The Black Needle fleet gathered in the Chadberry system was undoubtedly their last main force. It included a Titan warship and several Battleship-class pirate galleons, all anchored in the system as they waited for Xi Yan's reply.
The Gateway network there was already online. If they wished, the Black Needle Pirates could use it to reach any system with a Gateway.
Xi Yan needed to impose an emergency lockdown on the Chadberry system's Gateway, but the Black Needle Pirates would certainly notice and launch a counterattack.
They were still waiting for Xi Yan's response. If they received the Star Kingdom Atlas, they promised to withdraw from the Empire's territory once everything was over.
Of course, Xi Yan would not hand over the Star Kingdom Atlas. The Black Needle Pirates were pirates, after all. As long as they existed, the Empire's trade routes would never know peace.
An empire had to take the long view.
Even if he handed over the Star Kingdom Atlas, Black Needle would remain. The pirates would remain.
Black Needle had to be destroyed.
But they had a Titan warship. Granted, no one knew how ancient that Titan was, but a Titan was still a Titan. It was not something ordinary little ships could hope to challenge.
The pirates had highly advanced sensors, so a surprise attack with stealth Torpedoes would not work.
They also had Battleships.
The Empire's only Titan Dreadnought was in the distant southern star region. Getting it here to provide support within four months was practically impossible.
Then was there a fleet close enough and strong enough to help?
The answer was yes.
Xi Yan made a faster-than-light call to Empire Will, far away in the L-Cluster.
"Big Gray! Lend me a fleet!"
"Who are we fighting?"
"[One page of information] Some very