During the brief occupation of Char by the United Earth Directorate's Expeditionary Force, Admiral DuGalle instituted a series of intense training exercises on the forbidding surface of the planet. With the security of the now-tamed Overmind being the linchpin of further military success in the Koprulu sector, DuGalle needed to know that the harsh environment of Char would not make this task impossible. The horrifying firestorms and boiling pools of lava -- combined with the thick layer of ash that covered man and machine -- could cause serious physical and psychological strain on even hardened soldiers. Forces that were able to function on Char stayed and served as a garrison force. Those that couldn't "take the heat" were stationed elsewhere...