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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 2829430" data-attributes="member: 3448">A few minutes later, Field Marshal Manning Broadfields, the most senior officer in the Federated Army, joined Lord Alistair and Dame Brionna in a conference room. Alistair had already laid out a large map of Canberry and the surrounding areas and placed markers for each of Canberry's legions and for suspected dispositions of foreign troops."Thank you for coming, Field Marshal. I wanted to speak with you about our strategic position," Lord Alistair began, gesturing at the map."Of course, your highness," the elderly but still vigorous officer responded. He glanced about at the map, shaking his head slightly at a few of the placements. "Some of your information seems a little inaccurate.""We'll cover that as we talk about each area. Why don't you begin by describing the strategic situation as you see it? If you could discuss each of the potential threats we face in turn, I would appreciate.""Very good, your highness. The Empire... I mean of course the Archduchy... does not face severe imminent threats, but has medium term concerns in every direction except the north. To the north, the only serious concern is whichever country wins when Hanal and Masque finally battle, but it will be at least a generation before they threaten the Empire. To the East, barbarians are the greatest threat. Their tribes have become more organized and militant lately and will probably resume attacks on our settlements within the next two to three months. In all likelihood, the barbarians will only be raiding, but we will still need to defend our towns and villages."In the south, it will be two to three years before the refugees begin seriously pressing in on the Empire. To the west, the humanoids are still badly rebuffed by Field Marshal Brightspan's defense of Westmarch. The Duchy of Westmarch is incapable of defending itself without the support of the Federated Army. Westmarch could benefit from more farmers, and Tusslefield would be happy to supply some of its excess population, but fear of the humanoids drives some of the native Westmarchers off their lands and few want to move to a place where they might face orc raids.""What of the threats to the refugees in the south? Do we have the forces to protect them from the skaven?""We currently have two field armies deployed south of the Archduchy, your highness," the field marshal replied, while adjusting some of the markers on the map to more accurate positions. "That's about ten thousand line troops, with perhaps half again as many auxiliaries. We should have deployed four field armies, but we would not have enough troops to adequately defend the Empire itself if we deployed an additional two among the refugees.""Could we strengthen Westmarch's own defenses? If we could take the pressure off the Federated Army there, we could redeploy additional troops to the south.""It could be done, your highness, although it would not be fast or easy. The army of Westreach is four field armies of irregulars, but much less powerful than a similar size force of properly trained and equipped soldiers. Westreach's army could be made more powerful, but that would require extensive training and organization. Westreach also has a few mages, but they would need to be required to make more regular military service."Dame Brionna gestured at the skaven markers to the south of the refugee settlements. "What of the threat from the skaven? Will two field armies be sufficient to drive them back? We've heard reports that they have begun major slaving operations, perhaps to resume heavy farming in the south."Broadfields grimaced. "The ratmen will be a difficult, dangerous foe. Skaven are brutal combatants, except for Clan Skree, which is willing to negotiate. Clan Skree might serve willingly as scouts, but only if you could convince their leaders that it was in their best interest. They have no interest in wealth as we know it, so you would need to offer them other incentives if you wanted to reach some sort of agreement. Clan Skree also serves a Lord of Chaos, but they have more self-interest. The skaven could be taking slaves to build up their fields, but it might also be to prepare a slave army-- they've been known to do terrible things with prisoners. If that is their plan, it will make defending against them much more dangerous. The skaven are probably the most serious threat that the Empire will face within the next generation."Alistair nodded appreciatively, suppressing a smile at the Field Marshal's repeated references to "the Empire" rather than to the "Archduchy." "If that covers the major strategic concerns, I would like your opinion on the general officers of the Federated Army. If you could begin with an assessment of the other field marshals and then proceed on to the generals.""Field Marshal Brightspan is a very good officer, but deeply conflicted about his loyalties. He is also all aggression and conflict, not the least bit diplomatic. There's none better in a field campaign, but you wouldn't want to put him in a position where he needed to build support with allies or the like. Field Marshal Greening, in contrast, is a solid, defensive officer. He's very cautious about wasting men, which makes him less effective on the offensive. But he has a keen understanding of fortifications and defensive tactics."Turning to the generals, the top tier of generals, such as most of the major generals in command of field armies, are very good. The next tier of generals, unfortunately, has many political appointees, chosen more for their family connections than for their ability. A few of them are able, but there are many weak generals who are not up to their duties, such as commanding individual legions. The subordinate officers are by and large better.""I see. Improving the quality of the junior generals will need to be a major priority," Alistair responded. "What other recommendations do you have for improving our security, both internally and externally?""Well, your highness, I suggest that you begin by binding the Duchy of Brightspan in as quickly as you can. Marry the Duke's daughter, if necessary; it's what the father wants and will ensure peace. The rest of the duchies are loyal, and if you handle Brightspan well, it will eliminate any risk of civil war. Looking beyond the Empire, ask the refugees to join us. Once most of their settlements have joined, simply annex the rest. By fortifying their areas and ending the ability of the skaven to draw strength from raiding the refugee, we can keep the Empire safe from the skaven attacks.""What about the human barbarians to the east? Should we raise and deploy more troops?""That would be wise. If the treasury will support it, I would suggest raising a total of four additional field armies, leaving two to be deployed in the south for defensive operations protecting the refugees and two to augment our forces in the east. If we strike a heavy blow against the barbarians when they first begin raiding, we can probably deter further aggression for at least a generation--that's why they have been so quiet for the last twenty years after our previous clash.""Thank you, Field Marshal. If that covers the matters you think I should be informed about, that will be all.""Your highness." Field Marshal Broadfields braced to attention and departed.</blockquote>

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