With the new information that I can communicate to everyone with my familiar. The mana reserved isn't that bad. Only taking 10% with the ability to split itself into smaller versions. I could split it into 16 smaller slimes before I lose the ability to communicate with them. 16 is my limit… And having that many makes the communication one way. So I can do 8 with the communication being able to go both ways… That isn't that bad… I can work with this but it still isn't perfect. Having a way to communicate that doesn't take 10% of my mana would be better. I'll have to put more effort into figuring something out. I make another message in the cafeteria of the fortress.

“Everyone… You have 1 day of peace left… Tonight will be the attack… Tomorrow we will be at war. Use this day to spend with your families… This might be the last time you get your chance… Spend your day wisely.”

I head to the fortress planning room. Calling for all my generals to come with me. With the new idea of which buildings are important… I need to make sure everyone understands the mission for tonight. The generals show up… We have to wait for Zergnar but he plays one of the biggest parts in this attack so he needs to be here. He finally shows up and I begin the meeting.

“Here is a crudely drawn map of the enemy base. From the middle, the position of the mess hall to the side of the building is the only thing you can use as a focal point for the map. Each seperate building surrounding the main one is exactly the same proportions. Perhaps to make it a harder target to assault as you wouldn't know what was inside each building. Zergnar each of the buildings that are circled are the ones you need to attack. If we can starve the pirates, we might be able to win this war tonight.”

Each building is shown on the map, the mess hall and is the only building that doesn't have a mirror version. Even the dock storage is on both sides, the water path leading in and out set beside through the very middle. It would be very difficult to assault this island because of the way the defenses are set up. Anything besides a sneak attack would get gunned down by cannon fire before it got close to the main building. Every other building is sacrificial because of this. Even the buildings with food, if you only destroyed one… They would still have another building full of food after they had gotten rid of the threat.

“Everyone has their mission… We will start in a matter of hours… Under the cover of dark our stealth forces will go in and attempt to rescue the children and kill the leader. 30 minutes after we start, Lance will lure out some ships to a trap, in that time I hope for our stealth teams to escape or at the very least be set-up for an attack once the commotion starts. If we have to wait for a chance to escape, we will. After the ships prepared to fight leave the dock, that is when we'll start the attack on the opposite side with the main force. This time will also be when the black turtles will ambush the remaining unprepared ships. This is the last chance to say anything before we head to war…”

I look through the group this time Hilda has also shown up. She is still a general to me, no Gobber though… Which is weird… He must be busy. As I think that, a giant creature enters the room. We all go to grab for our weapons until we see what it is. Gobber riding on his shoulders.

“Sorry I'm late master. I got sidetracked with exploring and got in a fight with this big guy. I'm going to need more wind scrolls but the shield test was a huge success.”

This red ogre is surprisingly big. Even bigger than Troll. Behind him is a… Red faced creature with a giant nose… What has Gobber been up to? He remembers something and speaks again.

“Oh yea, master. Kikaa has a gourd that is a supply of never ending sake. You should look at it.”

Wait, what!? How is that possible. I know that you can make a never ending water source… How would making a never ending sake source be possible… I start thinking… I don't understand it but I have too look at the tengu and question him.

“Can I see the gourd?”

Kikaa pulls it out from his side pouch. It looks just like a regular gourd. I check it with detect… It is just a never ending water source… How does that make sense… I don't have any chance of learning it if disassembled… Does that mean if I enchanted a cup with never ending water when it is filled with a different type of liquid it would constantly make it? I'll have to experiment more when I'm not so busy. Everyone is now looking at me as I examined every little thing about the gourd for a few minutes…

“Sorry about that everyone… My brain starts working overtime when it comes to something I don't understand.”

As if they had all practiced saying it. All of them say.

“We know.”

The group breaks apart. I hold back Trice, Leaf, Shikki, Swift, Gargarz, Blue, Pokodo, Methodis, Kline, Fayeth, and Hilda to stay behind… I've kept these people behind to discuss the plans in further detail. The big picture stuff is fine for the bulk of my generals but the more nuanced discussion should be left to the thinkers of the army. The room is full of my smartest generals now, it is time to speak.

“So, I've kept you all here to discuss the plan in further detail. Perhaps even try to shoot holes into the plan.”

Trice is the first to speak.

“Yes… The idea is fine, there are just some things we can do to improve the success chance and future crippling effects on the army. Instead of assaulting this side, we should launch another stealth team to steal the food, equipment and supplies from these buildings while the main force distracts everyone else. This will give us food, equipment and supplies to barter with if they decide to surrender.”

“Point taken, who would be the best to lead this attack?”

“I would suggest a team of ninjas but since we don't have their support yet. I would say give Nargzar some men to handle it.”

“That would take emphasis off of the rescue of the kidnapped children though... Nargzar is too valuable to put anywhere else besides that mission.”

Trice grabs her chin with one of her hands. Then looks over at Fayeth, in which case Fayeth speaks up. “I'll handle the sabotage mission.”

Trice continues speaking after her. “...Hmm… Well I guess anyone would do as long as the main force is distracting enough. The biggest problem is hauling all the supplies and food away. The equipment, supplies and food for an army isn't going to be light… Perhaps targeting each building to burn to the group would make more sense then attempting to steal everything.”

“No, you are definitely on the right track. If that group uses the castle mimic, they should be able to store everything without much effort. From moving the mimic before, they just have to be careful with it. Everything inside will most likely fall and break if it isn't properly held in place while moving. I'll have some men make sure everything is held down and you will have to be careful while moving the mimic.”

Trice responds to my answer. “That would work… Another problem then is instead of having the griffin riders focus on burning down the food storage buildings. They can focus on burning the buildings closest to the assaulting force. This would draw more attention away from the other side of the island as well...”

“Noted, I'll have to discuss the new plans with Zergnar to make sure he understands his new mission.”

Shikki speaks next. “Master… If it wouldn't be too much trouble… I would like to acquisition extra mana canisters as well as a few mana crystals to help in the destruction of the ships.”

“Of course Shikki, I give you full permission to take the extra stockpile of mana canister's and 20% of the mana crystals for your mission.”

Trice speaks again. “I would like to get a few extra air helmets and stick propellers to help in sinking their ships. Once the ships leave the bay, we can start poking holes into the belly of the ships before they manage to make it to open water. Even helping with sinking one ship might help Lance win his battle.”

I can tell she is asking because she is worried about Lance… In all honesty I feel that Lance needs no help, he will have the easiest battle to fight. I doubt even if he was outnumbered 2 to 1 he could still defeat the other ships. If it will help keep Trice calm for her own mission I'll allow it.

“That makes sense. Before you get into position, Trice you're turtle will stay submerged the entire process, drilling holes while Shikki's surfaces and unleashes hell on the unsuspecting enemies. Blue, can you help out this group?”

Blue nods at hearing his name but then speaks against it. “I should accompany you since the leader is a female. I might be able to charm her and have this entire war avoided by her own words. Trice can handle her group without my help.”

Swift steps forwards next. “I would like to request the aid of the troll, the red ogre and the giant golem for the assault force. This mission could be seen by the enemy as a test of power and if they see very threatening giants they may back off and even acknowledge our power as an army.”

I had already planned on doing that. As soon as I seen the red ogre enter I was planning out armor and a weapon for him… With a few hours left before nighttime, it will be patchwork compared to my other elite troops like Troll's and Rock's. Troll has a lightweight set of leather gear made for him to cover up most parts of his body. He doesn't need it but the iron plate covering his heart and iron helmet covering his head will help him survive lucky strikes from enemies.

Rock is another case of why armor a giant golem made out of stone. He doesn't need armor or a weapon but I've made him one none the less. His armor is similar to a giant version of Green's. Soil covered clothing he can harden with his control nature. He can't harden his own body so the increase in protection is like having another layer of rock they need to get through before they start dealing any actual damage to him. A giant golem covered in a thin layer of cloth is weird to see but it does help protect him. He is primarily a caster so his weapon is gloves that are enchanted with a few different types of magic.

“I was already planning that. I'll have a crude set of armor and a weapon made for that ogre before the fight tonight. Anything else?”

Kline steps forwards next… I didn't expect him too… I only let him stick around because he would have been the only healer left out at that point.

“I would like Gobber to lead the main forces in the assault force.”

Hilda only looks over at him confused… I doubt she expected Gobber to be brought up by anyone besides myself. She goes to protest but Kline cuts her off.

“He is Kite's strongest general… None of us can doubt that... If we don't have the full force of the army behind this first assault… There could be far more casualties without Gobber leading our men.”

Hilda… Knowing that Kline is right… Begrudgingly agrees to this. With Gobber leading my main force… I do feel better about their chances of fighting. They might be able to hold the beach until morning with Gobber leading. I ask again.

“With that… Does anyone have anything else to add?”

...No one speaks up. It seems with the rearranging of the plan I will have to talk to a few people before the mission starts. I send an escort to get Nami and her ninjas while I do last minute preparations for this night raid.

I explain the new mission to each general involved. Help make a very spotty set of gear and talk to Gobber's new friends. Kikaa is a tengu, he doesn't have any classes but he exceeds in telling lies. The ogre Gobber had brought back was an oni. With Gobber besting it in a fight and tying a string around it's horn, it will serve him. I ask the oni for his name and he says Tenshitakato. I'll call him Tenshi for now. I tell him about the upcoming battle and he only smiles as he puts the iron plated shirt on to cover his chest. I hand him a helmet and quickly make another bat like weapon for him. Similar to Trolls but more hastily constructed.

With that, Nami shows up and the stealth team's are now ready to go… I take a deep breath and head to the ships… Nami's group will have to travel by rowboat around the side where the cluster of rocks are. I fly my team in and wait until Nami's team reaches ours with their rowboat… I whisper into my slime communicator.

“Stealth mission is starting now.”