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The final hours of preparation were taken by the Mechanicum forces. The developments and construction of Station A-1 were so that they strapped a series of turrets and even a third gun upon its hull. It was an imposing fortress now that demonstrated that the Mechanicum were ready to fight the good fight for this system.
Upon the completion of the third gun there was not a long wait. The identified jump point lit up with activity as the Alien fleet of the predicted 70 ships came tumbling out of the Warp. This meant that everything was within the estimates that TalOS knew existed but it did not help make the situation any less dour.
On the Mechanicum’s side there were fourty ships total, with a majority being Escort compared to the Cruiser heavy Xenos. Even with their range advantage the coming fight will likely see a good chunk of TalOS’s fleet either destroyed or injured.
He could not help that simple fact. Fundamental and unchangeable. TalOS simply needed to figure out how many deaths could the Mechanicum’s fleet take before the Xenos get victory.
Upon sighting the Xenos the fleet moved as one towards them. Everyone knew the stratagem that was to be employed and they were going to commit to it with a brutal efficiency that only machines could commit to.
The first few barrages came rocketing towards the Xenos with skill and precision. The only dreadful thing was that at such ranges even the smallest of changes to the Xeno’s trajectory could result in a ricochet instead of a wound upon the ship.
TalOS did not let this worry him and neither did the rest of the Mechanicum’s fleet.
Attack after attack they struck at numerous places upon the Xenos. Every target that TalOS dedicated a barrage to resulted in the crimping or complete destruction of that ship. The Xenos, unlike the last ones, seemed to have engaged some form of thrusters as they received each and every attack.
Before the suppressive fire was more than enough to prevent this tactic. It was clear in physics, even with light based attacks, that running towards them caused greater harm than trying to defend yourself. However the Xenos realized if they wanted to reach the Mechanicum fleet they would need to get within medium range.
TalOS made some changes to his calculations and waited.