The Esemen army had been reinforced since they took Prekan. Instead of a single large army, the reinforcements had mostly come in drips and drops, smaller bands crossing the border or flying on tamed beasts. A disproportionate number of them were high-leveled, possibly even Champions. The Empire had lost too much control of the area between the Esemen border and Prekan to contest their crossing. They could've done it, but any force they sent would've been vulnerable, and it wouldn't have gained them much.

Apparently, Ben had still considered trying to cut off the Esemen's connection to their home and harassing the army with mostly Swarm Drones, but he'd decided to conserve their forces instead. Tim was inclined to agree with that decision.

At least their opponents hadn't gotten any new artillery. Unfortunately, the Empire hadn't managed to destroy many of their cannon in the battle; at least less than they wanted to, but it wasn't nothing. The Empire itself had shipped more artillery to the eastern border in preparation for their clash.

It was the second major battle of this theater, and unlike the first, it ramped up slowly. It truly began on a gray and drizzly morning, early enough the sun was barely peeking over the horizon. It was heralded by the sounds of cannons shooting at Imperial defenses.

Said defenses were rudimentary, but they'd been made for a fight like this, not castle sieges. There were trenches and earthworks, deep berms, emplacements for cannons that left them half-buried, enchanted covers to prevent fliers from targeting them, half-hollow caves to gather War Drones for sorties, and buried mines in the stretches of land leading up to the trenches and between them.

The army's Swarm Drones had been digging almost without pause since Tim first arrived here to reinforce these defenses. They'd done a lot in only a few weeks.

Currently, Tim was not at the forward lines. It had been judged too dangerous, and he had to agree with that assessment. Instead, he was peering out of a window of a reinforced hut set about two kilometers back from the actual border, looking at ranks of War Drones waiting outside, and a few units of human soldiers gathered to the side. It was a bit of a unique challenge trying to lead the army in these circumstances. He couldn't exactly inspire them on the battlefield or anything. He was really glad for the psychic link; it felt like he would've had barely any idea of what was even going on without it.

A shadow passed over the swarm of War Drones, and he looked up at the wing of flying drones circling above. With a thought, Tim nudged them further forward. They had split their Winged Drones into smaller and thus more units, since there were more sapient drones to command them. Many of them were doing it from the ground. Some of these flying drones, those in the forward deployments, were already carrying explosives or other payloads, but most would still have to be loaded. There were ammunition stores scattered around, too. Most of them were hidden and far enough away from the gathering points of sapient soldiers that one blowing up from enemy fire wouldn't be catastrophic. They might be vulnerable when 'reloading'.

Right now, Tim was mostly concerned with coordinating his subordinate commanders as they commanded the troops at his army's defensive lines. Most of the troops were still Swarm Drones, but since those had issues operating things like artillery, there were a lot of human soldiers, too. And the occasional gnome, he supposed.

The Esemen had formed up and scouted out their defensive fortifications. They approached in a large wave, soldiers supported by artillery fire aiming over their heads. It seemed like they'd decided to try and storm the defenses right to start with. He wasn't surprised, but watching the onrushing soldiers through a War Drone's eyes, Tim still felt a tiny bit anxious.

Luckily, his War Drones were pretty much immune to that feeling. Tim sent more of them forward, into the front-most trench, and they waited calmly for the Esemen to try and get through the minefield. At the same time, the Winged Drones started dropping bombs on them. The Esemen army had put up shields, which caught most of the explosives before they detonated. It didn't help much against the minefield, though, and he could see the front ranks of the enemy stumbling as the buried explosives ripped their formations apart.

It slowed them, which gave more opportunity for the Imperial artillery to target them. Tim watched over the psychic link as his commanders and gunners adjusted, homing in on the heaviest concentrations of enemy soldiers. They churned up the earth even more than the mines, kicking up dust and reducing visibility in some places. He switched to looking through flying drones and then between them to get a better view.

They could slow down and focus on clearing the mines before they continue, Tia noted. She wasn't actually present, but was watching the battle remotely through the psychic link. But it looks like they've decided to push forward instead. Trying not to lose momentum?

They're sitting ducks for our artillery and flying drones while they're out in the open, Tim replied. Sure, they have shields, but those don't last forever, and they don't want to deplete their mana supply. Especially since I doubt this is going to be a short battle. Or possibly a single battle. It was too early to say, but he suspected they might be stuck here for a while.

So, they're fine with their men taking more attrition like this instead? Tia mused.

Tim mentally shrugged. He wasn't sure if he would have acted differently in the enemy's place. But the Hive had different tactical options anyway.

Are they going to try and tunnel? Tia asked.

We're watching for that, he assured her.

The Esemen pushed forward. They kept losing people, but they were drawing tighter together, reducing their frontage, clearly trying to get across the intervening distance and establish beachheads in the trenches. Tim didn't think he would be able to stop them.

Steady, he told the drones in the forward trench, and their commanders. Let them come to you, and prepare to push them back.

He didn't want the artillery to fire on his own lines, obviously, so there was a 'safe zone' for the enemy immediately in front of the trench. They tried to use it to regroup briefly, those that had made it across, but ranged attacks from the defenders disrupted those attempts. It wasn't enough to stop the enemy advance, though.

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Tim watched as the first soldiers clashed. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, the Esemen did well. They were higher-leveled and had higher stats than the Imperial troops on average, and they took advantage of it. Even when they were fighting superior numbers, who'd been dug in, the Esemen soldiers slowly opened a way for their comrades to join them.

Sapient fighters withdraw, Tim said, projecting his words to the sapient drones on the forward defenses, knowing they would pass the order on. Harass them, but don't risk yourselves too much. Let the War Drones take the brunt of the charge.

They hadn't mined the trench itself, it would have been far too risky. The defenders were still supported by flying drones and artillery, which also had to be careful of their fire. It slowed the trickle of new Esemen soldiers pushing through, enough that the Imperials weren't overwhelmed, but once they'd cleared the way, the Esemen managed to get a steady stream of new attackers. And then they broke through in several more places.

Tim paced up and down, absently chewing on his lip as he watched through the psychic link. He had options, but he would prefer not to have to resort to them just yet, especially so early in the battle.

Several of his commanders informed him they were moving reinforcements up, and Tim agreed. He ordered another wing of Winged Drones forward. They were taking heavy attrition here, too; the Esemen were making a point of taking down as many of the flying drones as they could reach. Tim considered withdrawing them, but he knew that would be worse in the long run. Grimly, he ordered more Winged Drones into the fray.

He also checked up on their Drone Breeders. If the fighting was going to keep going like this, they would need a lot of reinforcements. And getting them wasn't in doubt; there were no Drone Breeders close by, but the Hive had enough of them and Winged Drones could move quickly. Their supplies of ammunition would be a much bigger bottleneck.

Tim reached out to Tia again and discussed the issue. He was aware that he might be trying to distract himself, or at least distance himself from the immediacy of the combat on the front line. But that was okay; he didn't need to be too caught up in the clash. Despite the blood being spilled, the actual fighting did not move much.

We'll have to give up that position eventually, Tia said, sounding a little concerned.

Tim sent her a wave of reassurance. That's why we have multiple lines of defense. I never expected to stop them cold at the first obstacle. There's no need to worry.

But she wasn't the only one who might worry. He could sense the rising tension in the psychic link, especially among those who, like him, were watching the fighting without participating. It was a different kind of nerve-wracking.

Tim could tell managing morale would be a challenge, and in a different way than he had really faced before so far.

It's our job to defend our country and our people, he said, letting the sentiment drip into the psychic link around him. They will not get past us.

He felt others echo the feeling, felt the agreement from the Star Guard and the officers around him. The War Drones close by perked up a little. Ironically, they were mostly unmoved by the fighting happening a few hundred meters away.

Unfortunately, all the equanimity in the world wouldn't stop the Esemen's shots and blades. They advanced quickly, pushing hard. He knew their strategy was to try to overwhelm the Imperial defenses. It wouldn't work, but it did pressure the front heavily.

Reluctantly, Tim gave the order to start evacuating sections of the first defensive line. They'd be completely overrun soon regardless.

"We need to conserve ammunition," he said to the air. "This is not going to be a battle of who has the most valor or the best single fighters, despite what it may look like."

"I don't think anyone is going to argue with you there," Jae said hesitantly, looking out the window as well.

Tim knew the healer was mostly here because they needed all hands they could get and it was too close to their excavation site. Jae was also a good healer, though, even if not much of a field medic, and there was a reason the younger drone had been assigned to his own detail, despite not being a Star Guard or anything. Max was being overprotective as always, but considering the enemy liked striking the Imperial leadership, he couldn't really argue against it. Well, and maybe Jae wanted to take the opportunity and do some 'hands-on research' if they happened to secure some Champion's body, or a rare monster type or something.

The Esemen army flooded into the first trench. The Empire withdrew in an orderly fashion, their rearguard harassed by the Esemen. Tim sent more flying drones to keep them off his ground troops. Luckily, there were also mines placed between the lines, with the drones using the psychic link and the knowledge of their positions that could be disseminated over it to avoid them. Combined with more aerial attacks, it allowed them to disengage relatively easily.

Of course, that didn't stop the battle. Far from it. Both sides got a slight breather as they regrouped, but he knew it would soon rage more fiercely again.

"They're overextending," Ash commented. He was technically their highest-ranking scout present, but this battle didn't call for much in the way of surveying work. He was still with Tim as the army's commanding officer, basically occupying a staff role. Currently, that mostly meant they were both standing around and looking through the psychic link.

Tim hummed in response, focusing on the flow of battle. He mentally zoomed out a little more. This battle was like a blinking light on the edge of the Empire and the psychic link, drawing in others from around the region and even the capital. There were other 'hotspots' further away, like dim lights in the distance. And the flow of this conflict was starting to settle into shape.

"We need to move," Ash's voice ripped him from his thoughts. He sounded serious. "It's getting too close. They could try to send strike forces or assassins after you."

Tim sighed. "Alright," he reluctantly agreed.

Leaving this little bunker was done quickly, but he still hesitated for a moment. Then he shook himself and started walking. Soldiers fell in around him like flies buzzing around a meal. There were many Swarm Drones, so that wasn't even a completely wrong analogy. He looked around, but it was hard to see anything with so many other bodies in the way.

As he'd already known because of the psychic link, there was another location ready to host his command staff, this time more of an actual bunker with an extended underground section. Farther away, he could just make out lines of Swarm Drones at work, scurrying around or stopping to vanish deeper into the earth.

They were still digging. Of course they were. His army would keep adding to its fortifications until they no longer could.

"We only need to hold them off until their lack of logistics support catches up to them," Ash said. "Or until our relative better position in that regard wins out, I suppose."

"It will take weeks," Tim said.

"And pinning them in place for weeks isn't bad, right?" Jae asked.

Tim pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off a headache from focusing on the psychic link for so long. "It's going to close off the entire eastern part of this region, the eastern plains, the access to the Eternal Dark, the northern route, all of it," he said. "They're pinning this army in place, too."

"So, we're grinding them down until they can no longer hold and then we'll sweep forward again?" Ash surmised.

"Yes." Tim resisted the urge to sigh. It was a relatively safe strategy, probably presenting the lowest risk. It was clear why Ben favored it. The campaign would practically decide itself.

Not that it would be easy to dislodge their enemy from this position; if they weren't building their own fortifications already, Tim would eat his shoes (not that he couldn't anyway, but it was the thought that counted). And it would be a meat grinder. Sure, the Empire had expendable troops and was better suited to something like that, but it still meant a lot of soldiers would die, and a lot of Swarm Drones.

It was his job to make it count, though. Tim turned his attention back to the psychic link. Knowing the general shape of what was happening didn't mean he could neglect the details.

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