V9: Chapter 6

…

Bad news.

The Citadel couldn’t produce the high-end, handheld scanners that’s ubiquitous in sci-fi, yet.

Good news, though: it could produce handheld metal detectors.

I pressed the button and the baton-like instrument let out a stable, fizzy hum. I drifted it over, whilst activated, onto a sword. The fizzy hum became a high-pitched whine. Then, moving it away, resulted in the prior sound returning. Turning the detector onto the brain of the diseased infiltrator, the high-pitched whine returned. Less loud, denoting that there wasn’t a whole sword’s worth of metal near it, but there was still metal.

Sure, sci-fi interrogations are cool, but why not just put a metal detector near someone’s head?

Well, at least until the late game, when everyone just uses biological shapeshifters.

That’s when detecting enemy infiltrators needs a more sci-fi touch and some magic. The pseudo-Panopticon I’ve got in every Citadel should help with that, but it’ll probably be best to get the Arcane Neutralizer wonder. Endgame, exceedingly expensive, and it has the same flags as building a game-ender, so everyone will gang up on you for building it. Fifty percent resistance to the highest level of magic for your troops, and far higher resistances for anything below, is worth it though.

And, of course, shapeshifters will find their transformations reverting in anti-magic fields.

That thing’s at least sixty turns away even when rushed, though, and in sixty turns I doubt I’ll be able to spare the time and money.

Maybe, I can scale it down, somehow?

I’ll shelve it for later.

The metal detector will do for now.

“That should be a good solution for the time being. We’ll need other avenues. Perhaps, rendering the individual unconscious and placing them in a medical chamber in the Citadel.” I gave a nod and handed the baton away. Geneve received it bowed and with both hands. We’ve got literal tons of those things being printed out and shipped everywhere for Iterants to use. No need to be so cautious with them. They’re built tough. “Make sure that they reach your fellows, Geneve. I trust your people to protect our nation.”

“Your will shall be done, your majesty.” Geneve’s been laying it on thick for a while, but I just went along with it. No point in worrying about that sort of stuff. We moved out of the holding place for the infiltrator’s corpse, back into the Citadel proper, and in the halls several Iterants waited in rows with Ayah standing aside them waiting for me. Geneve quickly gave a bow and left my presence. “Farewell, your majesty.”

Ayah eyed the Iterant with suspicion as it joined its fellows. You should really treat them more nicely. We’ve got them watched, but not even one has done anything wrong, right?

“Everything’s settled back at the capital?”

“Yes, your majesty. All appointments and events cleared for the week.” Ayah nodded primly, and I gestured for her to lead me. The other Iterants followed. “As you requested, I’ve gathered Iterants who have experience in espionage and tracking, as well as set up an office with supporting elements to process reports.”

“Very good. The clerk’s first order of business is to make sure everyone is paid for their duties, and to set up schedules properly. I want full time coverage, but no one overworking. Get more people, if we can’t meet that requirement with what we have.” Iterants had a propensity towards working nonstop, if I didn’t say anything, so proper staffing was important. If they wanted to spend their free time working other jobs with other faces, sure, but that’ll need to be recorded as well. I didn’t want anyone losing their mind for any reason, and to stay in their good graces. “What’s the latest from our people in the field?”

“Khanrow and Morgan should be back within a few hours. Their last report validated our findings. There were multiple bodies held in some sort of magical field that kept people very still.” A stasis field. Probably a prototype. In the future, stasis fields made with magic will become a ubiquitous technology for preservation of perishables, which happened to include lives. Keeps people from dying from mortal wounds before we can get them into a Citadel medical station, while also keeping fruits like bananas from spoiling. “All the bodies had their brains removed. There was a storage area for more bodies than we found, as well.”

I gave a hum at that.

“That suggests a more refined technology than I expected. Something that they’ve been able to produce for a long period of time and have expertise in… perhaps this technology is also utilized by the Scholars to control their mechanical appendages?” I pretended to muse and theorize. I knew that it was the truth. The official wiki said so, and anyone posting wrong things on the official wiki quickly find themselves deleted from the community involved in the project. People take their game world filled with nubile dark elves that think jewelry is clothing very seriously. “Have our scientists study the technology. Perhaps, we can find uses of it ourselves.”

“Y-yes, of course. Such a technology would be immensely beneficial to our cause!” Ayah nodded with wide eyes. Sometimes, it’s gratifying to drop some lore off like that, but I had to be careful. Even with all the rare books I now had, which I said were the sources of my knowledge, the more I ‘quoted’ from them the more likely it was someone would find a copy and find that what I’m saying isn’t written down at all. It’s best that I just bullshit connections together and then put down facts from the wiki. “Lady Morgan was also wondering how they managed to fund and research new technology without any support. If they used what they already knew, then that explains the matter.”

I shook my head.

Ayah, despite being so pessimistic, was sometimes oblivious.

“No, they’re receiving funding. Any one of our current foes will support them, even if only slightly.” Ayah blinked before looking at me for more clarification. I explained. “If you have the means to defeat a foe, or at least hamper them, then it must be done. We must attack the Scholars and eliminate them as a threat while keeping in mind that they have outside help.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Things like this don’t happen without outside help. Revolutions rarely succeed as homegrown efforts. They need outside help from interested powers. America got help from the French during the Revolutionary war. America facilitated a lot of changes in power in South America. In game, events like these with fallen factions always have backers. Event window pops up, fallen faction asks for resources or unit donations, and if you’re lucky they get a town or two and irritate your opponent. Or, they manage to lower the defenses of the Citadel enough for you to swoop in and take it for yourself.

Thinking about it…

“It’s either the Wardens or the Forgers in this case. They’re the only powers that can hold this Citadel if we lose it. Celia would fund them, but enough to just be a thorn. It’d be against her code of honor. The Merchants would give money as well, but not enough for the Scholar’s to come back and be a threat to them.” We were likely facing down the excess wealth of everyone else on the continent. They’d be stupid not to do it. I mean, they’re dumb in that they’re not just letting me get power so we can fight off four world-ending threats, but that’s a cultural issue. I’m not a bigot. I just need to use violence to get what I want. “What matters is that we approach this issue with the correct mindset. We are not only facing the Scholars, but everyone else on the continent, which is why this organization is necessary and why I am giving it as much as I can.”

“…I see now. I apologize for doubting you, your majesty.” Ayah bowed its head. Probably to make up for not seeing the big picture right away. Not that it's at fault. It’s an Ancient Administrator. The whole point of it is to handle the numbers and logistics of the continent. It’s not exactly geared for the current massive amount of bullshit that we were facing from everyone else. “Rest assured, that we will empower this organization with defeating enemies from within and without. We will not fail you.”

“Very good. Now, let’s get to work.”

We reached the elevator to go down into the surveillance area of the Citadel and it opened to show us all down there and begin our work.

Hm.

Guys?

We can take two rides down.

Not everyone needs to fit in the elevator.

Dammit, these Iterants have no sense of personal space!

…

Interlude: Khanrow

…

“Careful, Morgan, you’re going to catch flies like that.” I chuckled and Morgan was startled out of her stunned look. She glared at me, and I could only laugh. Then, she glowered. I believe that she knows I like to see her being expressive, so she has committed herself to doing so to endear herself to me. I didn’t mind. “Ah, this reminds me when I first walked into the war room that he designed. Complete with signalers, messengers, runners, and clerks to process battlefield reports… practically an overnight construction.”

“Even if there is precedent, this remains ridiculous.” Morgan looked around hawkishly. The new facility formed by the Citadel was a series of tables surrounding a map of the region. A map of the region that was being refined as we spoke as our king looked over maps. He was forming the region in his mind, sending the signals through the rings, and creating a likeness of the land that any commander would beg to have. On a table next to the forming map, were numerous pieces and labels. Anything that travelled roads were squares, while those that flew were triangles. Iterants were meticulously placing them on going to and from the Citadel. “We notified him two days ago. He arrived here today. He… discerned near-foolproof method to find these infiltrators! He did this thereafter with a handful of hours!”

“There are those with talent, and then there are those who make the world move when provided the right lever.” I pointed upward, obviously at the massive Citadel above us, and Morgan’s mouth clicked shut. “He has four Citadels, a nation, and voraciously devours every text that we can lay our hands on, while spending evenings planning and plotting on various possibilities.”

I was tempted to point out that she was present at those evenings, obviously to entice him, but she was my granddaughter.

It’s not my place to joke about such matters.

My daughter most certainly will tease Morgan, though.

Morgan grumbled lowly, and we reached him as he loomed over the map of the region at the room’s center.

“Khanrow. Morgan. I’ve received your reports. Have you read my own findings?” He glanced at us and gave a small bow of his head. Normally, he’d address me with more respect and honor. However, I could feel the gazes of the Iterants in the room intensify immensely at the simple nod. Morgan, I did not know if she noticed, took a sharp breath. The Iterants in this room were zealous beyond belief. I met Geneve and the others long ago while I searched for the Scholar’s remnants. They had been courteous and professional. Now, I was sure that if I uttered a single wrong word, they’d set upon me with long knives in the dark. Loyalty beyond reason within hours of arriving at the Citadel. The absurdity was such that I wouldn’t believe it if I did not see it myself.

“Yes, those metal detectors should solve the issue of infiltrators. Giving them to the security force should be enough. I take it all of this is for a greater threat?” Morgan spoke, and Jack raised an eyebrow. She cleared her throat and glanced at me, insinuating that she was acting properly because of my presence. He took the difference in stride and nodded. “May I ask what that is?”

“The Scholars can’t have done this alone. Everything needs funding, expertise, and support. Frankly, if it was only them, they’d already be dead with our existing preparations. Yet, here they are making infiltrators we can only find because of our caution, after a coalition against us formed.” As always, Jack earned his moniker when he spoke. The supplies and sophisticated magics we found at the site made far more sense with support from the coalition that now opposes us. It was a simple, logical explanation, but one that barely occurred to me. Of course, even with their current focus on improving their lands and preparing to war amongst themselves, they’ll have enough to spare for actions against their primary opponent. I’d do the same in their shoes. “This institution will be our sword and shield against the espionage activities of our current foes.”

Morgan opened her mouth, then paused, before shaking her head and speaking candidly.

“If we know that much, why not make it a reason to attack? We should fight now, before they amass enough Citadel Guardians to secure their territory.” Her words earned her glares from all the Iterants present. Only when Jack nodded and smiled at her astute observation did the sudden anger turn into jealousy. Remarkable. He only met these Iterants today. They’re a new batch removed from the main pool. Was it something in their creation that led them to be more devoted to those with stronger Ancient lineages? Or, was it entirely his own efforts? “We can declare their intentions to the whole nation and they will believe us and go to war for our sake, your majesty.”

Morgan’s argument was sound, but I knew she was set to be stunned when Jack smiled before answering her.

That meant he already considered that path and its futility, but was ready to present his own, better path instead of demeaning Morgan’s proposal.

He never disparaged.

He only ever improved on what others believed was already correct.

“We could, but I want them to bleed, to waste their resources, and to fund the Scholars without knowing that the Scholars have already lost.” Of course. We had them in the palm of our hand, now. If we said nothing, the various Scholar cells will assume we discovered nothing. Their funders will not know, either. Now, they were going to continue coming our way, plotting and planning, and innovating with new magics and technology… which will fall into our hands. “And, when the time comes, we will unveil all of it… and have them pin the blame on each other and break their bonds apart. And, when those bonds break, they’ll use the Citadel Guardians that they’ve made on each other.”

I blinked as his words suddenly made my blood go cold at his final words.

Of course.

The Citadel Guardians we have must remain in our territory.

Their Citadel Guardians can traverse all over their combined lands as their towers were all bound together.

He will have them waste time building them, then have them turn on each other.

Jack’s smile was wide as he finished his point succinctly and humbly.

“Let us have them build Citadel Guardians and have them waste themselves upon one another, then we’ll strike in the chaos of it all.”

The Ancients and their progeny are terrifying indeed.