Micky arrived back at the supply line at a much more leisurely pace. Funnily enough, because he had been solo and coming back with a mounted force he had actually arrived while the line was still moving forward. While the coop by the knight commander had left the supply line leaderless they were usually stuck with only a squad leader so being leaderless hadn’t affected them much aside from following the initial orders. Everyone knew that this was a farce to begin with so the coop was just something to placate the leaders that had far to much pull for their pay grade. Plus, it was a bit of an entertaining schadenfreude. Who that was for had been up for debate until the whole debacle fell through anyway.

Having arrived back at his forces with very little news Micky didn’t know what to feel. What he did know was that the knight commander had royally screwed up his assignment while Micky was gone. It appeared that his was not the only mystically terrible bandit attack. The attacks were rife throughout the supply line. Though few were as terrible as his own, the second should have realized and set up hunting parties to clear out bandits along the lines. Moving the army through should have cleared out the bandits, in death or press ganged into service. Bandit hunting was even more effective than the draft!

Instead the knight commander had left things as they were, which was woefully inadequate. And Honestly, against his orders in the first place. Micky then decided to have a look to figure out how many of his orders were actually being carried out and was in for a terrible surprise. Well, safe to say after a few more executions things were finally put back in order and he had even overfilled his recruitment quota. Now he was heading back with all of his objectives checked off, and aside from a small embarrassing escapade it was a successful mission.

The legate was irate. Nothing had been going well, and he had been driven back repeatedly. At first he had made large amounts of headway, however the enemy just didn’t relent. In addition their forces never ceased to be exactly 6 million no matter how many he killed or ran away for the lines in desersion. To make matters worse, they tended to run away behind his lines only to raid villages and towns that were undefended. This only caused him to become more aggressive and more daring, leading to greater losses and fewer gains. He had long since started playing their game by their rules and using... uncouth tactics. However, it was not helping.

Micky stepped into his office when the legate was having another one of his ‘moods’. The office was in a mess and the legate was still tearing into things. The staff was in the wings with replacements but they were waiting for the current furniture to be destroyed before replacing it. Even the reports had replacements waiting for the legate to finish… it appeared he had these moods often. In addition all of the furniture was made from locally sourced wood, it appeared they no longer bothered with the ‘good stuff’ and had given up.

Micky stepped in and stood at attention. He did not respect the legate, nor his authority, or well anything about the man, but no need to make himself more of a target. He waited for the legate to finish his current ‘job’ while he thought of other things. Like what kind of gifts Prin, Kux, and Maymay would like? Can’t go out without getting the girls gifts… He should probably find something from his loot to give to that other guy too… maybe…

After the legate was finished Micky handed in his report, wanting to get on his way as fast as possible. “Supply lines secured with full success on every metric. Recruitment was also successful as well.” Stated Micky.

“Doubtful, you only went to some dinky little town in nowhere, and the surrounding villages… What’s this? Bandits! You fill my army lines with bandits and call it recruitment?! What am I to do with this scum! I can’t fight a battle if everyone is undermining me!” Stated the legate.

“Standard practice is to offer bandits death or service in times of war. I figure I should put to use every available asset and resource while I have them, sir.” Said Micky.

“Bullshit! I asked for soldiers, good honest fighting men! You give me bandits thieves and wild things from who knows where! Maybe their even monsters, and we should slay them all just to make sure, wouldn’t want them raping and pillaging human lands.” Said the legate.

*Cough cough* his assistant however, cleared his throat and reminded “I would be careful if I was you my lord, accusing someone, even other races of being monsters is a heavy crime, and I don’t think you could bear the inquisition coming down on you.” this comment seemed to clear the storm for but a moment, as if the eye was finally overhead. The legate paled a little as he could definitely not afford an inquisition, he was not prepared. It was only proper that a noble such as himself be given a bit of forewarning… but nobody was prepared for the inquisition…

The legate wasn’t about to let Micky off scott free however. Not that he remembered who Micky was, but he did know that he wasn’t a part of his faction. That meant he was fair game… sort of. As the legate has been… less than optimal of late he has been receiving more and more scrutiny on his tactics and strategic use of resources. And while admittedly the legates own centuri has had astounding results in battle other forces have seen… less than stellar results.

Unfortunately Micky had a spotless record… as far as the legate was concerned. In addition he had access to a dirty little secret of only the top level of government. Something even the legate himself wasn’t privy too… only because he might be sent there to ‘investigate’ with no plans to return. Micky himself knew he wouldn’t have rescued the legate like he did his three new acquaintances slash subordinates, adventurers not included of course.

“Is there anything else I could do for you, sir?” Micky asked. This meeting was way over, it would have been routine even, if the legate wasn’t looking for a convenient target. Micky would be perfect if only the legate could find something.

*Cough cough* It appeared the legates assistant, some ancient centurion of far too many battles was coming down with something, maybe it’s covid? Who knows. “I beleive that will be all centurion Micky.” Stated the assistant.

“Yes, go back to your dinky little squad or platoon or whatever. And don’t come back… at all! Hahahahahaha...” Said the legate.

The assistante fidgeted a little. It appeared that this was something he well and truly didn’t want to say but had to say… “Sir, that, would not be proper.” Stated the assistant. It seemed that he was truly pained to say it.

“Oh? Shall I remove him? Court marshall? What did you find in his report that I missed, I shall reward you handsomely!” Stated the legate generously.

“It is not what is in his report, it is something your lordship has done in your foresight that has… Should be addressed...” Stated the battle vet that was now fighting a battle he couldn’t win, but must still be fought.

“Oh?... Do tell?” The legate said inquisitivelly but imperiously. Even he could tell that things were not about to go his way, but he was still intrigued as to what it was that was casing this useless baggage so much distress.

“It seems now, that centurion Micky is a senior centurion after you, um. Well, after you have given him a battlefield promotion...” Stated the weary old man who has seen better days and far less fussy great great grandchildren…

“I WHAT?!” stated the legate. “He What?” stated Micky.

*Cough, cough, cough* This weary soul should really get that looked at. “It seems you have given him a battlefield promotion. By forcing him to command a larger than normal size of unit… It is how it’s done… normally… when a personage doesn’t have your graces… noble stature… They are placed in command of a unit larger than their own, and should they succeed they are promoted and if they fail… And unfortunately it seems they have succeeded...” Stated the assistant.

“Well take it back! I don’t promote him! He is instead demoted! You can make something up I’m sure! Hell, I don’t care, just say I don’t like his face, that should be enough to anyone who matters!” Stated the legate.

*Cough, cough, cough* coughed the [Dead]bed patient… If he keeps this up he might just cough up a lung! “I don’t think that is proper my liege. As should you do this… the army may not take… kindly to it. Especially some of the old hardliners who you are already having troubles with… They may not… may not follow your orders… as well… or at all… or worse, should you follow through with such things. Especially since they take such promotions seriously...” Winced the terminally ill. The man should really see a [Healer] straight away, who knows how long he has to live!... a truer statement never stated… at least should the legate have his way. He wouldn’t though… but he would like to so very much at this moment…

“You, What!... You… and You centurion! Fine, you can have your promotion. You can take your pig sticker army and I will see you on the field at first light!” Said the legate.

“I refuse. I have my own army and by Primus Nobles you cannot remove my own soldiers from me!” Stated Micky. He was speaking out of his ass of course, but he knew he couldn’t let this lowlife just stick him with… well all the lowlives he could. Not to mention if he was going to survive a head on clash he would have to gain every advantage he could get.

“I am afraid he is right my lord. You cannot divest a noble not of the kings own army, of his army. Nor can you order a senior centurion as you would a junior centurion. You must follow the code, and propriety.” Said the convicted felon, he finally grew a backbone, but it was the backbone of a man already facing death and thus no longer needing to fear more [Dead] then he already was.

“You, you, you… I will have words with you later… As for you, you shall take what is yours, and what I give you… and I suggest that you follow us into battle or it won’t matter...” Said the legate. Now Micky was finally dismissed. Micky almost felt sorry, the maids and butlers had just replaced the furniture in the room and it was already going to be trashed. Hmm, nope it seemed they were prepared… and still had backup reports. At this point Micky wasn’t sure there was a need for spies as likely the entire army knew everything that was in those reports with how many were floating around…

Micky received his new command. It was apparently the trifecta, good, plus some other rag tag units that were technically centuri but barely had their numbers together. At least two didn’t even have their junior centurion remaining!