The chamber was filled with loud discussion, relay of data and information by the officers. Holographic projections hung in the air like frozen storms, Ulix fleet positions the ones at the edge and the ones barely keeping Voss at bay.
At the centre, the world of Ulix-Ultra rotated slowly. Red and blue markers showed the position of their forces relative to the enemy. There were some clashes but most positions were rough estimates. The troops had gone underground the moment the invasion began.
Just from the image of the projection, Ulix-Ultra was losing its territory by the hour. The funny thing was that, because of the nature of the planet, Voss's forces had ample places to hide.
A planet as advanced and congested as that left little room for Ulix forces to move their tankers without levelling areas the people dwelled on.
Simon Ulix did not move. His eyes followed the spots where Voss was across the surface, moving like a slow infection.
"… District seven confirmed to be taken by Voss forces," an officer reported cautiously.
"Voss's carriers are retreating back, away from ours."
Simon finally spoke, anger in his voice.
"In only a few hours, Voss has claimed an entire region and there are entire pockets of troops throughout the hemisphere. What are our troops doing!"
Everyone lowered their gaze, careful not to anger him.
"I am aware of Voss's military might, but a viscounty responding this weakly to a barony? Unacceptable. Push them out of my planet, now!"
Everyone froze as if lightning had struck. One brave commander stepped forward.
"Lord Ulix, if we can push them back enough and isolate their ground forces. We can trap them leaving them without reinforcements but we have to be patient."
Simon watched the fleet markers and shook his head.
"No"
His response confused several officers.
"The empire is watching, show strength and end this as fast as possible. And someone get me Rathern to answer why all this is happening."
The chamber erupted into motion.
Officers immediately began relaying orders across encrypted channels throughout. All forces in Ulix-Ultra received new orders to find and remove Voss troops hidden among their land fast and dominantly.
The planetary orbital cannons began to power up. If Voss did not back away, they would be fired. Sure the power would disrupt production of Ulix-Ultra, but that meant nothing in the face of an invading force.
Forces all over the megacities and key places were mobilised with armoured vehicles entering transport lanes.
One of the commanders in the room spoke up, more careful.
"My lord, we have deployed reserve legions to begin looking for the intruders and reclaiming the districts. However…"
He hesitated.
Simon's gaze turned toward him sharply, his moustache twitching with barely restrained fury.
"Well, speak"
"The urban density of the region will make heavy deployment difficult. Voss troops are able to move in small groups through underground transport systems and maintenance corridors while avoiding open combat."
"It will be difficult for us to move our armoured vehicles through the centres much less with the congested citizens. This may cause unavoidable civilian casualties," he continued.
"My lord" spoke another officer abruptly. "Key infrastructures around and within the cities are being sabotaged. Power from the captured districts has been cut off causing traffic pileups. It's chaos."
Simon stared at the map. Numerous areas blinked with warning signs. Reclaiming the districts would only get harder now, and the realization deepened his irritation.
"So they intend to cripple and hinder us," he muttered.
A communications officer suddenly turned from his console.
"My lord…" he began. "We have incoming requests from several monitoring stations of the noble houses in the empire. Some are offering assistance."
Simon's jaw tightened. Of course they were. The attack Voss started invited the attention of neighbouring houses and most houses in the empire. Because of Voss's unique position, it was certain that the empire was watching.
If Ulix appeared weak, there would be consequences that would last long after the war. Also, providing monitoring rights could also expose their weakness and flaws.
"Tell them this is an internal matter," he replied coldly. "They will receive updates when Ulix has restored order."
"Yes, my lord"
Another officer spoke up urgently.
"Reports are coming in that District eight is under heavy fire and enemy forces are targeting grid stations."
"Deploy the Iron Guard. Flush them out of my cities."
The officers remained stunned. They knew the Iron Guard, one of Ulix's elite forces, would produce results, but deploying them so early in the war was premature. But the lord was impulsive so they had to obey.
Simon, still visibly irritated, turned to face his other commander.
"I want all the districts sealed and their movements cut. If need be, block and detain even the civilians."
Another commander spoke up.
"My lord, that will cause civilian unrest."
Simon turned toward him sharply.
"Do you think I care about that? Fix this now!"
The officers inclined their heads and complied. They resumed their work immediately.
Across Ulix-Ultra, defence systems continued to activate one after another with people trying to get through before being trapped in a future warzone. For the first time since Voss's forces infiltrated and went into hiding, the citizens began to feel the severity of the war unfolding within their districts.
They hurried through the checkpoints while those who were trapped were hauled into stores and underground sections to wait out the war.
For the citizens, it was distress. But in truth, however far from ideal, it was working exactly as Simon intended, despite not being satisfied with it.
"My lord… incoming transmission from Sir Rathern" spoke an officer, he looked uneasy and it was warranted.
Simon turned, his face boiling.
"Put him through."
The lights dimmed slightly as the holographic display showed a figure standing with his arms behind his back, subservient in posture.
The moment Simon saw his face, his expression darkened even further.
"Rathern," he said coldly. "Explain to me how you allowed Voss to invade my planet."
***
Across Ulix-Ultra the war had already spread far beyond the neat projections of the command room.
District eight burned with alarms.
The portion of the mega city stretched across the horizon in endless skyscrapers of white and grey metal connected with transport lanes, normally filled with millions of citizens moving between districts.
Now those same lanes had become choked with abandoned vehicles and flashing warnings. In the distance, fleeing citizens were entering buildings having seen Voss forces shoot down and incapacitate guards and Ulix police.
Emergency sirens echoed through the streets, entire city blocks dark but fortunately there was currently no sign of damaged buildings with the exception of burning vehicles that had collided into each other.
In the sky above the buildings, Ulix patrol crafts screamed through, scanning each section and searching for enemy troops moving through the district. But the enemy was smart, already concealed by the time patrols moved overhead, pushing further into the mega city.
Most of Voss forces moved through the underlays of the city like shadows. The underground transit networks, maintenance corridors, and cargo tunnels formed a labyrinth older than many surface structures.
These hidden pathways allowed the invading troops to move unseen between districts, emerging only long enough to strike and sabotage Ulix before disappearing again.
A transport hub deep beneath District eight erupted in sparks as a power conduit detonated. The explosion sent rubble and metal flying across the empty platform. Moments later, armoured figures emerged through the smoke, converging on the enemy, weapons raised.
Voss Troopers advanced quickly through the ruined station, their movement disciplined and precise. They moved together, everyone covering all angles and searching for hiding enemies.
Their objective was simple: disrupt Ulix's movements.
They were currently alone. Voss had pulled back and they would have to keep a low profile, hidden until Voss pushed back in, if they could.
One of them forced open a maintenance panel and threw a grenade in, then there was an explosion. The backup generator for the sector went up, and everything went black, with only red emergency light showing.
Above them, they could hear gunfire. Ulix forces were responding.
Armoured patrol vehicles, the ones built to bulldoze through anything, forced their way through congested avenues, tossing aside civilian transports. Soldiers in heavy armour moved in between them and were met with laser beams.
Across from them were Voss forces who tried to pin them down. For a moment they exchanged fire, but the vehicles gave Ulix the advantage, letting them level the position Voss had used for cover.
The Troopers that made it were forced to relocate and others forced to abandon their dead bodies. The reinforcements stopped Voss from advancing deeper into the city. Their fire forced the Troopers to take cover, though the exchange left the district badly damaged.
Though the advance was stopped, Voss's troopers were not contained. Rather, a stalemate had been reached. Voss was able to utilise traps they set beforehand and they blew up the armoured vehicles.
Toppled vehicles filled the streets and smoke rose up as Ulix was forced to take cover just when they gained momentum.
For a moment, the battlefield quieted, not silence but a brief pause while both sides reassessed.
Ulix troopers crouched behind the burning remains of the armoured transports, rifles raised, scanning the maze of wreckage ahead. Their visor-mounted targeting systems flickered, trying to locate the enemy hidden among the broken lanes.
Fortunately, they could hear air support in the distance. Only Ulix had that, so they would advance soon. Voss knew this too.