The first enemy squadron was immediately alarmed when the first two were picked off without any warning. They attempted to perform active scans all around them, even as a few more were shot down.
But all they saw were vague signals coming from the distance.
It was only when the two Oni cores were within 3500 meters that they even came on their targeting lists and sensor reports. Even then, the information seemed warped and garbled and hard to completely pin down.
Surprise filled each of the pilots - Imperial sensors were top of the line in the entire galaxy. How these ships were able to scramble them was beyond their ability to accept.
“Yunsza squadron! Intercept!” cried their bladechief. “Now, now!”
As Freya and Lucifer tore apart the second Drogar squadron, the first flanked them widely on both sides. They watched as the two of them ripped through their forces with relative ease, and without taking much damage at all in exchange.A sense of fear swept through a few pilots, heightened by the fact that their sensor sweeps revealed precious little data. Certainly nothing that they could exploit for an advantage.All the data revealed was that they were faster, tougher, nimbler, and deadlier than their own ships. And on realizing that they wouldn’t be getting more intelligence, their bladechief could only harrumph in annoyance.He slammed a fist on his controls, irritated by the two ships’ impenetrability.“Fine,” he growled. “Time to laun
With the Imperial frigates and fighters completely occupied by other Republic forces, Freya and Lucifer were able to engage with the mecha on the ground.They were stationed at the base of the cliff, near the center. There, they guarded a massive siege piston pointed at a large and incredibly thick armored bay door set into the cliff itself. The piston charged up with a long whine, and once it hit its peak let all its energy loose.The heavy ball head on the piston itself shot forward and smashed into the bay door with a resounding VHONG. And further dented the door right in the middle.Shockwaves of energy rippled across the ground as it struck, and caused loose dust and debris to jump up in the air. Even the cliffside itself was shaken deeply by the strike, and numerous rocks and stones tumbled down as they
High above the cliffside base, the two remaining Imperial frigates were limping away from the fight as best they could. Their chitin armor had been ripped open in numerous places, and were impaled with dozens of spears all over.Massive cracks had split in between each spear, from which multiple chunks of chitin had fallen away. Some sections of their exoframes were also clearly visible to the world, and were ripe for exploitation.Many of their broadside stinger-like cannons hung limply in their turret housings, if they hadn’t been torn apart or wrenched out.What few that were still functional had instead been completely powered down - all energies were diverted towards their repairs and their slipstream drives. The only thing they needed to do now was get away with their lives.
Planet: Thilarri Central, Thilarri System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless DrogarThe crowd across the amphitheater stands cheered wildly and with incredible gusto. Most were standing up, yelling, clapping, stomping, making the most noise possible. Tens of thousands of them all faced towards the massive stage in the center, while numerous drones floated above some of their heads.Each of those drones projected numerous holographic signs in the air, many of which read:—Retholis for Emperor-Long-term Profits, Not Short-term War-Strength From Order, Order From Strength
Gredalii Moon, Planet: Zha’ress III, Zha’ress System, Imperial Domain of the Boundless DrogarThe Zha’ress System. One of the many critical industrial star systems inhabited by the Drogar.Like most other systems in the entire galaxy, the Drogar relied on dyson spheres around their stars for energy.The one surrounding the Zha’ress’ primary star was made of countless hexagonal photonic plates, which made the entire thing look like a perfectly cut spherical gemstone. And each of those plates not only absorbed the star’s radiation, but they also converted it to raw power directly.And as a whole, transmitted photoelectric energy to every planet in the system. Gredalii moon included.On that moon, the numerou
The commando team filed into a dark, low, and narrow maintenance corridor as quickly as they could. Behind them, Raijin closed the hatch they came through, then followed right behind.The maintenance corridor was lined with pipes and wires and tubes along each of its hexagonal sides. And it was small enough that they were all forced to crouch as they moved through. This was no doubt a crawlspace for the Drogar, and wouldn’t likely be in these corridors and tunnels at all.Xylo shot at a few maintenance drones that were hovering around with her disruption pistol, which fell to the ground completely neutralized.Some in her team picked up the deactivated drones for later deconstruction and examination.Raijin picked one up, and absorbed it immediately. Though she dec
Raijin exited her machine trance with a long gasp. She stepped back just as she withdrew the last of her nanites from the databank, then turned towards Xylo with a grin on her face.“So, you found something good, then?” Xylo said.“I can confirm our suspicions,” Raijin replied. “The ships are almost completely biomechanical, and its systems are derived from those eggs. The larva are combined with each other in various ways, then attached to the massive exoframes. It is there that they evolve into pupa, and begin to form into the various systems, modules, circuits, everything.”“Everything? That’s wild.”“Well, almost everything. Perhaps 80% of every Drogar warship is biomechanical in nature. Just like peop
Freya and Lucifer walked among the grass and wove between the trees in their cruiser’s central park. The slightly domed roof above them projected a low sun amidst clear skies. Though it was close to a simulated sunset, there was still plenty of light for them to enjoy.Not that they were the only ones. Numerous members of the Republic were out as well, all enjoying their little slice of paradise.They were grouped up or paired up. Most were chatting with each other, or playing strategy games at park benches, or simply taking winding strolls.The few that came across the two of them often waved their hands or audibly greeted them. Freya greeted them back the way they did, though Lucifer typically only nodded and smiled in exchange.“I’m still not u