GATE:Thus The ARVN Fought Once More
...
"- The recent and uncalled arrival of these foreign invaders in the city of Hue has left people confused and shocked all around the world as-"
"- I say we go on the other side of that gate and kill everything that moves! No mercy! Those bastards deserve to die for what they did to us. They-"
"- number of civilian casualties are believed to have peaked into the hundreds by the end of the week with more and more bodies being uncovered every passing da-
"- nearby residents are not only angry but fear that the Republic of Vietnam is on the verge of another great war that-"
"- lived here for many years, I lived through both Tet and Easter Offensives from the North and it pains me to see us as victims that suffer the most time and time agai-"
"- a sharp increase in military budget and recruitment has prompted the government to shut down mandatory conscription throughout the country for the first time since 1969-"
"- number of military personnel has exceeded one million across the armed forces-"
"- at first I did not care much for the Army because I was told to either be drafted or go to jail but now with the attack and the things I saw in the city, I want to do everything I can to help figh-"
…
Officer Sang's House
Senior Sergeant (Trung sĩ nhất) Vịnh spent his last day in-country at a friend's house. The house belonged to the same National Police Officer that he saved and had became good friends with this year. Officer Sang and Vịnh sat outside on the porch of his home at a small coffee table and conversed for a bit.
"So today is your last day in country huh?" Sang asked as he sat down in his seat with coffee in both hands and handed one to Vịnh. His wound had mostly healed up since the incident so there was nothing for him to worry about when moving around.
"Yeah, we'll be leaving here pretty early tomorrow and take the fight to whoever these guys are on the other side." Vịnh said while leaning back in his seat taking a sip from his coffee.
"So why are they making you go if you aren't with the 1st Infantry guys?"
"Well it's a joint operation since I'm from the 18th and I was there during the massacre, it gave us a chance to commit our own men to join in."
But, what about you? Just you I mean."
"Oh well the military of course wants me there since i'm a hero and all with sufficient training and whatever excuse they come up with to get me to go…"
"Well… who are we even fighting anyways?"
Vịnh took another sip of his coffee then leaned forward in his chair and began to explain, "Well that general we captured told us that we're fighting some kind of Imperial Empire on the other side. The Saderan Imperial Dominion or something and they got muskets."
"So it is a blown out war then…"
"Well we don't know that for sure, not unless we figure out what's on the other side first." Vịnh got up out of his seat to stretch and decided it was about time to go.
"Oh yeah here… it's that M1911 I picked up from you and where did you get that old thing anyways?" Sang took the pistol from Vịnh which was placed in a small bag.
"Oh thanks, well it's a hand me down from my grandfather and it saved his life many time back then.
"During the war?" Sang nodded in response before placing the pistol on the coffee table
"Well you take care of it... it's a good sidearm."
"I will and I'll see you when you get back."
"I'll see you later then."
...
The Gate
The Gate stood high at the remains of the flag tower as an assembled brigade task force of the 1st and 18th Infantry divisions stood at attention in their 4-pocket Digital Woodland Fatigues (Based off of US4CES Woodland variant), Ballistic vests and slinged M4 Carbines alongside green M1A1 Abrams and armored troop transport lined up in columns.
Behind them were a small contingent American troops who were mostly acting in the rear as a support element for the ARVN and would continue to assist them on the other side. This was an ARVN-led operation so they would be the first to go through the Gate.
Before they marched on, they await the word of their Commander, Brigadier General (chuẩn tướng) Tùng as he walked out in from of the brigade to give his speech. "About a year ago today, this Gate arrived here along with many other portals from another world housing an unknown invasion force. Hundreds of lives were lost that day and many still remain missing, their whereabouts unknown. The times we as Vietnamese have suffered throughout the centuries have passed but we have been threatened once more. Not only are we threatened but so is the rest of the world and what is to say that our allies are next?"
General looked throughout the men who stood before him, all were ready to fight and win. He spoke once more. "Our mission is to stop an incident like this from ever happening again and establish contact on the other side. To bring whoever is responsible to justice and to kill anyone who gets in our way. Each and everyone of you is worth six or more of these bastards and I expect to see results, understood?
His men sounded off with their motto with all of their strength, "Tổ Quốc, Danh dự, Trách Nhiệm!"
"Good, now let's take this fight to the enemy!"
...
Alnus Hill
The Legions of the Imperial Saderan Army made up of Soldiers from different Kingdoms within the region were all gathered at the Gate to await any sort of retaliation from the other side. The Army was in high spirits due to their recent victories and successful military campaign. They thought they were invincible with their more recently produced rifles which featured a trapdoor-breech loading style mechanism and stood in large three ranks of a few hundred men each, their Troops in the front rank were on one knee and the two in the back were standing.
On a nearby hill overlooking the Gate were tents that belonged to the Generals of the Legions that were gathered here on this night as they discussed the forces they sent on the other side. "Our skirmishing force should have been back by now…"
"Patience my friend, surely they have dispatched all that threatens them on the other side. It must have taken them some time to establish authority and we should expect a runner at any time now." One General said as he spoke to the other leading commanders in his tent looking at a map with the positions of their Legions, Artillery cannons and Cavalry all marked.
"We will not fail my friends, when have we failed before? We have won every engagement against our enemies in neighboring states and even beaten back every insurrection from the Empire's most brutal savages…"
The Commander in charge was Lord Duran of the state of Elbe, a vassal state under the Empire. He wished to reassure his men that no failure can come to them. "Nothing will crush us, so I ask you all to have faith and trust in the abilities of our Soldiers."
Just then, another Soldier rushes into the tent out of breath. He gave a Salute to the Generals before speaking. "My lord! A messenger has arrived from the other side!"
"Take us to him immediately."
"Yes, right away my Lord!" The Soldier led Lord Duran and his other generals to a Soldier being carried away on a stretcher to a nearby medical tent. Before they carried the Soldier into the tent, Lord Duran approached the bloodied and wounded Soldier.
"What happened to you son?" One General questioned as the Soldier struggled with his pain, turning to face the Generals.
"It's all over… We-*Cough* We can't win…"
"What kind of nonsense are you on about Soldier?"
"We were wiped out, everyone is either dead... or taken prisoner… Lord Colt was also slain..." The Soldier said he struggled more and more with his breathing.
The Generals were all shocked at what the Soldier had just said and the revelation of this information will damage the Empire's reputation. "What of the enemy you faced?"
"They are… Superior… WE CAN'T WIN- *Cough* The Soldier was then carried away into the medical tent. They weren't sure what to believe at all but things would get much worse for the Generals soon as another Soldier, and Officer approached them and saluted. "My Lord, it would appear that there is some kind of loud buzzing insect that came out from the other side…"
"An insect?" The Officer then handed a pair of brass binoculars to observe the Gate.
"I've already sent for a few Soldiers to investigate the insect my Lord."
…
"What kind of creature is it?"
The four Soldiers looked at the insect confused as it began to buzz away from them and up into the sky. The ground beneath them began to rumble and they began to panic. "What's happening?!"
Suddenly Armored tanks rolled through the gate, the sight of them made the Soldiers run for their lives until they were gunned down by machine gun fire. The Legions of Soldiers were then ordered to ready their weapons, aimed and fired at the Armored vehicles to no effect. "Bring up the cannons now!"
...
"The ARVN armored crew sat in their Abrams unharmed by the Legions of Soldiers firing at them with their rifles and cannons as they coordinated with their tank commander, prepping to fire. "Load up H.E. rounds..."
"It's up…"
"On my go... Fire!" The Legions of rank and file men were decimated by the 120mm cannon of the Abrams and the stragglers were picked off by the 50. Cal MG. They were followed by LAV-600 vehicles and dismounted Infantry. Imperial forces were quickly losing ground to their unknown attackers who caught them off guard, with many of their Soldiers now dead and most deserting the battlefield in panic.
"Damn talk about a crazy party... Everyone advance! They are on their last limbs here!" Vịnh said leading his men against the survivors who were shot dead and beaten to death before they could plead for mercy.
…
Lord Duran was battered from the close explosion and chaos that just unfolded. He just lost an arm to the explosion and his entire force was wiped out in the matter of minutes before he could even give out an order, including his trusted Generals. "The King sent us here to our deaths…"
He took up his Officer pistol, aimed and fired one last shot at the advancing enemy Troops before he was shot once, falling over but still breathing. He could faintly hear them speaking some kind of language he had never heard before and felt himself being carried away before passing out.
There was nothing left but hundreds of dead Imperial Soldiers, their bodies either burned or blown up beyond recognition and everything around them was on fire as ARVN Soldiers swept the area for anymore stragglers in the area. This was a strategic victory for the ARVN forces in the area as they began to set up in a defensive posture and began fortifying Alnus Hill as a base of operations. The ARVN were just getting started.
Alt-Timeline of Events of The Republic of Vietnam
1955- Vietnam War begins and Ngô Đình Diệm becomes the First President of the RVN
1963- Coup and assassination of Ngô Đình Diệm takes place and is followed by years of political turmoil
1967- Nguyễn Văn Thiệu is elected as 2nd President of the RVN
1968- Tet Offensive begins
1969- Vietnamization is implemented
1970- Land Reform programs (Land to the Tiller) are implemented with great success
1971- Vietnam War extends into Cambodia
1972- Easter Offensive takes place, ends in ARVN victory
1973- Paris Peace Accords take place, Armistice is signed and lost territory is reclaimed by ARVN forces, Last US ground troops leave Vietnam and military aid now cut to $1 billion dollars is delivered to South Vietnam
1974- Support of North Vietnam from USSR and China ends as PAVN launches final offensive- the Ho Chi Minh Campaign, Armistice and treaty violated, US government enforces promise to come to South Vietnam's aid
1975- Ho Chi Minh Campaign ends in defeat for North Vietnam, RVN Military Forces gains victory with support from US Military involvement to defend South Vietnam
1976- North Vietnam now suffers from sanctions due to violation of Paris Peace Accords New Armistice/treaty is signed between North and South Vietnam, North Vietnam is unable to back Pathet Lao and Khmer Rouge in Laos and Cambodia leading to their defeat by South Vietnamese backed local government forces
1977- Power is returned to the Kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia
1979- Sino- Vietnamese War begins, South Vietnam temporarily aids the North against China fearing hostile takeover of both countries
1980s-1990s: The RVN goes through multiple economic reforms and self development policies, Free-Market economy and trade is better established, South Vietnam becomes one of the 'Asian Tigers'
1990s-2000s: South Vietnam is a strong military force and ally of the US in the South China Sea region
20XX Present Day- 'The Gate' arrives in the Imperial City of Hue marking the day of the 'Hue Incident' and beginning of ARVN military operations on the other side of the Gate