* Date: January 24, 2183

* Time: 5:00 AM

* Location: UGS Yorktown Bridge

''Commander, all I need to know is, were you followed?''

Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft questioned. After getting informed about I.C.E.s failed assassination, word quickly spread throughout the high command, and the revelation of their enemies sparing four Ghost Operatives took off. The commander of Ghost Team, Sword and Shield, was currently in the Vice Admiral's terminal, wanting to know whether or not they were followed.

''Negative, admiral, but it wouldn't matter either way.''

''How so?''

''The Kaynians already know of Eden's location.''

The Ghost commander responded, and it didn't faze Gaft. He and his fellow admirals knew that the Kaynians might already possess the locations of each planet governed by the U.G.E., including Eden. So, there was no surprise there.

''We've anticipated that from our enemies.''

A harsh truth that Gaft and the others who know of this secret have to bear. Nevertheless, there was still a war and a battle to be won. Adjusting his cap, the Vice Admiral of Battlegroup Yorktown knew that time was of the essence.

"That will be all, Ghost. Return to your ship and assess your team. For all we know, the Kaynians may decide that now is the right time to burn Eden finally..."

''...I want you and your comrades ready for that eventuality. Understood?''

''Affirmative, sir.''

With that, the holographic image of the Ghost commander disappeared from the Vice Admiral's terminals. Glancing over the entire bridge, Gaft saw the hard-working officers who directed orders from left to right. The Yorktown and her battlegroup are stationed near the orbital hell cannon platforms. Their objective was to defend the platforms from any Kaynian assaults and also to lure the Kaynians to set off the trap.

''Luck, status.''

Stating his X.O.s name, the A.I. immediately appeared to deliver a troublesome report.

[My dear, we've detected another whisper several million kilometers from Eden.]

''Get hold of I.C.E.s spy satellites and put them to good use. It's the least they could do for us after their botched assassination.''

[Very well, I'll kindly rely on the command.]

Luck responded with a smile on her face. Meanwhile, the mentioned satellites immediately predicted their attention at the supposed whisper. Their powerful sensor arrays were able to detect and identify Kaynian slip space. However, the satellites wouldn't be able to detect anything just yet.

'Argh, hell with the rate things are going. It's a possibility the Kaynians would invade now of all times. Luckily, the Fleet Admiral and the rest of the Second Fleet went off the system. That's at least a commodity to hope for, knowing if those alien bastards decide to assault Eden. Then they have to exhaust their resources by doing so.'

The Vice Admiral theorized that Eden would fall, but it would cost the Kaynians a lot by doing so. All of the simulations have prepared him for this, but planning and putting it into action are two different things. However, if things were to change for the Kaynians slightly, their plan would be turned upside down.

[My dear, slip space portals directly ahead of Atlantis Station.]

Red lights shined as the emergence of the Kaynian portals two hundred and eighty thousand kilometers away from the space station appeared. Personnel were quick to act as immediate action was undertaken by the crew of each vessel in the battlegroup and defense group. The Vice Admiral, for his part, gave a soft curse upon being proven right about his prediction.

''Show me.''

[Thirty Kaynian ships three hundred eighty thousand kilometers of our hell cannon platforms instant hit radius.]

''Well, that certainly hinders our home-field advantage.''

Abraham stated, aware of their hell cannon's instant hit range of three hundred thousand kilometers. Anything further than that would add seconds before a target is hit. That goes for both sides. It wasn't just the A.F.E. who had to contend with delays. The Kaynians, too, had an instant hit range similar to theirs.

[Incoming video call from Rear Admiral Oxton Hue.]

''Patch him through.''

Immediately, a connection was placed between the admirals. Gaft saw the stoic facial features of his counterpart. But something did bother the Vice Admiral. Why only thirty ships?

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''Vice Admiral, Kaynian ships spotted.''

''Indeed, admiral, well proceed as planned. Ready your ships for battle, as will I. I'll have I.C.E. send word to the Second Fleet when Atlantis falls. We'll immediately retreat to the hell cannon platforms.''

''Understood!''

Thirty Kaynian ships against fifty-six A.F.E. warships. Not only are they defending, but they also have numbers. This situation was something the Vice Admiral could only dream of, but something told him that there was something off.

''Luck, set Yorktown to combat conditions and launch our fighter and bomber drones, battlegroup-wide.''

[Of course, my dear.]

The A.I. responded before vanishing from the Vice Admiral's terminals. Analyzing the information, Gaft wondered why the Kaynians had brought only thirty ships for the battle of Eden.

''There's something not right here. The Kaynian force we faced during Operation Trojan had a hundred ships. Why did they bring only thirty for their invasion of Eden?''

The Vice Admiral contemplated, but with how things were going, he wasn't left with any alternative and followed his plan. Meanwhile, dozens of drones flew out of each A.F.E. ship that possessed them and their destination, the newly arrived Kaynian force.

''Ah, hell, not like it would matter...''

''...Communications officer!''

''Yes, Vice Admiral.''

''Send word to I.C.E. that we need them to deliver a message to the Second Fleet. Tell them thirty Kaynian ships had just arrived, and If we hold the line here on Atlantis. Then, the fleet mustn't reveal themselves. Something tells me that the Kaynians are up to something.''

The communications officer inputted the admiral's message to I.C.E. and pressed enter. The officer turned around and gave Abraham Gaft a nod to confirm the message had been sent.

''Message away, sir.''

With confirmation, the Vice Admiral of Battlegroup Yorktown sighed as he looked at the enemy ships that his battlegroup would have to deal with. The Kaynians were planning something. Then, he needed to hold them back to reveal what plan they had in store for Eden.

TALE: Arc Killer

In the distance, the formidable Kaynian force was in front of Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft's battlegroups. The distance between them stretched two hundred and eighty thousand kilometers. However, unbeknownst to either of the two. Their plans hinged on the idea of defeat first before delivering a killing blow that would cripple each other. But this presents the question of who will take the bait. The battlegroups surrounding the space station Atlantis numbered around fifty-six vessels. Meanwhile, the newly arrived Kaynians had thirty. The battle over Eden will now commence, and the fate of the Galaxy will be sealed. The brave crews on board the A.F.E. vessels were ready to lay down their lives to ensure that Eden held the enemy back and denied them access to their homeworld of Earth.

[My dear, they have taken the bait. The Kaynians are presenting their broadsides.]

''Hmm, tell Admiral Oxton to prepare to fire and wait for my signal.''

[Understood.]

The quiet hum of the high-energy laser cannons of the ships present in the battlegroups echoed throughout their hulls. The armaments of each A.F.E. vessel were quickly prepared by the dedicated crews, point defense lasers, anti-ship lasers, vertically launched missiles, nuclear-guided torpedos, and the mighty hell cannons. The advanced A.I.s quickly targeted their designated Kaynian warship to destroy as did their enemy for theirs.

''All ships, this is Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft...''

''...Weapons free!''

Immediately, fifty hell cannons opened and were unleashed by the defending A.F.E. navy. However, the attack was accompanied by laser fire, drones, missiles, and torpedoes.

''Luck, focus on that Kaynian Galleon!''

[Designating target alpha, Kaynian Galleon, confirmed.]

The mighty battle carrier struck the leading Kaynian galleon, shattering its shields and damaging its hull. But the Kaynian ship did not falter to its wounds that easily. However, the Yamato class heavy cruiser Amagi fired both hell cannons and dealt the killing blow. Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted, signifying the reactor took a direct hit from the Amagi's hell cannon. Meanwhile, four light cruisers destroyed two frigates with their hell cannon strikes, shattering their shields before finishing them off. The destroyers, not to be outdone by their larger counterparts, targeted the corvettes. Fifteen of the seventeen destroyers destroyed five Kaynian corvettes in total, with the last two shattering the shields of one. The A.F.E. corvettes, numbering around twenty-seven, had twenty-four selected six Kaynian corvettes to open fire. The last three corvettes fired on the unshielded corvette left by their destroyer sister ships. The damage dealt by the A.F.E. navy totaled a staggering fifteen Kaynian ships destroyed at the beginning of the battle.

''Luck, how many we got?''

[We destroyed the lead ship, two frigates, and twelve corvettes.]

Hearing the words out of his wife's mouth made the admiral smile, but he knew that even with their numbered halved, the Kaynians wouldn't back down.

''That's half of their numbers. That's good; we should prepare for a counterfire from the enemy. Then we should have our shields at maximum.''

[Already done.]

The reactive energy shielding of the A.F.E. shimmered as power was diverted to them to prepare for the eventual broadsides of the Kaynians.

''E.T.A. on the torpedos, missiles, and drones?''

[Fourteen minutes before impact, but the Kaynians may try and intercept them.]

''Well, that means that they'd be diverting fire on them and lessen the firepower headed to us.''

[Indeed, my dear- warning Kaynian ships broadsides imminent!]

''Brace!''

It wasn't long before the Kaynians responded in kind and delivered a hail of energy beams to the battlegroup. Yorktown was hit multiple times on her bow, and her energy shield was almost shattered by the firepower of the Kaynian broadsides. The heavy cruiser, Amagi, had her shields instantly broken, causing several decks to be breached. The nano repair system immediately kicked in and sealed any holes. The light cruisers didn't fare much better; one of the four was instantly obliterated, and the other three suffered severe damage from their energy shielding. The destroyers also suffered severe losses. Five of the seventeen destroyers were destroyed, much like their cruiser counterparts. The A.F.E. corvettes also had massive losses; eight of the twenty-seven A.F.E. corvettes were destroyed. Finally, one of the six auxiliary ships was also destroyed. However, thirty percent of the Kaynian firepower was also directed at the incoming missiles, torpedos, and drones. Although unable to stop the thousands of projectiles and drones headed their way. The Kaynians still managed to destroy at least a hundred of them. Thus, the counter-attack of the Kaynians ended, leaving an almost half-strength A.F.E. battlegroup remaining.

''Damage report!''

[Yorktown's energy shield stands at twenty percent, and the Amagi has several breaches on its hull...]

[...We lost one light cruiser, two auxiliary ships, five destroyers, and eight corvettes. Battlegroup Yorktown and the Defence Group lost sixteen vessels.]

''I see, then let's ensure that those that died will be avenged. Hell cannon charge?''

[Hundred percent, my dear.]

''Inform all ships to open fire!''

[Understood.]

Immediately, the remaining A.F.E. vessels returned and fired at the Kaynians. The Yorktown fired her potent super-type hell cannon and destroyed a frigate. The Amagi was suspended as she floated still, her engines flickering as her system and crews did their best to return her to combat condition, but she wouldn't be able to. Meanwhile, the remaining three light cruisers fired their hell cannons and scored two kills, a frigate and a corvette. The twelve destroyers also followed and destroyed four corvettes. The smaller corvettes also selected the remaining Kaynian ships and opened fire. Four were immediately disposed of, while a fifth was severely damaged by the A.F.E. Corvette hell cannon strike. However, it wouldn't be just hell cannon fire that the aliens have to contend with. The missiles, torpedos, and drones finally got close enough and inflicted damage. The remaining five Kaynian vessels were swarmed with hundreds of projectiles and drones as they endured nuclear explosions and missile bombardment.

''Report!''

[Our second hell cannon strike destroyed ten Kaynian vessels in total, my dear. The remaining five are currently being bombarded by missiles and torpedos.]

''Good, let's finish this before-''

[Slip space portals detected.]

Cutting the Vice Admiral off were ten slip space portals appearing behind the five remaining Kaynian ships. Emerging from them were nine frigates and the Kaynian dreadnought, Oblivion. The newly arrived vessels immediately turned to present their broadsides at the A.F.E. battlegroups and the space station.

[M- My dear, it's the Kaynian super capital.]

Luck informed as she stuttered to form her sentence. The mere sight of the Kaynian dreadnought alone brought chills to the Vice Admiral's spine. But more problems were about to come.

''Damn it! Charge our hell cannons, and prioritize the Kaynian super capital's escorts!''

[Acknowledge- Slip space portals detected.]

As if things couldn't get any worse, sixty more portals appeared, but they were grouped into two groups and were flanking Atlantis space station. Looking at his terminals, Gaft couldn't believe it. The Kaynians had just lured him and his battlegroup into a trap.

'I can't believe it. These new arrivals. They are not massed together. Instead, they're flanking Atlantis. It's as if. The ones we were fighting were meant to soften us up before the rest of the flotilla could arrive!'

To Be Continued.