Somewhere in the Intermediate Sector 99—
Silence.
In this isolated region, deep within the vast, star-streaked void where concepts like ground and sky lose all meaning, and where sound itself seems foreign, the natural state of existence is stillness—a stillness so profound it feels sacred. Yet today, the silence was so dense and overwhelming that it almost echoed, as if even the void was holding its breath.
At this moment, tens of thousands of vessels were arranged in loose, grand formations around a single planet—ships of every size, every shape, every design imaginable, painted in hues ranging from royal metallic tones to weathered civilian colors.
No two ships looked alike. Some proudly displayed the banners and insignias of mighty powers, their hulls reinforced and bristling with weapons; others bore the muted markings of rented crafts used by those of modest means.
