Columns of Virngrundian tanks, armored vehicles and line after line of infantry, clearly proud in their uniforms, are marching through the plaza of Liberation Square. Overhead, formations of warships pass over the assembled crowds, vast shadows falling over sunken faces. The plaza still shows signs of the battle, turned last stand, that arrived at its bloody conclusion in the hours of the early morning. Many conversations will be raised in the coming days, first among them, the dramatic underperformance of U.S. weapons against a second rate power.

Though vowing to overcome the invasion the first alarms rang when reports were confirmed that ship losses in the Saint-Joseph Royal Navy were occuring well within their inner planetary defense zones. Even exaggerated claims of enemy losses couldn't hide a deteriorating situation. At around 4 a.m. local time, anti-aircraft and starship batteries on the city-state’s outlying islands and continental highlands erupted in fire. This was the final confirmation: the Royal Navy had suffered a total collapse and a landing was underway. By dawn, SEAD aircraft had silenced these positions, and formations of gunships and troop transports were spotted over districts citywide. For many, this marked their first encounter with Virngrundian forces. Within minutes invading infantry and vehicles were spotted on the streets.