Liam left the Fourth Order encampment with uncomfortable recognition that Kael'thra's approach to casualties was more efficient than his own guilt-laden processing. Zealots who could replace dead without mourning were tactically superior to commanders who questioned every death.

But efficiency and humanity weren't the same thing. And somewhere in the synthesis he'd become, he wasn't willing to abandon the latter entirely for sake of the former.

---

Evening of the first rest day brought senior command meeting where the accumulated complications became impossible to ignore.

"Supply situation is critical," Lord Arcturus reported with professional detachment that suggested he'd compartmentalized his compromised status. "We consumed supplies faster than projected due to aggressive march pace. Current reserves support maybe twelve more days at current consumption rate."

"Twelve days to take Valengard, march to Sanctum Lux, and conduct siege of most fortified city in existence." Zara's voice was flat. "That's insufficient."

"That's what aggressive timeline produces." Arcturus didn't sound defensive, just factual. "Speed costs resources. We prioritized temporal advantage over supply security. Now we're discovering the price of that decision."

"Can we requisition supplies from Radiant territory?" Torven asked.

"Requisition is diplomatic term for looting," Lilith corrected. "We can take supplies from civilian populations, yes. But that transforms us from military force into occupying army that terrorizes locals. The political cost might exceed strategic benefit."

"The political cost is irrelevant if supply shortage prevents us from reaching Sanctum Lux." Arcturus's pragmatism was ruthless. "Starving army doesn't conquer anything. If requisition is necessary, we requisition."

The debate continued—ethics of taking civilian supplies versus necessity of maintaining army that could complete objective. Eventually compromise emerged: selective requisition with compensation, targeting Radiant military infrastructure rather than civilian populations when possible.

It was imperfect solution that satisfied no one and addressed problem inadequately. But it was available option within impossible constraints.

"Medical report," Vex'rail continued the grim accounting. "Beyond the obvious wounded, we're seeing accumulated exhaustion that's compromising immune function. Minor injuries becoming infected. Stress-related conditions that would normally self-resolve becoming chronic problems."

"Translation?" Liam asked.

"Translation: your army is breaking down from sustained operational tempo that exceeds even demon physiology's considerable capacity." Vex'rail's bluntness was refreshing. "Two days rest helps. Doesn't solve underlying problem that you've been driving soldiers at unsustainable pace for seventeen days."

"So we're attacking Valengard with army that's supply-critical, medically compromised, and operating at sixty to seventy percent combat effectiveness." Zara summarized the accumulated problems with characteristic analytical precision. "This is concerning."

"This is what desperate offensive warfare produces." Liam's voice was steady despite internal recognition that every strategic decision was accumulating costs. "We knew aggressive timeline would strain army. We're discovering the full extent of that strain."

"The question," Lilith interjected, "is whether we adjust strategy based on discovered limitations or maintain current approach hoping army holds together long enough to reach Sanctum Lux."

"We maintain approach," Liam decided. "Slowing now just gives Radiant Empire more preparation time. We assault Valengard as planned, resupply from captured city, continue toward Sanctum Lux before they can deploy heroes or additional forces."

"And if army breaks during Valengard assault?" Torven asked. "If exhaustion and supply constraints create tactical failure?"

"Then we fail at Valengard instead of Sanctum Lux. Better to discover army's limits against five thousand defenders than fifty thousand." Liam's brutal honesty was becoming easier. "We test our remaining strength against target we might actually defeat."

The meeting concluded with recognition that rest period was revealing problems that couldn't be fully solved. The army would assault Valengard compromised, exhausted, and supply-critical.

Whether that was acceptable risk or fatal overextension would be determined when violence began.

---

Second rest day brought improvement that was visible but insufficient.

Soldiers looked less exhausted. Equipment repairs were completed adequately if not perfectly. Medical teams had processed the worst cases and stabilized those who'd been hiding injuries.

The army was functional. Not fresh, not optimal, but capable of continued operations.

"We march on Valengard tomorrow," Liam announced during evening address to legion commanders. "Eighty miles at standard pace—two days to reach the city, one day to position for assault. Fourth Order scouts will range ahead, identify defensive positions, eliminate observation infrastructure."

He looked at each commander directly.

"This is first assault on actual Radiant city. Population of thirty thousand, garrison of five thousand. They've had weeks to prepare since our march began. They know we're coming. They'll fight to defend their home."

"Projected casualties?" Commander Kael'dris asked.

"Conservative estimate: fifteen hundred to two thousand dead taking the city. Possibly more if garrison is reinforced or defenses are more extensive than intelligence suggests." Zara's analysis was characteristically grim. "We'll be fighting house-to-house against defenders who know the terrain and have civilian population complicating targeting."

"Can we siege instead of assault?" Torven suggested. "Surround the city, starve them out, avoid casualties from direct combat?"

"Siege requires time we don't have and supplies we're critically short on." Liam's rejection was immediate. "We assault, we take the city quickly, we resupply from captured stores. Prolonged siege is luxury we can't afford."

The commanders accepted this with varying degrees of concern. All recognized that Valengard assault would cost more lives. None had better alternatives to suggest.

"Tomorrow we march," Liam concluded. "Day after tomorrow, we fight. Questions?"

"Just one," Koth said from his position among brigade commanders. "When we take Valengard—when, not if—what happens to the civilian population? Thirty thousand Radiant citizens who'll watch demon army capture their city. Do we occupy? Garrison? Leave?"

"We resupply, rest briefly, continue toward Sanctum Lux. Valengard civilians are left to manage themselves once military threat is eliminated." Liam had considered this question extensively. "We're not occupying force. We're surgical strike aimed at specific target. Everything else—including liberated Radiant cities—is secondary to primary objective."

"And if civilians resist? If population becomes hostile force that harasses supply lines?"

"Then Fourth Order manages civilian resistance with minimum necessary force." The answer was cold pragmatism that Liam had grown increasingly comfortable with. "We don't have resources to occupy cities we capture. We eliminate military threats and continue moving."

The meeting dispersed, leaving Liam alone with maps showing Valengard's position. Eighty miles distant. Five thousand defenders. Thirty thousand civilians.

Two days until assault that would test whether his exhausted, supply-critical, medically-compromised army could actually capture fortified city defended by forces that had weeks to prepare.

[Rest Period: Complete]

[Army Status: Functional but compromised]

[Supply Situation: Critical - 12 days reserves]

[Medical Status: Improved but not resolved]

[Combat Effectiveness: 60-70% of optimal]

[Next Objective: Valengard - 80 miles distant]

[Estimated Casualties: 1,500-2,000 (assault)]

[Time to Assault: 3 days]

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