The plateau was in chaos. The pirate bombardment had shattered the energy shield, leaving the defenses vulnerable and the shield generators in ruins.
The remaining generators struggled to maintain a smaller, localized shield around the factories, but it was a far cry from the impenetrable barrier that had once protected the entire plateau.
Cleo's forces scrambled to regroup, their Aegis units forming defensive lines as the pirates prepared to land.
"Take the remaining energy generators and install them around the factories! Focus the air defense turrets around the station!" Cleo commanded with her voice, cutting through the din of explosions and alarms. "All units, prepare for combat!"
She knew what was coming next. With the shield down, the pirates would do what they did best: board and overwhelm. The plateau was about to become a battlefield, and Cleo's forces were outnumbered and outgunned. But she wasn't about to go down without a fight.