59 - Logistics Part Two
Alyena's thoughts are rudely disturbed. This afternoon she went out to relax in her palace garden. No one should disturb her here and she can recover in silence from the stress of running her empire. The only one who is also allowed to come here is Captain Cervik, who is allowed to be present as her bodyguard.
Today, however, it is not only the captain who enters the garden. With a steely face, the captain comes through the garden gate, with an imperial messenger in his wake.
"Cervik, what are you doing! You know I am not to be disturbed when I'm in my palace garden."
"I'm sorry, your majesty. However, the news that this messenger brings cannot be postponed."
Captain Cervik never indicates that something is important if it really isn't, Alyena thinks.
"Go ahead, speak. Then I can go back to my contemplation."
"I think the man should tell it himself." Answer Captain Cervik.
"It's like this, your majesty," begins the imperial messenger, "I had been instructed to take the orders to the New Legion. You had instructed them to keep themselves out of the situation in the south."
"That's right, I wanted to keep them away to protect them so that we wouldn't lose them right off the bat. What is the problem with my orders?"
"I'm afraid I was late, your majesty. Somehow the New Legion had already left for the southern border."
Alyena looks at the messenger in shock.
"What do you mean too late? Have you stopped somewhere? I'm sure no messengers left before you, so how did they know what was going on at the border before you could tell them?"
The messenger is now the one who looks shocked.
"No one had been there before me, your majesty. According to what I was told, they had already left days earlier. According to the sergeant I spoke to, they themselves made sure that they would be informed of any change in the south."
Alyena puts her hands on her back and starts to pace.
"This was not the plan. I hope they don't ruin all our chances with their ill-considered action."
"Uhm, sorry to interrupt you, your majesty. But I have more news."
Alyena stops pacing and sends a look at the messenger.
"What else do you have to say that has gone wrong?"
"According to the sergeant I spoke to, one Sergeant Lenn, the legion had already left for the border days earlier. However, that same morning he had received a message from a Captain Raidon that he had relieved the city of Linh with a full company of the legion. There is another messenger on the way with a full account of the battle, but the sergeant was able to tell me that they had defeated a huge force with few losses."
Alyena can't believe her ears and turns to Captain Cervik.
"You knew this? And you're making me completely stress out that my orders arrived too late?"
"Well, good news must also be brought in an exciting way, right? Otherwise, it's only worse to get the bad messages."
Alyena doesn't know how to answer.
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The messenger is just as careful.
"Excuse me, your majesty, do you want me to bring this news to the generals? Or do you want them to hear when the report of the fighting arrives?"
"I apologize dear man. We shouldn't make you wait. You can leave, I'll make sure the generals are informed." Alyena waves the messenger away and continues talking to Captain Cervik.
"What do you think, Cervik? Should I wait for that report, or should I rub it in to General Colling that my 'project' has saved the entire border?"
"I'm afraid my opinion doesn't matter. You have already made your decision."
"Ha, you're right. Come, let’s visit the generals."
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Sergeant Alderman rushes to the command tent. Only a few moments ago he received the message to report to the general, and now he is very late. The command reached him when he was checking the saddles of the third regiment of the Fifth Army. As a supply sergeant, it is his job to take care of everything that the fifth Chakran army needs.
When Alderman arrives at the entrance of the command tent, he is stopped by the guards.
"Halt, sergeant. Why are you here?"
He gives the guard a cutting look. Guards of the command tent imagine themselves to be better than normal warriors, even if those have a higher rank. For a moment the guard holds his own, but then he gives in and announces the sergeant.
"Sergeant Alderman is here to see you, General."
"Let him in," the answer comes from within.
Sergeant Alderman treats the guard to one last look before entering the command tent.
"Ah, Sergeant Alderman. Better late than never, isn't it?" The general's tone is jovial, but Alderman knows that the general is a master at concealing things so he is not comfortable with it.
"I apologize for my late arrival, General. Your messenger had some difficulty finding me in the stables of the third regiment."
The general dismisses Alderman's apology, which makes him even more uncomfortable. Then the general walks to one side of the tent, which is taken up in its entirety by a huge map of the southern border region.
"Come here sergeant, and I will explain why I called you."
Alderman walks behind the general and studies the map. It has clearly been updated recently, as colored pins indicate the positions of the three armies.
"As you can see, we have around twenty-five regiments here. These red pins indicate the positions of Falwyn's units, as far as we have been able to determine."
Alderman studies the enemy units a little more closely.
"It seems that there are not many warriors to hold their positions, General. Those units a little further away worry me a bit more. Those seems like quite a lot."
"Well spotted. Those are the troops that those weaklings withdrew, but who are now on their way back. We have recorded their positions as best we could, but we don't know for sure where they are. Our information from behind enemy lines is sporadic."
The general pauses for a moment before continuing.
"As you may have seen, most of our forces are currently unable to carry out another attack. In addition, I have no intention of losing our only combat-ready army in another reckless attack. We're still not sure what kind of warriors it were who humiliated the eighth."
"If you don't want to start another attack, why am I here?"
"Patience, Sergeant. I'll get to the reason why I let you come."
The general treats Alderman to a stern look, at which Alderman visibly cringes.
"What my scouts have been able to find out is that some of those strange warriors are hiding near the middle fortress of the enemy. There are only a few hundred of them, but that can never be all the warriors. No one gets it in their head to send so few men to the border, but that aside. What I want to try is to lure those warriors out so we can find out who they are. Since they're the only reason we can't invade Falwyn, I want to make sure they're so busy chasing their own tails that they'll never expect it when we really go on the attack."
Alderman waits this time before he opens his mouth. A little later it turns out to be a good decision, because the general continues.
"Broadly speaking, our plan of attack is that I divide the Fifth Army into four parts. Those four parts will rotate, with one unit attacking a fort at a random time of the day. In the meantime, two units will rest or prepare. The fourth will help with the training of the other armies."
"I understand, General, but what do you need me for now? I'm not a captain. I assume that the commanders of the regiments will lead their own units."
"Right, but you as the supply sergeant must ensure that everything runs smoothly. I will make a schedule of the order of units that will attack over the next three days. You will make sure they have the right gear to carry out those attacks. Sometimes that will be horses, at other times it will be bows and arrows. We are going to do everything we can to make it as difficult as possible for Falwyn."
"Understood, General. If I may be so free, how long do you intend to continue these attacks?"
"As long as necessary. I asked the emperor to send one or two more armies here, but that will only happen if there are no major troop movements in Falwyn's northern armies. If they do take place, I fear that warriors will even be taken away here to make a new attempt in the north. But enough for now, you know what to do. My adjutant will bring you the schedule later. Do whatever it takes, and who knows, we might be showered with honor. Move out!"