Debrief
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The raiding was a success. Our ranged attacks and strategic planning made the Carja forces look like amateurs. Their armor and blades, reminiscent of Roman style equipment were no match for our advanced weapons and the coordinated efforts of our Focus network.
Under the cover of night we struck with precision and efficiency and leaving them little chance to respond.
The few survivors fled from their now destroyed outpost which was engulfed in flames. We couldn't afford to linger. Machines could appear at any moment and we were already exhausted and injured from the operation. Having expended all our ammunition and firepower we hastened back to our settlement, Mother Forge, with the 50 plus survivors we had rescued.
This time, our efforts brought in a significant number of people. Among them were over 30 Nora, half of whom were just children, 10 Utaru, 5 Banuk, and 8 Oseram. All of them had endured harsh conditions.
Upon our arrival we immediately directed the rescued individuals and Albedo to our medical center for treatment and recovery. Meanwhile our team proceeded to the high tower for a brief debriefing. The mission had taken a toll on us but the results were undeniable, we had dealt a heavy blow to the Carja forces and saved many lives in the process.
As we gathered in the high tower the room was filled with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction.
"Let's start with a summary." I began. "We achieved our primary objective, the outpost is neutralized and over fifty people have been rescued. That said, i want to hear everyone's perspective. Orlok, let's start with you."
Orlok our lead fighter leaned forward, his hands resting heavily on the table. "The attack went as planned, mostly. Our ranged units kept their archers pinned down, the new weapons are amazing and the Focus network gave us the edge we needed but we took more injuries than i'd like, and we burned through all our ammunition."
I nodded. "Noted. We'll need to prioritize restocking supplies and crafting more ammunition and weapons. What about the survivors? Any issues during the extraction?"
"None that couldn't be handled." Orlok replied. "The Nora were cooperative, especially the children. The Oseram and Banuk needed some help at first but nothing got out of hand. The real challenge was moving that many people quickly without drawing attention from machines."
"Good work." Turning to Vanna our medic. "What's the status of the injured?"
Vanna's face was lined with fatigue. "We've stabilized everyone for now. A few of our own have more serious wounds, but nothing life threatening. The rescued individuals are malnourished and dehydrated but they'll recover with proper care. Albedo is fine Noir, dont worry. The med center is at capacity though. We'll need to expand or find alternative spaces if we keep bringing in numbers like this."
I frowned slightly. "Understood. Expansion will have to wait until we secure more resources. For now do what you can with what we have."
"What's your assessment of the Focus network's performance?" I asked them.
"It performed exceptionally." Rhea replied. "The real-time coordination allowed us to outmaneuver the Carja at every turn without it i couldn't complete my mission."
My expression was thoughtful. "What about morale? This mission was tough. How are the troops holding up?"
Orlok spoke again. "They're tired, but they're proud of what we accomplished. Saving those people gave everyone a sense of purpose. That said we'll need to give them some time to recover."
"Agreed." I said. "We'll schedule rotations to ensure everyone gets the rest they need. Anything else we need to address?"
Vanna hesitated before speaking. "The rescued individuals… some of them might not integrate easily. Different tribes like the Oseram have different customs and tensions could arise. We'll need to mediate and foster unity, Sil have been a constant pain..."
"A valid point." I acknowledged. "We'll assign a team to work on community building efforts. It's crucial that everyone feels like they belong here we need the Oseram, they are great in weapon building and i could really use the help at the forge but if they want to leave we wont stop them. Sil i will deal with her later if needed."
The discussion continued for some time, covering logistics, resource management, and potential future threats. By the end, a plan was in place to address the immediate concerns and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Later that evening i visited the med center, where Albedo was recovering from her injuries. she lay on a cot looking at the ceiling with empty eyes, her arm bandaged and her complexion pale.
"You're supposed to be resting." I said, my voice low but edged with a hint of reproach.
Albedo smirked faintly, though the effort seemed to cost her. "I am resting."
I replied dryly. "You pushed yourself too hard out there."
"It was necessary." Albedo countered. "We couldn't afford any missteps, he had to die and it worked, didn't it?"
My expression remained unreadable, but my silence spoke volumes. After a moment, i said. "You're my heart, losing you isn't an option."
Albedo's gaze softened. "I'm not planning on going anywhere, Noir. But this fight requires sacrifices. We all know that."
"Doesn't mean you have to bear them alone, you know I'm here for you" I said quietly.
For a moment Albedo didn't respond. Then she nodded a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'll try. No promises though."
"Good enough." I said, rising to my feet and glancing at her bandaged arm. "Get some rest. We'll need you at full strength for what's coming."
As he turned to leave, Albedo's voice stopped him. "Noir."
He paused, looking back at her.
"Thank you for everthing." she said simply.
I nodded once, the faintest hint of a smile crossing my face before i slipped out of the room leaving Albedo to rest in the quiet med center.
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Every 100 power stones a new chapter
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