In space, the distance between the two sides in a naval battle was immense. Even photons needed several seconds to cross it.
The human and Asgardian refugee fleet was now positioned near the entrance to the Bifrost by the Asgardian asteroid belt. Since they had maintained radio silence throughout, the Dark Order had not detected them immediately. Most of the Dark Order fleet had joined the planetary assault formation, and the staff department doubted how many of their ships still had their shields active.
According to staff predictions, once attacked, the Dark Order fleet would immediately activate its sensors and trace the high-temperature plasma trails left by the engines. It would not take long to locate the asteroid belt. Therefore, the window for recording the damage assessment and activating the Bifrost for evacuation was extremely brief. Based on available intelligence, the staff department made the most optimistic estimate: from the Dark Order detecting the target to the Bifrost opening, the evacuation might take less than ten minutes.
The holographic projection faithfully reflected Heimdall's agitation. He stepped out of the projection's range, then back in again, tapping his fingers restlessly. He wanted to urge the Emperor on, yet knew it would be meaningless. He was not the one with the authority to decide.
The Emperor sat upon the captain's throne without saying a word.
Only those with second sight could have discovered that the Emperor's mind was exceptionally active at that moment.
The first to notice were the Kamar-Taj Arcanists responsible for communications between the fleet and Earth. They detected a probing spell extending outward. Once they realized it belonged to the Emperor, they immediately chose to avoid "looking directly" at that magic—aside from fools who wanted their brains burned to ash, no one would probe His consciousness. Every movement within