Cream the Robian was overlooking the city of Mega Central from within the robotic armor that normally wore when she was out on assignment for her master Robotnik. The main reasoning was that Mecha Cream's existence was considered top secret even amongst his allies thus when she was used for things outside of her plant. It was this armor that she was ordered to operate from within to prevent anyone from know who or what she was exactly.
She could not be detected from within the armor nor would anyone even know that she was anymore more than just a robot that was assigned to certain assignments. Why she had to wear this armor a certain time and never at others was not something she ever questioned. She merely assumed that times she was made to wear was because she was dealing with or would come into contact with faulty robians of various kinds. Different from the ones that she was used to so protection was needed for her.
This was at least how her program managed to make sense of things once again not so much thinking outside the box but pulling things in. Using her existing knowledge and how she thinks the world is supposed to work to explain things she does not understand.
Though the reason she was here was to look after something that she had created as a prototype of an upscaled version of something she already. It was an improved version of her room size roboticizer meant to be set up in the forest around her plant thus whenever a faulty robian appeared it would go off immediately ensure they were on the first step to being fixed. Testing it out however in her area would not be advisable thus when asked to help with an assignment use using some of her techs. That was when Mecha Cream thought this would be the perfect chance to do a test run of her prototype.
The reasoning for bringing Mecha Cream out here was because they were conducting sieges on the city of Mega Central. Robotnik having made his brother's group into his allies that would help him in his ventures. Lead to him learn about Mega Central and/or being reminded it existed in the first place. The main reason that Robotnik's interest in Mega Central was not because it placement or anything to do with conquering the city itself.
It was for the Magitek
A mystical art of controlling electrical impulses and electronic signals. It's a corruption of Ixis Magicks, arising along with other types of black magic after the fall of the Order of Ixis. Though that is probably not something that is common knowledge among those that use magitek. Mostly cause the only known location where Magitek was even practiced was an Overlander city known as Mega Central.
Home to a cult of technomages who practiced craft in secret. Before the Great War between Mobians and Overlanders had started, Mega Central considered making Magitek illegal however the High Chancellor that was considering this changed their mind. Mostly because the technomages prove themselves to be very useful not in the defense of their own life but when the city had come under attack. It was the techonmages that were the ones that drove off the attacks from the city. Thus the good that the craft could be used for when in the right hand was on display and offset the bad (anything can be used for good or evil it just depends on how it is viewed and put into practice)
No longer were they secretly practiced magitek in the city of Mega Central but able to do it in the open and even started teaching those that had an interest in it. Though not everyone was able to learn it as training had to start in their youth at a young age in the arts of magitek. Developing in many different ways now that they did not have to practice hiding, Magitek became more diverse and the full potential for good was truly being explored.
Though again with the addition of his older brother, Colin Kintobor, and his group to Robotnik's Empire. There was a push to get other Overlanders to join them in their fight to keep mobians under control. Trying to use the animosity that a lot of them had from losing the Great War against the mobians and the resources they needed (given that was a reason they started the Great War in the first place) to their advantage to get them on board. Since a majority of Overlanders had strong feelings of xenophobia towards Mobians or were indifferent towards them.
On top of this Magitek could do wonders for the Robonik Empire if they were on their side. Again looking towards how the mystic art could be used to help them in the long run rather than hurt them was being considered. Over the obvious and clear threat that they could pose as enemies.
Those Overlanders of Mega Central especially the technomages that were the ones the practiced magitek that were not convinced were to join. Thus they were considered enemies and attacked to prevent them from being a threat later on. That or take what they wanted from them by force cause it would be a case the 'if you are not with us you are against us' mentality. Thus a fight between Mega Central and Robotnik Empire was started. Since Robotnik had his older brother on his side he was able to handle this war while his younger brother was able to continue dealing with Sonic and the Freedom Fighter. Keeping the two sides from ever managing to join forces even if with the animosity that exists between Mobians and Overlanders.
Despite the overwhelming disadvantage that Mega Central was under similarly to how the Freedom Fighters were able to fight and survive against a global empire was because they had something up their sleeve. The Freedom Fighters had their core group who each brought something to the table with Sonic the Hedgehog probably bringing the most in terms of combat power. What Mega Central had been its technomages that were the stark defender of the city able to fend over most the robots and even most of the technology that was attempted to be used against them with their magitek.
Since they were allowed to study it openly for the betterment of their home. Combat versions of it were developed for when the long range was not possible or not the best choice of actions. This proves to be an asset that was crucial key in dealing with the non-robot combatants(anyone that was organic) who had some form of technology on them so close range magitek users were employed to deal with them.