[i]...whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition; which is so powerful in human breasts, that it never leaves them no matter to what rank they rise. The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything...[/i] - Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy [b]Present Day...[/b] [b]Strategic Orrery, the Orbital Fortress [i]Invincible[/i], in orbit of Odros, Valyrian System....[/b] Count Cezare stood as the officers of His Unapproachable Majesty's Second Royal Expeditionary Force assembled, filling the amphitheater with the buzz of a thousand muted conversations. Generals in their crimson dress uniforms, medals tinkling on their chests, filed into the massive chamber alongside naval captains and commodores in deep blue tunics. Hulking Gn'Mok Legates, clad in the rune-inscribed bronze plate traditional to their rank, stood silently at attention on the floor of the chamber, their black eyes unblinking. Nyrkin battle-masters, Introgg warchiefs, Xos dignitaries and even more exotic xenos commanders clicked and chittered to one another as they took their seats below the human officers, who regarded them with mixed surprise and distaste. For xenos to be included in a formal operational briefing was most irregular. Cezare tugged absentmindedly at his starched collar, throwing a glance at Lord Admiral Rutherford, seated with the naval leadership on the High Command dais. Rutherford was eying the proceedings with his customary facade of paternal sternness, in contrast to Rear Admiral Wander who sat just to his left, wearing a mild smirk, as though in on some joke everyone else was missing. Behind both men, somewhat obscured by shadow ([i]no doubt on purpose[/i], thought Cezare, [i]the old ghoul loves to play it up[/i]), lurked Vice-Admiral Korwitz. The buzz of chatter in the room fell silent in an instant, and the assembled commanders scrambled to their feet. Cezare did not need to glance at the entryway to know why. His Radiance the Grand Duke had arrived. A short man, heavily built, with thick dark hair and a magnificent mustache, Konrad von Ravenstein swept into the room without ceremony, an unlit pipe jutting from the corner of his mouth. He took his seat amid the High Command staff, green eyes hooded and watchful. The room took its cue and sat down, save Cezare, who cleared his throat. "Welcome, excellencies," said the Count, "to His Unapproachable Majesty's Second Royal Expeditionary Force. As you know, we have been tasked with claiming the Maalik System for the glory of the King and the Kingdom, freeing its enslaved masses from the deluded followers of Arius, of cursed memory." At the mention of the Maalik System, the lights dimmed and the holodisplay in the center of the Orrery ignited, filling the room with a detailed, three dimensional star chart of the Leopon Sector, with the Maalik System highlighted in blood red. The hologram magnified the System, the planets and bodies of which filled the room as they spun lazily in their orbits. "Our target system has seven planets, all terraformed and populated by the old Empire. These are: Celestine V, Acheron, Virgilius, Minos II, Malacoda Minor, Cerebus, and the ice-world Cocytus VI..." said the Count, the holodisplay highlighting each planet in turn, displaying geographic details, population statistics and military assesments, "Of these, Celestine, Minos and Cocytus have populated moons. Other notable bodies include the Charon Asteroid Belt bisecting the system, and the gas-giant Caina. Enemy strength in the system is high. Our intelligence reports no less than three major naval battlegroups, including the battleships [i]Malebranche[/i], [i]Demiurge[/i] and [i]Atropos[/i]. The [i]Atropos[/i], at least, suffered catastrophic damage at Archangel-" The naval officers interrupted with a polite smattering of applause directed at the abhuman Captain Lutzen, who grinned toothily. "-and is undergoing extensive repairs, but the other two ships are in good working order. Ground forces, likewise, are numerous, the usual Arian mix of farmed clones with battle augments, local conscripts and mercenaries, slave soldiers, and drone-tanks and atmospheric craft." Count Cezare cleared his throat and continued. "Our naval dispositions are as follows: the Second Expeditionary Fleet will comprise six major combat squadrons: [u]Alpha[/u], [u]Beta[/u], [u]Gamma[/u], [u]Epsilon[/u], [u]Rho[/u], and [u]Omega[/u]. Captains, you have been given your assignments already. Generals, the troopships and landers will follow the fleet's lead. Our invasion hinges on the Maalik System's two stable subspace translation points, codenamed [i]Paolo[/i] and [i]Francesca[/i]. [i]Paolo[/i] is located center-system, just beyond the orbit of Celestine V. The enemy have made Celestine and its moon, Pontius, into a formidable fortress-world. [i]Francesca[/i] is located within the Charon Belt, in the outer system. Thanks to His Majesty's announcement of the Reconquest, the enemy knows we are coming. Our options are... limited. Given their fortifications at Celestine, the enemy likely expects a push through [i]Francesca[/i], and has filled the Charon Belt with hired marauders and pirate wolf packs to harry any attempted incursion. Our strategic plan is simple: a feint through [i]Francesca[/i] with naval squadrons [u]Rho[/u] and [u]Epsilon[/u], who will engage the mercenary elements in the Belt in clearing operations designed to give the impression of an impending full-scale push. The squadrons will be able to use the Belt to their advantage, avoiding larger enemy fleet deployments and making use of old Imperial depots and mining installations to resupply. They will be given a steady stream of reinforcements in order to further the impression that this is where our main fleet will translate. Our attack, however, will come through [i]Paolo[/i]." The holodisplay focused on Celestine V and its moon, highlighting its extensive fleet protection and orbital fortifications. Murmurs arose throughout the amphitheater. Cezare paused, glancing at von Ravenstein, who stood slowly. "We will take Celestine V from under them," the Grand Duke said, "We will break them where they are strongest."