A/N: There is a picture at the bottom of the system and location of the battles. Check it out if you get confused.

Chapter 156

Destruction

The ten fleets suddenly appeared all around the robot system. Three fleets appeared beside the battlestation in the middle of the system. Four appeared surrounding the robot fleet they were building. Two appeared around the huge manufacturing s.h.i.+ps. The last one appeared around the planet the robots were mining.

As soon as the fleets appeared, fighters surged forth from the carriers at the center of each fleet. These fighters were all the s.h.i.+eld fighters! Forming a sphere-shaped formation around the fleet, the s.h.i.+eld fighters linked their s.h.i.+elds together! It was impossible to attack any of the fleets without breaking through the s.h.i.+eld that now surrounded them.

Now that the s.h.i.+eld was in place, sniper fighters took their positions behind the battles.h.i.+ps. With the battles.h.i.+ps between them and the enemy, it would make the sniper drones far better protected while still giving them a mostly clear shot. The regular fighters formed up right beside the carriers, ready to charge out of the s.h.i.+eld and engage in long-distance strikes. 

As Lucas’ fleet was preparing, the robot s.h.i.+ps were also preparing. Unlike a human fleet, there were no signs of panic. Instead, there was an immediate response to the invading fleet. The enemy fleet had been stockpiling up in the middle of the system. It immediately formed a huge arrowhead shape pointed at one of the four enemy fleets surrounding them.

The battlestation let loose a flood of destroyers, cruisers, and battles.h.i.+ps that formed a barrier between it and the two fleets that had appeared around it. As for the manufacturing plants…

Huge s.h.i.+elds appeared all around the manufacturing plants. Thick barrels slowly emerged from the manufacturing s.h.i.+ps’ surfaces. The barrels swiveled and pointed towards the two fleets that were opposite them. Finally, the transport s.h.i.+ps that were being threatened by the single fleet nearby stopped operation and fled towards their allies.

Chu Shen had cold sweat break out on his brow. During their planning, Lucas had mentioned that it was possible the manufacturing plants had weapons. It was obvious they had s.h.i.+elds otherwise there would be now way for them to protect themselves.

However, even if they had s.h.i.+elds, the manufacturing s.h.i.+ps had no way of fighting back. Lucas said it was preposterous that such huge s.h.i.+ps had no weapons. What he mentioned were things like anti-fighter armaments or maybe missiles. There was no mention of huge cannons like the ones being pointed at them now.

Lucas, on the other hand, decided that they were in the perfect position. His sniper drones would obviously have the advantage for range. His four fleets surrounding the enemy fleet would be able make quick work of them. 

Since the enemy fleet was in between the battlestation and manufacturing s.h.i.+ps, they would be able to support both if needed. Not to mention that the support s.h.i.+ps fleeing signified that they weren’t armed. As a result, the one fleet he sent to deal with them would also be freed up quite swiftly.

All in all, it seemed as though the two biggest wild cards were the manufacturing plants and the battlestation. The battle station having a fleet of s.h.i.+ps inside it wasn’t antic.i.p.ated. Maybe a hundred destroyers and a handful of battles.h.i.+ps, but the amount that came out of the battle station was equal to ten enemy fleets without the fighters and carriers. 100 battles.h.i.+ps, 400 destroyers, and 200 cruisers! 

Compared to Lucas’ overall amount of s.h.i.+ps, it seemed pitiful. However, with the firepower of the battlestation backing them up, it wouldn’t be too far a stretch of the imagination that Lucas’ three fleets would be destroyed.

All of this ran through Lucas’ head in a matter of seconds. The speed of his thoughts were far superior to any humans due to his positronic brain. As a result, all of his calculations were able to come to fruition in a short amount of time.

Ordering his fleet that was close to the fleeing transport s.h.i.+ps to open fire. Plasma bolts quickly filled the void as the destroyers opened fire. The s.h.i.+eld fighters s.h.i.+elds blocked everything from coming in but nothing from getting out, allowing their s.h.i.+ps to fire through the s.h.i.+elds protecting them. 

The transport s.h.i.+ps were exceedingly fragile, blowing up with only a single strike. Some of them seemed like they were going to escape before a hole would mysteriously appear in the transport s.h.i.+ps. Obviously the sniper drones were finally going active.

Squads of fighters also shot out from their protective sphere, striking at some of the farthest s.h.i.+ps before they could get clear. Soon, most of the transport s.h.i.+ps disappeared from the system. A handful were able to get to cover but compared to their previous numbers, it could only be called pitiful.

Railguns bombarded the surface of the planet as well, wiping out the mining tools. With this, their supply operation could be called crippled. While this was going on, the other three locations were also getting busy.

The battle station had multiple laser beams and plasma bolts flying from it’s multiple gun ports. Lucas’ three fleets s.h.i.+elds were holding steady, easily absorbing all the punishment the battle station and their supporting fleet was dis.h.i.+ng out on them. Instead, it was the enemy that was being demolished!

 The battle station’s supporting fleets were quickly being wiped out. Their s.h.i.+elds could only withstand one blow, maybe two, of the tachyon cannon. The railguns went straight through their s.h.i.+eld like it was nothing before hitting their hulls. 

The plasma bolts only did a little bit of damage but there were hundreds of thousands of them flying across s.p.a.ce. There was also the huge plasma bolts from the destroyers main guns. Just one hit would take down more than half a battles.h.i.+p’s s.h.i.+eld. If two hit a battles.h.i.+p at once, then bye-bye battles.h.i.+p.

While the battle station and its supporting fleet was being handled pretty well, the main enemy fleet was also being crushed. They had discovered that fighters could pa.s.s through the s.h.i.+eld fighters’ force field and were waylaying the s.h.i.+ps inside. The fighters pitiful armaments only caused negligible damage but now the other s.h.i.+ps were charging at the fleet, intending to pa.s.s through the s.h.i.+eld as well.

The biggest surprise was actually the manufacturing s.h.i.+ps. Their huge guns that Lucas was so wary of at first hadn’t fired once. Instead they sat there like turtles, hiding behind their giant s.h.i.+elds. So far the battles.h.i.+ps were the only ones to score kills, their railguns rendering their s.h.i.+elds useless. All of the other s.h.i.+ps pumped their fire into one manufacturing s.h.i.+p but it appeared as though it was useless. Their s.h.i.+elds were just too strong.

One of the manufacturing s.h.i.+ps huge guns started glowing. The barrel lit up with an eerie red energy. Suddenly, a beam of red energy shot outwards, striking one of the two fleets s.h.i.+elds.

A white explosion of energy blinded Lucas’ sensors. Just what was that?!

Picture of battle: 

Oval = Lucas' fleet     Square = Battle Station     Closest Circle = Manufacturing     Right Circle = Main    Enemy Fleet     Filled Circle = planet      Stretched Oval = Transport s.h.i.+ps