378th original position, Valyria’s command post.

7:03

Valyria watched from her vantage point as her troops demonstrated against the enemy stationed on the hills.

For now everything seemed to be going smoothly, so far her troops were in a heavy skirmish with the Volunians. It was a fight that could be maintained for a long period of time, despite the fact that the enemy before her had a more elevated position and greater numbers.

She achieved this by moving her units to the foot of the hill, where it was so abruptly angled that the enemy could not lower their artillery enough to shoot a decent barrage on them.

This allowed her to maintain her front and actually give her smaller attacking force an advantage over the larger and better positioned enemy units.

 “All seems to be going well.” she muttered underneath her breath.

“Ma’am, major Evans is reporting that the enemy is intensifying its barrage on her flank.” one of her aide said.

“The enemy is starting to organize its defenses, have all of our earth breakers fire on the enemies right flank, then move to the center, then towards Evans on the left, then back right and so one. That will confuse the enemy, making them think we have a much stronger forces than what we really have and take the pressure of Evans.”

“Also order the following: the forces that we have in reserve will begin an extended patrol to deceive the enemy of our true strength and position, fire, disengage, redeploy and fire once more, that should confuse them.” Valyria sad to her aide and he quickly send the orders down the line.

 As she continued to receive dispatches and give orders to her subordinates her mind flashed back to the very beginning of this operation.

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“I have never seen something like this before, using our s.h.i.+ps as giant bulldozers and the uprooted trees as a road is such an absurd idea!” Valyria said to Tarkan.

“Perhaps, but so is our current situation, also when you think about it, all we really needed to clear a path through the woods was something big and heavy enough to plow through it, we never really thought about this, since we see the s.h.i.+ps as tools of war, not construction equipment.” Tarkan replied to her.

“That’s not a very funny joke Tarkan.” she said to him.

“What do you mean?” He asked and raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

“Everyone thought of an idea like this, but no one voiced it, since no one wanted to risk losing what little we had left and be the one to blame if things went from bad to worse.” she replied.

“And what grounds do you have for such a conclusion?” he asked her, an amused smile on his face.

“You’re absolutely right, I have no grounds for it, it’s not like I went to school with most of you and had known and fought alongside you all for years, no sir! I have nothing that would give me the necessary means of reading my colleagues thoughts!” she replied and tried to stiff a laugh on her insect like features.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself!” Tarkan replied with a chuckle, to which Valyria gave in and indulged in a brief one herself.

“Anyway let’s hope this all goes well, I’m dressed for victory not defeat.” she said.

“That is not a problem for me.” Tarkan said with a smile.

At this Valyria raised a confused eyebrow at Tarkan, daring him to elaborate, at which he replied with a smile on his face.

“My wardrobe has clothes for both disasters and blessings.” he said and what followed was a moment of silence, during which Valyria looked at him with a surprised expression, before finally giving in and laughing out loud. Tarkan joined her as well and their laughter helped  defuse if only temporary their trepidations for the upcoming battle.

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She lowered her field binoculars as a smile appeared on her face as the flashback ended.

“You do actually have exquisite taste Tarkan and a beautiful wardrobe, please be safe my friend and come back alive, I do not want you to earn your place in the Hall of Heroes in this Force of Creation forsaken place!” she thought to herself.

378th corps flanking force, Tarkan’s position.

7:08

Tarkan looked at his division as it was pus.h.i.+ng back the enemy and saying that he was happy was an understatement if there ever was one, things were going well and with reports coming in that the enemy cavalry was routed and destroyed, the situation seemed to be getting better and better.

“This is Commodore Tarkan calling in, we have identified the locations of the enemies rear units, we are ready for phase two, repeat ready for phase two, I am requesting support the from 88th.” he transmitted to his commander and used his binoculars to more once more observe the battle.

“A fine pattern we are weaving here today, a fine one indeed!”