The late afternoon sun, filtered through the panoramic window of Xiang Yu's private lounge. He sat in a low, plush armchair, one leg crossed elegantly over the other.
His expression was unconcerned. Almost bored. A crystal glass, half-filled with a shimmering, amber liquid, rested lightly in his hand, catching the light and scattering it in tiny prisms across the polished floor.
In front of him, a holographic screen, seemingly suspended in mid-air, flickered with breaking news. The images were stark: explosions blooming across the ochre surface of a mining planet, Republic cruisers engulfed in flames, and frantic evacuation efforts. The headline screamed in bold, crimson characters: FEDERATION ATTACKS! WAR DECLARED!
The news anchor's voice, tight with barely suppressed panic, detailed the Federation's surprise offensive, the devastating losses incurred by the Republic's outer rim defence fleet. Then, the broadcast cut to a live feed from the Federation capital.
