"Silence, you loathsome Orcs! You ambushed our camp and then dared to slander us. I have had enough of your lies!" Grand Admiral Daelin roared.
Though he had promised the Princess and Uther not to proactively provoke the Orcs, he was not about to sit idly by while they brought the fight to his doorstep. To him, the destruction of a human outpost was undeniably the work of these beasts; no other force in the vicinity possessed the power to wipe out a well-fortified garrison, and he had caught these Orcs red-handed at the scene.
"I will say it once more: the Orcs did not attack your outpost. The Warchief has already had this investigated. If you humans wish to tear up the peace treaty, we have no objection," Rexxar countered. Behind him, the Orcish warriors raised their axes high, beating their chests in a display of martial pride. The Orcs never feared battle; in fact, they craved the glory of combat and a warrior's death.
"Admiral, if you could introduce us to Lord Rhodes, we can explain the situation. The Horde does not seek war with the Alliance, but we do not fear it," an Orcish Overlord added. With the Battle of Mount Hyjal having ended only months ago, the Horde was still recovering; their new capital was not even a third complete. They had no desire for a total war.
However, the Alliance had suddenly placed a highly aggressive commander in the region who held a massive bias against them. He refused to listen to explanations and had even sent men to harass their positions. These Orcs had come specifically to find Lord Rhodes, whom many veterans of Hyjal respected as a powerful mage and a reasonable leader.
But Daelin was deaf to their words. He drew his cutlass and leveled his pistol at the Orcs, ready to order his guards to open fire. To him, the only good greenskin was a dead one.
Just then, Rhodes and Jaina burst into the center of the confrontation.
"Everyone, stand down! Rexxar! Chen Stormstout! Rokhan! And Admiral, do not be impulsive! Things are not as simple as they appear. I am Rhodes, Regent of Lordaeron. I have come here not to incite more fighting, but to uncover the truth!" Rhodes declared, positioning himself between the two factions.
"Wait, Father! Do not fire! There has been a misunderstanding!" Jaina cried out, shielding the Orcs from her father's gaze.
Grand Admiral Daelin was stunned. He never expected to run into his daughter and her rumored "boyfriend" in a place like this.
"Jaina? Is it really you, my daughter? It is so good to see you safe! You have no idea how I worried after hearing what happened in Lordaeron. I chased these greenskins across the sea, through a storm that scattered my fleet, just to reach this land. I met the Princess and Uther, and they told me everything—including your new 'little boyfriend.' But you should be in the Eastern Kingdoms. Why are you here?" Daelin asked.
"Father, this is not the place for a chat. I will tell you everything that has happened over the past year, but please, do not attack. This is a conspiracy—a plot aimed at both humans and Orcs."
"Hmph, there is nothing to discuss. These Orcs seek to occupy our lands and slaughter our soldiers."
"Father, wait! Rhodes has found crucial evidence!" Jaina insisted.
Daelin's gaze shifted to Rhodes. So this was the famous Regent of Lordaeron—an obscure mage a year ago, now the most influential man in the Alliance. The Admiral noted that Rhodes wasn't particularly tall or imposing. In his mind, a man like Arthas—tall, muscular, golden-haired—was the type suited for his daughter. However, the boy had a certain steady presence.
"Regent Rhodes, you arrive at a fortuitous time! These treacherous Orcs hit our outpost and now stand here spewing nonsense! The evidence is clear. What is there to investigate? You and my daughter should help me exterminate these wretches."
"Evidence is clear?" Rhodes stepped forward, his eyes burning with intensity. "Admiral, by 'evidence,' do you mean simply finding Rexxar and his companions near the ruins?
Furthermore, you have no authority to command me. You are the Admiral of the Alliance, but I am its Grand Marshal. By rank, it is you who should follow my lead," Rhodes said bluntly.
Daelin's face soured. Kul Tiras was ruled by its Great Houses rather than a single King, so his title was Master of Kul Tiras and Admiral of the Alliance. Rhodes, however, held the titles of Regent and Grand Marshal—positions second only to a King.
"Your appointment as Grand Marshal hasn't been ratified by Kul Tiras; my daughter's word doesn't make it law," Daelin growled, his anger still simmering. "As for evidence, who else in these woods could silently wipe out a well-equipped Alliance outpost?"
Rexxar and his team lowered their weapons and watched Rhodes. Thrall had told them that while Alliance relations were strained, his personal bond with Rhodes was strong.
"That is exactly what the enemy wants us to think!" Rhodes shouted so both sides could hear. "I personally inspected the outpost. The wounds were not made by axes or spears. They were corrosive claw marks accompanied by the stench of sea-slicked mucus! There were even traces of shadow magic. Admiral, can an Orcish axe, a Troll's spear, or a Pandaren's fist cause damage like that?"
"Lord Rhodes, you are indeed the wise man the Warchief described," Rexxar spoke up. "We arrived at the outpost first, but your people were already dead. I saw Naga fleeing the scene, but before I could speak, your men attacked us. We had to retreat. We sent messengers to explain, but they were all intercepted or killed."
"Nonsense! I never ordered an attack on your messengers, much as I despise you," Daelin retorted. He had arrived immediately after the first report and hadn't left the vicinity of Theramore.
"Perhaps their Shamans or Warlocks used..." Daelin started.
"Orcish Shamans command the elements—lightning and fire—not the damp corruption of shadow and brine!" Rhodes interrupted. "And Rexxar! When your patrols were hit, did you find similar unusual traces? Did it look like the work of human blades?"
Rexxar exchanged a look with Chen and Rokhan. "We were certain it was humans who attacked us."
"But even if they looked like humans, they may not be from Theramore or even the Alliance," Rhodes explained. "Just as your Horde has the Blackrock clan or the Fel Orcs of Draenor, we have our own rogues. I believe a cult is active here: the Twilight's Hammer.
Founded by a two-headed Ogre from Draenor, they are a doomsday cult serving the Old Gods. They recruit from all races—human, Orc, Tauren—anyone willing to accept their nihilistic creed. They want us to tear each other apart."
Rhodes decided to pin this on Cho'gall and the Twilight's Hammer for now, as their motives were identical to the Shadow Council or the Old Gods' agents.