On the TV screen, the scene had shifted from a starry sky engulfed in flames to the studio hall of Nefei StarNet TV. The slick-haired host and the sanctimonious political commentators began their performance:
"Wasn't this in the Westtail system? I remember there was a battle here a few years ago."
"Exactly, exactly. It was at the start of the year 830, and it really did ruin the New Year for people across the universe. But that time, the Blue Star Commonwealth won a complete victory. Our Earth allies crushed the main force of the Kaitai Kingdom in just sixteen hours. Sixteen hours! That's not even enough time to take the light rail from Gem Coast to Hai City."
"Oh? But this time, it's the Kaitai Kingdom's fleet again, along with reinforcements from the Enbu and Bakwei. They're on a much larger scale than last time. This will only inflame an already extremely tense international situation. Regardless of how the battle on the front lines unfolds, we remain committed to the perspective of the peace-loving people of the galaxy, and urge both sides to exercise restraint..."
"We've just received news from the front. The fighting is over. The combined fleet of the three nations has withdrawn from the Westtail system. The Commonwealth's fortresses in the system were undamaged, and the main fleet has returned to Gibraltar to defend it. Uh, this does seem to show a fair amount of restraint."
"In any case, so far we haven't received any reports of direct clashes between the Galactic Empire and the Commonwealth, so the situation remains under control."
"Ah, ah, ah! We have breaking news! This is the latest update! A main force of the Galactic Empire has appeared in the Earl I Star Gorge direction. It's the battlecruisers Countess Gully and