Dazzling lances and macro-cannon fire poured into the T'au fleet like a torrential downpour.
The battleships' shields successfully blocked most of the attacks.
But the Imperial Fleet had a clear objective: destroy as much of the enemy's strength as possible.
Lances from the battleships and battlecruisers struck the cruisers and Frigates scattered through the fleet with devastating force.
The first volley alone destroyed sixteen Frigates.
The Imperial Navy clearly had far more combat experience than the T'au fleet.
Most of the T'au's firepower was wasted on the void shields of the Large Ship.
Only a single Frigate in the Imperial Fleet suffered damage.
Yet that did not mean the Imperial Fleet would enjoy an overwhelming advantage.
The T'au's Custodian-class battleship, the "or'esel'leath," was a carrier-like vessel.
It had the size and defenses of a battleship, but carried a far greater complement of strike craft.
Barracuda fighters and Tiger Shark attack craft swarmed out like a disturbed hive of bees.
Long-range plasma cannons and heavy Railguns built with Nicassar (Votann Dwarf Explorators) technology gave these vessels formidable anti-ship capabilities.
Dense volleys of plasma and Railgun rounds struck the Imperial battleships' void shields, sending ripples of pale violet light across them.
The T'au fleet lacked void shield technology. Their shields were energy shields, closer to the old technology of the Men of Iron.
Unfortunately for them, their power supplies and shield recharge technology were clearly not authentic Federation technology.
Even with the Nicassar's assistance, they could not achieve the terrifyingly dense shields of the Men of Iron's Mechanicus Fleet.
The Imperium's Missile and strike craft closed in on the T'au fleet.
T'au Barracuda fighters began chasing Imperial Fury Interceptors through space.
Meanwhile, the Tiger Shark attack craft swept past the dogfighting zone, crossing paths with the Starhawk Bomber as they headed straight