"Apollo!" I heard my name shouted and watched as Rhea and Willow, Francesca, Tamara, Gabrielle and Lena approached.

I was relieved to see my friends were well. As they approached I expected Willow to come and hug me, considering what was in her, but surprisingly Rhea walked up and proceeded to squeeze me tightly.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I don’t know how you managed to do it, but the improved family technique is beyond what I expected! Honestly, if you weren’t sticking it to my mother, I would kiss you so hard right now. As far as that goes by the way, I’ve thought about it and your new position in the family. I couldn’t be happier. You have done more for me than that wank-pot Milo ever could. So thank you, Daddy."

My Neurons fired at the forbidden word being used. I instantly removed Rhea from contact with me and activated my iron will. "Do not worry about it. I help my family. Now, let us adjourn to the tent. Francesca, Tamara, Gabrielle, Lena. I did not call for you, but you are welcome to join us. Your insights will be most useful."

I then walked back into the tent leaving Rhea stunned. She turned to the others, picking up on my sudden state and asked them. "Did I do something wrong?"

Lena stepped forward and wrapped her arm around Rhea. "Oh big time! Don’t worry, you didn’t know. Calling Apollo ’Daddy’; It turns him on like crazy. He’s had to shut down his emotions because you-"

"-Women, inside. Now. We have a defence to plan!" I yelled, still in hearing range.

"Coming bro!" Lena then shouted back before skipping inside the tent without a care in the world. Meanwhile a few present suddenly thought simultaneously.

’Interesting.’

...

After entering the tent with my friends, Centurion Cockburn, Lochagos Baldwin and a few dozen other commanders of Fort Amberrock all adjourned in the tent.

The war table became packed quickly. I was at the head and everyone was looking at me with expectation. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t feeling any pressure. As Onyx told me the other day. For now, these were my people. I had to do everything in my being to win this war.

Letting out a deep breath I began. "For those that don’t know me, I’ll keep things brief. My name is Sentinel Apollo Lambdason. Yes I am young, but no I am not here because of nepotism like some of you might possibly think. My goal is not to make a name for myself, but to keep as many of you and our soldiers alive during the course of this war..."

I looked around, those I didn’t recognise seemed to like what I just said so I continued.

"Now, I will be ruffling a few feathers. For example, during my siege up in the northern front. My sub commanders seemed baffled that I was using heavy armour as that. Heavy armour. I want it clear now, before all those that do not know me. I value the life of my men over monetary costs. I am declaring an order now as a Sentinel. Put aside any possible notion of penny pinching or noble favour currying. I expect results. I expect your 100%. I expect Zero politics. Is that understood?"

I heard a round of murmurs from the Phalanx portion of the room, the room with my allies were nothing but smiles. A moment later Lochagos Baldwin spoke up, smiling.

"Lord, on behalf of your command structure here, we will admit that this is a most welcome surprise. We are yours to command, Lord Sentinel."

I then looked at the entrance of the tent as a familiar armour entered.

"Excellent. Now, as you all know alongside my Psionic reinforcements, I have two Allied Praetorians To my right Is Praetorian Nerissa and entering now is Praetorian Rhapso. I want this information spread across the local defence. A lot of combat is going to take place here from the intel I have. So the Phalanx knowing about such illustrious elites will boost morale."

Rhapso then walked to my side and handed me a data pad as one of the commanders spoke. "My lord, Honoured Praetorians, I promise you, morale will be at unprecedented highs with this news."

I skimmed the data pad Rhapso gave me as she took position at my left before after a short pause addressed the commander.

"That is good to hear. Now, onto the second part. My allies. I am going to don my armour. I am going to have you take a look at it, memorise it and then spread the word what it looks like to those under your command. As if I feel friendly fire on me again, I will hold the commander in charge of the location responsible."

I then activated my armour, my already eye-catching height of 7ft5" elevated to 8ft as my armour enveloped my being. I could see the surprise not only amongst the new comers, but my allies at the new changes to my armour.

Gabrielle specifically seemed shocked, I noticed the purple tears begin to form on her cheek for some reason so I pulled my helmet back into my armour, the effect was instant as she saw my face. The tear stains vanished and she smiled, like relief took over her.

I would ask what that was about later, for now I turned to Baldwin as he spoke. "My lord, that armour is... Unusual to say the least. Thank you for allowing us a moment to adapt to it, we shall relay the orders to the men. Though they will have questions about its origin, what should we tell them?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but Rhapso butted in from the side. "Sentinel Lambdason has authority to wear an adaptable piece of extra-galactic tech. The armour you see before you is created from a creature that he slew. A creature myself and others of my order were having difficulty slaying."

I then turned to Rhapso and frowned at her for the glazing. She immediately stood at attention. I went to sigh, but after hearing the murmurs of those present, it was probably a good thing they think my strength is higher than it is.

I then proceeded to place the data pad Rhapso had retrieved for me and placed it onto the table before activating the holo-projector. "As things stand, Lochagos, you have a mighty fine fortress set up already. The several layers of trenches on all sides of the fort alongside the placement of the artillery and heavy weapon emplacements are well thought out and strategically sound. So instead of me attempting to fix perfection as a show of strategic dominance, let us build upon it instead. Someone tell me the current trend of attacks from the Drakoshi in this region."

A sub commander stepped forward and spoke. "Yes, my lord. While the Trenches span out south all the way to the cliffs and north up until the next fortress, The Drakoshi know that taking the trenches is useless without taking this Fort. They cannot push forward with us here. We threaten rear assault and bombardment. Plus, our Artillery now encompasses close to fifty miles. They cannot get around us from the south at all, so they attempt to punch through with their primary force here. Casualties were high the last time they attacked."

I listened to what the sub commander had to say. Her information was useful. I paused for a moment as I rubbed my chin as I thought aloud. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"So they focus on the fortress? This could work... I mean-" I paused, realising my thoughts were leaking. I then looked around the table, my eyes lingered on a certain individual for a moment and smiled.

"Francesca, you look better rested than the last time I saw you, would that statement be correct?"

Francesca looked surprised to be suddenly called on, but answered. "Yes, Apollo. I’ve had time to rest."

I nodded. "Good. Then I am going to be abusing your ability to move water. Lochagos. Have some APC’s start hauling water from the ocean. As much as possible. Cockburn. After our siege I trust you to command mixed unit tactics. Assign someone you trust to go south with a large contingent of tanks. Lochagos, I want you to assign someone to do the same. I will give you an outline of the formations and the way the troops should be deployed shortly."

"Of course , lord Sentinel." Cockburn agreed without hesitation.

"At once, my lord. Though may I ask why the water?" He wasn’t the only one thinking that and I looked between Francesca and Rhapso for a moment before turning to the Lochagos, flashing a wicked grin as I did.

"Of course you can ask. The answer is quite simple after all. I have decided I do not like the state of the eastern view of the fortress. I want to change it up a bit by the time our unwelcome guests return. And for that, some... Terraforming is required."