Chapter 232: Briefing

Dianne reduced the display.

Most of Grefort disappeared with it.

The restoration work, patrol changes, Recovery operations and district access requests were already being handled by the sections responsible for them. Only several items remained on Hans’s briefing list.

"What’s the first thing on the list?"

"Engineering found an access point on the reinforced structure beneath the western Core."

The underground picture expanded.

The same reinforced block remained beneath several damaged towers, but the Engineers had cleared considerably more debris around one side of it. A buried service corridor ended against what now looked like a reinforced entrance.

"They’re still excavating it," Dianne said. "No entry yet."

"Let me know when they can get through."

"Yes, Commander."

"Next."

"Force expansion."

Dianne passed him a folder. Hans opened it and stopped on the first page.

"Fifteen more Companies?"

"That’s the current recommendation. The Core accelerated promotions across all of the active formations. Roughly two-thirds of the current line strength can be rotated out without weakening them. And the Commander’s expansion requires more personnel."

Hans turned another page.

"Fifty Commanders?"

"Not all of them will command Companies."

Dianne indicated the rest of the proposal.

"You already have twenty-four Companies and you’re adding fifteen more. Beyond that, you need replacements, officers for new bases and branches, and enough command personnel for future expansion."

Hans continued browsing the folder.

Engineering received the largest increase. Six hundred more Engineers headed the specialist orders, followed by Medics, Scouts and the newer support personnel. Another hundred and fifty FSVs occupied much of the War Factory allocation, while recovery, resupply, engineering, bridging, air-defense and transport vehicles expanded behind them.

The combat branches grew as well.

More infantry and armor supported the fifteen new formations. The Air branch received another batch of Raptors along with additional Falcons and Apaches, while Saicine’s Shipyards received a smaller follow-up order.

Hans read through the last page.

Rebuilding Grefort alone could consume hundreds of Engineers. Then there was Saicine, the Nuclear Power Station, the growing base network and every road they intended to use beyond the city.

If anything, the support increase looked overdue.

"Do it."

He opened the production interface and confirmed the prepared package.

------

[ Force Expansion Orders Confirmed ]

[ Total Gold Cost: 20,223,300 Gold ]

------

"Expansion is underway," Hans sighed at the amount of Gold he had just used. "What about the rest of the troops?"

Elise answered.

"I’ve been reviewing the Air branch. There isn’t much reason to keep most of our reconnaissance inside the same routes now that Grefort and Saicine are clear. We can start extending the Raptor patrols farther out."

Hans expanded the regional map.

"Anchorage City west of Saicine is a must if we want to have a larger naval base. Saicine will be grounds for civilian use anyway, so keep that in mind."

Elise narrowed her eyes. "There were reports that western approaches have defensive emplacements, Commander. It may be possible that Anchorage may have ones too."

"If there are, then we’ll expand into the sea. Conrad will handle Anchorage if a ground approach is not possible."

He turned toward Dianne. "There is also Pylow northeast of Saicine."

Dianne opened a scanned map of Ashington and zoomed in toward the northeast.

Much of the area was covered in snow, with much of the northern coastline broken by steep cliffs.

"Pylow doesn’t have much industry compared with the other objectives. What concerns you about it?" Dianne asked.

"Pylow borders Danubia. Danubia is close to Valeria—one of the alliance’s rival countries. Assuming they remained functional, an invasion is not out of the question. I want Pylow secured at all costs before Valerian armies can reach our doorstep."

"Understood, Commander," Krile nodded. "I will have our troops preparing for the northern advance."

"I’ll leave you to it then, Krile. Elise will help with the air support. Your accompanying officers will follow after they are trained."

Elise took note of it all. "Anything else we should keep in mind, Commander?"

"The eastern approach is covered by the Gregoras mountain range. It’s not a problem for now."

Hans took control of the display and moved southward to Silverpeak.

Mines, heavy industry, power infrastructure and rail connections made this city an industrial powerhouse in Ashington.

"That’s probably where we move next once Grefort settles down."

Brandon studied the available roads. Hans looked between him and Dietrich.

"You two prepare the ground forces. I will have another Air Commander supporting your approach."

"We’ll get started, Commander," Brandon replied. Dietrich continued studying the southern approaches.

Elise added the three directions to the Air planning layer.

Hans pointed toward them.

"Keep the Raptors moving. Even if they find nothing but empty roads, that’s still information."

"The existing Company chain will keep the defensive side for now," Hans said. "Once the next Commander batch is finished, I’ll put someone over the wider garrison."

He looked toward Dianne and nodded.

"Next: civilian administration. The councils are requesting a formal meeting regarding Grefort."

Hans stared at the marker for a moment.

Of course they were.

Turner had already warned him that people were asking who was supposed to run the city now. Hans still had no interest in becoming its mayor.

"Set up the meeting. Keep it to the main council representatives."

"Later today?"

"If they can make it. Tomorrow morning otherwise."

"Understood."

Dianne removed the last unresolved marker from the immediate list and checked the remaining items.

"There is one more, Commander. Doctor Shearman sent another report from the nuclear power plant."

Hans stopped, interested about Tyrus’s development.

"About his experiment?"

"He says the stable result is ready for review."

Hans looked toward the northern edge of the display, where the nuclear power plant sat beyond Grefort.

Tyrus had asked for more time when the first message arrived. Apparently, he had gotten enough of it.

"Is he coming here?"

"He hasn’t requested transport."

"Then I’ll go there."

Dianne added it to his schedule.

"The council meeting?"

"Keep the schedule. If I can’t make it back here by afternoon, then move it tomorrow."

"Understood."

Hans looked toward the five officers.

"Get started on what we discussed. Dianne will send you whatever records you need."

"Understood, Commander," Joseph replied.

Hans turned away from the tactical table. Tyrus’s results were bound to be very extraordinary.

He left the Command Center not long afterward.

The Nuclear Power Station had changed considerably since his first visits. Golden Eagle checkpoints controlled the approaches now, while Engineers, vehicles and surviving plant personnel moved through areas that had once been closed behind ASS-116’s guns.

Kordula met him below ground. Her eyes widened for a fraction of a second before returning to normal.

"Ahem. Commander, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other."

"Overseer."

"I’ve heard you killed a Tier Two monster at the core."

"It was nothing much compared to what Tyrus has warned me about. What’s the progress on the rest of the labs?"

"Most of them are open now. A few still need recalibration."

Hans raised a brow. "There’s more DAEDALUS equipment down there now?"

"Quite a bit."

A single clap came from the laboratory.

"Trying to win over the Commander with your sloppy machinery?"

Both of them looked over. Tyrus walked out with a wide grin on his face.

Just as his eyes landed on Hans, Tyrus stopped. Then, he continued with an even wider smirk as he approached.

"Your machinery is the reason half of this place needed recalibration," Kordula said.

"And yet it worked perfectly to my calculations."

Tyrus stopped in front of Hans, scanning him from head to toe.

"Commander, I have heard that you’ve managed to slay the Tier Two organism. How did it work out?"

"Ask my soldiers, not me."

"Ugh, it’s a simple question you can answer. I can fill my research with notes about your execution methodologies."

"That is why you should ask my soldiers instead." Hans snorted. "Enough with the Tree. Let’s get to business."

"Not in the mood to talk about it then?" Tyrus shrugged. "The adaptation with the psychic energy coming off from the shards has been stabilized. The improvements from controlled exposure remain after the subject recovers. Results may vary. Some are significant. The others, not so well."

"Can your method be reproduced?"

"We can test it on..." his eyes landed on Kordula, carrying a hint of disgust. "No, this one’s not viable."

Kordula stared at him. "You were about to volunteer me, weren’t you?"

Hans cut them off. "I need her for the rest of the labs. Let’s pick on somebody else."

Tyrus’s finger twirled around his hair. "How about our venerable Agent Schandler?"

"Not possible."

"He’s that busy lately? The girl with the little Asters." Tyrus sounded bored.

Hans reacted with a smile. "Afraid to test on Kimmy?"

"Commander, I do not want to wage war against the Asters. I still want to live."

"What about me? Am I not the perfect candidate for that?"

Tyrus furrowed his brow. "That... will not be necessary."

Hans studied his expression before continuing. "When will you proceed with the demonstration?"

"I’ll call you back in a day. Preparations are very necessary on this one. Oh, and the venue will be in my laboratory."