"Wew, we'd have loved to have you around back in 'Halla." Miriam said with an amused chuff, the baleful lights shining from her helm fading away as she started to power down her spell, same as the coarse patina subtly darkening her armor, flaking away like so much snakeskin.
Ah, whoops, the others were a bit splattered. Don't go so fast, spell, there was some work for you after all. She didn't get anything actually noticeable from things already dead (not unless she'd been the one to kill them, then she got treated to seeing them implode as the magic slurped them up like a cup of noodles), but that didn't matter when a simple pat on the back helped get a friend squeaky clean of blood and viscera. Really did wonders for morale back in the sieges.
Though the interior of the command center was old fashioned, it was apparently quite functional. The maps laid out on the table, and the instruments, were presumably as up to date as War Forger's information was. Communication to keep that information up to date would be quite helpful, even if the equipment for such hadn't been set up yet.
"Understood. Will your golems be remaining behind to help establish the base, or accompanying us? The map showed to us pre-deployment suggests it being relatively small." Gladys looks at the map, running back over the meeting mentally. "The indication was around thirty enemies, most of them small fry, if I am recalling correctly." With a march ahead of them, it was better to act before the daylight began to wane. The element of surprise would not remain forever either, and an early march could help preserve it.
"Quite," he added once his fellow Legionnaire finished. "Though we also target a lightly forested area. A smaller force may be able to remain hidden under cover of trees. If we send the scouts ahead to find them, we may be able to set up an ambush."
"Good idea. Figuring out ahead of time if they have commanders or lookouts would pay off when we smash the place.
Gladys follows the back and forth, looking to Solus first. Heat molded steel, and his heated words did have merit."This is a situation where the Counter Force squad and the Elven Legion's Phalanx tactics could both apply as you say. Should we implement a split, then an even division of force is not impossible. I have previously been part of a Phalanx of sorts that was not solely Elven Legionnaires, and the lot of us fared better against the fear aspect of a Husk's scream. It was perhaps not as strong of sword or durable of shield, but the combination could swing the tide in favor of even a smaller vanguard."
Looking over Rinnia then, Gladys gestured towards the MADPAWS. The human's artillery piece certainly didn't make any sound as it descended from the cargo container outside. If she had that capability on demand, then her preference did make more sense. "Your artillery piece has some form of mobility beyond the cart wheels? Perhaps we do not require bait so much then, as we do a distraction. Your weapon was devastating in surprise, and if you go with the scouting force, then even a single silent shot would serve as a more than ample distraction."
"I'll do it!" Strand blurts out half a heartbeat after War Forger mentions a volunteer.
"I, Diane Strand, accept this Commission."
"To keep it simple, it can teleport, and take me along with it. There are some limitations; the teleportation isn't instant, and I have to launch an anchor of sorts to teleport to, which means I can only teleport a kilometer or so, can't teleport anywhere the anchor can't be launched, that kinda thing. It's a bit more useful in urban situations or flat plains than a forest, to be honest, given the risk of the teleportation anchor hitting a tree branch or a bird or something, but it's nothing I haven't dealt with before. The silent shots do make for excellent sneak attacks, but it also makes it harder to serve as bait or a distraction, given that the opponents can't hear it."
"Different formations, different allocation of troops, different risks. Scouts do scout things, but then it becomes a question of whether we all dogpile the encampment at once, or whether we bait the demons into situations where we can make multiple smaller sneak attacks to whittle 'em down first."
"Well, that seems useful. If nothing else, it'll help even the odds a bit, regardless of what plan we use..."
Seeing that others were distracted, Solus turns to Eliza. It is a belated answer, but he feels it can be forgiven. "The main difference is distribution of forces. I rather keep our group together to support each other once the time for the assault comes. Perhaps humans feel different, but splitting ten people into three groups does not appeal to me. Likewise for risking our scouts on baiting what may be a force far faster than them."
"...Might not be the best allocation of resources, since my own skillset is mostly stealth and mobility, but if nobody else wants it, I can certainly find ways for it to be useful."
