The disparity between the human fleet and the incoming armada wasn't all that great as humans had over a thousand and two hundred ships in system plus the patrol fleets that would jump in as soon as they could and let's not forget the minefield and the system defenses that were activated the moment the alarm was sounded.
The Elani also wanted to send their fleet to help but they were told to defend their new home as it was possible that this was just a diversion to engage the Terran fleet while the enemy would send another force to finish off the Elani.
They weren't happy about it but there was too much at stake if the humans were right.
The council also redirected two patrol fleets to the Elani system just in case the enemy was targeting them.
The alien armada finally jumped in but strangely they held position right in front of the minefield that humans prepared for them.
The ship designs were identical to that of the enemies who destroyed the Elani empire but the Terran fleet received orders to hold fire and try communicating with the enemy first.
-This is Admiral Simon Black of the Terran Council fleet.
You have trespassed into the Terran space.State your intentions and affiliation.
Simon said almost mechanically since he had to repeat the same hail every time someone jumped into a Terran system he was in.
After a moment of tense silence the communication channel was opened from the enemy flag ship.
-This is Admiral Corybdus from the Brunari united fleet,we came here to find the Elani that managed to escape the destruction of their empire and have no quarrel with your species.
Hand them over and we will be on our way.
-Admiral I'm afraid that we can't do that as the Elani are our allies and are currently under the protection of the Terran council.
Furthermore,we saw what you did to the Elani on the conquered colonies and their capital world and we have laws that forbid us to hand over any refugee that will be killed after we hand them over.
So there will be no handing over the Elani and you can turn back now if you value your life.
Simon said with a voice colder than the void of space.
For Him it was personal as his future wife was of the Elani race.
-Then you intend to defend them from us?
The Brunari asked.
-Yes and if you are smart then you will turn back now and leave our space or you can try to use force but I wouldn't recommend that solution.
Simon answered.
The alien Admiral was clearly shocked at the human's stance and clear hatred he had for his people.
Simon didn't even try to hide his feelings towards the enemies who tried to exterminate his friends and future family.
From his point of view it would be a great idea to rip them all apart and be done with it.
-You should reconsider your position in this case Admiral Black.
As you can see I have way more ships than you and if you stand in my way I wombat hesitate to destroy you and your species.
Corybdus said with a hint of malice in his voice.
-Then so be it, let's see if you have what it takes to defeat my fleet in battle.
Simon said and cut communications as he had enough of this moron.
-Execute the Medusa plan.
Simon ordered all his forces and immediately there was a salvo of torpedoes and missiles launched at the enemy.
The alien fleet also opened fire but their energy weapons were absorbed by human shields.
Most of the missiles were intercepted by the point defense lasers but some of them reached their targets along with the torpedoes and to the aliens' shock they didn't explode but emitted an EMP pulse strong enough to fry their electronics and leave them dead in space.
When the rest of the alien fleet saw this they wanted to shorten the distance to the Terran fleet as it was the best way to neutralize this kind of weapon but the moment they charged ahead,they got blasted by the mines that also emitted an EMP and a moment later they fell into the swarm of standard mines that ripped them apart.
The enemy lost almost 20% of their forces in a matter of ten minutes.
And that was just the beginning of the battle.
The next blow was even more devastating as humans unleashed their kinetic weapons and decimated the alien fleet.
The Brunari's fleet shields were useless against MAC's as they were calibrated to repel the energy weapons and as a result their ships fell victim to the human attack.
Admiral Corybdus was shocked as he saw his fleet being slaughtered wholesale by the enemy he just ridiculed.
The last nail into their coffin was the arrival of three patrol fleets on their right flank.
He understood too late that he walked into a den of a predator and now his fleet was paying the price for that.
In less than two hours of combat he lost over 70% of his fleet while the most damage he did was to heavily damage a frigate of the Terran fleet.
The new shields that humans used were stronger than he anticipated and also their tactics were better as when a Terran ship went below 40% of their shields they would switch places with a ship that had fully charged shields reducing their losses to almost nothing while the Brunari ships were constantly bombarded and destroyed the moment their shields failed or a kinetic shell found them.Admiral of the Brunari fleet knew that he lost and there was no way to reverse the outcome of this battle.
However he didn't want to sacrifice his people for nothing and there was no other way for him to accomplish that than to surrender.
-Open a channel to the Terran flag ship.
He ordered his communications officer.
-Admiral Black I wish to surrender if you're willing to accept it.
He said the moment the channel was opened.
-Order your forces to stand down and prepare to be boarded,If you try any tricks we will consider it as an act of aggression and proceed to eradicate your fleet to the last man.
Simon said, accepting the surrender.
-Very well,I already sent the orders to surrender.
A few moments later the fighting stopped and the human fleet sent a number of shuttles tio board and seize control of the enemy ships.
From over two thousand ships barely eighty six were intact and around two hundred and twenty were damaged,the rest of the fleet was destroyed.
The Terran fleet suffered two frigates that were heavily damaged and around a hundred ships that were slightly damaged and needed to replace some hull armor.
The boarding parties quickly rounded up the crews of the ships that surrendered and ordered them to take of their armor as they were brief about the suicide explosives implanted in them.
Then the human engineers went aboard to deactivate the ships self-destruct devices so that there was no risk of someone destroying them remotely.
The Admiral Corybdus was transported to the Thanatos under heavy guard.
-We have a lot of questions to ask you Admiral.
This was the first thing he heard,when he was brought before Simon.