Graveyard of Empires

Traq reports scouting findings to Vanguard Wade. Rescue mission organized despite Traq warnings of ambush. Impulsive Instructor Eppard overrides caution. Discovered prisoners are Union soldiers in disguise. Eppard killed in ambush. Yeol and Traq barely escape.

Survivors receive news of station destructions at Bastion. Sara leads data verification through her distributed 14-institution network, authenticating Ortiz transmissions from Novum. Jakob uses signals expertise to piggyback transmissions on imperial relay satellites, extending their reach.

Sara, unable to sleep after Greenwood, joins Dr. Quentin analyzing creature footage and boot prints. At dawn they search the ruins, finding a shelter with a warning message pointing south.

Vivian and Traq arrive on war-torn Eldun, notice General Coley's son in Union uniform. She encounters and defeats three Briden's Ward scouts. Reflects on Ministry surveillance danger and the converging threads: Maven Ophidian's intelligence network, Admiral Crater's fleet, Denigen's Fist...

Miranda, the Envoy aboard Denigen Fist, is summoned by Captain Kristi Grove. Kristi informs her they are excluded from Parwen battle by High General Nicolai due to Consular Gavriel political pressure. Miranda devastated by this slight. Kristi suggests negotiating for Sector 2 reserves position.

The crew departs Haven with navigation data from Vala Chen. They enter the Shallows beyond the galactic rim where physics distort. Traq has new dreams of silence. Sensors begin reporting impossible readings as they approach lost space.

Ailana's sixty-day solo journey south following Patrick's death. Encounters survivors she cannot join, fights Ferals, finds and bonds with Ash. Discovers massacred convoy with logbook documenting their community. Learns ships have departed but finds coordinates for backup facility.

Jayson and team receive mission briefing from Alexander at Academy, then camp in wilderness preparing. Richard shares intel about Captain Grove executing 2000 on Daer and her redeployment to Sector Two where they're heading, creating urgency.

Abdullah attends the Pass of Command ceremony where Captain Grove executes Rodriguez and his friend Mikael, then sentences Sister Portia to burning. He almost steps forward but makes the agonizing choice to stay silent.