Some days after the battle at Arene, Tanya meets Major Uger who tells her of a plan to withdraw Imperial forces on the Rhine front to draw the Republic forces into a trap. Hans von Zettour proposed this plan at the Command Strategy Conference and arranged to use Tanya’s Mage Battalion to fight a rearguard action. While the Empire spreads rumors of a large-scale assault, Lieutenant Colonel Erich von Rerugen tells Tanya that the plan for the second phase "Shock and Awe" is to take out the Republic command headquarters and communication system. Doctor Schugal announces a new high-speed rocket weapon, the V-1, to be guided by the mages to the three potential locations of the enemy headquarters. Meanwhile the Republic forces confidently begin their advance into the area vacated by the Imperial troops.