General Arren Orlin stood at the command console, his fingers drumming lightly against the cold metal surface as his sharp eyes scanned the live data flowing across the holographic display. The UOP's first strike had been a success, but it had not gone unnoticed. The pulse weapon had damaged several of his forces, including a juggernaut-class mech, and his fleet was taking heavy casualties.
The battle was far from lost, but Orlin could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The CMC had been overconfident in their early stages, but now, things were taking a turn. The UOP had come prepared, and they were proving to be a more formidable opponent than he had anticipated.
"Deploy the second wave," Orlin ordered, his voice cold and calculated. His subordinates didn't hesitate, quickly relaying the orders across the network. "Target the pulse weapon's position. Disable it."
He turned to his tactical advisor, Colonel Harrow, who had been analyzing the UOP's tactics. "The UOP's advantage lies in their pulse weapon. We need to disrupt their fire support. Once that's gone, the rest will fall in line. I want the stealth mechs to make another run at them. No mistakes this time."
"Understood, sir," Harrow replied, her voice tight with determination. "We'll launch a full assault. If we can neutralize their artillery and the pulse weapon, they'll be vulnerable."
The general nodded, his mind already working through contingencies. The CMC had the numbers, the firepower, and the technology. But what worried him was the UOP's resilience. The UOP had one advantage the CMC could never truly replicate—unity. The UOP soldiers fought with a sense of purpose that went beyond orders and tactical advantage. They had the will to fight, and that was something even the CMC's mightiest war machines couldn't crush.
Arren Orlin watched as the new wave of mechs, including stealth units and heavily armored juggernauts, began to mobilize. His warships continued to launch support, creating a terrifying net of destruction as they made their way toward the UOP's vulnerable flank.
"Deploy the jamming satellites. We need to cut their comms," Orlin barked, turning to his communications officer. "And I want eyes on the pulse weapon. We cannot let it fire again."
With the orders given, he stood still for a moment, staring out at the vastness of the battlefield. A series of calculations ran through his mind. If he didn't neutralize Dominic and the pulse weapon now, the UOP would have the momentum, and this battle would be lost before it even began.
The enemy forces had shown remarkable tenacity, but they lacked the overwhelming power that the CMC possessed. Orlin clenched his jaw, the metallic taste of inevitability filling his mouth. There was one thing the CMC could always count on: overwhelming force.
The pulse weapon was dangerous, yes, but a juggernaut-class mech could take down a pulse cannon with enough firepower. They just needed to get close. And once his new fleet arrived, he could crush the UOP's hopes for good.
---
Meanwhile, back in the heart of the battle, Orlin's stealth mechs began to infiltrate the UOP's position. The faint ripple of cloaking technology made them almost invisible in the vast expanse of space. The UOP forces, still reeling from the first wave, hadn't anticipated the return of CMC's most deadly war machines so quickly.
The UOP's pulse weapon was positioned on an asteroid, surrounded by defensive formations. The stealth mechs would slip past the outer defenses, infiltrate the perimeter, and take out the pulse cannon before it could fire again.
Orlin's eyes flickered to the display, tracking the movements of the mechs as they crept closer to their target. "We've got one shot at this," he muttered under his breath, his fingers once again tapping against the console.
The enemy juggernaut that had been struck by the pulse weapon earlier was already retreating to the backlines for repairs, its position temporarily compromised. This would give the CMC forces the perfect opening to retaliate with overwhelming strength.
He turned his focus back to the battlefield. "Commander, prepare the next wave of reinforcements. Once we take out their artillery, I want to launch a full-scale assault."
The final push was coming.
---
On the other side of the battlefield, the UOP forces were regrouping, but they were under heavy pressure. Dominic, still leading the charge with the pulse weapon, had felt a momentary surge of hope when he saw the juggernaut-class mech falter under his assault. However, that victory now seemed fleeting as the CMC counterattacked with renewed vigor. He could already hear the faint hum of stealth mechs moving in.
Dominic's heart pounded as he checked his mech's systems. "Not yet… Not now," he muttered under his breath, his fingers flying across the controls. The pulse weapon had to be ready, and the shields needed to hold just a little longer.
"Trask, I need more time," Dominic transmitted through the comms.
Trask's voice came through, strained. "We don't have much time. The CMC is coming in full force. Reinforcements are on the way, but you need to hold your ground."
Dominic gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the controls. The pulse weapon was his trump card. If it could get one more clean shot, they could turn the tide of battle once again.