Following the significant success of the initial joint training, the coordinated maneuvers between the Dead World base and the Iron Hounds Legion entered a deeper and more regularized phase.
On the training grounds, Unit-01 (Red), Unit-02 (Violet), and Unit-03 (Blue) no longer merely showcased their staggering individual performance. Instead, they began attempting to weave an effective tactical network alongside the Iron Hounds' Warhound-class Titans and the Knights of the House Guard.
New tactical concepts were constantly proposed, verified, modified, and re-verified. Princeps Olaf and his tactical officers consciously adjusted the Iron Hounds' inherent traditional combat styles, exploring a more flexible and dynamic synergy. They stopped trying to force the EVA Titans into established Titan tactical frameworks, instead redesigning coordination protocols around their unique characteristics.
During drills, they repeatedly practiced utilizing the EVA Titans' extreme mobility for battlefield screening to create chaos on enemy flanks. They rehearsed tearing open assault windows for the EVAs under the cover of heavy Titan volleys. They also practiced how Titan and Knight units could swiftly advance to consolidate gains and systematically clear residual resistance after the EVA Titans completed high-speed penetrations to neutralize key enemy nodes.
The process was not entirely smooth. Details such as communication coordination between different systems, fire distribution in complex environments, and friend-or-foe identification during high-speed maneuvers required constant refinement.
The three pilots also faced new challenges. They needed to understand and adapt to the Imperial military's specific combat tempo, the clear chain of command, and particular tactical signals and protocols. Shinji was learning to trust these massive metal allies while overcoming his internal fear of friendly fire. Asuka attempted to integrate her personal prowess into team cooperation, learning to sacrifice local advantages for the overall tactic at critical moments. Rei, as always, executed every command with precision, while passively absorbing the subtle influence of the Titan Legion's combat style.
Osiris (his second avatar) closely monitored these developments. Continuous training data indicated that the coordination efficiency of this mixed squad was steadily improving, and the attrition ratios in simulated engagements continued to optimize.
However, his cold logic core recognized that no matter how realistic the simulations were, a gap remained between training and a real battlefield. Decision-making without the pressure of life and death, preset environments, and the absence of true casualties could not fully replicate the ruthlessness and chaos of war. He had been considering whether to arrange a low-intensity live combat test for this fledgling force—a fusion of otherworldly technology and Imperial armaments—to expose latent issues under real fire and forge a more resilient combat synergy.
As he weighed his options, an encrypted high-priority communication request from the Iron Hounds Legion headquarters on the Forge World of Nexum was patched into the base's command center. The caller was not Princeps Olaf, but a higher-ranking senior official of the Iron Hounds named Valkyria Stalker.
Her holographic projection revealed a woman with a stern expression and sharp eyes, wearing a refined commander's uniform adorned with the Iron Hounds' insignia.
"Greetings, Magos Osiris," Executor Stalker began, her opening direct and efficient. "I communicate with you on behalf of the High Command of the Iron Hounds Legion. We have conducted an in-depth evaluation of the joint training reports sent back by Princeps Olaf regarding your 'EVA Titans' and their pilots."
She paused briefly, seemingly observing Osiris's reaction, but Osiris remained silent, listening.
"The conclusions in the report are impressive—one might even say 'subversive,'" Stalker continued. "However, training ground data has its limitations. Nexum, including the Legion's leadership and the high-ranking officials of the Forge World, wishes to witness the actual effectiveness of these war machines in a real combat environment. We believe that only the fires of war can temper a true blade and verify if they are worthy of further attention and resources from the Empire."
She brought up a star map and pointed to a flickering dot.
"We currently face a suitable opportunity. Verdan III, an agricultural world on the edge of the Segmentum Tempestus, is suffering an invasion from a significant Ork warband. The local Planetary Defense Forces and a small number of Astra Militarum units are struggling, but the situation is not yet completely out of control. The Iron Hounds Legion has decided to dispatch a detachment, including Princeps Olaf's unit, to provide support. We hope the EVA Titan combat team can accompany them and participate in this purge."
It was a direct invitation to action, providing an impeccable stage to demonstrate the EVA Titans' practical value.
Osiris did not respond to Executor Stalker immediately. He gestured for a pause, muted the communication, and established a high-speed consciousness link with his main body on Mars.
"The Iron Hounds Legion headquarters has sent an official invitation. Target: Verdan III. Mission: Ork population clearance," he transmitted the core information.
The main body's feedback was as calm and efficient as expected: "A logical progression. The Iron Hounds need actual combat results to support the evaluation reports they submit to the Collegia Titanica, and the leadership of Nexum needs a visceral demonstration of combat power that transcends data. This operation is key to verifying the EVA Titans' performance in a real battlefield and further increasing our leverage in this project. While the Ork threat is sizable and savage, their tactical patterns are relatively linear—easy to predict and control. They are suitable subjects for an initial combat test. Permission granted to participate, but the bottom line for negotiation is this: we must maintain independent command and deployment authority over the EVA units and pilots. They must not be integrated into the regular attrition sequences of the Imperial forces."
"Directives understood." The second avatar cut the link. He knew that this journey was not only the ultimate test of the EVA Titans' performance but also a critical trial for the unconventional partnership he had built with the Iron Hounds.
He resumed the communication with Executor Stalker. "Executor, I have reviewed your Legion's invitation. In principle, I agree to dispatch the EVA Titan combat team to participate in the clearance operation on Verdan III."
The optical sensors beneath Stalker's metallic visor flickered slightly, signaling that her goal had been achieved.
"However," Osiris's voice shifted smoothly, "before final confirmation, I must consult the personal intentions of my pilots. It must be clear that they are not members of the Imperial military hierarchy, but individuals cooperating with me based on specific contracts. Their voluntary participation is a vital prerequisite for this operation."