The *Gallivant* cut through the darkness of space like a silent predator, its engines a low hum against the cosmic silence. The mood aboard was a mix of tense anticipation and grim determination. After their successful skirmish in the Veil of Cidar, Vela knew that Arlen's next move would be decisive. This cat-and-mouse game they were playing had escalated, and it was only a matter of time before it reached its climax.
Vela stood in her quarters, pouring over the latest data from their scouts. The lights were dim, casting long shadows across the room that seemed to flicker with the unsaid words and secrets of the galaxy. Loxley leaned against the doorframe, watching her with an intensity that matched the stars outside.
"Find anything juicy?" he asked, his voice a low drawl that seemed to curl around her like smoke.
Vela didn't look up from her screen. "Arlen's gathering his forces at Draconis Prime. It's a fortress, heavily guarded and virtually impregnable."