Chapter 123 – EVO
***Tirnanog, Aerie Flagship***
***Vanya***
I watched with dead eyes as Tianna slammed another pile of reports onto the table in front of me. It just kept getting more and more, but it wasnt enough. There wasnt enough detail to predict the enemys movements. If I had just a little more accurate information, I could do so much more. Oh, what would I do for a single satellite image instead of these handwritten reports?
Have we heard anything from the scouts who were headed in Viers direction? I asked, sounding just as tired as I felt.
Not yet, Tianna shook her head. I dont expect there to be any news before next week. If we expect the scouts to bring back any worthwhile information, we have to give them time to sneak past the enemy lines and return without being noticed.
Is there any news of the Caravaners? I continued, hoping the Northroute family got their act together. The Northroutes were accommodating enough when I spoke with them at Hochberg, but they persistently refused to make any promises regarding the other Caravaner families.
Tianna studied me with a conflicted expression before she answered, You are well aware that the Caravaners will have to coordinate their families before they can give us any meaningful answer. And even if all of them come together tomorrow, I doubt the Easttrail family would support us. They are deeply tied to the Thich.
Traitorous, heartless bastards altogether! I cursed. I knew this would happen beforehand, but it felt good to vent at least a little. Cant they see the situation the clans are in? As if two of the main clans going rogue wasnt bad enough already. Now the rest of us cant even make up our minds to join forces. We should present a united front or our ancestors will have paid their blood for nothing during the clan war. It wasnt just about independence from Earth, but also about our way of living. If Thich takes over, all of that will be in jeopardy. Cant they see that?
They are merchants Tianna stated as if this explained everything.
From her limited point of view, it certainly did, but I knew for certain there was more to it.
She sighed after a moment of silence between us. Look, Vanya, why dont you go to sleep for now? Its not like you can predict every little thing thats going to happen.
I balled up the report I already read and threw the paper on the floor. But thats the problem! Isnt it Tianna? If I had access to all the information I need, I could end this war before it truly begins! I could save so many lives!This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
Then maybe you shouldnt have killed Greta! Tianna spat back.
There it was again. The reason for why our relationship had soured.
Then we would be fighting the Aerie right now while the Vier and the Thich worked out a deal on who got which part of the cake! Greta was a fool for not seeing that. No, she saw it, but she didnt care about her people! I balled my fists.
Tianna straightened and took a step towards me, but she stopped herself before going too far. You are lucky I believe you. Otherwise it would be so easy to just kill you for what you did.
I looked at her. I did what was best for the clan. With Greta, there was no path forward which wouldnt have ended with our home on the line.
Tianna snorted. How boring and bland must the world be to you? I am never quite certain whether you are just an over-confident idiot, but then you go and predict the exact route the Thich took with Gurney as if it were nothing more than pointing out a direction.
As long as I have all the pieces to the puzzle I mumbled but didnt finish the sentence.
She stepped forward and stacked the reports to take them away from me. Sleep now. There is no point in trying to predict every little movement the enemy makes. There is no such thing as omniscience and therefore you can make mistakes, no matter how smart you are. And if you keep going like this you will inevitably make a mistake you will regret at some point.
I am already regretting it, I said.
Tianna stopped and looked at me and I knew I had to clarify my thoughts. I am regretting it, but I am not sorry for doing my best for our people.
Why? my friend asked. Why do all this? You are just a child, Vanya. Greta was like our mother and you killed her.
If I had known a half-heartedly thrown javelin wouldnt end the fight, I would have thrown it with my full power. But doing so took time and effort, and I had underestimated the firehorn, naively not believing such a big creature would be fast enough to do anything about being harpooned.
And then it hadnt given me another chance.
With a little more space, I would have been able to create more distance and give myself the time I needed, but this would also allow the firehorn to rampage deeper into the camp.
Flash-stepping one more time, I guided the firehorn once more into Astras field of fire and my partner unleashed a second javelin into the creatures side.
The first shot she had taken a minute ago was blocked by one of the firehorns unexpectedly sturdy ribs, explaining why the bullets shot by the other defenders of the camp were little more than an annoyance to the creature.
Astra’s second unleashed javelin hit the creatures torso and this time it went through all the way, punching entirely through the firehorn and coming out the other side to continue on a path away from the Old Camp. In its trail, the projectile drew a path of burning flames, having penetrated whatever organ allowed the firehorn to launch napalm-like fireballs.
Instead of blood, a thick fluid quelled forth from the wound, igniting upon contact with the air.
The firehorn went on chasing me for a few more seconds as if nothing happened. I was forced to flash-step once more before the creature finally slowed down and stopped.
I watched warily as the firehorn glared its hatred at me before it coughed up a spurt of blood.
At last, it fell over, legs still kicking in a last, defiant reflex before it stilled.
That took too long! I complained once I was certain it was over.
Astra flash-stepped to my side. Excuse me, but I am not the muscle powerhouse between the two of us.
It still was quite the fight! Gunnar ran up to us, carrying a heavy rifle which was on the verge of being mistaken for a cannon. No wonder Earth wants no part of Tirnanog. If everyone on the planet had the same abilities as you two, staying in control would be much harder for those who support the system.
I drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, not quite ready to face my supposed uncle / instructor / fellow resistance member quite so soon.
Once I felt ready, I took off my helmet and tried not to glare at Gunnar. Not everyone in this world is quite as powerful as us. There are quite few. The Aerie call people on our level juggernauts, and elders and ancients are supposed to be even above that. I have been very lucky to find a partner like Astra. Not only for political power but also for physical abilities.
Astra cleared her throat and I received a prompt in our private UI chat.
and of course, I love her, I added.
She smiled. Which shouldnt have been necessary to clarify, given that we already have three children!
I thought as much shouldnt have been necessary to state explicitly! I countered.
Gunnar almost tripped when he processed what Astra said. Wait. Three? You only mentioned one so far! He scanned Astras figure from top to bottom. How are you doing that, woman? Can you make them on an assembly line?
Astra linked arms with me and used the other to hook in with Gunnar. Not quite, but close. Mutations make it possible. Why dont we go back to the bunker till the next crisis arises? There is a lot you two have to talk about.
I grunted, not quite convinced, but I allowed myself to be dragged forward.
Gunnar nodded. Yes, yes. I still didnt get the chance to make proper amends. Forgive me if I say this in advance, but in my unworthy opinion, Astra is a keeper, Magnus. If you ever let her run off I will be quite cross with you.