The Supersonic Way carried them from Batuzane to Carcas in a matter of minutes, and from the station at Feleqo, Roland drove them on toward the capital, until the towering spires of Fansilia rose above the city like silver spears piercing the sky. The car slipped smoothly along the wide avenues, weaving between towering glass structures and the great bridges that joined the upper districts, through a city alive with movement — hover traffic streaming between buildings, banners bearing the imperial crest stirring on every major structure, the faint hum of millions of citizens in the air. But as they drew closer to the center, the atmosphere slowly changed. The buildings grew larger, older, more monumental, until the Royal Palace rose ahead of them out of its mirrored basin, its blade-like spires curving upward toward the sky. Roland slowed as they passed through the last security gate, where imperial guards in ceremonial armor lined the palace roads — a reminder that this was no ordinary gathering.
"This is bigger than usual," he muttered.
Youri and Leonora exchanged a glance and said nothing. They already knew. Today was the Grand Consul Assembly, and every noble house with any political influence in the Empire had been summoned — because of the incident above Terria. Roland parked near the main entrance as the gates slowly opened. "Good luck in there."
Youri gave him a faint nod. "Thanks." Leonora stayed silent. Together they got out and walked toward the towering doors.
The Consul chamber was already filling with voices when they came in — more than a hundred nobles, some whispering among themselves and others reading data pads loaded with the official reports. The atmosphere was tense. Youri and Leonora walked to their seats near the center of the chamber. As they sat down, Leonora could feel dozens of eyes turn toward them. The whispers followed. They're the ones who fought the rogue unit. Apparently the Duke nearly died. Is it true the enemy breached the Catacomb?
The room slowly grew quieter as the last of the nobles arrived. Then the chamber doors opened again, and every conversation stopped. A line of imperial guards came in first, their armor gleaming under the lights as they marched in perfect formation, and behind them walked Prime Minister Alan in formal black robes embroidered with silver thread. And even Alan stepped aside for the last figure to enter: the Emperor of the Terrian Empire, Johan Adrin.
The whole chamber rose. Johan walked slowly down the central aisle with his long white cloak flowing behind him like a banner and a simple silver crown resting on his dark hair, unmistakably regal — though it was not the crown that commanded the silence, but the man. Even the most powerful nobles lowered their eyes as he passed. When he reached the throne, he turned to face the assembly, and only then did they sit again.
Alan stepped forward. "The Grand Consul Assembly is now in session. We gather today to address the Terria Incident." He gestured at a great holographic display in the center of the floor, and images rose above it — battle footage, Orbiton telemetry, wrecked Terrian ships drifting through space. Then came the image of the Hound, and a murmur ran through the chamber. "The rogue unit designated Hound engaged our forces in orbit above Terria. The engagement escalated rapidly when an unidentified warship entered the battlefield." The display shifted to the colossal vessel. "We still do not know where this ship came from. But we do know that its forces succeeded in infiltrating the Catacomb defense network."
The room grew colder. The Catacomb was the backbone of Terria's planetary defenses, and if someone had accessed it, the Empire had been exposed.
Alan turned slightly toward them. "Duke Youri Kaelthorn. Lady Leonora Kaelthorn. You were present during the incident. Tell us what happened."
Youri rose slowly, and Leonora with him. He spoke first, calmly and steadily. "The Hound attacked without warning. It demonstrated capabilities beyond any known Orbiton design — plasma manipulation, advanced energy weapons, and a combat synchronization unlike anything we've encountered."
Leonora went on. "The unidentified warship appeared during the battle and deployed a covert infiltration craft to one of the Catacomb nodes."
"Were you able to stop them?" a noble asked sharply. Leonora's silence answered him.
Another voice cut in. "Why were Terrian defenses unable to intercept the intruders?" It belonged to Trevor Mosioh, who leaned forward with his wrist long since healed and his grudge plainly not. "You were in command of the defense, Duke Kaelthorn. And yet the enemy penetrated our most secure infrastructure."
The accusation hung in the air, and Youri met his eyes calmly. "The enemy operation was coordinated with extreme precision. They struck the defense fleet and the Catacomb at the same time."
Trevor's expression didn't soften. "And yet they succeeded."
Leonora's eyes narrowed. "They succeeded because they were prepared."
Trevor scoffed lightly. "Or perhaps because Terria's defenders were not."
Several nobles shifted uncomfortably. The debate went on for nearly an hour, questions, accusations and speculation about the mysterious warship, and above all the terrifying possibility that someone inside the Empire had helped them. At last every eye turned to the throne, where the Emperor had sat silent through the entire discussion, and Alan stepped back. "Your Majesty. The Consul awaits your decision."
Johan Adrin rose slowly. The chamber went silent, and he looked out across the assembled nobles before he spoke. "This incident was unprecedented. No single commander could have anticipated such an attack." His gaze moved briefly to Youri and Leonora. "The Duke and Lady Kaelthorn faced an enemy unlike any we have encountered. Therefore, I will not hold them solely responsible." A ripple of quiet reactions spread through the chamber. "This failure," he went on, and his voice hardened slightly, "was not the failure of two individuals. It was the failure of the entire Empire."
No one spoke. And then, suddenly, Leonora stood, and every eye in the chamber went to her. "Your Majesty."
The Emperor looked at her. "Yes, Lady Kaelthorn?"
She took a slow breath. "I would like to request that both the Duke and I be relieved of our royal duties."
The chamber erupted into whispers, and even Youri looked surprised.
The Emperor studied her carefully. "May I ask why?"
She hesitated, and her eyes met Youri's for an instant. "It is a personal matter," she said quietly but firmly. "But also, after our failure, I can no longer face my soldiers. I hope you will understand. Until I am ready, I would ask to be released from all official obligations."
The Emperor said nothing for several long seconds while the entire chamber waited. Finally, he nodded. "Very well." Gasps spread among the nobles. "Your request is granted."
Leonora bowed her head. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Johan Adrin sat back down on the throne. "The matter of Terria is not finished. We will find those responsible." His eyes swept the chamber. "And when we do…"
The silence that followed felt heavier than any verdict. The Empire had been shaken, and the consequences of that attack were only beginning to unfold.