After testimones are given, the procter of the final test now has her 'jury' give the results. Will the team make it through the trial and get the prize at the end?
After testimones are given, the procter of the final test now has her 'jury' give the results. Will the team make it through the trial and get the prize at the end?
"I'm loathe to say that it's not a strategy for complete victory, but it's the best we've got so far. From what we know, the Order has some sort of weapon up their sleeve but they still aren't using it. If we try to attack them, we'll be going at them from three, possibly four routes. The biggest force will assemble here. (Points at the front gate.) This is where we'll draw the bulk of their attention. Afterwards, we'll send a smaller ground unit, a more agile one to hit their back gates. The other two units are situational, the third tries to attack from above and break through their barrier manually while we think of a way to get rid of it. The last unit, and I think crazy over here will like this one, will try to blast a hole in the wall where we think their secret weapon will be. From that point their job is to either make it our own to use or remove it completely." Christa explains.
Lic-chan clears her throat. "As it currently stand we have a 2.47824% chance of winning this fight without casualty. Their secret weapon location is only a rough estimate at the moment and due to change strike points at any minute. Even with my vast intellect I can only make rough guesses as to where it is and the barrier they've set up is something that I've only ever dreamed of for my home. They desperately want to protect it and might even have counter measures against our plans. And, this is only a guess mind you, those other 'selves' you encounter today might have a part in all of it. I doubt that there isn't a correlation between them. The Order might have something we're not even prepared for and could even end up destr-*Cough* *Cough* *Cough*" Lic-chan has to stop as her voice starts giving out.
"Mistress Lic-chan! Please calm down!" Kiki-chan runs over to Lic-chan in concern, giving her something to drink.
(Woohoo, free time at last. A bit. Almost.) "Gah, I knew there would be something wrong. Isn't it possible to simply extract it with the utmost precaution or convert it instead? There has to be something we can do about this..."
I listen to the whole plan in silence: "I don't know whether I should hope being part of the small unit or not, sounds like me and like a way to bite the dust at the same time. 2.8% might not be that bad of an estimate considering what we're dealing with, thou- wait, do I really want to get involved in this?! Although Lic-chan is right, our other selves are likely linked to this matter..."
Once a small moment of silence settles, I raise my hand and ask Isaac: "It might sound stupid, but could the Gremlins have reverted back to the 'old kind' from before the current Demon Lord through your other self's Demonic Energy, and/or be controlled by her?"
"There's no other option, not unless you want to become a target for someone, crystallization is the only method we have right now." Damphy states.
"No, the DE would only send them into a frenzied state. The Demon Lord's influence is far to vast and overpowering. Think of it like a pool of sorts; you have humans at the far end of the pool, then there are the more magically inclined humans, then there are heroes. After heroes are mamonos, then the Demon Lord's children in order of power, and then her husband, then the Demon Lord herself. I'm in between mamonos and heroes, but even then, to give you an idea about how far in I'd be...let's say my ankles are wet at the most." I explain. "It's not really a matter of the Demon Lord controlling us either, we'd still retain our current forms and abilities, we'd just lose the ability to reason for a time and only act on survival instincts." Kiki-chan adds.
Me: "Where would I fall in that category, seeing as how I'm actually stronger than most, other a few guys we know with God like powers or are gods because in truth I can take on a dragon in an arm wrestling and win without using my Dragonborn abilities?"
I ponder for a few moments before giving an answer. "Probably just above me or at mamono level. I don't know what your world is like, but I imagine that the forces of it aren't imbued into every person that lives there. Mamonos are the embodiment of DE in a way, it's in the air they breath, the water they drink, their very souls. I'm a little jealous really." I explain.
"Even if you lose your ability to reason for a short period of time, it still puts you and your allies at risk for a loss of cohesion and an even greater risk for it to snowball into disaster," Micah states. She looks to the mamono surrounding the table and adds, "And if Wonderland is gonna be leading the charge, then I'm sure that 'cohesion' is the last thing on their minds."
Kenzie smiles with glee at her part of the plan and says, "That will be easy peasy lemon squeezy!"
"The destruction of these weapons will hopefully deal a serious blow to the Order should this operation succeed. They must not have anymore ground than they already gained," Spiga states as she rubs her chin and mutters mostly to herself, "The question is, how could our alternates be involved in this?"
Lustia walks in almost as if she knew something had to be explained. "I can honestly tell you that none of my troops would blow this mission, I've gone to a very far extent to remind them what will happen should there be any goofing off." She states. She walks around the room looking at all the soldiers with a serious face. "No mamono can afford to lose this fight. I've had the girls whip up a pleasure rune so powerful, the mind goes blank. It will be a punishment for those who defy my orders in this endeavor. Were there a time I cast off the pretensions, it is now. This world, this land, these subjects of mine, I love all of them so dearly. The Order will have no lenience from me, nor my troops." She explains taking a seat. "And should my Knight go on a rampage, I'll simply leash him this time." Lustia adds matter-of-factually.
I pretend I didn't hear that last part.
Me: After hearing Isaac explanation I sit back a little and let him speak before saying anything else. "Huh ok I can live with that, but your majesty, I have to ask if this thing turns out to be what I think it is what will you do if the U.E.R. decides to get involved, because to be perfectly honest with you I been helping them track down some Cold Fusion Detenators that pirates stole from a Galactic Federation base not too long ago."
Jack: "What do they do?"
Me: "Just one of those things have enough power to glass an entire country I would hate to see someone who has no idea what they're doing with them use them in war."
Anitra: "Forgive the informal response but Yikes.
"I suppose you'll have to make our case then, traveler. The troops will need guidance and my Knight a handler. If you must worry about them, then you and your crew can handle them. I'm not much one for diplomatic endeavors, that's something for my advisors and my Knight to take care of; I tried it once, my sister wasn't very happy about it." Lustia explains.
(Sorry I didn't reply earlier, was pretty busy or tired depending on the day.) "Great. First giant deadly machines, and now super freeze ones. Let's just hope they're not intending to concentrate everyone in select places to make a Philosopher's Stone while we're dealing with them on top of that..." I sigh, pull a notepad out of my bag and start taking notes about the current situation and strategies. Once I'm done, I add: "I could try and act as a mediator, but something's telling me they won't agree to put an end to all of this just by talking it out."