CHAPTER 208: CH 204 MISSION DIRECTIVE

"The assault on the Minotaur Clan will begin after I return. Until then, I leave the details—all of them—up to the seven of you."

Those words echoed in their minds like sacred permission. A rare freedom. An unspoken challenge.

To the Grand Admirals, it was more than a directive—it was an invitation. A green light to plan, compete, and outmaneuver one another. With Kallus’s authority behind them and no restrictions on how to proceed, the internal competition ignited like a spark in dry grass.

Each Admiral saw this not just as a campaign—but as a proving ground. A chance to show who deserved the most glory, who could seize the most ground, and who truly embodied the spirit of the Void Fleet.

[The above paragraphs were important, which is why I included them. To make up for it, I’ve added extra words so it doesn’t seem like I’m padding the word count.]

_ | [CLASSIFIED MISSION DIRECTIVE] | _

| Void fleet imperial Command | Strategic Command Division |

Operation Designation: Void Hammer

Authorization Code: | X-PRIME-DELTA-7F |

Mission Tier: | low-Level |

Command Level: | Grand Admiral Only |

Issuing Authority: | imperial commander |

|PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:| The complete subjugation of the Minotaur Hegemony, consisting of:

1. Capture and secure all 50 known Minotaur star systems.

2. Eliminate all military resistance and power structures, including space fleets, planetary defence systems, and command infrastructure.

3. Capture all habitable and resource-rich planets intact, with a priority on minimizing damage to their atmosphere and biosphere. As for infrastructure, it should be moderately preserved. 4. Enslave, relocate, or otherwise neutralize civilian populations.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

1. Establish permanent control beacons and sector-wide communication lockdowns.

2.Prevent any escape or rally attempts by high-ranking Minotaur individuals or resistance cells, and ensure their complete elimination.

3.Secure all technological assets that can be obtained with minimal to no damage to our forces, and retrieve strategic archives from key locations, especially the capital world of the Minotaur Clan.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:

1.Engage all resistance with full military force.

2. Civilian targets are viable for capture and should be detained or placed under house arrest, not exterminated. However, those who engage in active violence and refuse to cease even after being warned are to be eliminated to set an example.

3.All alien allies or mercenaries aiding the Minotaurs are to be considered hostile entities. They should be given a single warning to withdraw; if they refuse, they are to be eliminated without hesitation.

The operation will be executed through unified coordination by the seven fleets, with each fleet leading its own mission under the command of its respective Grand Admiral. Each Grand Admiral will have full autonomy over their fleet’s operations.

Rewards and Merits:

Merit points will be awarded based on confirmed objectives, minimal collateral damage (with none being preferable given our technological advantage), and the strategic efficiency in task execution. Additional rewards will be considered and calculated upon the conclusion of the war.

Kale Thrawn knew exactly what was at stake—the merits, the glory, the chance to stand out among his exceptional peers. This war wasn’t just a campaign; it was an opportunity. Their first true battle. Not counting the minor skirmish Admiral Ezra had led days ago in the Ridge Star System against the Minotaur Clan’s 7th Light Fleet, commanded by Jarkon. That operation, while successful, was a joint strike. Command belonged solely to Ezra, and the others merely played supporting roles. It wasn’t their battle.

But this—this was different.

So Thrawn was the first to speak.

"I’ll take Minotaur Prime. My 4th Fleet will target their central star system."

A bold move. Claiming the heart of the enemy’s territory.

Benjamin, another Grand Admiral, raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Oh? Securing the main system to earn more merit points, are we?" he said. "Not so fast, Grand Admiral Thrawn. I’ve had my eye on that same system. Its strategic value makes it a top priority. I intend for my fleet to take it, destroy the resistance and lock it down."

Their tone was calm, but everyone in the room felt the charge in the very air.

The Minotaur Prime star system was far too significant to overlook, especially when viewed through the lens of strategic importance to the Minotaur Clan. As the central star system of the entire Minotaur domain, the majority of their leadership resided within its influence, orbiting its main star—Minotaur Prime.

Taking it down would be no challenge for even a small battle group from any of the 7 Grand Admiral fleets. Such an operation wouldn’t just mean the fall of a key system from the Minotaur perspective—it would also cripple their chain of command. Capturing the centralized command leaders of the Minotaur Clan would deal a devastating blow to their strategic coordination.

And for those carrying out the assault, it would mean not only a decisive victory—but also a chance to earn significant merit point After all, they all needed an ocean’s worth of merit to reach the promotions the Grand Admirals had their eyes on. But that ocean was currently empty, without even a single drop of merit in it.

So, if this high-value target was given to them, they could finally begin filling their ocean—slowly, perhaps, but it would be a start. Even a few drops would mean progress toward their Goal.

All seven Grand Admirals knew exactly what that star system meant. None of them wanted to let it fall into another’s hands—they all wanted it for themselves.

Grand Admiral Alexander Saint broke the rising tension with a smirk.

"It’s not just you two with eyes on Minotaur Prime," he said. "I’ve got the same idea. So why don’t you both hand it over to me, hmm?"

"Why should we give it to you?" Kale and Benjamin shot back in unison.

Before the tension could snap, a clear, commanding voice cut through the room. Grand Admiral Ryn Velos—arms crossed, expression cool—stepped forward and addressed the brewing storm.

She looked at Kale and Benjamin first.

"Did you two

reach some agreement on who gets the system? No? Then what gives you the right to act like it’s already yours?"

She turned to Alexander next.

"And you—why are you even asking them? It’s not their decision. All seven of us have an equal say here. Or did you forget that?"

Just like that, the discussion exploded into a full-blown argument. Five of the seven Grand Admirals were now deep in a heated debate, voices rising, pride clashing.

Only Ezra and Elira remained silent, exchanging glances from opposite ends of the chamber. The two watched the chaos unfold, half-stupefied, half-amused. They couldn’t exactly blame the others—but still, this was starting to feel less like a war council and more like a squabble between overgrown children.

Overgrown children who don’t want to give up the toy—here, a star system with more benefits than the others—that they found cooler and want to keep for themselves, now fighting over it because their friends/colleagues want it too... and there’s only one of it.

Ezra and Elira exchanged a knowing look. Both thought the same thing: They’ll calm down in a minute or two. So, they chose to remain silent.

It wasn’t that they didn’t care about the merits—far from it. They wanted them just as much as the others. But both understood a key truth: no one was going to walk away from this mission with more than a single major target. Fighting over the same star system now was a waste of time. That’s why they stayed quiet—at least for now.

What they didn’t expect was for their usually sharp and disciplined fellow Admirals to lose all sense of restraint. The argument didn’t cool off—it intensified. Each of the five was now fully entrenched, haggling over who deserved to lead the assault on Minotaur Prime like traders at a market.

Watching the chaos spiral, Ezra and Elira finally realized the obvious: their colleagues weren’t going to calm down. They weren’t going to find a middle ground. And if someone didn’t intervene soon, they’d burn through all the time Kallus had given them to strategize—and still be shouting when he returned.

It was time to step in.

"Enough, all of you," Ezra said sharply, raising his voice.

But even that wasn’t enough to break through the chaos—so he added a subtle but potent spell to his command. It was a modified form of an aggro spell, one typically used by frontline tanks to draw enemy focus in battle. In this case, it was aimed at his own colleagues.

The effect was immediate.

All five Grand Admirals turned toward him, the argument cut off mid-sentence. Silence fell. Their faces were slightly flushed, their breathing uneven—proof of how far they’d gotten carried away.

Ezra didn’t speak again. Instead, he turned to Elira and gave her a nod—a quiet gesture, offering her the floor. It was her flagship, after all, and by tradition, it was her role to keep the council focused and orderly.

Elira understood. She stepped forward past Ezra, her expression calm but firm.

"Everyone," she began, her voice steady, "I know we all want that star system. We all want the merits that come with it. And yes—we’re all running the same race, trying to gain a lead where we can."

She paused, scanning the room.

"But this—" she gestured lightly at the lingering tension in the room, "—this isn’t how we do it. If we keep arguing like this, days will pass without a decision. And none of us—not me, not Ezra, not any of you—will gain a single step forward. Because the truth is simple: none of us wants to hand an advantage to the others."