"The regs have them surrounded. Let them just rush in and finish them off!" One male voice started over the channel.

"With the casualties they took so far? Not to mention us?" A female voice replied.

"Taskmaster wants the site secured at all costs. Since when do you care about regs?"

"Since I'm not a moron. These aren't your standard Irken. You two know that, right?"

"Troopers, Elite, Spec Ops, doesn't matter. They all die the same. Sooner they're eliminated, sooner we can extract."

"Oh, shut up, you baby aug, you're standing safely on a rooftop as an observer." It was a different male voice chiming in.

An audible female growl came out in response. "And you already managed to lose two of your squad in a single go. Good job. How'd you find Pyros?"

"...Decapitated."

"You're dealing with a different breed of Irken. Cunning, genius...curious to observe."

"What, you start liking the enemy since they're as short as you?"

"Maybe you should've sent the meathead here to get a hole bored through his head." She paused to look over the regs. "I don't know what you guys are planning. But either you say you're going in now or the regs are going to make the decision for you. They look pissed."

"Fuck...Euxine, double check the count of those present. You said you only saw six?"

"Yup. Two in the shuttle I know of. Five on the rooftops. Wait one." She switched to thermals, "...The fuck?"

"What is it?"

"Seros...those are some of our guys with them."

"What do you mean our guys?"

"Vortian. Four of them. Looks like we also got another Irken in the shuttle and one that looks...pretty messed up. Likely a casualty."

"All right...I guess that decides it. Tell the regs to hold for the moment. We're going in."

"Why? Let 'em keep wearing them down. They'll run out of ammunition eventually. Can go in and mop them up after that happens."

"Caltrop," Euxine cut in, "I've been watching, our guys haven't been shooting. Even if the Irken run out of ammo, you've got four guys who have some."

"You misunderstand. Almost half a battalion's worth of regs surrounding them with armor support. No escape, no reinforcement, no resupply. Keep the pressure on and test their defenses. They'll fold. C'mon, this is infantry tactics 101 here. Have every advantage and you want to throw it away?"

"And the traitors?"

"Fuck 'em. They want to lie in the same grave, so be it. Isn't the first time you've shot traitors, is it?"

"Tactics 101 and yet they've so far taken down one tank, a recoilless rifle, and repulsed several companies, and you want to keep throwing bodies at the problem? Since when did we have an Irken spy in the ranks?"

"Says the sympathizer."

"Enough. Valid points all around, but we have finite resources. Relay through Taskmaster and get these regs' COs organized. Start boxing them in and reinforce our defensive posture. They're obviously here ahead of the Empire's offensive to open Tallum up for it. Keeping them where they are will stop them from doing that. Starve them out if we must."

"So just sit here on our hands and play looky-loo with them through our optics?"

"If you would be quiet and let me finish...send a team in for recon and probe them. Figure out exactly what we're dealing with."

"Could designate, send coords, and have artillery flatten the entire block. No kill better than overkill."

"Yeah, maybe send more than one guy this time. His brains are splattered on the side of the tank." Euxine huffed.

"An excellent suggestion. Are you volunteering to lead the team or are you going to stand up there and bitch the entire time?"

"Taskmaster wants me here on observation, that's exactly what I'm going to do. Maybe you should go in, Caltrop. Maybe your thick head will last more than one shot."

"Less complaining, more observing then...whatever we're doin', let's get to it. Sure they suspect something's up with the offensive halting."

"Yeah...yeah…I'll let you know if I see the situation develop from up here. Euxine out."

Tha cut the comms and grabbed her rifle off her back, snarling, "Damn it."

"Looks like you've been made." Corr noted. "Team, heads up, they're likely going to come at us again once they're reorganized. Possible SIS Recon team as well."

Haxx groaned as he closed the bipod of his machine gun again. "Not again. I'm still not over having my ribs broken. This sucks"

The field command headquarters of the Armada was abuzz with controlled chaos. Several dozen communications operators and their handlers sent and received information over multiple channels down the chain of command to the commanding officers embedded within each partitioning of forces. Final preparations and positioning were underway to commence the final offensive into Tallum and take the planetary capital to secure a much-needed Irken victory.

High Marshal Zha, recently-appointed to the position of planetary commander and highest authority of the Vortian campaign, was steadily handed missives and short-hand notes of activities from the field. Thus far it had been little more than confirmations of fulfilling directives passed down by superiors. Troops were gearing up in preparation to push once the time had come. Armor was assembling to support their advance. Artillery calculated, pre-sighted, and prepared for the plethora of fire missions they were likely to receive. Aircraft were fueled, loaded to bear, and standing by.

A holographic, three-dimensional projection of Tallum took up much of the center of the room. Zha and her colleagues, fellow commanders of forces engaged on Vort in their respective sectors, worked in tandem with their aids to relay orders through the communications officers at their terminals. Distant radio chatter from them was largely orderly with the exception of one of General Vaukt's teams.

Vaukt stood over a digitized map, wearing a clean field uniform, his helmet resting nearby. The detonator rested on the edge of the map table near him. Once those three pylons went, the regulars could proceed with the attack. That was what they needed, especially with the relayed news.

Tallum's Memorial Square had Vult's second team marked, surrounded by companies of VDF with armor support. Other concentrations of units were marked on the map, priority targets for their own air support and light orbital strikes. Elsewhere, markers of AA positions and artillery batteries that were eliminated by Vaukt's various teams. Vaukt's attention was closest drawn to the three pylons marked for demolition at the moment.

"Prenumbra to Deadeye, status on the pylons?"

"Planting charges, ETA to clear three minutes."

"Good, notify as soon as you're clear, out." Vaukt sighed loudly as he lit a cigarette to smoke. Something he wouldn't do if he wasn't indoors given a potential sniper risk if he was in the field. "Well, aside from that one shitshow and a few hiccups, looks like everything else is proceeding to schedule. Air support will have troop concentrations to deal with and some remaining artillery. It'll make things easier for the regulars going in."

The High Marshal, one antenna eavesdropping on Vaukt's updates and conversations, coincided with her study of the tactical map before her. Purple team's shuttle and the crash site were marked on it...as well as the enveloping circle of VDF units with armor support not unlike a noose tightening around their necks. Their odds were not looking promising given the lack of immediate support and overwhelming opposition so suddenly.

"Assuming they can get through the blanket defenses." She sighed in frustration at all the new, recently-pinged AA emplacements discovered by Purple Team's shuttle and their harrowing last moments in the sky. "How much longer until the rest of your Spec Ops teams pick up their slack in the array and take out those artillery batteries, General?"

Vaukt looked up as some recent updates pinged on the map indicating elimination of some of the AA batteries. "Looks like the detachments from the Sixth and Ninth SOG are working on them as we speak. They're prioritizing the anti-air. Standard artillery is secondary, the pilots and the fleet can take care of those." The General heaved a sigh as he looked at Purple Team's location. "Haven't seen a shitshow like that since Praxxus."

"Seems putting all the smeets into the same hatchery has put us in a precarious position." Admiral Carus of the Armada fleet currently in low-orbit around Vort observed, if not somewhat smugly.

"Few plans survive contact with the enemy, Admiral." Zha was quick to counter, keeping her frustrations in check. "...so long as Vaukt's teams continue to neutralize AA sites, the VDF's defensive capabilities will be reduced to an acceptable point of contention. Once airspace superiority is established, we can contend with the artillery batteries."

"Leaving the artillery batteries secondary is going to invite intense shelling of our first wave, High Marshal." Marshal Verta observed dryly. "I needn't explain what happens to massed infantry movements when they enter pre-zeroed zones."

Zha's blazing green gaze looked up across the table at her subordinate contemporary.

"Your concerns are noted, Verta, but mind your tongue. I am your superior and you will speak to me as such."

"Of course, High Marshal. I meant no offense."

"Then save your patronizing arrogance for your subordinates and not I." She huffed, returning her attention to Vaukt. "Until your teams bring the pylons down and open a gap in their air coverage, I'm not throwing our forces into a grinder. I'm open to recommendations, General."

"They'll bring the AA down. That much I guarantee." Vaukt looked over the remaining batteries on the map. "Worst they'll have once we're done is shoulder fired systems. Just pre-zero our own arty on any of the batteries they designate. Once the shield goes down we'll blow them away before advancing."

"A shoulder-fired system brought down your illustrious Spec Ops team, General." Verta saw fit to remind her colleague with proverbial salt in the wound.

Zha slammed her fist on the edge of the table, glaring at Verta.

"Do you have anything of tactical or strategic value to offer beyond pointing out the shortcoming of others? No? Then shut your fucking noise hole, Marshal. That is an order."

Verta felt it in her best interest to obey with a simple nod as she straightened up to at-ease. Zha stared hard at her for several uncomfortable seconds before tearing her eyes away with a removal of her peaked cap and smoothing of her antenna back with a sigh.

Another General cleared his throat at the awkward tension before speaking.

"High Marshal, if I may. I'm not in disagreement with General Vaukt's assessment, but desperation is quite the motivator and the VDF has plenty of it. They likely intend to counter battery our own sites once the barrier is breached. They may even engage in counter offensives and leave their prepared defenses."

"Then it will be a matter of who is quicker on the trigger then." Zha summarized. "This is an unorthodox situation that no war game or simulator can plan for. Our logistical strains and leadership will not tolerate the bloodbaths Grimm has become notorious for. Precision and tact are in order, both of which are Vaukt's specialty. Once his teams complete their objectives, we will be able to advance unimpeded."

Vaukt looked at another battery falling to his teams and calling it in. With the amount of destruction they've been causing within, it's no doubt they're on high alert, as if Purple Team's insertion wasn't enough of a catalyst for that as is. The General took a drag of his smoke. If he was out there he'd try to muster up some teams who completed their objectives already and try to take some of the pressure off of the beleaguered team. Though he remained stuck in a command center and didn't seem entirely pleased with the apparent lack of ability to act. He kept quiet, observing the map, just waiting for the word that the pylons were clear and ready to detonate.

"High Marshal?"

Her attention turned to Major General Saro just to her left and behind her.

"Yes, Major General?"

"Once the barrier falls, targets within Tallum will be eligible for targeting via orbital strike, will they not?"

"They will be, yes." Carus felt prudent to answer. "The original plan was to pulverize the city into glass and dust from low-orbit but the barrier prevented as such."

"It is difficult to extract anything of value from a conquered world that is reduced to molten glass, Admiral." Zha tiredly pointed out, having had this conversation countless times with her own Armada detachments in prior campaigns. "...but yes, in theory, that will be capable."

Saro carefully considered his words before speaking. High strategy and tactics at this scale were not his forte...but he was learning. Adapting. Vult and Corr's crash course saved his skin and earned him the Tallests' praise...maybe he could use that momentum to his favor.

"Rather than attempt an artillery duel with the remaining batteries...what prevents us from striking them from orbit? There are smaller secondary weapons on our vessels, correct? Utilize them to reduce collateral damage while saturating the area with multiple, successive strikes. Neutralizes the enemy artillery batteries will keeping collateral damage to the city to a minimum."

"He has a good point," Vaukt rubbed his chin as he looked over the area. "Overlay the blast radius if we do that." As the range of destruction came up on the map, the General took only a few seconds to look it over before nodding, "I'll get my teams out of the danger zone once they blow the last AA batteries. Once the barrier comes down, let the Admiral have his fun in this sector, as well as these scattered others. The one problem will be how to relieve them." He then pointed to Purple Team. "Artillery may be best used there once we neutralize the remaining Vortian batteries."

Having his idea be well-received, Saro felt more confident to step forward to the edge of the projector next to General Vaukt.

"Massed infantry and supporting armor have the crash site surrounded." He observed, pointing out what was already established for a point of reference. "If Purple Team or their overwatch can send coordinates from their positions, the same tactic can be applied...with discretion, of course. More precise than artillery and doesn't tie up air assets. Not much survives orbital bombardment."

"Quite the assessment, Major General." Zha responded in approval. "A sound plan of action. Carus? Any objections?"

"No, High Marshal. No objections."

"Your tone says otherwise."

"...I believe it is a grievous misuse of assets to protect a single team of Spec Ops, Ma'am."

"If they were normal Spec Ops, I would be in agreement." Zha countered, glancing at Vaukt briefly. "They are anything but and are too valuable to lose at this conjecture. I cannot elaborate further for most of their operational history and training is classified, even to me. Only know that they directly report to the Tallest and it would reflect badly back on all of us if anything nefarious were to befall them and we could have prevented it."

"Yes...do you want to be the one to report to the Tallest that you just cost them half of their personal unit?" Vaukt looked to the one questioning their use of assets to protect this one team. "I'm sure all of us here would be more than happy for you to accept that blame." He then turned to Saro. "We're still in contact with their overwatch at least. We'll give them the blast radius, have them give us coordinates compensating for that, detect before launch...yes, yes I think this can work. Excellent." Vaukt withdrew his pack of cigarettes, "Smoke?"

Saro's hesitation and confusion over Vaukt's offer was interrupted as Zha reached before him for one. She hesitated long enough for him to light it for her before taking a long drag and exhaling slowly, attempting to calm her fraying nerves and regain her composure. This was her operation. She had led successful campaigns before. This was far from new territory. Issues came up and few plans survived contact with the enemy...but the stakes had never been so high, nor the pressure which was watching and what hinged on success...or failure.

"Good...good...find our footing and momentum again, deliver the counter." Zha commented, taking in the map before her once again as her palms rested flat against the edge of the table. "...once your teams wrap up their primary objectives, converge on the crash site. Some relief is better than none. First opportunity that arises once the offensive begins in full, I want at least five companies of Irken Elite and an armored division to secure that area. Push the VDF back to the citadel...or cut them off and grind them into dust. Either or."

"High Marshal, with all due respect-" Vetra broke her silence, only to be cut off by Zha.

"Do you have an alternative to offer or more scorn and criticism?"

"Ma'am, such orders will divert much-needed troops from the initial advance into Tallum."

The High Marshal stood up straight once more, doing her best to keep her anger in check as she began to speak.

"There is such a thing as diversionary tactics and divide-and-conquer. These are basics taught at Devastis that all of you should know like the back of your hands…"

She gestured with her pointer to the crash site and the VDF unit markers around it.

"All of this? Currently engaged and unable to participate in repelling our offensive. We place ourselves behind them and push, they will be cut off from their main line. Purple Team will be secured and they will be promptly crushed in short-order. Then we push for the citadel in full force."

Zha concluded her heated lecturing of her subordinate with a throw of the pointer across the table. Bouncing off the surface and through the holographic projection, it skid on the floor several feet past Vetra.

"Does that appease your high standards, Marshal?"

Silence.

"Does it?!"

"Y-yes, Ma'am. It does."

"Good. Because it is from your forces I am drawing those units since you are so concerned with taking calculated risks. Make it happen. At once."

Vaukt took the opportunity to head out the door and sit on a bench outside the headquarters, somewhat trying to be stealthy about it. He withdrew a flask and took a small swig of the alcoholic contents before returning to his smoke. The night air was a relief from that humid room, at least somewhat, though he still had the overriding desire to get out and do something about all of this deep down. Ever the leader from the front…

The High Marshal concluded their counter to the VDF's response. Units were appropriated and staged. Orders were passed down. All that remained was getting into position and awaiting their respective signals to proceed on-task as assigned. The operations room ran like a well-oiled machine once dictation was given, permitting Zha a much-needed reprieve, even if it were only momentary.

She exited the room, parting the double doors with a palm to each, pushing them open. Standing clear of them, they casually closed behind her as she lifted her face to the ceiling. Eyes closed and palms to the sides of her neck, she breathed deeply in an attempt to steady her fraying nerves. She did not even take notice to Vaukt's presence.

"Control Brains spare me…" She muttered, shaking her head slightly in a mixture of fatigue and frustration.

Vaukt reached into the inner pocket of his field jacket to withdraw a flask with some Vortian liquor contained within. Though it was adorned with the Federation's crest and a bit of a war trophy from some General he captured with some of his men, it was a most useful war trophy on this campaign. "If you don't mind me asking frankly, ma'am," he stated, making his appearance known, "you doing okay?"

His seemingly innocent query gave Zha a startle as her hands dropped to her sides, turning her attention to him fully.

"Officially or off-the-the record, General?"

"Doesn't leave here as far as I'm concerned."

The High Marshal paused, looking around their immediate area. Only the two of them with no sign of any subordinates to be seen. No one listening or recording. Her shoulders slumped with a deep exhale, her body deflating as the stress weighed her down.

"I want to personally execute every one else in that room with the exception of you and Major General Saro. They are testing my patience and are either dragging their feet to spite me or are actively attempting to sabotage me through malicious compliance so I suffer the wrath of the Tallest."

Forgoing posture for the time being, she came to sit beside Vaukt on the bench casually. Her peaked cap removed, a tired hand rubbed at her temples and eyes in exasperation.

"...but doing so makes me no better than Grimm, for better or worse. I've always had a team of subordinates beneath my command, not equivalent peers to dictate. Too much brass in one place with everyone trying to secure glory for praise from the Tallest even if it means stabbing their own in the back, politically or otherwise. I'm a soldier, not a politician. I've lost my patience for it."

Vaukt took a drag of his smoke, offering the flask to Zha seeing as how she could clearly use a drink. "You see why I tend to stay in the field all the time." He paused, a smirk coming across the Spec Ops General's face, "I can fix this, if you don't mind me being extremely direct when we go back in there."

Zha noted the flask in her peripheral view. An emerald glance was all that was given before she accepted it. Twisting the cap off with some practice, she did not hesitate to help herself to a hearty swig. A small wince at the burn of alcohol down her throat into her spooch and masked cough was given as she capped it once more.

"Define "fix". I'd rather not drown in blood if it can be avoided. That includes getting your teams out safely."

"No blood necessary. Just an extremely firm tone, maybe smacking a few of them around if they're that stubborn. We'll keep the underlings in the room. It'll make for easier coordination between the three of us. Disperse the others to carry out orders as we send them." Vaukt stopped to sigh, "So many of these guys are company grade officers forced up to such lofty heights as it is. They'd be more in their element."

The High Marshal gave a weak laugh of amusement. Shaking her head with a repressed smirk, she reached for Vaukt's lit smoke. Extraditing it from his hand, she helped herself to a drag on it with a huff before handing it back to him.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I'm a big girl. I can handle them. Venting frustrations is all." She went on to explain. "...but you may be on to something there. I get the rest of them surgically removed from my c'hurta, their aides will run my orders without interference. Question then becomes how to convince them all the while trying to avoid allowing the VDF to embarrass once more so close to the conclusion of this campaign…"

That was bold of her to take his smoke like that. He couldn't help but crack a smile as he withdrew another and light it as he held it out for her after taking a drag of it himself. "Very simple. You are the highest ranking one in the room. Them disobeying you is technically insubordination. Tell them it's a matter of obeying or answering to the control brains for their failure to follow orders. Maybe mention that there's a restless Spec Ops leader in the room who's more than eager to crack a few skulls to drive it home."

This High Marshal may have come out of nowhere as far as the campaign was concerned, but she was definitely starting to grow on him.

"Something tells me you are a bit too eager to partake in metting out such punishments," she teased, sighing. "...perhaps I am too idealistic to believe they would work together for the common goal of benefiting the Empire and loyally serving the Tallest...or perhaps the Supreme Commander's command has led to this soured obstiance. It is just...disheartening when my service record speaks for itself and they choose to be…"

Zha paused, her hand rolling over in search of the word, leaving a whisping trail of smoke from her lit cigarette.

"Creative with the interpretation of my orders rather than trust my judgement. I know most of them are still sour over my appointment as Grimm's successor. Threatening them will only make them dig their heels in in spite. Pain as they are, they are clever and have not done anything to warrant charges of insubordination. Yet."

"Precisely why I say to reassign them back to their sectors to further carry out your orders and deal with problems more...creatively from the front when the order to attack goes out." Vaukt was far more blunt about his actions, then again given the type of commander he was that wasn't much of a surprise. "Perhaps even that one who's been quite a thorn in your side should lead the relief force for Purple Team directly, hm?" He placed one arm along the back of the bench, relaxing somewhat, "I'm not sure if they're fond of me, much less you. I've seldom attended their pointless meetings outside of holograms. I"ve been too busy trying to end this and save the lives of my troops in the process. Maybe they think me too much of an overachiever, who knows."

"Your competence and enthusiasm is mistaken for boot-polishing." She jested at his expense with bemusement, lifting one of her scuffed, muddied boots for inspection. "...though it appears you are slacking off in that department. Is my favoritism not enough?"

"I'm a man of the field, a unique quirk even given my rank, especially so given my height. Perhaps I'm just too in love with what I do." He leaned closer to Zha as he paused, "Or perhaps I just haven't found someone capable and compatible with a man like myself in operations." He couldn't help but let out a slight grin.

His subtle shift in posture further invading her personal space only elicited a single arched brow of curiosity but otherwise made no mention of it. His words, on the other hand, brought a knowing smirk.

"Yes, I am quite aware of your more...pressing affairs to conveniently avoid attending staff meetings in-person. Maybe I could stand to learn a thing or two in that regard and avoid holding my own. Then you would not have to make up a weak excuse to be absent."

Zha finished her smoke with a final drag, unceremoniously flicking its remains with a huff upon exhaling.

"As much as I would rather remain out here until the end of time, I should get back in there. Too much longer and they may start assuming my untimely demise and squabbling over who will be my successor." The High Marshal morbidly joked, rising to her feet once more. "Same goes for you, Ge-...Vaukt. Your teams need their leader in there at the helm before someone starts giving them awful orders...and thanks, for the advice."

"Yes...yes they do. I'll be in shortly." Vaukt lingered outside alone some time more to finish his own smoke before flicking away the remains and stash his alcohol flask. Though it just crossed his mind how...differently he just acted with the High Marshal. He's never done anything like that before.

Yet there he was, being so...familiar with someone.

"...Get a hold of yourself," he muttered quietly before standing up, walking back inside while taking a swig of water from his canteen while examining the progress his teams made since they went out on a smoke break. So far so good.

"Penumbra, Deadeye, charges planted, friendlies cleared from the pylons. It's all yours, sir."

"Penumbra copies, out," Vaukt replied with a sigh of relief. He picked the detonator off of the table, looking to the remaining AA batteries still left. Progress was coming along but a handful still remained. His gaze turned to Zha, "Just tell me when. Once I detonate the pylons it's all yours."

By the time Vaukt had made his reappearance, Zha was back at the proverbial helm once again. This time, however, her temper was in check. The calm, calculated demeanor that he had become accustomed to had taken the forefront once again. Subordinates and their aides hurriedly moved about, carrying out her dictations.

"Carus."

"Ma'am?" The Armada Admiral straightened up at his addressing.

Zha did not immediately respond as she made a series of rapid adjustments on the tactical holographic projection before all of them. The unit markers for his vessels in low-orbit reoriented themselves according to Saro's suggestions. Those same changes were forwarded to a datapad presented to Carus.

"Return to the fleet." The High Marshal ordered coldly, thrusting the freshly-written orders into the Admiral's chest somewhat unkindly. "Position your ships accordingly and standby with secondary batteries primed and await further instruction."

Somewhat taken back, if not incensed at her forwardness, Carus gave off the impression of being stunned. He glanced between his fellow members of command staff, gaging their reactions. Zha's blazing green eyes narrowed with a twisting of her features to one of contempt as she pressed the datapad harder into his chest once more.

"You have your orders, Carus. Take your leave. Now."

The Admiral swallowed, regaining his composure with a single nod.

"Y-yes, High Marshal."

Vaukt cast a glance over to her from his position overlooking the map as another AA position was marked eliminated. The slightest smirk emerged, seeing Zha take his advice in dismissing some...problematic individuals. He withdrew his canteen for some water to hide any further expression of amusement. Who would be next? Would there be any more?

Zha tracked Carus' departure before snapping her attention to her next target of interest.

"Marshal Vetra."

"Yes, High Marshal?" Vetra straightened up upon being addressed. Their prior interaction was not lost on her and tempting fate at this conjecture was not wise in the slightest.

"Return to your sector and assemble your forces in preparation to assault the VDF encirclement of the crash site. I recommend dusting off your rifle and webbing as you will be joining them."

Vetra's smug sense of superiority rapidly waned to that of great concern and surprise at Zha's forthcoming issuance. Was she serious? Her, lead from the front on the ground? Her hesitance earned Zha's ire as she glared daggers at her subordinate.

"Am I understood, Marshal?!"

"Y-yes, Ma'am."

"What are you going to do, Vetra?" Zha needled, condescending.

"Return to my sector, assemble my forces, and prepare a counterassault against the VDF encirclement of the crash site, Ma'am."

"And?!" She needled further, earning a wince from the arrogant Marshal.

"...lead my forces from the ground, High Marshal."

Zha's emerald fury narrowed to two venomous slits with a mask of contempt for Vetra as she stepped closer, making the formerly-confident woman flinch in apprehension.

"...then why are you still standing here in my command center?"

"I…-"

"Dismissed!"

"Yes, Ma'am." Vetra, humiliated before her colleagues after being dressed down soundly as she would have done to her own enlisted, hastily made for the exit past Vaukt.

The second most problematic one done then, excellent. He looked at one of his teams that hasn't updated its position in some time. Strange. It was near a heavy concentration of heavy artillery and anti-air. "Oculus, Penumbra, any signs on Zenith?"

"Oculus to Penumbra, Zenith team was eliminated. Bunch of black suited Vortians jumped them. Some real high end spec ops types and they are not messing around."

"Great...can you complete their objective?"

"We'll make an attempt of it, sir."

"Good, get to it, Penumbra out." Vaukt replied as the map changed on that one team's marker to note them as eliminated. Those suited Vortians like that one that nearly took out Grimm...if only he had armor like that for his men. "One more major concentration of anti-air left. Some few scattered guns left in Purple Team's sector but the teams report it's gun anti-air. Would be easy targets for the fleet."

"Soon as the phasic barrier falls, prioritize targeting of that concentration." Zha concluded, making the necessary adjustments to her tactical map, relaying orders accordingly through the chain of command. "Once Carus returns to the fleet and Vetra's forces are in position, we can proceed accordingly."

"Right," Vaukt looked at the detonator in his hand and heard some radio chatter from various teams pulling back or assembling to provide some relief to the beleaguered Purple team. Some artillery coordination between Kazak and his spotter to provide accurate fire to take some of the heat off Corr's forces. Several minutes passed before another call came into the room.

"Penumbra, Oculus, we can't find a feasible way to break into this location. It's heavily locked down. My unit won't be combat effective if we go in, over."

So that was it, "Copy, Oculus, pull back to a safe distance, double time, Armada's going to level that place."

"Affirmative, out."

Vaukt primed the detonator, "Deadeye, Penumbra, confirming, you and Red Team have your charges planted and are clear?"

"Yes, sir, we're en route to support Purple now."

"Rog, out." Vaukt took a breath, "So our clock ran out." The General flipped off the safety and depressed the trigger. Outside, the charges on the three pylons detonated. The phasic barrier visibly warped for several seconds before disappearing entirely. The three pylons coming down destabilized the entire barrier and allowed entry for the regulars. "Saro, Marshal, the show's all yours."

"Excellent work, General." Zha observed with a mixture of elation and apprehension filling her at the visible distortion and eventual disappearance of the barrier that kept them at bay for so many weeks.

She turned to Major General Saro. "Are your forces in position?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Standing by and awaiting your orders."

"Send your Elites in. Fast and hard. Do not stop. Imperial Troopers will follow behind them and clean up whatever is left in their wake. Cover your advance with sustained walking artillery barrages. Any and all armor support you can muster, send it ahead of the Troopers to provide fire support and protection. Any hard targets you lack the firepower for, call in an orbital strike and press the attack."

Shock and awe tactics. The Irken Elite's specialty. Something he was more than familiar with in his time in the field and experience earned in battle. He gave a nod before snapping a salute.

"Yes, High Marshal, at once." He obeyed, hastily typing out short-hand messages to be sent to his respective subordinates down the chain of command.

Zha placed her palms at the edge of the table, switching on the battle net, and adjusting the volume for everyone around it to hear.

"This is it, people. The remaining VDF holdouts will be crushed and Tallum will fall today."

About that time, even from the distance they resided away from the ongoing battle, the echoing thunder of artillery batteries opening up began to rattle the windows. What started as a trickle of reports became a steady torrential barrage. An angry buzz of devastating ordnance and systematic decimation of pre-sighted ranges ahead of the soon-to-be-advancing Irken forces.

Zha's head turned to Vaukt, speaking over her shoulder to him.

"Once your teams have exact coordinates and have accommodated the blast radius, you are authorized to call for orbital strikes. I want their defensive capabilities to cease to exist. Make it happen, General."

Vaukt held up a list of exact coordinates for artillery positions. "You can use these now. My teams are free and clear of the blast radius for these. Oculus is in the process of sending me coordinates of this concentration. Should have that shortly and they're on the way to safety. We'll get it done."

"Transmit them to the Armada. I want them offline ASAP."

"Staff Sergeant," Vaukt got the attention of an NCO and tossed him the list, "Get those to the Armada, now, orbital strikes, immediately. Smash those guns."

"Yes, General." The NCO quickly got to work sending the coordinates to the fleet.

"Now we'll see how quick we can get relief to Purple…" Vaukt said quietly to himself before getting back on the radio, "Oculus, you read?"

"Yes, General, exact coordinates are transmitting now. You should receive them any moment. We're clear of the blast radius of secon-hold one." Silence and then the sound of plasma fire in the background, "Oculus here, we are under attack by the same guys that took out Zenith! They're too mu-" the transmission cut off and silence followed. Vaukt's fist slammed onto the table but an NCO came over with the coordinates transmitted. Very thorough for the various heavy concentrations. Their deaths wouldn't be in vain. "Staff Sergeant! Priority target!" Vaukt went over and held out the coordinates to him. "I want all of that turned into a parking lot. Level all of it."

"Yes, sir."

A few sparse moments passed as transmissions and confirmations were relayed to the fleet in orbit. Seconds ticked by. Then, the night sky became illuminated with a series of magenta lances piercing the clouds, striking the ground not unlike bolts of lightning. Unstable and fluctuating, the glow they cast illuminated the ground for kilometers around eerily. Their respective impacts became roiling infernos of molten slag, debris, and high-velocity clouds of shrapnel. Their intended targets would not have survived a direct strike, let alone exist as recognizable matter.

"Confirm effect on targets?" Zha queried, witnessing this awe-inspiring display of Imperial might delivered upon their adversaries from the skies.

"Anyone near the positions of Oculus and Zenith, get us word on that, now." Vaukt said over the radio. Bolt, status on the special unit?"

"Red Team en route to Purple Team's position in an acquired VDF IFV. ETA two minutes. Deadeye and Spike are continuing on foot."

"What's the status of Purple."

Some hesitation from Mizak, "Precarious, sir…"