Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 90: Father is wrong

Tryasche looked at Milano and crossed his arms. "Normally, we would not divulge our secrets so easily, but the stakes are clear this time. Both your side and mine face extinction. This new threat brings with it trials we have not forseen."

The king rubbed his face in his hands.

"We have a priest that has divination magic. He is able to read the stars and see things that most others cannot. Today, when he was doing his normal reading he saw the two men being summoned. More concerning than that, however: Mithrael was there personally."

"Great. So now we have to strategize against an empire that will know our tactics, has the terrain advantage, the numbers advantage, the resource advantage, and more than likely they will at least come close in technology soon. Sounds good." Eric grumbled, his head resting against Mia’s shoulder.

Milano shook his head at the young Master Sergeant, suppressing a chuckle.

"What my young Master Sergeant here means is that will come up with a plan to fight asymmetrically."

Milano tapped the map, with Miher standing up and pacing to look at the Phase Lines.

"Alright, we have the area from Esponia to the forest mined. I want all troops from Phase Line Sierra to Phase Line Papa to retreat into the forests. We will build dug in fighting positions along the brush and hills, hiding the tanks." Milano started rambling off orders as he circled areas of interest.

Miher looked at Austin on the map, scratching his chin. "We should have the paladins retreat to near Austin. That way their killboxes shift. We may have to abandon Hood Hill. They know we are here, so they will likely sortie here."

Eric sighed as he felt Mia squeeze his hand.

Abandon hood hill.

Eric shook his head. Everything they had worked for...

Gone in one day.

A man walked into the room, shaking his head. "That will not be necessary." He said while sitting down. He crossed his arms while looking around. "My pilots are ready to engage this enemy once more. Those that were damaged were able to be repaired on ship, so we can resume operations when we recieve the go ahead. Cartharic has already gained enough ground. The addition of soldiers from our world will not be the end of this world."

Eric stood up, walking over to the map. He crossed his arms as he scanned the Phase Lines. "I think what we do is trench warfare. We do not have the equipment to take out a one hundred million plus man army, but we do have the capability to hold ground. We all know the worlds will be merging as Earth things have crossed over one after the other. We stagger our retreats and each retreat brings us back to Austin or Vegas. Half go to Vegas, half go to Austin."

Murmurs around the room followed Eric’s speech, some nodding. The Captain of the Carrier looked at Eric, then to Milano. "That would work, but air support would be tight."

The two men shrugged as Eric laughed. "We have been running a thin line ever since we arrived in this world, sir."

A private in the back raised his hand. Every senior officer turned to stare at the soldier, eyes narrowed and arms crossed as they waited for the soldier to speak up. "What about the oil refinery and Nuclear facility?" The soldier asked, his legs shaking as he looked around, trying not to make eye contact with any of the leaders.

Eric and Milano shared a look.

"The kid brings up a good point." Eric said as he turned to the map. "We already have skeleton crews on each facility, but I am not too keen on fighting near an oil refinery with tanks and ballistics."

Milano sighed as he sat down by Miher. The two Generals ignored Eric’s lack of professionalism as they turned to Tryasche.

"Dragon King, those two facilities are of utmost importance." Milano began as he had documents brought to the dragon elders. "The nuclear facility, if hit will cause environmental damage the likes of which this world has never seen. One minor or medium level nuclear reaction can make the Brios cannon look like a puff of wind."

The dragon elders looked at Milano with their jaws open. Their eyes widened as they read the Chernoybyl files. "We can have the young dragons go there." Tryasche said as he put the folder down. "Under your tutelage, those children have grown into powerful warriors. I am impressed with their growth. For a world of no mana, your world has quite the ludicrous ideas and weapons."

Milano clapped his hands together, getting the attention of the room. "Alright, here is what we will do. The skeleton crews at the Oil refinery and Nuclear facility will stay. We will rig the refinery with explosives. If it comes down to it, we abandon the facility."

The room went dead silent. Even the Dragons looked confused. "Is that not rash?" Tryasche said as he looked at the map.

Milano sighed. "It is rash, but we have no other choice. We are out numbered, out manned, and ill equipped to handle fighting against a siege. The largest country in our world has roughly one billion people, and they only have an army sixty percent the size of what Cartharic has. We can’t last forever, even with our capabilities."

The Carrier captain nodded. "Even if we could put up a fight, they control over ninety percent of the world. They have resources and time. We do not have that luxury."

Milano tapped on the map, getting the attention of the room again. "Companies Alpha through Charlie of 6-8, as well as Echo and Fox trot of 4-1 will be in charge of Phase line trenches on Phase Lines Papa, Quebec, and Romeo. Everything from Phase Line Romeo to Esponia will be mined."

Pens began to scribble on notepads, and as each order was given, soldiers left the room to carry out orders.

Eric sat alone in the room with Milano, Miher, Mia, and the Dragon Elders. Each leader looked back and forth amongst each other. No one spoke as they looked at the scribbles on the map.

This is gonna suck. Eric thought as he traced Mia’s hand.

"Sir, permission to take a day off to assist with my family retreating?"

Milano looked at Eric and nodded. "Granted. Be back at Hood Hill at 0900."

Eric stood, with Mia taking his hand. "Roger."

After Eric left, Tryasche looked at the young man as he got into his truck. The dragon king sighed. "Having a family in the middle of warfare is the worst curse a man can ask for."

Every leader left in the room nodded.

Mithrael sat at his desk as he browsed through more documents. Each report caused more mana to stir around him. His face was dark as he read through lines of information one after the other.

"My son is past the point of forgiveness, Misao." Mithrael called out loud, turning to his trusted assistant. The woman had come down with him, taking on a human avatar after he had asked her to join him on Brishan.

She bowed towards him, her tight skirt ruffling against her skin as her brown hair dangled, hiding her face. "Indeed, my lord. Do you wish for me to take care of it? You do not need to solve all of these mortals problems yourself."

Mithrael shook his head. "My beloved servant, you are still so young and do not understand mortals. They worship us because we give them power in their hour of need. As of right now, my son has been a plague to this empire. Slavery has run rampant, breeding camps and sex misconduct go unpunished. The poor grow poorer while those in power gain more wealth. Listen to their prayers... Misao. They ask not for mercy. Most..."

"Ask for death."

Mithrael handed a document to her. "That is why I must see to it personally. Mortals will flock towards a God when they see the God they have learned to lean on personally take action."

Misao read the document, her own mana spreading around her. The room was threatening to collapse before Mithrael placed his hand on her shoulder. "Steady yourself, child. It is appalling what these mortals do to themselves when left to their own devices. That is why we must take the reins and guide them gently. We must nurture their nature, lest they destroy themselves."

After ensuring she was calm, Mithrael walked out of the room. "Do not follow me. I will right the wrong that I have wrought on myself with my own hands."

The woman sighed in response, taking a seat. "As you command, Lord."

Heith paced his room as he threw another chair at the wall. Piles of wood lay around the room, and shattered glass piled up under curtains near the windows. He looked at one of the shards as he observed his face. Messy hair and dirty clothes looked back.

"Its not my fault! I did the right thing! Mortals are tools. Elves and dwarves are worthless races. Father is wrong..."

"Father is wrong."