"We're losing sappers faster than we can replace them, sir."
"Then we adjust again. Sappers work under maximum magical protection. I don't care if it drains our mages—better exhausted mages than dead sappers. And start rotating teams so no one's exposed for extended periods."
Hour Six: The Afternoon Shift
By midday, both sides had developed sophisticated tactical approaches to the reconnaissance phase.
Human tactics:
Small probe teams with maximum magical protection
Sapper units working in short rotations under cover
Battle mages conducting detection from maximum range
Counter-battery archer teams marking settlement firing positions
Cavalry held ready to exploit any weakness discovered
Settlement tactics:
Selective engagement to conceal full defensive capability
Priority targeting of specialists over regular soldiers
Rotating archer positions after firing to avoid counter-battery
Thrak constantly adjusting trap mechanisms to defeat detection spells
