacArthur and hundreds of hours of simulation apparently were not exactly a typical Academy teaching program. Ra'volta's crew started preparing for the jump under his watchful eye.

He returned to his thought: That training, however, paid off for them- every Fa'enni was commanding Valiant class Dreadnought, Johan got under command of Retribution class and he stayed on Ra'volta bridge. All of them had at least two years of real combat experience before they were assigned here so now that made it five.

Very, very intense three years here.

"...5...4...3...2...1...Jumping!" Ra'volta along with the entire Task Force entered hyperspace. He checked the data.

The jump will take them to the fringes of the unmapped sector and they have about one hour until translation into real space. Fleet Carrier SIGINT gave them a standard intelligence packet.

According to the spectral analysis, this system potentially can have one or maybe two planets in the comfort zone. Its star was G2 so about the same as Sol. Maybe less hostile than the Sol and more like the Alinti. Whatever.

Standard set up two maybe three rock planets and one gas giant. No signals indicate intelligent life.

"Comandor Flint. I want one wing of Virtus deployed right after we translate to the system. Send also four Vrita on auto to the points at least 5 light hours away. All Pilots on standby!"

"Yes, sir!" Commandor Flint just three years ago was a cadet at the Terran Navy Academy and was born in a colony on the Moon. He didn't know his parents as they died in the shuttle accident when he was three years old. His Grandparents took care of him but he very quickly ended up in military school. He scored at the top of his class but in the end, was not classified as an exceptional student which a bit upset him.

But he graduated and this was his first assignment given to him personally by his idol- Admiral Denis Makosso himself. This tradition of the Grand Admiral granting the first assignment was sometimes treated almost like a consolation prize, but not by Christopher. What's more, the Admiral told him he believe in his potential and will assign him somewhere special.

But when Admiral told him he will be assigned as the first officer to Fa'enni Prince in front of the entire academy and at first, he was disappointed. What's worst all his former friends had good laughs on him. He will be babysitting Fa'enni Prince. If that be a Princess maybe she would be at least hot. But Prince? It lasted for one whole month. He was the target of all and any stupid jokes. But he trusted Admiral against all odds and endured.

Then Prince arrived like the fucking boss. He destroyed Terra's defenses and won an impossible game. Their simulated attack was the masterwork but that was just the beginning.

Prince personal dreadnought Ra'volta was the masterpiece of art and the deadliest in its class. Some people who joked at him were silenced. When Prince was at the party on Dauntless, Admiral ordered him to prepare a little party for the Prince's crew at the Academy.

And guess what?

He was surrounded by the entire battalion of hot girls now. He saw jealousy and envy in the eyes of all who joked and belittled him, all his former friends when they saw his new crew.

And the ordinary 'it was just a prank bro' won't help them now after what they did.

And no, he's not going to get the number of that stunning chick, no matter which one.

And there he is now. Serving under Prince Thuel was interesting, he acted like he could see the future. Maybe he could since he was half Fa'enni but Christopher Flint learned to trust Captain no matter what. He smiled to himself checking systems. All green as it should be.

"Dropping from Hyperspace in 10..." Still nothing on low-resolution sensors.

"3...2...1... Drop." informed Ra'volta and immediately informed: "Multiple contacts in the system. We are at the advantage of 42 to 25 ships. No data about targets. All are classified as Neutral. Updating tac-net now. Drones on their way sir."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Thuel grinned. He heard Elisabeth in coms.

"I knew it. That always happens when I'm commanding. Dashu'uns in the rear guard covered by two heavy cruisers escorts in middle be ready for engaging hostiles. Dreadnoughts to vanguard with the rest of the heavy cruisers. Modified V formation."

All ships confirmed her orders. Thuel already was prepared for a fight and in the next seven minutes he will have info about the situation. But that wasn't the Shadows. Their characteristics were too primitive. He saw how Dashu'uns deployed all their drones. Over 800 combat drones saturated close proximity practically making attacking the Elisabeth task force an impossible feat.

But Thuel was busy with checking the data from the sensors of one of his Vritas.

"Command- this is Thuel. The data indicate these ships are in poor condition and in defensive positions. They look like they are trying to defend the fourth planet."

"Are you sure? No, your right. Ok task force. Let's take a closer look. All ships 10% speed ahead. We will close to them in 36 hours. The task force in Amber alert. I want all the data you gather asap in tac-net. Johan ask Alinti Sector Command for instructions and inform the supervisors. Lurna and Marcus try to get some data on them."

After two hours they got info from Alinti that this system should be empty and it's technicly a Commonwealth property with a note from King Konrad that "Thuel you are Prince so you can deal with it as you see fit."

So it's all up to him since he is on spot. But actually, that was a good thing. He is free to do whatever he sees fit. The supervisor informed them they received the news but it still can be counted as part of their exercises. Elisabeth for the past five hours two times tried to dump command on him and at 3rd time she succeeded because he didn't pay attention to what he is signing.

Sneaky woman.

In the meantime, he sent all his remaining drones and ordered building at least 10 more Virtus and 2 Vritas. In the next 2 hours, they will be ready. One of his Vritas should be at any moment now approaching an unknown fleet.

"Sir, Vrita was able to reach the unknown fleet. Their security systems are poor. We gained access to their entire data core. I'm in the middle of translation."

"What...? Wait, no matter. Just transmit all the data to Lurna and Marcus. Notice me when you find anything important."

"Affirmative sir." Christopher was looking at the first images in high resolution of this new enemy. All visual data made no sense. He took his pad and walked toward the Captain to show him the observation he made. "Sir if I may" he started.

"I'm listening Comandor Flint."

"These ships have the same construction and materials as the Shadows." Thuel focused his gaze on the photos he was showing.

"Ra'volta is that true?"

"They have some similarities but also many differences. The material used by these ships is very rudimentary. With the data I have I'm sure three Virtu would shred them all like paper. While the Shadows ships would offer at least a bit of a battle."

"I agree, sir. But look at this, this, and this. All three ships are looking exactly like the fronts of the ship captured three years ago. They are just bigger. My theory is that ships are made to look like Shadows. It's maybe not imitation but more like coping design."

Thuel closed his eyes and tilted his head. After a short while he nodded. "I understood your point of view. This may be not Shadows but some race that can have knowledge about Shadows. Forward your observation to Lurna. Nicely done Christopher!"

"At once, Sir!" he moved back to his station and sat back on his armchair. In the note, he send all the photo material with his thoughts.

"Ra'volta how translation is going on?"

"It will be ready in the next hour."

"This fast?" Thuel was surprised.

"Affirmative. Their language has a similar structure to some ancient Terran languages and spelling is very close to Narrik."

"So not furry potatoes? That's good. I guess."

He checked his fleet position. Nothing more to do for the next two hours.

"Yellow alert for the fleet. Allow for maximum rest before we came near unknown Forces. First! You are taking command for the next hour. I'm gonna catch a short nap before Ra'volta finishes the translation. Wake me up if anything interesting shows up."

"Yes sir!"

One hour later a bit fresher Thuel entered the bridge. Huge projectors were providing life feed from optic sensors around the ship so Ra'volta's bridge looked like it was separated from the void by only a few pieces of glass, but it was actually hidden deep in the heart of the battleship. That gave complex overlook and situational awareness not many ships in the fleet possessed- yet, soon they will share this technology previously available only for planetoids to all the Navy.

The workstations were situated in the most efficient places so every bridge officer have the freedom of not only working with their team but also being able to quickly communicate with anyone on the bridge with ease. He sat at his Captain station and checked reports.

"Sir. We have a translation ready."

"Connect all skippers." After all Captains joined on audio Thuel asked Ra'volta for the briefing. He was surprised when he saw a live video most probably hijacked from one of the alien ships. He really didn't like what he saw. That complicated things.

"Sir. As you can see in the images these are not Shadows. Creatures resemble humanoid felinids..." One of the Captains of Dashu'uns, a Human named Herman Volke started laughing and told out loud.

"I'll be damned! The space Catgirls!" Ra'volta paused, rethink, and silently agreed.

"Indeed. Catgirls and Catboys. However as you can see there, most of them are in bad condition or even wounded. From the captured data I concluded they are evacuating the entire planet."

"Why?"

"No data on their cores. Also, their ships are almost analog. Very rudimentary support systems, not even a basic AI present. And sir. Their ships are badly beaten."

"Do we know who hurt the Cats?" Asked Elisabeth.

"Traces suggest the Shadows. But that makes no sense. If Shadows were able to destroy Fox drones they would easily scrap this Fleet of rag-tag haulers and maybe two or three military garde junks." Thuel was thinking fast and he decided. He only hoped he made a good decision.

"Fleet on red alert. All hands on battle stations! We are jumping there. Fleet blockade formation Tango."

"Sir? What do you...?" Started surprised Elisabeth. There was no need for that high alert. These ships were unable to even scratch the paint on their hulls.

"I believe that Cats are in possession of the information we desire. By my authority as Fa'enni Prince, I initiate the first contact procedure on friendly terms."

Lurna hologram pointed on the screen. Groups of Cats were kneeling in circles of four or six and touching each other with the top of their heads. She suddenly felt a strange unease. "What are they doing?"

In silence, the voice of Freya was heard: "I believe they are praying."

The cold arrow pierced the hearts of all Fa'enni on board who saw this transmission. They all were looking at the Prince who very silently asked.

"Ra'volta?"

"Coordinates sent to all ships. My Lord, I agree with Captain Freya. These creatures are praying. Task Force already slowed down to 5% Light Speed. Initiate hyperdrives in 10...9..."

Thuel eyes shone with the cold blue light of mana condensation. Everyone looking at him was in awe, their Prince was angry. Lights and glitter that danced normally around Fa'enni were gone and now swirls of the dark fog and translucent, like made from the darkness itself black raven feathers were dancing in swirls around him. His normally long gold hair darkened and looked almost obsidian black with the deep blue cold hue.

Their Prince was pissed and is heading for the battle. He lay his hand on the 3d tac-table and clenched his right hand into a fist.

Ra'volta was counting down. "3...2...1"

Thuel with a voice as cold as the void finished: "JUMP!"