The celebrations lasted deep into the night, but Emce found little rest. While the others rejoiced, he stood on the outskirts of the outpost, gazing up at the smoldering wreckage of Uzar’s flagship. It was a symbol of their victory, but also a warning. The enemy had suffered a devastating blow, but they were not gone. Not yet.
Zadia approached, her boots crunching against the rocky ground. "Can’t sleep?"
Emce shook his head. "Too much to think about. We may have won this battle, but the war isn’t over."
She crossed her arms, glancing at the distant fires where the resistance fighters were still celebrating. "They needed this. We all did. But yeah… Uzar isn’t the kind to back down. He’ll regroup. He’ll retaliate."
"Which is why we need to prepare," Emce said. "The moment the fleet retre
