While Ves got distracted by thinking about producing a masterwork robot avatar, the strike force sent to scope out the Emperor Tree was about to prepare for a serious confrontation.
At this time, core of the strike force had stopped beside a tall hill that offered at least the illusion of cover.
Nobody could say for certain whether the Emperor Tree had already noticed the intrusion into its territory. The tall calamity plant was able to dominate the minds of exobeasts at considerably greater distances, so it was clear that ordinary ranges no longer applied anymore.
Four prominent living mechs remained on standby next to the hill.
Compared to normal times, the Larkinson mechs appeared significantly more subdued, and that was not only because they were trying to lay low.
