V12: Chapter 9

  …

  There were a multitude of benefits to taking the supersoldier concoctions that the Ancients left behind, but there were also a bunch of caveats. Those who undertake the procedure, pretty much anyone in the military now, needed less rest, were stronger and faster than regular people, and recovered from injury better. While they wouldn’t get up from having their insides blown apart or having their heads taken off, they could also resist damage a lot better and didn’t bleed out that quickly. If you can get them on ice and slow down their heart rate, they go into a stabilized coma, which allows them to be transported to a Citadel for repairs.

  But supersoldiers are suited for war, not for leading a nation.

  Their senses are honed to find threats, and putting those senses in an office would drive them to boredom very quickly. Most of their emotions are dulled to make them more receptive to orders. During battle, with their adrenaline pumping, they think less and react more on instinct. Ordering them still works, but otherwise they fall back on training, and it takes a humongous number of losses for them to start registering that they should be afraid.

  When that fear kicks in, they go into overdrive, retreat quickly, and regroup.

  So, while I’d appreciate being able to run faster, sleep less, and be stronger, there were portions of the supersoldier formula that weren’t conducive towards being a leader. Officers do fine with it; they just needed to be mindful of the effect and be trained to pull away from it. Generals, I typically entrusted that role to the Champions, and they were well past most supersoldiers and didn’t have the same limitations.

  Putting someone who has ingrained responses that they cannot override and tunnel vision on threats unless ordered or until everyone around them is dead in charge of a nation is a stupid idea.

  So, as much as I wanted to become a super soldier, I had to abstain.

  I had to keep to a schedule, rest, recover, and visit a medical pod regularly, while keeping a diet that was practically mostly medicinal in nature. The medical pods helped a lot, but when I needed to run around like I do now, they weren’t readily available. Having sedatives on hand to stay calm despite all my concerns was common sense, but I didn’t want to rely on them. Finally, any powerful artifacts that I could use were best sent to my Champions, because while they’d be great on me, they’ll be far better for them.

  Why turn a +10 on someone to a +12 when you can turn +20 to +22 instead?

  Besides, charisma in-game was something you could get by just grinding diplomatic meetings and making successful deals.

  If you can max a stat out by grinding, it’s only natural that you do, instead of wasting time looking for specific artifacts or events.

  Anyway, with all that in mind, after gallivanting around for several weeks, it was time for a break.

  I decided to take it at our newest resort town.

  Within a day’s ride for a flying courier, just in case anything went wrong, but still with plenty of amenities.

  Time to try and forget the fact that I just ordered a viral attack on a city filled with refugees and a race of immunocompromised eugenicists.

  …

  The resorts I’ve placed all over my territory have the singular goal of being places to rest and relax. All you need to do, after you get all the work credit, is just show up with your ticket and your identification at one of my airstrips. Then, you’re shuttled over to the nearest resort. You get a room if you’re alone or a suite with multiple rooms if you’re with your friends and coworkers, and everything was designed like a modern all-inclusive resort/cruise from back home.

  Multiple restaurants offered specialties from all over the continent. A main dining hall that can seat thousands offered a fantastic dinner every evening. A buffet was available from sunrise to sundown, which offered staple foods in egregious amounts. Local businesses were encouraged to have branches in the resort, which showcased local specialties, and if they were popular enough, they could spread to the rest.

  It put a constant demand on the transportation of food and people all through my territory just for the sake of keeping my people happy.

  I saw things differently.

  The resorts were giving my nation the institutional knowledge and ability to transport food and people quickly to places where they were needed. The train operators were learning how their machines worked and how to handle conditions all over the continent. New pilots were learning how to pull around people and navigate in a safe environment. Those who received supplies learned to mark the arrival of supplies, the usage of those supplies before they spoiled, and account for surges.

  The fact that the resorts kept my people fed and happy was one thing, but the foundation trained my people to do incredible work.

  It also helps that I get to lounge on a beach lake surrounded by Iterants in bikinis while eating tacos.

  Sue me; I’m recovering from speeding across the whole continent for days preparing for multiple apocalypses and handling three consecutive wars.

  Let me have this!

  “My lord, it has been two hours. A reapplication of sunscreen is prudent.” Ayah spoke. She was wearing a white two-piece swimsuit that looked great on her tanned skin. A gold-colored sarong was around her waist, and she carried a basket of supplies in one arm while standing next to me. I told her to relax, but looking after me and not worrying about the numbers was her way of doing just that. “If you would permit it, of course.”

  “Yeah, go ahead.” I turned onto my back, and Ayah did the work. She looked like a person, but at touch it was obvious that she wasn’t. Her fingers were cold and had an intrinsic hardness. She could mimic the ridges and wrinkles of hands immaculately, but beneath the surface it was shapeshifting stone. Iterants were advanced infiltrators and could replicate things like body heat and softness thanks to magic. “Are you sure this is how you want to spend your time off?”

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  “Yes.” Ayah’s response was quick, and she spread the sunscreen swiftly over my back. I turned, and she dealt with the front, while I took a moment away from reading in order to apply some to my face. As lazy as I currently was, I wasn’t a child. “Do you intend to swim or walk in the next ten minutes?”

  “No, I’ll stick around for a bit more.” I answered her and got back. The sunscreen was taking some time to dry, so I didn’t pick my book up right away. I looked around. Far fewer people were staring my way. Iterant guards were around me and keeping watch. Everyone was very respectful after I politely asked them to give me time to rest. I managed to get away from having to do any public speaking after that, though I drew plenty of stares. “No news?”

  “None.” Ayah confirmed with a small nod. “None that qualifies you for leaving this period of rest.”

  There was probably a lot of news, but only emergencies would get through to me for the next two weeks.

  I needed to top up the willpower battery after throwing myself from one end of the continent to the other, negotiating, and making sure our new allies didn’t get wasted taking over three other Citadels.

  Oh, and having Riegert brought back to life and giving Morgan and the others a refresh on how to conduct a war.

  All the while conducting a shadow war against the Wardens, Merchants, and Forgers.

  Yeah, I think I should take a month off, but two weeks was already a lot.

  “Alright, then. I won’t ask.” I kept myself reclined and turned my gaze. The lake was nice and breezy with a long beach with fine sand. I could clearly see across the other side of it, but the people were like long grains of rice. It was a large lake. A significant portion of the region. A whole tile, probably. Lakes, mountains, and beaches had the largest happiness bonuses to put a resort on. They provided a lot of extra activities. Here there were people boating, fishing, and even participating in floating obstacle courses. “What’s my itinerary for today?”

  “You have another two hours before going to the museum, then there will be dinner, a theater show, and then rest.” Sounded about right. I wasn’t packing in many activities. Vacations were for leisure for me. Thrills didn’t interest me, nor did visiting places just to say I went there. Food, exercise, rest, and maybe watching a show or seeing something interesting before going to sleep and repeating. That was my average vacation day. “Are you interested in doing anything else instead of resting?”

  “Hm.”

  For the first time in a while, I was able to think about what I wanted to do for myself, rather than what I needed to do for my country.

  It was almost scary how novel it felt.

  “Nah, I’ll stay here and keep reading.”

  With my decision made, I sat back, enjoyed the breeze flowing over the lake, and got back to reading.

  Eat, read, see places, and sleep for two weeks.

  I’ll take all that I can get.

  …

  Interlude: Khanrow

  …

  While the Guardians of the Moon held a proper service and commendation ceremony after the taking of the Citadel and the fall of the Forger capital, they allowed the common troops a reprieve of a month before needing to once more march to war.

  A month seemed excessive, but their supply lines were based off wagons. Wagons pulled by untiring horses with drivers that could work tirelessly, but still wagons. The Forgers hadn’t shared the host of aerial transports they bargained from us long ago. Those were now in the process of being absorbed by the Guardians, but it will be a few months or even a year before they integrate them into their military logistical trail.

  The month of reprieve for the soldiers was for the military’s logistical needs. They needed to ensure roads ahead were sturdy, build up stockpiles of munitions, reissue supplies, and make other preparations necessary to facilitate invasion. The fact that the soldiers would be provided fresh food and combat bonuses and allowed time to rest was ultimately a minor bonus.

  I couldn’t help but be disappointed.

  The Guardians were using the same troops that they used against the Merchants and Forgers to engage the Wardens. We would have this force returned home for reconsolidation and rest after the Merchants. Another army would have been used against the Forgers entirely. Another still would’ve been aimed towards the Wardens, and perhaps those who fought the Merchants would be at full strength and deployed as well.

  That was only for our current force as well. Not even considering the vast army we were set to have. The drafted army we planned to have was enormous. Nearly 12 times larger, and we could move them throughout the continent within weeks while ensuring that they were fed, watered, and supplied.

  I could only hope that their rivalry with Jack will sharpen them into a force that we can entrust our flank to.

  But I put those thoughts aside to find the champion that I sought.

  I walked through pitched festivities and carousing soldiers happy to have bread, meat, and drink and went to the outskirts of the camp where the merchant auxiliaries remained.

  Of 950 tanks, only 600 remained, thanks to the pace of the campaign. The tanks that fell in combat or were immobilized were taken by the Guardians for refurbishment and training of their own troops. Undoubtedly, the former Merchant child soldiers realized what was happening and that they would soon be replaced.

  It was the perfect time to recruit the champion that I found.

  He was at work with a handful of others. One table had tools and replacement parts, while another was lavishly covered in rations and food. They chatted amongst one another and ate while fixing their vehicles.

  He noticed my arrival immediately.

  “Khanrow, correct?” He discovered my name and saw through my disguise as one of the peasants hired to shuffle around supplies to the entire army. It was an awful system. Some peasants were squirreling away whole boxes of rations to their own ends. It was only thanks to there being plenty that those without found libations with those that did. “What does the King of Wisdom want with us?”

  “An answer to his offer to you of a home. Does it still stand after you have fought for the Guardians?”

  “He is as insightful as his reputation suggests.” Ninth, the massive ursine champion rumbled and looked my way. He gestured for me to take a seat at the table laden with food, while the others immediately went to work. The noise they made as they did was substantially louder. “I believe that my people will do better in Lady Celia’s lands. She offers much in exchange for us.”

  “She knows we want you; therefore, they’ve given you more.” I surmised, and the child nodded. He looked stronger than when I last saw him. The benefits of eating all that he needed to eat and being placed in a situation where he had to learn. “Then, my question is answered. All I have left now is information.”

  That piqued the young man’s interest, and I handed him a sheaf of papers and a cipher key. We had machines that converted input letters into something else entirely now. The cipher machines translated input letters into other scrambled letters via sequences input into the machine. Inputting the cipher text into a machine with the exact opposite sequence returned the cipher text into plain text.

  “He wanted to make sure that you read it, so you’ll be decoding it on your own. If you want to forward the information to Celia, go ahead. We’ve already moved past that code.” The Merchant Champion’s brow furrowed as he considered the jumbled letters and the sequences on the key. He glanced back and forth for a moment and realized what he was given. “We’ve investigated the coming threats on your side of the continent. You need to keep an eye out for them all. The King of Wisdom has also put in these papers what he believes the remnants of the Ancient’s foes will do. Pay careful attention to that.”

  I was tempted to recruit him, to try and leverage more, but I decided against it.

  It would be better to have someone with his intellect working for Celia, curtailing the efforts of the enemies of the Ancients.

  The leader of the Guardians, herself, would doubt every word without a semblance of a doubt.