After the, entirely avoidable, commotion was settled, we decided on a concrete strategy.

With the help of Tarsonan maps, partly featuring secret intel obtained by the intelligence division, we plan our actions.

We decide on a rotational system that will keep a small number of messengers constantly in the air around Neria, concentrating on the roads of course.

In this way, we cover any routes leading to the site.

Once any kind of transport comes into view, the messenger, or rather an interceptor, though in this case the line becomes rather muddy, will report its finding, and in a short time a sufficient number of winged drones will assemble.

If possible, my royal guard will join them, but I must pay attention not to demand too much from them nor needlessly throw them away.

I need my escort, especially with danger so close, and their numbers are by no means recovered yet.

We aren't even close, with all the training the freshly hatched ones need to go through.

Honestly, while I accepted Miru's wish to have them be trained by their peers, the way they "beat them into shape" I find borders on child abuse.

However, the young ones all seem determined to be useful to their broodmother, me, as soon as possible, welcoming the challenge, so I allowed them to continue.

Though, not before giving Miru a stern reminder not to go too far with them, as I won’t stand for them coming with scars and serious injuries out of their "training".

But back to our raiding strategy.

While we only take out easy targets, this also means a severe number of civilians are going to get targeted.

While I understand that war isn't about being nice and compassionate, I at least ordered that civilians aren't to be killed.

Let's see if I can recompense them later on.

Anyway, this strategy will, without a doubt, lead to Neria's isolation and subsequently cause a shortage in just about everything.

While the enemy can make the effort of sending extremely well-protected transports, which we certainly won't attack, their deliveries are going to be severely hampered.

So to say, there should be a huge drop in supplies on their side.

Not to forget, the effect on their morale, as they don't know where we'll attack.

Meanwhile, our wall only grows more impressive.

Thirty meters at its highest points by now and rising.

If the enemy doesn't feel a sense of rising odds against them I don't know how else to convince them that there's certainly no passing through here.

Seriously, what are they even thinking?

----------------------------------------

- Dominus Dorajus -

I didn't deem this possible.

One moment I was preparing to start our bombardment of the enemy position and suddenly my trebuchet was gone!

I extra had them put the whole thing together on a specially prepared solid platform, as I was being mindful of the insects' ability to travel through the earth.

However, never had I imagined this kind of assault.

From one moment to the other, holes open in an awfully coordinated manner and these things emerge.

I was at the Everhold during at least three monster tides, and I never saw something of this size killing a man so quickly.

They were so fast and nimble one could barely direct the ballistas at them.

Not to speak of the destruction they caused.

The acid they applied fizzled itself right through the metal, completely destroying any of the enhancing runework.

We weren't even able to dig into the tunnels they used.

Somehow they were sealed, and to reach their depth we would need special mining equipment.

Committing to all this effort, only to fight the insects on their terms seems hardly feasible.

No, vigilance and our superior firepower are our only hope.

Yet the strain of constant caution is harsh on the soldiers' morale.

At times, I feel like they open holes only to make us raise our alarms.

I'm not sure how much longer this position can be held.

Still, we should try to hold out until we can rebuild the trebuchet to prepare our attack anew.

While losing it was a throwback, it might be too much to call it devastating.

What is an issue would be that those parts aren't all that easy to acquire.

We have to transport them all the way here after production in the capital.

Something that gets severely obstructed by those air raids.

Seriously, how are you supposed to defend against attacks from the sky?

Almost everyone approaching Neria gets targeted.

Those leaving to a much lesser degree.

The intention is clear.

They want to force us out of their reach.

The fliers have an effective deployment distance.

Beyond that, they'd have to land and we could pick them off.

But with the wall, they have a perfect starting position.

The situation in the south doesn't look all that great either.

Instead of a wall, the insects started erecting a gigantic structure, a fortress, right in the center of the southern plains.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

While the area itself is traversable, the ground is riddled with holes.

Any army moving there would have to fear an attack from every angle.

Not to speak of establishing a siege camp to take down this huge structure of dirt mixed with some weird fluid-like substance.

Which might still be better than what we're facing here.

However, the bright minds in the capital decided to have the Aeterians, who favor a defensive approach, deal with any kind of monster insurgence from the south.

Meanwhile, we are supposed to deal with this situation here.

Which means we have no choice but to do so.

So I'm sitting in my tent, having to hear more bad news with each passing day.

Did I mention that those things are even stealing food from the fields?

If things continue like this, there's going to be a famine in the city.

Seriously, if they'd at least burn them as part of good warfare it would be less insulting, but instead they show off their ability to raid our territory and make a statement with this.

"Dominus!" (soldier)

By now I learned to grow apprehensive of a certain tone with my soldiers.

One that implies impending trouble.

"Sigh. What is it now?" (D)

"The, the capital, Dominus. They're demanding that you answer." (soldier)

What is he so worked up for?

It's normal that the capital would send for reports.

"What is the issue? The reports are prepared." (D)

"But Dominus, they sent, it's, it's a senator!" (soldier)

Oh fuck!

A politician at the frontline is never good news.

"I thank you for the introduction, soldier. You can go back to your post." (senator)

Oh no, it's the worst of them all.

"Senator Honorian. What a pleasant surprise." (D)

"By no means is it. Rather, it's a chore, forced on me because of your unbelievable ineptitude to lead a military operation. As their Dominus, I'd like to add." (Honorian)

This is why I just love politicians messing with things they have no idea about.

"I'm terribly sorry, but could anyone have expected this? An insect army. There's simply no precedent for such a thing." (D)

"There are such things as common sense. Like not losing 5000 slaves for no reason. Or how about noticing that the enemy is from scratch building something like this!" (H)

He points at the wall, which is even from here a dominant object on the horizon.

"Truly, they have impressive skills. The wall was there before anyone had a chance to react." (D)

If I could have prevented this, I would.

But one should base their expectations on reality.

"All I hear are excuses. Not even good ones. Let me tell you, Dominus, you are in a poor position. Debates about relieving you from your duty are hotly discussed in the Forum Ortalis. It doesn't look good for you." (H)

At this point, I'm almost looking forward to no longer having to deal with this shit.

Yet I can already see how even for future defeats blame would be shifted onto me.

They might claim I ruined discipline in the Empyrean legion.

"Fortunately for you, you have one more chance. The senate hereby gives you the official order to attack." (H)

Attack?

Has he lost his mind?!

"I hope this was a joke. Such a brazen attack goes against all military doctrines." (D)

"There are already refugees leaving Neria, spreading unrest in the rest of the republic. Are you aware of what kind of impression this makes? As if the government couldn't deal with a simple inconvenience such as this, while the very legion that ought to take care of such matters camps here for months, doing nothing but roll their thumbs!" (H)

So this is how we're seen.

I need to admit, relying on slaves for so long brought a false sense of security and overconfidence into our legion.

I mitigated it with regular training sessions, but there's only so much you can do against mentality.

Or in this case, stupidity.

"I can't support this. If we head out in this situation, we'll fight at a disadvantage. In the best case, our legion is going to incur severe losses. Because of this damned wall, we can't even tell how many foes we have to expect behind it." (D)

"The senate deems the risk acceptable. The next recruitment phase is approaching, so there will be more than enough eager patriots to replace any possible losses among your troops. Which, in all honesty, didn't make too great of an impression in recent times. A bit of fresh blood might just be what they need." (H)

Yeah, blood is definitely going to flow.

"This strategy will leave us vulnerable. There might be an insect army behind that dirt, ready to invade once we expose ourselves! What about the replacement trebuchet?" (D)

At this, the man in front of me glares with poison in his eyes.

"How much longer do you think the senate is going to stand for this incursion? Your endeavors aren't showing results. Worse, it looks like you're not even trying. The parts for new war machines won't be delivered and put up before winter. There's no way we'll wait this long. So either you do something to change this unacceptable standoff or you're going to be called to the capital and stand in for your failure, incompetency, and inability to follow orders, possibly even treason." (H)

Treason!?

He can't be serious.

"Your last chance, Dominus. Make something out of it." (H)

With this, he swings around, jostling his coat in a wide arc, and leaves the tent.

This is why I hate if other patricians are meddling in my affairs.

It makes everything so much more difficult.

Honestly, I'm not looking forward to an extended fire exchange with what the Tarsonans deployed on top of their wall, that's what the trebuchet was for.

Yet we still have the advantage in numbers, and at this point, it seems like the only way.

Damnit!

I'll have to give the orders.