The attack on Himitsu was spectacular, but the vessel’s shields were able to sustain the blow…though just barely. The shields went down, drained, and ablative armour half a meter thick quickly extended to further protect the Iori. The Production Bays and she ships within Himitsu’s shields were spared from the horror of the attack.
The Irims did manage to get their hits in, but all but two succumbed to the massive attack. NG-X5-05, NG-X5-17, and NG-X5-18 were annihilated by the attack, but their massive stores of Power Armour, which had been released at the beginning of the battle, continued to fight on. Of the combined 105,000 Lamia M1 in the three ships’ compliments, roughly 60,000 survived the terrible attacks. Ten wings of Power Armour (Irim 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and 51-60) formed and retaliated against Portland I~VI in that order, each ship being attacked by 10,000 angry NH-12s.
NG-X5-22 was heavily damaged, but managed to limp away toward the restock point from Brunswick I, the hole quickly closed by a pair of Nozomi (NS-X5-201 and NG-X5-202) with Interdictors up and Phased Pulse Cannons bearing down on their target. Of the five Irim attacked, only NG-X5-23 emerged unscathed, saved by its quick activation of its interdiction field, as well as timely assistance from another of TF-51’s Nozomi (NG-X5-200) blasting at the Brunswick II harshly with its Phase Pulse Cannon.
Of course, these were not all of the Irim involved in the strike. NG-X5-02 through NG X5-04, and NG-X5-19 through NG-X5-21 remained intact, the six Irim still undamaged. Knowing their role was done, the Irims retreated from the front of the line, sixteen Arashi (NE-X5-21 through NE-X5-36) assuming the forward position. Given the wings of Power Armour, the Arashi elected to open fire with the AS-7 Antimatter torpedoes. The damage area was only a mile, but it was localized enough to minimize risk to the power Armour nearby. The Arashi NE-X5-21 through NE-X5-36 paired off and attacked one ship per pair, in the order of Portland I-VI and Brunswick I-II. Five Arashi (NE-X5-37-NE-X5-41) remained to guard the YSS Seijin no Umi.
The YSS Mazu, piloted by Kiyoko, reacted quite harshly to the destruction of the YSS Sheridan (NG-X5-17), charging into the fray and attacking the Portland I with her Projected Energy Beam Rakers, her Heavy SEPC and three of her Medium SEPCs. The Portland II would have to contend with the other three Medium SEPCs, and the Striker Arrays. As if this wasn’t bad though, 1000 Mobile Variable Weapons Pods detached from the hull, firing Transphasic energy beams at the two enemies, 500 each. The display could only be described as overkill, given that the enemy was already damaged. The Irim wings attacking those two ships were actually forced to withdraw, lest they be caught in the barrage.
The three remaining Yui assigned to attack the last of the Qeh (NS-X5-13 through NS-X5-15) continued to fight, unloading everything they had at the damaged Falmouth I, trying to hold on until assistance arrived, or victory came…
The remaining Nozomi (NS-X5-203 through NG-X5-224) split into three groups, NS-X5-203 through NS-X5-209 protecting Hotaru, NS-X5-210 through NS-X5-216 shielding Himitsu, and NS-X5-217 through NS-X5-224 remaining of standby should either the Nami no Seigi Squadron or the TF-50 require assistance.
Himitsu AL2 1~200 and Hotaru AL2 1~200 had been relatively successful, sustaining a total loss of roughly 10%. Restoring into Himitsu AL2-1~175 and Hotaru AL2-1~185, only Hotaru AL2-100~185 and Himitsu AL2-100~175 followed the enemy fleet, 200 wings staying within the range of the main battle.
Hotaru AL2-100~185 and Himitsu AL2-100~115 engaged Yab 1~75 at full steam, The remaining force of Himitsu AL2-116~175 attacking Jio 1~40.
The NG-X5-91 arrived, but was unable to use its massive main gun without wasting allied forces, so it released its own 35 wings of Power Armour (Irim 61~95) to assist, Irim 61~75 attacking Jio 1~40, and Irim 76~95 attacking Yab 1~75. It also deployed 720 Weapons Pods for its own defence, and offered medical care to the injured.
Meanwhile, the volume of fire concentrated on Brunswick III through Brunswick X could only be described as phenomenal. Jiyuu was the last place they should have attacked and, for good measure if nothing else, their day was about to get worse. Taisa Chiemi Haruko, onboard the YSS Seijin no Umi, peered across the battlefield and gave a simple order. The massive Yuumi and all its escorts folded, appearing a second later interposed between Jiyuu and the oncoming destroyers (Brunswick III through X). Should any scrap of metal survive the onslaught arrayed against them, she would fire and they would burn.
