"But this is an all-out war involving the Ten Realms," Fandral protested. "Teaching the Kree a lesson wouldn't require mobilizing that many forces."
Garfield shot him a flat glare.
"You're an idiot." Garfield said without mercy. "It's an excuse."
"What's the difference between 'teaching them a lesson' and beating them half to death? As long as it looks convincing, no one will question it."
Fandral stiffened, thoroughly cowed, and immediately went off to summon the other members of the F4 to begin preparations.
In truth, Garfield thought Fandral was overthinking the entire situation.
If they really needed to 'teach the Kree a lesson.' all they had to do was throw Thor at them.
Let him dismantle a few warships along the way. No one could reasonably question the results.
As for Thor's combat capability?
That didn't count. Thor was excessive by definition.
Garfield suddenly froze.
Gu… Gu?
He squatted down, tail curling, his mind drifting to a much more troublesome question.
What was he supposed to do if he ran into Goose?
Both of them were Great Devourers. Both of them ate first and asked questions never. If they met, they would almost certainly fight over food.
More importantly… how was he supposed to deal with her human?
A cat slave, technically.
Garfield frowned deeply.
This required serious thought.
According to the old records, Great Devourers reproduced asexually. With sufficient energy, they could lay hundreds of eggs in a single cycle.
Afterward, the shock troops would scatter the offspring across resource-rich planets for maturation.
Goose's future, if memory served, was tied to S.W.O.R.D.
Garfield shook his head.
I'm overthinking this, these were problems for later. He decided it was time for brunch.
Fandral gathered the remaining members of the F4 and explained the situation from beginning to end.
By the time he finished, all of them felt vaguely unwell.
They were generals, nothing more. Asgard was ruled by the Odinson line.
Matters of this magnitude should, by all rights, fall squarely under the God King's authority.
Hogun was the first to speak.
"This sort of mobilization requires Odin's approval." He said gravely.
Volstagg nodded. "I agree."
"At the very least." Sif added, "Thor must be informed."
The three men… Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg exchanged glances.
Of course she would say that.
Sif, as always, had only one priority.
She continued, utterly oblivious. "Thor's combat strength is second only to the God King himself."
"If His Highness were ambushed by the Ten Realms without understanding the situation, what if he were injured? Or captured? Or worse, what if they demanded marriage as ransom?"
Her gaze drifted toward Thor's chambers. She went silent, visibly lost in thought.
The others sighed.
We are no longer on the same battlefield.
Without ceremony, they left Sif to her reverie and resumed their discussion among themselves.
They were veteran generals who had fought countless battles.
Though Asgard had not faced a full-scale war in millennia, border conflicts and interdimensional skirmishes were routine.
Their roles were quickly decided.
Volstagg, the most beloved and respected among the army, would oversee troop deployment.
Fandral, sharp-minded and decisive, would manage war materiel and logistical supply.
Hogun would assist both, identifying gaps and refining plans.
As for Sif… they would let her lead the vanguard.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
Under the horrified gaze of the palace cook, Garfield once again consumed enough food for five full-grown Asgardians before slipping out of the kitchen.
He had barely made it down the corridor when a figure stepped into his path.
Angela.
Garfield looked up. "What?"
She crossed her arms. "We need to talk."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
PhantomDream