05-05-2020, 08:48 PM
Nox seemed to misunderstand what Nikolai said. The science was only one arm of a war to be waged. Soldiers would also be necessary, but neither could accomplish the objective alone. He wouldn’t expect a soldier to understand the complexities of war. They only cared about the enemy breathing down their neck. Nikolai, though, was a leader, a general, a king, the Ascendancy: one who advanced upon the enemy with every weapon at his disposal, including science. Vaia Plus would be easy enough to handle. The corporations in the Custody operated at the behest of the Ascendancy. A phone call and any number of legal ramifications could cease their operations. It was a little unnerving to think that a private entity may be experimenting on Atharim monsters. If they were, surely others did as well. To what end did they seek? Perhaps Doctor Weston could make a guess. “We’ll confiscate Vaia Plus’ records by the end of the day. Whatever they’re doing, assume they are no longer a major player,” he said. Nik had no idea of the identity of this Dorian person Nox described, but presumably he’d be easy to find.
Nox did bring up a very important aspect of this war, and that was Nikolai was absent the army to fight it. He shook his head in denial. “We cannot infuse an army of Atharim into Moscow. It just can’t happen. There’s no way to know who is and isn’t loyal to the old ways and the old Regus.”
He had the Nine Rods of Dominion at his command: technically eight at the moment. Marcus could replace Jay on the roster while he was being worked abroad. Then there were actual military, trained fighters who would not buckle at the sight of monsters. Vegas could be deployed. Even if they served as a secondary fighting force backing up the channelers.
He looked again at the map. Nikolai’s strengths in strategy served him well till now, but he delegated design of battle to the experts in his command. They would need a grander plan than what they two could devise.
“How many channeling Atharim you trust do you estimate are available immediately?” he asked. The story that Nox’s father would destroy him simply because he was a channeler was not surprising. Nikolai had no greater friend in life than Garret Rahvid, and his flatmate turned his gun on him after he saved both their lives from the dreyken that held them both captive.
As the conversation turned to Armande, Nikolai was unflinchingly stoic. Armande was a survivor, that was true. He was also a master of strategy, and that he walked the streets of Moscow undetected was not particularly surprising, even if it was a little disturbing. He accepted the information Nox offered as readily as he had the maps. They would be analyzed as deeply as any foreign intelligence for insight into the enemy’s plans. Until then, Nikolai had to steel himself against the reminder that an Ijiraq could find them at any time.
Nox did bring up a very important aspect of this war, and that was Nikolai was absent the army to fight it. He shook his head in denial. “We cannot infuse an army of Atharim into Moscow. It just can’t happen. There’s no way to know who is and isn’t loyal to the old ways and the old Regus.”
He had the Nine Rods of Dominion at his command: technically eight at the moment. Marcus could replace Jay on the roster while he was being worked abroad. Then there were actual military, trained fighters who would not buckle at the sight of monsters. Vegas could be deployed. Even if they served as a secondary fighting force backing up the channelers.
He looked again at the map. Nikolai’s strengths in strategy served him well till now, but he delegated design of battle to the experts in his command. They would need a grander plan than what they two could devise.
“How many channeling Atharim you trust do you estimate are available immediately?” he asked. The story that Nox’s father would destroy him simply because he was a channeler was not surprising. Nikolai had no greater friend in life than Garret Rahvid, and his flatmate turned his gun on him after he saved both their lives from the dreyken that held them both captive.
As the conversation turned to Armande, Nikolai was unflinchingly stoic. Armande was a survivor, that was true. He was also a master of strategy, and that he walked the streets of Moscow undetected was not particularly surprising, even if it was a little disturbing. He accepted the information Nox offered as readily as he had the maps. They would be analyzed as deeply as any foreign intelligence for insight into the enemy’s plans. Until then, Nikolai had to steel himself against the reminder that an Ijiraq could find them at any time.