Preparing for the Worst
Spotty
Spotty leaned back in her chair, her crystalline blue eyes narrowing slightly as she reevaluated her earlier decision. The quiet weight of Ila and Elizabeth’s concerns hung in the room, pressing against her usually unshakable confidence. She trusted them deeply—not just as allies, but as sharp minds capable of pointing out what even she might overlook.
They’re right, she admitted silently. Even the smallest margin for error against an unknown entity like this could spell disaster.
She placed her hands flat on the table, her expression resolute. "Ila, Elizabeth," she began, her tone calm but commanding. "You are right. Even using cloaked unmanned drones, we must be ready for the worst-case scenario."
Her crystalline gaze flicked to Ila, then Elizabeth, as she continued. "We must consider the possibility—however unlikely—that this entity can detect the drones, track them to our reality, portal here, and perhaps even overpower me and Ila while being immune to our power inhibitors."
Her voice dropped slightly, carrying a weight of unspoken resolve. "I consider this scenario highly unlikely… but prudence demands preparation."
She straightened in her chair, her eyes sharp. "We shall assemble 1,000 fleets and their attached ground forces to provide backup. The largest Imperial deployment since the liberation of Hell. I trust this will alleviate your fears?"
Ila
Ila raised an eyebrow, her amber eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and approval. Her stance relaxed slightly, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t completely dissipate.
"Well," she said, her tone wry, "I can’t say I expected anything less from you."
The faintest smirk tugged at her lips as she added, "A thousand fleets, though? No such thing as overkill?"
Spotty
Spotty’s lips curved into a faint smile, her crystalline eyes twinkling with humor. "There is no overkill," she replied smoothly, her tone carrying the weight of a mantra. "Just open fire… and I need to reload."
Her gaze lingered on Ila, the smile softening slightly. "But in all seriousness, this deployment ensures that we have every advantage. If the First Evil tries to make a move, it will regret it."
Elizabeth
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, as she listened to Spotty’s reassessment. Her auburn hair shimmered slightly in the light as she processed the enormity of what Spotty was proposing.
1,000 fleets. Ground forces attached. That’s… massive.
"Well, that’s one way to make sure we’re ready," Elizabeth said with a chuckle, though her tone held a note of relief. "I think even Ivan would call that ‘a bit much,’ and that man doesn’t know the meaning of restraint."
She leaned forward slightly, her expression turning more serious. "But honestly, I’m glad you’re taking this approach. Whatever this thing is, we can’t let it catch us off guard."
Ila
Ila nodded, her amber eyes narrowing as she considered the logistics. "If we’re deploying this many fleets, we’ll need to ensure they’re strategically positioned. A single concentrated attack might overwhelm us if we’re not careful."
Her gaze shifted to Spotty, her tone thoughtful. "We’ll also need contingency plans for communication and coordination across such a massive deployment. If this thing is truly as powerful as we fear, it could try to isolate and pick us off."
Spotty
Spotty inclined her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Agreed. The fleets will be distributed strategically, with overlapping defensive perimeters. Each group will be equipped with redundancies for communication and shielded from potential interference."
Her crystalline eyes darkened slightly as she added, "And if it does manage to isolate one of our forces… the others will respond with overwhelming force. This thing—whatever it is—will not escape unscathed."
Elizabeth
Elizabeth tapped her fingers lightly against the table, her mind running through possible scenarios. "What about the ground forces?" she asked. "If it decides to hit one of our staging areas directly, we’ll need boots on the ground who can hold their own until reinforcements arrive."
Her gaze flicked to Spotty, then Ila. "Spartan teams, perhaps? They’d be perfect for holding key positions until the fleets can respond."
Spotty
Spotty nodded, her crystalline gaze softening slightly as she considered Elizabeth’s suggestion. "An excellent idea. Spartan teams will be positioned at key locations, alongside our most experienced marine divisions. If the First Evil tries to engage us directly, it will find nothing but failure."
Ila
Ila smirked faintly, her stance relaxing further. "It’s almost a shame if this thing doesn’t show up," she said dryly. "All this preparation, and it might just cower in its corner of the multiverse."
Spotty
Spotty chuckled softly, the tension in the room easing slightly. "If it cowers, that’s a victory in itself," she said. "But if it doesn’t…"
Her crystalline eyes gleamed with a quiet, unshakable confidence. "We’ll be ready."
The three women exchanged nods, a silent understanding passing between them. Though the stakes were high, their combined resolve would ensure the Empire remained unshaken—no matter what the First Evil might bring.