This was it. The first trap to be laid by Legio for the Gallic forces. Andius stood there in front of the command bridge of his spatial saying a quick prayer.
He had been chosen for this first battle because of his background in the Liberty Navy. The plan had been laid well but it success was entirely uncertain. It would take nerve, skill, and a good measure of luck to see it come to fruition.
The Legio agents within the GRN had determined a patrol of four heavy fighters would pass through this space within five minutes. Legios most experienced captain and gunners were to wait for them there in a spatial class ship, but unlike ever before, they were to hold their ground. Hopefully the shock of a single outsider ship accually holding its ground, the superior skills of the pilot and crew, and the strength of the spatial class ship could win the day allowing Legio to access the strength of the GRN while also slightly weakening the GRN.
There was little time before the patrol would come by but time enough. Andius came over the ships com systems. *Crew members assemble on the bridge.*
The crew quickly poured in through the doors and stood in front of him.
"The enemy will outnumber us; that much is certain, but numbers can be deceiving. Each one of you stands here before me today because of your superior skills. The Gauls may be lulled into a false sense of security because they will belive they have the upper hand, but they are deceived, for we are the stronger men within ourselves! Hold fast and harden your hearts for what is to come. Offer your prayers to God that he might watch over us in the fight to come. And do not let fear take hold in your hearts for you are Legio!"
With this last statement Andius raised his fist above his head and cheers erupted from his men.
"Now to your posts, blood will be spilt this day, make sure it is not ours!"
The men quickly filed out the door to man their various stations. Within a minute of the last man leaving the bridge four contacts came up on the sensors. "This is it men, here they come!"
Sure enough it was a patrol of four GRN fighters. Andius aimed at the leader and engaged the thrusters. As they came into range of each other a hail of gunfire erupted from both sides. The GRN slammed him with everything they had bringing the shields down to a quarter strength. Blue and purple filled the sky as the spatial began pounding on the lead ship; it tore through his shields and put significant damage on his hull. The pilot activated his repair systems and the spatial flew past the enemy squad. Andius slammed down on the reverse engines lever and rounded the ship around to face their target. The enemies had broken formation and a few were in a position to open fire once more but their target was caught completely off guard by the fact the spatial had already rounded on him. It was the last surprise he would ever experience. As his ship erupted into flames Andius brought up the next fighter and came over the com system.
"Feed some extra batteries into those shields we are getting low. And someone tractor up what is left of him."
The shields quickly returned to full power and tractor beams shot out to haul in the debris of the ship they had just destroyed. Andius paid little attention though as he focused in on the next target. The target appeared shocked they had just lost their wing commander. Shock was good; it drew his attention from the battle. Before their target regained composure his shields were gone and his hull was badly beaten. He activated his repair systems but it was too late, the spatial already had him in lock and he quickly joined his commander in death. Tractor beams reached out to drag in what was left of his ship as the spatial rounded on the third fighter. This one seemed focused on the battle. The guns tore at his shields but it quickly moved to the side before they could penetrate through to his hull. Andius turned to the side and his crew open fire once more barely nicking the shields of their target. Then their target stopped as he turned to face them. Bad move. As he opened fire so did the spatial, this time with much more accuracy as he was sitting still. His ship exploded in a blast of debris and flame. Andius turned rounding on his final target. This one was clearly not about to face off against the ship that had already destroyed the rest of its wing singlehandedly. It lost its nerve and began engaging cruise engines.
"Focus fire there can be no witnesses!"
Gunfire slammed the target and as the flame from its engines grew hotter as it entered into cruise so did the rest of the ship as it exploded. The com systems were abuzz with cheering. Andius bowed his head and offered prayers for the men whose lives had just ended, and thanks for the protection that had seen them through this fight alive.
"Alright boys lets go home. This battle is over but not the war. I'm sure there is a heck of a lot more to come but that was one hell of a way to get things started."
"A city's strongest tower of defence is brave men"- Alcaeus Learn about Legio