He raised his voice slightly. "Here’s the plan. Two groups, ten marines each. Group A and Group B will enter first through the phasing devices. Neutralize anyone stationed near the generator controls, including any armored Minotaurs."
"There shouldn’t be many," he added. "It’s manageable. But stay alert. If anything deviates from the blueprints, adapt imdiately."
He turned slightly. "The rest of you will enter with through the main door. Tech team, be ready to begin laying out the teleportation channel the mont the room is secured."
Jaxson straightened his back and looked at each of them ."Now tell ," he said firmly, excitent visbale into his voice, "are you ready?"
"We are ready, sir!" the marines responded in unison.
"Good," Jaxson said. "Group A and Group B, move. Take down everything inside."
He truned aorund and faced the giant armored door in front of him though bit far , as plasma blade humming softly at his side. "The rest of you, with ," he commanded. "Let’s go."
Far back in the formation of the First Battle Fleet, aboard the Eclipse Warth, the command bridge was alive with quiet tension.
Grand Admiral Ezra stood near the forward displays, his eyes fixed on the battlefield projections. Streams of data and shifting tactical markers reflected across his expressionless face. After several monts, he spoke.
"Eclipse," he said calmly. "Status on the Shadow Divisions and their progress."
Eclipse nodded once and imdiately opened a secure channel. Monts later, the face of Mission Captain David appeared, his attention clearly split between multiple feeds.
"In Tarrus Pri," David reported, "Alpha Team has nearly secured the power generation room. Delta Team is also close to success."
Ezra listened without interrupting.
"As for Beta and Gamma Teams," David continued, "they’re making progress but are currently stalled. They’ll need more ti to break through."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The other squads deployed from our remaining battleships are advancing at roughly the sa pace. Most are close to taking control of their power generation rooms, as well as the FTL and shield modules. However, they’re encountering resistance near the command bridges. Progress there will take ti."
Eclipse nodded before speaking. She instructed the david to stay have the teams focused on their tasks, while also warning him that there could be changes to the plan and that they the teams might be cleared to go all out. Until then, they were to wait for further orders and prcoeed as they are doing so.
After saying this, she cut the channel and relayed the report to Ezra, word for word.
Grand Admiral Ezra nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving the battlefield ahead. For several seconds, he said nothing, as if weighing the situation.
Then he shook his head with a quiet sigh and turned his eyes toward Eclipse.
"That’s too much ti wasted," he said flatly. "They’re slowing themselves down because they don’t want to reveal their presence and risk being surrounded in the middle of Minotaur territory. That’s a reasonable move, and I don’t fault them for following their instructions. But it’s still too slow. Far too slow.
"That is correct, Grand Admiral," Eclipse replied. "But they are making progress, and they’re already performing well. If we loosen so of the restrictions while also clearing a path for them, then..."
She paused, leaving the thought unfinished. She knew she didn’t need to say more. As the Eclipse’s warship AI and Ezra’s strategic assistant, it was her duty to offer her perspective, and she trusted him to understand her stance.
Ezra exhaled quietly as he considered her observation. After a mont, he nodded.
"Those are my thoughts as well," he said. "So let’s change the plan a bit. Give them so peace of mind and let them go all out."
He straightened his back and rose from the command seat. Raising one hand, he issued his order.
"Broadcast my command to both flanks. Tell them to intensify their assaults imdiately on the Minotaur battle line. I want it crushed at breakneck speed. There’s no need to hold back. They can go all out, for all I care."
Eclipse nodded, indicating she understood and would relay the order. Before doing so, however, she spoke again.
"Grand Admiral, what about the Minotaur’s smaller flanking groups? They’re mostly destroyed and pose little threat, but sothing should still be done about them, correct?"
Ezra paused at that, then continued with a faint smirk.
"Have Raj and Damien make quick work of them. After that, send them to Shadow Divisions One and Two. They’re to provide whatever support is needed and assist the fleet with cleanup."
"As you command, sir," Eclipse replied.
She imdiately began relaying the orders, remaining attentive in case Ezra had further commands to give. She wasn’t disappointed. He did indeed continue.
"Order the vanguard to move forward," Ezra continued. "Their target remains the sa: the Minotaur vanguard units. Let them break those forces apart as they push deeper into the Minotaur battle line. Do not allow them to be surrounded, though. And keep them clear of that star fortress. Its firepower is too dangerous, and I won’t have my vanguard caught by it."
Hearing this, Eclipse realized there was sothing she had failed to ntion earlier during her exchange with David.
"Ah, one more thing, Grand Admiral," she said. "David reports a power vacuum within the Minotaur command. They haven’t issued any directives for so ti now. He suspects their higher leadership may be aboard the star fortress and is likely preparing to flee."
Ezra’s expression sharpened.
"Oh?" he said quietly. "That changes things a bit. Still, tell them to stay alert. Even more than before."
He shifted his attention toward the center of the fleet formation, where its core strength was concentrated, his flagship positioned at its heart.
"anwhile, inform every ship in the central line to begin targeting the Minotaur core ships in their own center line, including the star fortress. It’s ti for them to enter the battle as well."
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