Taren Mill, the Alliance's forward operating headquarters.
Lothar received an urgent letter from Galen.
"According to Galen's message, the Orcs have fiercely attacked the Thandol Span defense line for five days, killing over ten thousand enemies while losing three thousand of their own."
At the daily meeting, Lothar announced this news.
"Marshal, any news from the Ranger-General?" asked a tall High Elf woman.
This was Alleria Windrunner, Ranger-Lord of Quel'Thalas, the first High Elf Ranger to independently assist Lothar.
She was also Sylvanas's eldest sister. Unlike Sylvanas, who favored red cloaks and hoods, Alleria preferred forest green and oak brown attire.
Similar to Sylvanas, she carried a longbow, but Alleria was more skilled with a rapier.
Alleria possessed exquisite High Elven beauty combined with strength and elegance. Lothar understood why young men were so taken with her, admitting he might have been among them if he were younger and less experienced.
Hearing Alleria's question, Lothar glanced at his young adjutant, Turalyon, and suppressed a smile before nodding. He was aware of the rumors among his officers.
Turalyon, seemingly encouraged, told Alleria, "General Sylvanas provided emergency support at the Thandol Span, successfully repelling the Orcish offensive and severely damaging their siege!"
This was, essentially, Galen's report, exaggerating Sylvanas's role to downplay his delaying tactics.
Alleria was pleased. Unlike herself, who disliked tradition, she believed Sylvanas was better suited to succeed their mother as Ranger-General.
Turalyon continued, "Lieutenant General Galen's latest intelligence indicates the Orcs have abandoned the Thandol Span and are attempting a northern advance by sea!"
A handsome, bearded middle-aged man straightened up. "Not through the Thandol Span? They're bypassing the Arathi Highlands by sea, right?"
"King Proudmoore, the sea is Kul Tiras's domain. I entrust the sea route blockade to you!" Lothar, studying the map between the Wetlands and Arathi Highlands, noted many potential landing sites in Hillsbrad. The long coastline made a complete blockade difficult, so he turned to Daelin Proudmoore.
"Marshal, please call me Daelin. Here, I'm just a naval admiral!" Daelin said heroically. "The Kul Tiras First Fleet is fully assembled, along with Galen's and King Terenas's warships, all docked at Southshore. We will secure the sea!"
"We lack information on the Orcish Horde's naval capabilities. Please be cautious!" Lothar, having fought the Orcs for years, was habitually serious and cautious. He urged the accomplished naval warrior.
Daelin, one of the two kings comparable to Thoras, had spent years at sea, fighting goblins, humans, pirates, and nagas. He was confident. "Don't worry, Marshal Lothar. I, Daelin, have lived at sea. Naval warfare is my element, and I won't underestimate the enemy!"
"I wish you well, and may the Holy Light protect you, Admiral Daelin!"
"In the name of the Holy Light, I will secure the sea route!" The ambitious admiral led his adjutant, Derek, out, eager to teach the Orcs a lesson.
Orgrim had shifted his strategy. He left the Thunderlord Clan, assisted by the Dragonmaw Clan and led by Fenris, to contain the Thandol Span.
Kilrogg's 50,000 troops besieged Ironforge, and the Thunderlord and Dragonmaw Clans had another 50,000 here.
This left the main force heading north short by 100,000. Fortunately, the forest trolls bolstered the Horde, and with ogres and other servant races, the Horde still held a numerical advantage.
West of the Wetlands, the Orcs built a rudimentary pier. Orcish peons, guided by goblin engineers, built ships.
In just over a month, the Orcs, using a vast peon workforce, constructed over 100 transport ships. The goblins also modified some older ships and delivered them to Orgrim.
Very goblin!
For this fleet of mostly new ships, Orgrim paid the goblins a fortune, spending half the wealth looted from Stormwind.
The goblins then retired, claiming the peons had learned shipbuilding and no longer needed guidance. They also sold a batch of second-hand ship-mounted artillery, squeezing the Horde one last time.
Orgrim's first dealings with goblins revealed their greed and high costs. Once he confirmed the peons could build independently, he paid the commission.
The goblins fled that night, practically carrying the transport ships to move faster.
"Oh, Prince Galen, my friend, as agreed, Gazlowe mixed that ship batch with the old ones and delivered them to the Orcs!"
After leaving the Orcs' sight, the goblins traveled north through the Thandol Span, landing at the Eastwind Rest docks, where Galen waited.
"Gazlowe, my dearest friend, thank you for your help. I'll waive your rent in Galenport for the next three years!" Galen responded enthusiastically to the young goblin.
"Oh, Galen, my friend, my partners and I risked our lives dealing with those barbaric Orcs. It was so scary, I lost my appetite and couldn't sleep! Look, I've lost weight!" Gazlowe opened his shirt to reveal his ribs.
"Mind your manners, my friend. There are ladies present!"
Galen had invited Sylvanas to Eastwind Rest after handing the defense of Dun Modr to Aragorn.
The reason? To help Sylvanas make special armor-piercing arrows at Galen's logistics center!
A legitimate excuse, and Sylvanas couldn't resist!