The Battle Plans

The war room was filled with an air of urgency. Maps, holograms, and tactical screens flickered across the walls as the high-ranking commanders and strategists from each faction gathered to finalize their battle plans. General Jorvik stood at the head of the table, his cold demeanor not softening for anyone in the room. Lena, now a sidelined observer in these military discussions, remained near the edge, though she couldn't help but offer her insights when needed.

"Here's what we know," Jorvik started, his finger tapping against a large holographic map of the enemy's territory. "The Rhytil have consolidated their forces around the gas giant Serai, which serves as their primary supply and manufacturing hub. If we can disrupt their logistics here," he pointed to a cluster of ships near the planet, "we'll cripple their ability to continue their expansion."

Lena listened intently, studying the projected map. "We can't attack directly. They have a heavily fortified fleet stationed near Serai. We need to hit them before they can react."

Jorvik's eyes flicked to her. "And how do you propose we do that? You may have the ability to access the core, but it doesn't guarantee success. We're talking about a full-on assault on their supply lines."

Lena's mind raced as she processed the options. "We don't need to destroy their fleet outright. We need to cut off their supply routes. If we target their deep-space relay stations, we can cripple their communication network and make them blind to our movements. We hit them fast and hard, before they even realize we've engaged."

Zhen'ara, the leader of the Gritan Alliance, raised her hand, signaling for a turn. "We can't leave our own supply lines vulnerable in the process," she said, her voice thoughtful. "If we commit too many forces to the strike on Serai, we leave our own resources exposed. We'll need a secondary operation to fortify our rear."

Lena nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We'll split our forces. One fleet will head to Serai and execute the strike, while the second fleet can protect our supply lines, intercepting any Rhytil counterattacks."

Jorvik wasn't convinced. "That's a risky plan. We might be spreading ourselves too thin."

Lena turned to him, her expression firm. "General, it's the only option we have. The Rhytil have been steadily gaining ground, and we can't afford to play it safe. We need to act now, or we risk losing everything."

After a long moment of silence, Jorvik finally nodded. "Fine. We'll go with your plan, Lena. But remember, if this fails, the consequences will be on all of us."

Lena's heart tightened. She knew the risk was immense, but she also knew it was their best chance at victory. "Understood."