The Vanguard stood ready, its hulking frame bathed in the cold, artificial light of the hangar bay. The low hum of its power core was the only sound as Dominic slid into the pilot's seat, his neural implant syncing instantly with the machine's systems. His senses blurred for a moment as his mind connected with the mech, the world around him fading into the background.
He could feel every wire, every pulse of energy flowing through the massive machine. The feeling was familiar now, as if the mech and his body were one. He breathed in deeply, focusing his mind.
"Ready for deployment, Captain?" Jonas's voice crackled through the comms, breaking the silence in Dominic's cockpit.
"Let's move," Dominic replied curtly. His voice was cold, but his eyes burned with the purpose of the mission.
A series of sharp beeps echoed through his headset, indicating that all systems were green. The countdown had begun. Outside, the UOP battleship Elysium was already in motion, preparing to launch its fleet. The small strike team under Dominic's command was to be the spearhead of this operation—a surgical strike against a CMC supply convoy deep in UOP-controlled space.
The plan was simple. Disable the convoy, cut off their supplies, and return. However, Dominic knew that in war, nothing was ever simple. There would be enemies, traps, and uncertainty at every turn. But that was what he was here for.
The hangar doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the dark expanse of space beyond. The fleet of UOP warships, massive and formidable, drifted in perfect formation, their weaponry primed and ready. Dominic's strike team of five mechs was a mere speck against the vastness of the UOP fleet, but he knew the importance of their mission.
"Strike team, this is Command," came the voice of General Armitage over the comms. "Your primary target is a CMC convoy heading toward the border. It's heavily guarded, so expect resistance. Your secondary objective is to gather intel on their operational capabilities. We need to know what they're planning next."
Dominic's fingers flexed around the controls of the Vanguard, the mech responding with a slight vibration. He was ready.
"Understood," he responded, his voice calm and unwavering. He glanced at the other pilots on his team—four other mechs, all varying in design and purpose. Some were built for speed, others for heavy combat. Each of them had their part to play in this operation, and Dominic would lead them through it.
The small fleet of strike mechs powered up, their engines roaring to life as they shot out into the darkness. The vastness of space stretched out before them, and Dominic's eyes narrowed as the convoy's location appeared on his display. They were close.
"Rogue, you take point," Dominic instructed over the comms. "Lead us in and identify the convoy's weak points. The rest of us will follow your lead."
A gruff voice replied, "Copy that, Captain. Moving in now."
Dominic's gaze focused on the distant stars as his mech moved swiftly into position. The blackness of space seemed endless, yet each passing moment brought them closer to the target. He could feel the tension building—every muscle in his body coiled, preparing for the battle ahead.
Minutes passed in silence, the cold of space pressing in from all sides. Then, a signal flashed on Dominic's radar: the convoy. A series of transport ships, heavily guarded by a small fleet of CMC mechs, were emerging from the far side of an asteroid field. The convoy had been trying to remain undetected, but their stealth had failed.
"Target acquired," Dominic muttered, his voice sharp as his mech locked onto the convoy's coordinates. "Initiate attack."
Without hesitation, the strike team moved in, breaking the silence of space like a hammer striking a nail. The mechs surged forward, cutting through the void with deadly precision.
The CMC convoys' escorts, a mix of light and heavy mechs, reacted instantly, powering up their engines and positioning themselves in defensive formations. The battle began in a flash—laser beams and missiles filled the air as the two sides collided.
Dominic's Vanguard dove straight into the fray, its massive arms swiping through the air with the might of a giant. He locked onto one of the CMC mechs—a Titan-class, heavily armored and armed to the teeth. It turned toward him, its weapon systems primed for retaliation.
He didn't hesitate. Dominic slammed his fist into the controls, sending the Vanguard hurtling forward. The mech's massive fists swung in a deadly arc, catching the CMC Titan off guard and knocking it off balance. A few well-placed shots from his energy cannon finished the job, sending the massive machine crashing into space debris.
"One down," Dominic muttered, his pulse quickening as the battle intensified.
The rest of the strike team was making their moves, as well. Rogue was darting around the battlefield with lightning speed, taking down smaller mechs with ease. The others were engaging the convoy's escorts, cutting through their lines with brutal efficiency.
But even as the battle seemed to turn in their favor, Dominic's mind kept working. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this was just the beginning. The convoy might be a decoy—something larger was coming, he was certain of it.
"Watch your six, Captain!" Rogue's voice snapped through the comms, pulling Dominic from his thoughts.
He spun around just in time to see a massive CMC battleship dropping out of warp, its weapons glowing with deadly intent. The battle was about to escalate, and Dominic knew the odds had just shifted.
The strike team had to finish the mission—before this new threat overwhelmed them.
"All units, engage the battleship!" Dominic barked, his hands steady on the controls. "We're not finished yet."