The first ships to appear in the Gibraltar Beta System were indeed the Vulcan Airan and three Imperial Corona-class dreadnoughts.
Marshal Bonaparte had guessed correctly. The valiant Imperial military really was preparing to lead with its capital ships, establishing a bridgehead for its fleet to enter the Milky Way's home territory.
But thanks to the existence of the "battering ram," the Imperial fleet entering the Gibraltar Beta System wasn't subjected to concentrated fire. Instead, it gained the advantage of striking first. A Titan and three dreadnoughts unleashed a barrage of thousands of shots on the gun emplacements directly ahead in the shortest possible time, permanently destroying over thirty percent of the platforms blocking the stargate.
As for the other "battering ram," that proud, striding "space ram" had smashed six MK7 turrets. Its own gravity had also sent at least three arsenal ships and one guard ship hurtling out of control and crashing. In the end, however, it ran out of power and came to a stop.
Even then, half of the suicide squad members who had set out with the "battering ram" had survived. After this battle, they would live to become heroes, enjoying the glory and tangible rewards of rising in rank. They would become inspirational role models for the entire Empire, living examples of how the Emperor's kindness could never be repaid.
Of course, compared with the earth-shaking impact on the Devil's Maw, this time's results could hardly be called particularly successful.
But as long as that solid metal object remained there, it formed a natural shield beside the stargate. Under its cover, the three Corona-class dreadnoughts following the Vulcan Airan leisurely spread out their formation, steadily bombarding the Earth fleet and the turret clusters while deploying more than four hundred of the latest Titanium Blade fighters.
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