General Draz was a career officer. He had served in the army since his youth, earning each promotion until he made top general. He was known to be loyal to his troops, which created loyalty for him among them. Additionally, he had only ever chosen officers he trusted.
President Larvin had promoted him to army chief a few years back, when it was clear that the war was ending, and that the army would need a peacetime commander. Larvin had selected him over Admiral Manis because he thought Draz was a strategic planner. Draz always came up with long term strategic plans, while Manis tended to focus on the tactical. Draz was a strategist, and Manis a tactician. But they had both been successful in helping to bring an end to the war. The reks supported them. The re-election of President Larvin the previous year showed that reks endorsed his peace building strategy, and his efforts to end the historical animosity with Myshka.
Draz and Manis were real friends. They had family ties, and they occasionally visited each other’s homes occasionally. So, Manis had no problem working under Draz, and neither of them had any issues with President Larvin. However, that had all changed today for Draz. He left the palace with vague orders that he knew he was unable to complete. His first action was to call Manis to discuss their orders and to prepare their plans.