Aquatic Nightmare

Battle of Myrmidens: Close Sultanate victory, Southern imperial forces scattered.
Battle of Dalka: Decisive Coalition victory, Dalka destroyed as an organized force.
17th battle of the northeastern plains: Stalemate, Coalition forces and The Great Shaman remain tied up in combat.
Battle of castle Streitzburg: Pyrrhic Alliance victory, Coalition forces fled the region and are reported to have joined up with existing groups.
Battle of Northspire: Crushing Coalition victory, Alliance forces have been annihilated in the region and northern Coalition forces now move unopposed.
Battle of Beirlitz: Decisive Coalition defeat, Coalition forces successfully withdraw their forces and raze Beirlitz on the way out.
Battle of Crystalspear: Decisive Coalition victory, Mindflayer forces turned into calamari by use of new 'landmine' weapon.
4th battle of Quintillius: Decisive Coalition victory, Elder Things navy sunk by mermaids killing their boats. Addendum: usage of the word 'killing' is correct here, their boats are sentient.

Eternal forest expansion halted by Mazurio dominance in the region. Theocracy withdraws to their own borders due to Mazurio threat. Central Empire being consolidated by noble forces. Northern Empire overrun by Coalition forces. Greenskins and Lichdom stuck in eternal war. Southern Sultanate ransacks imperial south. Jungles still a mess of civil wars.
-Report on Esstrey's desk in Quintillius

POV Esstrey The Mad Queen of Quintillius

This world has figured out world wars.

A conflict so big, there is no one who isn't feeling it. There's some real art to destruction of this scale, sadly I'm no artist. I am a soldier, a mutant, a monster, a ruler, and one hell of a good shot. That last one isn't bragging, the pirates are just that terrible with firearms compared to me. I gave the guns to a group of my most experienced men, and I am bringing along a few strike teams of mermaids with me as well. We head for the most strategically important location of this war. One not on any known map except for the scribbles of a two thousand old journal of a man who thought he could create 'the ultimate race'. Like that hasn't been done before.

"Cory, stop pointing the shotgun at your eye unless you want to lose that one as well." The pirate in question is looking down the barrel of the shotgun that used to belong to the most paranoid man on this planet.

Speaking of paranoia, I have been training my blood magic in complete secrecy. The only ones who know are the ones that were present when I decided to pilot my body like a puppet. Even Lychta doesn't know, because Mazurians apparently tend to speak to all Mazurians informally, yet Lychta has always been incredibly formal with me.

She might not see me as a Mazurian, I don't know why, and I don't exactly care either. The old memories are useful, but not seeing me as a Mazurian is hardly grounds for betrayal. The surrounding men are something else in that regard.

"Lady Esstre' are ye sure t'was a good idea to give me men those blasters? I may be a upstandin' individual of class, but me men might try an claim tha bounty on yer head, see?" Admiral Nosk looks with worry, he knows a surprisingly large amount about keeping discipline for a pirate.

"Alright you sealegs, if anyone thinks they can claim my head with the guns I gave you, listen well. I suggest when you shoot me, you make it count. Better make it hurt, better make it count. Make sure I don't get up. The things I'll do to your sorry asses if I find out you failed to kill something at point-blank range while having the advantage of surprise is gonna be worse than what I do to traitors." The men look a bit shakily as I tower over them. Good, we aren't swimming in bullets, and they shouldn't be wasting valuable ammo.

The ship casually goes onward to its destination. A small lake is near to it, where my forces will be stationed while I scout the location. The men have a slight downcast expression on them as we move.

"Oi boozemonkeys listen up! Same goes for the mermaid teams down below, I know you can hear me. In my delicate little hands here is the journal of a two thousand old dead man, and the treasure left behind by his friend. His friend was someone from my world, which means that the deathsticks you hold in your hands equate to ancient treasures, and when this is fight ends you get to keep the guns if you shot all those bullets into enemies. The treasure in question holds an 'unliving weapon' that is capable of summoning the very goddess to even the playing field with the fucking invader scum. This is gonna be something for the history books, and is sure to earn you a few rounds in the bar. Chin up lads, and give me an urah!" My short speech visibly invigorates the men. They grip their various weapons in determination.

"URAH!" The men aboard the ship sound off.

"I can't hear you!" I gesture toward both the men, and the water. My command is obeyed.

"URRAAAAHH!" The boat and the water synchronize in glorious unison.

Giving the men a quick wave of goodbye, I disembark on the smooth sand beach of the lake. I start calling for the words to draw the weapons to me.

"Whiskey Echo Whiskey. Lima Alpha Delta." I repeat it a couple more time, until a hatch opens in some nearby grass.

A robot reveals itself, showing significant wear from age, but moving no less slow.

"<Greetings, this facility has been awaiting the arrival of friendlies. Missile launch will attract hostiles attempting to stop us. You and your forces are to fall under our command for the time being.>" The 'friend' of this Grand Scientist was a fucking roboticist, and he existed two thousand years ago. They both shared the dream of creating the ultimate life form, each with different ways of going about it. Were it not for an interdimensional invasion, they would have both succeeded in achieving their dreams.

"Hold that thought comrade, I have more friendlies coming in for this." I sent out letters to the whole Coalition after all. Some Empire crossbowmen would already help me pull off a miracle here.

"Esstrey! It is good to see you!" An oddly familiar voice sounds from the foliage, and a timid woman emerges from it.

Ena Dalia. The teacher of the 'heroes' sent by Dalka after me.

"Dalia!" The robot next to me attempts to speak up, but I firmly grasp its appendage. My voice sounds cheery, and happy to see an old friend.

My gun says otherwise, and the RPK lights up the teacher. My bullets phase out of existence in front of her, and a shimmering barrier reveals itself.

The timid woman drops the antics, and looks at me incredulously.

"How did you know?" Ena Dalia's voice sounds cold, but I suppose shooting her on sight is a little colder.

"You've been causing a lot of trouble for me, and would have gotten away with it too. I remember seeing someone with the exact same build at Quintillius, trying to round up the Broken Stars to do some weird shit. Not to mention Alicia mentioning that we are supposed to grow immensely in quite a literal sense by using magic, yet here you are looking as timid as ever. Now you are here, if you truly came to help to save the world, you would have brought along more than yourself." This is the kind of paranoia that is warranted.

Her games end here.