Chapter 194: Deployment Briefing

Chapter 194: Deployment Briefing

Noah received his deployment briefing order the following morning. The message gave him a room number, a reporting time, and confirmation that the students attending had been assigned to the same general theater of operations.

It did not include the exact battlefield, the number of troops he would be allowed to deploy, or the type of Astragoth forces expected in the region.

Those were the details Noah needed before making any decision about Eldrath. The previous day’s announcement had already explained why students were entering the war and what kind of enemy they would face. Noah now needed information that would determine what kind of force Eldrath should send.

He left his quarters and crossed the military training camp toward the designated briefing building. Several students were already moving through the camp with similar orders in hand, and small groups had formed outside nearby rooms as people waited for their own briefings to begin.

Noah paid little attention to the conversations around him because most of them were still based on speculation. Until he knew the mission and the deployment limit, deciding what Eldrath should send would be guesswork.

When he reached the briefing room, Daniel, Claire, and Ethan were already waiting outside.

Daniel raised one hand when he saw him.

"Good, you’re here too. When I saw Claire and Ethan waiting outside, I started hoping they had kept all four of us together. I’d rather enter a real war knowing at least a few people around me."

Claire looked toward him.

"We’re assigned to the same general theater. That doesn’t mean we’re going to fight beside each other once deployment begins."

Daniel’s expression immediately changed.

"You could have let me enjoy that idea until we entered the room."

"I’m trying to stop you from assuming something they haven’t confirmed. We could be assigned to different areas even if we’re operating under the same command."

Ethan glanced toward the closed door.

"That’s what I want explained. Are we expected to operate as a group, or are they simply placing students of similar strength in the same part of the war?"

Daniel turned toward Noah.

"Please tell me you have a more encouraging interpretation."

Noah looked at the order again before answering.

"If Imperial forces are already fighting there, they’ll probably place us according to where support is needed. I don’t think they’ll change an existing operation just to keep the four of us together."

Daniel let out a breath.

"So all three of you have decided to destroy my optimism before the briefing even starts."

Claire smiled slightly.

"We’re trying to make sure you don’t build your entire plan around something that hasn’t been confirmed."

"I preferred the plan where all four of us stayed together and someone else handled the enormous snakes."

Ethan looked at him.

"Nobody offered you that plan."

"That is why I’m disappointed."

The briefing room doors opened a few minutes later, and an instructor called the waiting students inside. The room was much smaller than the main hall used for the previous announcement. Only several dozen students were present, and a large projection occupied the front of the room.

Noah sat beside Daniel, Claire, and Ethan near the front. Once everyone had settled, a military officer stepped forward and activated the projection without repeating the previous day’s introduction.

A vast world map appeared before them.

Multiple planets filled the projection, spread across the display instead of showing a single battlefield. Some were separated by enormous distances, while others appeared closer together.

The scale immediately showed Noah why the officers had repeatedly described the conflict as a galactic war rather than a normal planetary campaign.

The officer allowed the students to study the projection before speaking.

"This is the section of the war relevant to your deployment."

Several planets on the map were highlighted.

"Imperial and Astragoth forces are already fighting across multiple planets. You will not be responsible for this entire theater, and you will not be sent to the most dangerous part of the war."

Daniel stared at the map for several seconds.

"Seeing it like this makes yesterday’s explanation feel very different."

Claire kept studying the highlighted planets.

"Yesterday we were only told that the war covered multiple worlds. This actually shows how spread out the fighting is."

Ethan nodded.

"And we’re only being sent to one part of it."

The officer continued.

"Your group has been assigned to one of these active battlefields."

One planet became more prominent on the projection while the others remained visible around it.

"Imperial forces are already established there. You are joining an existing front, not beginning a separate campaign."

Several students exchanged quiet comments after hearing that.

The officer continued.

"Your assignments will place you alongside Imperial forces already operating on the planet. You are being sent there to gain experience while supporting military operations that are already underway."

Daniel raised his hand.

"So we’re not going to arrive on an empty planet and be told to establish our own front?"

"No. Your forces will be attached to operations already taking place."

Daniel lowered his hand.

"That’s much better than what I was imagining."

Claire glanced toward him.

"What exactly were you imagining?"

"Something similar to Edras. We arrive, someone points at a direction, and suddenly everything in that direction becomes our problem."

Noah understood why Daniel had made the comparison.

The situation here would be different. On Edras, the planetary gods had been divided into separate sectors and given considerable freedom over how they conducted their campaigns. In this war, Imperial forces had already been fighting before the students arrived.

The officer adjusted the projection again. The selected planet remained visible while information about the students’ operational area appeared beside it.

"Once deployed, students may be ordered to reinforce defensive positions, protect supply routes, hold captured areas, or support Imperial units during controlled offensives."

He looked across the room before continuing.

"You will not operate independently. Your forces are being added to a larger Imperial army."

Noah focused on the assignment rather than the rest of the planets still visible on the map. The wider projection showed how small the students’ role would be compared with the full war. Even the planet where they were being sent represented only one battlefield among many.

The officer continued.

"You will remain within the area assigned to you. If an Astragoth force retreats outside your designated sector, you do not pursue unless you receive an order."

Daniel leaned slightly toward Claire.

"That sounds like the kind of rule someone ignores right after winning a fight."

Claire kept her voice low.

"Especially if they decide the enemy is retreating because it can’t fight anymore."

Ethan looked toward the highlighted planet.

"Leaving your area could also separate your force from the Imperial units you’re supposed to support."

Daniel nodded.

"Then I’ll happily let a retreating Astragoth keep retreating until someone tells me otherwise."

Noah understood the restriction. A student who abandoned his assigned position could interfere with a larger operation that extended far beyond what he personally saw.

The officer changed the information displayed beside the planet.

Several smaller Astragoth markers appeared ahead of a larger concentration.

"Your first contact may not involve the main enemy force. Smaller groups can approach defensive positions before larger forces arrive."

He indicated the forward markers.

"Your first engagement may therefore involve Astragoths that are easier to stop than those appearing later."

Daniel raised his hand again.

"So if the first attack goes well, we shouldn’t assume the next one will be just as easy."

"Correct."

The officer pointed toward the larger concentration.

"The appearance of larger Astragoths changes the situation because their strength and durability increase with size."

Daniel lowered his hand.

"Then winning the first fight could make someone careless. If ordinary weapons kill the first group quickly, they might assume the same weapons will work against everything else."

Claire glanced toward him.

"That is surprisingly cautious coming from you."

Daniel looked offended.

"I’m trying to make it through the deployment without doing something stupid, and I’d appreciate it if you stopped acting surprised whenever I say something sensible."

Ethan smiled faintly.

"I think the surprise is going to continue."

Daniel turned toward him.

"You’re supposed to be the quiet one."

Noah raised his hand after their exchange ended.

"I want to ask about their scales. How difficult are they to penetrate with conventional weapons?"

The officer brought several images of Astragoths onto the projection beside the world map.

"There is no single answer because their durability changes with size. Smaller Astragoths can be killed with conventional battlefield weapons used by many civilizations."

He then indicated the larger examples.

"Larger Astragoths can survive attacks that would easily kill ordinary soldiers or destroy ordinary battlefield targets."

Noah followed with another question.

"So rifles can still work against the smaller ones, but a force shouldn’t depend on rifles alone if larger Astragoths appear."

"Correct. Larger Astragoths may require heavier weapons."

That gave Noah a clearer picture of what Eldrath needed.

Infantry rifles still had value, but they could not be the only weapons responsible for stopping an attack. Machine guns, RPGs, and artillery would become increasingly important as the enemy grew larger.

Ethan raised his hand next.

"How quickly can they move?"

The officer changed the projection again, displaying Astragoths moving across open ground.

"Do not assume that large Astragoths are slow. Some can move surprisingly quickly when charging. If you wait until they are already close to your position, your forces may not have enough time to reorganize."

Ethan watched the movement carefully.

"Then the larger ones need to be identified early. If they require heavier weapons, those weapons need to engage before the target reaches the line."

Noah nodded.

"Machine-gun positions would also need to cover the same approach from different positions. If one crew stops firing, another should still be able to attack whatever is advancing."

Daniel looked between them.

"You both watched those things charge and immediately started planning how many weapons should cover the same area."

Claire glanced toward him.

"That’s what we’re supposed to be doing."

"I know. My first thought was simply that I don’t want one of them getting anywhere near me."

Ethan gave him a slight smile.

"That conclusion is still useful."

Claire raised her hand next.

"If students bring aircraft, should we expect threats that can reach them?"

The officer answered without expanding beyond what they needed for deployment.

"Do not assume aircraft can operate without danger. The Astragoth Empire is a galactic power and possesses ways to threaten airborne forces."

Claire nodded slowly.

"So anyone bringing aircraft still needs to coordinate with Imperial command."

"Yes. Student aircraft will operate according to the directions given for the battlefield."

Noah kept aircraft among the options for Eldrath, but he would not base the deployment around them before receiving the final instructions.

Daniel raised his hand again.

"What happens if one of us encounters an Astragoth our forces clearly can’t handle? I mean something large enough that our weapons aren’t stopping it. Are we expected to stay there and keep attacking?"

The officer answered directly.

"If the threat is beyond your assigned strength, report it and request support. Imperial forces are operating nearby because trainees are not expected to defeat every enemy they encounter."

Daniel nodded.

"That’s good to hear. If something is large enough that my strongest attack barely affects it, I have no problem asking someone stronger to handle it."

Claire looked toward him.

"That may be your safest plan so far."

Daniel pointed at her.

"Requesting support when you need it is good military judgment. The officer just confirmed it."

"Nobody disagreed with you."

"Your expression did."

Claire shook her head while Ethan laughed quietly beside her.

The officer allowed the room to settle before changing the information on the projection.

"You will also have limits on how many forces you may deploy."

The room became quieter.

"Students may choose the composition of their forces, but troop numbers will be limited according to the mission."

Noah listened closely as the officer continued.

"You are not expected to send your entire civilization into the war. The purpose of this deployment is to expose you to large-scale warfare while ensuring you can still control the forces assigned to you."

That gave Noah a more specific planning problem.

Eldrath possessed enormous manpower, but the deployment would not be decided by how many soldiers the planet could provide. Noah needed to create the most useful force within the number Imperial command allowed.

He looked at the selected planet again while the officer answered questions from other students.

The open terrain shown for their battlefield would allow Eldrath’s weapons to be used at range. Machine guns and artillery could attack approaching Astragoths before they reached the infantry, while trucks and armored vehicles would help move soldiers and weapons where they were needed.

The main danger remained close combat.

A goblin could operate a rifle, machine gun, RPG, or artillery piece effectively, but none of those weapons changed the physical difference between a goblin and a large Astragoth once the creature reached the position.

Noah began narrowing down the force he wanted.

Infantry would still be necessary to hold positions and protect heavier weapons. Machine guns could provide sustained fire against approaching enemies, while RPG teams could respond to larger Astragoths that survived lighter attacks.

Artillery would provide long-range destructive power, and trucks and armored vehicles would give the force mobility. Aircraft remained possible, depending on the final instructions.

Noah did not choose exact numbers because Imperial command had not yet provided his deployment limit.

The officer eventually returned everyone’s attention to the front.

"You will receive your final assignment and deployment limit before departure. After that, you will have a short period to prepare your civilization."

The world map remained behind him as he continued.

"Use that time to select the troops and equipment you intend to bring and organize them for deployment."

The officer then explained that the students would bring their forces through their portals into the designated staging area before moving to their assigned battlefield.

Daniel leaned toward Noah.

"At least we have time to organize everything before the fighting starts."

Noah nodded.

"It also means we need to decide exactly what we’re bringing before opening the portal."

Daniel looked thoughtful.

"I was originally planning around troop numbers. Now I think I need to look at what kind of support each group needs instead of simply filling the limit with frontline troops."

Ethan glanced toward him.

"That should give you a force that can handle more than one type of situation."

Daniel looked at him.

"You could have said my new plan was better without making the first one sound terrible."

"I didn’t say it was terrible."

"You didn’t need to."

Claire smiled but kept her attention on the officer.

The officer gave one final warning before dismissing them.

"Remember what you saw when this briefing began."

Several students looked back toward the multiple planets still displayed behind him.

"This war extends far beyond the battlefield where you will be deployed. Your force is one part of an Imperial operation that includes many other planetary lords and civilizations."

He looked across the room.

"If your commander orders you to hold your position, you hold it. If you are told to wait, you wait. If you are ordered to withdraw, you withdraw. Follow your assigned role instead of treating your battlefield as an independent campaign."

Noah understood the distinction. Eldrath’s deployment would occupy only one small part of the war displayed across the projection.

The officer ended the briefing and dismissed them.

Students immediately began discussing possible deployments as they left the room. Noah walked out with Daniel, Claire, and Ethan, and their conversation continued once they entered the corridor.

Daniel spoke first.

"I was thinking about bringing mostly frontline troops before this briefing. I’m changing that. If those Astragoths can charge that quickly, I want more soldiers who can attack them before they reach us."

Claire nodded.

"I’m thinking about heavy equipment too. I need to decide how much my forces can actually support once we’re deployed."

Ethan looked toward the corridor ahead.

"I’m still focused on mobility. If our assigned position changes, I don’t want my forces taking too much time to move."

Daniel turned toward Noah.

"What about Eldrath? You spent most of that briefing studying the battlefield they showed us."

Noah answered while they continued walking.

"The goblins cannot afford to fight large Astragoths at close range. Whatever force I bring needs enough firepower to kill them before they reach the infantry."

Daniel nodded.

"So you’re planning around heavy weapons."

"Infantry will still be necessary, but I want machine guns, RPG teams, artillery, and vehicles supporting them. Aircraft are still possible, depending on the final instructions."

Claire looked toward him.

"Do you already know how many of each you’re bringing?"

"No. I need the deployment limit first. Once I know how many forces I’m allowed to bring, I can decide how to divide them."

Ethan nodded.

"Then all of us are waiting for the same thing."

They continued through the military training camp while discussing what they still needed to prepare.

The projection from the briefing remained clear in Noah’s memory. Their battlefield was only one planet within a war involving multiple worlds, and Eldrath would enter it as one supporting force among many.

His next task was to review Eldrath’s available military forces and prepare the combination of troops and weapons he would bring once Imperial command issued his deployment limit.