"Spirits speak through you, Ashbringer," Alpha snorted, relaxing herself. "I overstepped the bounds. The lesson has been learned."
"Don't worry, sister!" A paw slapped Janine on the shoulder, and she jumped from the unexpectedness. Onyxia was behind her, her toes gripping the edge of the platform, and she had crept up on her named sister without so much as a crack. Janine's heavy landing thump brought a smile to the shadowy lips. "While I draw breath, no hordemen will approach the kiddo. And…" She swallowed, glancing aside. "Iterna owes me, and we are calling in that debt. Don't argue! It's my decision. Their medical services are superior to ours..." She turned to First. "And far more trustworthy."
"Enough." Dragena stepped between the two groups, silencing any further barbs. "The Horde is coming. The question is whether they'll lay siege or attack immediately. Based on the evidence gathered from their previous invasions and the fact that their centerpiece, that Mad Hatter, is coming, the latter is more realistic."
"They'll ram their army into ours, no lubrication," Martyshkina said.
"Foul," Dragena said. "Not inaccurate. They gain nothing by being delayed here, so stalled they won't be. The Commander is not here, but she has never failed to arrive in our toughest times. It won't be any different now, either. But with or without the Blessed Mother, we are staking our claim in Houstad. The Horde breaks here."
"Idiotic," Onyxia said. "We're not built for trench warfare. The Third is famous for our swift attacks, ambushes, and fluidity on the battlefields. This place is mere rock, steel, and glass. Let the Horde have it; there is nothing to devour here. What do we care about useless ancient toys or pretty paintings in museums? When our enemies overstretch themselves, the gleam of our claws will greet them in the darkness of the forests, and our shells will deny them the luxury of sleep. Before the First and the Second arrive, we will fertilize the fields with the corpses of those who oppose the state. We'll haunt their nightmares and poison their reality, never relenting until they break!"
"You just love forests," Martyshkina accused.
"I do, and I am tired of pretending otherwise." Onyxia spun, stepping on the platform. "Darkness is our home, and starless nights keep us safe. When I die, I'd love to be buried in the densest forest around here, in a place where the sunlight never reaches."
"Noted. But you miss a crucial point, sister." Dragena raised her paw, stopping Janine from arguing. The map changed to the image of the terraforming complex. "Our future. The future of our descendants and the future of those we serve and protect. If it is destroyed, the ecosystem of the region will suffer. The damage will be severe enough to set back the restoration project by decades, if not centuries." She snapped her finger, and the image disappeared, giving way to the regional map.
This model showed the predictions of the geologists and biologists, highlighting forests, parks, farmland, lakes, and rivers. Slowly, the plants withered, and patches of yellow and gray sand ate up large rings among the dead brown fields. These rings of desolation grew and soon covered everything; leaves fell from the trees, and the trunks cracked under the occasional wind. Lakes dried up, leaving hollow craters. Over the course of a year, the thriving region was replaced by nothing but another desert.
"This is the predicted result if the complex is severely damaged or destroyed, based on several simulations. This outcome we will deny," Dragena said and addressed Janine. "Sister. The northern gates are yours to hold. I will join you shortly after the battle begins."
"I am joining you," Jacomie declared, rising to her feet with the whine of working servomotors. She stubbornly met Dragena's emotionless eyes. "I refuse to abandon my city or my people, Warlord."
"And what of your wounds, Captain?" Dragena asked. "The Inevitable will soon be down to a skeleton crew, and the New Breeds capable of blocking teleportation are gathered in the complex. I had planned to put you in charge of our crawler, as it plays the most crucial role in our coordination and support."
"To hell with it!" Jacomie fired. "Our citizens have died, been wounded or enslaved. And you expect me to cower in the rear? Jaquan joined the volunteers. Put his unit here and let the professionals fight!"
"As you wish, Captain," Dragena said evenly. "Janine's pack will be reinforced by the mixture of volunteers and soldiers."
"Well, if that's the way it is, then I'll go get suited up too," Zurkov said, struggling to get to his feet. "I…"
Jaquan kicked his walking stick, and the policeman fell to the side, almost hitting his head on the table, but Bertruda and Martyshkina's paws caught him and helped the man to stand.
"Son of a whore," the man cursed.
"That was the practical demonstration," Jaquan said cheerfully. "Commissioner, I understand your desire, but I do not share it. Personally, I'd be happy hiding in the back. Houstad will need help to rebuild. Zurkov, we have had our differences, but I hope you can overcome your prejudices and continue to serve our city as bravely in the years to come as you have served it lately. I'll do my part here."
Zurkov's face darkened, but he said nothing and left, supported by Jacomie. Dragena resumed her speech, addressing the warlords and assigning positions in the city for them to defend. Hearing her orders, Janine experienced near despair. The city seemed endless; its sprawling streets, even cut to the most important districts by the walls, stretched on and on, intertwining and forming a colossal labyrinth. Subways, skyscrapers, sewers, and factories—not counting apartments—presented a nightmare to try to hold on to. Once the walls shatter, the hordemen will spill across the entire city, doubtless giving them ample opportunities to flank the defenders.
Surely Dragena could see it, too. What good was the clever placement of fortifications if they lacked the numbers to properly man them? In the battle against the New Breeds, the regular troops will not have the luxury of a safe retreat. Everything will be decided in a frontal confrontation.
"What about the Horde's superweapon?" she voiced her concern. "The one that wiped Opul off the map."
"I believe that Mad Hatter intends on capturing this place relatively intact." Dragena highlighted three possible locations on the map where the Horde could deploy the Sky's Wrath. "By the time we change her perception about the feasibility of such a goal, it will be too late to use it. Make no mistake in underestimating our opposition or thinking the victory is granted. We are facing approximately a force of two hundred thousand, much of it New Breeds. The land itself is groaning under the sheer mass of combat vehicles bearing down on us. It is do or die."
"Butcher them all and watch bodies fall." Alpha gritted her fangs, rumbling out the words. "If the worst comes to pass, it was an honor, sisters, brothers, allies, and the traitors." She glared at the Ice Fangs. "I've never been the best person around, but you accepted me, and for that I'll give it my all."
To their credit, the Ice Fangs took the insult in stride. Alpha was testing them, Janine understood. Zero and Dragena always had a positive influence on the strongest warlord, cooling down her violent urges, and right now her named sister was testing the white-furred, guessing how much they could be counted on the battlefield.
"Warlord Dragena," First said, breaking his silence. "The Order has received no assignments. May I inquire as to the reason?"
"What good are soldiers who cannot follow orders and refuse to cooperate? What good are troops incompetent enough to lose cubs?" asked Ashbringer.
"Ashbringer, please, let us be reasonable." First started in a soothing voice. "We had our differences and arguments, true, but you can't think…"
"Can't think? Are the mindless beasts for your ilk, First?" Alpha interrupted him in a deceptively calm tone. "Or has the Order deemed it fit to tell us what to think now? Give me back my sisters. Return Predaig and Eled. Give Marco his limbs back this instant. Resurrect our every lost kin, then you'll get the right to tell us what to do." She spat on the floor. "Since the beginning of this war, the Order has done little more than feed its own vain pride, and the packs are now riled up; they are enraged with you, and they have every right to be. We won't quench that fire; the tales of your betrayal shall survive everyone present. Step outside and count how many of us are left. The Tribe is close to our own Extinction."
"This is why you have to accept our aid," First insisted. "And not engage in useless arguments. The demise of the Wolf Tribe was never in our intentions, and we'll sooner die than see our kin disappear."
"What sort of cohesion do you expect of our forces in our current predicament?" Alpha dropped the mocking tone. "First, open your eyes and try to see the situation from our point of view. We have tried everything to appease you and to build a kinship with the Order, and yet you still betrayed us. How can we rely on you now, when not a single one of our leaders holds a shred of respect toward your hides?"
A stomp interrupted First's response, and Dragena stepped between the two groups. The impact shook the platform, causing the operators to turn in their seats, and Lacerated One charged in, taking up position at the warlord's side, looking for any signs of insubordination from the Wolfkins present.
"Enough. We are soldiers. Disagreements and grievances no longer matter. The Wolf Tribe will meet the enemy in the old way, fighting on the side of those we can trust." She nodded to Alpha. "But the Order won't be forgotten either. You wish for glory and triumph, and that shall be given to you in abundance. After interrogating the prisoners and learning all we can about Mad Hatter and her commanders, I believe I know a little of how she thinks. Seeing the city weak, she'll launch one singular assault to overwhelm everything we have, using her own might to break through the defenses at their strongest point. My guess is that she won't try any complicated approaches and will come in from the west. That means the north and south will be left unattended. We will weather the brunt of the storm." Her cold eyes looked at First. "So that you can secure the destruction of their war machine and stand triumphantly on our corpses at the end of it, Grandmaster."
"We do not act in pursuit of glory," Bertruda said.
"Mayhap," Dragena conceded. "Consider it as a bonus incentive to ensure that no Ice Fang is offended. Think us ungrateful and paranoid if you must."
"Mad Hatter isn't in the command alone," First cautioned. "Whoever she chose to command the rearguard will bolster the rear's defenses."
"That was accounted for." Dragena took a terminal from the table and handed it to First. The grandmaster read the information, and a thin smile appeared on his lips. "Yes. We know who it'll be and how to bait them."
"I am afraid I must point out a flaw in your plan, Warlord Dragena," First said, handing the terminal back. "You said north. For that to work…"
"I have never made a mistake, Grandmaster," Dragena answered, watching the observation console showing the crawler's corridors. "Now silence. Not a word, that's an order."
The doors to the bridge opened, and Schalk stepped inside, quickly saluting the officers.
"Your will is done, Warlord." He flashed a smile. "It took more effort than I am willing to admit, but the unions and my boys have loaded every beast from the zoos onto the trucks. If any of those disgusting animals escape... well, I don't know, shoot me, Ma'am." He noticed Janine. "My deepest condolences about your children and sisters, Warlord."
"Impeccably done." Dragena inclined her head. "Warlord Janine and I will join the defense of the western gates. Your unit will be added to the crawler's security. I understand the unusualness of such an order, but the bridge plays a crucial role in our plans."
"We get to sit out the fight?" Schalk beamed, then forced a cough. "I mean, yeah, of course you can count on us, Warlord! Smash the bad guys, my girls and boys will keep the place nice and warm; don't you dare worry, ma'am!"
He saluted and left the bridge. As the doors sealed them off from the corridors, Dragena calmly returned to the map, issuing orders and outlining strategy. The operators and several officers exchanged glances, too concerned to bother the warlord for clarification. Finally, the youngest of them, a boy of twenty-six and a veteran of two campaigns, left his seat and approached Dragena, baring his throat. The warlord waved away Lacerated One and gestured for the soldier to speak.
"Warlord," the operator never bowed, holding his throat exposed, imitating the Wolf Tribe's tradition. "I believe you have made a mistake. You assigned Warlord Janine to defend the north before."
"Never in my life have I made a mistake, brother," Dragena assured the man. "The deaths of Keon and Maxim Puchkov. The ambush on Captain Cristobo. And precise knowledge of our vulnerable locations is available to the Gilded Horde. None of that was an accident."
"Which one?" Janine demanded to know.
She sniffed the air and sensed no scent mark from the operator but caught a very familiar scent from an opened recess above them. Overjoyed, she rubbed her snout against the man's neck, marking him as kin on her own volition and granting him the unofficial privileges of more senior crew members for his bravery.
"One. Another. Both. Maybe the third. Neither. We will waste no effort guessing," Dragena said. "One way or another, the path to your target will be open, Grandmaster First. I advise you to use the southern gates for the majority of the Order's units. Allies. The Gilded Horde believes us to be foolish and brutish. They think our civilization is weak and pathetic. It is an apt time to educate them about our cunning." A snap of her fingers brought back the image of the terraforming complex. "Janine. I have a job for your soldiers."