Daelin's eldest son, Derek Proudmoore—Jaina's brother—had died at the hands of the Orcs. He was supposed to be the heir to the Grand Admiral.
Because of this, the Admiral harbored an unquenchable hatred for the Orcish race. Uther knew his old friend all too well; if he and the Princess left, Daelin would undoubtedly launch a war without hesitation.
Uther's warning caused Calia's joy to cool slightly. She furrowed her brow, realizing the gravity of the situation. Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore's hatred for Orcs was bone-deep, a fact known to the entire Alliance. Handing the newly stabilized Theramore over to him was akin to tossing a spark into a powder keg.
"You're right, Uther," Calia said after a moment of contemplation. "We cannot allow Theramore to fall into a baseless war with the Horde. It contradicts the strategy Rhodes and I developed, and it would place a heavy burden of war back onto Lordaeron just as the hope for restoration has appeared."
Lordaeron could not afford another massive war, especially against the Horde. Thrall's New Horde was stronger than the old one, having integrated Trolls and Tauren, and according to intel, these Orcs were even on good terms with the Goblins.
After the Battle of Mount Hyjal, Rhodes had returned to camp and discussed many things with her, including the "Horde problem." Rhodes knew clearly that the hatred between Humans and Orcs could not be easily resolved, so he didn't expect a permanent peace.
However, at this stage, they absolutely could not turn against the Orcs. They had to wait until Calia was crowned Queen and the Alliance's strength was reintegrated and restored before engaging the Horde.
"I plan to have a private talk with my old friend, Princess. Perhaps we can persuade him to abandon such impractical ideas," Uther suggested. He felt that if they left, they couldn't simply hand over power to the Admiral. If all else failed, he planned to take Daelin with them back to the Eastern Kingdoms—after all, his daughter was there.
"Yes, you're right, Lord Uther. Please invite Admiral Daelin for a council immediately. We must speak with him before we depart," Calia said.
Shortly after, Grand Admiral Daelin Proudmoore entered the council chamber. He was tall with a full beard; the sea breeze and the fires of war had etched resolute lines into his face. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
Even in a peaceful meeting, he radiated the battle-hardened aura of a veteran.
(In the original game campaigns, the Admiral's power was nearly god-like, capable of soloing Archimonde, but in this reality, his strength was slightly below Uther's—barely at the Hero tier.)
"Princess, Uther, I hear great news has come from Lordaeron?" Daelin's voice was booming, carrying a hint of irrepressible urgency. "Jaina... is she well?"
Truthfully, he was worried about his daughter. After she left to study in Dalaran, disaster struck Lordaeron, and then she vanished on a journey with some mysterious boy. Daelin had first chased them to Dalaran, but by then the Scourge held the advantage; he judged immediately that Lordaeron was a lost cause. After hearing from Dalaran mages that Jaina went to Kalimdor, he returned to Kul Tiras to purge some minor Scourge infiltrators, resupplied his fleet, and set sail for the west.
He finally reached Kalimdor only to be told his daughter had gone back to the Eastern Kingdoms. Now, he had just heard that the capital of Lordaeron had been liberated. He had originally planned to wait in Kalimdor for Jaina's safe return and to "properly meet" the boy who had spirited her away. However, upon arriving, he discovered that his mortal enemies—the Orcs who killed his son—were here. This gave him a different idea: perhaps he could use his powerful fleet and the remnants of Lordaeron's forces, alongside their new Night Elf allies, to crush the nascent Horde once and for all.
"You are well-informed, Admiral Daelin. Your daughter Jaina is doing well; she is currently in Lordaeron with Rhodes handling post-war affairs. We just received word that the capital is liberated, Arthas has fled to Northrend, and the Alliance Expedition from Outland has been brought back..." Calia hid nothing, relaying all of Rhodes' news to the Admiral.
Despite having heard rumors, hearing it confirmed by the Princess made Daelin take a sharp breath, his eyes flashing with shock.
"A miracle! That boy Rhodes... well done! I truly want to meet him as soon as possible." He paused, looking intently at Calia. He had heard the boy and his daughter were close. However, the boy was also the Regent of Lordaeron, a position often held by the Queen's consort.
But the Princess had been married and had a child; the relationship was complicated. Daelin didn't know how the boy would handle it, but he wouldn't let his daughter be anyone's "mistress."
"So, Your Highness, did you call me here because you've decided to return? The Kul Tiran fleet is ready to escort you at any time!" the Admiral stated.
Uther and Calia's eyes lit up. They hadn't expected the Admiral to offer an escort himself. This would mean all three could leave together, but that was a double-edged sword: if the Admiral left, Theramore would be left undefended. Its location was vital. Uther and the Silver Hand would be leaving, and Rhodes's letter mentioned the Dalaran mages were needed back too. The military vacuum would be severe.
"Yes, Admiral, our departure is imminent," Calia nodded. "But I need your help—not just for the escort, but for the future of Theramore."
Daelin nodded slightly. "Speak, Princess."
Calia exchanged a look with Uther and spoke slowly: "Lord Uther and I must return to Lordaeron to lead, but Theramore is our foundation in Kalimdor and must not fall. It is the new home for tens of thousands and our bridge to the Night Elves... as well as an outpost to watch the Horde."
At the mention of "the Horde," Daelin's brow twitched imperceptibly. "Those damned Orcs! Sooner or later, I will wipe them out," he growled.
"I know your hatred for them, and I understand the pain Kul Tiras suffered in the Second War," Calia said sincerely. "But Lordaeron is currently in ruins. The Alliance needs time to recover.
We maintain a fragile peace with the Horde, and though it may be brief, it is vital for our reconstruction. Therefore, I hope that while Uther and I are gone, you will oversee the defense of Theramore... but you must exercise restraint and not initiate conflict with the Horde."
"Old friend, I know your grudge, but I ask you to hold back. We cannot afford this right now. Please," Uther added earnestly.
Daelin fell silent. He had guessed why they called him—they were afraid he'd start a war. To be honest, that was exactly what he intended, but after hearing about the Eastern Kingdoms, he realized that to truly destroy the Orcs, he would eventually need the combined strength of the whole Alliance.
"Princess, I understand your concerns. The restoration of Lordaeron is higher than any personal grudge. Kul Tiras will exercise restraint. I, Daelin Proudmoore, swear by the anchor of Kul Tiras that while you are gone, I will protect Theramore... and I will not actively initiate an attack on the Orcs." He emphasized the word "actively." If those greenskins dared to intrude on human territory, he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate.
Calia heard the reservation in his words, but it was the best promise she could get. She trusted Daelin's honor as a soldier. "Thank you for your understanding, Admiral Daelin." She stood and bowed slightly. Daelin quickly stepped forward to help her up.
"Then, Admiral, Theramore is in your hands. Administrative affairs will remain with the current officials, while military defense is under your full command."
"Rest assured, Princess. On my name as Grand Admiral, I promise Theramore will be an iron fortress. Return to Lordaeron with peace of mind; the banners of Kul Tiras will guide your way home. I will send one-third of my fleet to escort you."
Over the next few days, Theramore entered a period of intense preparation. Uther assembled the first wave of soldiers, craftsmen, and citizens desperate to return. Supplies were continuously loaded onto the massive Kul Tiran warships, including grain from Theramore's granaries to help alleviate the famine in Lordaeron.
Under the watchful eye of Grand Admiral Daelin, the massive fleet slowly sailed out of the harbor, heading toward the Eastern Kingdoms.