-=+ +=- [COMPLETED] The Second Universe -=+ +=-

Part 12: A Game Changer

The vehicles that had been rolling onto the roofs of the station and preparing to fire at NWU and OFR vessels were mostly taken out due to their close proximity to the now gone reactors, but some remained, then coming under heavy fire from AHM-64s, F/A-14s, and BF/A aircraft. Some self propelled anti air systems damaged AHM-64s with their guns, but usually were met with a 'proportional' rocket barrage response.

The carriers that had targeted the base's reactors switched their focus to their ammunition magazines, firing at them with the same force. The amount of thaumaturgical ammo stored caused multicolored explosions to tear apart the station, first destroying Jupiter-sized sections of the station and then rendering many other sections immediately hazardous by rupturing their structure.

The gashes and fissures that had formed further ripped apart via the shockwaves from the explosions caused by other ammo magazines blowing up, tearing huge sections of the stronghold apart. CROS ships attached to the stronghold frantically deployed and fired wildly at New World Union and OFR ships, missiles flying in every direction.

The missiles that were fired from the NWU and OFR all happened to hit the desperately firing CROS ships. It just so happened that the missiles fired by the NWU and OFR had far superior precision guidance systems fitted to them, and thus would lock onto the CROS ships faster and better. The devastating disadvantage in missile technology possessed by the CROS would end up causing many of their ships to simply miss.

NWU-OFR gunners had their own targets selected for them. Anti-ship and point defense batteries scattered in clusters all around were firing back at their ships, and those without upgrade packages were certainly blown up easily, which was very few at this point. The rest, sporting more modern scientific and thaumaturgical upgrade packages had heavily increased proficiency.

This allowed them to essentially perform Iron Hand operations on the base all on their own, flying over it and blasting emplacements that fired back, inflicting heavy material and manpower casualties. CROS batteries still managed to down some ships, both NWU and OFR, that flew too close, but still essentially lost their topside defenses.

Down below, much of the same story happened, New World Union and Oligarchic Federation ships committing to heavy strafing runs that devastated CROS defenses. The two battles that were essentially occurring here, the battle against the frantic CROS quick reaction force and the battle against the stronghold's defenses, were both being lost by the CROS.

A few hours later, the battle ended in very light casualties for the New World Union and OFR forces and heavy casualties for the CROS, essentially having lost their stronghold. War maps across all three nations updated, showing the CROS had one of their only strongholds in the Thuian universe.

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"Christmas Eve Blackout Briefing"

December 24, 35794 - 17:21:54

Elder 1-1 'Overmatch'

UADT Headquarters

Astera, Teraton, New World Union

A group of five heavily armored people enter a briefing room. Immediately assuming waiting positions, the leader being the most heavily armored, Elder 1-1. He sits down on a floating chair, waiting for something to happen. Soon enough, something does, as an AI voice immediately starts the briefing.

[Today, you, Fireteam Elder, will be participating in Operation Blackout. You will target 3 key CROS power processing and distribution {PPD} facilities, 'Alpha' thru 'Chi', powering their capital city world. You will have a small OVRB contingent of 9 destroyers, 'Wand 1-9', and 3 cruisers, 'Staff 1-3', specifically to cover you from enemy assaults. Your RoE is simply to shoot anyone armed, whether wearing civvie clothing or not. All weapons free; EXTF Co-Director Phantom would also prefer for your attacks to send a message.]