Mwai stared at the letter in disbelief. There was no signature but he didn’t care. This… this is what he needed.

‘To Mwai Ruku, for your eyes only. I currently serve in the Kirinyaan Military. I thought you may want to read this. I apologize for the censoring, it was the only copy I could reasonably acquire. If I am able to find more, I will send them.’ And below was a military document attached. A third of the text was crossed out with thick black lines. Did that even matter though? Mwai had found his saving grace, his light in the night, his lifeline.

‘Operation Sandfire internal organization. For relevant personel only.’

“They’ve pulled out entirely, there’s no one there, the northern border is open again.” Kassandora finished explaining her plan to Arascus. They were once again Western Kirinyaa, looking over the growing sea of ash. The creeping Jungle was being burned down. Before, when Kassandora had only a few batteries of Binturongs, it had been going slowly.

Then the Pantheon’s invasion started. War production kicked up. Volunteers had come in. Kassandora’s army had swelled to seven-hundred thousand from the volunteers themselves. It had been enough men to draw battle lines from the west to the east after all. KAF had been created. Factories had turned on. The war machine started rolling.

And the invasion ended. Yet seven hundred thousand men still remained in the army. It was Kirinyaa’s largest employer now. There had been some talk in the parliament of what to do with them, but Arascus and Helenna had swayed them to let Kassandora keep her army. Not out of any moralistic reason, nor any fears stemming from future invasion but something much more effective. Something that made the politicians just as terrified, maybe even more so, than the prospect of the White Pantheon coming back: The war machine was still rolling.

What exactly was Kirinyaa supposed to do with hundreds of thousands of men? The country already had an unemployment problem before the war. The rapid growth of industry had cut into it, but the industry was a mere knife that scratched the surface of that problem. Kassandora’s Army though was a massive cleaver that cut it clean in half. So it had been decided, the seven hundred thousand would stay, they would go to the west, the Reclamation War would be finished, and then there’d be plenty of room for these men to settle in and plenty of area for development.

So Kassandora and Arascus stood on a hill as they watched the horizon burn. Trees and vines retreated and swiped at shells but it wasn’t magic. It wasn’t warfare, it was a mere clean up. The soldiers at the vehicles were talking and smoking as the vehicles launched napalm shells into the distance. A dozen batteries were working on this area, of Binturongs and Lemurs. Funnily enough, the Lemur was the far better vehicle, but now that it had to drive across ash and burned root, the wheels got stuck. It was back to the Binturong, a Mark Two was being finalized already. “Fully?” Arascus asked.

“Fully, they’re moving out of Arika.” Kassandora confirmed. They both stood in HAUPT suits, a few miles away from the vehicles. Too close and they’d have to take odd pauses in between the drumming of artillery.

“They’re going to focus on Epa.” Arascus said. “I got a letter from Olonia.”

“Lubskan one?”

“That one.” Arascus confirmed. He brought it out and showed it to Kassandora.

To Arascus, God of Pride.

I, Olonia, Goddess of Lubska, write to you because… Some text was scribbled out. Kassandora sniffed in humour at the sight of it. “She should have restarted from the beginning than sending something like this.”

“It reads like she’s at wit’s end.” Arascus replied. Because I would like training in combat and warfare. I lack in everything. I have nothing but my friendship to offer. I apologize. But I know Epan Separation will lead to war with the Pantheon in my lands. I know I am not ready for it. I would like advice.

Best Regards.

Olonia. Of Lubska. Kassandora flipped it over to look at the back, then passed it back to Arascus. “So obviously we’re sending someone off.” Kassandora said and Arascus smirked. Kassie never needed detailed explanations, she usually simply got it. “I assume you have someone in mind already.”

“Fer and Iliyal.” Kassandora nodded.

“I’d have suggested Kavaa and Iliyal.”

“Fer’s a better sparring partner.”

“I thought we didn’t want them to win.”

“Not a month ago.” He tapped the piece of paper. “But now?” He made an impressed voice. “Olonia’s friendship? I think that deserves Fer.” Kassandora merely smiled as trucks rolled into view. More napalm shells. With this many machines and men, they had done in a week what the first stage of the Reclamation War managed in a month. KAF helped too, they weren’t assigned on this sector, but anywhere with dried out river beds would be carpet bombed. It was good to practice new barrage techniques too.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“So we are making friends with Lubska?” Kassandora asked. “I’ll adjust the plans then.”

“Don’t Kass.” Arascus said. “We’re making friends with Olonia, not Lubska.” Kassandora fell silent for a moment as she thought.

“I see.” She said. “Iliyal is too good then. Send Sokolowski or Zalewski, Iliyal may actually win them the war.”

“He’ll know not to.” Arascus said. “Whereas our men getting defeated will be a bad image. Iliyal will slow them down, and Iliyal can do something the others can’t.”

“What’s that?”

“Contact Ilwin in Karaina.” Kassandora took a deep breath and shook her head.

“You’re opening too many fronts up. A Karainan war will need support.”

“Iliyal and Ilwin will only prime Karaina, the moment Epa is secured, we move on Karaina.”

“That’s alright then.” Kassandora said. “I’m not going to do a war in Epa, in Kirinyaa and in Karaina at the same time.”

“Kirinyaa is my part.” Arascus said. He put his arm on Kassandora’s shoulder as they watched the Binturongs and Lemurs hold fire. Stabilizers lifted off the ground and they started moving forwards. Fourth time today. “Tomorrow I’m going to Nanbasa. Helenna’s already there.”

“She can’t manage it?” Kassandora asked.

“She’s not Malam.” Arascus replied and Kassandora leaned her head on his side.

“Poor girl has a heart of gold.” Arascus chuckled.

“A rose full of thorns is how I’d describe it.” Arascus said. “Anassa is non-accessible, she’ll stay in CR with Kavaa to watch over Elassa. I just wanted to fill you in on what’s happening. You’re going to be here until I ring you.” Kassandora nodded. “No issues I assume?” If she saw one, she would spoke up already.

“If I have to nit-pick then without Fer it will take longer to win Elassa over.”

“I’ll do that too.” Arascus said. He nodded forwards as the vehicles stopped and started dropping stabilizers into the ash again. “Neneria’s out too. Don’t bother her.”

“What is she doing?”

“Combing through the Pantheon texts. Leave her to it, she likes doing that. Olephia’s helping her. If you need assistance here though, Olephia’s open. Iniri is free too.”

“Understood.” Kassandora replied. Arascus felt her arm wrap around his back as she hugged him. “Anything else?” She asked.

“There is one thing.” Arascus said and took a deep breath. “Helenna will send you a list of relevant documents, study the Kirinyaan laws here.” He felt her sigh and chuckle.

“I’m not going to become a lawyer.”

“You’re going to court.” Arascus said and Kassandora laughed again. Maybe the White Pantheon Goddesses would panic, but Arascus had assumed he could send anyone from his own, and they’d only see it as a light amusement.

“And why exactly?” Kassandora did sound amused.

“Sandfire will be put on trial. I have it handled already, the case won’t stand.” Kassandora made some wordless sound of affirmation. “Mwai will pursue it. I’m giving him the details already.”

“Oh are you now?” Kassandora asked. The Binturongs and Lemurs in the distance started to fire. Shells whistled through the air, a few vines shot up out of the Jungle to try and stop them, they exploded and flaming napalm landed on the trees. And the horizon kept on burning, the blue sky tarred black by napalm’s disgusting black smoke.

“You can handle it, so it has to be you.”

“Fer could do it too.”

“Fer didn’t lead the war.”

“That she did not.” Kassandora agreed. One of the ammunition trucks got stuck in the ash. The drivers clambered out of it and started digging the wheels out with shovels. “I see it though.”

“I assumed you did.”

“Mwai is too popular after he stood up for me against Elassa back then.” Kassandora said. “You can’t crush popularity like that, he could kill a man and people would still look favourably on him.”

“You have to make them pick a side. The man who stood up, or the Goddess who won the war.” Arascus pointed to the distance. “So the more progress you have here, the better.”

“I’ll push them.” Kassandora said.

“I expected you to.” Arascus said. “It may turn dirty here though.” Kassandora only smiled and tightened her arm around him. He patted her shoulder in return.

“As in?”

“As in putting down a rebellion.” Arascus said. “So your men have to be ready for that.”

“I’d say they are already.” Kassandora said. “But I’ll think of something.”

“I’m having Iliyal’s propaganda team start work on another project. I’m just giving you warning now so you know what it’s about.”

“What is it?”

“Anti-military talk. Use that to push your boys closer to you and further from Mwai. Helenna isn’t too fond of it, she thinks I’m going under your nose.” This was something he had done in the past, him and Malam had gotten the idea. Really, only the Goddess of Hatred could have come up with the idea, but once he saw it, it was unarguable in how effective it was.

“You’ve told her?”

“It’s simply easier if she knows the whole picture rather than being kept in the dark. It’s just her, me and you now though. There’ll be some complaining about Anassa. The others will keep her in check in CR. She’s not to move whatsoever.” Kassandora laughed again as the barrels turned south and started shelling a different section of Jungle.

“We’ve never been ones to shy away from playing with fire.” She said. “I would have just written them off though, you didn’t have to worry about me.”

“I know you would.” Arascus said. “But I’d rather you know though.” He squeezed her close and sighed. “I don’t know the pace of it though.”

“The army will be forced to disband. Downsize at least, if we don’t keep bringing progress.”

“The Jungle isn’t infinite though. You push it far enough and they’ll start talking about slowing the pace down.” Arascus said. “I’m giving it a time line of six, maybe seven months.”

“I was giving it a year.” Kassandora said.

“Not your boys, your court date.” Kassandora nodded. “We’ll get through it, Mwai will have some supporters of course after, but not many.” Arascus stopped. That though, was pure theory, if all things went to plan, then it would be easy. But they were playing with fire here, as they did with Army-Implementation in Kirinyaa, as they did with Leona. But sometimes, risks had to be taken. “Plan around you losing the case Kass. Make sure your men here aren’t loyal to Kirinyaa but to you. I don’t care how or what you do. Even if there’s deaths, we can work around them. But your part is crucial here, I can’t understate that.”

Kassandora only laughed. “Anyone else and I wouldn’t trust them to do it.” She stopped for a moment. “And then what? After the case I mean.”

“And then Kirinyaa is made into the first Divine Junta.”