Two Battle Groups

So swift.

Forge World, Varia Superior.

The members of the Council of Magos gathered in the Forge Temple as a string of glaring red zeroes and ones scrolled through the Thought Space.

[First Expeditionary Fleet destroyed.

Agricultural World Narindi lost.

...]

News of total collapse across thirteen star systems erupted in succession over twenty-five seconds.

Even the magi's augmented brains could not help but fall into a crashed state.

The fourteenth message pierced the dead-silent hall: Hof Albion had fallen.

This message was especially glaring.

Hof Albion symbolized Varia Superior's glorious achievement in destroying the Hydrinox Conclave after a long war.

From then on, they would no longer bow to any power.

Cold reality pierced that delusional thought.

"How could the enemy be this fast?" Chief Magos Unai-9 asked.

Over the past two years, Varia Superior had not been at a disadvantage in its tug-of-war with Graia, so why had the war situation taken such a sharp turn for the worse in less than four weeks?

"The force calling itself the Imperium of Man dispatched their outstanding commander, Nimrod, leading his Shadow of Order Legion in a swift offensive," the Envoy Magos said in an even tone, relaying the intelligence he had obtained from communicating with the envoy from Mars.

Chief Magos Unai-9 looked toward the projection of the Magos Dominus. "How much longer can we hold?"

The Magos Dominus in charge of military affairs stared at the illusory holographic image for sixteen seconds. Then the mechanical tendrils behind him rose, outlining two cyan-red defensive lines on the northern and southern sides of the image.

"The Rippers Titan Legions have fully deployed to support the Skitarii Rangers, and the reestablished line is holding back Shadow of Order's attacks."

"The Dark Fire Titan Legions on the southern side and the Morning