Whenever they encountered a new and unfamiliar enemy, people always instinctively believed that their apparent inferiority would be temporary. They thought that if they just kept piling on equipment and manpower and continuously exhausted resources – as long as they sacrificed some people in exchange for information – they would eventually crack the enemy's techniques.
This mindset was a mix of confidence, arrogance, and inertia.
Although no one would admit it aloud, the truth was that many people had psychologically prepared themselves for the certainty of eventual victory, as long as they carried on step by step in an orderly fashion.
This phenomenon was especially evident among the commanding officers.
Up until now, this group strategy seemed to have no problems, given the Empire's vast population, sprawling territory, abundant resources, and highly creative scholars.