“Captain. Observation drones have detected spatial distortion waves.”
 
Lillian relayed the drone data with precision,
 
eliciting another wave of surprise across the bridge.
 
“It’s a warp! They’re using short-range warps…!”
 
As Mirei said, the distortion waves were fluctuations in space caused by warp jumps.
 
“Ah—! Th-they’ve vanished…!”
 
Cowen’s voice wavered in disbelief.
 
The target, which was supposed to be pursued by automatic targeting, disappeared. Of course, the main gun did not fire.
 
With the disappearance of the target, the auto-targeting system was dotting and darting its markers to detect the next target.
 
But before it could recalibrate, an impact struck … Read the rest

Around the same time.
 
An abnormality was also being sensed on the First Bridge.
 
Aside from Lillian, Mirei was the first to notice it.
 
“Uh, uh… Wait, this is weird.”
 
“What is it, Navigator?”
 
Lillian quickly picked up on Mirei’s change in demeanor.
 
“The meteor… Right? Its trajectory is…”
 
“Explain it clearly.”
 
“Ugh! Its course is changing! It’s moving along with the Tiberius, which is currently at minimal forward speed!”
 
Just as Mirei shouted that, an emergency transmission came in from the hangar.
 
It was the gruff voice of Chief Engineer Saou.
 
[Acting Captain! Requesting permission to launch an observation … Read the rest

The bridge—no, the entire ship—erupted into chaos.
 
At the same time, there was also a sense of relief. The alarm was due to a meteor approaching. But it was still far away. If they moved the ship according to training, it could easily be avoided. In fact, this was being treated as a good opportunity to test-fire the battleship’s main cannon. So in this situation, it was turning into an exciting show to relieve the students’ anxiety and stress.
 
Not everyone felt that way, of course, but the mood of motivation was spreading through the ship, sparking enthusiasm among the … Read the rest

 
In short, her past self had been relegated to a position where her presence—or absence—changed nothing.
 
Now, however, the opposite was true. She held a critical role: main operator.
 
Weltall’s reasoning was simple—it tied to the skills Lillian had just demonstrated.
 
But few knew that. Mirei and the others hadn’t even witnessed it.
 
“So, Miss Luzor. What’s your opinion? It’s hardly fair for me to be the only one pressing the issue.”
 
(This is troublesome… I hate my past self right now.)
 
At present, Lillian had no cards to play that would win them over.
 
The only way to earn … Read the rest

 
“Enough already. I have to recalculate the route. How long are you all going to keep this up?”
 
“M-Mirei! Look… look at this!”
 
One of the girls pointed at the holographic monitor at the center of the room.
 
“What? It’s just the moon, right? The planned exercise loca—”
 
What was displayed was a dark nebula shaped like a horse’s head.
 
“No way…”
 
Mirei tried to stay calm, but it was impossible.
 
And as if to twist the knife, the shipwide intercom crackled to life.
 
Hearing its message, Mirei felt like she … Read the rest

It’s a habit ingrained in her.
 
Even after being demoted to patrolling the remote reaches of space for sixty meaningless years, commanding a ship is second nature to Lillian.
 
There were times she’d sit alone, staring at the radar in fear. In the era of automated systems and minimal crew, she’s been forced to operate heavy cruisers with barely a few dozen personnel.
 
That’s why Lillian can handle nearly every function on the bridge alone. One small mercy of the Earth Empire’s military: the basics never change.
 
The irony isn’t lost on her—that her past suffering … Read the rest

“What! Luzor! And Richard?”
 
“Huh? Ehh? Both of you, why are you here?”
 
Weltall and Stella were both wide-eyed with surprise at the sudden intruders.
 
Incidentally, it seemed Richard was the one who had called out to her. He too apparently hadn’t expected things to turn out this way, as his usually sleepy eyes were now wide open.
 
“Ah, well… I saw Miss Luzor hesitating in front of the door, so I called out to her…”
 
[Ha-ha-ha-ha!]
 
Then, the handsome man on the monitor burst into loud laughter.
 
“Weltall. Did they perhaps think … Read the rest

Chapter 4: First Contact
 

 
Including the Tiberius, all ships used in the exercise are under remote control from the command vessel, so some functions are locked.
 
Naturally, weapons systems are entirely disabled—whether you’re in the control room, the bridge, or even a gun turret, it makes no difference.
 
However, the ship’s main systems remain operational. Otherwise, navigation wouldn’t be possible, and life support (like oxygen and artificial gravity) would fail.
 
From the bridge, you can monitor the status of various systems. By design, these ships allow minimal crew operation, so while simplified, you can manage most functions here. That … Read the rest

(So this… is victory.)
 
When Lillian emerged from the simulator pod, the spectators stood dumbfounded, utterly speechless.
 
They still couldn’t believe the results.
 
As for Lillian herself, she allowed herself just a small moment of exhilaration.
 
Even if it was just a simulation. Even with the future Marshal – Stella watching from the next pod. She’d defeated the Empire’s two brightest young stars.
 
To put it another way, Lillian had finally basked in the glory of victory—something she had never experienced in her past life.
 
(Even without praise, the result remains. Personally, it feels good.)
 
Now, where there are winners, … Read the rest

 
To Lillian, Stella was just a ruthlessly efficient commander.
 
Yet by some twist of fate (or simulation), here they were, strategizing together.
 
“Well, that’s fine, but don’t you think we’re just wasting time pointlessly retreating and exchanging fire like this? If anything, we’re the ones slowly getting whittled down by their carrier-based strikes. And if the Ares Fleet advances, this tight defensive formation will just make us sitting ducks.”
 
Lillian wasn’t offering advice to Stella.
 
She wasn’t just some empty-headed fool一her mind was sharp. She could easily imagine the enemy fleet’s intentions, not to mention … Read the rest