Legacy of the Void Fleet

10 hours passed, and the fleet operations in the asteroid field came to a halt. All mining vessels returned to their docks, and preparations were underway for the fleet's FTL journey to the Solar System, specifically to Earth's vicinity, approximately 7 light-years away.

The journey would take around 12 hours using the Obliterator's Transcendent Dark Matter FTL Drive, a marvel of engineering capable of not only propelling the dreadnought itself but also generating a vast field of influence—up to 200,000 kilometers in radius. This allowed the FTL drive to pull accompanying ships along in its wake. While this consumed more power, the Obliterator's Dark Matter Power Generator made such energy demands negligible.

With only one hour left before the FTL jump, the final preparations were announced. When the countdown ended, Kallus gave the order.

"Red Empress, activate the Transcendent Dark Matter FTL Drive."

"As you command, Master," replied the Red Empress, her voice calm and steady.

A low hum resonated through the dreadnought as the FTL drive came online. Waves of energy began to radiate outward, enveloping the Void Fleet in a shimmering, ethereal field. With the dreadnought at the center, the energy expanded to encompass all ships within its range.

"FTL drive operational at 20% capacity," the Red Empress reported. "All ships within our radius are secured. Destination locked: Mars' orbital vicinity. Estimated travel time: 12 hours. Transitioning to FTL now."

The massive Void Fleet moved in perfect synchronization. In less than 10 seconds, every ship was pulled into the FTL corridor, the spatial distortion ensuring a smooth transition.

Though the fleet's other ships were equipped with their own FTL drives, they were vastly inferior to the Obliterator's system. The decision to use the dreadnought's superior FTL field ensured the entire fleet could travel together efficiently and safely.

As the FTL drive reached its full operational capacity, the Void Fleet vanished from sight in an instant. The once-mighty formation of warships, led by the imposing Obliterator Dreadnought, dissolved into the vast expanse of space.

Where the fleet had stood mere moments ago, there was now only silence—a stillness that seemed to stretch endlessly across the asteroid field. The colossal presence that had dominated the region, a testament to technological power and ambition, left behind nothing but an empty void, a fleeting echo of its existence.

The remnants of their activity—mined-out asteroids and dormant equipment—bore silent witness to the fleet's departure. Yet, even these would fade with time, as if nature itself sought to reclaim the solitude of space.

Far from this emptiness, the Void Fleet surged forward at unimaginable speeds, hurtling through the fabric of spacetime, bound for a new horizon—the Solar System.

As 11 and a half hours of FTL travel passed, Ethan found himself captivated by the surreal display surrounding the fleet. The high-definition hologram, projected around the observation deck, offered a complete, seamless view of the entire fleet and the mesmerizing space outside.

The swirling hues of the blue hyperspace tunnel, dotted with streaks of light that resembled distant stars, created a breathtaking spectacle. The hologram's precision made it feel as though he was standing amidst the fleet, surrounded by the vast, ever-shifting expanse of the universe.

The enormity of what he was witnessing filled him with awe. The twisted and stretched perception of space, brought on by their incomprehensible speed, gave him a profound sense of both insignificance and determination. Despite commanding one of the most advanced fleets in existence, Ethan couldn't help but marvel at the boundless cosmos.

His thoughts drifted as he took in the breathtaking view. "How insignificant we are," he murmured to himself, "yet how far we've come."

The Red Empress, always attuned to her master's actions, interrupted his reverie with her calm, soothing voice. "Master Ethan, we are approaching the end of our FTL trajectory. Arrival near Mars' orbit is expected in precisely 30 minutes. All systems are functioning optimally."

Ethan nodded absentmindedly, still engrossed in the moment. The galaxy was vast, mysterious, and filled with both peril and promise. This was only the beginning of his journey, but a powerful sense of purpose stirred within him, growing stronger with each passing second.

As the countdown drew closer, with just three minutes remaining, the Red Empress calmly announced, "Master, in less than 180 seconds, we will exit FTL."

Kallus nodded, his expression hardening into a serious look. He couldn't explain it, but an unsettling feeling had crept over him—a sensation that wasn't threatening, yet deeply unnerving. Ever since his integration with the Supreme God Body, his senses had sharpened, granting him an uncanny ability to perceive subtle shifts around him. Now, that heightened awareness was warning him that something was about to happen.

Though the feeling lacked any immediate sense of danger, Kallus chose to trust his instincts. "As soon as we exit FTL, activate all navigation and scanning equipment," he ordered firmly. "Prepare the fleet for potential engagement."

The Red Empress, ever obedient, acknowledged his command without hesitation. "Understood, Master. Initiating emergency protocols."

Within moments, the entire fleet sprang into action. Crewmembers moved with precision, their training evident as they prepared for any potential scenario. In less than two minutes, every ship in the fleet was on high alert, their weapon systems armed and scanning arrays fully operational.

Kallus remained seated in the command center, his gaze fixed on the holographic display showing the fleet's synchronized movements. He couldn't shake the feeling that something awaited them upon exiting FTL—not a threat, but something unexpected.

"Red Empress," he said, his voice steady, "keep me updated on any anomalies the moment we exit."

"As you command, Master," she replied, her tone as calm and composed as ever.

And so, the fleet prepared itself for the unknown, every system and crewmember ready as the countdown ticked toward zero.

With the final count, the fleet smoothly exited FTL.

As the fleet exited FTL, the Star Dreadnought immediately began its extensive scanning of the surrounding solar system. Within seconds, the Red Empress had analyzed the data and turned to Kallus with a report.

"Master, there is an unknown fleet that shouldn't have appeared here," she began, her tone filled with intrigue. "They are surprisingly advanced, though only at 1% of our technological level. Judging by their development and the number of defensive installations they've created, I believe they are aligned with Earth, not hostile."

Kallus listened intently, his curiosity piqued. The Red Empress continued, her holographic interface displaying the fleet's composition.

"The fleet consists of six ships, with the largest being a space city. One more piece of surprising information—the leader of this fleet appears to be a human from Earth, specifically from China. He calls himself the 'Supreme Ruler of the Star Empire. And He somehow reincarnated with his memories intact' and It seems his fleet was initially here to escort him back to his home empire, but something happened along the way. and it appears he is connected to them through what I believe is a lower-grade system."

Kallus' eyes widened. The notion of someone being reincarnated was unexpected, but he listened closely as the Red Empress continued, scanning the system.

"I believe I know the reason why they are fortifying their position. While scanning the solar system, I detected a space fluctuation that may have caused their fleet to be sucked into this dimension or timeline. They had originally come as an exploration fleet, but now their situation has changed. It appears they are here to stay."

Kallus frowned, processing the information. He had suspected something was off about the situation, but this revelation was unexpected.

"Master," the Red Empress continued, "this fleet has formed an alliance known as the Star Alliance. They've already brought China into the fold, leveraging their shared language and cultural practices to solidify their influence. They're offering benefits like genetic awakening serums, among other primitive technologies, in exchange for integrating Earth's population into their empire."

Kallus, now more intrigued than ever, absorbed the new details. "Are they planning to settle here permanently?" he asked.

The Red Empress nodded. "Yes, master. They intend to settle on Earth and create their own empire. This fleet's leader, the Supreme Ruler, is the key to their expansion, and they appear to be consolidating power in the system."