Namek Fort_Master_Gustav @Drakador_Chaos
As the shards break toward the Solaric ships, something odd begins to happen to the formation, it ripples and rises, the engines firing on full to keep the huge Solaric ships steady as they buck and roll, it appears that in their haste to play their hand, whoever was controlling these spiked projectiles had forgotten another effect of the Solaric tractors, firing fully on their pressor, or negative polarity setting, they do not only push in one direction, and due to the sudden change of course in the micro projectiles, now toward the Solaric fleet, the powerful force of the tractor arrays, fully 40% at least of the ships full armament, causes the entire Solaric formation to be thrust backward wish surprising rapidity, on the bridge of the "Vespasian" the Sol Androids make awkward gestures of exhilaration.
"By Sol, gratification by the central cortex overload!"
"If one of our mortal Solaric brothers were here I believe the appropriate phrase would be 'yeah baby' or something to the same regard."
"Affirmative my metallic bondmate, this beats games of Quto."
"I have computed an appropriate evasive protocol commander, I am whimsically going to call it 'Surfing', this will be amusing."
"Phya-ha-a-a-a-aaa indicating laughter. This is a truly amusing comment helmsman, please send evasive orders immediately."
This violent displacement of the fleet however means that almost the entire Delta salvo misses it's mark, as the Solaric fleet has been displaced quite drastically, resulting in the salvo spraying a mainly empty area of space where the Sols used to be, the Solaric fleet slides off the proverbial wave to either side of the spikes, twisting down and around behind the spikes course, and back toward the embattled delta fleet...
The spikes traveling toward the SYS-DEF stations are another matter however, the huge octahedron shaped stations already have their tractor arrays in full play, attempting to shift the GEC facility, this, however, will not be fast enough to avert disaster.
A veteran of the Solaric-EL wars, it's 'Strongium' hull cracked and pockmarked from the barrages of giants, is "Rampart", the most venerable and decorated station of the Solaric SYS-DEF legions, and aboard it's bridge, a decision is made. The tractors are severed, and the huge central drives of the station fire on full, the obliterating heat of their plasma jets rivaling that of an exploding sun, and it begins to power forward, it's tractors are turned on the incoming projectiles, and the station opens up with everything it has, huge Gatling kinetic lances firing slugs the size of hab-buildings, while huge fusion STS missiles and laser cannons with the power to level cities also lash at their targets, supplimented by the station's more conventional armament, escape pods begin to lance from the station, and shuttles and fighters, corvettes and freighters jump from the hangars, the station's crew evacuating before it is too late, leaving but the brave Solaric androids and system automatics to continue firing, weapons begin to run dry, and several internal fires break out due to overheating, there are a few explosions in the midsection as fuel in the station's reserves begins to cook off, but still the gargantuan mass of metal and machinery gains speed, the bridge crew finalise their input orders to the station computer and step into their escape chambers, small EVA pods shooting down tubes through the core of the station and jettisoning rearwards to be snatched by Solaric tractors on the other stations and ships...
The station is nearing it's goal, the final stage of it's journey, and of it's life, the massive ramscoop generator in the tip of the octahedron activates, it's cone of force reaching out wide ahead of the station, funneling the spikes inwards with irrefutable power, one lance strikes, carving into the station, another impales it, the penetrating tip vaporising much of it's internals, then another, glancing it with a blow that smashes anything not bolted down into metal filings, and breaks most things that are secured. Each spike hits it in turn, cracking it open and detonating it's ammunition and fuel reserves, breaking and sundering that once most regal construct into fragments of it's most hardy shell.
The Solaric Station AI known itself as "Rampart" looked upon it's collapsing self and was proud, for it had fulfilled it's duty, protecting the lives of those who could not do so themselves, it's tiny compatriots who despite their frailties had given it a form and purpose, and a home whilst it was operational. With it's last seconds of consciousness it sends one last message with it's failing transmitters.
++Orders complete, farewell.+-
The final vestiges of the station's internals are consumed by the roiling cloud of plasma that is resultant from the collision, and Rampart thinks no more, half it's shell spinning away into the void, the other half splintered into pieces as numerous as the grains of sand in a thousand deserts.
Upon the Command deck of "Vespasian", there is silence, the elation of seconds ago having evaporated with "Rampart", the android crew staring at their displays with incomprehension.
Brian is the first to speak.
"By Sol... By Sol we will make them pay for this with every ounce of their being."
He reconnects to his console, inputting his orders.
"Helm, on my mark and bearing. Barrages re-ready the tractors on positive polarity."
The fleet twists again and accelerates, down and down, pulling up to move in tandem with the delta fleet, it's tractors reach out, locking onto the huge dreadnought at the centre of the formation, thrusting at any smaller ships or projectiles that come into their path, they begin to haul on the ship, a whole fleet's worth of power counteracting it's thrust, attempting to slow it and hold it in position. Whilst this is happening, the other Solaric batteries open up on the Delta fleet, targeting smaller ships, attempting to strip the fleet of it's interference screens.