Agent047
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740 - 1% Success
🕑 Added 2024-09-26 10:29:15 +0000 UTCFrom a two-dimensional perspective, an observer witnessing this conflict would see two sides engaged in entirely different battles as a result of the ongoing attacks. The imperial forces remained focused on thwarting waves of incoming assaults, while the Conclave forces were also caught in a defensive struggle against attacks that seemed to emerge from thin air.
The invisible enemy skillfully capitalized on the gaps created by the Conclave forces, who had spaced themselves apart in preparation for a potential rush after the imperial forces were defeated. Their attacks, launched from these positions, caught the Conclave by surprise, throwing them into a scramble to respond effectively.
As the Conclave struggled to counter the incoming assaults, they faced the daunting task of not only stopping the initial attacks but also preventing breaching pods from infiltrating their ships. At the same time, they had to focus on eliminating the stealth forces that were orchestrating the offensive. This chaotic interplay of threats kept the Conclave forces on high alert, forcing them to split their attention and resources in a desperate attempt to maintain their defenses.
The enemy’s positioning created a challenging situation for the Conclave forces. Nestled in the gaps between each other, they found it difficult to respond effectively without risking collateral damage. Any counterattacks aimed at the stealth forces had a significant chance of missing their intended targets and instead striking their temporary allies. This precarious positioning heightened the stakes for the Conclave, as they had to balance the urgency of their defense with the potential consequences of harming their temporary allies forces which might create more chaos, all while under relentless pressure from the ongoing assaults.
…………..
“We should tell them where to aim,” one of the Shadari leaders suggested, observing the varying degrees of difficulty faced by the Conclave members against the stealth enemies.
His body, along with those he was addressing, bore a humanoid shape, but that was where the resemblance to humans ended. They lacked visible eyes, ears, or any identifiable features. The only discernible aspect of their forms was the dark layer that enveloped them, which appeared to absorb light in varying degrees, depending on each member of their race.
“We don’t have time to redirect our sensors to their positions when we need to use them at full capacity just to detect the enemies up close,” replied the one with the second most light-absorbing layer among the many holograms engaged in the discussion.
“We don’t need to adjust our sensors to assist them in that way. All we need to do is provide information that will enable them to mount a decent defense and minimize their losses. While it may seem advantageous for us if they lose this fight, it’s actually quite the opposite. We need them weakened enough to continue resisting the enemy forces, but not so severely damaged that they become useless to us,” countered another leader.
Their voices emanated from an indiscernible organ, leaving it unclear whether their dark layer was true skin or simply an active ability concealing their actual bodies like a veil.
As they deliberated, one of their ships launched a missile that appeared unremarkable at first glance. However, similar to the missiles inflicting severe damage on the imperial fleet, this one effortlessly passed through defenses, allowing it to penetrate the stealth bubble and transmit vital information back to the fleet. The data revealed a ship at the center responsible for generating the bubble, which enabled the other vessels to remain undetected.
In a frantic attempt to neutralize the missile, the surrounding ships targeted it, but their attacks either passed right through or detonated harmlessly at a distance. The missile continued its course until it struck the stealth bubble's generating ship, exploding upon impact. This caused the bubble to rupture, exposing the imperial vessels to the sensors of every ship in the vicinity.
Though this exposure left them vulnerable, the ships showed no concern, as their capabilities extended beyond mere stealth.
With their camouflage stripped away, they unleashed their full flexibility. Ships that had once been limited to movements only in the stealth bubble were now free to maneuver, launch attacks, and deploy rebaching pods as they saw fit, adapting seamlessly to the evolving chaos of battle.
No one among the Shadari in the room appeared pleased that their phasing-capable missiles had successfully penetrated enemy defenses, inadvertently exposing their hidden ships. While the outcome of the missile’s effectiveness was anticipated, it was still a troubling development.
These missiles were not only among their finest weapons but also some of the most costly and complex to manufacture. Constructed from rare materials and requiring the expertise of highly skilled Shadari artisans, their availability was limited, with each fleet allocated only a small supply.
Originally intended to maintain a balance of power against the other top ten civilizations, nearly a quarter of these prized missiles had now been expended to both destroy imperial ships and reveal their stealth forces currently targeting them. This loss represented a significant risk, compromising their strategic advantage at a crucial moment in the conflict.
“We don’t have time; let’s vote. Those in favor, make it known,” declared the Shadari with the most light-absorbing skin.
Silence hung in the air; no one raised a hand or spoke a word.
“Then we’ll send them the information about the central ship and instruct them to target it to reveal the other vessels,” the one who called for the vote announced, interpreting the lack of response as tacit approval from the others.
As soon as the information was transmitted to the other Conclave members, they swiftly redirected their attacks to penetrate the stealth bubble, concentrating their fire on the central ships in each bubble that was responsible for maintaining them.
However, it appeared that the Shadari had deliberately chosen this moment to provide the crucial information, just as every other Conclave force was facing a few thousand breaching pods successfully infiltrating their ships from the hundreds of thousands launched at them.
This meant that even if they managed to handle the stealth forces, they would still have to contend with the enemy forces that had already breached their ships allowing the Shadari to reach their goal of weakening them without having to do anything with their own hands.
