Sobek left his fleet behind and set out from the New Solomon system aboard the Moon Rabbit, traveling "lightly equipped." It was already July 8.
Perhaps he wanted to show the bigwigs of the Privy Council what he could do. Under the command of Colonel Pegase, the Moon Rabbit, the latest and most advanced battlecruiser in the Galactic Empire, practically raced along at the pace of a galactic speed champion. She streaked through space like a meteor, her silver saddle gleaming bright—what a fine little white rabbit.
Even when they stopped twice along the way for supplies and maintenance, everyone kept each stop to under thirty-six hours. That alone qualified every damage-control specialist and shipwright aboard the Moon Rabbit to land a high-paying job on a championship-level racing crew.
The Moon Rabbit reached System No. 17 in the Helots sector on September 5, at least ten days ahead of the deadline set by a certain demanding Imperial Elector.
"You're quite capable. You live up to everyone's expectations. Lieutenant General Sobek, I hope you won't let them down." Waiting for him there was a Nielno general, a vigorous and refined man, stern and scholarly in bearing.
He was also the Grand Marshal's Master of the Stables, the equivalent of the Imperial Army's Minister of Armaments.
At the spaceport in System No. 17, he handed command of three Barbarossa-class dreadnoughts to Sobek. His next assignment, he explained, was to oversee their final patrols, fleet formation, and weapons training.
"After that, these warships will enter service. Some young generals who have distinguished themselves in recent battles ought to receive new flagships. Lieutenant General, you understand what I mean, don't you?"
Even someone as thick-skinned as Sobek could understand that subtext. So even he, easygoing as he was, couldn't help letting his mind wander