Interstellar Age

The armed forces of the five major galactic powers immediately deployed to the edges of the galaxy within their own areas of influence. And the Germanic Star-Empire was no exception to this. Unlike the Dominion, the Federation, the Theocracy, and the Cabal. The Empire’s forces were led directly by their emperor.

He stood upon a massive dreadnought, which was the pride and joy of the Germanic Navy. The ship itself was easily 10km in length from bow to stern. And while its crew was mostly composed of robotic humanoids, powered by artificial intelligence, the officers were all Germanic citizens.

This dreadnought was built around a mighty weapon, one which was embedded in the center of the beast. This weapon, when fired, was fully capable of taking out a Naraku Queenship. Hell, it could probably take out a small planet like Mars if given a direct shot.

The downside to this weapon was that it required an exceptional amount of time to charge, and once fired, had a massive cooldown. Because of this, Erich did not plan to give the order to use such a weapon until the Queenship could be properly identified among the host of fleets.

But when Erich arrived at his destination, he was stunned by what he saw. Tens of thousands of Naraku Ships, had made their way to the edges of the galaxy. And it was entirely likely that ships just like these had encircled the entirety of the Milky Way.

If this wasn’t bad enough, there were hundreds of ships within the Insectoid Armada, if not thousands, which would be potentially identified as the Queenship. Hell, there were even chances that there were multiple Queenships embedded in such a gigantic invasion force.

Erich quickly gave the order to engage. His hopes was to hold the line as long as he possibly could. Buying time for Ayumi to arrive and deal a mortal blow to the enemy. While at the same time, buying enough time for the nearest habited worlds to evacuate deeper into Germanic territory.

Because of this, he was quick to get on the comms and order the ships in his armada to engage the enemy.

“Men, we are the first line of defense. And should you perish in battle, you will awaken back further into our territory? So disregard your own lives, and show no mercy to the enemy, for if you hesitate, the entirety of Germania shall fall! For the Empire!”

The Germanic star fighters, bombers, interceptors, and any number of small craft deployed from the hundreds of carriers embedded in the Armadas, which Erich had deployed to the borders. The ships dispatched to intercept the enemy did not compose of the entirety of his navy, but were still a good portion of it.

These small attack craft were no longer piloted by humans, but were entirely designed to be operated by artificial intelligence. Which had superior processing speeds and reaction times to human pilots. And because of this, they flew out of the hangar bays and engaged the bugs without any regard for their own safety.

If a tactical victory could be achieved with the sacrifice of one of these autonomous drones, then they would not hesitate to do so. Fundamentally, it was a battle of attrition.

Who would lose more forces, the Insectoids which could lay thousands of eggs a minute, or the automated factories of the Germanic Star-Empire, which could manufacture as many robotic combatants in as much time?

—

Explosions occurred all throughout the battlefield. All the while, Tia used her advanced sensors to search for the enemy. The Naraku were a fearsome foe, especially with their numbers.

But with Tia’s advancements in military technology, and some reverse engineered ancient Elven technology. Even the smaller capital class ships in Erich’s navy, such as Destroyers, had the ability to one shot ships of equal size and intention.

As was displayed with the Stealth Frigates employed during the battle against Terminus decades prior. Because of this, the Germanic Navy, while inferior in numbers, was achieving a kill to death ratio both on the micro and macro level that was deemed acceptable.

Which Tia was quick to announce as Erich watched the battle unfurl through the bridge’s windows.

“It would appear that our losses are currently well within the acceptable margin. The Naraku are performing far poorer than I initially estimated. Though I can say the same for our allies.

As we speak, the Naval forces of the Cabal, Theocracy, Federation, and Dominion are suffering heavy casualties, and will be forced to withdraw before they can fully evacuate their settled worlds closest to the edges of the galaxy…

As for the battles waged across our border, I estimate a 75% chance the Naraku withdraw within three years of sustained losses, and instead re-route the fleets sent here towards the borders of your allies…

Still, while Ayumi is on the way, she will not arrive by my estimated until another year at the earliest. She is, after all, slower on her own than your warships. There’s really nothing we can do about that….”

Erich silently nodded his head, as he watched another one of his warships blow up towards the front of his formation. While at the same time, three more Naraku warships exploded like fireworks in the night sky.

Tia’s voice interrupted his thoughts as she commented on the losses both sides were incurring once more.

“While the Naraku have the ability to spawn more of their drones, and soldiers within their queen ships, I should remind you, master, that the only way they can replenish the loss of their hive ships is via an occupied world.

Which means, that no doubt, the bugs are freaking out back in Andromeda and Triangulum at the overwhelming number of ships they have lost. It will take them much longer to produce such vessels and send them back to the front lines, then it will for me to do so.

At our current estimates, victory is a certainty. That is, only against the forces sent here to our territory. Should we be forced to fight the entirety of the Naraku on our own? Then I’m afraid we will fail to achieve the war aims which you have established.

Under such circumstances, I’m afraid that at best I will be able to protect the core of our territory, and nothing else. Shall I keep the reserves on standby?”

Erich nodded his head in agreement with Tia’s question. Indeed, the reserves would stand by, waiting to defend the core of Germanic Territory, should the need ever arise. His allies were on their own for the time being.

After all, this war had only begun, and he wanted the other major powers to suffer heavily in their defense. And what better way to do that, then to let them fight on for the next few years by their lonesome?