Captain Boutin knew that his meager fleet of six Defense monitor ships and three defense laser platforms. His squad consisted of only four Cobra destroyers. He was up against a whole Tau explorer fleet. The captain knew he would lose but by the emperor he would take out the Tau's scout fleet of eight messenger class starships. "Full impulse I want to be able to see the faces of those damn Tau when we kill them". Ordered Captain Boutin. His orders were relayed to the whole fleet. Tau ships opened fire, their shots pouncing harmlessly off the fleet's ships. The tau fired another volley this time scoring a hit as one of the monitor ships took a hit right in the engines. The monitor ships shifted to port and fired their cannons destroying two of the tau ships. Now it was time for Boutin's Cobras to do some damage as the immediately drove into the middle of the six ships splitting the "v" shape formation up. The squad turned to fire on two of the Tau ships; firing their torpedoes. Both ships were ripped to pieces. The last four Tau ships turned to flee but the defense ships fired another volley destroying three and disabling of the other. Before Boutin could even hail the Tau ship, it activated its self-destruct. Boutin rallied his fleet around Circth
Two hours later the Tau fleet warped into the system. Thirty Orca class ships moved towards them followed by ten hero class ships. The laser platforms along with the Monitor ships fired a volley at the Orca ships, taking only one down. The Tau Hero ships fired back destroying three of the monitor ships and a platform. Another volley from the Imperials took down two Orca ships. With the combined fire of the Orcas and Heroes destroyed all the remaining Monitor ships along with the defense platforms. Boutin's attack group split and concentrated their fire on two Orca ships.
"Hard to port" ordered Boutin as Tau plasma filled the view port. Boutin's ship dodged the plasma but Boutin's wingman took the incoming plasma on the bow. "All remaining ships mark one Hero class ship and ram it". Ordered Boutin. The last two Cobra's exhausted their last of their missiles in a final volley. Both managed to take out the prow shields of one Hero. The ship fired its four port cannons at Boutin's last wingman. Boutin ordered the ships engines put to full and set the ship for self-destruction. Boutin's Cobra rammed into the prow of the ship, just after the ship hit the reactor core was set off. The Hero class ship prow was obliterated the rest of the ship exploded within a second of the prow.
" Lord, Ethereal the Gue ships are destroyed and on your orders we will begin the invasion for the greater good".
" Then begin the attack against the foul orks and the Gue". Ordered the Ethereal in charge of the invasion.
This is just the first part of a two-part space battle. The next chapter will include a larger Imperial fleet with a giant space battle.