The logistics officers each nodded in obedience and rushed to their assigned posts.
The junior officer sent to deliver the message returned to Colonel Gaspar, bringing with him a man dressed in ceremonial attire and round in physique. The latter, upon seeing the colonel, immediately began wailing and lamenting:
"My lord! Colonel Gaspar, my lord! I'm just an unlucky scapegoat! There's no way I can fulfill your demands! Bazenaur has never had a precedent where all citizens are conscripted. The representatives of the citizens will never agree to it. They dare not defy you outright, but all their rage will be dumped on me. Please have mercy! My lord! At most I can give you…"
"Mr. Mayor," Colonel Gaspar interrupted the man's weeping. He nodded slightly and said politely, "There are three things you need to know."
"First, based on my recent on-site inspections, Bazenaur's city defenses are utterly vulnerable. In fact, you have no real city defenses at all."
