Snippet #2762005

There was some semblance of silence aboard the Pride of Langara, as sound seemed to inexplicably cross the vacuum of space, four light minutes in the span of an instant, reverberating the hull of the Command Carrier.

"Update; energies detected from the creature... it appears that the primary objective is not aboard the fleeing vessel..." EVE's voice chimed in, as if though she didn't even hear Irral's ultimatum.

Montrose did, and in response her gaze narrowed, her expression darkened while her fingertips worked the fleet management interface.

"I'm going to take it out, give me something to work with, EVE." Montrose spoke up.

"Analyzing... two tactical scenarios identified that minimize casualties; as the entity intensifies it's magical energies, I have been able to study them closer, My analysis of the entity's magical composition is complete." EVE replied.

"Considering all relevant parameters, I re-advise mission abort." EVE added.

"Mission abort is unacceptable, we'll signal for reinforcements, and try to keep this thing busy for as long as we can, until additional fleet elements arrive." Montrose rebuked, while bringing her hands across the holographic fleet interface.

The atmosphere of the Command Carrier was that of trepidation, but everyone intended on committing to their duties to the end.

There was a long pause from EVE. "Advise tactical approach... re-calibrate, and activate AEGIS Field for null-magic capabilities, All ships adjust shields double front, thermal dissipation with magical dispersal properties, load-out M-7." The AI Hologram explained, while a large display of the field flickered to life before Admiral Montrose.

"Position Hastati cruisers in a capital phalanx, with frigate, and corvette escort to draw attention away from the main command vessel, the emphasis will be a swift first strike, with long range capabilities. Positioned at the rear, Athena cruisers will fire long range Ajax missiles armed with a tricobalt warhead directly behind the entity, twenty five thousand teracochrane yield."

Missile trajectories were highlighted briefly.

"Follow up with a salvo from frag cannons, while Hastati cruisers engage with long range Ajax missiles carrying High-yield antimana warheads."

"Anticipate likelihood of mission salvage, at fourty-nine percent... considering all possible variables." EVE added, as displays surrounded the Admiral.

"Do it... We'll execute the plan, and signal the fleet, I'll bank on this... thing's arrogance to keep him in the fight... fire and maneuver... keep FTL Drives hot, tactical jumps... let's keep this thing on it's toes!" Montrose called out.

EVE Simply nodded.

"Plan accepted... disseminating objectives to all units, commence diversionary tactics until fleet arrives." EVE then turned to face Montrose. "The remainder of Classis I will be on station in three millicentons, minimize casualties for this period of time, and mission success will increase to ninety four percent."

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The Aschen fleet continued to advance, but something started to change. The Aegis cruisers moved out among the formation of Aschen ships, and began their first move.

A brilliant beam of blue light began to bounce among the four cruisers, until the entire Aschen formation was engulfed in a massive, but brief, shimmering bubble of energy. Inside the shimmering barrier, magic would mostl likely be useless, no matter the strength, or the caliber. Magic would likely simply fail to catalyze within this barrier, rendering the Aschen ships, and her crews largely immune to indirect magical attacks.

Shields on the individual ships began to flare to life, moving, contorting, and adjusting to accommodate for possible retaliation.

Armored panels aboard the Athena class cruisers retracted, exposing the nose cones of roughly a dozen Ajax type long range tactical missile systems.

The ships continued to advance, at their current speed, they would be within attack range in minutes.