Upon reaching a thirty six and a half angle the ships engaged their thrusters while they were <span class="mu-i">infront</span> of the pickett line. They took fire, but this maneuver caused their attacks to be unfocused and ineffective.
At that point the thrusters kicked on, allowing the ships to move at extreme but nearly unwieldy speeds. Their movement however caused the swinging of their ships to be within the Pickett line formation instead of a standard clearing away of using ineffective front thrust systems.
In the movement of turning the ships curved in a manner that placed them left, right, under, over, and even in front of the Pickett line. None of the currently active pickett line moved or redirected their coordinates as fifteen shots went sailing towards the Flagship’s bodyguards.
In the future Imperial Naval Captains and even some Naval based Domini would look into such a tactic that TalOS had performed here today. They wondered how fifteen voidworthy ships were not only able to make such sharp turns but were able to do so and not be shot by their fellow ships. It was simply two things that prevented the destruction of the Mechanicum fleet there.
The first was the mind of a Primarch, which all would agree is capable but left a sour taste in many of their mouths as many did not even think a mortal crew could pull off such calculations.
At last that was the second item. These crews were not simply mortal but the augmented forms of Skitarii, Tech Priests, and the Machine Spirits that guided them all. Upon receiving the peer reviewed calculations the crew did exactly as they were told and did not deviate even an inch in said creation. Thus the calculations, which required a Void Shield to lessen its power by 2.67% to allow a one inch clearance for the Pickett line’s shots, was achievable.
With the maneuver pulled off the group that had fallen back formed another Pickett Line and released their own barrage of shots from already hot guns. As those who were in front began to fall back the new Pickett Line was able to fire off another barrage at the enemy.
As the newest Pickett Line was forming the old one was retreating, creating a cycle of ship rotation that scarred and tore through many of the enemy Cruisers with impunity.
The Xenos, for all their time in the stars, had never seen such a technique used and likely never will. All they could do is go at full throttle and try their damndest to get close enough to catch up to the now moving Mechanicum firing line.
>Its like the gunnery rotation presented here, but falling back with fucking Space Ships.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raBNUUj1-fY