Wu Ji’s last order split the armada.
Some captains charged their guns. Others cut their targeting links and moved toward the rescue corridor. A few announced that they would defend the crews but would not fire on the habitats.
The ships still advancing formed a narrow wedge. Their linked shields made a direct pulse unsafe: break one reactor control and the surge might spread through every hull.
Tie studied the rail map. “We can break the wedge without hitting the crew decks. But the debris will cross the southern freight route.”
“Close the route,” Austin said. “Warn every ship. Chonker, sweep the debris after the guns stop. Nobody gets left drifting because we were in a hurry to celebrate.”
Dara signed the target plan as an independent witness. Pug launched the next set of blocks.
The impacts sounded through the ships’ frames like slow thunder. Tungsten fragments tore through weapon mounts and external shield spires. Golden barriers flickered out. Engines went cold while emergency lights stayed on.
One cruiser lost attitude control and spun toward Frost-Belt. Austin left his position and caught its bow with both hands. His gravity field pulled at the hull, bending the outer plates, but he slowed the ship before it reached the station.
