Tejoka Merry Christmas everyone, in case you celebrate it, and Happy Holidays either way!
The next chapter will be posted as usual on Thursday.
There were far too many things Regina wanted to do, but not enough opportunity, too little time in the day.
Now that she had the Delvers on her side, Regina was eager to start really getting things done, changing things. They wouldn’t try to slow her down, they’d be enthusiastic for every bit of knowledge and attempt at change she brought up. On the contrary, they practically required it.
On the other hand, there was still a war on - or two - and her previous concerns about showing the extent of her capabilities remained. Not to mention that they really had to change the ‘hearts and minds’ of the people, and overwhelming the locals with too much would probably backfire. So, they had to focus on a few things. And, the situation being what it was, that tended to be concentrated on warfare.
Regina and the Delvers had picked out a kind of practice area in a less developed part of Cernlia, close to the border of Marquis Lyns’ territory and her own, where they set up something of an exercise ground. There would be space for her Workers and Delver craftsmen and scholars to work on new developments and exchange the knowledge both sides craved, but also fields and fortifications to improve their military might, to practice integrating their forces and creating a combined arms doctrine.
It wasn’t the only thing they did, of course — schools like the one she’d sent June to were important, too — and Regina probably wouldn’t stay there all that long in person. But she had high hopes for the place to become a kind of cultural exchange center and perhaps more, in time. It would also allow the Hive and the Delvers to separate a bit more than they had while traveling, because she was starting to get a little tired of them, and she wasn’t the only one.
A few drones had already arrived to prepare everything before she got there, and they had a sizeable number of Swarm Drones to do the menial work as well. It was a bit of a commitment, since they also needed troops for the territory and the war against the gnomes, she supposed, but it would be worth it. And they’d already done good work in clearing a section of forest, digging some trenches and building a few structures.
This endeavor also had the effect of distracting Regina from her concerns regarding the Lyns and the Cernlian war. She threw herself into the new project, and for once spent more time riding around inspecting the premises and talking to drones and Delvers than sitting somewhere absorbed in the psychic link, or contributing to the Hive’s numbers. Not that she didn’t still do the latter, of course; they’d built a provisional nursery as well, and Ira had rejoined her to make sure she was taken care of, or so she said. Regina wasn’t going to argue.
The Delvers were a surprisingly big help. Despite being primarily focused on adventuring, they did have some protocols and training for actual warfare. And unsurprisingly, it was pretty different from the Nerlian or Cernlian model. Obviously, they had much fewer troops to work with, but they were better trained and generally higher-level, and their system focused on taking advantage of that rather than social structure, like several lords each contributing their own troops. Instead, the Delvers preferred for their parties to be able to cover several roles, but also work interchangeably on a strategic level, without having to worry too much about which commander was deployed where.
Ben was pretty excited about it. At first, he didn’t quite make up his mind on whether the way their system complemented the Hive’s own strengths made up for the ways they clashed, but Regina’d suspected it would tend towards being a good thing from the beginning. The Hive had a large horde of individually weak members that they could control precisely, but not all at once, and their biggest threat had always been elites at high levels that could deal with swarm tactics and ambushes.
I suppose that explains why you don’t want to fight the Delvers, Janis commented when Regina mentioned her thoughts on the matter.
Regina shrugged. I thought that was pretty obvious, and there’s all the knowledge or even tech the Delvers might have preserved. I’m hardly afraid of them, but I would much rather use them than fight them. That was kinda the point of all this, and so far her decision had clearly been the right one.
The first time they actually did a major combined exercise, she found her impression to be confirmed. She was pretty pleased with the result of it, even if there were clearly still a few areas where the two militaries, if one wanted to call them that, could learn to work together better.
It might have helped that the exercise, which was originally scheduled to take two hours, had to be called to a halt four hours later when it still hadn’t officially concluded. Sure, the criterion that every squad of either side had to have been eliminated was a bit stringent. People still hadn’t expected for not one but two units, from both the Delvers and the Hive, to go to ground so successfully (and, ironically, literally in the case of the Delvers; the Hivekind thought their opponents would expect them to tunnel) that they weren’t found by anyone except Regina and Madris. Regina hadn’t even known it was possible to block ‘life sense’ type Class Skills!
An hour later, after they’d all sorted out the end of the field exercise and done the initial debriefing of their own troops, which Regina mostly left to Ben over the psychic link, a small group of Delvers sought Regina out.
She was currently standing on one of the observation platforms they’d hastily erected, examining the field with her own eyes, to get some fresh air. The use of explosives had been limited, so there were only a few of the characteristic craters in the grassy meadow. It amused her a little that she’d learned how to evaluate them. Hearing the men coming and being warned by Max, who as usual lurked a few steps away, she schooled her expression into neutrality and turned around.
The three Delvers were led by a familiar face. Unlike when they’d first met, though, Sir Egon Trito didn’t act aggressively. On the contrary. They approached slowly and in plain view, and then he bowed, followed by the two others, and remained in that position, presumably awaiting her response.
“Sir Egon,” Regina replied dutifully. “Please rise, all of you.” She didn’t bow back. They didn’t seem to mind.
“Thank you for seeing us, Doctor. Your Majesty?” He chuckled weakly. “I’m afraid I am still unsure how best to address you. I wouldn’t want to accidentally show any disrespect.”
Showing it on purpose is fine, though? Regina bit down on the answer. She knew the thought was unkind, and inadvisable. He was at least trying, even if it was solely because of who she’d been. Baby steps, better than nothing. “I’m fine with both,” Regina replied instead. “How have you settled in here?”
“Very well, Milady,” he assured her. “I think this was a splendid idea, if I may be so bold. Getting us used to working together, fighting side-by-side, before we have to do it on a real battlefield is wise. I was impressed by your Hive’s persistence and creativity in the exercise.”
“You made a good showing yourself.” She wasn’t just being polite. Trito might be a jerk, but he had performed well, his unit had one of the highest kill counts as far as she knew. Not that she was surprised he’d gone on the offensive.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. We did our best.”
Regina let the silence stretch on for a second, cocking her head a little. Since Trito had apologized to her, they hadn’t really talked. She was unsure if she wanted to. Although she had seen the way he looked at her, he’d probably wanted to talk a few times and had finally gathered up the courage to approach her. She really hoped it wasn’t romantic, even if she was capable of being attracted to humans she’d never accept that, but she didn’t get that impression.
“Milady,” he finally spoke up again after the pause threatened to get awkward, “I wanted to ask if there is anything else we should do? Orders you wish to give?”
“Orders?”
He inclined his head. “I wished to inquire how I might serve, Your Majesty. Surely there is something beyond these field exercises? As fruitful as they have been, I don’t imagine this is all there is to recapturing the glory of the Ancients.”
Regina paused, watching him thoughtfully for a second. While she could do without the way he’d phrased that last part, he did have a point. She briefly considered how she wanted to answer.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm and initiative, Sir Egon,” she said. “Of course, there are a few points. For one, I would like you to inform me about your order’s teachings and to collect information for me on what the Delvers already know, concerning the old world and science in general. It will be easier to start with suitable reference points, and there are likely to be a few misconceptions.”
He nodded, but clearly sensed that she wasn’t finished yet and didn’t speak up.
“Furthermore, I would like information on the state of the world beyond Central Europe, the political situation and your order’s condition. I know the Delvers are an international organization, and I’d appreciate some insight on how other chapters will react to my appearance.
“I would like you to work together with my Hive, especially the Keepers, to collect, organize and store this information. Please recruit whoever among your own ranks would be suitable as well. Perhaps you can approach Sir Owin’s people for assistance, especially on the first point.”
Trito bowed. He seemed a little surprised, although she only got that feeling from her psychic senses, not his facial expression, which remained placid. More importantly, though, she had the impression he wasn’t disappointed. “Of course, Doctor Woltan, I will do as you wish.”
Regina nodded, then waved a hand casually. “Then, if that is all, I have further training to plan. We may all find a need for it soon enough.”
Trito and his companions bowed again and, with a few courtesies, excused themselves. Regina watched them go for a moment, wondering if she’d picked the right Delver to ask for this. But now that she was, in a way, leading all of them, she couldn’t just stick with Owin and Gwen, or even Madris. And the more fanatical Delvers were a valuable and readily available resource.
She did take the opportunity to practice her psychic power a little more, something Madris had encouraged, even if she probably hadn’t meant for Regina to use it on her fellow Delvers. She focused on the minds of the two Trito had brought along, apparently as moral support or to show he wasn’t alone, and then the guy himself. Unsurprisingly, his mind was better shielded. He might have been taught a little. It wasn’t enough to keep her out, though, even at her current skill level.
Regina hesitated for a moment, then decided that even if she was caught, he’d probably be more likely to forgive the intrusion, if it was her. So she closed her eyes and focused, trying to get a read on his thoughts instead of just his surface-level emotions.
Trito was eager. He also felt a bit apprehensive, excited and yet nervous. Even as he was exchanging a few sentences with his compatriots, he couldn’t help but think back to the conversation and picture Regina standing there watching him with that stern gaze, the slight curl of her lips indicating amusement. It should have felt condescending to him, but didn’t. He wanted to show her that her trust in him was not misplaced, that he could do what she required of him and gather the information needed to plan her next steps. And, too, that he could work with her Hive, turn their efforts to common purpose without falling to old resentments. Even if the thought of a surviving Ancient with drone children of the Hivekind was strange and horrifying on some level, he recognized the reality of it and what it meant in practical matters. They were loyal and would follow her commands without question or complaint, striving to carry out her designs, so of course she would be relying on them. It would be foolish to expect otherwise. He simply had to show that they were not the only allies or followers she could count on. And in the end, did it really matter if the rebirth of humanity was accomplished with the help of aliens? Who were, after all, scions of a Progenitor. For now, however, he had to plan how he would accomplish this task; there were several men he might talk to first …
Regina pulled herself from Trito’s mind, exhaling a shuddering breath as she leaned against the closest wooden post. She might have gone a little deep here, although it wasn’t like it was too much or she couldn’t have easily pulled back.
After a moment, Regina started to smile. Her skills really were coming along nicely. And Trito isn’t so bad, I guess. His mind was a mire of emotions, rationalizations and internal contradictions, but she’d been learning that most were like that. At least he seemed genuinely dedicated to his goals, and his ideology, she supposed. Although she’d already encountered fanatics who were more unpleasant about it. The Delvers had a number of them.
They might be a proverbial sword without a handle, but none of her drones had yet cut themselves with their own blade-limbs. And if Trito was any indication, she could slowly wean the Delvers off the more … idealized, problematical part of their fanatical devotion to ideology, while guiding it in a healthier direction. And, in the end, she could use zealous people who wanted to make the world a better place.
After all, the world could use it.
And if not her, who else was going to set things into motion, going to spearhead that effort? She was in a position to do it, and whatever morally shady things she might yet do, she couldn’t countenance holding back and not acting. Inaction, after all, could be the worst thing of all.
Something the gods dearly needed to be reminded of.
Tejoka Merry Christmas everyone, in case you celebrate it, and Happy Holidays either way!
The next chapter will be posted as usual on Thursday.
There were far too many things Regina wanted to do, but not enough opportunity, too little time in the day.
Now that she had the Delvers on her side, Regina was eager to start really getting things done, changing things. They wouldn’t try to slow her down, they’d be enthusiastic for every bit of knowledge and attempt at change she brought up. On the contrary, they practically required it.
On the other hand, there was still a war on - or two - and her previous concerns about showing the extent of her capabilities remained. Not to mention that they really had to change the ‘hearts and minds’ of the people, and overwhelming the locals with too much would probably backfire. So, they had to focus on a few things. And, the situation being what it was, that tended to be concentrated on warfare.
Regina and the Delvers had picked out a kind of practice area in a less developed part of Cernlia, close to the border of Marquis Lyns’ territory and her own, where they set up something of an exercise ground. There would be space for her Workers and Delver craftsmen and scholars to work on new developments and exchange the knowledge both sides craved, but also fields and fortifications to improve their military might, to practice integrating their forces and creating a combined arms doctrine.
It wasn’t the only thing they did, of course — schools like the one she’d sent June to were important, too — and Regina probably wouldn’t stay there all that long in person. But she had high hopes for the place to become a kind of cultural exchange center and perhaps more, in time. It would also allow the Hive and the Delvers to separate a bit more than they had while traveling, because she was starting to get a little tired of them, and she wasn’t the only one.
A few drones had already arrived to prepare everything before she got there, and they had a sizeable number of Swarm Drones to do the menial work as well. It was a bit of a commitment, since they also needed troops for the territory and the war against the gnomes, she supposed, but it would be worth it. And they’d already done good work in clearing a section of forest, digging some trenches and building a few structures.
This endeavor also had the effect of distracting Regina from her concerns regarding the Lyns and the Cernlian war. She threw herself into the new project, and for once spent more time riding around inspecting the premises and talking to drones and Delvers than sitting somewhere absorbed in the psychic link, or contributing to the Hive’s numbers. Not that she didn’t still do the latter, of course; they’d built a provisional nursery as well, and Ira had rejoined her to make sure she was taken care of, or so she said. Regina wasn’t going to argue.
The Delvers were a surprisingly big help. Despite being primarily focused on adventuring, they did have some protocols and training for actual warfare. And unsurprisingly, it was pretty different from the Nerlian or Cernlian model. Obviously, they had much fewer troops to work with, but they were better trained and generally higher-level, and their system focused on taking advantage of that rather than social structure, like several lords each contributing their own troops. Instead, the Delvers preferred for their parties to be able to cover several roles, but also work interchangeably on a strategic level, without having to worry too much about which commander was deployed where.
Ben was pretty excited about it. At first, he didn’t quite make up his mind on whether the way their system complemented the Hive’s own strengths made up for the ways they clashed, but Regina’d suspected it would tend towards being a good thing from the beginning. The Hive had a large horde of individually weak members that they could control precisely, but not all at once, and their biggest threat had always been elites at high levels that could deal with swarm tactics and ambushes.
I suppose that explains why you don’t want to fight the Delvers, Janis commented when Regina mentioned her thoughts on the matter.
Regina shrugged. I thought that was pretty obvious, and there’s all the knowledge or even tech the Delvers might have preserved. I’m hardly afraid of them, but I would much rather use them than fight them. That was kinda the point of all this, and so far her decision had clearly been the right one.
The first time they actually did a major combined exercise, she found her impression to be confirmed. She was pretty pleased with the result of it, even if there were clearly still a few areas where the two militaries, if one wanted to call them that, could learn to work together better.
It might have helped that the exercise, which was originally scheduled to take two hours, had to be called to a halt four hours later when it still hadn’t officially concluded. Sure, the criterion that every squad of either side had to have been eliminated was a bit stringent. People still hadn’t expected for not one but two units, from both the Delvers and the Hive, to go to ground so successfully (and, ironically, literally in the case of the Delvers; the Hivekind thought their opponents would expect them to tunnel) that they weren’t found by anyone except Regina and Madris. Regina hadn’t even known it was possible to block ‘life sense’ type Class Skills!
An hour later, after they’d all sorted out the end of the field exercise and done the initial debriefing of their own troops, which Regina mostly left to Ben over the psychic link, a small group of Delvers sought Regina out.
She was currently standing on one of the observation platforms they’d hastily erected, examining the field with her own eyes, to get some fresh air. The use of explosives had been limited, so there were only a few of the characteristic craters in the grassy meadow. It amused her a little that she’d learned how to evaluate them. Hearing the men coming and being warned by Max, who as usual lurked a few steps away, she schooled her expression into neutrality and turned around.
The three Delvers were led by a familiar face. Unlike when they’d first met, though, Sir Egon Trito didn’t act aggressively. On the contrary. They approached slowly and in plain view, and then he bowed, followed by the two others, and remained in that position, presumably awaiting her response.
“Sir Egon,” Regina replied dutifully. “Please rise, all of you.” She didn’t bow back. They didn’t seem to mind.
“Thank you for seeing us, Doctor. Your Majesty?” He chuckled weakly. “I’m afraid I am still unsure how best to address you. I wouldn’t want to accidentally show any disrespect.”
Showing it on purpose is fine, though? Regina bit down on the answer. She knew the thought was unkind, and inadvisable. He was at least trying, even if it was solely because of who she’d been. Baby steps, better than nothing. “I’m fine with both,” Regina replied instead. “How have you settled in here?”
“Very well, Milady,” he assured her. “I think this was a splendid idea, if I may be so bold. Getting us used to working together, fighting side-by-side, before we have to do it on a real battlefield is wise. I was impressed by your Hive’s persistence and creativity in the exercise.”
“You made a good showing yourself.” She wasn’t just being polite. Trito might be a jerk, but he had performed well, his unit had one of the highest kill counts as far as she knew. Not that she was surprised he’d gone on the offensive.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. We did our best.”
Regina let the silence stretch on for a second, cocking her head a little. Since Trito had apologized to her, they hadn’t really talked. She was unsure if she wanted to. Although she had seen the way he looked at her, he’d probably wanted to talk a few times and had finally gathered up the courage to approach her. She really hoped it wasn’t romantic, even if she was capable of being attracted to humans she’d never accept that, but she didn’t get that impression.
“Milady,” he finally spoke up again after the pause threatened to get awkward, “I wanted to ask if there is anything else we should do? Orders you wish to give?”
“Orders?”
He inclined his head. “I wished to inquire how I might serve, Your Majesty. Surely there is something beyond these field exercises? As fruitful as they have been, I don’t imagine this is all there is to recapturing the glory of the Ancients.”
Regina paused, watching him thoughtfully for a second. While she could do without the way he’d phrased that last part, he did have a point. She briefly considered how she wanted to answer.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm and initiative, Sir Egon,” she said. “Of course, there are a few points. For one, I would like you to inform me about your order’s teachings and to collect information for me on what the Delvers already know, concerning the old world and science in general. It will be easier to start with suitable reference points, and there are likely to be a few misconceptions.”
He nodded, but clearly sensed that she wasn’t finished yet and didn’t speak up.
“Furthermore, I would like information on the state of the world beyond Central Europe, the political situation and your order’s condition. I know the Delvers are an international organization, and I’d appreciate some insight on how other chapters will react to my appearance.
“I would like you to work together with my Hive, especially the Keepers, to collect, organize and store this information. Please recruit whoever among your own ranks would be suitable as well. Perhaps you can approach Sir Owin’s people for assistance, especially on the first point.”
Trito bowed. He seemed a little surprised, although she only got that feeling from her psychic senses, not his facial expression, which remained placid. More importantly, though, she had the impression he wasn’t disappointed. “Of course, Doctor Woltan, I will do as you wish.”
Regina nodded, then waved a hand casually. “Then, if that is all, I have further training to plan. We may all find a need for it soon enough.”
Trito and his companions bowed again and, with a few courtesies, excused themselves. Regina watched them go for a moment, wondering if she’d picked the right Delver to ask for this. But now that she was, in a way, leading all of them, she couldn’t just stick with Owin and Gwen, or even Madris. And the more fanatical Delvers were a valuable and readily available resource.
She did take the opportunity to practice her psychic power a little more, something Madris had encouraged, even if she probably hadn’t meant for Regina to use it on her fellow Delvers. She focused on the minds of the two Trito had brought along, apparently as moral support or to show he wasn’t alone, and then the guy himself. Unsurprisingly, his mind was better shielded. He might have been taught a little. It wasn’t enough to keep her out, though, even at her current skill level.
Regina hesitated for a moment, then decided that even if she was caught, he’d probably be more likely to forgive the intrusion, if it was her. So she closed her eyes and focused, trying to get a read on his thoughts instead of just his surface-level emotions.
Trito was eager. He also felt a bit apprehensive, excited and yet nervous. Even as he was exchanging a few sentences with his compatriots, he couldn’t help but think back to the conversation and picture Regina standing there watching him with that stern gaze, the slight curl of her lips indicating amusement. It should have felt condescending to him, but didn’t. He wanted to show her that her trust in him was not misplaced, that he could do what she required of him and gather the information needed to plan her next steps. And, too, that he could work with her Hive, turn their efforts to common purpose without falling to old resentments. Even if the thought of a surviving Ancient with drone children of the Hivekind was strange and horrifying on some level, he recognized the reality of it and what it meant in practical matters. They were loyal and would follow her commands without question or complaint, striving to carry out her designs, so of course she would be relying on them. It would be foolish to expect otherwise. He simply had to show that they were not the only allies or followers she could count on. And in the end, did it really matter if the rebirth of humanity was accomplished with the help of aliens? Who were, after all, scions of a Progenitor. For now, however, he had to plan how he would accomplish this task; there were several men he might talk to first …
Regina pulled herself from Trito’s mind, exhaling a shuddering breath as she leaned against the closest wooden post. She might have gone a little deep here, although it wasn’t like it was too much or she couldn’t have easily pulled back.
After a moment, Regina started to smile. Her skills really were coming along nicely. And Trito isn’t so bad, I guess. His mind was a mire of emotions, rationalizations and internal contradictions, but she’d been learning that most were like that. At least he seemed genuinely dedicated to his goals, and his ideology, she supposed. Although she’d already encountered fanatics who were more unpleasant about it. The Delvers had a number of them.
They might be a proverbial sword without a handle, but none of her drones had yet cut themselves with their own blade-limbs. And if Trito was any indication, she could slowly wean the Delvers off the more … idealized, problematical part of their fanatical devotion to ideology, while guiding it in a healthier direction. And, in the end, she could use zealous people who wanted to make the world a better place.
After all, the world could use it.
And if not her, who else was going to set things into motion, going to spearhead that effort? She was in a position to do it, and whatever morally shady things she might yet do, she couldn’t countenance holding back and not acting. Inaction, after all, could be the worst thing of all.
Something the gods dearly needed to be reminded of.
