War Post #3 - A Dragon in Prey's colours

[maou_cupid]

[Day 13, 06:00]The map tent is cool in the predawn chill and I nod to one of the junior officers who is hurriedly setting up a brazier in the corner. The smell of charcol, sweat and tallow is an atavistic trigger of memories millennia old and the sounds of a stirring army...if I half-close my eyes, it could be the last campaign. A final briefing

Comments

[genius_anissina]

Anissina hears the Shinou's words in her mind and looks around the room, taking in all the faces and matching them with the names that Brice had written down. Thank the Shinou that she had spent time with Conrad prior to this conflict or she would be lost.

"Yes, Shinou-san, everyone is here."

She takes a quick breath before continuing.

"If I may, Sir, I have already dispatched some of our airborne wing..."

She looks over at Kohi and smiles softly.

"I have cooked up a few treats for the Dai Shimeron troops. Their machinery, the siege weaponry is going to be destroyed by fire and ice, though not at the same time. There are also two compounds which cause confusion and a mist formula which they will be using both on the troops in the camp and any patrols that leave the main batch and come too close to our own men."

She blushes as the men look at her, some with a mixture of disbelief and worry and others with a large smile.

"I thought that it would help..."

[maou_cupid]

[He nods approval. It is a good plan, one that adds an extra complication for the Dai Shimaron men. He nods to Kohi, scanning the faces of the men around him. They have been studying the map, noting the relative positions. He waits until he is sure they have each seen enough before 'speaking'.]

::You all know why this meeting has been called. You have all seen the maps and the tactics that the Dai Shimaron commander means to use.::

[He waits for the rumble of assent, easily reading the mingled worry - that he will interfere or find them lacking - with the hope that he means to take an active part.]

::You are all skilled commanders with considerable experience in battle and in managing your men.:: [He smiles, a savage curve of lip that shows white teeth in the dim light.] ::So I propose to leave you in tactical command of your individual regiments while von Khrennikov-san, the kohis and myself act as a rapid response force.::

[There is a murmur of discussion and he lifts a hand.]

::They think us weak; easy prey to their steel.:: [

[genius_anissina]

Anissina carefully takes in the map and matches each of the regiments to one of the men standing there but she is missing one. There is a regiment there that has no leader thanks to Dai Shimeron's advanced scouts and yesterdays battles.

"Shinou-san, we are missing a leader for this section of the line. And it looks as if it will be strongly hit. Perhaps someone with experience?"

Her eyes flick from the Shinou to Brice, standing off in a corner, trying to fade into the middle ground seeing as he no longer seems to have a place in strategising.

Anissina's brain only then picks up on the words that the Shinou had cast out. 'Rapid response force?' she thought to herself. She swallowed reflexively trying to keep the blood from leaving her cheeks. She wasn't exactly sure what she could do in addition to a Shinou...

[maou_cupid]

He scans the maps, and follows her gaze to where Lieutenant Brice is trying his best to be inconspicious. He nods thoughtfully.]

::von Khrennikov-san makes a valid point, Lieutenant. ::

[The red dots representing the enemy forces inch closer to that position as he considers the risks.]

::You understand that the line must hold? The other regiments will flank them but the line must hold long enough for them to get into position.::

[The Lieutenant nodded smartly and studied the map. Aki shifts his gaze to the other commanders who nod and salute smartly.]

::Time is short. Good fortune to you all.::