"The World Engine has entered local space."
Lilith's voice carried across the bridge.
The projection expanded, revealing a massive gravitational signature distorting the surrounding starfield.
Zod wasn't waiting in the Tianling Sector.
He had come personally.
A calculated move. A display of dominance.
"We were scheduled to reach Tianling in forty-eight hours," Lilith said. "He altered course. That implies he does not fully trust us."
Murmurs moved through the crew.
Rhael remained still.
"If he intends to test us," he said evenly, "better to resolve it now."
Outside the viewport, space warped again.
Then it emerged.
The World Engine.
A colossal structure of layered armor and gravitational emitters, its silhouette like a floating citadel. Even at distance, its presence carried weight. Designed for planetary atmospheric transformation, the vessel was as much a weapon as it was a colonization platform.
Todd exhaled slowly. "That's not a warship. That's a mobile fortress."
"It is both," Lilith replied quietly.
Rhael studied it with detached interest.
High-density armor plating. Gravity-field generators. Planetary conversion cores.
Useful.
A smaller craft detached from the World Engine's undercarriage and accelerated toward the Aquarius—a compact transport with reinforced hull plating.
"They're requesting docking clearance," Lilith said.
Lucini frowned. "They don't trust us enough to let us approach, so they come to us?"
"Grant it," Rhael said.
Lilith hesitated, then complied.
The docking ports aligned. Magnetic clamps engaged.
Moments later, the inner hatch cycled open.
Four figures stepped through.
Black cloaks. Advanced Kryptonian combat armor—sleeker and more refined than standard reconnaissance gear. The material shimmered subtly, nanofiber composites woven into ancient Kryptonian design.
These were not ordinary soldiers.
Their posture alone made that clear.
The lead figure was a woman—short black hair, controlled movements, eyes sharp with disciplined focus.
Faora-Ul.
Behind her stood a heavily built Kryptonian whose size and stance suggested brute specialization. The other two flanked them silently, scanning the environment.
They assessed the Aquarius without greeting.
"Ship integrity acceptable," one of them muttered. "Incubation chambers intact."
Todd bristled. "You could try speaking to us instead of inspecting us."
The larger Kryptonian—Derek—glanced down at him with visible contempt.
"You address officers of the Supreme Military Command," he said. "Mind your tone."
Rhael stepped forward.
"You're far from your general," he said mildly. "Speak clearly."
Faora's gaze shifted to him.
"You are the acting captain," she said. Not a question.
"I am," Rhael replied.
"You delayed General Zod," she continued. "Few do so without consequence."
Rhael's expression didn't change.
"He'll have his answers."
Derek moved first.
He didn't announce it. Didn't posture.
He simply lunged.
A trained assault—short distance, direct power, intent to overpower quickly.
He closed the gap in a fraction of a second.
Rhael didn't retreat.
The moment Derek entered striking range, Rhael stepped in instead of back.
Their collision thundered through the docking bay.
But it wasn't Rhael who moved.
Derek's body reversed direction violently, launched backward as if struck by orbital artillery. He slammed into the bulkhead hard enough to warp the alloy before crumpling to the floor.
Silence.
Faora's eyes narrowed—not in panic, but in reassessment.
Rhael lowered his arm calmly.
"Next time," he said evenly, "ask before you touch."
The two remaining officers shifted their stance, but Faora lifted a hand.
"Stand down."
Derek groaned, forcing himself upright. His armor had absorbed most of the damage—but not all.
He stared at Rhael with something new in his expression.
Caution.
Faora studied him carefully.
"Your genetic signature was listed as standard military caste," she said. "That assessment was incorrect."
Rhael met her gaze.
"Many things have changed."
A beat passed.
"We are here to escort you," Faora said finally. "General Zod will receive you aboard the World Engine."
Rhael nodded once.
"Then let's not keep him waiting."
Behind him, the crew of the Aquarius watched in stunned silence.
Zod had sent his elite guard.
And one of them had just been dropped in a single exchange.
Whatever happened next would not be symbolic.
It would determine who commanded the last remnants of Krypton.