Chapter 478 – Scolding
Do not talk to me of doomsday, for it has been witnessed. Do not talk to me of Divinity, for it has been witnessed. Our past had a future, and the future was glorious. And the future was inspiring, and the future was amongst the stars. A future that would allow Arda to walk hand in hand with the stars. Filled with pure lifeblood of the stars. Not of any world but of the universe, destined to live together and in harmony with the stars in the sky.
Yet it was a future thrown away, destroyed by Arda’s own avarice. Ardan demanded that life be Ardan, she struggled, she stole and she gave birth to creatures of her own making. But from the milk of the mother came her endless avarice and her vainglory, and her children grew up in her shadow ready to cast their own when they stepped out.
With such a cursed parent, life needed a teacher. And a teacher was given. And the teacher did not last. And Arda screamed and tore and cast off her guards. For it was not good enough for Divinity to be true. Divinity had to be hers, no matter how false it was.
Divinity is hers. Life is hers. Her world is her own.
Look and weep at what our mother has borne.
For it is you, and it is me.
- Excerpt from an untitled document, written by God Saranael, of Knowledge.
Kassandora pursed her lips and sat at the side of the island between the kitchen and the living room. She kept her palms on her knees, her breathing steady, her eyes focused on the table as her father looked over the maps that Fortia had sent straight to him. Her father had sent it straight to her before he had reviewed it himself even. “It’s not even bad.” It was less total than Kassandora’s plan, but Kassandora’s plans were always total.
If Fortia had suggested this during the latest CSC meeting, there would have been no trouble. But Fortia had not suggested anything back then, instead she had sat in silence and nodded along and smiled. And then after Kassandora had explained everything to Arascus, the God of Pride got an alternate version of Operation Our Skies, Our Sands on his table a day later.
An alternate version signed by Goddess Fortia, of Peace, and not reviewed by Goddess Kassandora, of War. That was the big issue. “I know it’s not even bad.” Arascus said. “That’s the issue. If it was bad, I would have thrown it away immediately.”
Kassandora took a deep breath. She understood the issue perfectly, it was more than common in the army. Fortia could not be rewarded for skipping past the chain of command, but likewise her plan was good. This was the entire point of having the secret suggestion box in which low ranking soldiers and officers could submit ideas straight to Kassandora. A few would come through everyday, most of them were terrible, once a week, some minor optimization was found. Once a month, something large would be changed: the latest had been assigning a designated pet bird, cat or dog to every unit.
This was not that though. This was as if Kassandora was in a meeting and then after, some sergeant had come in and said that Iliyal Tremali’s plan was terrible and they should do something else. “I know.” Kassandora said glumly. Her eyes darted around the office, or the hotel room as Arascus so liked. Back in Ilan, the same room where apparently Fortia had sworn for the Empire. The place was a modern Imperial-era Divine hotel. Outside, the city was in full swing. Part of the city’s north was entirely green, the Rilians were covering their skyscrapers in shrubs to try and bring more life back to the jungle of sandstone and steel and glass. Cars and trucks drove through the city. The top of the closest skyscraper had a steel pyramid installed atop it, on that sat one of Elassa’s transmutation crystals.
As dusk approach, every now and then, Kassandora would catch the twinkle of a diamond in the distance. Ashen Skies had not ventured all the way north to Ilan, this land would not become utterly flooded by precious crystals in the way Esberia was or the Sassara would be. But it still had enough residual Tartarian pollution that a few diamonds would be made in the air. There was a knock on the door. Fortia had arrived.
Kassandora had to be here, but that did not mean she had to like it. This was not a meeting a meeting to scout an enemy, it wasn’t a sniffing out of an opponent Divine’s strength, nor the character of the general on the other side of the field. This was politics and she was caught slap bang in the very middle of it. That was Fortia’s great crime, if she wanted to pull off stunts like this, she should have gone through the proper channels.
Maybe she was going soft. Maybe it was because it was Fortia and Fortia was one of the good ones that Kassandora actually respected as a military commander? It had to be that. It could not the fact that she was going soft. No way. Not at all. Fortia was just mildly pleasant and intelligent enough to be worth respecting. Not as much as Kavaa of course, but… The Goddess of Peace entered the room and immediately, all of Kassandora’s inner vanished when she saw how the bronze Goddess was dressed.
Fortia, as always, wore that charlatan’s abomination of a skirt. The fact it ended above her knees was disgusting. The fact that her shirt was modest only insofar that it wasn’t deliberately a size too small was too on the nose. Kassandora herself wore the modest long-sleeved shirts. What was Fortia doing? Showing off her elbows like that? Harlot! Worse than Malam! Kassandora’s sister at least did it on purpose to aggravate! Fortia dressed like that because she lacked any and all shame or sense of modesty! “I have arrived.” Fortia said, her eyes passed over Kassandora, then Arascus.
The God of Pride shifted from his position behind the island in the middle of the room. At least he dressed well, in an Imperial suit and a white shirt. The black coat tinged with red highlights hung off a hook on the wall. “You have.” Arascus said. “Do you know why?”
Fortia stopped from the other side of the island. Her bronze eyes and hair stood out in the modern black and white colour scheme of the kitchen. “I presume I’m in trouble.” Fortia said. Arascus smiled, Kassandora knew the move. This was all very petty after all. She would not admit fault and Arascus would have to be the one to set the tone. It was textbook discussion control, Kassandora would not have done it cleaner herself.
Arascus sighed, then knocked the piece of paper with his knuckle. “This is the issue.” Arascus said.
“Is there a mistake with the plan?” Fortia asked. “Or some issue?”
“No Fortia.” Arascus leaned back. “The issue is not that the plan is bad, out of the three people in this room, three people agree that it’s excellent. You have identified problems, you’ve fixed them, you still complete the objective. The problem is that Kassandora is the commander of the Imperial Armed Forces.” Arascus said. “Matters of warfare go through her.” Fortia stood straight backed, hands behind her back. She turned her head to Kassandora, those bronze eyes were cold, and then the woman inclined her head.
“My apologies Kassandora.”
“Apologies are worthless.” Kassandora replied, just because she didn’t want to be part of this conversation didn’t mean she would back down. The Goddess of War had a reputation to uphold after all. “Words are wind, it doesn’t change the matter of the situation.”
“I suppose it doesn’t.” Fortia said. She turned back to Arascus. “So what will happen now?” The God of Pride leaned back and tapped the map.
“There is a lesson here, isn’t there?” Arascus said. “The obvious one. Which is that we will simply not use this.” Kassandora took a deep breath. The issues that Fortia had identified were real problems though. None of it was farce.
“What if I promise not to do it again?” Fortia asked and Arascus stared at her flatly.
“We’ve known each over too long for me to believe that.” He said and Fortia chuckled.
“Well of course Arascus.” Fortia said. “You know me and I know you and I think there’s Maisara and then there’s you on who knows me the best. So what now?” Kassandora saw the manoeuvre, Fortia was calling his bluff on punishing her. But then it was good, calculated risk. Of Peace would not be removed from command, she was simply too useful to waste like that. Likewise, there was no real threat of something permanent happening to her. Divines did not execute each other. Not anymore at least. Not unless they were called Kassandora.
“What was the logic for the redesign of the plan? Not the individual choices that you’ve explained here but why bother going through all this effort when you know no one will like it.”
“I’ve explained it on the paper already.” Fortia said. “But the general idea is that now that nuclear weapons have been revealed, I expect Guguo, the UNN and Pichqasuyu to all start developing their own. Karaina too, maybe. The Surface War has to end as soon as possible. The more we let it stretch on, the worse it gets for all of us.” Fortia took a pause. “Is that enough or no? That’s the tactical war reasoning.”
“Tactical?” Kassandora asked. If that was tactical then what was the strategic?
“You sidestepped the question.” Arascus said. “Tactical reasoning has nothing to do with you skipping chain of command unless you’re actually just impetuous and stupid and you’re not.”
“I may be.”
“You’re not.” Arascus said. “So cut it and what else?” Fortia pursed her lips, her eyes went to Kassandora, then to Arascus. Of War narrowed her own gaze, this was going to be about her, wasn’t it? Fortia was about to make some stupid comment.
“How far can I push it?”
“Between the three of us here, Kass and Fer handle criticism the best. If this wasn’t about her, you wouldn’t be asking.”
“Just say it.” Kassandora said. “What did I miss?”
“The politics of it.” Fortia said. “You missed that we most likely have foreign Ardan spies in our countries, you missed the world is entering a scramble for everything that’s happening. That Paraideisius could enter any day now.” Fortia pursed her lips. “And there’s another reason, but it’s sly.”
“What?”
“I don’t think we should clear the Sassara precisely because the world needs us. No one else can even dream of manufacturing ICDT towers because the crystals on them are just Elassa’s handiwork. It’s not even technique, it’s just the amount of power she puts into them. If we go with Kassandora’s total cleansing plan, then yes, we clean the atmosphere, we set ourselves up for aircraft in the immediate wars after. My plan doesn’t do that.”
“No.” Arascus said. “Why?”
“Because if there’s ash in the atmosphere, then the Empire has leverage over making others join in exchange for setting up the towers in their lands. Guguo and the UNN obviously won’t do it, but the minor nations will most likely consider it. We can skip the wars that way. Kassandora’s plan wins the war too totally. Tartarus is eliminated to such a degree that Imperial strength becomes the only joining factor. If there’s ash in the atmosphere still, then we have too reasons: one is still Imperial strength because we still defeat Tartarus singlehandedly, the other is assistance in the ash crisis.”
Arascus looked to Kassandora, eyebrow raised. Of War knew the expression all too well, he was actually impressed. “If we win by planting season in spring, then it will be better. In Epa we obviously have mass weather control but everywhere else, there’s a heavy winter because of the atmospheric ash. Current estimates say that planting season next year will be delayed by a month, maybe two. Obviously no one will want that. Obviously, we have the only solution for it too.”
Arascus sighed, then shook his head. “And why did you not go through Kassandora?”
“I thought you would understand the reasoning better.”
Kassandora had to explain the actual inner workings of the Empire to the woman. “The way it works is I have an inner circle of generals I trust. As long as they don’t write complete garbage, I generally submit the best three or four plans to dad. You’re in that inner circle Fortia.” Even now, she would remain in it. As bad as the breach in protocol was, it didn’t make the woman untalented at warfare. This explanation proved it. That was the sort of logic Kassandora didn’t do whatsoever.
“I simply thought it important.” Fortia said and Arascus narrowed his eyes. He didn’t say anything though. Fortia saw him staring at her. “So?” She asked. “Does that change the punishment? Is the reasoning good enough? I did not think Kassandora would value such a plan, so I took the initiative and sent it to you, because I know it’s good.”
“Maybe it does.” Arascus said. “Maybe it doesn’t.”
Fortia’s hands landed on her hips. The movement reminded Kassandora the woman wore a skirt, and she got annoyed immediately. “That’s the sort of thing Allasaria would say to me.”
“You know me well enough to know that it has to be something truly revolutionary to get me to change my mind Fortia.” Arascus said. “Did it? I don’t know. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. I guess you should have asked what the punishment was at the start.”
“If I asked then, it would have been set.” Fortia said.
“I know.” Arascus said. “So maybe I eased up on you. Whatever the case, I think you’ll find it fitting.”
Fortia turned to Kassandora, then back to Arascus. “Are you going to make me Kassandora’s maid or something?” Kassandora blinked, stared at Fortia, then felt a shiver go down her spine. No. She did not want harlots who were thousands of years of old that dressed like teenage girls to be her maids. It would be a punishment for both of them.
“No.” Arascus said. “Since you apparently want to be so helpful you forget we have a chain of command, I won’t make you jump through hoops and just assign you an important job.” Kassandora smiled slyly and Fortia kept her face steady. Both of them knew it was going to be something terrible. Arascus wouldn’t stretch it out this long or give such an explanation if it wasn’t. “You’re going to take Ciria off my hands and nanny her until she finishes the towers or Kassandora needs you for the war effort again.”
Fortia’s lips dropped into a scowl. Her eyebrows darted downwards. She blinked, then her eyes went wide in surprise. “Excuse me?” Arascus stood up.
“It’s settled. I’m glad you’re taking her off my hands. Well done Fortia.” He tapped the plans. “Next time, remember there’s proper procedure because my favourite thing on Arda is when people are feeling extra helpful.” Kassandora’s eyes grew wide, not at the punishment, although it was smart but at the fact Arascus had just been snide. Since when could he do that?
“You know it was just a test.” Fortia said quickly. “To see how you’d react? Well done Arascus, you passed.”
“No.” Arascus said. “I will fail your test if punishment is not enforced. We can talk over this in a month.”
Fortia blinked, opened her mouth, closed it, then closed her eyes. “But she’s a bitch!” Fortia said. “Come on, why do I have to do that?”
“Because you skipped chain of command. Don’t throw a strop now.”
“And if I do?”
“I’m stronger than you.” Arascus said dryly.
“You’re not.” Fortia replied. Kassandora wanted to be out of here. This is like when Fer and Irinika went at it. At least with Anassa, there was a kindred spirit there, with Malam, Kassandora was just stronger. But Fortia and Arascus and were like Fer and Irinika. They only listened when they wanted to listen.
“I am.” Arascus said.
“Not at this range.”
“Especially at this range.” Arascus said. “What? Will you stab me? Do you think that’s enough to put me down?”
“I would rip you apart.” Fortia said coldly.
“We both know you wouldn’t be able to do that.”
“Same to you.” Fortia said then shook her head. “Come on Arascus! What is this? We signed the Concordats together and now you’re making me a fucking babysitter? You lost the Great War because of me! Have some respect for a rival!”
“I do.” Arascus said. “Because I’m the only one who can handle Ciria for any extended period of time, and since you’ve just declared yourself my rival, I suppose that makes you number two.” Fortia tried to find an argument, then gave up, shaking her head in frustration.
“At least call me stupid then. Like Alla did.”
“No.” Arascus said. “Your problem is that you are too smart. If you plan was shit.” Kassandora blinked. Did Arascus just swear? He never swore around her though. “We’d throw it in the bin, tell you to know your place, and move on. The only reason there’s a problem is because your plan was too good to throw away in the first place.”
“Fuck.” Fortia shook her head. “Just scrap it then.”
“I just said we won’t. Tough shit Fortia, you played yourself. Have fun looking after everyone’s favourite Goddess.”
“I hate her though.”
Arascus actually chuckled. Kassandora blinked, she had seen him debate of course, and he had seen him laugh with Fer and Irinika, but this fast-paced style of conversation? The sort that Fer had with people? She had never seen it on him. And with Fortia of all people? Why even. “Welcome to the club. So far, everyone bar her husband has joined it.” Arascus said.
Fortia’s posture crashed down, her arms fell down to her sides, she took a heavy breath. “Do you have a drink at least?”
Arascus pointed to one of the cabinets behind Fortia. “Whiskey, top row.”