One against a thousand sounded mighty and imposing—great visual impact, strong imagery. However, unless strength differences reached heaven and earth apart, best not try it.
History had countless examples of powerhouses—Darkseid, Thanos, and the like—all self-assured in their prowess, getting forcibly defeated by forty justice-side companions and ground into the dirt.
The precedent wasn't far. Though Thea looked down on those Yellow Lantern rabble, if hundreds or thousands swarmed her, she genuinely might not win.
Unity is strength! This phrase applied in ninety-nine point nine percent of situations.
Frontal assault was somewhat unrealistic. Korugar's civilization level wasn't low. Though not matching Krypton's Level 8 civilization, it could reach Level 6 or above.
Unlike Earth—like a marketplace where various aliens came and went as they pleased—Korugar had defensive systems. Grudd's place had decent population but civilization level only slightly above indigenous. Space warships were out of the question.
Fiora had previously gathered some neutral mercenaries across the universe. She had several warships on hand. However, mercenaries' character was unpredictable. They might work for favorable battles, but with such enemy-friendly numerical disparity, direct defection was possible.
Enemy had numbers and intact defensive facilities. Allies had few people and needed to attack.
Only one choice lay before Thea—the routine shown countless times in movies: organize a small team for assault.
She ordered Fiora to bring those Earth people over. They couldn't fight in space, but ground combat abilities were off the charts.
She began contacting Sinestro supporters inside Korugar. The more collaborators, the better.
First she sought Lyssa Drak, who supposedly had some precognitive ability. Unfortunately, ring communication never connected.
Another person Sinestro mentioned, Arkillo—she knew him too. A tall, burly blue-skinned alien, the Yellow Lantern Corps' recruit trainer. Arkillo had once visited Earth alone to gain Thea's recognition.
Loyal, simple—though a savage fellow, Thea's impression of him was decent.
Regrettably, she couldn't contact him either.
No need to elaborate. Certainly after Sinestro's disappearance, his ambitious subordinates had defeated those loyal to him.
Unable to contact ring members—fortunately she had other means of contacting people.
"Arsona, can you hear me?" Far-sight spell, combined with super-vision, imaging spell, plus the ring's light refraction and projection functions. Spell, metahuman ability, and ring—three capabilities integrated together, beginning cross-light-year communication.
"Who?" The purple alien woman on screen looked somewhat surprised, staring at the water curtain that suddenly appeared, asking tentatively.
"Thank heavens you're alive. I'm Thea, remember? I'm Sinestro's..." Thea thought for ages about her relationship with Sinestro. Almost none!
"I'm Sinestro's... colleague. We met once." Really couldn't think of a good term. Thea could only gloss over it vaguely.
The purple alien woman nodded calmly. "I have a deep impression of you. Sinestro complained many times you split away his supreme authority."
Thea nearly coughed up blood. Just knew Sinestro said nothing good about her behind her back. Though this woman wasn't a ring member, she was Korugar Defense Force's supreme commander. Also Sinestro's new red—no, purple—confidante after his wife's death.
The two had definitely discussed her after doing indescribable things. That's why this woman had such a deep impression.
Any impression beat no impression. "How's Korugar's current situation? Sinestro left me a message... Is there anywhere you need my help?"
Purple-skinned Arsona spoke stiffly. "Korugar doesn't need another dictatorial tyrant! Sinestro betrayed his people, betrayed me. Korugar needs no Lanterns—Green or Yellow! We need none!"
Finishing, she threw something weapon-like at the water curtain. However, this was completely useless. The water curtain Thea made was formless and incorporeal. Unless she unilaterally canceled it, others had no method.
Arsona threw things for a while, vented anger for a bit, then looked at the curtain with grave expression.
"What do you actually want?"
"I want to fulfill a promise. Or rather, help Sinestro resolve his Yellow Lantern Corps issue and liberate Korugar."
"And afterward?"
"Afterward?" Thea thought. "Unqualified ring members get rings stripped, go back where they came from. I take the rest away." Future Earth was the universe's center. Planets like Korugar—except for Sinestro treating it like treasure—nobody cared about.
This answer exceeded Arsona's expectations. She was a decisive woman. "What do you need me to do?"
"Help me find a hidden room. I need to bring my team and teleport directly to Korugar."
Assault tactics, decapitation strategy—as the planet's highest military commander, Arsona immediately thought of several terms. She didn't know Thea's numbers were few and power thin, unilaterally assuming the other side didn't plan large-scale raids. This suited her perfectly.
"Agreed!" She answered readily.
Before ending communication, Thea instructed her, "Collect current Corps intelligence. We'll meet soon."
Finishing, she began arranging long-distance teleportation arrays. The ring's foundation had greatly increased—no need to abandon it. She also worried Arsona might be detrimental to her side. The teleportation array reinforced simultaneously with magical power and emotion energy. Long duration, stable channel—without specific countermeasures, even nuclear bombs couldn't destroy it.
Earth's group arrived quickly. The somewhat awkward Livewire still wore her imitation ring. Suggestion spells continuously influenced her.
Deathstroke and Poison Ivy were fine. Papa Midnite—this was his first time on an alien planet. Especially seeing many primitive natives carrying round Grudd to meet with them, he was even more surprised. This guy was also a companion?
Fiora stood alone at Thea's side, watching her create the teleportation array.
Deathstroke and Papa Midnite—both men were half-black, half-white origins, had common ground. Later Grudd also joined their conversation.
On another side, Deadman was boasting to Poison Ivy and Livewire.
Behind them, each brought some personnel. Fiora's recruited alien subordinates. Grudd's mind-controlled native warriors.
Deathstroke also brought over a hundred elite soldiers and his daughter Rose Wilson, an equally skilled fighter. Another person who caught Thea's attention was a metahuman Deathstroke recruited who could control soil and rock—Terra—though too young to be used as main force.
For her subordinates' subordinates, she had no excessive thoughts. Those she valued were capable strongmen. Having ideas to develop power was normal. Like she told Ganthet—having hope gave motivation.