Split Forces

(Jason's POV)

"Yo, Jason!" I heard Natsu call out, "When am I going back out there???" 

I looked at him, he was punching the air with excitement as he smirked. 

We were in the briefing room, I was looking at the map of Hargeon and was watching the status of the fight. The barrier had been disabled and now both Shields; Wahl and Neinhart were engaged in combat. All this while their forces were being taken care of by Jellal and the magic council mages. 

If this kept up, we could safely take Hargeon back, destroy the fleet and call it a victory. 

"Hm?" I said, "Why are you asking me?" 

"The First told me to ask you." He said, "She said you might go out and fight." 

I nodded, "I might." I said, "But you? I don't think so." 

"Huh?" He said as he walked over, "What're you talking about?" 

I looked at him, "You haven't told me what happened with you and Zeref inside that domain." I said, "And then there's the whole deal with your body. You suddenly healed up outta nowhere when Wendy made it clear you were in a bad condition." 

He frowned, "What're you talking about, Zeref and me?" He said with a raised eyebrow, "I don't remember anything." 

I turned to face him completely, "Nothing?" I said, "You don't remember anything?" 

He shook his head, "Nope." 

I looked around, everyone was scurrying around, working on communications as Mavis was at the end of the room. Happy was with Lucy and Wendy in the holding cells with Brandish, trying to get her to speak. Apparently, she hadn't been talkative all day and hadn't eaten at all. I wonder what's up with her. 

Erion was with Lucy, he had shown less hostility to the dragon slayer ever since I told him that there was nothing to worry about, regarding them and their dragons that were inside them. 

I leaned into Natsu, "Not even the truth?" I asked

He raised his eyebrows, "What truth?" 

"You and Zeref...?" I said

"Oh..." He said placing his hand on his chin, "That....hm...I might remember something like that....." 

Something was definitely up with this guy, I had to find out what. I can't put him out on the battlefield in this condition, I can't really trust his current state. 

I was going to say something when Mavis called out. 

"Jason!" I heard her say

I turned around, "Yea?" 

She was walking up to me, "Look." She said pointing at the map, "The other forces off into the distance from Hargeon, they're moving." 

I looked up at the map and saw what she meant; on the map, miles away from Hargeon, the forces that were stationary, began to move. I predicted something like this happening and kinda expected them to push in and pinch our forces when they were sieged up. 

Now that the barrier is down and two Spriggans are fighting our top fighters, I reckon they want to send reinforcements to aid them. 

"Hm.." I said, "How many?" 

"20,000 strong, Sir." Felicity said

"Quite a small army compared to the Western Front." I said, "They must've split their forces up significantly. I think an airship fleet managed to fly towards the rest of the Western forces, did they not?" 

"Yes." Felicity said, "They managed to regroup with the crippled army. I believe that the army that were under Brandish was also taken in by other Shields." 

"Hm..." I said, "Something's up...." 

"What do you mean?" Mavis asked me

"The fleet that Brandish and Ajeel led as the vanguard. Most of it was destroyed by Erion and I, but there was still a significant amount of ships with soldiers." I said, "They're inland, but where?" 

"Maybe they regrouped with Zeref's main army?" Mavis said, "Brandish did regroup with him. I believe her army joined her. And you did take out a good portion." 

I placed my hand on my chin, thinking. 

While that may be true, there was still the Ajeel's fleet and army. The radar wasn't detecting them. The one in Hargeon must be Wahl and Neinhart's army. And the split forces must either be Dimaria's or a portion of either of those two's. I don't know. It seems a bit too odd, I don't know what to think of it. 

Either both Wahl and Neinhart's armies are in Hargeon or they all split their forces apart, having 20,000 stationed off into the distance for whatever reason. There was also a fleet that flew right past them and regrouped with Zeref's main army. It doesn't make any sense. 

I mean, if Dimaria is there, she must've been the one to split her army up and sent them to Zeref. And she's the one leading the 20,000 that are making their way to Hargeon from behind our forces. 

Either way, those forces are going to pinch ours. We must do something about it. I did tell Jellal to lure as many of them into the field outside the town to lay some bombardment on them. 

I have to do something quickly before those 20,000 arrive. 

"Send a message to Jellal." I said, "Tell them about the incoming enemy reinforcements." 

"Roger." Felicity said

"They need to wrap their battles up and brace themselves for another round." I said, "I knew I should've gone and helped." 

Mavis looked at me, "Have faith in them." she told me, "Laxus and Erza are strong. And if the enemy forces arrive, Gray's there. He'll hold them off, I'm sure. " 

I nodded, "You're not wrong." I said, "But I'm worried about the missing fleet and army...did they manage to cloak themselves?" 

It's not impossible. August is among them, after all. The King of Magic can find out a way to do such a thing; trick my radars. 

"Who cares?" Natsu said, "Let me at them and I'll blow them all away!!" 

"Shut up." I said, "I can't let you leave this ship until I figure out what's wrong with you." 

"Nothing's wrong with me!" He exclaimed

"Uhuh." I said, "We'll talk later, go and take a seat. If you leave without permission, I'll bring you back and lock you in one of our cells, got that?" 

He scowled, "Come on, man..." He said with a disappointed tone

Mavis looked at me, "What are you thinking?" She asked, "I think we're handling things well. Makarov is in contact with the Magic Council and the Northern defenses. Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, and Sabertooth have joined Gajeel's group there to help." 

I sighed, "It's too soon to tell...." I said, "There's certain Shields that can shift the tides of this war at a whim...." 

"You think so?" She asked

"It's only a matter of time until the Northern and Eastern defenses are breached." I said, "Until then, we have to wrap things up here and cripple their armies further. And I want to do this before Irene wakes up...." 

"She's the last person we should allow to take part in this war..."