Transports were coming and going from the base sending troops and their machines to the soon to be battlefield. They brought Thaddeus aboard the ship that would take him to his post, his machine being loaded on a separate transport. Aboard the transport some of the rookies talked amongst themselves about what was to come.

"You hear why we're being sent in? Last I heard invading Gazere territory was a suicide mission. They may seem like savages but I've heard stories about their machines... They'd be deadly no matter where they were, but out in the desert they are undefeated! But if that were true, why do they need our help?"

"I heard the EDF has deployed a few moving fortresses. The Gazere don't have the firepower to take them down. I've heard the stories about their machines too, but one thing we know for certain is that there aren't very many of them. And they are based around speed and agility anyways, they don't use artillery. Doubt they'd even get close to the EDF without us. Of course, they'd have to stop their fortresses before the mountains, but they'd have taken a good chunk of land by then."

"What of the Catalyst get involved? I mean, they're our allies too aren't they? And they're on good terms with the Gazere. Seems like they'd be helping too."

"The Catalyst don't like to fight. I say it's a good thing. They may be lost in their ways but at least they aren't killing us over it. I'd say if anyone's worthy of salvation it would be them. They'd have to change their ways, but they aren't really bad, just lost I think."

"I guess. They're a long shot better than the damned Kuth that's for sure. Those barbarians wouldn't know God's will if it smacked them in the nose."

"Hey that's not true. We have shown them God's wrath many times before! They sure as hell knew what hit them!" 

This caused a few of the grunts to laugh in agreement at their past victories against the Kuth.