On the surface, the colonel Fenlons had sent sat inside the Minotaur, watching the towering steel machines stride past him and quickly disappear from view. Then he hesitantly climbed out of the crew compartment.
He cautiously approached the Machine Intelligence Servitors standing in formation on standby and the Castellans stacking themselves into a pile.
"Warning. Unauthorized personnel, state your purpose immediately. This area has been temporarily requisitioned. Do not approach the minimum security perimeter unless necessary."
A red targeting beam above the temporary Maintenance Center pointed down at the colonel's chest, while the dangerous-looking automated turrets on its roof lowered their massive barrels.
A deafening warning rang out from the building.
"I am Colonel Tarok of the Lakno Planetary Defense Force. I request a meeting with your commander."
Iax had no desire to waste time talking to these people, so he did something that left Tarok dumbfounded.
A holographic interface appeared in the air before Tarok.
The man on the other end asked a puzzled question.
"I am Solar Lord Leontus. Who are you?"
As an ordinary Planetary Defense Force colonel, however, Tarok had absolutely no idea who Leontus was.
He had heard of the Solar Lord, though.
He had never imagined that simply trying to contact the commander of the other force would put him directly in touch with the supreme commander of the Imperium's battlefront.
"My lord! I am Colonel Tarok of the Lakno Planetary Defense Force."
So nervous he almost wet himself, Tarok carefully stated his identity.
For some reason, Leontus's eyes lit up.
"Lakno?! How did you get in contact with us?"
"My lord, I don't know! A group of mechanical soldiers we've never seen before landed on this planet and saved us. General Fenlons sent me to find their commander and express our gratitude. Then