116 Expedition Arc 1 Imperial Capital Entry

New chapter: Expedition Arc begins.

The summons to the Imperial Capital has arrived. I’m getting ready.

The information revealed this time included the coordinates of the Imperial Capital.

Funny, really—here I am, a prince, and I didn’t even know where the Imperial Capital was.

Guess I wasn’t exactly trusted.

The order demands strict adherence to the deadline. So, arriving in time means nothing but a direct dimensional jump—warp—using the Hub Dimensional Jump Gate.

A route via the Dimensional Jump Gate alone? No matter how clever I get, I can’t make it in time.

Which leaves only one option: arriving via a ship equipped with a warp drive.

Taking Kaede along? Not possible. Even if she’s the true imperial princess, if anyone found out, it’d be a disaster.

So, I’m going alone. Single-handed ascent to the Imperial Capital.

So I added four thousand unmanned ships to the Dimensional Storage Vault. Total now stands at five thousand.

Even if it's some grand trap, I should be able to make a getaway via dimensional jump (warp).

Better take about a year’s worth of rations, just in case we can’t resupply.

Battleships can warp with massive crews onboard, but battleships are the backbone of system defense.

The fortress ships from the home systems of the eighth and ninth princes are both crippled and nonfunctional.

No way we’d have the luxury of hauling a battleship all the way to the Imperial Capital.

Even if we built one at the industrial planet (Daron-4), it’d take time.

Might be just as well I didn’t have to worry about who to bring along—this works fine.

Defense and internal affairs? Handled by subordinates. Like a mandatory court visit?

“Then I’m off.”

I launched my Personal Ship from the Anoi Fortress toward the Imperial Capital.

First, I’ll use the hub Dimensional Jump Gate for a big jump toward the Elyshion Gate.

The Elyshion Dimensional Jump Gate has capabilities equivalent to the special hub Dimensional Jump Gate in the Sol System.

These ancient Dimensional Jump Gates, relics of the old empire, are lost technology.

They outperform even the modern imperial-made Dimensional Jump Gates—and can’t be replicated.

They should’ve existed on the Imperial Capital itself, the empire’s home planet, but… well, that one’s gone.

So I’m choosing the oldest known ancient Dimensional Jump Gate closest to the Imperial Capital, making a big jump, then using a Dimensional Warp from there straight toward the Imperial Capital.

The ancient Dimensional Gate I used as a waypoint? Uncharted. The system’s rich in resources. And bonus: it came with a defense fleet (already pacified). Tasted pretty good, too.

I conducted a system survey and registered ownership. For now, call it AKR14 (provisional).

"This is Prince Akira, Sixth of the Imperial Line. Reporting to Imperial Capital Control. Requesting entry clearance. Entry scheduled in five minutes."

I applied for entry clearance so I wouldn’t end up getting blown to bits the moment I arrived.

Physical distance is about a thousand light-years—roughly the thickness of the galactic bowl.

You’d think a jump that takes five minutes via dimensional warp would take five minutes via dimensional comms too. But no—thanks to the massive difference in mass between a capital ship and information carried at the photon level, energy efficiency differs wildly.

So dimensional comms are vastly faster. Nearly real-time communication is possible.

"This is Imperial Capital Control. Entry is approved."

Approval granted. I warped toward the Imperial Capital.

Five minutes later. I warped out into Imperial Capital’s safe orbit.

Imperial Defense Fleet rushing in, flustered for some reason.

I brace myself, preparing for a dimensional jump (warp) departure.

“This is Sixth Prince Akira. I’ve just warped out.”

“This is Imperial Capital Control. We thought you’d entered via the Dimensional Jump Gate.”

“Wait—everyone’s not doing a warp jump, are they? You can’t possibly make it in time!”

“Those who can’t make it in time… are supposed to withdraw on that basis.”

Imperial Defense Fleet retreats.

“Shit. So that’s what ‘call you in only if you use lost technology’ meant. Not showing up was the whole point!”

At the same time, Imperial Capital Control warns: “First Prince’s fleet is approaching. Stay put.”

And through the Dimensional Jump Gate, the First Prince’s Expedition Fleet warps in.

Two hundred thousand ships. A magnificent, awe-inspiring fleet.

Meanwhile, I’m out here with just one ship, going solo.

Guess I’ve gone and done it.

Deploy the drones? Nah… save the ace up my sleeve.

Only my pathetic little authority’s gonna get bruised anyway. (Sob.)

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