Formicea

I'm super anxious.
In hindsight, this might've been a foolish errand of mine.
At least, it was stupidly expensive.
This shield costs several times what our farm was worth.
I'm sure there are many who would even argue if the life of a messenger wouldn't have been a more cost-effective trade.
A sentiment I will never get behind, as I value the lives of those who support me.
Though, I contemplated if I should rather send Miru, for her greater abilities to protect herself and therefore greater chances to make it back here alive, but ultimately opted against this, as her general attitude and obvious distaste for the enemy could lead to, for the purpose of peace, counterproductive results.
Bloodbaths are not the best way to go about a negotiation.

So all I can do now is to wait.
Probably still a better position than being at the mercy of an enemy I provoked just before.
Unfortunately, I had a laying session right after we sent this team, so I couldn't watch over them from a safe distance.
Also, as I mentioned before, those leave me lately a little restless.
So I gladly receive the message that our representatives are returning and get ready to head out to the main plaza.
Yet my heart sinks when I see they don't have that shield with them anymore.

No shield, so I was told, means that the enemy takes it instead of the messenger's life if they don't see a reason to stop fighting.
Something I can't quite understand.
After all, we are in the far stronger position.
Can they truly still underestimate this severely what the swarm is capable of?
Could it even be because we didn't fight them actively yet, which they took as a sign of weakness?
I don't have an answer to these questions and therefore can only move to the main gate where the two are going to return.

There I already find Liseti and Lord Stormheart, looking at the two returnees.
The moment they're in range, the Marshall already starts questioning them, this Diroen guy's shaking head already proving that I was right with my assumption.
I step closer.

 

<So there's no way to end this fighting?> (E)

 

"If my assumption is right, the enemy commander put his personal reputation on the line. If he not only doesn't achieve any results but also is responsible for a decline in Koreso's landmass, this will be seen as a formal defeat. Defeated commanders aren't treated well, in possibly every country." (D)

 

Makes sense, sadly.
Even though it's quite terrible that the lives of his subordinates are dependent on this kind of thing.

 

<Still, they should be aware of how little they could do. This certainly isn't worth it. He needs to be aware that he can't take both our people together.> (E)

"On this line, he basically made an offer to agree to a treaty if we would abandon your kind, so he could fight only you. Which I of course directly declined." (D)

<I report that he did so.> (Sk)

 

Did Diroen do so because of a sense of loyalty or because he knows how badly this kind of war would turn out for Tarsona?

 

"Tsk. Shows how desperate they are. They should know by now that our forces aren't easily separated." (St)

 

That's one way to say it.
The other might be that they'd be thoroughly overrun and Valera put to ashes by Honiu before they could even pull out of the fight.
However, it shows that Koreso doesn't know how the power relation looks between our swarm and Tarsona.
Something that might be for the better.

Thinking about it, it's probably a good thing that we got this Diroen guy.
After all, he seemed somewhat loyal or at least acquainted with Chera, and aside from his professional demeanor during the council, he has to be quite the diplomat if he managed to prevail for such an extensive period next to this mental wreck of a princess.

At least, they were both allowed to return.
The enemy commander seems reasonable in this regard.
So maybe there's a way to get them to negotiate if we can secure our advantage and fight them off.
There's at least a minor chance they will lose their will to fight upon realizing just how hopeless their cause is.
At least, we have one last resort to fall back on if they decide to attack.
Yet I wouldn't want to let it come to this.

 

"You think we can hold out against them if they decide to send their forces?" (E)

"I wouldn't overestimate the capabilities of Koresoan legionaries. While there are outstanding elites among them, the majority isn't all that much stronger than the common soldier. They likely don't know that they're outnumbered as most of your forces are hidden below the surface." (St)

 

That might be true, but those workers are not only needed, they're kinda my children.
It would be terrible if they all were to die.
Also, a huge number of them belong to the main hive, which I wouldn't want to have to explain their loss to their mother either.

 

"You have no reason to worry. We have a strong position, and I doubt they'll have the means to break through. Once they see there's no coming through, I'm confident we can maintain our position without greater casualties. They might not outright ask for peace talks, as that would mean they lose face, but their attacks will eventually ebb out, and after this things will calm down." (St)

 

That sounds oddly optimistic for such a martialistic man.

 

"Sir!!" (soldier)

 

Suddenly, one of the soldiers shouts from the upper ranks.

 

"Yes?" (St)

"There's something unordinary happening in the enemy's camp, Sir!" (soldiers)

"Then why are you still stalling?! What is it?!" (St)

"I, I don't know. They're building something." (soldier)

 

Since the man can't give a concrete answer, it seems like the marshall has to go on his own up there, to identify whatever the lookout is pointing at so distressedly.
Since I'm curious too, I accompany him, much to the dismay of my royal guard that is.
Once they get a bit too impeding, I snap a bit.

 

<Would you finally let me walk where I want to?! I want to see this for myself, so don't get in my way as long as there's nothing actually going on!> (E)

 

Damn, that had to get out.

 

<Mother, this is no safe environment.> (Miru)

<It's safe enough. We are behind cover, and I'm sure we aren't in their direct reach. Also, I absolutely want to be able to witness things myself!> (E)

 

That shut her up.
Might've been a bit harsh, but I refuse to view the rest of my life through the rows of my guard.
At least this allows me to get to the upper segment of the wall.
Of course, I still stay behind cover, as I'm not suicidal.

 

"Sigh. Did you settle your personal matters?" (St)

 

He doesn't look as optimistic anymore.

 

"Very funny. What is it that we're looking at here?" (E)

"You see that platform?" (St)

 

He points into the far distance of the enemy territory.
Miles away.
Basically the center of the enemy camp.
Yes, there is something.
They're stacking up wood and mechanical parts.
Some of them of gigantic size.

 

"Yes, I do. What am I looking at?" (E)

 

"If I'm not wrong, and I unfortunately doubt I am, they're building up a trebuchet. An artillery platform of massive size. If this thing starts to fire it's gonna bring devastation over us. Maybe not enough to destroy the wall, but the damage is gonna be considerable. And I don't think they would stop firing anytime soon." (St)

This doesn't look good.
Who even comes up with the idea of making a weapon this big?

 

<Interesting. So this is the answer of those humans towards our defensive position. This is a very insightful experience regarding surface warfare.> (C)

 

Chera got up here as well?
Well, maybe that's not all too surprising, considering that she seemed fairly interested in human warfare.

 

<If this construction is truly so dangerous we shouldn't let it stand.> (L)

 

Now Liseti joins in too.
Seems like the whole war council is assembled.

 

"I fear they built the whole thing over a specially fortified plateau. Getting through that won't easily be possible." (St)

<I surmise with access to advanced digging tools it should only be a question of time to get through there.> (C)

"They would notice and be warned if you crush through the hard surface." (St)

 

So the only way to stop this thing from obliterating us would be to go into a very messy fight.
One they certainly are expecting and have prepared for.
Not to forget that we would need to destroy this thing so thoroughly that they can't just put it together again and continue.
Also, who says they don't have the materials for more of those?
This is a very problematic situation.

 

<In this case I fear we don't have any other choice.> (L)

<You're right, Sister. Although I very much would've preferred not to involve her.> (C)

 

Well, if this doesn't sound ominous.