They're only sending one fleethorde. I doubt that will be enough to protect ourselves.
[X] Plan: Proactive Defense
-[X] (Trade - Tau) Accept
-[X] (Trade - Imperium) Accept
-[X] (Demand - Marrakesh Necrons) Accept (for now), Pay Tithe [64 RP]
-[X] (Square 36) Build Research Mega-Project 'Auspicious Seven Sects of Progress' [315 RP]
-[X] (Military) Upgrade Caihong Jandui Fleethorde to Mag 3 [30 RP]
-[X] (Military) Build Mag 3 High Quality Fleethorde 'Zhànzhēng Zhīwáng' [60 RP]
-[X] (Military) Build 4 Batches of Category Zero Sunsetting Billows Megacapitals [20 RP]
-[X] (Military) Build 2 Batches of Category One Adamant Tortoise War Moons [20 RP]
-[X] (Mercenary) Hire Carnage Legion at Mag 3 Fleethorde [41 RP]
-[X] (Deployment) Dispatch Xiang, Kexin, Haoyu, Heise De, the Carnage Legion, Maria's Magnificents, 2 batches of Sunsetting Billows Megacapitals, and 1 batch of Adamant Tortoise War Moons to defend against the Undead
--[X] Stockpile for Repairs [5 RP]
--[X] Give Mantle of Inviolability to Tian'Chao character most in need
-[X] (Deployment) Dispatch Xinyi, Haggis, Xamno, Huise Jandui, Caihong Jandui, 2 batches of Sunsetting Billows Megacapitals, and 1 batch of Adamant Tortoise War Moons to defend against Skaven attacks in coordination with the Imperium
--[X] Stockpile for Repairs [5 RP]
--[X] Give Crash-hammer to Xamno
-[X] (Deployment) Dispatch Dagra, Raug, Baise De, Munch, Crunch, the Urist Freekyndred, 2 batches of Sunsetting Billows Megacapitals, and 1 batch of Adamant Tortoise War Moons to aid in the defense of the Gimel Group
--[X] Have Raug declare a Feast War
-[X] (Deployment) Position Zhànzhēng Zhīwáng adjacent to Squares 35 and 42 in support of Operation Enforced Diet
-[X] (Research) Purchase 5 Research Slots (total of 11) [55 RP]
--[X] Enlightenment Pt. 1: Eyes of the Soul [2 slots + 5 Asur credits + Urist]
--[X] Communications Improvement [Ancestor Cores]
--[X] Empowerment Pt. 1: Biohacking [Ancestor Cores]
--[X] The Star's Wisdom Pt. 1: Laws of Physical Understanding [Ancestor Cores]
--[X] Nanite Tanks [1 slot + First Nanotechnology Novel Innovation Discount 2]
--[X] Taychon Ballista [3 slots + First Tachyonic Physics Novel Innovation Discount 2]
--[X] Plasma Catapult [First Plasma Physics Novel Innovation Discount 2]
--[X] New Model Armor [2 slots + First Thaumaturgical Material Science Novel Innovation Discount 2]
--[X] Adamantium Mass Production [1 slot + First Quantum Material Science Novel Innovation Discount 2 + Olga]
--[X] Gnoblar Kit [Autocomplete]
--[X] Terracotta Armies [2 slots + Second Constructs Novel Innovation Discount 1]
-[X] (General) Consumer Goods Production [5 RP]
-[X] (Espionage) Operation Productive Discussions
--[X] Target: The Tardarian Faction in Imperial Bentusia
--[X] Nature: Neutral
--[X] Resources Committed: Wang Chao-Xing [Max. RP]
--[X] Objective: Thwart Call for a Crusade
--[X] Process: Plant 'proof of heresy' among the faction's adherents, sabotage individual members with evidence trails pointing to Chaos or Undead aligned groups, create propaganda sockpuppets, and otherwise redirect the faction's ire (and a resulting Crusade) towards those targets.
-[X] (Counter-Espionage) Operation Enforced Diet
--[X] Target: Tian'Chao Territories in Vay'Gir
--[X] Nature: Hostile
--[X] Resources Committed: Wang Zi Rui [Max. RP]
--[X] Objective: Eliminate Genestealer Networks
--[X] Process: Utilize all appropriate means of investigation and elimination, strategically leak evidence of Genestealer infiltration to discredit other anti-ergocratic movements and recruit cooperative assets.
-[X] (Counter-Espionage) Operation Tomb-Checker
--[X] Target: Tian'Chao Territories in Vay'Gir
--[X] Nature: Neutral
--[X] Resources Committed: [20 RP]
--[X] Objective: Identify any Necron Tombs in Territories
--[X] Process: Use the fullest amount and array of sensor technologies available. Ask the Marrakesh Dynasty if any of their tombs are present, in the interest of avoiding offense.
Thanks to helping Sparta with the prep of this turn, I had plenty of time to work out this plan in advance. For now, pay off the Necrons, 10% is not an issue, particularly since we're hitting the 10 Fleethorde limit with this plan. The military intention is to drive off the Skaven and the Undead while using our Ogors and Carnage Legion, and the joys of what a Feast War can do to alleviate the pressure on Gimel.
Research-wise, using Asur credits to grab Enlightenment for cheap, while seeing how much Ancestor Cores can churn away at pertinent Revolutionary Breakthroughs. Since we're dealing with a lot of enemies that like attrition, I went all in on taking advantage of Haoyu's new Novel Innovation discount to unlock a bunch of new research fields that help preserve our forces, provide some ablative forces of our own, and boost firepower all the more.
Xinyi rarely deployed without her brother, as they worked together quite well and their harmonic resonance complemented one another to form a balance of Yin and Yang. However, Xiang elected to avoid a meeting with the Imperium of Man, whereas Xinyi had about as good a reputation with the scions of Terra as any of the Tian Long really could.
To the Votanni and the Imperium, the presence of the Dragon
Yamamoto Tsukito was more of an enigma. The Imperium had rarely encountered the forces of Asahikyo, so distant were their core spaces, but now that the Lunisolar Domain had committed itself to aiding in the Celestial Realm's mission here, they would learn.
Surrounding the two as they wrapped up the last of their small talk were two sets of celestial dragons in human form, with Captain Zhang Long and Yoshikawa Yuri amidst them, watching a crowd of representatives of just about every sophontic polity in Vay-Gir worth mentioning, though the Imperium was as they say; fashionably late.
The Azure Dragon Guard, clad in their armour, kept close to their charge as always, advising her and keeping an eye for any signs of the works of Clan Eshin. When the Skaven were involved, it was best to assume that they were already attempting to assassinate you rather than waiting for the first sign.
Each a proud comrade whom she had taken a personal interest in the career of, each a trusted companion both on and off the battlefield, with Y-shaped visors partially covered by mouth shields to serve as the overall facemask of their finned helmets glaring impassively at the Votanni meeting halls.
Their Lunar Dragon Guard counterparts wore armour reminiscent of the colours of the moon and night, with far more samurai-like stylings to their armour. Covering their uppermost bodies were kabuto-like helms and prominent sode pauldrons crescent symbols adorned each of their helmets, while V-shaped visors and mouthguard hid their faces.
In terms of their gear, it was clear that contrasted to their Tien counterparts, there was much less of an emphasis on carriable shields and more on two-handed weapons.
Of course, one would be remiss not to mention the prominent guns that each had at the ready in case of an emergency, forged by expert Juki Kajiya to each guard's personal preferences.
"Are you ready for a hopefully productive conversation?" Tsukito asked, eyeing Xinyi as she stepped into his direct line of sight, her somewhat pointed ears shifting when she knew she was being spoken to.
"With good fortune, common sense and mutual interest should ensure that it doesn't end in total disaster." She replied with a casual nod, clasping her hands before her hips, the two briefly rubbing horns against one another in greeting afterwards before drawing back.
"But more seriously, I do have friends in the Imperium itself. And we're focusing on non-aggression over cooperation for the time being. I think we'll be fine." She added, stepping back and tilting her head ever so slightly upwards at him, lips drawn into a faint smile.
"The Imperium is a baffling riddle in all honesty. Sometimes I wonder how they've even lasted this long. But I think I've had enough encounters with Terra's children to have a good gauge for how they think." He replied, his hands briefly disappearing into the robe sleeves attached to his armour in a sagely manner.
"They would not have endured five digits of their years if they were completely stupid. They are corrupt, greedy, and wasteful. Nearly of them are cynics who don't believe a word of their own propaganda, nearly half are deluded fanatics, and there is that small sliver of reason between the two. But they aren't stupid." She said, getting a chortle out of Tsukito in response while he took a look at some of the gathered staff for the Imperial side of the room.
Then he locked eyes back with her, the Moon and the Water saying nothing and everything for a few moments before at last his reply came.
"You are as bold as you've ever been, Xi-Xi. I don't know if I could ever be brave enough to insult the people I'm negotiating with." Tsukito's expression was now like a sly cat, and Xinyi scrunched her own face in response, a little laugh coming from her now.
This meeting was mediated by the Kyndred of Safrole, part of the League of Urist; which had good relations with most everyone involved here; human and xenos, shenren and mortal, yokai and mundane throughout the spacious but not wasteful interior.
With the T'au, Imperium, Asahikyo, Tianchao, Dawi, Itzecanl, and the Eldar under one roof, someone they could all at least tolerate was vital to ensure nothing got out of hand. All gathered here to face the Primordial Annihilator's Thirteenth God and his slaves, all fully aware of the seriousness of the situation.
Furniture was placed at logical intervals, negative space when allowed, only served an aesthetic purpose to highlight works of art or to provide a place for a screen to serve as windows would in a less structural integrity-obsessed society, while the lights were kept at an ambient, comfortable level; neither warm nor cold, not too bright nor dark.
Impressive for a facility they set up a few Terran days ago just for the purposes of these talks, insistent as they were that the Mechanicus be allowed nowhere near their lived spaces.
"Ye findin' this all to yer likin' longfolk?" One of the Kyn asked, a Grimnyr by the name of Woden with a braided white beard and teak-coloured skin, eyes hidden by his hood.
Next to him was High Kahl Vrigga Veldsbane, brought on to lay out the military side of the situation for the Kyn operated in nearby dwarf galaxies under threat by the Skaven, the woman's rather literally hard features giving her the impression of being made of stone.
"Your hospitality is most appreciated, Urls-San." Tsukito said with a small, polite bow that was mimed by Xinyi, the Grimnyr promptly belly laughing in response.
"Ah, dinnae worry about the flattery Lad. Getting all hands on deck against the ratspawn and the warp-maddened is more than fine enough." He said.
"We are all under threat here, so we will all contribute to a collective defence. It's just common sense." Xinyi said.
"Common sense you say...I recall you having a very different opinion of how widespread the logic of jolly cooperation was during the Byrkonian wars." Tsukito teased with only one eye opened and his chin between two of his fingers.
"It is not my fault that the Mirajarak and the Q'orl wouldn't agree on anything until we were knee-deep in Khrave!" She protested, huffing and puffing out her cheeks.
"Comrade, the Imperial delegates will be here soon. One Astartes, one Eccessiastic, one Mechanicus, and one Inquisitorial.." Zhang Long, the current Captain of her Guard, said with a quick note after browsing through the information feed in his helmet. Zhang Long was a multitalented polymath, and a close confidant and friend, albeit one who by the very nature of his job a bit of a worrywort.
His own garb had clear additions to the armour such as reinforced frames, a ribbed cloak, a more distinctive helmet, and an older mark of Fangtian Ji he could heft in one hand, a relic of a bygone age that seemed to have its own chill inducing killing intent.
"I must still voice my concerns about you attending this meeting personally, comrade. It puts you at risk when a delegate would do just fine." He said
"If the Skaven would be so bold as to attempt to murder our charges here, they are welcome to try. I could use the practice." Yoshikawa Yuri scoffed, the Captain of Tsukito's guard festooned with differing weapons, whether her Murata gun, her Muramasa blade, the one handed Wakizashi and the even shorter Tanto she carried on her, any of her pistols, her Naginata, or the collapsible gravity bow to name the ones she just let people see on her well-armoured frame.
"Do you enjoy tempting fate or is this just getting on my nerves?" Long groaned with deep familiarity.
"You need to learn to live a little, you can't always be the same walking risk-calculator you were when we were hatchlings." She huffed.
"We are bodyguards, taking risks isn't supposed to be our jobs!" He retorted, slightly indignant before Xinyi clapped her hands to end the argument.
"Enough of that. We have the dignity of our peoples to represent here." She said wagging a finger in a slightly but teasingly scolding way.
"Thank you." Tsukito said.
"But...multiple equal delegates for differing institutions?" He said, trying to steer the conversation back to business.
"Does the Imperium do this often?" Tsukito asked.
"They're something of a League of Nations rather than a singular polity. You'll get used to it. Just remember that an agreement with one set of them is often void to other sets." She explained, making his face twist into bemusement before he shrugged and exhaled.
As they eased themselves into chairs and waited, Xinyi took one last stock of the roster. As full ambassadors would be herself, Tsukito, the T'au Water Caste ambassador Por'O Yun'va Nel Tsua'm, Lord Ixzypi of the Slann, Queen Wallaya Ursbin of the Dawi, and the Eldar Farseer Macha to name the greater powers.
On the imperial side, Lord High Inquisitor Kent Woolworth of Montburg, Chapter Master Zarius Elberon of the Red Seraphs, Grand Magos Felicia Tayber, and Abess Minoris Jenna Baldwin of the Order of the Golden Lance. The Advisor and delegate list was rather larger, and as expected, more ad hoc.
She was at least relieved to see that York was on there, for a familiar face, albeit one attached to the Inquisitor. Between these would be Woden and his council, who were oathbound to ensure negotiations in good faith.
As for the Imperial delegation streaming in, the Giants of the Astartes were of multiple chapters. She was sure that, given the Ordo Malleus, Xenos, and Thanatos' interest in this series of wars; the Grey Knights, Deathwatch and the White Wards were on the case, but she expected them to contact her separately to maintain their obsessive desire for secrecy.
The Peregrinas in their power armour seemed minute next to the Space Marines; regardless of sex, but still more imposing than the Inquisitorial Stormtroopers. As for the Mechanicus, their ruination cultists could not help but have a certain violent aspect to their presence, given that most deliberately built their bodies to be huge and imposing.
Zarius wore artificer armour that gave the impression of an artist more than an armoursmith's work; designed like an angelic knight's garb, replate with a helmet designed in the likeness of Sanguinius' own, with three tones of Red; Scarlet, Maroon, and Wine.
Beneath his helmet was the face of a red haired young man who looked far too young for the five centuries of service studs on his forehead, just beneath medium-length, boyishly cut red hair that partially covered his right, burgundy-coloured eye.
The children of Sanguinius always lurked on a precipice with Khorne on one side and Nagash on the other. This one seemed to try and bury the temptation towards vampirism or frenzy in artistry and...based on the smell...hair care products.
But to Xinyi's eyes, he had the aura of someone skilled at talking to people. An energy that didn't recoil at scrutiny and a relaxed confidence in his posture betrayed familiarity with the board room even as Nel Tsu'am flinched slightly when their gazes met for but a moment.
He sat down with a surprisingly quiet motion for how clunky Imperial Power Armour always seemed to her, right next to the pile of machinery that made up Tayber's body.
And Tayber...in Xinyi's opinion Tayber's decision to have a mechanical replica of her organic face and body that nevertheless was still clearly mechanical instead of just going for the usual Mechanicus priest look or a "perfect replicant" frame made her uncomfortable, with the clear jaw separation of her mouth and the segmentation of her plasteel-adamantium composite body giving a deeply uncanny aspect to her, a mechanical replica of the human frame like on an expensive toy. Her hair...artificial as it was though, did look nice, even if her dragon eyes could tell it was fibrosilica.
The Inquisitor kept his helmet on, an impassive nozzle-less armoured gas mask with a top more akin to that of a firefighter's head gear with a crest bearing the seal of the Ordo Xenos, much of his power armour hidden by clothing worn over the armour plating such as the trench coat and a cloak as well as a tunic.
Often, his kind would pose as rogue traders, or work through them, as he often did through the Houses of York, Lancaster, Nottingham, Doverm and Coventry which he exercised great control over, but for whatever reason this campaign was important enough to demand his attention as a stand in for the inquisition as a whole by virtue of his seniority.
Finally, Jenna Baldwin looked like many Peregrinas did. Bowl Cut, white hair in mimickry of Gorge Vandire's slayer, full body coat of power armour bedecked in purity seals, robes, annd braziers that made Xinyi wonder how this woman was ever allowed into any libraries ever.
She had the face of someone who was good enough to avoid injury her whole career, though she oft lamented the lack of scars earned on the line of duty if the profile gathered by the Crowmen was to be believed. Nevertheless, she was perhaps the person in this meeting that Xinyi had the most apprehension towards, given the Peregrinas' well-earned reputation of violent fanaticism.
After a period of about three minutes of last minute conversations between advisors and the advised, the silence was finally broken by the Grimnyr.
"Ah welcome all ye travellers from far and wide into our abode to discuss matters that imperil all of us. Know that ye all be housed here under the adamant oaths of hospitality, and if any of ye violate that, ye cannae expect our wroth to fall upon yer heads fer generations to come." The Grimnyr declared.
"The Imperium of Man is willing to put aside its quarrel with the Spheres of T'au'va within these stars so long as the T'au make a show of good faith. In our mercy, we will table the question of reparations for a later date." The Inquisitor said, aristocratic accent loud and clear through his helmet's vocoders.
"These actions are in response to the aggression displayed at the second Damocles Gulf crusade, you cannot start our discussions with an implicit threat of seeking unjustified repayments simply by citing the decentralisation of your state." Nel Tsu'am responded.
"Perhaps it would be in our interests to avoid this line of discussion entirely, lest we tear asunder the very purpose of our gathering before it even begins." Macha said, sounding more disappointed than anything else, not surprised at all, but definitely disappointed.
"As a neutral party to that conflict, the Realm of Tianchao is also willing to intercede and mediate in the interests of a hopefully lasting peace." Xinyi cut in, the silliness with which she had interacted with her friends with having disappeared.
"The Peoples of Asahikyo are also willing to contribute to such an effort if you would allow such." Tsukito said with poised grace.
"Be that as it may, we are faced with many threats. Multiple major Waaaghs!, two large Tyranid Hive Armadas, Numerian Subroutine Swarms, the depredations of Chaos, a scourge of the Undead, a plague of Dark Eldar raiders and Shadow Eldar conquerors, the madtides of Strangeness, a rash of Rising Necron dynasties and Cruoran lineages just to name a few." The Inquisitor said, emphasising each unique entry into the list.
"Peace will not be achievable in our time. As ever, our lot is war. The question is, how do we fight the right wars so that we do not hang together?" He said with impressive restraint, for an Inquisitor who specialised in very imperial solutions to anything labelled xenos.
"We children of the great Angel seek new homes following the fall of so much of our home to the Tyranids, if we are granted a guarantee of places to make our own, you have our word as the heirs of the Ninth that we will ensure that fair dealings will be repaid fairly." Zarius spoke, hand laid atop where his normal, birth heart would be. His voice seemed so...light and boyish for someone as large as he, but Space Marines were quasimystical laboratory aberrations on their best day.
"This would be for the counterattacks correct? You are free to do as you wish with territory you take from the foe so long as there are no other clashing claims. It is hardly our prerogative to dispute the right of conquest." Xinyi replied with a shrug.
"And what claims do you have, dragon?" Jenna said.
"None specifically. We do not base our expansion on historical claims in a galaxy we are new to." Tsukito replied with the full, honest truth.
"It is pointless to argue about the legality of a matter primarily decided by facts on the ground. Put aside these matters off dispute and focus your energies upon the truth before you. A Dark Omen is upon us, and the Liche Dragon Falamaug has played his pieces, to name but one of the matters that brings us to speak with you." Ixzypi, the Foundation of Shadow psychically boomed.
The Itzecanl were generally quiet unless they felt the need to say something, the Slann in particular, and Ixzypi was a Slann of singularly cataclysmic potency. He was garbed in the armour of millions of years of experience annd the physical armour of lizardman arcanotech, and the Ulgu Slann's guards could be felt giving a flash of killing intent every time someone lingered their eyes upon his bulk for too long.
Even the Dawi and Aeldari would not test the patience of a Mage-Priest's guards for unwanted staring for long, and pointedly avoided making eye contact.
"Joint operations are probably too much to ask for, so we propose that we instead focus on sectors of responsibility and sharing of intelligence." Wallaya said.
"It would be for the best that we do not go out of our way to join our armies rather than agree to stay out of each other's way for the time being, agreed." The Inquisitor replied.
"One can hardly call it an alliance if we are strictly functioning as co-belligerents." Tsukito said.
"This was not intended to be an alliance, and we will likely never have one that comprises all parties gathered here. Our interests are too divergent to form some manner of United Nations, our relations too marred by past grievances. That being said, a detente of convenience is more than enough." Macha said with about as much politeness as a Biel-Tanni could muster towards non-Aeldari.
"Your realistic cynicism is refreshing." Jenna said with something approximating a smile.
"I have seen more truces made and broken than you have had dinners in your lifetime, human."
"Now is not the time for passive-aggressive remarks. While we are not here to form any long lasting sort of working arrangement, if we are to survive to deal with each other when the dust settles, there needs to be some basis of trust between us." the Pior'O offered, extending his four-fingered hands to urge calm.
"Ay, we cannae kill each other fer our longstanding grudges if we dinnae stop the mangy jackals trying to take a bite out of us first." Woden agreed.
"To that end, Tianchao will of course, focus its efforts upon the southern rim, in what you imperials call Segmentum Fortuna. The Skaven, Taotie, and Undead are at their apogee here, and all three present a broad threat to our interests." Xinyi cut in.
"Asahikyo will also concentrate in support of our noble ally in the southern rim of Vay-Gir. Where our interests coincide we will of course offer aid, but supporting Tianchao against the Academy and the Skaven takes priority." Tsukito said.
"We will endeavour to restrain what the Imperium refers to as Hive Armada Baphomet, you can ill afford another front with your present resources." The Slann said.
...
Long conferences affirming that trust was in short supply in the grim darkness of the far future were things that Xinyi had learned to steel herself against, but private meetings with Imperial War Councils always had her at least a little on edge.
The Inquisition's presence was akin to that of a trained snake. It might not bite you, it probably won't bite you in a place like this, but taking your eyes off of it is a fool's play.
Xinyi had only one eye open, and that one only half way, looking upon the Grey Knight who was attending this private war conference aboard the bridge of a black ship of the Ordo Xenos, the perhaps overconfidently named Invincible, personal flagship of Lord Woolworth. Even behind the eyepieces of his terminator armour's helm though, she could tell he was studying her.
"Why do we allow a Pagan Spirit upon this sacred Dreadnought?" A Canonian of the Peregrinas asked, the man's voice containing barely concealed outrage.
"Because in my observations of Zhu Xinyi, she has shown to be someone I would rather keep within arm's reach, rather than distant and unobservable." Woolworth replied, looking up to the significantly taller dragon in human form and then to Tsukito.
"You have proven trustworthy over a remarkable length of time, Lady Zhu, but do not think that I have forgotten the oaths of my office. You still hold the territory of the Palace's faithful." He explained, still not removing his helmet to the point where Tsukito telepathically messaged Xinyi to ask if he even had a face at all.
"That being said, pagans are not in my typical jurisdiction. And we do face a greater foe." He explained, prompting Xinyi to open both of her eyes at last.
"Must we allow the Gnoblar though?" The exasperated sigh of the Stormtrooper Commander could be heard plain as day through her vocoder.
"Oi, I'z da finky lad 'oo brings da taktikz knowwotz so I'z needz ta listen in to da strategizin' I do. Sir-Ma'am Komrad sez so." Haggis said, saluting Xinyi out of reflex and getting a giggle out of her.
"You heard him Daphne, he brings great tactical insight. I have studied his campaigns. They are quite illuminating." Woolworth said with absolute seriousness.
This got the Grey Knight Commander to corpse, a snicker being heard from the giant only for the inquisitor to stare him dead on in the helmet.
"That was not a joke."
"Yeah 'ee read me book!" The gnoblar said before producing a tome titled "Da stepz uv winnin'!" which the Inquisitor responded to by holding out his own copy of the text.
"...This is hell...I am in hell." The stormtrooper grumbled.
Tsukito coughed to rerrail the conversation that had gone so wildly off course already.
"We will need to prepare counter-offensives, simply holding the Skaven back will not get us anywhere." He said plainly.
"Agreed, the Chaos-Rats are experts at wars of attrition. It would be a fool's endeavour to attempt to simply bleed them out, particularly when we have knowledge that the Grey Seer Kaskitt Gudrat is present, a chaos witch infamous for his daemonomancy." The Grey Knight commander finally said, gesturing to a pict of the Grey Seer in question at the helm of a host of the horned rat's daemons.
"The skaven are cowards to the last. If we break their spirit, their assault will also break. The difficulty is that their leaders are habitual paranoiacs and make no small number of efforts to safeguard their own lives. This is no Orkhunt where the Warlord will come charging out to respond to any sufficiently interesting provocation." Watchmistress Edna Allena Poe said, her pauldron marking her as a loan from the Raven Guard.
"We have mooncraft ready for deployment, should the need come, we can apply both hammer and anvil to cut our way through to the Skaven high command." Xinyi revealed, a finger flicking one of her pigtails.
"That is wise, targeted strikes on the Skaven rarely produce results without a conventional assault to anchor the gains of such moves. Their chain of command, such as it is, allows for a great deal of slack and redundancy in replacing those who perish, and their craven ambition means there is always new leadership to replace that which falls." The Commander, Varros, added.
"You speak from experience?" Tsukito asked.
"I have seen many a situation where my order was needed when overconfident commanders had believed their business with the Ratspawn finished, only to be overwhelmed when their replacements in line take their places and redouble their efforts."
"That matches with my own experiences with the Vermintide." Tsukito agreed.
"First, we need to stabilise the situation in the face of overwhelming enemy numerical advantage. We can hardly interdict their supplies through the underway, so we will need to simply pulverise their attacking formations. It will hardly be elegant, of course, but these sorts of wars rarely are." Xinyi added.
"Ratboyz iz tryin' ta get in da juicy bits an' muck up all yer gubbinz, so I finkz what we needz is givin' 'em a lil' nibble, lettem get stukk in, den spring da trap an' mash their 'eadz in. Itz awful 'ard killin' ratboyz faster 'n they can make 'em, but ya just need ta spook their bosses inta cuttin' an' runnin', then ya stab 'em big time when their backz iz turned." Haggis offered, standing on a stool meant for unusually short aides and then taking the stylus and drawing some plans on the hololith's map while the nearest Techpriest babbled angrily in binary.
"Hrm, we can definitely work with this as a starting point." Xinyi smiled, almost cruelly.
docs.google.com
