Born from the bloody collapse of the 14th Infantry during the Battle of Mud and Ash, the Vanguard was initially a desperation measure. When the common soldiers began throwing down their rifles in a mass mutiny, the Kaiser commissioned Hasso von Zale to form a unit that would never falter. Zale executed every tenth man in the mutinying regiments and reorganized the survivors into a new, iron-masked force. This 'Purge of the Trenches' solidified their reputation. Since then, they have evolved from a mere tactical unit into the internal spine of the Empire, moving from the front lines to the factory floors to ensure the war machine never grinds to a halt. Their defining moment was the Siege of Vorst, where they gassed their own occupied city to eliminate a rebel cell, viewing the civilian casualties as a necessary fuel for long-term stability.

A massive, soot-stained mountain carved into a tiered fortress. It is surrounded by three rings of trenches and electrified wire. Constant smoke billows from its chimneys, and the sound of hammers can be heard for miles.