“Admiral, I have an update on the unknown enemy mech that has been attacking and destroying our craft.” The Hepolisk communications officer reported on the Hepolisk capital ships' bridge.
“That thing is still active? Why hasn’t it been destroyed yet?” The Hepolisk Admiral asked in an annoyed tone.
“Incoming reports suggested that every ship and mech we have sent against it has been quickly destroyed without even being able to scratch it.”
“How is that even possible? It’s only one mech.”
“Unknown sir, however, it appears that its weapons system is far more advanced than our own. I’m not sure if I’m reading this right. Still, the latest report says that ten objects just detached from the mech and are now orbiting around it, protecting it from incoming missiles while occasionally destroying our craft.”
“That almost sounds like the unmanned ships we are using to defend our important ships.” The bridge weapons officer stated.
“Don’t be stupid, those unmanned ships are only slightly smaller than a mech, how can they have detached from this enemy mech?” The Admiral said angrily before asking.
“What’s its current heading?”
“Still making a beeline for the communication jamming ship, sir.”
“Fine, since we know its target, let's lay a trap, order the majority of our forces to ignore the unknown mech and focus back on those damn birds, that's the reason we are here after all. As for the rest, have them engage to keep up the deception.
To reach the communication jamming ship in sector three, it will have to pass through sector nine, have all our medium and large class ships manoeuvre into position in a way that makes it so the enemy mech will have to fly right between them all.”
“Understood, Admiral.”
“Oh, and also remind our people to try and take down their ships without killing them all, we want their hearts after all.”
“Is it just me, or are there attacks letting up?” Adam asked as he took down several more Hepolisk craft.
[[That does indeed seem to be the case, the majority of the Hepolisk ships and mechs in this area have re-focussed their attack on the Phoenix forces.]]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Did the streamer scare them off. Kekeke]
[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Well, he is cutting them down like twigs.]
[Emojisonly (Earth): 👍]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): I doubt it, this is a war after all, and the last thing an enemy commander wants is to leave a rogue unit alone to decimate his forces.]
[OfficialRowena (Oceana 7): You think it’s some kind of plan or trap?]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): That’s the most likely possibility.]
[[Sensors show that medium and large class Hepolisk ships numbering twenty-seven are altering position to an area that we will pass through.]]
As Spector spoke, a new display appeared on the viewscreen showing Adam’s flight path and how Hepolisk ships were moving and repositioning themselves to either side of it.
“Are they laying some kind of ambush? Do they really think that our sensors can’t pick that up?”
[[Mech sensors at this time are far less advanced than they are now, and cannot compare to the sensors on a ship. They probably believe that I am incapable of detecting their ships' movements.]]
[[We are receiving a communication from one of the nearby large-class Phoenix ships.]]
“Unknown mech, this is the Phoenix ship Orange Sunrise, please respond. I repeat, Unknown mech, this is the Phoenix ship Orange Sunrise, please respond”
[[Would you like to reply?]]
“This could work in our favour, open communications.”
“Any luck?” The captain of the Orange Sunrise asked his communication officer.
“Nothing yet … wait… we are receiving a communication from the unknown mech.” The communication officer reported.
“Put it on speakers.” The captain ordered, and soon after, an unknown male voice was heard.
“Orange Sunrise, this is unknown mech, I read you.”
“Unknown mech, this is the Orange Sunrise’s captain, please identify yourself.” The captain stated.
“No time for that, captain. I am replying to your communication request as there is an opportunity for us to take out a large number of medium and large-class Hepolisk ships.”
“Explain unknown mech.”
“Twenty-seven Hepolisk ships are repositioning themselves to either side of my flight path. I expect they are attempting to lay an ambush for me.”
“Sensors, can you confirm this?” The captain asked his sensor operator.
“Affirmative, Captain, our sensors can confirm the movement of enemy ships to surround the unknown mech's flight path. Though I am unsure how his mech managed to detect such a thing.” The sensor operator confirmed.
“How I’m able to detect it is not important; what is important is that this is an opportunity for you to take down several of the Hepolisk ships.
If you subtly reposition any of your available ships and mechs near them, then you can ambush them when they attempt to ambush me.” Adam replied.
“You won’t be able to survive the assault of that many ships simultaneously.” The captain advised.
“Leave that to me, you just get your ships into position.”
The captain was about to reply when the communications officer said, “The unknown mech has cut communications, Captain.”
The captain sighed before ordering, “Relay this information to the capital ship and ask for instructions.”
Adam continued to pilot Spector Unit 6 towards the Hepolisk ambush point while his shoulder cannons and drones fired at any Hepolisk forces that came into range.
A short while after communicating with the Orange Sunrise, Spector announced.
[[Phoenix forces is the area surrounding the ambush point seem to be subtly moving closer to it while continuing to engage Hepolisk forces in the area .]]
The display on the viewscreen showing the ambush point and Hepolisk ships has been updated to now show the Phoenix ships and mechs that were slowly approaching.
“Looks like they agreed.”
[Superhearofangirl (Earth): So they're going along with his plan?]
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): It’s not really surprising. The Phoenix fleet is severely outnumbered and has only survived this long thanks to its planetary defence network. They would most likely take any opportunity they could get.]
[OfficialLorelie (Oceana 7): Isn’t it dangerous for him to act as the decoy?]
[OfficialRowena (Oceana 7): I wouldn’t worry, his mech is so much more advanced that unless they use planetary annihilation weapons, I doubt they could even scratch him.]
[OrangeeyedStace (Oceana 7): That’s what you Earthlings call a flag, right?]
[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Totally.] Updates are released by NoveI(F)ire.net
[Animefangirl (Earth): 100%]
[Emojisonly (Earth): 🚩]
[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): There may be trouble ahead, Kekeke.]
[OfficialRowena (Oceana 7): Oh, please, there is nothing in the historical records to show that the Hepolisks used planetary annihilation weapons.]
[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): There’s also nothing in the historical records showing the black knight battling in space; it stayed with the white dragon on Fenix Neat the entire time.]
[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Black Knight?]
As the chat explained to the Earthlings about the Black Knight, Spector Unit 6 entered the section of space where the Hepolisk medium- and large-class ships were waiting.
“Admiral, the unknown mech has entered the ambush area.”
“Good, commence attack.”
Once Adam had Spector Unit 6 reach the middle of the group of Hepolisk ships, they suddenly all turned their weapons to bear on it before opening fire.
Lasers, blaster bolts, rockets and missiles flew towards Spector Unit 6.
[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Here we go.]
[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): They have pounced.]
Adam was naturally prepared for this and was just waiting for the moment the Hepolisk ships attacked.
Adam piloted Spector Unit 6 towards the section of the ambush that had the least number of Hepolisk ships.
As he flew, he turned and activated the beam absorber on Spector Unit 6’s left arm to absorb all the laser and blaster bolts first, since they were much faster than the rockets and missiles.
While doing this, the drones flew off to intercept the rockets and missiles he couldn’t evade, as well as to avoid being caught up in the beam absorber.
[[NDS Ready for activation.]]
[[Please select NDS Mode.]]
[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): There are different modes?]
[Vinnaka (Felinia 6): Come on, streamer, stop with the damn cliffhangers already.]
“Admiral, those Hepolisk bastards have launched their attack as expected.” The Phoenix communications officer reported as soon as they received an update from the Phoenix ships and mechs that were near Adam.
“So he was right, good. Proceed with the plan.” The Phoenix Admiral ordered.
“Yes, sir. Flagship to all units in sector nine, proceed with the ambush.”
Suddenly, as the Hepolisk ships were focused on firing at Spector Unit 6, the nearby Phoenix ships and mechs that had been in combat all turned their weapons on the Hepolisk ships and attacked their flank.
The Hepolisk ships were unprepared for the ambush by the Phoenix craft because, in their minds, it was they were supposed to be the ambusher, not the ambushed, and because of this, they got distracted, lessening the weapons fire that Adam had to deal with.
Adam ignored the NDS message for the moment and had his sixteen energy weapons lock onto sixteen of the Hepolisk ships before opening fire on them.