Frontier, Fort Whitestone.

Major Jung waved the detail over to dispose of the goblin corpse then handed Spike 2 documents. “Sir. This is a requisition form from Doctor Simmons for the specialist doctor. Doctor Simmons said bringing in a Specialty doctor and letting them requisition the needed resource would be more effective for the disease control equipment requisition order. And the second sheet is from me for 2 squad of Cav troopers with a Louie and a Platoon Sergeant. That way we’ll have a full platoon of Cavalry Troopers with an officer to run them.”

Looking over the numbers. “I see. 24 slot for the troopers and 1 doctor. Leaving 5 slot left.” Spike said.

“Yes sir. Doctor Simmons said to expect for the few more medical personnel with the specialized doctor.”

“Well, I suppose that makes sense. If the new medics don’t take up all 5 slots, then I can make up for Sergeant Kelly and Private Halsey I stole from Alpha company.”

“And while we’re on the subject. I just made my decision on who I’m sending for the secure and escort mission.” Major Jung said as he nodded at Spike. “I’ll send Lieutenant Sheldon’s platoon, Cavalry platoon, a team of Lieutenant Stein’s flamethrower, and Lieutenant Wright’s Mark VIII. With one Captain Allen in command with support wagons.”

“Mark VIII? What about the road, Major?”

“That’s exactly why I’m sending them sir. They can partially clear out some of the growth and the flamethrowers to do some controlled burning. Depending on how many settlements are still active, we may end up using some parts of the roads much more often as our forces go back and forth. But most of all, I need you to keep hunting and scoring points for us.”

“I understand, but I’m spending the next 3 days in the garrison. I’ve been out the entire week and my magic study with the Marquess has fallen behind.” Spike informed as he authorized the documents and handed them back to Major Jung.

“Very good sir. I’m actually looking forward to see you do some hocus pocus tricks.” Major Jung said with an amused look on his face as he made a wavey gesture with his right hand.

“Me too. By the way. I know I gave out the orders to bring in the other settlements and all. But I just realized something… do we even have enough housing for everyone? If i’m not mistaken, the town originally had about 2000 people living in it. But we now exceed at round 4000, minus the military and the POWs.” Spike asked with concern.

“Well, it will be crowded for a while sir. But they’ll have safety, warmth and food. Which are more than they’ve had in the last decade. And the engineers are laying down the foundations for many of the buildings now so they can build as long as possible before it gets too cold to build anything. It’s only a temporary situation sir. I wouldn’t let it bother you. If there was any real problem, Captain Lee or the Marquess will bring it up during the weekly meetings.” Major Jung informed Spike as he gave the personnel authorization document to one of the young teens working as his runner. “Give these documents to Captain Gray.” And waved him off.

“Yes Sir!” The young teen replied before running off to deliver the documents.

As both men are walking back towards the command tent.

“Also sir. We had a messenger this morning from Myojhuk. The are currently in the process of putting together the ransom. They said to expect arrival of the ransom payment starting in few days. And that it will arrive in several delivery. So it’s going to get much more crowded than you think.” Then Major Jung chuckled. “Daldia is turning out to be the quite the refugee camp lately. But I suppose this is normal when nations are at war. And also, the line units had men who were proficient on horse riding, so they are running their own messengers, so the 2 squads of Cav troopers have been conducting training for the captured warhorses so they won’t be frightened from the gun fires. So you should add into your own schedule on training your horse while you’re in garrison.”

“Sigh! Right. I’ll talk to Lieutenant Moore have it worked into the platoon’s training. With busy ass schedule like this, how do other Kings of nations have time for sanctified hoochie time.” Spike casually commented with a touch of complaint.

Then all of sudden, Major Jung froze. Then turned to face Spike with complicated look on his face.

“What Major?” Spike said in worry.

I’ll be damned. Major Jung thought in surprise. I forgot that our Lord Commander doesn’t get After Battle High. Do I need to help him get hooked up? No. It’s not like not like he's in danger right now, but in the future, having some pretty face bimbo rapping her finger around him would be extremely dangerous and it could turn into a catastrophic disaster. Breaking his train of thought. “I forgot you don’t have ABH sir. Are you by chance in need of female company?” Major Jung asked as polite as possible. But somehow it’s just sounded wrong coming from him.

“What! No! I mean, what the hell Major.” Spike replied in surprise.

“It’s just that your comment just now sounded as if you did sir. No offense intended.” Major explained.

“Dang Major! I was only expressing that my ass has no personal time.” Goddamnit! So it is true about ABH being better than sex. Sons of bitches! Spike replied all flustered, embarrassed and jealous as hell. “Besides. My body is still going through some adjustment to my knowledge, and with all the battle fatigue. I haven’t been in the mood anyways. Wait! Why the hell am I talking about this with you like I’m some kind of a virgin or something.” With feeling extreme indignation, Spike clamped down his mouth and promptly speed walked to the command tent leaving the Major with a stunned expression.

Oh my god. Is he... a virgin?... No. Can’t be. As he looked at the back of Spike walking away. Major shook his head and disregarded that thought. He's probably just shy. He chuckled to himself as he started to walk after Spike.

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Stovkow border, Ruins.

Inside the tent, the crown prince, Luthen Kraseden looked over the final preparation of the last major operation Stovkow will be able to mount for many years to come in the east. The only thing they will be able to do in the future, is try to slow down Theolemore’s development in any way as possible.

Prince Luthen understood that the enmity between the two nation has gone past reconcilable while the current generation still leads both nations. Even with the Theolemore taking complete control of the ruins and any future discovery from it, they are still landlocked. While the Stovkow can expand limitlessly into the frontier. He understood the new Stovkow’s plan is to buy time for them to expand and develope the frontier to balance out and overtake the Theolamor with the future generation. Or just like the Kindarth Empire, they will swallow up all the territory west of them as they discovere lost knowledges from Ryst Ruin.

The Queen has giving him direct orders to kill, pillage, and destroy everything in his path in Theolemor’s territory. She had warned him that, whatever he destroys now, that will be that much less he needs to worry about once he take the crown. Crown Prince Luthen understood Queen Gizala's words very well. Kill everyone! War truly is hell he thought as he continued to listen the military report.

“The commoners are almost in formation my prince. Unfortunately, we are short of about a 1500. The distance was just too far for some of them to make it in time. But our knight forces are fully assembled and ready.” Knight General Andurf Diakaro informed the prince.

“If we wait another day, how many more freemen do you think will be able to join us, General Andurf?” Prince asked.

“Hard to say my prince. Maybe another 200 or so.” General replied skeptically.

“Then, there is no point in waiting any more. Theolamore’s have already started to shift to the new defensive lines. If we wait any longer both new and old defenses will become a hard nut to crack and I don’t want to pay that price…Not only that, they may discover our current invasion force. Start moving everyone into position and they’ll sleep in formation tonight. Then we assualt at first light and break through.”

“As you order my prince.” Knight General Andurf Diakaro saluted and left the tent.

Prince Luthen glanced at the entrance as General Andurf left the tent. Feeling bitter for being given this mission he sat in his field chair, he signaled his servant to bring him a cup of wine. Thinking to himself, Prince Luthen mentally accepted this bloody campaign of death. Grabbing the cup of wine that his servant brought over, he noticed the deep red color of the wine. Then he unhappily snorted before chugging the whole cup in one go. Then realizing that it may be a while before he gets to enjoy the taste of fine wine again, he ordered his servant to bring another cup to drink slower.

“May the gods forgive my soul for what I’m about to do.” He whispered to himself in silence.

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Frontier, Fort Whitestone.

“I’m Captain Allen. Doc Simmons called for me.” Captain informed the newly summoned medical assistant as he walked into the recently built medical station. All medical related construction had been a priority. Henceforth as of 2 days ago, Fort Whitestone had their 1st medical station until more modern hospital could be built.

“Doctor Simmons is expecting you sir. Go right in.” Medical staff Sergeant Voss informed the Captain as he gestured to the open door.

Nodding to the medical sergeant as he walked pass him, Captain Allen walked right through the door.

Lieutenant Colonel Simmons looked at him as he walked in and indicated him to take a set while he pulled up 3 medical files.

Quickly looking over the files then setting them down on the table. Making eye contact. LTC Simmons slowly and deliberately clapped his hands. CLAP! Then another. CLAP! And finally another. CLAP! Then it finally sunk into Captain Allen head causing his face to frown then sag in defeat.

“3 strikes Captain. Or maybe, should I say 3 home runs.” Then changing his voice as if he was talking to his son. “Just what the hell were you thinking Allen. All those girls have been through the ringers and whored off to god knows how many men. In these dark age conditions, even our own ancestors in the old world didn’t go chasing tail for fear of diseases. And by the devil himself. The hostility the 3 women had against each other when they come for the check up. Are you a masochist Captain? All the former pleasure girls are in need of massive amount of psychotherapy and the chances of Lord Phoenix summoning one is highly unlikely as psychiatrist don’t go to combat.”

Getting a grip of himself. “Doc. I meant what I said when I separated them from the rest of the decent girls. At the time it was the only solution I could think of and things just happened after that. It’s not easy resisting 3 hot women who are seducing you.”

“Well, you’ve got your share of nookies, so you pay for it.” Doctor Simmons said. “In any case, Doctor Westbrook is charge of disease control from now on.”

“Does that mean I need to check with him to see if I’m clean sir?”

“No Captain. Since you’ve volunteered yourself for the guinea pig assignment, we’ll be monitoring you without any treatment. We need to know how disease affect us and since you are our first real case…”

“What!” Flabbergasted. “I mean sir. What do you mean?”

“As I was saying Captain. The reason I brought you here is to tell you that Major Jung believes you are a perfect candidate considering your current situation. And I and Major Westbrook concur. So we’ll be monitoring you and your harem to gather medical datas. And before you start to complain Captain, need I to remind you that this information is vital to our long term survival?.” LTC Simmons warned.

“Yes sir. I know my duty.” Captain Allen replied solemnly.

“Good. Now, just be sure your women don’t end up killing each other. And don’t worry about your harem, we'll be sure that they will be receiving proper medical treatment.” LTC Simmons reminded.

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Stovkow, Capital City Valennce.

“In total your majesty, Prince Luthen was able to break through with about 60% of his knights and about 50% of the footmen. We lost Sir Gilgian and Baron Dalghes and the Theolamore lost 2 mages as well.” General Korneol reported with grim face.

“Just tell me what happened General Korneol.” Queen Gizala as calmly, but with an obvious upset tone.

“From the report of the men who were unable to break through with the Prince. We were able to piece togather that the Theolemores were in the middle of a major force movement at the time of the Prince Luthen’s assault. His forces were able to blast through their weak defense easy enough, but it also alerted the Theolemore’s forces being moved from our retreat from the old defense line. They came and flanked the Prince’s footmen as they are on foot. This caused the knight forces to cover the footmen from being annihilated. Hence the high casualty.”

“What of the enemy’s casualty?” The Queen asked.

“From interrogation, we assist that their knights casualty were little higher than ours when Prince took his lancers to flank the Theolemor knight as they were butchering our footmen. However, Theolemore’s footmen soldiers casualty rate is negligible.” General Korneol reported.

With a heavy heart. “It seems my son’s campaign of death has had a difficult start.” Queen Gizala commented.

With a bit of sorrowful tone. “My Queen. Might I ask why you sent the next King of Stovkow as a butcherer? I just can’t understand the reason to bloody his name?” General Korneal asked.

Looking at the General with an indifferent eyes. “Because General Korneal. My father once warned me that it’s better to rule with fear then love. We have been at war for a generation now. And in this generation, there is nothing to love about my family. My son has the power of my bloodline. But he will need the reputation to ruthlessly rule in the years to come or I fear Stovkow will become a page in history shortly after I am dead.”

Thinking about what Queen Gizala just said. General Korneol simply replied with a “As you will my Queen.”

Grabbing a small scroll used by the birds to carry message and handing over to General Korneol. “I just received this few hours ago.”

Queen Gizala quietly watched the face of the old grizzly general’s face as he read the message. Like an old veteran his is, he showed no surprised expression. Only a questioning look.

“If Count Morrogain is correct and Baron Myojhuk is dead, then who is in control of his territory? And this Phoenix Kingdom that killed him and offering safe haven to the frontier settlement. This could be ploy set up by Baron Myojhuk to cause disinformation in order to cause us to make mistakes in our action to him. Honestly my Queen. I’m not sure what to make of this development. Count Morrogain would not send us faults information. So I believe that he believes this information is true. We need solid information. I will immediately send our spies to get 1st hand information before we make any moves. It will be a while before we can assemble any retribution force. It’s more than enough time for our spies to their job.”

“Very well General. Who do we have to lead the retribution force. I’ve decided to lower Kyzdon’s peerage to a Baron. He has completely failed his duty and southwest territory. I’m thinking of rewarding the individual successful in restoring the southwest a Margrave peerage to replace the Kyzdon family, and pending Antenok family’s survival. The crown is short on coins to completely finance the mission. I’m betting that there are ambitious family who’s been scheming and holding out on tax to the crown for opportunity like this.” Queen Gizala said with a matter of fact tone.

“If you're offering the southwest, I also think there will be many volunteer to lead the retribution forces Your Majesty.”

“Then pick out who you would recommend and be sure they can co-finance it. If there is nothing else of important, let's end it for now General. I’ve been feeling exhausted of late. And in need of rest.”

Respectfully bowing. “Yes my Queen. Rest assure, I will handle everything.”