Commander's Meeting
Arrival terminal of the Salius Stellar District Spaceport, the Aclenia Galactic Federation.
When a civilian passenger vessel arrives, smiling people eagerly await its arrival to welcome it.
Among them was Major Serika Cruze of the Space Force Intelligence Division, dressed in civilian clothes and scanning her surroundings attentively.
Among the people bustling through the lobby were many of her subordinates, blending in unnoticed.
Not only personnel from the Intelligence Division, but also Marines assigned to the Second Fleet were covertly stationed, and the state police mobile unit responsible for spaceport security had been reinforced beyond its usual levels, maintaining a heightened security posture.
In reality, commanders of the space fleet currently deployed across the peripheral mid-region—sent to the Sirius Stellar Province and the Iruku Stellar Province—were gathering at the spaceport using civilian vessels.
In addition to Admiral Gruug of the 6th Fleet and Major General Herbert of the 9th Fleet, four other rear admirals with two-digit numbers.
Also, Major General Galesby, commander of the M19 Fleet of the Space Marine Corps.
Although all were commanders of fleets participating in the current operation, publicly they were presented as having been dispatched due to heightened vigilance amid the civil war in Lymria. Each fleet was spread across a wide area of surrounding space, and the commanders had secretly gathered here.
Although each commander has already arrived, Cruise and his team remain on alert.
The most important person has not arrived yet.
The target civilian vessel had arrived on schedule, and reports had come in from subordinates who had boarded it for escort and protection, so the individual in question should emerge from the arrival gate any moment now.
A few minutes later, two people appeared: a middle-aged man in a worn suit and a young woman in a plain suit.
Two intelligence officers stood guard at unobtrusive positions, one in front and one behind the pair.
There was no doubt—the targets had arrived.
Cruise approached the man and woman.
"Are you Miss Hazel?"
Cruise greeted the man and woman with an overly polite smile, as if welcoming a valued client.
The man addressed as Hazel gave a slight bow.
"Yes. Thank you for the greeting. This is my... secretary, Esther."
Esther bowed her head in accordance with Hazel, both of them moving with flawless, refined grace.
"We have a vehicle prepared. Please follow me."
As Cruise began guiding the two, the personnel on guard near the boarding area discreetly vanished, leaving only the intelligence agents watching Cruise and the others as they moved, their vigil continuing until the vehicle carrying Hazel and the others reached their destination.
Cruise led Hazel to a hotel located in the Salius Stellar Province.
The conference room of a top-tier hotel housed Admiral Arlenval of the 2nd Fleet, Admiral Gloor of the 6th Fleet, Major General Herbert of the 9th Fleet, Major General Galesby of the M19 Fleet, and four other major generals commanding fleets numbered in the tens.
These were the admirals in charge of the eight fleets deployed in the current operation, along with their respective chiefs of staff and personal aides assigned to each admiral.
"Yet, to see such a distinguished assembly gathered together like this. Even though each fleet remains scattered for now, once they converge, it will surely be a sight to behold."
General Grug nodded in agreement with Admiral Harvard's words.
"Indeed, deploying eight fleets—over two thousand vessels in total—is an operation unparalleled in recent times. That's precisely why failure is absolutely unacceptable."
"Indeed, you're right."
General Galesby chuckled, shrugging his shoulders as he listened to the two admirals.
"Compared to you seasoned veterans who've seen plenty of real combat, my fleet's just a third-generation commander experiencing actual battle for the first time. Well, it's only natural that a battle where my fleet truly shines would be a major event. Still, to be safe, I've forcibly transferred some personnel from other Marine Corps units who have experience in capturing pirate ships and pirate bases."
Galesby making light remarks.
In a sense, his fleet is the key force of this operation.
Although each admiral is freely speaking, the command conference itself has not yet begun.
The final attendee has not arrived yet.
As the admirals wait for the last participant to arrive, the conference room door opens, and Major Cruise, escorted by security guards, enters and salutes Admiral Arenbar and the other admirals.
"General Hazel has been escorted in."
Hazel and Ezel enter the conference room after Cruise.
Unlike their suit attire upon arrival at the spaceport, they are now wearing military uniforms.
The uniform, primarily light gray, is not that of the Akneria Space Force.
Hazel and Ezel snap to attention and salute sharply.
"Admiral Hazel, Commander of the Third Fleet, Damura Constellation Commonwealth Space Force."
Hazel is the commander of a space fleet belonging to the Damura Constellation Commonwealth, which was conquered and destroyed by the Rimuria Galactic Empire. Ezel serves as her deputy.
In response to the two salutes, the admirals of the Akneria Space Force stand and return the salute. Allenbar, who is leading the operation as overall commander, steps forward to reply on their behalf.
"Welcome, Admiral Hazel. Let us begin the strategy meeting for the recovery of the Damura Star Cluster Commonwealth territory, without further delay."