Dawn had not yet pierced the starport's dome when Ellara stood motionless before the floor-to-ceiling window in the central control room. Her fingertips lightly pressed against the cold reinforced glass as three warships of different generations slowly took shape under engineering beams outside — like slumbering titans awakening. The scent of coffee drifted from behind her. She didn't need to turn around to know it was Kirah. "You stayed up again reviewing the schematics," he said, disapproval laced in his voice, though he still handed her a steaming mug. Ellara accepted the cup, letting the warmth seep through the ceramic into her chilled fingers. "The Holy Empire's phase-coupling technology is more sophisticated than we imagined." Her gaze lingered on the sleek vessel in the leftmost dock. "How's the calibration for *Wrath*-class swarm launch systems?" Kirah pushed his glasses up, and a holographic projection unfolded between them. Hundreds of simulated micro-torpedoes wove a deadly web across the void, each shifting course as if possessed of independent thought. "Standard mode is stable, but the neural network algorithm still needs fine-tuning," he explained, zooming in on a data set. "Specifically, when targets deploy quantum interference, the hit rate drops by 12% during the third wave." "Input this parameter into the Saint Core AI," Ellara said, taking a sip. "Let it run one hundred thousand simulations and find the optimal response pattern." Their eyes shifted simultaneously to the right-side dock. There, the skeleton of the XT-20 destroyer was already forming. Engineers were installing the upgraded pulse engine modules — unlike conventional designs, these featured the spiral structure characteristic of Holy Empire technology, glowing with a faint blue light even in the dimly lit bay. "The test data on the engines looks promising," Kirah brought up the performance curves. "The triple-redundant small-engine layout has increased overall stability by 40%, but…" He paused slightly. "The Saint Core AI picked up an unusual phenomenon." Ellara raised an eyebrow, silently urging him to continue. "When operating at peak power," Kirah pulled up a scan record, "the surrounding space generates subtle dimensional ripples. The intensity isn't enough to affect navigation, but this suggests the Holy Empire's propulsion tech may have involved higher-dimensional physics." Ellara's fingers tapped absently against the mug's rim. This discovery was both thrilling and unsettling — the technology they were tapping into might be far more dangerous — and powerful — than they'd ever anticipated. The comm buzzed, breaking the silence. The *Steel Dove*'s captain spoke: "Captain, the test range is clear. We're ready to begin joint trials." Ellara set down the mug, giving the holographic performance metrics one final glance. "Notify all units — proceed as planned. I want to see these new weapons in action with my own eyes." In the test range, the *Steel Dove* hovered silently in observation position. Its sensor arrays were fully active, recording every critical data point. Before it, the first completed *Wrath*-class torpedo boat was running final system checks, its streamlined hull gleaming coldly under the starlight. ***"Wrath One** standing by," came the steady voice over comms. Standing on the bridge of *Nameless*, Ellara clasped her hands behind her back. "Proceed with testing." In the void, the *Wrath*-class vessel elegantly pivoted, aligning its bow with the distant target ship. Without warning, armor panels along its flanks slid open, revealing honeycomb-like launch tubes. In an instant, hundreds of micro-torpedoes erupted outward like fireworks, tracing lethal paths through the vacuum. "Swarm protocol engaged," Kirah monitored the data stream. "Target locked, evasion probability dropping to…" His words were cut off by the unfolding spectacle. As the torpedoes neared their mark, they suddenly scattered — thousands of warheads striking from multiple angles simultaneously. There was no thunderous explosion, only a sudden eruption of countless pinpoint penetrations across the target's surface — each hitting a vital node with surgical precision. "Perfect," the *Steel Dove*'s captain couldn't help but marvel. "That firepower density could breach any current-generation warship's defenses." But Ellara merely shook her head. "The test isn't over. Bring out the XT-20 — I want to see its defensive capabilities." The newly constructed XT-20 destroyer glided into the test zone, its heavy armor making it look like a knight clad in steel, solid and unshakable — a stark contrast to the *Wrath*'s agility. "Pulse cannon array online," Kirah reported. "Fire control has been handed over to the Saint Core AI." When the second wave of torpedoes launched, the XT-20's turrets spun with astonishing speed. Beams of pulse energy wove a net of death across the void, detonating incoming warheads one by one. "Interception rate: 91.7%," Kirah said, barely concealing his satisfaction. "Remaining threats neutralized by point-defense systems." A faint smile touched Ellara's lips. "Now let's see how well they work together." What followed was a display akin to a meticulously choreographed space ballet. The *Wrath* darted like an assassin, continuously unleashing its deadly swarm; the XT-20 held its ground, building a protective barrier with pulse fire. Together, they overwhelmed the simulated enemy fleet without mercy. "The Saint Core AI just finished tactical analysis," Kirah said suddenly. "If we form a mixed task force combining *Nameless*, XT-20, and *Wrath*, combat effectiveness increases by **317%**." Ellara gazed out at the fleet bathed in morning light. These steel leviathans — forged from ancient wisdom and modern ingenuity — gleamed with promise. She knew this wasn't just about weapon innovation; it was a leap forward in tactical thinking itself. "Notify the shipyard — begin preparations for mass production," she ordered softly, then added after turning away, "but make sure the rescue pod design from the Holy Empire remains intact. Every warship must be equipped with full medical facilities." Kirah pushed his glasses up, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Because the greatest weapon… is the one we hope never to use?" Ellara didn't answer. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the deeper stars. In that vast darkness lay countless secrets of the Holy Empire waiting to be uncovered — and untold challenges yet to come. But here, in this artificial dawn, she could almost see the outline of the future — a future no longer shadowed by endless war.
