Mota's troops had to pass through the fortress's main central passage, seize at least two of its three main lift shafts, then descend another level before they could reach their destination.
William's group had it much easier. With the help of the Beifang robots, even the engineers advancing with the troops were able to secure their objectives much faster.
They manually entered a new operating system into the control terminal array and installed entirely new access permissions, doing their best to make the fortress's various defense systems feel more Earthling.
The battle to capture the main life-support control room was perhaps the fiercest. The few remaining Imperial defenders had guessed what would happen if the room fell, and could only grit their teeth and fight to the death.
After destroying the armored doors blocking their way at any cost, allied forces from several neighboring sectors were also fighting their way over to reinforce them.
But everyone knew that in close-quarters combat inside a fortress, psions could do whatever they pleased. And these were battle-hardened reapers led by Colonel Walter, to boot.
They had been following the Marshal since Operation Serpent Slayer, and had taken part in every major battle since. Naturally, they were all battle-tested heroes who had clawed their way through countless fights. For them, a battle of this intensity might not have been a walk in the park, but it was certainly like strolling through a quiet courtyard.
That was right! The psions had all been wiped out by the Madam and Miss Sword Saint at the cruise terminal, leaving us with not even the scraps. It was truly a lonely, snowbound existence!
Colonel Mina Walter sent a mobile artillery platform and a shield formation of grenadiers flying with a move much like an iron mountain shoulder check,