Voice of the stars (Honkai Star Rail off-story)

The Welkin empire had done multiple experiments thus leading to creation of the ultimate weapon led to "Titania," the powerless Empress who telepathically commanded the Iron Cavalry—genetically engineered, short-lived warriors sworn to protect her and the "Welkin Empire of Glamoth." These knights, clad in Strategic Assault Mechs (SAM), existed solely to fight the Swarm, led by Tayzzyronth, the Imperator Insectorum and the Aeon of Propagation, whose only directive was endless reproduction. Iron Cavalry knights were genetically modified humans created in incubation pods, connected to Titania at birth, and knew only battle. They possessed superhuman perception, heightened reflexes, yet were at the cost of losing the capability of dreaming, and a very limited lifespan. Their SAM suits, activated via palm-sized transformation devices, engulfed them in flames, enabling high-speed combat and interplanetary travel. All SAM units emitted vermilion flames, though some had unique energy signatures AR-26710 had a cyan green energy signature, AR-2101 had a white-blue energy signature, AR-53935 had an orange energy signature and AR-214 had a pink-white signature. Their armor, designed for extreme conditions, enhanced their senses but also intensified pain from entropy loss. They wielded advanced weaponry, including thermal wrist weapons, rocket launchers, and wrist-guards capable of crushing smaller Swarm insectoids. Outside the armor, they wear tactical suits that are only used for the purpose of uniform and identification. The tactical suits don't hold any weaponry and act as a spandex for when the Iron cavalry are to transform into their SAM armor. The Iron cavalry are split into 700 different squads, each squad having 3 to 5 members. There are no captains or leaders for any squad, rather are guided by orders given by either the Empress, or the Welkin Commanders, the iron cavalry are the only members who lead the assault for Glamoth, for what they believe to be the empress, Titania. Despite the power and acknowledgement, the Iron Cavalry was never seen as human, rather – were seen as weapons to all of the empire, except for the Empress, Titania. Each knight carried a genetic defect – a spliced gene which causes accelerated aging after living for roughly between 16-20 years when outside their cryochamber, the only sign of the evident genetic defect's growth is by the length of the nerve-like scars that glow and appear after using the SAM armor, this speed in which the entropy progresses can not be altered, nor be changed, the entirety of the Iron cavalry had a distinctive silver hair, and have deep blue-pink eyes as they are all clones, all are weapons. Regulations bound them to unwavering loyalty, forbidding them from abandoning battle or surviving alone. Over time, the relentless war blurred the lines between empire and enemy, as the Iron Cavalry’s overwhelming presence became as feared as the Swarm itself to both the citizens of the Welkin Empire, and other factions that are not of the Welkin Empire – in the galaxy. The Welkin Empire controlled multiple star systems and planets, including Glamoth and Gresta, they with-held a planet known Kaliman in the star system 'Izuma', in which was recently lost due to a surprise attack by the swarm in which infected the entire star system. The Iron Cavalry’s SAM models were divided into two types: Fyrefly Type-IV (Tactical Heavy Assault Mech) and Fyrefly Type-V (Personal Escort Model). While the Swarm could not infect SAM units, they ravaged unmodified humans and entire planets. The war raged endlessly, with the knights forming the last line of defense against a relentless tide of destruction and propagation. The SAM armor – Strategic Assault Mech – A grey colored suit of armor with gold accents, the energy signature is found within the helmet and design of the SAM armor, the visor would glow to the color of the energy signature. This armor is capable of releasing embers that set the entire battlefield ablaze, their armor have vents in which spout out flames in which enhances the attacks of which the Iron Cavalry do at the slight cost of hurting themselves. There are several rocket thrusters hidden within the suit, enabling the usage of flight and the ability to overheat the armor; making it far more dangerous. Their high-speed flight also allows them to break atmosphere and travel between planets. Their mechanical greaves combine destructive capacities with speed, allowing knights to leap high and concentrate their strength into a kick directed at a single point on the enemy. Their armor also appears to be hermetically sealed as they are capable of flying through the vacuum of space. The SAM armor is shielded against extremely high radiation and is capable of withstanding several million times the normal air pressure. Their helmet significantly enhances sensory signals, fusing the consciousness of the knight together with their armor. The Iron Cavalry are able to feel external sensations passed to them via the deep spinal cord signals. Real sensations outside the cockpit are tenfold more lively than the simulated signals however. The armor deeply synchronizes its sensory organs with that of the pilot. Though this would worsen the pain of entropy loss, the Iron Cavalry have no other choice if they wish to defeat the Swarm. When the Iron Cavalry pilot the S.A.M however, their Entropy Loss wont be able to progress, rather they would feel the pain from it.

The team is assembled at the briefing room, in which they are tasked to deal with a swarm upsurge in a nearby planet. AR-26710, AR-2101, AR-214 and AR-53935 are taking up the task. They are to eradicate the swarm's hive nest present within the planet. This was the squad's last mission before they could have a 6 day administered break, due to the Ascension festival.