Only after hearing Admiral Kevin's command through the internal fleet transmission did the Federation ships finally cease their friendly fire.
It wasn't hesitation—it was shock.They hadn't immediately stopped because their minds were still stunned by what they saw:
The Ragnarok, that enormous, mysterious vessel, had just teleported directly into the crossfire using unknown warp technology—right into the heart of the battle.
The sudden appearance disrupted auto-targeting systems and human reactions alike. Now, with weapons finally lowering, Kevin let out a long, weary sigh of relief as he watched his ships halt their misguided assault.
Turning toward William—who appeared deep in conversation with his own crew—Kevin tried to hail him. But the voice from William's side was muted, and Kevin couldn't hear a thing. All he could see was William's lips moving, unreadable across the comm-link.
Still, Kevin offered a sincere message.