Chaos' Heir Chapter 951: War council

Chapter 951: War council

The conversation grew more light-hearted, even bordering on topics and jokes those unsafe channels should prevent. Nevertheless, the two eventually had to close the call and attend to their duties.

Khan felt slightly conflicted when he left the private room and exited the building. The planet's white star had almost disappeared behind the horizon, creating a marvelous but alien spectacle with its surviving light s.h.i.+ning on the brown-red soil. Usually, Khan would admire the scene while lost in thoughts, but his mood didn't let him relax.

Seeing Monica after so long had been great, fantastic even. Her existence reminded Khan of a life outside the battlefield, a life of unending pa.s.sion and love.

Monica's calm approach to Khan's doubts had also rea.s.sured him. Khan had always been honest with her, and she knew exactly what their relations.h.i.+p would entail. Monica had even come to terms with Khan's alien nature over the years, so she never failed to add a perspective Khan was blind to.

However, that rea.s.surance wasn't complete. A strange feeling nagged the back of Khan's mind. He almost felt Monica had underestimated the current issue, failing to see its ramifications and possible consequences.

'It's not like I know what this issue exactly is,' Khan thought. 'Or how to explain it.'

Of course, Khan knew. He couldn't translate the idea into words, but his heart knew. Khan was growing distant from everyone else, delving deeper into the world only he could see. His superior power was erecting a tall wall, and he feared all his loved ones would end up on its other side.

'I must have spent too long on this planet,' Khan considered, pus.h.i.+ng those worries aside. 'One day with Monica will make this feeling disappear.'

That conclusion didn't come from confidence. Khan simply hoped it would become true, especially since he couldn't see alternatives. That was his path to power, and he couldn't stop treading it. The entire universe was at stake, and Khan had promised his father he would save it.

Pus.h.i.+ng that bitter feeling aside made room for a single-minded goal. Monica had expressed a clear wish, and Khan was ready to set seas aflame to fulfill it. Thanks to it, he found it easier to concentrate and dismiss useless worries.

Khan glanced at the building behind him before disappearing. The Headquarters was still dealing with the vast battle's conclusion, retrieving corpses and more with the help of jeeps and other armored vehicles. The process would probably last until tomorrow, but Khan knew something had already ended.

The lab area was busy and crowded. Scalqa delivered corpses to interactive desks, hoovering metal carts, or specific warehouses while scientists dealt with them. Similar scenes unfolded in the buildings focused on studying Senerth's unique ground. The army would leave the planet to the Nognes Excellencies, but seizing resources during the conquest was within its rights.

In the meantime, a smaller group had gathered inside a relatively central building. The place looked small and una.s.suming, featuring only a short square structure. Still, its elevator led to an underground area that hosted Khan's war council.

Truthfully, the army didn't initially plan to have a specific building for those topics. Saving s.p.a.ce was paramount for planetary conquests, so the army's leaders relied on the lab for most strategy meetings.

However, as Khan's fame grew, his presence started to disturb the scientists' work. His aura also messed up with the lab's tech, so Lieutenant Dyester summoned the new building from the Leviathan to handle the most important war meetings.

The war council had already started when Khan descended into the underground area. A huge hologram of the planet shone above a circular metal table with people either sitting, standing, or roaming around it. The mood felt heavy, but only silence existed when the elevator revealed Khan.

Lieutenant Dyester glanced at Khan and snorted, blowing the smoke from his cigarette while pacing around the table. Garret stood from his seat and rubbed his tired eyes before lowering his head to welcome Khan.

Moses, Prince Richard, and Bruno were also there. The former had to become worthy of the Montares Princesses, so he needed that military experience. He sat on his chair, wearing the politest stance he could muster, while his fervent gaze fell on Khan.

Prince Richard was Khan's Cousin, so he had the right to attend those meetings. Also, his education would only benefit from witnessing how wars actually unfolded. Showing him the battlefield and the strategy sides would fulfill Prince Thomas' request, so Khan didn't mind his presence.

As for Bruno, he acted as a simple bystander, ensuring that Khan didn't try to go back on his deal with the other Nognes factions. His presence could be overbearing, but the evolved warrior did his best to appear invisible.

"What's the disagreement?" Khan asked, reading the mood.

"Master Carl doesn't like the idea of launching solo surgical strikes, Prince Khan," Garret politely explained.

"We have an army," Lieutenant Dyester exclaimed, "The pheromone, and an enemy busy killing itself. There's no reason to send you alone out there."

"What do you suggest?" Khan questioned.

Lieutenant Dyester approached the table, putting out his cigarette while tinkering with the menus. The holograms changed, showing a series of simulations that reflected his strategy.

"We use the infighting," Lieutenant Dyester explained. "Unleash the pheromone as soon as the battles end to catch the creatures hungry and injured. Oppressing them from four fronts will also shrink their hunting grounds, cutting out additional food sources."

The holograms showed the red area closing down on a blue zone, encircling it, and gradually devouring it. Lieutenant Dyester planned to split the army into four battalions, focusing on securing vast stretches of territory in a short period.

The timing had to be perfect to exploit the pack's chaotic situation, but the idea was good. Securing territory wasn't an issue with the turrets, and the Scalqa were more than capable of handling injured monsters. Limiting the creatures' hunting grounds would also remove variables, projecting a clean victory.

Still, the idea was bound to be messy, especially in its initial stages. The pheromone was valuable, but its control wasn't perfect. One front might expect to face a small pack only to see a whole horde of injured monsters rus.h.i.+ng toward it. Moreover, Khan might not be there, leaving the Scalqa to fend for themselves.

The Scalqa would probably win, and a loss wouldn't ruin the campaign anyway. Yet, the casualties could be far higher than anything experienced in the past months.

Also, Lieutenant Dyester had failed to consider one point, probably on purpose. That strategy was perfect for an ordinary army with common means, but Khan was on Senerth, and there was nothing ordinary about him.

"What's the current death toll?" Khan asked.

A grim expression appeared on Lieutenant Dyester's face. He knew where Khan was going with his question and the consequences his answer would create.

"We lost three hundred and sixty-seven soldiers," Garret promptly replied. "With the Prince and Master Carl on opposite fronts, we can pour more forces on the remaining two

battalions."

Garret's suggestion worked in favor of Lieutenant Dyester's idea, but Khan didn't hear it. His brain still lingered on that number. The campaign had almost killed a quarter of his army.

All things considered, those losses were extraordinarily low. After all, the army was dealing with an entire planet occupied by a savage enemy. That result was incredible and could be seen as an excellent military accomplishment.

Yet, Khan couldn't see his army as a weapon. He didn't like to wield the Scalqa as a blunt tool of war. He very much preferred to turn himself into that than dealing with the death of his

soldiers.

"That's the reason," Khan declared. "Expand and reinforce the perimeter as much as possible. Keep the scanners pointed at the remaining quadrants. Rest and regroup in the meantime. We'll have another meeting in two weeks."

"What do you plan on doing?" Lieutenant Dyester asked, his grim expression darkening.

"I'm going out," Khan casually said, approaching the elevator. The war council had more questions, but Khan didn't give anyone the time to speak.

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Author's notes: Happy New Year!