Formicea

 

- Dorajus -

 

I can't believe I let myself get played by insects!

To be fair, who would've thought it's even possible to push up a frickin' wall like this basically overnight?
I mean, yes, with a battalion of earth mages that might not be completely impossible, but we were monitoring the number of magically gifted passing the border.
While Tarsona amplified its recruitment even before the war started, particularly on earth mages, it was certainly never on the level to create something like this.

In the first place, earth mages are, by nature of their attunement, regularly far too rigid in their character to leave the grounds they're used to.
Not to speak of, why would they?
The life of a public engineer or terrain allocator is far safer than working right at the frontline.
Hence, recruiting them, especially for war efforts abroad, is usually not very successful.

Which once again makes this sudden wall a feat of pure ludicrousy.
Some first poking attacks along the line even proved that this isn't just mere dirt, but it was somehow reinforced.
There's no way we can just break through there with our current forces.
However, a concentrated attack with sufficient preparation might enable us to overcome it.
The alteration isn't all that steep, so if we could just get on the other side of the river it should be easily possible to climb it, but doing so while under enemy fire won't do us much good.

I already requested assistance from the Praesidian Legion.
Those guys might not be much in an open fight, as their field of work is usually about public order in relatively safe areas, road development, as well as maintenance of structures, which includes building and manning fortifications and providing emergency aid.
Yet those battlefield builders should be able to help us establish a more favorable position, however, things aren't looking good.
Especially, as no one can tell how many of those insect abominations are hiding on the other side.

We also can't simply take the southern route.
The bulk of the insect forces is still present there, and we’ve been hearing concerning news of their movements.
It seems like they’ve been fortifying their position in this strip of land.
For this reason, the Aeterian Legion was tasked with orders from high up, to stay ready to intercept any possible incursion from this direction.
A direct attack was judged as foolish, considering the recent disaster.
Not with all those holes below.
This means, our legion is mostly on its own.

The Aquileans may still come to our aid if the need arises, but as the nation's last line of defense to prevent greater harm, they're not going to be deployed for offensive actions.
Especially not when the enemy has fliers who may travel wherever they please.
Aside from this, the idiots in the capital still don't seem to catch the severity of the situation and won't call for a general mobilization.
We'll see how that goes when those insects decide to go for a full-scale invasion.

At least, preparations are going well.
Without the many slaves that went lost the men again have to fight on their own, but in my opinion that only does them good.
They grew complacent and lazy being able to shift all the hard jobs onto someone else.
Thus their complaints only prove me right.
Can't lead a band of useless geezers into war.

 

"Dominus!!"

 

Suddenly, one of my men comes running up, his coat of arms identifying him as one of the scouts which I appointed as forward lookouts.
The urgency of his demeanor indicates it's something of importance, yet no general alarm was raised, so it can't be an attack.
However, if it's not this, he's very likely acting out of bounds.

The man quickly realizes his mistake, drops to the ground, and holds his arms crossed in front of his chest.

Sigh.
At least the proper customs aren't fully forgotten.
I'll let him off with a light flogging later on.
Yet for now, let's hear what he has to say.

 

 

"What is it? Speak, soldier!" (Do)

"Sir, the enemy sent ambassadors! They're carrying the Aegis of Onaris!" (scout)

 

Hmm, the Aegis.
The golden shield reserved for forcing negotiations during times of dispute.
Its depiction of voice and ear since ancient days refers to the possibility of negotiating even during the most ruthless of conflicts.
Whoever walks under the Aegis can request a meeting with the enemy leader, no matter the circumstances, and is allowed free passage.
It's basically an unofficial agreement to avoid dragging out a conflict.
However, it also established that the greater the conflict, the more expensive the Aegis has to be made.
This has the very simple reason that to avoid excessive use, the other side may take it would the request not be met.
The Aegis, so to say, goes in exchange for their carrier's life.
If it wasn't gold we probably could've ignored the request as dishonest.
However, it was clear that the Tarsonans wouldn't bother with a cheap one, yet I had hoped for different circumstances.
As things are, this surely isn't about them surrendering.

 

"One more thing, Dominus!" (soldier)

"What else is there?" (Do)

"One, one of them is an insect." (soldier)

 

An insect?
I'm not sure what to make out of this.
It was clear that there was more to them after the numbers that showed themselves to us.
Yet if now mixed parties arrive for negotiations, this might be to prove to us that they're standing together.

As is custom, the two are guided to my tent, escorted, of course, by thrice the customary number of soldiers.
Who knows what these insects are capable of?
Who in their right mind would even trust them to honor tradition and not go for the kill of the enemy commander?

Once the two are standing in front of me, I truly need to pay attention not to give myself away.
Yet the appearance of this insect monstrosity up close is very effective at unsettling me.
From the visible joints, the claws, those protruding wings, and especially this disgusting face with that fierce pair of pincers, every part of it a testament to how wrong this thing is.
While both of them are waiting for me to receive them, as is customary, the piercing glare of the insect is something else.
This thing doesn't seem to fear my reaction in the slightest.
Even if tradition protects them, it's not like I couldn't just decide against following what amounts to mere customs.
Nonetheless, this thing doesn't seem to mind those implications at all.

 

"Speak. What is your side up to?" (Do)

 

The human herald is the one who answers, while the insect continues staring at my face.
Did it even blink yet?

 

"We, we came on behalf of the government of Tarsona as well as leading representatives, of The Swarm to negotiate a ceasefire. If you agree, no further arrow will be loosened in your direction. In our opinion, it would be for the benefit of both sides if the battles ended and no further loss in lives follows." (Diroen)

"Why would I accept such conditions?" (Do)

 

They must be quite full of themselves, having pushed us back behind our border.
Yet this man doesn't seem to relish on that fact.
Well, who would want to be an ambassador under these kinds of circumstances?
So it's a slight feat that he manages to relay his message fluently.

 

"As of now, both sides are clearly at a stalemate. With the reinforcements on our side, we are confident that we could take on, not only this partition, but the whole force of Koreso. However, we people from Tarsona are merchants at heart. We believe that such a course of action wouldn't be the most profitable. Also, as any good merchant should know, we would prefer to cut our losses and not invest further in unprofitable operations, no matter possible lingering attachments. Thus, we'd like to put a stop to further fighting." (Diroen)

 

Clearly a pre-studied speech.
Not a bad one, but a bit too artsy.
If I take them up on this, we might avoid total defeat, however, such an unsatisfying conclusion will certainly be to my disadvantage.
The fight at the lower plains was already shameful enough to harm my reputation.
Especially one point poses an issue.

 

"You want us to leave things be? Then what about the southern areas you took? Are they also supposed to be left as is?! Answer, and by god, stop glowering at me like this, insect!" (Do)

 

For a moment, it tilts its head as if it didn't understand me.
Then, almost surprisingly, if not for its general demeanor that indicated a certain understanding of words, it begins to speak.
Albeit in a very stocking way with numerous pitched spikes in tone.

 

"Yuuu are talkieng to mE, humAn?" (Skiras)

 

Who else would I be talking to?!

 

"Yes, I am! Will you relinquish the lands you took back to us?" (Do)

"No, thEse lAnds are rightfully ours! No surrEnder!" (Sk)

 

I feared so.
No, this kind of humiliation I cannot accept.
To think that our glorious empire would shrink.
And the blame for this would fall on me!
No, our nation didn't accept the tides of the Evergrove and certainly won't beg down to some strange insects!

 

"There's no way we would just accept this! This is our territory! We claimed it centuries ago!" (Do)

"We would like to add to this that the Formicea have older demands on this particular stripe of land." (Diroen)

 

It's certainly interesting how he's advocating in the insect's favor.
This kinda proves how the insects are by no means under Tarsona's control.
Instead, it might even be that it's the other way round.
Would the Tarsonans truly stoop so low as to accept this kind of masters to avoid us?
How petty.

 

"Tarsonan dog! Listen carefully. It might be possible that we would accept your treaty if you would agree to stay out of the conflict till we reclaim our lands!" (Do)

 

Dimes in domini.

If I could separate our enemies, dealing with only one of them would certainly be more comfortable.
Also, a ceasefire doesn't mean peace.
We would still be free to resume our attack once we're done.
Especially, with the southern route being freed, we won't have to deal with this heaven-high piled-up stripe of dirt!

 

"Ahem, as it was agreed upon, I fear we couldn't allow such an act of aggression against our allied partners. Also, as far as we are aware, Koreso never colonized this region to a meaningful extent. Therefore it shouldn't be as hard of a blow." (Diroen)

 

At this point, I'm rather convinced that those insects hold a position of power over Tarsona to warrant this kind of instantaneous reaction.
This kind of fight won't be great, but we don't have much of a choice.

 

"Dooooooooohhhhh, dooohh, doooooooohhhhhh"

 

Suddenly, the alarm horn blows.
The form speaks of new arrivals.
In the shortest given time, I realize what this means.
The deployment of the Praesidian Legion has arrived!
Well, this changes things.

 

"Return and tell your people that what happened until now was nothing. The real war is about to begin! Oh, and you can leave the shield just over there!" (Do)

 

After all, it's a nice thing to have.
Might even appease some of the senators who are out for my head.

 

"Certainlyee, I wiell! HowEvEr, let mE sAy thE sAme. You saw nothieng yEt, human! If yuu AttAck, those you sEnt will dieee!" (Sk)

 

Well, if this doesn't sound ominous.
Fortunately, I have my own things to fall back upon.