Bab 52: Chapter 50: Perfect plan
"My friends are already on the way to inform them." The scout replied. "It won't be long; they'll be receiving the same messages."
"Good." Alleria and Sena nodded, calling the rest of the officers near them to discuss the strategy quickly. They spread out the map on the ground, which depicted the complete geography in detail from the heights of the landscape to the thickness of the treelined. Alleria's and Sena's group totaled around 100 Windrunner guards and served as the headquarter of the entire expeditionary force. The rest as planned were divided into three elements of each 300 rangers while another 500 remained in the backline about 10 km away. A few moments later, everyone for their roles had arrived and Alleria signaled the scout to explain everything in detail in front.
Although the scout's rank and Alleria's weren't much different, for the future head she must still give some face. Based on the situation, she didn't need to be ordered by her, but she was willing to listen to what Alleria asked her to do. In Windrunner legion, even if your rank was higher, it never meant the superiors could ask whatever they want to. Maybe because Lireesa changed the atmosphere inside, the guards treated each other as sisters and unless the situation became severe, the officers rarely spoke in the official tone. Besides, Alleria never once did anything over the limit except for their commander Sena who suffered greatly. The rest liked her characters and even wondered where their Captain offended the little matriarch.
"We estimate around 2000-3000 trolls, possibly vanguard unit coming at us. They know our location based on our previous activities. Two of our dragonhawk riders are investigating where the main forces are as we speak." The scout spoke with confidence and she wasn't fazed at all by the crowds. As a Lieutenant, the scout was used to the scenes and relayed succinct information vividly. "Before I left, trolls separated into several segments and went in different directions against our three groups. The quick response and light-heartiness of the trolls, tell me except for our location and identities, trolls have no idea about our number. Naturally, they also sent scouts, but were picked out by our group."
Nobody was astonished by the scout informing them the trolls' pathfinders were eliminated without breaking a sweat. In Windrunner Guards, the dragonhawk rider's selection demands were extremely high. The requirements were the most stringent even among the high-level guards. One was their strength must be at least above Level 8, which meant only those who were high-level advanced stage could enter the ranks. There were other tests such as height, stamina, surveillance, tracking, orientations, and many others. Their individual combat effectiveness was very high and their lady Lireesa trained them personally along with the resources piled on them, although her ladyship once misread the map and went in the wrong direction. Equipped with the best resources and instructed by the best rangers, if they couldn't complete the simple task, they should retire early not to mention the scout who talked at the moment was level 8 peak.
Based on her report, since the trolls had lost their eyes and situation awareness, it appeared they had the upper hand. The discussion was on the grass where everyone squatted and gestured their opinions. They studied the paths the scout pointed out and discovered trolls were heading in the direction of their left flank. Separated into three different groups to tackle the ranger's three elements, at least the trolls were doing what they could. But one-point trolls never thought of was the level difference between the adversaries and them. Alleria listened to the officers around believing the general attack of the trolls was to their left and the rest were to prevent or slow down the ranger's reinforcement. The trolls' attack was not a big deal and everyone relax. Sena asked the scout again about the movement on the Windrunner's right flank and got a clean answer—nothing. She ordered the scout to pay attention to it and reported the situation of the trolls every quarter.
"I've ordered my team the same way and they'll come in a moment. I'd be on my duty now Captain," the scout said and saluted Sena. She went back to her mount and climbed on the saddles. Afterward, she flew up and disappeared into the night sky. The rest came up with a new plan. Since their left flank was targeted, the officers would set that particular element as bait and the rest maneuvered to encircle the trolls. Listening to the scout's description of the trolls, very few high-level opponents existed. Most were low-level and mid-level.
The right flank would encircle the rest and the center force would reinforce the left, while the gap created would be filled in by Sena's and Alleria's 100 guards' group. 500 reserves unit was to say behind them and helped when necessary or provide reinforcement for whichever element was in need. The reserve was the emergency plan should something unaccounted for occurred. The whole group relaxed afterward, waiting for the messengers to arrive and spread the orders. Alleria was surprised no one had a nervous expression and perhaps was the only one. She turned her head toward her 'enemy', Sena, who this time didn't snicker at all. Sena understood what Alleria felt, who only saw the numbers between the trolls and the Windrunners.
"Don't look at the number between the trolls and us. It's nothing. In the past, your mother and I faced challenges more difficult than the current situation." Sena said and sat down beside Alleria to comfort her. "Look around you, trolls have very few strong powerhouses, but every Windrunner here is high-level. Their personal strength is their confidence in addition to us being well-prepared."
Indeed, as her Captain Aunt had explained, she was too worried and forgot every guard was capable individually. She never had imagined how much damage such guards forming a team would cause to the enemies. Soon, the messenger came down from the sky and listen to Sena's order. She left quickly to deliver Sena's words. Sena asked the rest to prepare and set off in an hour to the staging point according to the plan. Time was tight for them and they must hustle. During this, Alleria and Sena forgot their arguments and concentrated on the tasks. Sena taught Alleria a lot of issues not found in the books and Alleria recorded everything she'd learned inside her head.
After finishing their arrangement, everyone reported their status and prepared to leave. Their eager eyes stared at their commander and almost frightened Alleria out of her wits—when did her family guards become bloodthirsty warmongers? 100 guards here were out of their breath from withholding themselves while the rest of the expeditionary force was in combat in the past week. Their hands were itchy from actions. Now the opportunity was given to the door, who would refuse to fight. At least, they could now laugh at the bored reserves behind them and joined the ranks of killing trolls. They weren't murderous but they felt their hearts congested from hearing other units' news, where the three elements were in action and they were doing nothing.
Alleria hadn't even tasted her first combat and she was also excited but not as ferocious as others. Sena watched over and roughly checked over the place where they camp. The officers also checked their own team and that included Alleria, who was now passable completely incomparable with her state on the first day. When everyone was ready, Sena ordered departure and a quick march toward the destination. It took about an hour before they spotted the area where they were going to wait for the incoming trolls. It was the natural high ground overlooking the forest plain and gave rangers the ability to easily ambush the trolls marching from this direction. They covered a distance over 12 km from their previous camp and none of the 100 guards including Sena and Alleria exuded tired appearance, except for a slight sweat on their bodies.
Don't simply think 60 km was too far. On Azeroth, where the ordinary individual physiques were stronger, 25 km a day was nothing. A well-trained profession could march 40 km or more a day easily, not to mention trolls who were way out of the normal league. If the trolls initiated a rapid march when they got close, the speed would become faster. As veterans who had fought against trolls uncountable times, their knowledge had become second nature. Instead of chasing and attacking the trolls, they preferred to wait for the trolls' advance. Besides, dragonhawk riders would come down often and relay crucial information. Trolls were in the blind and Windrunners knew every critical detail.
Sena knew every step trolls took and asked the rest of her platoon to rest on the spot. It would definitely be several hours before they would make contact. She arranged some sentries to prevent the assassins from prematurely being aware of their ambush, although her scout had already told Sena, they had eliminated the enemies. It's better to be safe than sorry. Four hours passed very fast and no one noticed the speed of time. A messenger came and reported the trolls were nearing them and in less than half an hour, they would meet. The trolls seemed to slow down to conserve their stamina and retained their fighting strength.
Everyone arrived at their posts and waited for the pending onslaught. Sena commanded the sentries to stay as they were to protect the group from being infiltrated by the assassins. Reports suggested the number of trolls their group encountered was likely around 1000 and the sheer size of the enemies they were about to face appeared daunting to Alleria, who regained her confidence again after remembering what Sena had told her. The entire expeditionary force, looking from a strategic map view, rotated counterclockwise to confront the coming offensive by the troll's vanguard. The right flank of Windrunners moved upward a little forming an echelon from right to left, ready to encircle the trolls.
On Sena's right many kilometers away was the right flank unit responsible for encirclement, while Sena's group was to hold off from breaking through the gap. Each element had distinctive responsibility and must complete its tasks. Soon, Sena as the strongest heard some movements across the forest in front. Between Sena's location and the trolls, there existed a plain where no trees grew, perfect for the archery ambush. Not waiting for long, everyone saw trolls coming in mass from behind the treeline. Birds flew away in fear from the rumbling caused by the sheer size of the army march. No one shot or moved. The rangers remained silent. Trolls were already in their archery range and could be easily eliminated, but everyone lingered for the maximum moment.
Soon, Sena stretched her fingers on the bowstring and pulled it slowly. A slight sound crept across the whole group and everyone followed suit. In the midst of the silence, the slow pull of the bowstrings didn't appear too loud, but for the elves, it shrieked. Thankfully, trolls, who also had near-peer hearing ability as elves, never heard a sound covered by their own loud march. Alleria also held her breath unconsciously, nervous, and awaited Sena's command. Sena's eye never left her targets and she had three arrows on standby. 100 meters. 80 meters. 60 meters. She watched as the trolls neared.
Sena's whisper entered Alleria's ear to calm her tension and resume her breathing.
50 meters, Sena counted, stopped breathing, and released her arrows. Soon, the rest ensued. Darkness suddenly engulfed the trolls, who panicked and waned in front of possible death.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
PraiseElune
PraiseElune Gonna cook my dinner now.
Kimchi fried rice xD
Hope you like it.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone