Chapter 7:The commander's Gaze

Chapter 7: The Commander’s Gaze

Inside the command center of Titan Lance, the atmosphere was calm—but beneath that calm was deep curiosity.

Seated at the center of the bridge, a woman with piercing silver eyes gazed at the battlefield. Her sharp, well-defined features gave her a commanding yet elegant presence. Her long, raven-black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, adding to the air of discipline she exuded.

Her name was Ireth Lorne—a captain of the Federation’s military fleet.

And right now, her mind was focused on one thing.

"Identify that ship." Her voice was smooth yet firm, leaving no room for hesitation. "Its rank and designation."

A second of silence passed. Then another.

No response.

She frowned slightly and turned toward her confidant, a seasoned officer who had served beside her for years.

"Did you not hear me?"

The man hesitated before answering, his face pale. "Commander Lorne… there’s no data. That ship isn’t in our registry."

Ireth’s silver eyes sharpened instantly.

"Impossible."

Every warship, no matter how insignificant, had a signature. Even pirate ships had traces of past records. But this one? It was a ghost.

Just as she was about to issue another command, a message flashed across her console.

—[Incoming Transmission: Pegasus]

Ireth tapped the panel.

A report from Pegasus’s captain appeared on the screen.

—"That ship belongs to a student. He is en route to the Federation for registration."

A student?

Ireth leaned back in her chair, processing the information. Her instincts told her that there was more to this.

"Even if it’s unregistered, I can still analyze its combat power."

"Run a scan. I want a full breakdown of its battle potential."

Her team worked quickly. Within moments, the results came in.

Nothing.

Her brows relaxed slightly.

The report displayed standard readings—no extraordinary energy output, no rare materials, nothing that suggested it was anything beyond a typical warship.

Her heart eased.

"Maybe I overestimated it."

She glanced at Pegasus’s report again. The student piloting that warship would be arriving soon.

"Have someone escort him here."

Her confidant hesitated.

Ireth turned her head, her gaze piercing. "Is there a problem?"

The officer cleared his throat. "No, ma’am. I will arrange it immediately."

---

A Captivating Presence

Aboard Pegasus, Shane sat quietly, still thinking about the battle.

That’s when an officer approached him.

"The commander of Titan Lance wishes to see you."

Shane blinked in surprise. "Me?"

The officer nodded. "Follow me."

A short flight later, Shane stepped onto the bridge of Titan Lance.

The moment he saw her, his breath caught in his throat.

Seated with absolute composure was a woman unlike any he had ever seen. Tall, confident, and exuding authority—yet possessing an elegance that made her presence almost unreal.

Her silver eyes locked onto him, cold and unreadable.

For the first time since awakening, Shane felt something unexpected.

Captivation.

Sitting in the waiting area of Titan Lance’s command center, Shane’s thoughts were in turmoil.

"How did I manage to deceive a Federal warship?"

It wasn’t just that they had dismissed his ship as ordinary—no, it was worse. The Federation warship had actively scanned him and found nothing unusual. That shouldn’t have been possible.

Even the lowest-ranked warships had detailed classification logs of every registered vessel type. His warship? It didn’t fit into any known category.

"Did my warship alter its data to appear normal? Is it hiding itself from detection?"

A chill ran down his spine.

"Just what kind of warship have I bonded with?"

The sound of footsteps pulled him out of his thoughts. A soldier clad in Federation uniform stopped before him and saluted stiffly.

“You may enter.”

Shane took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and stepped forward.

---

The Woman Who Shook His Heart

As soon as he entered the bridge, he stopped dead in his tracks.

There, seated at the center of the command deck, was a woman who radiated authority.

Her raven-black hair was tied in a sleek ponytail, emphasizing the sharp contours of her face. Her skin was flawless, her posture impeccable. But it was her eyes that held him still.

A piercing shade of silver, they gleamed like polished steel—calculating, analytical, and utterly commanding.

She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

It wasn’t just her appearance. It was her presence.

Her aura carried an intimidating elegance, the kind that could make people kneel without a single word.

"How old is she? Twenty-four? Twenty-six?"

He had met noblewomen before, daughters of high-ranking officers, even a few celebrities—but none of them could compare.

There was something about her that demanded respect.

His heart pounded.

She was looking at him. Not with hostility. Not with suspicion. But with curiosity.

It was the same look a scientist gave an untested theory.

Shane swallowed hard, forcing himself to maintain composure.

---

The Rank of Power

His gaze flickered to the insignia on her uniform.

Even without knowing the exact details of Federation rankings, he recognized the layered silver emblems.

"Commander? No...higher."

A Commander was already an influential position, but this woman? She was at least a Rear Admiral. Possibly even higher.

And in the Federation, rank wasn’t just about status—it was about raw power.

People of her level had access to classified knowledge, elite technology, and privileges that could sway entire planetary systems.

For someone so young to have reached this rank? Her strength must be terrifying.

"Who exactly is she?"

Before he could dwell on it, she spoke.

---

The Dance of Words

“You don’t seem like a regular student.”

Her voice was smooth, calm—but with an undertone of piercing insight.

Shane forced a small smile. "I get that a lot."

She leaned forward slightly, resting one elbow on the armrest, her silver eyes never leaving his.

“What’s your name?”

"So she wants to test my response first."

"Shane Wyne," he answered evenly.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then, to his surprise, a small smirk curved her lips.

"Interesting."

His stomach twisted. What did she find interesting?

Did she sense something strange about him? Or was she simply curious about his presence here?

He didn’t know.

But as he stood there, his heart still slightly unsteady, he realized one thing—

This meeting… would change his future.

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