Mobilization

In the years of standoff, both sides had long since evacuated all noncombatants from the star systems around the border. Therefore, detonating a star would not cause any civilian casualties.

However, the Stellar Bomb was simply too powerful. Several surrounding star systems would face the blast wave at its strongest, and within those systems, everything except the stars themselves would be blown away.

Without those habitable planets, mineral worlds, asteroids, and meteoroids, a star system's value would plummet—at least, that was the case for the Inner Circle Alliance.

With such enormous interests at stake, no one was willing to suffer such a loss.

Still, there was always a solution. The Stellar Bomb was the most feasible method, and the one with the highest chance of success, for opening a breach in the Epoch Clan's defenses.

After a round of bargaining, the Inner Circle Alliance finally selected a star system to destroy. Although this system was still under Epoch Clan control, a Coalition Army force was already not far away. Capturing it should not be difficult.

Once this star system was detonated, the territories of two Inner-Ring Civilizations would be affected. The other Inner-Ring Civilizations that were unaffected would pay compensation, which was also why this plan had passed so smoothly.

Rowan had no interest whatsoever in the Inner Circle Alliance's arguments or the deals they struck afterward. These players were destined never to reach the later stages of the game; they were not worth much of his attention.

There was still some time before the plan was carried out, but the necessary preparations had to begin early. Vast numbers of troops, including Zerg, gathered ten light-years from the designated blast point. Once the explosion occurred, they would follow a prearranged route and strike into Epoch Clan territory from the flank.