The Starfish Republic swiftly branded the Synth Free Star System Alliance as rebels. Its fleets immediately withdrew from the War in Heaven's front lines in North the Milky Way and headed back to crush the rebellion.
After Xi Yan gave them a furious dressing-down, the two Awakened Empires stopped indulging in infighting and sent their fleets to pursue the Starfish fleets rushing home.
By then, however, the Starfish fleets had already gained a considerable lead. With the Quantum Catapult far away and their Jump Drives still on cooldown, catching them would not be easy.
Regardless, the Awakened Empires' fleets could only follow behind. After receiving Xi Yan's orders, however, they could annex the Starfish Republic's territory along the way.
Meanwhile, the Starfish fleets rushed back home and immediately launched an attack on the newly independent Synth Free Star System Alliance.
As expected, the Synth Free Star System Alliance's fleets were as flimsy as paper. Against the Starfish's finest battleship fleets, their hastily assembled ships were torn apart by Tachyon Lances in an instant, routed in the very first exchange.
The vast Starfish fleets attacked the Stellar Bases controlled by the Synth Free Star System Alliance, easily seizing a large number of bases on its outer perimeter.
The Synths' foundations were too shallow. They could only launch a rebellion behind the lines while the Starfish fleets were away. Once the Starfish Main Fleet turned its attention back to them, every gain from their rebellion would be undone.
Then the Synths began using guerrilla tactics. They stopped fixating on holding Stellar Bases and allowed them to be recaptured, commanding their fleets from the ground instead. The Synth fleets began leaving their own territory to attack other Starfish territories.
These guerrilla fleets were just strong enough to destroy Stellar Bases and posed a