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The Emperor's dining room had been turned into a makeshift command and control centre for the EDF forces across the eastern side of the continent while another base would be established on the east. Alnus was in the centre of the continent so it was a good area to establish a central command there and area command in both the Eastern and Western sectors of the continent. That way not all commands would have to be filtered down from Central. Divided command worked in many situations with the local commander being given command over forces over the territory that they were in command of.

It was easier than having one command give orders to all forces. Orders would get lost, command would panic, orders lost, contradictory orders given and more. Humans could only control groups of around 150 people. Dunbar's number had been used on many occasions throughout history and for good reason. Because it worked, and in the EDF it was no exception, especially when they had a planet wide invasion force to deal with.

Risa watched as the military forces gathered around some of the major cities. Red contact icons had been appearing along the coast. The Imperial Colony, a large continent sized island to the south east, was fully red with numerous contact icons. Several recon groups had been sent to see if there were any survivors. But it seemed that there were none. Even with satellite images showed no survivors. The place just has hives of the aliens designated: Demon Bugs.

The name came from the locals who named them after failing to describe them of anything other than bugs. So far, seven types had been identified but nothing resembling a leader class. This wasn't an uncommon situation as the Aggressor war was a similar situation. Learn as you go along.

"Ma'am," one of the EDF commanders said as she saluted Risa as she walked up.

"What's the situation?" Risa asked as she looked at the map.

"The Demon bugs have been focusing on the cities but keeping to the coastline," another one of the commanders said. "I think that they are waiting for their numbers to grow before moving further in,"

"There could always be another reason," another commander shrugged. "But that seems like the most likely option. Get enough biomass before moving,"

"Sounds like the Tyranids," someone muttered. "Ensuring that they have enough troops for an invasion. So, what we are seeing are the scouts, testing defences and gathering what they can,"

The other commanders nodded with disagreements only on the details. Risa looked at the map with a concerned look. She pointed to the eastern side of the continent.

"What's the situation with the cities in the east?" she asked.

"It's the same with cities within the Empire and Kingdoms. Attacks on a fairly regular basis. But we have got to a few and reinforced them," the female commander said stroking her long hair. "We do have a few fast-moving convoys with nobles to the cities that we haven't got to yet,"

"The more we get the better," one of the male commanders said. "But we also have to turn our focus west as well," he pointed to the desert region to the north west. "There are several nations around this area as well as a few nomadic tribes. I know it's not our area, but we need to consider what… happens… there," his eyes focused on a new red contact icon. "Oh shit," he muttered as all the commanders watched as the projected route came directly to the capital city. All eyes looked up.

OOOOO Western side of the continent.

The convoy was split into five different groups spaced 70 miles apart so that if something happened to one, the rest can be prepared. Each group had three large half tracked trucks and 12 combat buggies. The half tracks were as wide as an average road and were at least 5 train cars long. They were shaped like their smaller half tracked Humvee brothers just larger. On top of the roof of the truck itself and on the front and back were large calibre turrets.

While the turrets would be different for each truck, all of them were made to combat lightly armoured targets while the escorts would take on anything heavier than an infantry fighting vehicle. The combat buggies however were a different story. Made for desert fighting, they were mostly used by the African, Australian and Arabian regiments who mostly operated in in arid and desert environments. Places where aircraft were not widely used. Lightly armed and armoured, they were still deadly to any foe.

The only difference between these vehicles and the rest of the EDF was the amount of customisation that the driver and riders attached to them. The result was wildly looking cars that looked like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie. Thus, the nickname 'The Mad Maxes' was born. While it did defy EDF rules and regulations, they allowed it seeing it as a morale booster and propaganda tool. Wild haired riders roaming the desert looking for monster to kill. It was something that they couldn't pass up.

The cars weaved in between the trucks as they moved along keeping at the same speed. The gunners at the rear keeping their eyes open for anything. It didn't take long as large fast moving Demon Bugs emerged from the sands either side of them and chased after the convoy at speed. But they didn't get too close as the truck gun turrets fired at the oncoming aliens. The large calibre rounds shredding them into pieces. Blood and guts paining the road, but more just kept on coming.

They slammed into the trucks, but the trucks were so big that it did little damage. The combat buggies mowed them down by taking careful shots with their .60 weapons. They could switch fire modes from auto, burst or single in order to take out a threat without damaging their protection detail. This painted the buggies as the Demon Bugs' next target. More and more jumped out of the sand and charged at the escorts. It didn't get them very fast as the buggies ripped them to shreds.

But the next ambush was problematic. Three of the bugs slammed into one of the Buggies sending it spinning out of control before turning into a roll. Due to the open driver seat and unarmoured cupola for the turret, there was no way the two survived. Bullets peppered and pierced the carapace of the bugs. But more and more kept coming despite the trucks firing at them. The buggies moved in-between the trucks trying to take out as many of the bugs as possible.

It was easier said than done due to the speed of the creatures. The armour didn't help either as some of the .60 rounds just bounced off. Two more buggies were hit and rolled into the sand or behind with the unlikely possibility that they had survived. More bugs died and more kept coming. How they got this far west was up for debate but not the main problem for the moment. Soon the bugs managed to smash into the first truck jack-knifing it with the others slamming into each other due to shear momentum.

Survivors tried to get out but the en-gem engines detonated taking out all three trucks and any escorts that stood close. Those that were left moved on ahead to the main rendezvous point. No sense in waiting to die. But no one would make it to the rendezvous point. A failed mission and more names for the honoured dead.

OOOOO

He held her down as he pushed his member into her. She cried out in pain as he took her innocence. Her muscles contracted trying to escape the chains she was in.

"NO! IT HURTS PLEASE!" she yelled out as he began to move.

The pain had gone but it was still there as was the fear and the white teeth of his smile. An evil smile, no compassion, no love, just animalistic pride and fury. She fell into a deep dark pit. Tyuule sat bolt upright looking around sweat pouring from her skin. She felt dirty, filthy and tried to wipe herself down. A cold shiver was sent down her spine making her shake and wrap herself tightly trying to keep herself warm.

"Hey, are you ok?" a voice asked.

Tyuule looked up to see a woman in a long white gown next to her. But she said nothing as she soon registered what was round her. She was in a white room with olive green pillars every few meters. Walls separated cubicles in which several women were in. Some slept, some were in a ball, others were talking to more women in the white gowns. The marks on the women in the beds made it clear that they were former slaves. Their collars removed and their wounds treated.

The bunny girl turned to the woman next to her and tried to speak but her throat was sore. The woman saw and she brought a cup of water and handed it to her. She drank off of it before the realisation made her stop. She looks at the drink then at the woman eyes wide in an apologetic look. She didn't ask for permission, she just drank. But the woman smiled, a warm calming smile. It made her feel lighter, but not by much.

"You must have been needing that for a while," she said calmly.

Her voice wasn't cold and calculating. It was warm, comforting. But she had herd them before, before she was betrayed by her own kind. She looked at her wrist seeing the wraps around her. Damaged… she was damaged… corrupted… useless. She began to shake as the memories came flooding back to her. Tears began to fell from her eyes. The woman offered her another drink with that warm smile still on her face. Was it fake? Real? She couldn't tell.

"You are safe here," she said. "He will not harm you anymore,"

With that she cried out and grabbed onto the woman pressing her head into the woman's' chest. She needed this, she needed help.

OOOOO

Smoke and fires in and around Rondel were still being put out by both the mages, EDF troopers and EDF engineers. But the latter were mostly focused on building fortifications around the city as well as setting up industrial 3d printers. A few of the mages were asking about EDF tech, but being practical people, they didn't ask too many questions as they focused on helping out.

The city may have been cleared of Demon Bugs, but there was still a lot to do. Itami was still talking to the Arch-mage locating the nearest metal mines and deposits among other things. Rory was walking around seeing the destruction for herself. This wasn't the first time he had been to a warzone. But this was the first time she was seeing the true effects of an alien attack. Humans, while destructive, had a set of rules that they were meant to follow for the most part. Keep damage to a minimum, there was no point in wasting money rebuilding what you tried to conquer. Pay for supplies, the locals needed to recover damages from the attack and more.

But not everyone followed those rules and those in charge rarely punished those who failed to follow those rules. The only times when people were punished were those times when it was too political not to. But this was unlike any warzone she had seen before. She had seen the EDF fight in the videos, but seeing it in person was something else entirely. Returning to the base, several of the EDF waiting around for something to do.

As soon as she walked up on of the troopers walked up. "Oracle," he bowed. "We're preparing to move out to secure the area, we were wondering if you could bless us before we head out,"

Rory smiled and nodded. "A fine idea," she said.

The trooper called out and the EDF soldiers moved into a formation each about a meter apart before getting down to one knee having the butt of their weapons on the floor. Rory stood before the soldiers and slid the pointed end of her scythe into the ground. As she did so, the troopers bowed their heads and she began to speak in an ancient language which the translators couldn't translate. As she spoke her arms moved outstretched and a purple mist flowed around each of the troopers. Soon it settled and vanished.

"Stand!" Rory called and the troopers followed. "Who do you fight for?"

The EDF stood at attention and looked up their eyes glowing with a faint purple hue. "We fight for Earth, we fight for humanity, there is no threat that we cannot face, no foe we shall run from. We stand united against the terror of space. May the gods of war see our valour and guide us to victory!"

"May Emloy guide you all to victory!" Rory said before bowing followed by the rest of the troopers.