Chapter Summaries

The XT-489 Extermination Unit withdrew from its battle with the Zirick Cooperative after Xi Yan's raiding fleet threatened its home system. Xi Yan then declared war on the M'tok Union, expanding the Interstellar Human Military Junta's campaign.

• The XT-489 Extermination Unit and the Zirick Cooperative fought a costly battle over a vital Zirick forge world.
• The Iron Purifier's central node learned that an enemy fleet was approaching its capital and ordered the frontline fleets to withdraw.
• Senka Vanye realized Xi Yan's raid had forced the XT-489 Extermination Unit to retreat and rejoiced that the Zirick fleet and forge world were saved.
• Xi Yan announced that the Interstellar Human Military Junta would declare war on the M'tok Union and send its Second Fleet across the border.

Xi Yan launched a surprise war against the M'tok Union while secretly preparing a second fleet near its border. As the M'tok leaders scrambled to defend themselves, Director Charius proposed using the Criminal Enterprise's mercenary fleets to fight the humans.

• After Xi Yan declared war, Ashes Agents killed the M'tok Ambassador, raided the embassy, captured its other occupants, and destroyed the building.
• Xi Yan assembled forty destroyers into a hidden Second Fleet and appointed Ningdi Lingling as its commander.
• The M'tok Chairman confronted the directors after learning the human fleet was heading for the Union's border, while most M'tok forces remained at the front.
• Perkin Asland could not name a practical source for a defensive fleet, and Director Carls Charius proposed gathering the Criminal Enterprise's mercenaries.

Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg discussed how to handle the Iron Purifier and divided the M'tok Union's territory on a star map. They left the M'tok Union's destruction as a settled expectation, while accepting that the Iron Purifier would require peace talks and a later war.

• Xi Yan's First Fleet forced the XT-489 Extermination Unit to recall its three main fleets to defend its capital.
• Xi Yan promised Krogg that the M'tok Union would be defeated and its territory divided among their allies.
• Xi Yan, Vanye, and Krogg concluded that they could not afford a prolonged war against the Iron Purifier and would need to weaken it through peace talks.
• Xi Yan, Vanye, and Krogg drew up a three-way division of the M'tok Union's territory, choosing systems and colonies according to their interests.

Xi Yan’s Second Fleet conquered M’tok Union systems, destroying their Stellar Bases and recruiting mercenary ships, while the Cybrex War Forge neared completion of its first Prototype Warform. Perkin Asland prepared the M’tok Union’s remaining mercenary forces to defend the home system, convinced he had understood the humans’ plan.

• Xi Yan’s Second Fleet captured three border systems, destroyed their Stellar Bases, and persuaded surrendered mercenaries to follow the fleet with promises of enlistment.
• Xi Yan’s forces continued through M’tok territory, destroying each Stellar Base while leaving the colonies untouched to prevent the enemy from producing new fleets.
• The Cybrex War Forge built a massive Prototype Warform, and Beta analyzed its structure and prepared human-operable programs for it.
• Perkin Asland condemned the mercenaries who had defected and gathered the larger fleets, which assembled more than eighty ships to defend the M’tok home system.
• Perkin Asland concluded that the humans were only trying to help the Nier Guardians and expected them to withdraw without attacking the colonies.

After Greger died in battle, Gorpious blamed Perkin Asland and the M'tok Union, then agreed to defect to the Interstellar Human Military Junta and sabotage the Union from within. Meanwhile, Xi Yan told Carls Charius that the humans would purge the Criminal Enterprise and return occupied systems, then ordered Beta to contact the Celestial Dragon.

• Gorpious mourned Greger, rejected Perkin Asland's condolences, and blamed the M'tok Union for sacrificing his brother and the Community Security Fleet.
• Krauk proposed that the Community Security Fleet defect to the Interstellar Human Military Junta and infiltrate the defenders to disrupt their deployment.
• Gorpious accepted Krauk's plan and ordered him to offer the Community Security Fleet's support in exchange for an important rear position in the Allied Fleet.
• Xi Yan told Carls Charius that the humans would destroy the Criminal Enterprise but preserve the M'tok Union and return its occupied systems.
• Xi Yan privately declared that the M'tok Union must be destroyed and ordered Beta to have the Ashes Agent contact the Celestial Dragon.

The Ashes Agent persuaded Hosgar of Endless Flames to stop protecting the M'tok Union and remain neutral in the coming war in exchange for humanity's respect and good food. Xi Yan learned the Second Fleet could attack the M'tok home system without worrying about the dragon and ordered food sent to him.

• Hosgar of Endless Flames complained about the M'tok's noisy communications and demanded food, but the M'tok sent him poor-quality provisions at the Ashes Agent's expense.
• Hosgar recognized the Ashes Agent and listened as the human explained that the Interstellar Human Military Junta had declared war on the M'tok Union and promised better food after victory.
• The Ashes Agent revealed his mission and asked Hosgar not to harm the human fleet, and Hosgar said he would protect only his nest rather than the M'tok home system.
• The Ashes Agent reported that Hosgar would stay out of the war, and Xi Yan ordered the transport fleet to bring food to him as the Second Fleet attacked.

The Interstellar Human Military Junta’s assault splintered the M'tok Union while the Nier Guardians held its fleet at the front. The Zirick Cooperative declared war as well, making the three nations’ alliance public and leaving the M'tok Union under attack from three sides.

• Commander Ningdi Lingling dispersed her fleet to attack M'tok systems and ordered the destroyers to assemble at the captured transportation hub.
• The Nier Guardians held their defensive lines against Perkin Asland’s M'tok fleet and welcomed humanity’s offensive.
• Senka Vanye announced that the Zirick Cooperative would declare war on the M'tok Union over its Criminal Enterprise operations and attempted invasion.
• The Zirick Cooperative dispatched a five-ship expeditionary fleet to attack the M'tok Union’s undefended border.
• The Interstellar Human Military Junta, the Zirick Cooperative, and the Nier Guardians publicly stood together against the M'tok Union.

Humanity’s First Fleet met the Iron Purifier’s reinforcements in their home system and launched a desperate close-range assault despite the enemy’s superior weapons. Ning Zhiyuan judged that his objective had been achieved and prepared to retreat as both fleets suffered heavy losses.

• Ning Zhiyuan ordered the First Fleet to charge the XT-489 Extermination Unit rather than fight a losing war of attrition.
• The opposing fleets exchanged laser fire as they closed the distance, draining shields and damaging ships.
• Ning Zhiyuan ordered every human ship to concentrate fire on the Iron Purifier’s destroyers, disabling several at close range.
• The First Fleet’s Torpedo Ships launched a swarm of Space Torpedoes, some of which broke through point defense and exploded among the enemy destroyers.
• Both fleets continued taking severe casualties, and Ning Zhiyuan assessed the damage and prepared to retreat.

After the First Fleet forced the Iron Purifier fleet to retreat, Xi Yan turned his attention to the M'tok Union. Facing human forces near their home system, M'tok Director Carls Charius assembled mercenary leaders and organized a fleet to attack, with Gorpious volunteering to lead the vanguard.

• Ning Zhiyuan and the Galactic Throne survived the battle, and both sides withdrew to repair after losing more than half their ships.
• The M'tok Intelligence Officer warned that human forces had captured the southern stellar bases and were regrouping near the M'tok home system.
• Director Carls Charius persuaded the assembled mercenary leaders to unite under his command and attack the humans before they could strike the colonies.
• When Charius asked for a vanguard, Gorpious volunteered, citing his fleet's earlier losses to the humans.
• The mercenary leaders offered Gorpious ships, and he accepted their support while promising to fight at the front.

Gorpious secured the Community Security Fleet’s vanguard position, warned the human fleet about the M'tok Union’s attack, and committed to fighting alongside them to avenge Greger. As battle approached, Xi Yan prepared to take over M'tok territory while Ningdi Lingling received full authority over frontline operations.

• Gorpious told Krauk Lee that he had obtained the vanguard position and ships from other fleet leaders, while Krauk reported that their captains were considering defection.
• Gorpious contacted Ningdi Lingling, revealed the M'tok Union’s plans to attack, and asked the humans not to mistake his fleet for the enemy.
• Gorpious and Krauk accepted that they had no way back and resolved to fight for Greger and the Community Security Fleet’s future.
• Xi Yan worked through plans for the dragon, mercenaries, and occupied colonies, then ordered Artificial Ethics activated to increase the Empire’s population.
• Xi Yan read Ningdi Lingling’s report that Gorpious was supplying valuable intelligence and gave her full authority over frontline operations.

The M'tok Union fleet prepared to attack, while the Community Security Fleet and humanity coordinated a plan to turn its advance into a trap. Gorpious gave Krauk a poison-loaded pistol to kill Director Charius if he threatened their plan.

• Director Charius boarded the Community and pledged to fight alongside Gorpious's fleet, unaware that the crew had joined humanity and intended to capture him.
• Gorpious arranged Charius's quarters, then summoned Krauk to his private office for an important assignment.
• Ningdi Lingling briefed the commanders on a plan to destroy the enemy vanguard and split the M'tok Union fleet, then reported that her forces were ready to Xi Yan.
• Gorpious showed Krauk a pistol loaded with poison capable of killing him and instructed Krauk to use it to silence Charius if necessary.

Xi Yan’s human fleet fought the M'tok Union, while Gorpious secretly betrayed Director Charius and killed him aboard the Community. The battle continued as the Community Security Fleet abruptly halted and revealed its allegiance.

• Xi Yan watched the M'tok fleet emerge from the hyperlane as Ningdi Lingling prepared the human fleet for battle.
• Ningdi Lingling ordered the human ships to fire on the M'tok flanks, beginning the battle.
• Director Charius suspected an intelligence leak, while Gorpious falsely blamed mercenary fleets and concealed his betrayal.
• After the fleets exchanged fire for over half an hour, Gorpious signaled the Community Security Fleet to stop.
• Gorpious admitted he was an undercover agent, and Krauk shot and repeatedly stabbed Director Charius until he died.

Krauk killed and destroyed Director Charius’s body while Gorpious coordinated with the human fleet to stage the director’s death as a battlefield accident. The Community Security Fleet launched an all-out assault under the guise of carrying out Charius’s final order.

• Krauk tore apart Charius’s brain, burned the remains, and had a cleaning robot remove the ashes.
• Gorpious reflected on how it had discovered Krauk was an undercover human operative and had chosen to keep his secret.
• Gorpious contacted Ningdi Lingling and confirmed that Charius was dead, beginning the next phase of their plan.
• Human torpedo ships struck the Community after its shields supposedly failed, creating a breach near Charius’s office.
• Gorpious announced Charius’s death, pretended to grieve, and told the fleet commanders that Charius had ordered them to advance and attack the humans.

After Gorpious sabotaged the M'tok Union fleet's command following Director Charius's death, he ordered the Community Security Fleet to attack its former allies from behind. Caught between the Community Fleet and the Human Second Fleet, the M'tok forces realized they had lost the battle.

• After Director Charius died, Gorpious gave the mercenary leaders false orders that split the fleet into separate formations.
• Gorpious ordered the Community Security Fleet to slow down and target every M'tok Union fleet while the other formations continued attacking the humans.
• The Community Security Fleet opened fire on its former teammates, destroying their shields, reactors, and engines from behind.
• Commander Ningdi Lingling ordered the Human Second Fleet and the Surrendered Mercenary Fleet to launch an all-out assault.
• As the M'tok fleet was battered from both sides, its leaders concluded the battle was lost.

The human fleet routed the M'tok forces, and Xi Yan recruited Gorpious as a commander in the Interstellar Human Military Junta. The battle continued as Xi Yan gave Gorpious his first assignment: clear the remaining enemy ships.

• The M'tok mercenary fleets fled after their flagship withdrew, and the human Second Fleet began pursuing the scattered remnants.
• Xi Yan praised Ningdi Lingling's composure, took over the battlefield communications, and left her in command of the pursuit.
• Xi Yan met with Gorpious aboard the destroyer Community and offered him a post as a commander under his authority.
• Gorpious accepted the position and agreed to command the surrendered alien fleets.
• Xi Yan assigned Gorpious to clear enemy crews from the disabled ships on the battlefield.

Gorpious, newly backed by the Interstellar Human Military Junta, handed Krauk temporary command of the fleet and led a boarding assault on a disabled destroyer. It slaughtered the defenders and took revenge on a mercenary leader, declaring that its name would resound throughout the Sea of Stars.

• Gorpious celebrated joining the Empire and left Krauk in charge of the fleet while it went into battle.
• Gorpious boarded a disabled destroyer with its troops, cut through the hull, and charged onto the ship.
• Gorpious’s armor withstood the defenders’ laser fire as it slaughtered the crew and fought its way toward the bridge.
• Gorpious recognized the mercenary leader who had once insulted its fleet, killed and ate the alien, and vowed to make its name resound throughout the Sea of Stars.

After the M'tok fleet was crushed by the Community Security Fleet's betrayal, its few surviving ships returned to the Shazka System. The Chairman rallied the remaining leaders to defend their home system, with flight to a northeastern colony as their last resort.

• The lone surviving M'tok destroyer and a handful of corvettes escaped the battle and reached the Starhold shipyard in the Shazka System.
• The destroyer's captain collapsed after telling the Chairman that the fleet had been almost completely wiped out.
• The Chairman's aide confirmed that M'tok had lost its last fleet capable of defending the home system and reported rumors that the Community Fleet had killed Director Charius.
• The Chairman ordered the returning ships repaired and called a meeting to plan the defense of the home system.
• The Chairman told the directors that M'tok would flee to its northeastern colony if it could not hold the home system, and they pledged to follow him.

The M'tok Union tried to secure an armistice with the Nier Guardians while preparing to defend or evacuate its homeworld, but the Nier rejected the offer and Xi Yan devised a plan with their leaders. With the human fleet threatening its capital and no agreement possible, the M'tok chairman concluded that the Union would have to surrender.

• The M'tok chairman ordered the Union to prepare to defend the Homeworld System and evacuate its capital, while withdrawing its fleets from the Nier Guardians Territory.
• The chairman sent the Nier Guardians an armistice agreement, and Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg mocked the offer before Xi Yan proposed a plan.
• The Nier Guardians repeatedly rejected the M'tok Union's armistice request and hurled insults through official channels.
• The M'tok chairman warned that the human fleet could cut off the route to the Homeworld and asked the directors what to do.
• The M'tok chairman told the directors that the Union would have to surrender and end the war.

Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg bullied the M'tok Chairman during negotiations, then heard him offer the M'tok Union's surrender to the Nier Guardians. Xi Yan and Krogg rejected the surrender, leaving the Chairman furious and the peace talks unresolved.

• Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg mocked the M'tok Chairman when he joined their projection-space meeting.
• The trio demanded that M'tok cede most of its territory and turn its home system into a free-trade port, prompting the Chairman to threaten war and leave.
• The M'tok Chairman returned and offered the M'tok Union's surrender to the Nier Guardians.
• Xi Yan refused to accept the surrender, and Krogg immediately joined him in refusing it.

The M'tok Union signed ceasefire agreements with the Nier Guardians and the Zirick Cooperative, while Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg secretly prepared a scheme against M'tok. Back on Shazka I, the M'tok Chairman rallied his directors and insisted his returning fleet would have the advantage.

• The M'tok Union surrendered unconditionally to the Nier Guardians, ceded thirteen systems, agreed to ten years of reparations, and withdrew its Criminal Enterprise Branches from Nier colonies.
• The M'tok Chairman negotiated a separate ceasefire with the Zirick Cooperative, ceding several systems before leaving the talks suspicious of Xi Yan and his allies.
• After the Chairman departed, Xi Yan, Senka Vanye, and Krogg agreed to carry out a secret plan to bring down the M'tok Union.
• On Shazka I, the M'tok Chairman told his directors that both wars had ended and ordered Perkin Asland to bring the troops back.
• The M'tok Chairman recalled M'tok's past victories and declared that his force of 150 ships had the advantage over 100.