"Why couldn't we go straight above Colchis? Why did we have to arrive at the edge of the Star System, so far away from it?"
Corax's voice carried barely restrained resentment and doubt.
He stood on the bridge of the Fireforged, looking through the viewing window at the green planet slowly drawing closer.
Nocturne had passed through the rift, but instead of appearing directly above Colchis, it had emerged at the edge of the Star System.
Even at their highest speed, reaching Colchis from here would take at least several hours.
Those hours would give the Word Bearers enough time to react, reorganize their defenses, and rob their surprise attack of its advantage.
Corax turned to Vulkan, his gaze scrutinizing and accusatory.
He did not understand why Vulkan had done this. They could have transported Nocturne directly into orbit around Colchis through the rift. They could have caught the enemy off guard. Why insist on choosing a position so far from Colchis?
Vulkan still wore that same smile, filled with an inscrutable composure, as though everything was under his control.
He spoke slowly, his voice calm and gentle. "We should be satisfied with getting this far."
"Contentment brings happiness, Corax," Vulkan continued, looking out at the stars, at Nocturne as it slowly moved onward.
"We should be satisfied that we made it here. It's better than fighting the enemy to the death on the outskirts."
"Do you think I didn't want to send Nocturne straight above Colchis? It isn't that simple. Anna has set up psychic barriers around Colchis. They're linked to the Star Fortress's void shields, forming a three-dimensional defensive network."
"If Nocturne appeared directly above Colchis, those barriers would block it. We would end up surrounded by the enemy, unable to advance or retreat."
He paused, then added,