“Did you get the trench finished?”

Tia stopped, put a hand on her hips, and looked at Tim. “Who do you take me for? Finish the trench? I got it finished, got the embarkment well underway, the tunnel started and I’ve laid some mines!”

Tim just looked at her for a moment, which she returned, until she couldn’t keep a straight face anymore. Tim smiled at her while she chuckled. That was about as much as she ever got out of him, though.

“Seriously, though,” he continued after a moment. “Good work, Tia. Almost too good, even. I think you may have achieved a bit of overkill for this one.”

Tia shrugged. “I thought it was better to be safe,” she replied. “Didn’t you say that there might have been more of them than expected?”

He shook his head. “Maybe, but we’ve already dealt with that issue. I diverted a few bombers. I’m pretty sure there are fewer of them than we originally thought coming now. And this is just a temporary position, you know.”

Tia sighed. He’d told her before that making these temporary fortifications too good could backfire, since they didn’t want the gnomes to use them against the hive. Still, she didn’t think this one would be much of a problem.

“We’re moving on soon, then?” she asked.

“Yeah. Actually, you’re moving out right now.” He caught her look and shrugged. “I don’t want to risk you here, Tia.”

Tia rolled her eyes, but she didn’t really want to argue with him. “Aye, aye, commander,” she said with only a bit of sarcasm.

Tim had already turned away and was waving to someone else. “Ceinelis is going to accompany you,” he said. “I’ll feel better with you looking over the defenses at Fallback Position Beta, anyway.”

Tia looked around. They were standing at one of many small vantage points in the mountains. The peak behind her blocked her view in that direction, but she still got a look at the slope of the mountain and the neighboring ones spread out below them. Although she focused on the other people.

“I’ll look after her, Champion Tim,” Ceinelis assured him as the elf came to a stop nearby. “Lady Tia, let’s go.”

Tia hugged Tim goodbye, then joined the elven warrior. As they went, she glanced around again, noting the position of the Winged Drones overhead and the War Drones scurrying around the slopes. This wasn’t one of the biggest detachments they’d ever used, but still enough to deal with a sizeable gnomish force.

“I guess we’ll go on foot,” she said.

Ceinelis nodded calmly. “Better not to risk the gnomes trying to snipe us,” she said. “Might make the trip unpleasant.”

Tia snorted and gave the elf a thoughtful look. Out here, the woman wore clothing in more faded colors instead of the green of the elves’ uniforms. Her orange eyes and red hair were the only spots of color. Coupled with her tall and muscular frame, it would have to make her look imposing to any gnomes they happened upon.

Apparently, Ceinelis was an old comrade of Anuis. Probably a subordinate, given the rank difference. Tia had talked to Ray a bit, and according to him, Anuis had said she’d like to join them, but that she was a bit too prominent. Ceinelis wasn’t even discharged, but still officially a Sergeant in the elvish military, she’d just been given a long leave because of an injury from a training accident. One that hadn’t even needed Regina to cast Greater Heal for her, fortunately.

As they walked, Tia checked in on some of the drones around this part of the mountains. The situation was pretty much the same as the last time she’d looked, though.

Unfortunately, the gnomes had already learned not to divide their strength too much, so they only sent out larger units now, and were usually careful to ensure that they could support them. That had slowed their advance and given the hive lots of opportunities to prepare encirclements and flanking maneuvers, though.

Right now, Ada was leading a relatively large horde of War Drones to try and curve around the gnomes’ rear and devastate their supply lines. Tia only gave them about even odds that it would work as well as she hoped, but even if the gnomes were alert enough, they’d still suffer damage. They definitely wouldn’t be able to kill all the Swarm Drones before they got in among their supply wagons, or even the supply depots. And considering the terrain, any damage to their supplies would hit them where it hurt. Even the hive had to be careful about food in the more barren, rocky parts, but they could still mostly get what they needed from the land. The gnomish army wouldn’t last long without stores.

Tia’s train of thought was interrupted when Ceinelis grabbed her arm. “Enemy flier!” she snapped.

Tia followed her tugging and the two of them crouched in the shade of a small rock outcropping. Ceinelis craned her neck slightly, but this time Tia grabbed her and pulled her back, shaking her head. Then she closed her eyes and looked for drones in the area.

There was a small Winged Drone patrol not too far away, along with some Tia knew Tim had tasked to keep an eye on them. Through their eyes, she watched the gnome riding a giant flying bird circle above. He seemed to be working his way towards the northwest.

“Single bird rider to the south-south-east, bearing to the northwest,” she whispered to her companion. “Still far enough I doubt he’d see us.”

The elf nodded, but didn’t make any attempt to get up or move, and Tia stayed similarly still. She watched until the rider disappeared behind a peak from their position and confirmed his trajectory before she stood.

Even if he had found them, it probably wouldn’t have been too bad, but one thing Ceinelis insisted on all the time, and which she agreed with, was not to take unnecessary risks. Calculated risks were one thing, but sloppiness wasn’t okay. You never knew when gnomish elites might be closer than you thought, hidden by some arcane Class Skill or even digging new tunnels.

Tia was a bit more careful as they continued on, but things stayed quiet. Altogether, it took them several hours to make their way to their destination, even with Ceinelis periodically using a Skill to boost their movement speed. They didn’t talk on the way, and the sergeant clearly kept an eye peeled while Tia regularly checked in with the others. The area was almost deserted, the presence of many high-level fighters driving out the local monsters. Those that hadn’t been killed already, anyway.

Then, as the daylight was beginning to fade, they reached their current goal, a small outpost that looked a lot less temporary than it really was. It probably helped that half of it was dug into the ground and the hill it rested on, offering protection and concealment.

Tia patted a few of the War Drones stationed around it as she walked towards the core of the outpost, smiling slightly. These were all higher-leveled ones, trusted to take care of themselves and stay here while there was currently no sapient drone stationed here. They’d be a nasty surprise for any gnomish units that stumbled on them, too, especially since the warriors could also command them from a distance with the psychic link.

“Let’s rest for a minute before we continue,” Ceinelis suggested.

Tia nodded and grinned at her. “Gather your nerves before we go into the tunnel, right?” She’d only known her for a few days, but it was obvious that she wasn’t a fan of the hive’s tunnels.

The elf rolled her eyes. “Since you insist on using those, I might as well.”

Tia settled down on a rock and stretched her work-limbs, listening to the drones around her and checking on the other sapient drones in the area. They were all busy and she didn’t want to distract them, so she contented herself with watching.

After ten minutes, they continued on. Tia dropped into the tunnel first, quickly checking that it was still solid and in good shape. Ceinelis rested a hand on her shoulder, and she reached back to take the elf’s hand, giving her a moment to adjust before she started walking. It wasn’t dark enough to bother Tia’s vision, and using a torch would have delayed them unnecessarily and been awkward in the tight confines of the tunnel, which barely allowed Ceinelis to walk upright and didn’t let them fully stretch out their arms. The patches of bioluminescent moss dotting the wall in regular intervals had to be enough.

They walked for a while, but relatively soon, she started to see the end of the tunnel brightening. Even for the hive, digging a tunnel like this wasn’t a simple endeavor, and they hadn’t made it any longer than they had to. Especially considering all the other tunnels and bunkers the hive was digging, not just here, but around its bases in their own territory, too.

Tia jumped up and waited for Ceinelis to get out before she rolled a boulder back into position, closing off most of the tunnel. It wouldn’t prevent anyone from coming out, or in, if they really wanted to, but it would make it more difficult, and it would camouflage the entrance better. Then she looked up and took in the situation while she checked on the nearby minds in the psychic link.

This outpost was noticeably bigger. It was also higher up, and located in a small hollow that was surrounded by mountain rock on three sides, which made it pretty well hidden. The core part of it was also hidden from the sky by an overhang that the hive had hollowed out a bit further.

"Who goes there?” a familiar voice called out.

Tia paused. Ceinelis took a step further and called back an answer in another language. Then the two of them continued.

Bianorn met them at the edge of the cave. He nodded at Tia. “Good to see you again, Lady Tia. I hope the front didn’t get too hot?”

She snorted. “I think Tim just worries about my safety a bit too much, if you ask me. But no, it wasn’t any worse than expected. I do need to take a look at the fortifications here, though.”

Unlike Ceinelis, she was pretty sure Bianorn wasn’t part of the elvish armed forces anymore. For now, at least. He was apparently a member of a special forces outfit, though, so this might not be anything too out of the ordinary for him. Ceinelis still seemed to treat him as a superior, anyway.

He glanced at the other elf and exchanged a nod with her, before looking back at Tia. “Of course. Do you require an escort?”

She shook her head. “The drones in the area will handle that. There aren’t any gnomes close enough to be a threat, and I can have reinforcements here very quickly if something happens.”

They accepted that, and after examining the not-quite-cave for a bit, Tia continued on. She also checked in with the other few sapient drones currently here while she walked. Then she climbed the slight hill to the first ‘overwatch’ position and took a look at the whole place.

Fortifying a base without making it look like anything was there, especially from the air, wasn’t an easy task. Although, if she was honest, she did like the challenge. And the cover the rock faces provided to this spot made things a bit easier here.

Tia took in the view and checked that nothing was standing out too much, then started on a circuit of the defenses. They were still pretty rudimentary, but that was fine. She was here now, after all.

Unfortunately, the hive only really had increased mobility in regards to their Winged Drones. War Drones and the majority of their sapient members still had to be careful of getting caught by gnomish pursuers, especially higher-level ones. That was where these bases came in, though. They’d allow a group to hold off gnomish attackers until reinforcements came, if they didn’t manage to give them the slip in the mountains or escape through a hidden tunnel. Besides that, they also acted as rally points and to drop off supplies.

Not to mention, they were pretty good for setting traps.

Tia grinned at the thought as she checked on the ‘minefield’ they’d laid across the goat path that was one of the main approaches to the location. It wouldn’t allow many people to walk abreast, and she wasn’t totally sure that the gnomes couldn’t use the neighboring slope. Still, at least their pack animals and weaker foot soldiers would probably have to take it. She checked the mines, carefully, and adjusted the dirt cover over them a bit. Then she put some more fallen leaves and twigs there, and, in a trick she’d learned from Ceneilis, she cut out some grass from a hidden hollow where it wouldn’t be missed and transferred it over, careful not to damage the roots too badly. She couldn’t do too much of that since the path still had to be visible, but it would help to camouflage the digging they’d done.

She’d had a lot of experience doing things like this in the last few days. Chances were it wouldn’t be needed, but Tia believed in being as prepared as she could be. Especially when the safety of her Hive brothers and sisters was on the line. And their guests, she supposed.

Once she was done with the minefield, Tia headed back towards the outpost to check on the bunkers. She’d probably have to do some enlarging there, from what she got from the Swarm Drones’ eyes. Her Skills were also helping her pick out a few other good positions where she could raise defenses, and ideas for how she might go about that. Tia smiled to herself as she looked at the small plateau from a Combat Engineer’s eyes.

There’d been a time she’d felt like she was useless and could never contribute much to the Hive, because as much as she trained for it, she just wasn’t very good at fighting compared to the Warriors. If she’d still felt that way, the warfare here in the mountains would have decisively disabused her of that idea.

Tia’s smile widened as she focused on some events happening further away. A gnomish patrol had been caught in a pincer attack by two Hive parties, while their Winged Drones were harassing and pushing away sorties by some of the gnomes’ few remaining fliers. And almost a hundred kilometers away, a larger unit was getting decimated in a killing ground she’d helped to design and implement. It had been taking a somewhat broader path than usual, bounded by a small mountain meadow. This time, she hadn’t relied on mines, but old-fashioned spiked pits and caltrops had their uses. Not to mention the landslide from the slope to one side of the path. Or the traps hidden among the flowers of the meadow.

If anyone had thought indirect or asymmetrical warfare had no place in a war like this, with the System empowering the soldiers, she figured they’d rethink that opinion by now. She wasn’t sure if the gnomes would turn out to be slow or fast learners, but Tia was confident they wouldn’t be fast enough.