Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

"The Military Judge has counted a total of 1,742 Black Orc heads afterward, your troops had seven dead and thirty-nine wounded, and that regiment of the National Defense Army lost nearly half," the messenger reported. "The vast majority of the dead were lost in the first minute of the ambush."

Malin, of course, understood everything the messenger said, but the fact that his men still suffered forty-some casualties atop the hill left the young man somewhat puzzled, "How did my people suffer these losses?"

"Two platoon-sized units took it upon themselves to join the battle down the hill; they helped the National Defense Army’s vanguard units to stop the Orcs’ pincer attack. All seven died from arrows and spears."

In other words, the line infantry formed by the two platoons didn’t let the Black Orcs get close from start to finish, very good.

"...Having courage is a good thing, Matilda, award all members of these two units one rank higher service medal, plus another rank for the wounded, and posthumously bestow the Medal of Honor to the fallen, with free school admission for their children. For those with talent, I will personally write a letter of recommendation to the Church," Malin turned his head and said, then took the map Matilda handed to him and spread it out on the large coffee table.

"The Black Orcs’ advance camp is here..." Malin first pointed north, then toward a point closer to Carterburg from that spot, "This is where they encountered the attack... Messenger, I need confirmation on the situation of towns around this Dark Zone. Please inform your commander that my need for information will be very... urgent."

"Your Excellency, are you suspecting that there is a long-term transportation fissure for the Black Orcs in the Dark Zone?"

"That’s one way to put it. When the Sydneyans drove the Black Orcs into the forest back in the day, they killed almost all the women and children. Even if they could produce many offspring in three hundred years, what about weapons and equipment? And the magicians? Black Orc magicians have a tradition, and a Black Orc magician without tradition is just a charlatan, not worth their shield formations."

"You’re right, I will report back to my lord immediately. Mr. Malin, if there’s any new intelligence, my colleagues and I will notify you with the utmost speed," the messenger said.

After the messenger left, Faye knelt by the coffee table and looked at the map, "From the day I was born until yesterday, I never thought that the Black Orcs would trouble Sydneyans. In the East, they indeed are trouble, but there’s the Church of Justice, the Eastern Kingdom... I never imagined that they would re-emerge in the softest, most vulnerable places of the Kingdom of Sydney."

"Do not worry, I can halt the work in all but the essential factories. The existing weapons and equipment can arm at least three divisions. Most of those who fled to Carterburg are young and vigorous. I will tell them this is their last line of retreat. When the Tide of the Dead rises again, I need every brave soul to stand with me in the trenches, facing annihilation," Malin said, then looked at the girls before him, "And the Black Orcs are merely the appetizer before a dinner named destruction."