The silence of space was shattered by the roar of battle. Dominic's Vanguard was locked in combat, its colossal form weaving through a storm of firepower. His sensors blared warnings, each one indicating incoming missiles or laser blasts, but he was focused—laser-focused—on the massive CMC battleship now bearing down on them.
The battleship was a behemoth. Its sleek, angular form glowed with the pulsating light of its weapon systems as it opened fire, unleashing waves of destructive energy at the strike team. Its weaponry was far more advanced than anything Dominic had encountered before, the raw force of the blasts tearing through the void, each strike powerful enough to shatter a lesser mech.
"Rogue, get out of there!" Dominic shouted into the comms as a barrage of missiles flew towards the small, agile mech. Rogue dodged, twisting and spinning through space with incredible agility, but the explosion from a nearby shot still sent a shockwave through her unit. Her mech shuddered, struggling to regain its balance as the CMC battleship continued to bombard them.
"I'm alright, Captain. Just a little shaken up," Rogue responded, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Dominic didn't have time to breathe. He slammed his mech's foot down onto the accelerator, propelling the Vanguard straight toward the CMC battleship. It was a bold move—one that could either make or break the strike team—but Dominic trusted his instincts. He had to take the battle to them, or they would be overwhelmed by the sheer firepower of the battleship.
"All units, follow my lead!" he ordered. "We need to disable that ship's weapons systems, or we're finished!"
The other four mechs, though battered and slightly worn from the constant barrage, responded quickly. They moved in close, weaving through enemy fire, as Dominic led them on a high-speed charge toward the enemy battleship.
The Vanguard launched itself through the vacuum, its massive frame dodging incoming fire with surprising speed. The ship's energy shields flickered as missiles hit, but it held up long enough for Dominic to close the distance. He knew that once they were close enough, the mechs' combat advantage would come into play—particularly with their massive, close-range weaponry.
"On my mark," Dominic muttered to himself, his heart pounding. He was close now—close enough to feel the heat from the CMC ship's energy cannons. The Vanguard's hands flexed into fists as he prepared for the next move.
"Three... two... one... NOW!"
In a single motion, Dominic launched the Vanguard forward, slamming into the side of the CMC battleship. The impact sent ripples of energy cascading across the hull of the massive vessel. Dominic's mech's weapons charged, and with a powerful, resounding roar, he struck the ship's outer armor with an explosive punch. The blast was like thunder, sending shards of debris scattering into space.
"Targeting weak points," Dominic barked, his mind working in overdrive as his neural implant synced with the Vanguard's targeting system. His mechs' systems locked onto the battleship's shield generators, marked on the display as weak points.
Around him, his team followed suit. The other four mechs joined the charge, their weapons unloading at the designated weak spots. Laser beams, plasma cannons, and railgun shots tore into the CMC battleship's hull, creating craters and explosions along its surface. The battleship's shields flickered dangerously, their energy reserves rapidly depleting under the onslaught.
"We're breaking through!" Rogue shouted over the comms, her voice filled with relief. "Shields are down!"
Dominic didn't allow himself a moment to celebrate. He knew the CMC wouldn't go down without a fight. As the shields faltered, the battleship's countermeasures activated. A new wave of drones—small, nimble fighters—launched from hidden bays along the ship's surface, swarming toward the strike team with deadly precision.
"Focus on the drones!" Dominic ordered, his eyes narrowing as he took in the situation. "We clear those, then we finish the ship."
The mechs spun around, engaging the small drone fighters as they swarmed in, their laser cannons blazing. It was chaos—laser beams, explosions, and the deafening hum of energy weapons filled the void. The drones were fast, and though they weren't as heavily armed as the mechs, their agility made them a formidable opponent.
Dominic's Vanguard tore through the clouds of drone fighters with ruthless efficiency. Its massive fists crushed several drones in quick succession, and its pulse cannon sent others spiraling into oblivion. Rogue was dancing around the swarm, her mech's quicksilver movements a blur as she dispatched enemy units one by one.
"Keep it up, we're almost there!" Dominic encouraged his team, his voice gruff but resolute.
And then, with a final, concerted push, the last of the drones were destroyed, and the battleship was exposed. The remaining energy shield flickered and collapsed under the sheer weight of their assault.
"Now!" Dominic shouted. "Target the reactor!"
The Vanguard raised its colossal fist, the weapon systems on its forearms locking in place as the massive mech swung with all its might. A colossal punch landed directly on the ship's reactor chamber, the impact sending shockwaves through the hull. The reactor cracked, and then, with a violent eruption, a massive explosion blossomed from within, sending the CMC battleship into a fiery spiral.
The Vanguard was thrown backward by the blast, but Dominic quickly regained control, stabilizing his mech as the explosion rippled across the vast expanse of space. The other mechs did the same, regaining their bearings as the wreckage of the battleship drifted into the void, consumed by flames.
The fight was over.
Dominic let out a breath, the tension leaving his body. His pulse was still racing, his mind still sharp and alert. The Vanguard slowly powered down, the systems cooling as he surveyed the aftermath of the battle.
"Mission accomplished," he muttered, glancing at the remnants of the CMC battleship in the distance.
But Dominic knew this wasn't the end. The CMC would retaliate, and this war was far from over.
"Let's head back to the fleet," he ordered, his voice steady as always. "We have more work to do."