General Sophia Armitage stood in front of the massive war room map, her hands clasped behind her back, her gaze fixed on the swirling projections of ships, planets, and battlefield vectors. The UOP was stretched thin, and the weight of command weighed heavily on her shoulders. It had been a long time since she'd felt this level of pressure—since she'd made decisions that could either break or save an entire empire.
Her mind buzzed with the details of the upcoming offensive. It wasn't just the numbers that kept her up at night. It was the strategy. The lives. The people she would be sending to die. Every choice she made would cost someone something. There was no escaping it.
"General," a voice interrupted her thoughts. It was Captain Miria Kall, one of her most trusted officers. The younger woman stood at attention, her face tight with concern.
"What is it, Captain?" Armitage asked, turning to face her. Despite her exhaustion, she kept her voice calm, composed.
"The fleet is ready for deployment, but there's a problem," Kall said, her voice steady but with an edge of worry. "Our reconnaissance reports show CMC is amassing a large contingent of Juggernaut-class mechs near the front lines. They've got the latest model, with reinforced armor and high-energy weaponry. We're looking at a significant increase in firepower."
Armitage's jaw tightened. The Juggernaut-class mechs were a nightmare on the battlefield—large, heavily armored, and devastatingly powerful. The UOP's forces had only a handful of mechs that could counter them directly. The rest would have to rely on precision strikes, speed, and sheer numbers.
"Have we secured the rest of the fleet?" Armitage asked, her mind running through the possible contingencies. They needed to have every advantage they could.
"Most of our forces are in position, but we've lost some ships on the outer perimeter. The supply lines are vulnerable, and there's no telling how long we can hold them before we risk another breach," Kall replied, her voice now carrying the weight of the situation. "We'll need additional reinforcements. Our assets are being stretched too thin."
Armitage exhaled slowly, feeling the pressure build. This wasn't a battle she had been prepared for. She'd fought in many campaigns, commanded entire fleets, but the scope of this war was different. It felt like a storm—unrelenting, all-encompassing.
"Tell the fleet commanders to hold the line as long as possible. We'll need those reinforcements as soon as we can get them," she said, her voice low but resolute. "I'll personally make sure the tactical units are prepared for the Juggernauts. They won't have a free ride."
Kall nodded and turned to leave, but Armitage's voice stopped her.
"Captain."
Kall turned back, her expression shifting from professional to something more personal.
"Are you ready for this?" Armitage asked, her gaze softening for just a moment. She could see the stress written all over Kall's face. It was evident in the tightness of her shoulders, the flicker of doubt in her eyes. The war had taken a toll on everyone, herself included. But this was no time for weakness.
Kall hesitated before answering. "I've been ready for this since the first day we boarded the fleet, General. We'll make it through. We always do."
Armitage didn't need to ask the question again. She knew the answer. She had to trust in the strength of her team. The truth was, there was no guarantee of success. There was only the mission. And the people who depended on her to see it through.
She turned back to the war map, her eyes narrowing as she traced the movements of the enemy. It wasn't just a battle for territory anymore. It was a battle for survival. The CMC had made their intentions clear: they wanted to break the Union of People, to destroy everything they stood for. And Armitage was ready to fight for every inch of space, every last breath of life.
The operation was imminent. The countdown had begun.
The doors to the command center hissed open, and another officer entered, a subordinate with a worried look on his face.
"General, the UOP fleet has encountered unexpected resistance from CMC scout ships. We've lost contact with several forward positions."
Armitage's brow furrowed. "Prepare a countermeasure. We can't let them gain the upper hand this early."
"Yes, ma'am," the officer replied.
Armitage turned once again to the map, her fingers tapping in rhythm against the console as her mind raced through the possibilities. There was no room for error. Every move they made could change the course of the battle.
"Prepare for all-out engagement," she ordered. "Activate the full fleet and call in every available asset. We fight with everything we've got. The CMC will learn the cost of underestimating the Union of People."
As the officers scrambled to execute her orders, Armitage took a moment to herself, letting the weight of it all sink in. She couldn't afford to show fear—not to her officers, not to her soldiers, and certainly not to the enemy. The war had become personal, and the stakes had never been higher.
Her fingers hovered over the console, poised to give the final command. A sharp breath in, a steadying exhale. The moment of action had arrived.
"Let's make history," she murmured under her breath, pressing the command button to launch the operation.
As the first wave of UOP ships and mechs surged forward into the battle, the fate of the Union rested on the shoulders of those who fought—men and women like Dominic, and officers like Sophia Armitage.