8 Planning (1/2)
Dark Lord of Tartarus
***
After the unknown entities which appeared from the sky, Jonas immediately went for the military headquarters.
When he reached the gates of the headquarters. A large crowd of people began to gather, the good thing the guards immediately closed the gates after Jonas entered, or else it would have been a mess.
The people that gathered were ranting and demanding immediate answers and wanted to know what the army are planning to do about it. They were even forcefully trying to open the gates. However, this was understandable because after the unknown entities announced their death, some people were afraid and some were even panicking. Those creatures were just so fearsome, they seemed to be emanating an aura of fear.
Jonas entered a room and stood on a platform. There were three monitors in front of him, it was a medium sized room with dark walls. This was a meeting room, here Jonas was waiting for his superior to get into transmission.
He stood on the platform for a few minutes and finally there was a beeping sound. The monitor in the middle lit up and a face appeared.
”So general, what is it you contacted me for?”
”Something happened to this town earlier sir.”
Jonas told his superior about the unknown beings that appeared.
”Really? That happened? Hmmm, are they too confident that they even warned us that they are going to attack?”
”Perhaps sir.”
”Is it possibly a neighboring country's doing?”
”I have thought of as such. And I think the possibility is high that a country is behind this.”
”Is the purpose of talking to me about this was just to notify me about it? Or is there something you want?”
”Actually sir, I wish to ask you to send us more men and weaponries.”
”Don't you already have plenty enough men and weapons to go around? Why would you need more?”
”I feel the incoming fight won't be like the prior ones. I feel it's going to be different. The way they sent their warning must have required a vast power source to cast. So I wish to have more troops and weapons to protect the people of this town.”
”People of this town? Very well, I'll send some.”
”Thank you, si—.”
”However, I will send seventy percent of the men to the mining sites and some important places. That means thirty percent are yours, but do not worry I will send you some artillery weapons, that should increase your arsenals.”
”B-but sir! Isn't it more important to protect the lives of the citizens of this town?”
”General, have you forgotten the real reason why you are stationed here?”
Jonas clenched his fists.
”No, I have not forgotten sir.”
”There's no problem then. There are sites that are some distance from your station, which is why I'll be sending more men there. Just so you know, months ago someone infiltrated one of our mining sites and stole an entire wagon of the cargo. It's not just that, he even destroyed all machinery in the mining site leaving no data, so we don't know what the culprit looks like. We asked the surveillance officers if they at least have seen the culprit's face, but they only saw half of his face from a computer screen. So we can't let something like that happen again.”
”I understand sir. Then when will you start sending the backup?”
”Preparations will be required. So in three days starting now, they might arrive at your station.”
”Thank you sir.”
”I believe you and your men will be able beat off the enemy, general.”
The superior disconnected.
Jonas gritted his teeth and clenched his fist tight in anger and irritation.
Are those rocks more important than the lives of the people? This is stupid.
***
The town of Yusorga is at the border of its country's territory. Many armed forces of neighboring countries often illegally enter their territory. That is why Yusorga has been chosen to be the place where the military are to be stationed.
Countries sometimes fight over their territories. However, no country would fight over something without a reason.
It was not really the territory that the other countries are fighting for, but for its natural resources. The vast land around the town is very rich in natural minerals. When it was discovered that the land was very rich in minerals, the government of where the town Yusorga belongs to immediately sought to mine the said minerals. Then the other countries began to claiming the said land.
Small fighting of armed forces started within the borders. Thus, they chose the town to be their main station and built walls around it to have a defensive advantage. When the opposition discovered the walls and realized that they were at a disadvantage, they finally stopped the fighting. Of course that doesn't mean the opposition would not stop seeking minerals, so the home government immediately set up mining sites to locations where the minerals are and deployed defensive forces.
Minerals like gold, diamond, and so on were rich around the land, but those were not the main target of each countries. It was the Magic Crystals. Magic Crystals are very valuable and useful in many ways, it could also not be easily found. The crystals can be used for the development of one country's arsenals or greatly improve their other research developments. That is why every country sought the Magic Crystals, whichever country has a ton of these crystals can mean that they can be one of the most powerful countries, and further improve their country.
The citizens of this town were the least priority than the mining sites. The town was only used as a shield of some sort. No country would just try to attack a place that has thousands of civilians living in it, that is why no country ever dared to send a full scale invasion of the land. Of course there some still that are sneaking inside the territory and set small mining sites, but those are being hunted, some caught are even insisting that they were just some small private organizations – it might be true and it might be not. In contrast, the citizens doesn't know the real reason – the military are only in town mainly because of the Magic Crystals – why the military are being stationed there, the citizens only thought that the reason was because they were at the border and they are being protected from potential danger all around.
The town was also giving merits to its home country. With the military stationed in the town, some of the populace started to greatly revere the armed forces, mostly the high ranking officers. They wanted to be just like them, so some citizens including the young ones wanted to join the army. Because of that, the members of the armed forces began to increase substantially and that means there are increases in military power.
***
Jonas is currently pissed about his superior's decision, but there's no point in protesting. No matter how he tried to protest, it is highly unlikely the higher ups would change their mind.
”They better send some good guns.”
If the brass won't send a lot of men for the defense, then they better make up with powerful guns.
Jonas was hoping that their arsenals are going to be just enough to fight off the attackers. He would need to make every gun more effective in the fight.
***
Three days has past. Choppers are passing by carrying some cannons and some other cargo. A number of choppers were stopping and landing on an open field in town and the rest are flying to different places.
Jonas first welcomed the newly came soldiers and then moved to a meeting room in their headquarters.
There was a long table and a map lying on it. High ranking officers including Jonas stood all around it. They were there for the briefing on how to set up the defenses.
”Now that you are all here, let's start discussing this. As you know, the reinforcements have come and with them some high grade weapons. So let us discuss about how we are going to set up our defenses.” Jonas said.
Then one of the officers said.
”Hmmm, we also received additional two magic cannons and one new experimental magic cannon, which I was quite surprised.”
Then Jonas said.
”It seems like they're also using this battle for a damn experiment.”
”Yeah, but what can we do. However they said it is double the power of a normal magic cannon so that might be a great help to us.”
Jonas also thought that the new magic cannon might be a great help, but he still feels bad that they are being used in an experiment. If the new cannon really is powerful, then it must be placed in a good location and angle.
”Alright then, as the west is deep within the country's territory, they are likely to attack from the south. If they choose the east, they'll need to go around and that is too risky so it is unlikely that they choose to attack us from the east.” Jonas said.
They all believe that the one which is going to attack is a neighboring country. There are no other countries on the west and the east, and by the north is their home country. So they believe the opposition will attack from the south because there are some countries in that direction.
If the opposition seeks to attack from the east, they are likely to get discovered. When the happen, it's likely the battle would already be over before it reaches the town because the forces will be sent to their location.
”You're right. Then we'll need to focus on the southern flank.”
”Yes, but that doesn't mean we'll leave the other sides unguarded. We'll deploy one of the magic cannons from our depot, the two additional cannons and the experimental one on the south side. Then, we'll deploy our three remaining cannons on the remaining sides.” Jonas said.
”That's a good plan. Also, as we received four tanks as reinforcements what about we deploy them outside on the south, while the rest of the tanks be deployed by pairs on the remaining sides.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
”Alright. Furthermore we should give the high grade weapons we got to the veteran soldiers.” Jonas said.
Jonas looked to the officers around and there seems to be no objections so he continued.
”Next, about the outside. To at least increase our fire power, we need to send some outside. We'll need to dig and deploy some sand bags and some bulletproof barriers, and finally add some bunker while we're at it.”
Deploying bunkers and barriers would not take long because of the level of technology they have – of course they have the help of magic, that's why.
”We already have some gaps on the walls for the purpose of shooting, but that's still a good idea.”
”So does everyone agree?” Jonas said.”
Everyone replied in affirmative.
”Alright then finally, we'll evacuate the civilians. They'll be sent to a city to the north. I believe there are no objections about that?”
The officers looked at each other and they replied that there are no objections.
Jonas is anxious about not letting the civilians evacuate. Their defense might fail and might cause the death of the citizens, so he must evacuate them. Him being anxious only increased when the brass didn't send a lot of men and weapons, so if they fail, at least the civilians are safe.
***
(The next day)
The officers ordered the citizens to evacuate and there were vehicles waiting on the main roads.
Ana was at her home and helping her family to pack up their things.
”Big sis, where are we going?” Liam asked.
”You guys will be going to the nearby city where it's safe.”
”What about you big sis?” Sara asked Ana with a worried look on her face.
Seeing her worried little sister, Ana knelt in front of Sara and reached out her right hand to hold her little sister's cheek.
”Big sis will be staying here, okay Sara?”
”B-but why?”
Ana smiled trying to comfort her little sister.
”Big sis will be helping in protecting this town so I can't come with you. Don't worry, when the town is safe again, we will eat a lot of mother's delicious food together I promise, okay?”
”O-okay.”
Noticing her little sister is now feeling a little better, Ana caressed her little sister's head.
”Besides, the city where you'll be going is a big one, so I'm sure you'll like it there while I'm here.”
Ana stood up and looked at her mother and had a worried look to each other.
After they have packed everything they need. Ana and her family went to where the evacuation vehicles are stationed.
Nearing the station of the vehicles, Ana and her family stopped to say their goodbyes.
”This is where all I can go. Only the evacuating are allowed to go any further. So take care of yourselves out there.”
”Goodbye big sis. Take care of yourself also.”
”Of course I will, Liam.”
”G-goodbye big sis. Please don't forget your promise, okay?” Sara said.
Ana tenderly smiled and knelt before her siblings.
”Of course I won't forget. We'll eat until we can't eat anymore. Now, hug big sis!”
Liam and Sara quickly hugged Ana, they hugged each other tightly.
After that, Ana stood up and turned to face her mother. Ana held both of her mother's hand.
”Ana, make sure to live through this.”
”Of course mother, I won't leave you guys yet.”
Ana's mother instantly hugged Ana tightly and said.