Chapter 103 Fractured Alliances

The Aethel network, once a beacon of unity and progress, was now a battleground. Fleets clashed in pitched space battles, the once pristine hulls of starships now riddled with scorch marks and gaping holes. Propaganda broadcasts filled the airwaves, the Council's carefully crafted messages vying for attention with the rebellion's desperate pleas. On the neutral moon base, Cyrus and Elara watched the unfolding chaos with a mixture of grim satisfaction and gnawing worry. Their message, a desperate gamble, had ignited a spark of rebellion across the network. But with that spark came the inevitable Council retaliation, a brutal campaign aimed at extinguishing any dissent. The rebellion, a diverse coalition of networks, faced its first true test. Communication channels crackled with pleas for assistance, reports of devastating Council attacks. Networks, emboldened by the initial message, now found themselves facing the harsh reality of war. The first major blow came from the fringes of t