Outside the Chimera transport carrier, a troop transport landed and the hatch opened, releasing all twenty-one generals along with their aides, each holding their battalion's standard. They quickly spotted Creed, Kael, and a merchant approaching. At the sight of Creed, a few sighed with relief, some were visibly pleased, while others wore conflicted expressions.
Creed greeted each of his comrades, inquiring about the state of their forces and any immediate needs. When one complained of lacking air superiority, Creed swiftly dispatched an anti-air unit from his regiment to assist. Each received the support they needed to overcome their obstacles, leaving Sain to be the last to speak with Creed.
"What's your situation?" Creed asked Sain.
A flicker of irritation crossed Sain's face, as if Creed were his superior, not a peer. But Sain wasn't foolish. He admitted, "My forces are holding on the westernmost plains. A Titan legion is approaching from there; they were en route to Harlan Keep but diverted upon hearing about Toeyuko. They lack any accompanying infantry, so we need a unit to meet them."
Creed pondered this. Sain didn't mean a simple welcome party. They'd have to punch through the encirclement, reach the Titans, assess the situation, and join forces. Titans, immense war machines, weren't invulnerable to determined infantry. Voskani's Iron Cavalry, relentless and unyielding, posed a serious threat—even to the Titans.
"I'll plan a diversionary assault to give your 97th an opening," Creed replied.
Sain had feared Creed might decline or assign the task to an ally to seize the glory, but Creed agreed without hesitation.
"The 97th's anti-air division will remain here to support you," Sain added.
"Much appreciated." Creed clasped Sain's shoulder with a smile.
At that moment, Sain's resistance to Creed dissipated, realizing that in times of war, someone needed to command the whole—someone capable. Though reluctant to admit it, Sain understood that until this chaos ended, he had no choice but to let the "stubborn turtle" lead unchallenged.
"What about our command vehicle?" someone asked Creed. "The Voskani's command unit is wreaking havoc nearly a thousand kilometers away."
"We nearly lost ours, but it's back in our control. You may board at will," Creed answered.
The generals exhaled in relief, promptly forming a line to board the vehicle. This time, Creed didn't decline joining them; he, too, needed to confer with his fellow commanders.
...
Over the next four days, Creed remained with his comrades in the command vehicle, strategizing without pause. One cigar after another filled the room with smoke, as if Creed's supply were endless—each time he reached to his belt, another appeared.
Throughout this time, surviving units from Voskani's assault slowly reestablished contact with Creed, with more generals arriving by transport from scattered positions on the plains. By the fourth day, the command room was crowded with over a hundred officers, and the situation on Toeyuko had begun to stabilize. For the first time, the loyalists could organize defensive lines against the traitors.
"We are assured of victory in this war," Creed declared to the assembly.
Despite Voskani's forces numbering in the hundreds of thousands, no one doubted Creed's words. Titan legions had joined the fight, and battalions from all sectors of the fortress world were converging on Toeyuko. The Iron Cavalry's fate was sealed—to be vanquished under unrelenting assault.
Victory felt certain, yet the command room was devoid of joy, the air thick with tension.
Creed understood. The loss of two fort lords and countless high-ranking officers weighed heavily. The mere fact of Voskani's defection was a bitter pill to swallow.
"Why did the Voskani defect?"
"Who knows… I could barely believe it, even as they slaughtered my men…"
"It's like your own blood brother suddenly turning against you."
After some murmurs, all eyes fell on Creed, the first to foresee and react to the betrayal. Perhaps he knew something more.
"Only the Emperor knows why the Voskani have changed their allegiance," Creed answered. "But one thing is certain—they are utterly loyal to their new master. Even now, no reinforcements come to support them. This is a suicidal assault; they have no intention of leaving Cadia alive."
His words cast a heavier pall over the room.
Once, the Iron Cavalry had fought for humanity and the Emperor. Now, though turned traitor, their loyalty remained unbreakable—only the object of that loyalty had changed.
Silence descended, broken only ten minutes later when a voice murmured, "Even if we defeat the Voskani, true victory is far from ours. I'm certain greater troubles lie ahead."
"Indeed, there's much to do after this," another agreed.
"Our fort lord is dead. We need a new one—a Supreme Fort Lord."
Nods and murmurs of assent filled the room.
Unlike the positions of First and Second Fort Lords, the Supreme Fort Lord was a title only invoked during Cadia's darkest hours, one granted near-absolute authority. No one doubted Cadia's need for a Supreme Fort Lord now, but who that should be was less clear.
If a new Supreme Fort Lord were to be chosen, Creed was the obvious candidate, for his actions had been pivotal. He had unified the scattered forces across Toeyuko Plains, sparing them from mass slaughter by the Iron Cavalry. Yet, though all recognized Creed's competence, not all were eager to see him in that role.
"We'll follow the traditional process to choose the Supreme Fort Lord," Creed said, rising from his seat. "We've weathered the worst of it. Everyone, get some rest."
Gradually, the officers left the command room. Creed stayed behind, taking his seat once more, and asked Kael to bring him the communicator.
When the device was handed over, Creed contacted Craine, instructing him to relay a question to the Tyran Lord: what exactly was behind the Voskani Cavalry's defection?