Of course, as the sworn enemy of a certain demonic dragon whose name couldn't even be mentioned, Lieutenant General Jaeger Sobek was hardly the sort to fear death. He wasn't about to abandon the personnel in those space factories.
In fact, while the people from Earth on Fortress No. 1 were still feasting on their dragon-meat banquet, the Imperial Army had already begun evacuating its own stationed personnel.
From that perspective, it seemed they really had been plotting their escape for quite some time.
Since the other side was being so sensible, the Earth fleet could hardly wipe them out to the last man.
The two sides exchanged pleasantries with their guns at the very limits of their range, trading shells and beams as they gradually opened the distance between them. Earth's fighters and the Empire's did enter close combat range, but after only a few exchanges, they turned back early.
In short, the Earth soldiers of Eleanor's fleet watched the Empire's last defenders at Glory's Gate retreat step by step until they disappeared into the reach of the star system's gravity well.
And so, before January 2 arrived, not a single Imperial remained on the galaxy's side of the star system at Glory's Gate—apart from the prisoners.
But of course, this was far from over.
Once they had confirmed that the Imperial fleet had completely withdrawn, the Earth fleet regrouped and sailed in force toward the star gate. This time, the Silent was taking point herself.
"On the Glory's Gate β side, there's only a group of turrets, and we destroyed most of them on our way in. Now all that's left is a bunch of Imperial stragglers in a panic. Their reinforcements will probably come from the New World Highway," Eleanor told Captain Nemo.
"Considering how long it