68.The Battle

The Others launch a surprise attack that forces the Bobiverse forces to fall back and regroup. Facing overwhelming odds, Riker authorizes a desperate assault with nearly a hundred dreadnoughts, which succeeds in destroying roughly two-thirds of the Others' fleet. A crucial tactical insight about Doppler-shifted radiation from the Jokers' high-velocity warheads allows for a devastating counterattack that appears to decisively defeat the Others' armada.

Riker arrives at the command center to find chaos as the Bobs respond to a blindside attack by the Others. Bill explains that a second super-pulse masked a sortie that caught them off-guard, forcing a retreat and regrouping. Riker checks on the Jokers squad and learns they can still intercept but face heavy countermeasures from the Others. With no reasonable strategic path to victory, Riker authorizes a desperate move: launching nearly a hundred AMI-controlled dreadnoughts in a full assault. The Others respond by deploying defenders, but miscalculate by launching from a cargo vessel too far away, allowing the first wave of dreadnoughts to break through. Two leading dreadnoughts detonate their cargo, clearing enemy defenders and allowing subsequent dreadnoughts to position themselves for maximum effect before detonating simultaneously, destroying roughly two-thirds of the Others' fleet. As the Others regroup to counterattack, Riker realizes the Jokers traveling at near light-speed can exploit Doppler shift: radiation from their nuclear warheads, accelerated to such velocities, will be frequency-shifted above what the Others' death asteroids can produce, effectively turning the Others' own weapon against them. Bill immediately orders the Jokers to launch all remaining nukes at the Others fleet and detonate them at the earliest safe moment. The timing is critical, with detonations occurring just before the Others' defenders reach engagement distance. The resulting Doppler-shifted radiation sterilizes the Others' fleet across a wide cone, frying both vessels and electronics. After confirming the victory, Thor calls for finishing off remaining vessels with available munitions. Riker sends a brief message to Herschel and Neil that the battle is over.