Like any terrestrial planet, Serenity consisted of multiple layers around the miniature star engine which was essentially its core. But unlike a normal planet, these layers were more like polygonal bricks that locked into each other and ensured that each layer had areas near the surface.

Deck A was where the wealthy and influential resided, along with the appropriate amenities and luxuries. Deck B was where general passengers were found, as well as most of the onboard attractions; such as malls, casino's and theme parks.

Deck C served as the vessel's extensive storage area, which also held her volatile hydrogen fuel cells. On top of that, it had loading and unloading docks which could accommodate around ten vessels at once.

Then, there was Deck D, also called the Factory Deck. This was where most of Serenity's manufacturing and resource procurement facilities were located. These ranged from massive smelters to chip printers, as well as massive asteroid drills and glacier breakers.

Lastly, there was the Command Deck where the bridge, crew's quarters, as well as other important equipment and integral structures could be found. Including the miniature star engine.

Thanks to her sophisticated, yet also simple design, she was able to maintain and change the perceived gravity without needing centripetal force, unlike other vessels.

Unfortunately, because of some outside force, the only reason there was a gravity change after the disastrous fuel cell decoupling attempt, was due to a rerouting delay for the rest of the fuel.

Also due to that same disaster, much of the western hemisphere was now missing, which accounted for a third of Serenity's entire structure. Then a further one-fifth was rendered uninhabitable due to the extensive damage.

This left Serenity’s remaining passengers with less than half of her original habitable zone. But now they had more, albeit decreasing, 'passengers' than they started with. Even if they took the animals into account.

There were also the rapidly shrinking liquid O2 stores, despite the bright green "Air Tight" and bright red "Hermetic seals in place" statuses. Yet none of these paradoxical readings could compare to the desolate reality outside Serenity.

Most of their accompanying fleet was gone. Those that arrived with them were either wrecks or moderately to heavily damaged. Not to mention that madness inducing light that shone from the surface of the nearby moon.

It was due to these and many other factors, that there were only a few active screens left on the walls of Serenity's dark bridge.

One displayed a camera feed from the Federation Carrier “Ceres Parlton'', which showed the 28 kilometer-long Union Dreadnought “Alisei”, ramming into Serenity’s northern hemisphere with its auxiliary engines.

They've been reaching out ever since the collison, but they still haven’t received any response. Not even an SOS.

They also learned that the Dreadnought was skidding across Serenity's surface. Which meant that the longer they took to regain their own engine controls, the higher the risk of catastrophic failure in the Alisei's 'moon-breaker' cannon.

Then beside that screen, was a feed from one of the hallway cameras that displayed the breathtaking image of a sea of stars.

Only recently had they regained access to their own cameras and finally knowing how much of the western hemisphere they actually lost, was nearly as harrowing as the fact that there was an unknown, faded-gray vessel just… docked there.

Although they couldn’t see much past its rear where the engines were, it must’ve been at least ten kilometers in length. But its design was ancient. It still had wings, had multiple engines pointed the same direction, and smooth, rounded edges - from a time before large space stations could be made and ships had to come and go from a planet’s surface.

The third screen was a basic rundown of the vessel's system statuses. None of it looked promising, though.

“Captain…” A voice called out from behind him. It was his first mate, a strapping young lad who aced his exams and served him during the final years of the war.

“Our men have recovered and the Imperials left without our notice. But we're completely cut off from the rest of the ship. We can’t even call for help.”

Murmurs quickly erupted from the other crewmen as despair permeated the room.

“We can’t lift the lockdown from here. Unless we get Serenity ba-” The Captain raised the back of his hand and silence returned.

“We do what we can. There are too many questions that we cannot answer. However, there is still much that we can do.” He turned to his crew with a grave look in his eyes, and yet there was a confident grin on his face.

“We can ensure that our passengers escape this vessel. But even though we only have a fourth of our fleet left, I can’t coordinate them all on my own-"

“We’ll do it, Captain.” One of the analysts in the rear interrupted.

“Let's get started already!" Another said.

"Audio specs, focus on regaining our intercoms! We'll need them to speak with the ground force after we send the PA announcement!" Even the worrywart first mate quickly changed his tune.

"Everyone else, you're our eyes for now! Routes, chokepoints, wherever our people are! Whatever the fuck those new heartbeats are! We need all that information and more!”

Needless to say, the sight of them all, filled the Captain with pride. Though, perhaps it was more a sign of his own leadership quality.

“I couldn’t ask for a better crew… Ceres Parlton, are you there?! You will be our main rescue. To all other vessels, stay at the ready. Do not lift your blinds. Use your cameras. Luckily, they don't pick up the moonlight."

*** *** ***

Based on all the information he gathered from the bridge, the Count decided that the best point of extraction was the rear east side of Deck C, which was also facing away from the source of the light.

"Loading Dock 7 is where you will gather as many Imperial citizens as you can and await my boarding. If I do not arrive within 5 hours after this exchange, you are to leave for the nearest Imperial planet or embassy. Are my orders understood?"

He was currently in the Captain’s quarters, working with a briefcase-sized console. It was a rudimentary backup for when the bridge was catastrophically damaged. However, it was far more limited and still required the same systems built into the vessel.

[What of those outside the Empire, Lord Count?]

"Warn them, and if they insist, remove them. Ensure that there is little to no collateral damage."

[Your commands are received and will be followed accordingly, Lord Count. This 'Innocence' will not betray your trust.]

It felt strange, to have to rely on another AI after everything that's happened with Serenity. But one could say he had far more trust on the simpler intelligence of Imperial vessels.

Although they were completely unmanned and had the capacity to take action on their own, they were completely subservient to the Imperial nobility and accepted no further orders beyond that which they were already performing. Unless said order was revoked by the one who gave it.

He could only hope that the Empire's closed system would be enough to avoid the same fiasco with Serenity, and trust in his own judgment. The lives of many Imperial citizens would soon be in his hands.

However, he also knew that he wouldn't be able to save them all. A few hundred to a thousand at most, would be able to fit inside. If only he was able to command one of the remaining Battlecruisers or something larger, he could save more.

But those only answered to Dukes or higher. Instead, he had to bank on the fact he could make another Nobleman commandeer a vessel to aid with the evacuation.

If a state of war was declared, all of them would fall under his command. But in times of "peace", one was the most he was allowed access to.

"[Attention, all Imperial Citizens.]" His voice resounded through the PA system. "[I am the Count of Dahl. A rescue ship awaits at Loading Dock 7 of Deck C. Ensure that you do not come into contact with any outside light. Now make haste to receive the protection of our finest Destroyers. May the Emperor guide you all.]"

"Anyone else would tell you they'd just get massacred trying to get here. But I know you've planned for it. However, can you really execute your plans properly, after knowing that?"

The Count didn’t need to ask what he meant. Thanks to his augmented eyes, even from across the room, Hiiro would be able to read the tiny text on the console. But they were words that even the Count had difficulty accepting.

[Guila Celine Dahl and Ariel Kireia Dahl are in our custody. Awaiting further orders, Captain.]

They were alive. All this time, they were alive. Yet where was he? What was he doing, instead? Everything that wasn't his duty as a man, is what.

“Of course, I can! All I need to do is find them! Then we'll all leave this forsaken ship with them in my arms!”

The Count spoke with such a conviction and power in his words, that it seemed impossible for him to fail. Yet the fact that they were armed with her weapons, made the truth all too clear.

“But you gave up so quickly, brother. Can you really muster up the strength you did not show before now?”

“You question me, Hiiro?!” The Count roared as he slammed his fist into the table, splitting it in half. Of course, the console clattered onto the thick carpeted floor. But neither twin seemed to care.

“Well, you're correct! I lost faith in them! Despite all that they've proven to me! And I may no longer deserve them for that, but they are still mine! I will show that here and now!”

“Alright, enough! I don't need to be a strategist to know that you don't have nearly enough people to tackle a rescue and evacuation! So I'll need your permission to lead, once more.”

"You ask for impossibility, Hiiro." The Count answered coldly. “What if that light did something permanent to you and the others? Am I to just trust your current facade of clarity?”

"Raving despite a clear head is unlike you, brother.” Hiiro approached the Count and placed a hand on his shoulder. Then with a smile on his face, he gripped it tightly. “If we do go mad, then you lose nothing you hadn’t already lost.”

“Only those that were exposed to the light will accompany me. You will stay here with the others and coordinate the evacuation.”

“Do not make me rep-”

“Little brother, you yourself said that I cannot be trusted. I agree. This is the correct choice. Make contact with the bridge before we leave. Then order their cooperation. You know what to do after that, much better than I ever could.”

A strained silence permeated once again, before the Count clenched back on Hiiro’s shoulder.

“I rescind my previous command and replace it with another. Return my wives to me and come back - all of you. Failure will not be tolerated.”

“Heh. This Hiiro Dahl will not disappoint you, Lord Count.”