[Darkblade Fortress] The Manjet meet (all Legion personnel)

[Eyvind Redbeard]

5th Brightening of the First Cycle of the Month of Kalendryas in the season of Winter; Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Word had already spread among the Manjet that the Orcs had attacked Peda and that a few survivors had arrived at the docks in some fishing boats. They all knew as well that all leaves had been cancelled and that all Officers had to present themselves in the Conference Room of Darkblade to a briefing. Cencoris Redbeard had been seen walking and sometimes almost running back and forward making sure everything was ready. Rumors said the Manjet was about to go to war, and rumors were true.

When all the Officers were gathered in the Room and the doors carefully closed and guarded so no secrets would find a way outside the stone walls, the Vagaran started.

"Gentlemen. As you are certainly aware, the Horde attacked Peda. We don't know the amount of damage they caused there, but by the reports I heard from the survivors it was something scratching the barbaric. I am not surprised by this behaviour, it is in the nature of the Orc to be barbaric. And it is in our nature, the one of Imperial Legionnaire, to destroy barbarism wherever it dwells.

The Manjet is almost gathered and tomorrow the full Legion will leave the Gates of Taralon. We will march west and meet the Horde. We will halt their advance and push them back, we will recover whatever other settlements they have taken and we will march to Peda to discover what happened.

Although the Legionnaires can march at good speed it isn't enough. I will personally lead the cavalry Cohort into enemy territory and make contact with the Horde as soon as possible. There we will force them to dig into the ground to avoid being destroyed until the bulk of the Manjet arrives. Once the Orcs are dug in we will pound them hard with our artillery and force them to come out and face us in the open.

I am open to questions and ideas now."

[Tarfuss]

Spear Deakin Tarfuss arrived in the conference hall and listened to the speech. He knew it was time for war. War, not a skirmish, but all out war. This would be different than anything any of them had faced up to this point. He looked around at the grave faces of the men and women seated at the table. He hoped he'd be able to do right by those who would be put under his command. He wanted to destroy the orcs so thoroughly that they'd never be able to threaten the people of the Empire again. This was their chance for that.

[Isil Telperion]

Isil was standing guard at the conference room and listened to Eyvind words to the officers. Knowing what he now new drove away any doubts that war was the only solution for the orchish problem and left him eager to avenge the innocents that were brutally murdered.

[Sheng Kaldres]

The news that Peda was attacked did not surprised Sheng. In fact, Sheng had been expecting the Orcs to attack. What was surprising was that the Legion was not ready to repel the Orcs when they attacked. But again, the Legions was stretched to cover the whole of Sheria....

Followed by Cassandra and Moham, Sheng walked into the room where the meeting was held for those of the Manjet Legion.

Waving the soldiers to sit down, Sheng said as he sat down, "At ease, soldiers. We have more important things to discuss."

With Cassandra at his left and Moham at his right, Sheng went on with, "I had heard what you said, it is a good suggestion. But please remember that we have only about 1,000 cavalrymen. Heading into a conflict with no support can mean doom for them. If there are more than 5,000 Orcs, 1,000 cavalrymen is insufficient."

"So this is what I'm going to do. The 9th and 10th Legions will move out immediately, with the cavalrymen as vanguards. At the same time, I will ask Provost Renau here to create a portal for about 2,000 men to arrive at Peda. It is unfortunate that Provost Renau cannot make a portal for more soldiers but given that he had not been to Peda, the number of soldiers will be limited. Thus, the cavalrymen had to move off first and Provost Renau can make preparations for the 2,000 men.”

“The rest of the Legions will follow closely behind at a fast march. At the same time, I will assign 10 mages to arrive with the 2,000 men. This will help the defense greatly.”

“What do you think of this?” Sheng asked as he looked at Eyvind. Yes, Sheng was asking Eyvind and not Cassandra. Cassandra had already given her view and Sheng was looking at Eyvind.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

As Provost Imperatis Sheng Kaldres and two other flag officers entered the conference room, one being Cassandra Saddon herself, Eyvind saluted and eased when he was ordered to.

The plan of the Commander of the Southern Coasts wasn't bad at all. It was a step ahead of Eyvind's plan and the idea of opening a new front in Peda was both interesting and strategically valuable. Sheng had agreed in allowing Eyvind to ride ahead with the cavalry but he obviously knew that the Vagaran wouldn't throw the men into a battle against odds they couldn't match. Having the 10th Legion with them to help was a must, five thousand men, highly trained as expected from any Legionnaire and highly motivated and experient in dealing with the Orcish kind.

"I think it is a better plan than my own, Sir. The Manjet welcomes the Silvered Blades in their march." he bowed his head to Moham "Regarding other reinforcements, if the need arises I can summon two Regiments of the Provincial Army to our aid. I am also requesting the aid of the Navy in this mission, maybe asking for a Legion of Imperial Marines would help us greatly and avoid having the men sent via teleport to be completely alone if something halts the march of the Legions inland."

[Tarfuss]

Tarfuss listened as the other officer proposed a slightly different plan that sounded to him a bit more sound that Eyvind's plan. Eyvind's idea sounded a little rash to Tarfuss, but a Spear Deakin didn't advise Censoris' on tactics or strategy, no matter that they were friends since the time the Censoris was a Senior Legionnaire. Eyvind could, at times, be rash. The idea of sending men ahead via a magic portal was good, but Tarfuss felt queasy about it all the same. That was simply personal, though. He didn't trust magic. He couldn't see it and he couldn't touch it, therefore - he didn't trust it. As a weapon, however, he was glad enough that someone on their side would be able to wield it.