Chapter 1011

“I have many things to say, but too little time so I’ll limit myself to one thing. A Captain that has the guts to issue the ’stop the enemy’ order instead of formulating a strategy is worth to be added to the list of jokes the Association tells about the army.

“Captain Phloria, you’re now in charge of the mission. Since I’m forced to change plans due to Kortus’s manifest incompetence in leadership, I’ll invoke the second-in-command protocol.

“Now put the Prospectors’ foreman through. I need to inform her of my decisions. Reinforcements are already on their way.” Berion said.

Those words made Kortus’s eyes water. Usually, the second-in-command protocol was applied only when the commanding officer went mad during a mission, forcing his subordinates to replace him.

The protocol implied that whatever went wrong with the mission would be his fault, whereas every success would be to Phloria’s merit. It left no space for politics or power plays. Even if Phloria willingly killed everyone, it would still be his fault.

“With all due respect, General, I wasn’t done with my report. Permission to speak freely, sir.” Phloria Said.