Dawn arrived slowly over the sector. Sunlight barely slipped through the still-dense clouds, and down across the trenches carved into the eastern plains.
Sandbag nests, armored vehicles, and rows of infantry waited in silence.
Machine Gunners checked their ammunition belts.
Guardian GIs sat on the ground; the grenade launchers standing proudly as it awaited the horde's arrival.
Engineers inspected the trench walls one last time.
Squads of infantry advanced to the front, disciplined and locked in.
Their silence was swallowed by the loud roaring of warm engines.
The Vanguard MBTs returned to their positions; the Guardian APCs patrolling behind them.
Snipers covered the overwatch from the reinforced structures.
Zolyah settled on a building near the road, reaching to her comms.
"This is Eagle One. No visual contact on enemy, over."
The channels went busy, but far from the tension on the eastern front—
Hans stepped into the open compound near the operations tower.
