Ad Astra - The Alagore War

AA V4 Salva, Chapter 4

"In coordination with the Logistical Branch, will apply the Zulu Time Zone to standardize coordination between Earth and Alagore. All military planning will follow Zulu standards, including coordinating with local allies. We are attaching an Alagore Standard Time (AST) for conversation. Zulu will be used to reference Earth and AST for Alagore.

A year is a full rotation of this system's host star, Dorash, being AST 315.5 days or 369.75 Zulu days (following Tekali orbit), and a month is AST 31.43 days (approximately 36.71 Earth Zulu Days). This allows a month to have three weeks, with a week being one orbit around the host planet, equaling three local days, all a total of ten months in a Tekali year.

The Alagorian calendar follows a 1:2:3:4 orbital resonance system. Orgatrash is the first world, Kallinth is the second, Alagore is the third, and Thrice is the fourth world (Virmina is fifth, and Logia is sixth, but neither has an orbital resonance). All these worlds orbit a Gas Giant called Tekali (warning to all staff: the Alagore religion centralizes around this world significantly, so all respect must be given).

As stated, all military operations will be focused on Zulu time to streamline operations." - Oracle

April 7th, 2069 (military calendar)

Salva, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie

Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore

*****

Hearing the intense rainfall pounding on the roof, Mathew Ryder stared into the blazing fire at the center of the room, fiddling with his Christian cross necklace as he reflected on recent events. The fire was the standard red-orange—no one was trying to hide, only stay warm. Crystal light bulbs lined the walls, all switched off; the city had no electric power.

This world's lunar cycle brought relentless rain, forcing the Minutemen to adjust operations. The ridged terrain around Salva was already treacherous—now it was prone to mudslides and ambushes. Fortunately, the storms had slowed the enemy's movements as well.

"My Lord," Yeldan asked. "Are you listening?"

Ryder heard his name and snapped back to reality. The newly appointed Duke of Salva turned from the fire toward his motuia political advisor, Varitan Yeldan. The wood elf had tan skin, shoulder-length black hair, and gray eyes. He appeared middle-aged—probably a few hundred years old in his species' terms. Unlike the maid staff, who wore red and white, he wore a dark green and black silk-like robe with a wide Spanish red belt. White geometric designs ran across the fabric in a three-dimensional cube pattern.

Ryder had planned to lead a penetration mission once the rain lifted. But first, political duties called. His mentor, William Hackett, had provided a list of Council concerns. Still, adjusting to political life was proving far harder than expected.

As an Army officer, he had a support system and a clear chain of command. Now, while he had Hackett and Yeldan, he was being forced to learn how to rule on the fly.

"Sorry," Ryder said. "I was deep in thought. You were talking about money?"

"That is correct," Yeldan said. "The Council is upset that Lord Folen Elstina has been receiving all your people's contracts."

"We're at war," Ryder replied. "Restarting your arms industry is the top priority. Besides, we've only been here a month."

"I understand," Yeldan said. "But as your advisor, that grace period won't last forever. Your people and House have the support of the public, but economic growth must be addressed."