Indeed, Green Ocean was a habitable planet with a permanent population of over three billion. Its scenery was beautiful and its resources abundant. It was not only the capital of the Glory's Gate star sector, but also the most important transit point for several neighboring imperial sectors, the nations of the Perseus Treaty Organization, and the New Continent beyond the L3 Stargate. One could imagine just how prosperous it was.
If Green Ocean fell, even if it were only lost for a week, the Galactic Empire's reputation would be left hanging by a thread. And afterward, even if the imperial fleets swarmed in and tore every one of those marauders who'd dared to dance in the tiger's jaws to pieces, they still wouldn't be able to make up for the losses.
So the main imperial forces, who had already fought several battles against a marauder fleet along the sector's frontier with the Far Border, finally understood that the enemy fleet they'd thought was a vanguard was actually a detachment meant to draw their attention.
Without King Slyne's unified command, the various commanders from the Imperial Guard, the Defense Force, and the sector's garrison fleet spent a short while debating the situation. By the time they'd reached a consensus and received the Grand Marshal's orders, twelve hours had passed.
Those twelve hours might prove decisive for the battle.
Once the main fleet set off for Green Ocean, the marauder detachment that had served as bait abandoned its previous hit-and-run tactics and launched a fierce attack.
But anyone with a clear head knew the enemy wasn't attacking to win. They were simply trying to delay the imperial forces from reaching Green Ocean.
At the same time, King Slyne's sudden assassination on Green Ocean had sparked a riot. Strange plagues and wild animal