The back up

Admiral Williams was both excited and nervous as he sat down on his comfortable command chair with Holo-projector displaying the void outside his ship. He was excited because he was about to lead his very own fleet of Starships into neighboring star systems near the planet that SENTRI base was currently on in Andromeda Galaxy and he was nervous because this would be his first time leading a fleet even with his long carrer in the navy.

Back when he was part of the US navy as a Captain, he never would have thought that a day would come that he would be able to command an entire fleet of his own considering how cut throat was the competition for being promoted to Admiralty, he was not well like among his peers due to the "radical" tactics, he once made during simulated war games.

The Simulated War games were based of on predicted real time scenarios, he was assigned as an enemy General and must defend against the full force of a Battlegroup from US. The SIM has doomed him from the start as everyone in the SIM can tell but instead of failing hard, he shock the rest when he started systematically destroying US ship through the use of deception and swarm tactics.

Swarm tactics with boats equipped with a single torpedo launcher, while executing hit and run tactics, he completely obliterated the battlegroup with minimal cost, which enrage the rest of the group to start labeling as incompetent and radical.

Anyways, SENTRI was able to build four more ship in the duration of five months to supplement the fleet, bringing the total strength to six as two of those ships were classified as Skadi class Cruisers; SDF Lance and Spear, measuring just about four hundred meters and is equipped with a Lance, a down grade version of Jupiters wrath, a standard shielding two tiers above the frigates capability while a couple of flak guns and laser emplacements littered its body for both offensive and defensive purposes, this made it suitable for flanking enemy ships focusing on the dreadnoughts.

The second was a Njord class frigates; SDF Picket and Runner and was equipped with powerful sensors, cloaking and engines that dwarf both dreadnought's in detection and speed though the two ships has significantly weaker shield generator than the cruisers but since the two have powerful engines, it should be enough to buy them time to run.

It's weapons were also limited due to its size, measuring only up to one hundred and fifty meters, mounted flak cannons and defensive turrets for CQB although its main offensive weapons are the smart missiles currently onboard the ship which make it very suitable to precision sniping using the missiles.

Now, Eir, Lance and Picket were left to patrol the system while Brynhildr alongside Runner and Spear will patrol the nearby system for ET activity.

Admiral Williams wasn't really expecting that much for ET activity since it has been scouted before but Mr. Maximus himself wanted another search basing on the protocal guidelines he had given them, just to be sure so they had no choice but to obey.

"Brynhildr are the crew ready?" He asked the ship's Artificial Intelligence, which make commandering this massive ship extremely easy if he had to say so himself.

"SDF Runner crew are all accounted for, SDF Spear crew are all accounted for and SDF Brynhildr crew are all accounted for, Admiral we are okay to go!" Said the AI Brynhildr. Williams really like Brynhildr voice since it was so smooth to hear, which would make a good deal of sense since the AI is pattern after Valkyries, the norse equivalent to angel.

"Right, Connect me to the main comms." He said, which was answered by Brynhildr with a nod before connecting the comms. of the exploratory fleet.

When Williams was given the go ahead, he turned to look at the floating holographic screen to address everyone. "Ladies, Gentlemen and AI's, the hour is at hand, as we traverse the vast expanse of space, leaving the comfort of our new home, we the SENTRI Navy shall go forth with our heads up high, knowing that the risk we do today will pave the way for our planets prosperity so like the vikings of old that leave their home in search for richness, we of SENTRI navy shall explore for prosperity! if by chance we fall during this adventure, do not fear for Valhalla awaits to those who are brave! Let us make the High Chancellor proud!"

"For the High Chancellor!" The crew of the ship simultaneously chanted their word reverberating even to the empty void.

Williams, the stoic looking man suddenly smirk at the recorder before he ordered.

"Engage"

*******

Alexander close the feed after the good Admiral's inspirational speech as a massive headache suddenly hit him, he then lean back on his chair before massaging his temple as he sighed and grumbled "How the heck did this happen?"

"You didn't really give them an upfront answer back then and instead they took your silence for agreement" Karen replied as she put a stack of documents in his table.

"The plan was supposed to be a back up planet in case of Earth being destroyed, how the heck did it revolve into declaring independence from Earth and hailing me as their new leader?" He dejectedly ask.

"Technically, they can declare their own independence since Earth's governments don't have jurisdictions on space colonization especially to a place as far as Andromeda Galaxy; secondly, you did give them a place much more better than they had before, so declaring you as their "High Chancellor" was not only the right thing to do but also their way of showing how grateful they are to you." She explained.

Alex sighed before turning to look over at the beautiful sight out of his window. He was currently on his office situated on a landing castle standing erect while overlooking the city below which was a blend of modern architecture and nature.

The planet called Veurr and it was situated itself in a system orbiting a star much larger than of the solar system, it contains two other planets such as Eitri; a mineral reach planet which will be turned into a Mining world and Brokkr; a gas giant which will be harvested for rare elements to serve as fuels for future SENGRI capital ships.

Currently plans are being drawn to make the system into a bulwark of impregnable defense while also being flexible enough not to choke it's inhabitants due to the rigidness after all what use is a back up world when it cannot protect what it's supposed to preserve, which in this case was humanity.

Each planet will be orbited by four kilometer Space installation to serve as base and processors of materials gathered from each planet in the future, while a ring installation similar to that of Kuat drive yard will serve as both the industrial sector and space port for Véurr though of course most of it are still in construction phase which in estimate will take almost ten to twenty years with the ring installation taking fifty years before being fully complete.

Now, Véurr contains almost seventy thousand inhabitants, some of which are employees of SENTRI. Alex shook his head at how the Governments of Earth could miss the disappearance of that many people granted that most of the people in the planet were from places with iffy census and some of them were even refugees from wars or persecution.

Anyways, Alexander will have to think more of the pros and con of granting the Véurr citizen their request in the meantime, he still has paperworks to sign.

"Fuck!" He said when he realized that the stack of papers tripled when he was not looking.