The stakes were too high. The problem was too big. We were short on resources and soldiers as well. I was not doubting my and my soldier's skills. I was worried about the courage. The very name of the fleet may break it.
Everyone was in the operations office. The air was tense. Everyone was shocked by how they reached so fast.
"How did they reach so fast? They were supposed to arrive in 6 years, not 8 days." Lieutenant General Tisker asked me.
"I don't know. Something is wrong. We have to do something." I was worried about my forces. I had hope and power in me. "Did the supreme commander respond?"
"Sir, we have sent the message. We are waiting for the reply." Captain Oliver replied.
"What do we do? Should we tell the soldiers?" General Irgis was worried about the same problem.
Every general was worried. We remained silent; we didn't know what to do. Finally, the supreme commander's response came.
"Sir, they have sent a response. They are sending all the soldiers to Pharkis. But…there is nothing about the equipment and ammunition. Moreover, he is calling you back to Pharkis. It is temporary. The parliament wants answers from you." Captain Oliver informed us.
I was a bit shocked. What does the parliament want from me? Maybe the immense losses in the recent battle?
"Nothing about telling the news to soldiers?" I asked the Captain.
"No, sir," He replied.
I thought for a few seconds.
"Spread the word about the fleet. Our soldiers must know." I ordered.
"But…" General Yarna objected.
"I understand. It is my personal decision, and of course, I will take full responsibility. Our soldiers must know who they are going to fight. There is no time to get relaxed or terrified." I took a pause. "I am going to the capital. Please maintain order and discipline." I said and left the operations room.
I went to my office, took my things and alongside Alfred, left for the capital. The word had begun to spread. As expected, the soldiers were sad. They had become hopeless. They hadn't lost any hope in us, but in their fate.
"Sir…will we survive?" A private younger than me asked me as I walked past him. I stopped. I turned and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Yes…We will." I couldn't give him false hope. I said and got in my jeep. And then we left for Pharkis.
After a drive of 5 hours, we reached the capital. We were alone, so we reached faster than usual. There was a lot of hustle and bustle inside the city. Tons of soldiers and trucks were leaving the city. The reinforcements were leaving. The jeep stopped in front of the parliament. I stepped out and went inside. When I entered, Supreme Commander Yornus was standing in front of the doors of the parliament meeting hall.
"Martin, this is not appropriate, but well done. You did well and gave us victory. But…the parliament isn't happy about the lives and the equipment lost. The economic strain is too great now. So, you have to answer them." He spoke as I walked near him.
I nodded and was about to enter the hall, but he stopped me again.
"Remember, you are right. Just justify your actions."
"Yes, sir," I replied and entered the hall.
The vast hall was filled with ministers, bureaucrats, senators and military officers. As I entered, the soldiers and the military officers stood and saluted me. I walked to the stage and took the floor. The supreme commander walked up to his chair and sat on it. Then the prime minister stood. I was only going to answer.
"Sir, you are the second in command of Arkania. Not just the military, but of the whole country. With that role, you have a big responsibility. But you just let nearly 30,000 of our soldiers die. And not just that, you stretched the war for 12 hours and wasted millions of Arkis. Do you have any justification for this?"
I took a deep breath and checked the mic. "Prime Minister, I understand your concerns. First of all, I will explain why we lost unnecessary lives. Major General Rolfin entered the city without my approval. He just informed me and pursued the fleeing enemy. I stopped him, but they had gone deep into the city. By the time they realised and understood my warnings, the missiles had reached and killed them." I paused. "I don't mean to dishonour the dead, but they acted on their own."
"Fine…" The prime minister nodded. "What about the financial loss?"
"I don't think that is an appropriate question. We are in a war against not just one but three countries at once, which are far more advanced than ours. And those weren't a waste. Those soldiers fought for the country knowing they wouldn't come out alive." I gave a straight and bold answer.
The prime minister clenched his teeth. He was intentionally targeting me, knowing my age and experience.
"Before you ask, I will tell you myself. Lieutenant General Rokhnir betrayed his country after knowing that his fate was death. So, he was going to be killed by the empire anyway. And he wasn't a captive; he was a general who was involved in the deaths of hundreds and thousands of our soldiers and civilians. He only deserved death."
The council was shocked, and many nodded in acceptance. Then the defence minister stood.
"We have gotten word that you have told the soldiers about the fleet."
"Yes, I did it on my own accord," I answered.
I answered his question before he could ask it.
"I know how great the threat is. But we can't let our soldiers and people dwell in the unknown. The people and the soldiers must know who and what we are fighting. Many of you are sitting here whose fathers and grandfathers fought the Phoenix Empire 70 years ago. We have found the long-lost and hidden Arkinson-550. That cannon was built to fight this fleet and especially the water devil."
My revelation shocked them more. The name Arkinson-550 gave them little hope.
"I have only one request from you and the supreme commander. You must send all technicians in the city to Targalia and fix the cannon as fast as they can. All the equipment must be sent to Targalia. We know that they are coming, so we must not let this chance pass. This is now-or-never. We have only 8 days; we must act fast."
Then the chief senator slammed the hammer and asked for an immediate poll for my request.
"Those in favour of the second-in-command's request."
On this, the parliament members began to murmur and talk to each other. Soon they began to raise their hands. Almost everyone except the members of the finance ministry raised their hands.
"I approve." The supreme commander gave his answer immediately.
"As per the approval of the parliament and the supreme commander, the decision of the second-in-command will be executed, and all the technicians and the equipment and the ammunition will be sent to Targalia, and he will be given full command of the army." The chief senator said and banged the hammer.
The government has given their answer. Now, I didn't just have the equipment alone, but full command of the army. If I could send a message to Argen, I would like to say one thing to him.
Argen, come to Targalia. I am waiting for you.