Yellow Cult, Lectitio Divinitatus?

"The small fleet in orbit around Aventinium hasn't moved. They haven't reacted to our presence, nor have they taken any action to deal with the fighting on the ground," Per Koschelny asked in a low voice, examining the video screen.

What happened on the ground?

"The analysis by the Master of the Hungry Matrix suggests that a civil war has broken out in Aventinium," said the Vox Master.

"As you can see, the orbital fleet still exists, Auger Matrix scans show that the orbital defense facilities are still operational."

"The current situation could be due to internal strife in Aventinium, causing the orbital fleet to wander aimlessly, unsure of which side to follow."

"Send a full-band broadcast demanding that the orbital fleet surrender and immediately cease the civil war," Per ordered.

The fleet of the 11th Chapter deployed and steadily approached Aventinium.

Forty-one warships, nearly three times the size of Aventinium's fleet, put pressure on the defending fleet.

The fleet commander stared intently at the holographic screen, the audio playing on a loop echoing in his ears.

"We are the Shadow of Order, the Great Primarch, the offspring of the King of Vostonia, and we demand your immediate surrender."

"The 'Shadow of Order' is..."

The fleet commander reviewed the video screen; the enemy fleet not only outnumbered his own, but their warships were also far larger.

His flagship was surrounded by at least twenty-five warships of the same or larger size in the enemy fleet.

"To conduct tactical maneuvers around the orbital defense facility."

What worried him more than the enemy's powerful fleet were the conflicting orders from the council and the Yellow Cult.

The Yellow Cult, which rose to prominence 1,500 years ago, played a decisive role in the rise of Aventinium through its advocacy of eugenics and intellectual development.

They cultivated a large number of elites, and even within the Council of Nobles, many families were affiliated with the Yellow Cult.

The Yellow Cult has developed for over a thousand years and has permeated every aspect of Aventinium.

Not long ago, the Yellow Cult launched a coup, plunging the entire Aventinium into chaos.

Although the House Osopol, to which the fleet commander belonged, was not affiliated with the Yellow Cult, it endorsed its ideology and did not take sides in the conflict.

Osopol put on his helmet, switched to the family's private channel, and sent a message to the family.

"A force calling itself the 'Shadow of Order' 11th Chapter has suddenly appeared within the galaxy; they possess a powerful fleet."

"If we want to resist, relying solely on my fleet is absolutely impossible; we need the support of the entire Aventinium."

"Please make a decision immediately, clan leader."

Osopol will receive an audio message, which will be attached to the end of the communication and sent to the family patriarch.

Osopol stared nervously at the video screen, awaiting the chieftain's command. He knew the "Shadow of Order" fleet wouldn't give him much time.

The clock ticked away, and after two full rotations, an old, weary voice echoed from inside Osopol's helmet.

"Delay them..."

"Currently, the nobles and the Yellow Robe School are fighting in all thirty-six Hive City, and neither side has gained the upper hand."

"You will not receive any support... Be prepared, the fighting may soon spill over to the ground-based air defense arrays."

Osopol remained silent for a few seconds. He wanted to roar, but he was powerless to defend Aventinium's airspace. He knew that roaring would be useless, and the chieftain was powerless to change the situation.

Even if the House Osopol joins either side, they cannot overpower the other faction; any loss of composure will only attract the attention of other officers and cause panic.

Saul removed his helmet, took a deep breath to calm himself, and calmly gave orders to the communications supervisor.

"We need three days to consider sending a message to the other party."

Upon hearing the report from the Vox Master, Per, the Throne of the Son of Vostonia, twitched the corner of his mouth.

"They really do treat me like Marionette."

Tell them they only have thirty minutes.

"Also, tell them that we know Aventinium is embroiled in a civil war, and that their best option if they want to end the conflict as soon as possible is to surrender and cooperate with us."

Gibbs agreed when he heard Per give the order.

"The commander of the orbital fleet must not belong to any side in the internal conflict; otherwise, he wouldn't have remained inactive."

" In Aventinium right now, both sides in the civil war are focused on each other, and third parties are also affected, unable to make quick decisions. If we act now, we can win the victory in the fastest and least costly way."

"I think they will neither agree nor refuse, and will send one or more warships to test our attitude." Per considered the other side's conflicted mindset and devised a response strategy.

"Chief Gunnery Officer, prepare to attack."

"Guards, prepare to board."

"We must seize their warships with Thunder force, giving them no time to think, or even to resist."

Per immediately walked to the tactical table and stared at the holographic image.

Aventinium flagship, Osopol issued the following order:

"Send out two warships, activate their Aether Shield, and test the enemy's reaction."

The Yellow Robe School's advocacy of intellectual development and the supremacy of scholars, along with the use of Psionic Energy power, endowed Aventinium's Voidship with unique technology— the Aether Shield.

The two sides are more than 40,000 kilometers apart, and even if it were to break through the Aether Shield's defense, it would not be easy. He could use this time to complete the delaying task assigned to him by the clan leader.

If his forceful attitude forces the other party to back down, that would be an even greater surprise, and he would become a great hero of Aventinium.

On the Son of Vostonia, Per spotted two warships. Judging from the scanning signals of the Auspex, one corresponded to the Imperium frigate class, and the other to the destroyer class.

"Chief Gunnery Officer, fire!"

The Lance on the bow of the Relic-class warship pierced through the void and struck the escort ship.

A dazzling light bloomed in the void, Per saw a flickering feedback image on the video screen hanging above the tactical table.

He switched the communication headset channel and gave orders to the adjutant in charge of the Simulacrum Sanctum.

"Lance attack ineffective, analysis needed!"

Just two seconds later, the Shadow of Order Squad, led by "The Reader" and comprised of three specialized warship command teams and fifty Auxilia, completed their analysis of the battlefield data.

"My lord, the Aventinium fleet employs a special energy shield."

"Based on the readings, it appears to be using Aether technology."

"It is recommended to use the Aether Cannon to launch the attack, with a 94% probability of penetrating the enemy's shield."

The "Reader" completed the report concisely and systematically, interpreting, analyzing, and offering suggestions to support Per's decision-making.

"Chief Gunnery Officer, fire the Aether Cannon!"

The Son of Vostonia, with its Aether Cannon mounted on either side below, its muzzles gleaming with blinding light.

On the flagship of the Aventinium fleet, Osopol was astonished to see two beams of light with abnormal readings flash across the screen and strike the escort ship.

Then, the enemy ship emitted a blinding beam of light, with the same reading as the energy weapon that had previously failed to attack.

But this time, the beam pierced the escort ship he had dispatched.

He lost his frigate.

He lost his destroyer.

The enemy fleet suddenly accelerated, and countless cannons opened fire on his fleet.

"Report: Mid-deck A-13 has been attacked; the deck has breached, and enemy forces have breached the warship."

"Report: Upper deck A-5 has been breached."

After a moment of stunned silence, Osopol gave the order, but was unable to do so.

"Surrender."

He breathed a sigh of relief. The next moment, a dazzling light shone through him. He closed his eyes slightly, adjusting to the sudden, blinding light illuminating the bridge.

Per, dressed in Saturnine Terminator, walked up to him.

"You made a wise choice. Now tell me, what happened in Aventinium?"

One sidereal time later, Per Teleport back to the Son of Vostonia.

Before issuing the order for the orbital drop, he went to the altar and prayed to the Black Emperor.

"Nation of Disorder," Nimrod thought to himself after hearing Per's report.

The Yellow Cult: Psionic Energy, promotes eugenics and intelligence.

Lectitio Divinitatus?]