After Eirenne settled into Helion Bastion Twelve, the rhythm of work changed quickly.
It was not that the bastion suddenly became perfect, or that Haven stopped having problems, but the number of things that needed to pass through Aurelian's hands dropped in a way he could actually feel.
Reports were cleaner. Production delays were sorted before they became arguments. Repeated questions stopped repeating.
Even Astercourt, who rarely praised anyone without reason, admitted that having Eirenne in the system made the whole rear line easier to hold.
That was enough.
The Mournveil route was still being prepared, the Kharov strike was still the next major action, and Haven still needed every bit of stability it could get, but March had finally gained enough support that Aurelian could afford to move on one waiting matter without tearing the rest of the structure open.
The Thornwake cruisers.
Meridian had not been idle during the time he was away.
