Eternal Winter's Reign - Book 3 - Chapter 3 - Change of Plans (Patreon)

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Alexander North

Well then. I wasn’t expecting this.

I frown while looking out the bridge at the dissipating laser of cold energy and my dad who blocked most of it. But despite his action, the laser still badly damages the ship, causing alarms to blare all over the place. Meanwhile the commander of this ship orders for the ship to go down and land on the planet the laser came from since it’s the only planet nearby for us to land on.

And our capital ship now needs repairs as the laser hit one of the engines that was keeping us in space.

“What does the scanner detect on the planet?” the emperor asks from his throne at the top of the bridge.

“We’re detecting a single Tier 5 Frozen Lord, with several hundred Tier 4s spread around the planet,” one of the officers down in the lower sections of the bridge beneath the single raised path at the center of the bridge answers. “Additionally, there are millions of Frozen Ones ranging from Tier 1 through Tier 3 spread across the planet.” The officer looks up from the screen. “The planet has already been completely conquered by the forces of the Winter God.”

“And the Vanguard?” the commander of the fleet in Dad’s absence and current second in command of my father asks, the man wearing a heavy set of military armor with his helmet retracted into the suit of armor.

The officer looks at the screen again as he says, “This planet’s Vanguard is nowhere to be found. It is assumed they have already left the planet to attack another planet.”

“Millions…” Uncle Rainald mutters as I glance out of the bridge to find Dad heading back inside of the ship. No doubt heading in this direction. “This could prove dangerous, but we don’t have any other choice.”

“Indeed,” the commander states with a nod. Then he looks down at the officer from the raised path as he asks, “Is there any word from our military forces on the planet? I believe Commander Hartlight was in charge of Revel?”

The sounds of panel buttons on the holographic screen below being pressed echo through the bridge before the officer says, “We cannot make contact with the planet. The status of Commander Hartlight and his forces is unknown. The Eternal Winter covering the planet is too thick for signals to reach the planet.”

“I thought so,” the commander says with a frown. “We need to establish contact with the commander, then collect as much intel as possible about the weapon they used to fire that laser.”

“Agreed,” Dad says as he walks into the room, following which the commander bows his head slightly in a noble greeting. “We can’t let a weapon capable of attacking ships out in space remain in the hands of the Winter God’s forces.”

The emperor nods his head in agreement as I glance at Dad to see him fully focused on the current matter without so much as glancing at me.

I turn my focus inwards while they’re discussing our current plans. Specifically when the terminal suddenly starts to speak.

|Thousands of energy crystals have been detected on the planet below.|

Really?

|All of the energy crystals are of a higher energy density than the average crystal found on Arran.|

Interesting.

|It is estimated that this planet may be considered an energy crystal farm by the Frozen Ones. High caution is recommended.|

Which means it’ll be more well defended than the other planets on average. Which would explain that laser.

On top of that, it’ll be a good place for me to grow stronger.

So I turn my attention back to the commander, general, and emperor as they finish giving out the general orders for our current plans. Which include orders for the top three priorities of our current mission.

The first priority is to defend the capital while it undergoes repairs. Keeping all of the Frozen Ones and Frozen Lords away from it and wiping out any of them that attack.

The second priority is to find the commander stationed on the planet who should be a Tier 5 Symbiont Host. Albeit a weaker one than Dad. And to find his forces as well. Both to save them if they’re in trouble – which they likely are – and to gather information about the ruling Frozen Lord of the planet and that weapon.

And the third priority is to find and destroy the weapon itself. Or, if it’s possible, to study it to find any weaknesses in case other planets have similar weapons.

After they finish giving out orders, I step forward from the back of the bridge while asking, “Permission to speak.”

The commander and my uncle and dad all turn towards me before Dad answers, “Granted. You also are hereby granted permission to speak whenever you wish in official settings as long as it is relevant to the situation.”

I nod my head at his words which are pretty much just excusing me from formalities in settings like this. Then I state, “My terminal has detected thousands of energy crystals down on the planet. It suspects the planet is most likely some sort of energy crystal farm used to grow and grant abilities to the Frozen Ones.”

All three of them show surprise at that before Dad asks, “Will those energy crystals be of use to you as well?”

“Yes, they will help me grow stronger just as much as they’ll help the Frozen Ones,” I answer with my hands held behind my back. “I would like to ask for permission to hunt for energy crystals during our time on the planet.”

Dad, who is considered my direct superior as the General of the Military, doesn’t hesitate as he declares, “Permission granted.”

The corner of my lips quirk upwards before I bow my head slightly while stating, “Thank you, General.”

Then I begin walking out of the bridge while making plans for when we land on the planet.

Because it’s time to get more abilities.