The silver-gray spindle-shaped starship streaked through the deep void of space, the Energy Shield across its hull rippling pale blue beneath the starlight.
On either side of the flagship known as Starship 'Stellar', a heavy battleship guarded it in a pincer formation.
Black cannon muzzles periodically spat blazing fire, blossoming into brief flashes of brilliance in the silent cosmos.
"Portside Shield energy down to 67%! Turret Three overloaded, requesting cooldown!"
"Damage report from the starboard battleship Battleship 'Bedrock'! The rear engine bay has been hit, speed reduced by 12%!"
Piercing alarms rose and fell throughout Starship 'Stellar's command deck, while glaring red warnings flashed continuously across the holographic screens.
Shi Yemin gripped the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Beside him, his wife, Madam Liu, was pale-faced, both hands clutching the hem of her clothes. Only the girl seated between them, Shi Qingqing, had bright eyes as she watched the fierce battle beyond the viewport.
"These bastards are really on our heels!" Shi Yemin slammed a fist against the armrest, leaving a shallow dent in the metal.
He turned to his wife and clasped her icy hand tightly in his palm.
"Don't be afraid, my lady. Starship 'Stellar's engines use the latest Warp Drive. Hold on for another half a star-hour, and we'll break out of this Chaos Zone."
Madam Liu looked up into her husband's bloodshot eyes and nodded gently.
"Master, I'm not afraid. It's just... I just don't understand. The supplies we're transporting this time were clearly top secret. How did they attract so many mercenaries?"
"Who else could it be?"
A vicious glint flashed through Shi Yemin's eyes as he said angrily, "It must be that despicable Shi Jieliang!
Ever since I took over the Lineage's trade routes, he has been throwing stumbling blocks in