Monday morning started off with a bang. Nicholas had accumulated dozens of potential military specialist data sheets, from the scouting reports generated from the first two weeks of operation from his surveillance network. More reports arrived with each passing hour, and so it was time to get to work assessing the military value of each candidate. Major Schwarzkopf had emphasised the need to economise expenditures, and maximise the complementary nature of the specialist's skill set. More bang for the buck, was the primary goal.

  A total of 34 magic users had been identified as being locally available, 12 of them owned their own steed. In addition, 14 skilled fighters, and 4 artillery specialists had been brought to Nicholas's attention. Nicholas wrote up data assessments for every candidate, based on the scouts input, but personal interviews would be required to make the spending decisions. Major Schwarzkopf gave Nicholas a budget of 20 gold marks per month to work with. Each data sheet included an estimated monthly salary. Everything was a guess, at this point, but the system would at least make it possible to narrow down the field of candidates.

  Once Professor Babbage had his Analytical Engine fired up and ready to process information, Nicholas loaded all 52 sets of data into the machine. It was quite a site. Analytical Engine # 16 attracted immense attention from the experienced fighters of the 427th battalion. Coal smoke mixed with white steam in the northern forest air to create a mystical veil which settled over top of the military encampment. The shiny brass knobs, valves and gears worked incessantly, spinning and whirling like an insanely complicated train engine. The next step was for Professor Babbage to calculate the effect of each candidate's performance improvements on every Flying Eagles fighting unit. Nicholas Meyer paid particular attention to any improvement which would result in dead bear cavalry, or cause damage to a war mammoth.

  Six military specialists stood out from the rest:

  ______________________Oxheart Mooseantlers________________Goldenrod Echinacea_______________StormWind Sleet

  Profession: ___________Mage: 3 spells known________________Mage:4 spells known________________Mage: 2 spells known

  Leadership: ___________8___________________________________7____________________________________7

  Fighting skill: _________4____________________________________2___________________________________3

  Attacks: ______________3____________________________________1___________________________________2

  Quickness: ___________4____________________________________3___________________________________3

  Power: _______________4____________________________________2___________________________________3

  Defence: _____________4____________________________________2___________________________________3

  Speed: _______________2____________________________________4___________________________________3

  Wounds: _____________4____________________________________1___________________________________3

  Armour save: _________5+ Ox leather armour________________none________________________________none

  Weapons: _____________Bone lance_________________________Goddess Standard of Protection_____Ice lance

  Special abilities: _______ Never retreat_______________________Healing_____________________________Lightning bolts

  ________________________Fearless charge____________________Rooted to the ground_______________Freeze opponent

  ________________________Transform mounts_________________Restore life________________________________

  ___________________________________________________________Instant pathway____________________________

  Mount:__________________Moose____________________________Elven steed__________________________Warhorse

  Experience points:______385,000___________________________4,200,000____________________________267,000

  Estimated salary:________200 pfennig_______________________300 pfennig__________________________125 pfennig

  ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  _______________________Magnetic Titanium---------------------------------Curt Gallencamp-------------------------------Gunnar Hellsson

  Profession: __________Mage_________________________________:Artillery technician_________________Artillery mercenary

  Leadership: __________7_____________________________________7__________________________________9

  Fighting skill: ________4_____________________________________4__________________________________5

  Attacks: _____________2_____________________________________3__________________________________4

  Quickness: __________3_____________________________________3__________________________________3

  Power: ______________3_____________________________________3__________________________________4

  Defence: ____________3_____________________________________3__________________________________3

  Speed: ______________4_____________________________________4__________________________________4

  Wounds: ____________2_____________________________________2__________________________________3

  Armour save: ________none ________________________________+3 platemail_______________________+2 alloy platemail

  Weapons: ___________Broadsword__________________________Long rifle___________________________Three heavy dwarf cannons

  Special abilities:______Change skin to metal, (+2 to save)____Improve weapon accuracy___________Improve weapon accuracy

  ______________________Animate metal _______________________Improve weapon reliability__________Improve weapon reliability

  ______________________Improve bullet piercing power_____________________________________________Command artillery unit

  Mount:_______________Warhorse____________________________Warhorse___________________________Warhorse

  Experience points: ____138,000_____________________________29.250______________________________868,000

  Estimated salary: ____200 pfennig___________________________100 pfennig________________________1500 pfennig?

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  It was a powerful array of military talent and the interview process was long and challenging. The major difficulty was sorting out exactly what each specialist was actually capable of, in a real battle setting. The individuals were so different from one another that Nicholas Meyer was finding it hard to rank or compare them. Then, there was the money aspect. Gunnar Hellsson was by far the most expensive option. In fact, it would probably be less expensive for the 427th battalion to hire all five individual specialists, than to sign up Hellsson and his guns to the monthly payroll. Hellsson demanded 18 marks per month, explaining all sorts of financial challenges of running an independent unit of artillery. Still, adding three reliable dwarf artillery pieces to the defensive line couldn't do anything but improve the fighting capabilities of the 427th battalion. During the interview, Gunnar had quipped, "I ain't never seen a military problem that couldn't be helped by throwin' some cannon balls into the opponents front lines."

  Oxheart Mooseantlers was another interesting option. He himself was a mountain of a man, and promised to add killing power simply by adding his massive bulk to the front of a Wolf Cavalry battle charge. Even better, if he could pull off his signature spell, every knight could be riding a moose, for the duration of the battle. The Wolf Knights could use that extra punch, especially if they were going up against hobgoblins and their brown bears.

  Next up was the metal mage, Mercury Titanium. This fellow presented much differently than the wizard that Nicholas had interviewed back in Koblenz. Cobalt Steel had looked more like a heroic swordsman, clad in heavy armour, head to toe. This fellow looked thinner and more agile, with no armour, and looked more like a fire mage or even a holy monk. When Nicholas had questioned him about this he grinned, muttered a few words, and transformed right in front of the surprised Lieutenant. Mage Titanium's skin flowed like liquid and solidified into solid shiny metal! He even invited Nicholas to tap his cheek and arm. Instant metal skin! He promised Nicholas that he could also provide this temporary magical armour to the rest of the men in his unit, as necessary, once per day. The metal wizard also bragged that any bullets fired from guns in his vicinity would have the penetrating ability of a long rifle, and finally boasted about his ability to create an automaton being, from any accumulation of scrap metal. That metal creature would fight alongside his riflemen, and obey his orders. Or so the man promised.

  Curt Gallencamp was a really fine fellow, and impressed Nicholas with his competence and affability. it seemed obvious that hiring Curt would improve the fighting effectiveness of the Flying Eagles horse artillery. Every bear brought down by a cannon ball, was one less to crash into the lines of infantry, so improving the accuracy of the cannons seemed like a great idea. If Major Schwarzkopf was going to baulk at spending the large number of gold marks required to hire Hellsson's mercenaries, then Gallencamp and Mercury Titanium were viable alternatives.

  The weather wizard was an oddball option. He met the standard of being a mounted wizard, and he would make a striking figure at the head of a charging group of Wolf Knights. He bragged incessantly about the killing power of his magical ice lance. There was no doubt that Nicholas Meyer had been impressed to see and touch a permanently frozen cavalry lance, glinting magically in the sunlight of a warm summer afternoon. If it was difficult to quantify the effectiveness of that weapon, without seeing it in action, the potential impact of the lightning bolt spell was even more uncertain. Mage Sleet described it as an all powerful killing spell, but Nicholas was unsure of what to think. He asked the wizard why he had been dismissed from his last military engagement, which had been fighting Nubian rebels, alongside an expeditionary force, in the jungles of central Africa. StormWind Sleet had made several excuses about how the intense heat had blunted the effectiveness of his magic.

  Nicholas Meyer was rather overwhelmed by the interviews, by the time he was thanking StormWind Sleet for his time. There was just one more potential recruit to speak with. One of the kitchen staff brought Nicholas a quick snack, which he ate in front of his interview tent. It was nearly 3:00, which Nicholas knew was the interview time scheduled for the Emerald Mage, Goldenrod Echinacea. The talent scout who had identified Mage Echinacea as a candidate, described her as a truly talented healer, but only barely capable of riding her warhorse into battle. He had also been impressed by the battle standard she bore. Truth be told, Goldenrod Echinacea seemed like the least likely hire of all. Next to Hellsson, she would probably demand the highest salary. Four spell mages were rare, and usually in high demand. Healing magic of all kinds seemed in short supply in these days of perpetual warfare. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to take a chunk out of the Holy Prussian Empire. Major Schwarzkopf had only just that morning passed on the news of a major Chaotic Northmen landing of longboats on the Jutland peninsula.

  Just then, Nicholas noticed Major Schwarzkopf riding Gunther, accompanied by a mounted green-clad rider. Both were entering the compound through the main gate. Even from this distance, Nicholas could see a visible impact on the soldiers who were observing the Emerald Wizard for the first time. All of the men stared towards the woman, as if dumbstruck. She bore a battle standard, flowing gently behind her as she trotted towards Meyer's office tent. The fabric of the flag was richly coloured and flowed like water. Nicholas could see unusually shaped letters and symbols, woven into the elegant fabric, edged with what looked like a frill of gold threads. As the woman neared. Nicholas was genuinely shocked to see that the rider was not actually a human. She was clearly an elf, and her mount was a pure white elven steed.

  Schwarzkopf and the elven mage dismounted and approached. "Goldenrod Echinacea," introduced Schwarzkopf, "This is Lieutenant Meyer."

  "I am honoured to meet you," began mage Echinacea.

  "Surely the honour is all mine," replied Nicholas Meyer, then he turned to his assistant. "James, could you please bring chairs and a table for us, and refreshments for all of us?"

  "Yes, Sir," replied assistant James.

  Seats and a table quickly produced, the three took their seats and began the interview. "I must admit that I am surprised by your appearance, Lady Echinacea." Nicholas had been taught from a young age, to always refer to a female Elf as 'Lady'. It is unusual to cross paths with your people in this part of the Empire, and I was not expecting an elf to be put forward as a candidate to join our battalion. Indeed, my scout never thought to mention your ancestry in his candidate report."

  "That was my idea, Lieutenant. I wished my qualifications to be judged on their own merit. I did not want my bloodline distracting you from a fair assessment of my abilities. At least not until we met in person. I wanted to be able to fully explain my candidacy, in my own words," explained the stately elven healer.

  "Indeed!" replied the intrigued Nicholas Meyer. "Please continue! I am immensely curious as to why you might be willing to join our battalion."

  "Significant events are afoot! We have received word from Borealia, that powerful enemies threaten the Holy Prussian Empire. My people often isolate themselves from the daily activities of the Empire, but we are more than willing to co-operate when needed, and our lands are also threatened by those brutes. Your scout seemed to imply that your battalion is willing to integrate novel approaches to battling the hobgoblin invaders. I am here to offer my services."

  "You would require a salary?" asked Major Schwarzkopf.

  "Of course, Sir!" replied Lady Echinacea. "I require reimbursement, befitting my considerable abilities. Six gold marks per month, are my expectations."

  Schwarzkopf grimaced at the amount, so Nicholas Meyer attempted to distract her attention away from him by asking, "I am intrigued by the magnificent banner you carry Lady Echinacea. What abilities does this woven fabric offer to the Flying Eagles battalion?"

  "My own mother created this masterwork, Lieutenant Meyer. She gathered materials from three continents to produce this fabric. Lotus fibres and silks from East Asia; milkweed and beargrass from Borealia; and byssus fibres from the shellfish of the Mare Nostrum. The banner is infused with magic from a dozen healers. The cavalry unit that bears this banner shall be protected from all wounds, no matter how severe. No such magical protection can ever be absolutely certain, but a soldier fighting under this banner will be nearly impervious to battle damage, as will their mounts."

  "And what might we expect from the spells you wield, Lady Echinacea?" asked Major Schwarzkopf.

  I have the ability to restore life to a soldier who has recently passed. This is a difficult spell and only possible once per month. I can heal living soldiers of most wounds, several times per day. I can find a viable path through any forest, no matter how dense the vegetation. I also have the ability to cast a curse on an enemy, rooting them in place like trees, preventing their movement. I believe that you will find all of these abilities worthwhile, but I am of the opinion that the healing and wound prevention magic will be most useful in improving the morale of your fighting men.

  "We are extremely grateful for your offer of services, Lady Echinacea. Although I can see that the fighting tactics employed by our magnificent Wolf Knights will have to be modified, I believe that we need to welcome you into our battalion. Meyer, I know that I am jumping the gun here, but I am making an executive decision and ordering you to make the necessary arrangements to bring the Lady into our battalion. Can you please put together a plan and a budget for this with Lieutenant Hartmann? Provide whatever accommodations and support staff that is necessary to make our new Emerald Mage feel comfortable, and introduce her to everyone in the unit."

  "I will, Sir!"