The Plan Is Scrapped

The Elvan commander ordered before hanging up, while I dialed up Lieutenant General Wolf the commander of the marines.

"Sir Marshal Lieutenant General Wolf!"

Wolf announced, following military protocols as he performed a crisp salute.

"An old c*nt is coming for a visit, assemble the division in full gear at the hangar ASAP and meet me in uniform."

"Understood, sir!"

Wolf acknowledged with a crisp salute, and without wasting a moment, he relayed the orders to his subordinates, ensuring that the division would be ready for the upcoming visit.

I hope you have a heart attack you old f*ck.

I thought with a grin creeping onto my face as my hand subconsciously imitated the motion of clutching my scythe like I always did before reaping someone.

...

"The more I look at It the more I feel like that elvan c*nt is embezzling military funds..."

I couldn't help but swear to myself as I looked at the shuttle that passed the Einherjars bottoms hangars blue energy barrier that stored all the Einherjars strike craft and dropships.

The ramp of the shuttle that belonged in a scrapyard lowered down with a hiss of air and from it, the elvan commander, his XO, and a squad of elvan marines in exoskeleton armor walked out.

The state of XO's uniform and the marine's gear which was a stark contrast to the elvan commander's clothes further solidified my suspicion.

"Wolf, show them what a true military presence looks like,"

I ordered, directing my gaze at Wolf, who stood beside me.

He was dressed in the same black space uniform I wore, with a sidearm holstered on his thigh and a black beret adorning his head.

His combat boots were impeccably waxed and polished, just like mine, and his hands were clasped behind his back in a display of military discipline.

"Yes, sir!"

Wolf responded with an evil grin, understanding my intent.

"ATTENTION!"

Wolf's thunderous roar echoed through the hangar, causing the ten thousand fully equipped marines to snap to attention in perfect unison.

The strike craft above their heads remained in their berths, ready for action.

It was a display of discipline and readiness that far surpassed anything the elven commander had witnessed before.

The elven delegation, including the commander and his squad of marines, stood in stunned silence as they faced the imposing sight of ten thousand disciplined and fully geared-up marines at attention.

The elvan marines whose height and size were increased by their exoskeleton armor couldn't help but clutch their rifles tighter, all of a sudden they felt like dwarves.

While the XO felt like he was naked, he felt like a single punch from those walking tanks would pulverize his skull into mince meat.

Even the high and mighty elven commander with a stick up his ass now wore an expression of shock and discomfort.

It was evident that the stark difference between the professionalism and readiness of Einherjar's military and their own had left the elven delegation feeling not only inferior but also intimidated.

I maintained my composed demeanor with my legs shoulder width apart and hands clasped behind my back, concealing the amusement I felt at their reaction, this was the price they paid for their arrogance and underestimation of our capabilities.

"Commander Dracula,"

The elven commander stammered, finally finding his voice.

"I... I had no idea your forces were so... formidable."

I gave a subtle nod in acknowledgment of his statement.

"Hmph, you think any merc outfit would dare take on the job of defending a planet from orc invasion if they didn't have the muscle and firepower to actually do it?'

I snorted in contempt.

The elven commander's face reddened as he struggled to regain some semblance of authority.

"I assure you, Commander Dracula, we have the utmost confidence in your capabilities and those of your mercenaries. We simply did not expect such a... formidable display."

I decided to let the matter rest for the time being. It was clear that the elven commander had learned his lesson, and there were more pressing matters to attend to.

"Very well,"

I said with a dismissive wave of my hand.

"Let's proceed with our deployment discussions, this way."

I said with a motion of my hand, as I started walking to the war room that had a big ass holographic table.

The marines opened up a path in synchronized move and turned to face us all at once, further solidifying our image of a highly trained and disciplined force in the elves' minds.

The elven delegation followed me into the war room, their expressions a mix of trepidation and curiosity.

As we entered, the massive holographic table came to life, displaying a detailed map of the planet and its surrounding space.

I took the initiative and began to outline the overall strategy to the great dissatisfaction of the elvan commander who upon seeing my marines in the war room staring back at him decided to let it side.

Basically, the plan was simple, destroy the orc fleet with the help of the Alve Primes anti-orbital canons, while my marines and the planet's ground forces would take care of any orcs that managed to descend to the planet.

Einherjars AI had determined that our odds of victory were 99.9 percent with no KIA on my side as for the elves well I simply didn't give a f*ck, that was until Einherjars AI contacted me.

"Commander, my sensors had detected the orc fleet in the uncolonized adjutant star system"

Hearing this I stepped away from the holographic table.

"The orc fleet is 3 times larger than initially reported and I have detected a Titan class warship, the odds of victory are ninety percent with 70 percent KIA on our side and 99 percent on the elvan side, what are your orders?'

I didn't even need to think upon hearing the potential KIA list.

What's the ETA on the orc fleet?

"29 days commander"

Good, determine the most high-priority area that needs to be defended, prepare plans for defensive fortifications, were digging in, and prep the marines and engineers for orbital deployment.

I order in my mind.

"Understood commander"

As the lightning changed to ominous red and sirens started blaring through the whole ship I turned around to face the flustered elves who were already contacting their fleet in order to find out what was happening.

"The orc fleet is three times bigger than Initially reported and they have a Titan, so the previous plan Is scrapped, me and my boys are going down the planet and digging in for the long run"

I could see the elves' faces turn white as paper at the revelation.

"A... and what of youre Titan?"

The elvan commander asked.

"What of it?"

I answered while looking at the elvan commander like he was an idiot because I already knew what he wanted to know.

"Will it remain and fight?'

"First of all Einherjar isn't a Titan it is a battleship, we have no Titan class weapons if you bothered to check your sensors you would know, secondly we are mercs and our only mission is to protect the planet nothing more nothing less, so to answer your question no Einherjar won't be joining the space battle"

I stated the facts in cold hard words making the elven commander shrink under my gaze.

"B... but...!"

Despite his diminished mental faculties the elven commander stammered knowing full well that without Einherjar they didn't stand a chance.

"Just shut the f*ck up already and get the f*ck off my ship!"

I barked while signaling my marines to escort the elves to the hangar where their shuttle was parked.

My marines Immediately stepped forward making the elvan marines raise their coilgun rifles in a protective manner as they surrounded the commander and the XO.

That was all It took for my marines to spring to action, before anyone could react my marines disarmed the elvan marines and pressed them against the floor.

No matter how loud the elvan marines exoskeleton armors servors hissed they couldn't even budge under the 1 ton of weight pressing them to the ground.

"Wolf escort them out if they try anything funny execute them on the spot"

I said in a low dangerous voice while looking at the elvan commander and his XO whose legs were shaking.

"Yes sir!"

"You heard the man, let's get moving!"

Wolf barked as he did the marines picked up the elves like they were kids and forcefully carried them out of the war room.

With the elves gone, I turned my focus back to the preparations for our defense of Alve Prime.

It was clear that this battle would be unlike any other, and the odds were stacked against us.

But a job was a job and I was determined to complete It with flying colors with no casualties on my side.

As long as we could protect the aging planetary shield generator that encompassed the whole planet that would protect us from orbital bombardment and the anti-orbital canons long enough that the orc's fleet would suffer enough casualties for Einherjar to safely engage them, then it was only a question of how many of my men I was willing to sacrifice in order to win.