As it turned out, the Imperial defenders found that the enemy avoided their nigh impassible barrages of fire, preferring to flood through breaches in the line and slamming through operational depth. Supply lines were cut, bases and staging areas were overrun or besieged. Mech columns were left behind, unable to keep up with the Federal offensive. With the supply lines cut and Imperial reserves tied down by far more numerous and mobile Federal troops, Imperial units left behind were left to tire themselves out with regular ambushes and harassment from Federal units. The slow and isolated mech divisions were patiently followed by highly mobile Federal anti-vehicle divisions, who waited for the hulking mechanical beasts to run out of ammunition. Surrender was an option for those legionaires surrounded by hostile forces, but none of the Federal troopers knew if their armoured and quasi-inhuman enemy would even consider laying down arms.

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Aresia:

The general feeling of the Federal army group that reached Aresia was one of elation and apprehension. They were all in the heart of enemy territory, the most heavily defended part of the Imperium. Intelligence gathered on Aresia's defensive systems hinted at a terrifying array of orbital defences and even a Moon converted into an enormous firebase capable of unleashing a devastating storm of fire on any enemy bold enough to approach the planet. Observation of the planet's surface also confirmed the Federal planners' worst fears: a heavily urbanised world that would give the enemy the edge in vicious urban fighting. Total defeat of the enemy's forces seemed impossible to achieve now, so the Federal commanders looked for something that would force the enemy into capitulation.

That something quickly appeared to be the Imperium's most famous and revered building: the Imperial Palace. A massive building and a symbol of imperial might and authority. Capturing it or destroying it might make the Imperial government renounce fighting. So plans were drafted to hit the imperial palace, and a week later, the attack started.

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Midas Luxury Residential Area:

Megara was walking through the Midas Terraced Park, enjoying an early morning walk. Few people were in the park, since most were either off at work or were (probably) sleeping off a wild party. The only noises were the ambient buzz and hum of Aresia's never-ending flux of human activity. Over the past week, though, a dull sense of fear had fallen over Aresia. Announcements had been made about risks of invasion, and the news had been clogged with awful reports of defeat and direct threats to the Imperium's political and cultural centre. Nobody had taken these things too seriously, though. The Imperium had suffered defeat before and had always managed to overcome its enemies even in the darkest of times. The invasion in the Northern provinces would probably be repulsed in good time. 

Megara walked over to a nearby fountain and closed her eyes to listen to the pleasant chatter of running water, one of her favourite sounds in the whole world. She briefly wondered if she should buy a new set of dresses or new slaves...

Her eyes shot open as an ear-piercing screech shattered the quiet atmosphere like a hammer smashing crystal. She looked up to the skies and saw lights flashing high up in the heavens, barely visible but nonetheless present. She also saw other things: missiles shooting upwards through the air from concealed firing positions, and thousands, maybe even millions of what appeared to be black pod-like objects hurtling down through the sky. One of those came screaming down to the park and slammed into the ground a few metres away. The shock caused several trees to snap and fall over, and Megara was thrown back a few metres, landing roughly on the paved pathway she'd been following only a few seconds ago.

With growing terror she watched the black angular pod open up with a hiss of compressed air. A single heavy door lowered itself down to the ground, ramp-like.

"What in the Emperor's name...?", breathed Megara. Just then, men came hurtling out of the pod. Armed men in greyish armour shouting in a foreign language. 

Soldiers. Soldiers whose shoulders and helmets bore the feared and hated insignia of the F.D.P.C.

Megara screamed and ran, and didn't stop running till she'd left the park.

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Multiple landing areas had been established in only a few minutes. Gravatroopers landed and secured strategic areas such as parks, squares, avenues and starports. Once those had been taken, infantry and tanks were dropped in from orbit to further bolster the assault. Federal tanks hovered down wide Aresian boulevards and people saw their homes become war zones as Imperial and Federal infantry fought bitterly to secure buildings.

The battle for Aresia had begun.