In the Solar System, the two sides' craft collided head-on without any fancy maneuvers, and a mecha battle spanning tens of thousands of kilometers began!
Like two knights charging straight at each other, the Earth Army's four hundred mechas swiftly locked onto their targets, catching three Twin Stars shield squads before they could evade.
At close quarters, shield tactics were useless. Maintaining that single-file formation would have been suicide.
The Twin Stars forces decisively abandoned their shields and formed up for a charge. The three small formations, totaling more than sixty mechas and fighters, fearlessly slammed into the Earth Army's Mecha Forces.
The performance of both sides' machines was virtually identical. The instant they entered firing range, countless missiles and beams erupted across the battlefield.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Flames and explosions spread through space, forming a ribbon of light...
On the Twin Stars Communications Channel.
"Sir! Squads 27, 32, and 45 have been targeted! The enemy has numerical superiority, and our squad formations have put us on the back foot. Requesting support!"
"Reporting! Squad 32 has engaged the enemy. Their pilots are well trained, and we're taking heavy losses!"
"We've broken through the enemy formation. Squad 45 has seven fighters and one mecha remaining. All other units have been destroyed!"
"..."
In their high-speed charges, the two sides' craft swept past one another, leaving blinding explosions and countless fragments of steel on the battlefield.
After breaking through the Earth Army's formation, the three Twin Stars squads had only a sparse dozen or so craft left, battered by the numerically superior enemy. The Earth Army, meanwhile, had suffered only minor losses. This first small-scale engagement ended in an overwhelming victory for Earth.
Cheers filled Earth's communications channel!
"Hahaha! I took down two Twin Stars fighters! My life was worth living!"
"One