The cold, vast emptiness of space stretched out before Dominic and his crew as they navigated their transport ship toward the CMC convoy. The stars above blinked like cold eyes, indifferent to the chaos that would soon unfold beneath them. As they approached their destination, the atmosphere inside the ship grew tense.
Varra sat at the helm, her fingers flying over the console as she calculated their trajectory. Her brow was furrowed, a mixture of focus and concern on her face. Kade stood beside her, checking his weapons and equipment, his expression unreadable.
Dominic stood in the back, arms crossed, staring at the map of the area. The convoy was moving fast, and the fleet was heavily guarded. Their window of opportunity was small, and if they didn't act quickly, the Juggernaut-class mechs would reach the orbital defense station before they could get a clean shot.
"How much longer?" Dominic asked, breaking the silence.
"Five minutes," Varra replied without looking up, her eyes scanning the data streaming across the screen. "They're on course, but they're moving fast. Once we're within range, I'll need to make a hard burn to catch up."
Kade glanced at Dominic. "We're gonna need a plan for when we're in range. I don't care how tough those Juggernauts are, we'll need to hit them hard and fast. Otherwise, we'll be outgunned."
Dominic nodded, his mind already working through their options. The Juggernaut-class mechs were massive, towering over most other machines, heavily armored and packed with firepower. Taking them down would require more than just sheer firepower—it would take precision, speed, and a hell of a lot of luck.
"We'll focus on the artillery first," Dominic said, his voice steady as he paced back and forth. "If we disable their support, we'll have a fighting chance. The Juggernauts are powerful, but they won't be able to defend their own lines if we take out their artillery and supply mechs. Varra, get us in position for a fast strike. Kade, you're with me on the ground. We'll hit them where it hurts."
As they neared the convoy's last known position, the tension in the air grew thick. The ship's engines rumbled as Varra made the final adjustments to their course. Dominic's fingers twitched at his sides, itching for the adrenaline of battle. He'd faced impossible odds before, but this—this was a different beast entirely.
Suddenly, the comms crackled to life.
"We've got visual," Varra said, her voice calm but with a trace of urgency. "They're in range. I'm setting up for a strafing run."
Dominic could see them now. A massive fleet of CMC warships and mechs, their engines burning bright against the blackness of space. The Juggernauts were unmistakable—each one standing taller than the rest, their hulking forms nearly impossible to miss, bristling with weaponry.
"Alright," Dominic said, his eyes narrowing. "We move fast, hit hard. Kade, you know what to do."
The ship's engines roared as Varra maneuvered them into position, bringing them close to the convoy. Dominic and Kade suited up in their combat gear, their suits locking into place with a satisfying click. It was time.
"Brace yourselves," Varra called out, her voice sharp. "We're going in hot."
With a burst of speed, the transport ship surged forward, diving into the fray. The convoy didn't see them coming. Within seconds, Varra initiated a rapid strafing maneuver, sending their ship darting between the larger warships, firing off targeted shots at the convoy's artillery support. Plasma bolts streaked across the void, slamming into the side of one of the enemy warships. It began to list, smoke billowing from its damaged engines.
"Direct hit!" Kade shouted, his voice filled with adrenaline. "Keep it up, Varra!"
But the Juggernauts—those massive, deadly titans—were already coming online. Their massive legs creaked as they shifted into motion, their weapons powering up with an ominous hum. The CMC's larger fleet began to engage the transport ship, but the Juggernauts weren't interested in the smaller targets. They locked onto the UOP's presence, their targeting systems honing in on the transport's signal.
"Dammit," Dominic muttered under his breath. "Varra, break left, we've got company."
Before Varra could react, a massive burst of energy ripped through the void—a pulse cannon from one of the Juggernauts. It tore through space, narrowly missing their transport and sending shockwaves through the ship.
"I'm not losing this ship!" Varra yelled, her hands gripping the controls tighter. "Hold on!"
The ship lurched as she executed a hard turn, narrowly avoiding another shot from the Juggernauts. The enemy mechs were closing in, and it was only a matter of time before they caught up.
"Now!" Dominic shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Deploy the drop pods! Kade, with me!"
Kade nodded grimly as he pressed a button on the console, launching the drop pods. They were small, compact, designed to get them on the ground quickly and silently. The pods shot off the transport like bullets from a gun, hurtling toward the surface of the enemy's flagship.
As their pods hit the ground, the world around Dominic was suddenly consumed by the roar of battle. The ground shook as the Juggernaut-class mechs began to march forward, their heavy footsteps thundering across the battlefield. These were no ordinary machines. The armor was thick, reinforced with layers of adamantium plating and reinforced alloy. Each of them was armed with a massive pulse cannon capable of leveling entire city blocks.
Dominic and Kade emerged from their pods, immediately taking cover behind a series of large debris piles. The Juggernauts loomed in the distance, their enormous bodies blocking out the stars, their eyes glowing a sickly red.
"They're coming," Kade said, his voice low and steady. "And they don't look like they're here to negotiate."
Dominic gritted his teeth. The battle had only just begun. And if he had anything to say about it, the CMC was going to regret ever bringing those damn Titans to this fight.