Formicea
Chapter 201

- One month prior -

Since I made the suggestion of building this wall I have, every day, to attend various councils to further discuss its details in concrete.

One of the most critical ones to it would be Uma.

<My dear Erys, while I find your idea of creating a mere obstacle to prevent further fighting quite intriguing, I'm not completely convinced of it yet. Naturally, such a thing would increase the difficulty of accessing anything on the other side, as is its nature, but do you truly believe this to be enough to come anywhere close to the effect you desire? You should know that having an objective outlook on processes is of insurmountable importance to any plan.> (U)

Like this, it goes on and on and on.

<Even if it doesn't work perfectly, I'm sure it will help. What we already have for a plan is very thorough. The way we're going to distract the enemy and how we are going to establish a solid defensive position, all of this is a good form of preparation to mitigate our losses in future fights.> (E)

I feel like with Uma one should always discuss the worst possible outcome.

If you can still show benefits to your strategy, even in the face of failure, this is usually enough to convince her that there's no harm in following your advice.

<So you say, as I already agreed. But this isn't about following your plan, but its concrete execution. The way it presents itself to me, we would still face considerable attacks on our kind. Therefore, I'd like to know if you have any further plans to react to this phase of your very own plan.> (U)

Seriously, now she wants that I worked out the whole strategy?

This was all just a fixed idea of mine.

I don't really have a concept!

<I'm with Erys. Making arrangements in preparation for a fight is always the best course of action. The issue with planning a more concrete execution in case of an attack lies within the fact that all of us are rather new to the issue of surface warfare.> (L)

I'm not sure how helpful admitting we know so little is to our plan.

<Then how about the humans present? How do you think this 'Koreso' is going to react to an obstacle in the way of their goals?> (U)

Lord Stormheart is the first to speak.

Brave man, I need to say, not being intimidated the slightest by the queen.

Fortunately, we have Dilion to translate.

Chera is too busy with her stuff to do so all the time.

"Regarding what we know from the past, the most likely direction would be that they start a full-scale siege. This might actually threaten even a fortified position of ours, as they are well-versed in this art and don't shy away from making the necessary effort to even the scales. If we let them be, we'll have to expect a rather bloody battle. One I'm sure we'd win, but hard-fought nonetheless." (St)

<I see. So Erys, what would be the best course of action to circumvent this kind of outcome?> (U)

Sigh.

<I don't know. Maybe building the wall higher and sturdier, as big as we can?> (E)

"If I may say so. I doubt the enemy is going to stop unless we at least once prove to them the futility of such an action." (St)

<Why is this human speaking up without having been addressed?> (U)

Oh damn!

You don't want to miff Uma through your behavior.

Even if Lord Stormheart in general seems very intent to get us into a battle with Koreso.

Therefore, I'm not sure how to take his word, or if I should speak in support of him.

Yet then the king, Kieran Redora, signals that he'd like to speak, and Uma allows him to, as he maintains the polite etiquette.

<First, I'd like to apologize for my marshall. He's just very passionate about this subject. To say, in this case, I need to agree with him that the best course of action is to prepare for a decisive strike against the enemy, as no less will get the Koresoans to understand their position.> (K)

A decisive strike?

Then why even build a defensive position if we still have to head out and fight them?

<But didn't we plan this wall project to avoid exactly this?> (E)

<Not entirely, no. I didn't say we would head into battle. No. Referring to the former question you were given. If you maintain a defensive position and know how and when the enemy is coming, there is one certain way to deal with them for good. The answer is 'a trap'.> (K)

<But this 'wall' is right next to their territory. They would notice, if not... Ah, I see. As ingenious as one would expect from a human.> (L)

<Elaborate, Liseti.> (U)

<Naturally, Mother. You see, the human range of senses is limited. Mostly they rely on their eyes. What they don't see isn't recognized. So the correct answer if you want to prepare something against their efforts is to do it out of sight. The 'sky' above is certainly still in their view, but not so the underground.> (L)

<This isn't new, but how would this translate to some form of preparation? Would more tunnels really help? How would we prevent an infiltration of the system?> (U)

Most importantly, once we emerge, there's still going to be close-quarter fighting.

With all the bloodshed and losses this brings with it.

<But we wouldn't just build tunnels. Tell me, Mother, do you still remember how you repelled the incursion of the Vel'rosha and forced them to not only retreat, but to redirect their focus entirely?> (L)

She feels like someone relaying something they once read.

Which probably refers to the chamber of knowledge.

At this, Uma becomes thoughtful for a moment and then pleasantly elated.

<Ah, how studious of you, Liseti. Fascinating. But the surface is no tunnel.> (U)

<This doesn't mean it can't collapse like one.> (L)

Ehm, what exactly is going on here?

Collapsing the surface?

What the heck?

<Are you aware of how many drones I sacrificed back then to destabilize the passage? The side tunnels that broke cost me thousands upon thousands of my brood. Do you think this price would be justified in this case?> (U)

<Maybe, but this time it won't be necessary.> (L)

<Once again, explain.> (U)

<The reason is an interesting phenomenon I encountered in human warfare. A tool of great power that was utilized to great effect against our forces. One we do control now. Isn't this right, human leading unit?> (L)

<I suppose that's meant to be me. But yes. We do have what you'd need to remotely trigger a cavein.> (K)

Triggering?

Wait, this could only refer to...

<It feels like you're making a game out of not telling me about key components of your plan, Liseti. Little human, what is this phenomenon you're speaking of?> (U)

<Explosives. A mix of volatile substances that, activated by a certain mechanism, will cause a reaction that exerts enough force to cause the kind of destruction you would require to, so to say, collapse a tunnel.> (K)

Liseti at this just concurs.

This means that these two for real plan on exploding the underground.

But how would this affect... the... surface.

Oh damn!

<Devious. And a great threat if ever used against our kind. If this is the case, then making use of this ourselves should be appropriate to even the battlefield. No matter the pheromones our Erys is releasing on that topic.> (U)

So my opinion actually doesn't count!

Not like it would matter, given that I'm certainly outvoted on that matter.

<So do I understand this right? You want to undertunnel the area the enemy army would appear on, place the barrels, and then explode all of them away.> (E)

<Yes!> (K)

<No!> (L)

<Huh!?> (E/K)

It seems like everyone is confused, aside from the one responsible and a certain other someone.

<Ah, it seems like our Liseti has a plan. Then tell us about it.> (U)

<Simple. If we place the charges close enough to the enemy forces, we would risk the discovery of our plans and only achieve a limited degree of danger. What I have in mind would be safer and cause a far more lasting result.> (L)

<You seem awfully insistent on not telling things this interval, my little Liseti> (U)

<I apologize. It might be a bad habit from my interaction with humans. As I heard it's called 'dramatic effect'.> (L)

Just who did this to this princess?!

<So let me tell you. We will place the explosives far deeper. So deep there's not a chance they might find them or our tunnels, staying unaware of the trap they're in. Then, once they have assembled all of their forces for their great attack, we will wait till the last, most opportune moment and activate the charges to achieve the maximum effect.> (L)

<And the effect would be...> (E)

<A collapse, naturally. Of the whole surface that will fall into the deep once any stabilization from its underground ceases to be.> (L)

The most terrifying is how simple the logic of this is.

No matter how deep the tunnels collapse, one way or the other the ground above will fill the cavity.

There has just to be enough gone below.

<But this would mean we'd also need to excavate all this space to bring the earth down.> (E)

Once again, Liseti's pheromones convey a sense that she thought I'd figure this out by myself.

<This is not exclusive. After all, where do you think the material for your wall would come from? We only need to locate the gathering locations a little more conveniently. Right before the wall, where the enemy is supposed to gather. If it happens below this great water that is shown here... > (L)

<...then we'd also have a bigger moat...> (E)

<Fascinating. A wonderful plan. Both devastating to the enemy while also solidifying our position.> (U)

She's right.

This is smart.

Like, really smart.

There's no way I can convince them otherwise.

<But an act of such scale won't go unnoticed. We shouldn't do so lightly.> (E)

<You are understood. Nonetheless, you should see as well that this is the best course of action.> (L)

<Yes, I know. But still, many will die if that happens, It should only be our last resort.> (E)