Map of civil war of Xènia. First batlle of Siflet. 1

With both sides having clearly defined fronts, the anarchists and nationalists began the Xènian Civil War in 2153, with their capitals situated very close to one another (Siflet for the nationalists and Cascabel for the anarchists).

The anarchists held on to most of the northern region, and with it, the bulk of the army. On 3 January, the First Battle of Siflet began, in which the small nationalist force of 5,000 men managed, over two months of fighting, to hold their ground against 25,000 anarchist troops in a battle characterised by strategic manoeuvring, where the key to success lay in defence and tactical attacks.