A few seconds after that eerie silence settled, the highest-priority Communications Channel suddenly sounded.
At the piercing sound, everyone in Command Headquarters stopped what they were doing.
Every gaze focused on the communicator making the sound.
Commander Ithilis walked from the Tactical Table to the communications console and reached out to press the answer button.
"Commander Ithilis, this is Tribune Helios. Report your situation."
The voice coming through the channel was deep and powerful, free of any interference from battlefield noise.
Upon hearing who was speaking, Ithilis instinctively straightened his back.
He took a deep breath, keeping his voice steady.
"Reporting: we have fewer than fifty thousand personnel available. Apart from the Leman Russ Main Battle Tanks, only one squadron of Aurelian Main Battle Tanks has survived. We have no other effective anti-armor units."
"Enough," Helios said.
For an instant, Ithilis froze when he heard that word.
He did not know what Helios had based that judgment on, but he did not ask.
Helios's voice continued over the Communications Channel. "Are you ready to die for the Emperor, mortal?"
As Helios finished speaking, Ithilis felt his heart quicken a beat, adrenaline born of excitement and tension surging through his body.
Hearing Helios's voice, Ithilis answered eagerly, "Nothing would please me more, Lord Tribune."
"Good." Helios's affirmative voice came over the channel.
Without pausing, he continued issuing orders. "Very good. Muster your armored forces to draw the attention of the enemy Emperor-class Titan and its escorting Warlord Titans. Your task is to keep the enemy occupied for thirty seconds."
Ithilis's heartbeat accelerated again.
Thirty seconds.
Keeping it occupied for just thirty seconds was the entire task assigned to his fifty thousand soldiers and dozens of tanks: to prevent that Emperor-class Titan from diverting its attention elsewhere for thirty seconds.
He knew