[b]New Condia[/b]

Fire erupted throughout the skies over the colony, as the initial landing force of Matrons were devastated by these weapons, unable to reach the ground intact and showering debris throughout the city. The few surviving Constructs crawled and howled through the streets, crippled and terrifying onlookers just with their presence. For now, the surface remained free of Ethereal attackers.

As for the ships above the surface, they were not ready for this salvo of firepower, which crippled both ships who had moved to engage the stations foolishly. One cruiser used it's remaining power to break orbit, unable to maintain it's altitude and screaming through the atmosphere in a blaze of bluish hell fire, smashing into several city blocks as it crash landed. On board, a significant proportion of the attackers were still somewhat functional, and began to pour out the ship as civilians gathered around the ship. A Matron stood up to it's full height, and walked over casually to a stunned Iscandarian, too shocked to move. It observed him coldly, before screaming loudly and plunging a blade through his chest, lifting him of the ground. People ran away terrified as other Constructs opened fire, vaporizing indiscriminately while the Matron swung the blade down and flung the man into the ground with a sickening thud, before joining it's fellows in the slaughter.

The other Ehtereal ship had fared better, but was still injured gravely, falling back and charging It's EM Cannon, hitting another station as it retreated back to the Conduit Ship. It's crew jettisoned and approached the frigates, firing smaller decay missiles at them and trying to slow their escape. The battle was not going in the Gathering's favor, but they were confident the second wave would finish them swiftly, when it arrived.