Before long, the Star-Eye left Base One, slipping into the endless expanse of space like a dim, lightless drop of water.
In the dark cockpit, Anse sat in an observation seat to one side. With the gemstone hull invisible around him, he felt as though he were floating in space, with an expansive view.
Two Six-Winged Spirit Dragons occupied the pilot and copilot seats, one handling the Magic Rudder and the other the Psionic Helm, taking turns at the controls.
If they grew tired, another dozen or so level-16 Sorcerers could take over.
Anse had it easy. He did not have to worry about anything; he only had to give orders.
Whenever he wanted to act alone, he could leave the Star-Eye to the deputy captain and go wherever he pleased.
"Patriarch, we've reached optimal cruising conditions. Our destination is the Inner Ring asteroid belt, within the Mind Flayer Empire's territory," the deputy captain reported without prompting.
His name was Gong Qin. Despite his Eastern features, he was a longtime resident of Baldur's Gate, with ancestors from the Shoulong Empire.
He had received an elite education and was the only level-17 Six-Winged Spirit Dragon aboard, so Anse had appointed him deputy captain.
"Flying there will take too long. I'll teleport us straight there."
Anse concentrated on casting, using Wish to replicate Dimension Door.
Light flickered in space. The Star-Eye vanished into thin air, then appeared in an unfamiliar starfield a moment later.
Starlight shone into the cockpit, brighter than ever before.
Not far away, unfamiliar celestial bodies orbited the stellar system, their lights forming vast, connected expanses. Now and then, starships could be seen traveling back and forth.
"This is the Inner Ring?"
Gong Qin froze for a moment, then hurried to slow the Star-Eye to avoid colliding with a