The first marker was not far from the dead system, but the moment they entered the edge of Mournveil, the screens changed.
Static crawled across the long-range feed, dust interference thickened like a gray veil across the sensor map, and the stars outside the forward display seemed to dim as the nebula swallowed their light.
Aurelian had crossed this route before, yet seeing Cassian's Tier VII strategic warship follow behind him made the passage feel different.
Before, the route had been a secret road used by a small fleet taking risks. Now it was being judged by the Arcturus family itself.
Astra watched the navigation data without taking her eyes away for even a moment, while Rhoswen stood beside the tactical display with her arms folded, unusually quiet for someone who normally treated unknown danger as an invitation.
Cassian's vessel entered after them.
For a few breaths, nobody spoke.
Then the readings stabilized.
