Briefing Room, Fort Odyssey, Alnus Hill, Saderan Special Region (SSR)
The briefing room in Fort Odyssey may currently be the largest room on site but it is still tiny enough that 30 1st Lieutenants were nearly elbow to elbow. As a result, all 30 officers were rather uncomfortable being in each other's personal space.
However, this feeling of uncomfortability was put aside as General Victor Reyes walked in to brief them about their upcoming fact finding mission.
"Gentlemen." Started the General. "As you know, we still have little to no information about the nearby area other than what the captured Saderan Officers told us and reconnaissance performed by Raptor and Knight Falcon. So we will be sending 30 Recon Teams to meet the local populace and find out about the locations of other Strategic points. Each one will be commanded by one of you with a Sergeant Major being assigned as your Executive Officer. Lieutenant Gomez, you will be in charge of the 1st Recon Team. Lieutenant Sanchez, 2nd Recon, Lieutenant Sarmiento, 3rd Recon, Lieutenant Ching, 4th Recon,..." the list continued until all 30 Reconnaissance Teams were assigned a leader. "All of you are to report to the Motor Pool by 1030 Hours. Dismissed."
Within Minutes, the entire room was emptied with the only one left being General Reyes and his aide.
Motor Pool, Fort Odyssey, Alnus Hill, 1025 Hours Philippine Time
RJ Checks his Rifle, a German-built M416, one last time as he heads to the Motorpool. He checks his Ammo, the Rifle's Safety, the Barrel.
Lt. Sarmiento finishes his checks just as he arrives at the Motor Pool, or the patch of dead grass meant to be the Motorpool. There, he sees that he is the last CO to arrive. He heads over to the 3rd row of vehicles from the entrance. There, he sees the members of the 3rd Recon Team.
3rd Recon Soldier's Files
Ricardo "RJ" Sarmiento
Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Age: 32
Nationality: Filipino
Role: Commanding Officer
Frederick "Fred" Watts
Rank: Sergeant Major
Age: 47
Nationality: American
Role: Executive Officer
Kira Domingo
Rank: Sergeant
Age: 28
Nationality: Filipino
Role: Fireteam Leader
Lee Sungfei
Rank: Sergeant
Age: 29
Nationality: Singaporean
Role: Fireteam Leader
Phong Dat Minh
Rank: Corporal
Age: 24
Nationality: Vietnamese
Role: Rifleman
Kendrick Lamar
Rank: Corporal
Age: 23
Nationality: Malaysian
Role: Rifleman
George Yeager
Rank: Corporal
Age: 23
Nationality: American
Role: Rifleman
Jacinto Ramirez
Rank: Corporal
Age: 24
Nationality: Filipino
Role: Rifleman
Alison Wong
Rank: Corporal
Age: 25
Nationality: Singaporean
Role: Medic
Trisha Mesellia
Rank: Corporal
Age: 24
Nationality: Malaysian
Role: Designated Machine Gun Operator (DMGO)
Ignacio Chua
Rank: Corporal
Age: 25
Nationality: Filipino
Role: DMGO
Miguel Enriquez
Rank: Corporal
Age: 24
Nationality: Filipino
Role: Designated Marksman
Motor Pool, Fort Odyssey, Alnus Hill, 1030 Philippine Time
"OFFICER PRESENT" Yelled Sergeant Major Frederick "Fred" Watts.
Immediately, every member of the Third Recon Team stood at attention.
"Alright everybody." Said RJ. "Let's make introductions quick so we can get moving. My name is Lieutenant Sarmiento and I am your new Commanding Officer for this Mission. Everyone understand?"
"Sir yes, sir!" Was the unanimous response.
"Alright. Let's move out."
30km Outside Fort Odyssey, Coda Village, 1245 Philippine Time
Coda Village is a small village near Alnus Hill. Despite their close proximity to the Holy Hill, they rarely ever get any Pilgrims Visiting their Village simply because of the due remoteness of the Village from the main Highway. So when 3 strange Armored horseless carriages arrived in Coda Village, everyone was shocked, to say the least.
"They're coming!" Yelled one Villager.
"What?" Asked the Village Chief.
"The Men in Green, they're Coming!" Yelled another.
"Everyone do not panic." Said the Village Chief
100m Outside Coda Village Entrance, 1250 Philippine Time
"Seems like they're surprised to see us." Said Lee from the front "Command" Humvee.
"Who wouldn't be." Said RJ. "People haven't seen us or our vehicles yet other than a Fucking Army. It is likely that they only know us from rumors that we are bloodthirsty maniacs with Powers from God or some shit."
RJ Picks up his Radio.
"Rec 3 Actual to All." He Said in the Radio. "Watts, Lee and I are gonna go to show them we are not Hostile. Until I confirm, DO NOT DRIVE IN. How Copy?"
"Rec 3-2, Solid Copy."
"Rec 3-3, Wilco"
Coda Village
"Something's coming out!" Yelled one villager.
"Seems like they are human at least." Said the Village Chief.
"What do we do?" Asked a Villager.
"We wait and see what they want." Answered the Village Chief. "If the rumors are true, we don't stand a chance against them."
As the "Men in Green" got closer, they could see their uniforms. According to the Village Chief in an Interview with the Philippine Star years later, he describes their uniforms as odd for an Army. Green Shirt with a Vest that has several pouches along with Green Pants and Boots.
When they got within 10m of the Village Gate, The Chief Yelled In widely known Saderan: "Who are you and what do you want?"
The strange figures replied, in a rather broken Saderan: "We come in Peace. We only want to meet the people."
He observed them removing their helmets as a sign of peace.
"Ok." Responded the Chief as he signals the villagers to calm down. "You can come closer."
50m Outside Coda Village Gate
"Looks like their gonna let us in." Remarked Sungfei.
"Yeah." Said Fred. "Maybe they can be trusted."
"True." Said RJ. "But we should still be careful. For all we know, they have enemy soldiers waiting to ambush us."
When they got to the Village Entrance, they were greeted by around 50 Villagers and a small plump man with white hair who was now doubt the Village Chief.
In the little Saderan they knew, the 3 were able to understand that the Chief was welcoming them to Coda Village, a place they knew about thanks to the Interrogation of nearly 200 Saderan Officers taken prisoner over the 2 Months it took to prepare to send them there as well as images from Knight Falcon.
"What do you need?" Asked the Chief.
"We only need a Map." Replied the strange Man in Green, his skin as dark as that of the Dark Elves with a Patch on his left Shoulder showing a White Triangle on the left side of the patch with a Sun in the Center and 3 Stars on the corners while the rest of the patch had a Blue field on top and red on the bottom. On his right shoulder was a different patch, showing a circle on a blue background with the lower left quadrant of the circle shaded with yellow.
"We have a Map but I can't let you have it." Said the Village Chief. He understands that maps take a long time to draw and their village only had one.
"We not take Map." Said RJ In still Broken Saderan. "We only want to look at it."
"I will allow you but we must be accompanied by a few villagers."
The soldier nods in agreement.
It is only a short walk from the Gate to the house of the Chief but for him and the 4 villagers accompanying them, the situation was tense. No one knew what this Man in Green was gonna do. For all they knew, his could try to kill them with their rumored "Fire Magic".
When they get to the house, the Village Chief opens a small chest, watched by both the Man in Green and the 4 villagers who accompanied them. From the chest, he brings out a small scroll. He rolls out the scroll on a nearby table, explaining to the soldier the names of several locations marked on the map.
Then there was a bright flash as RJ took a picture with his iPhone 23.
After the Flash, the Chief saw that the map was still there but the Man in Green was now holding a small device.
"Can we bring carriage into village?" Asked RJ.
"Of course." Replied the Village Chief.
"Rec 3 Actual to All" Said RJ in English. "You can bring the Vehicles in. Just be careful. How Copy?"
"Rec 3-2, Solid Copy."
Coda Village Well
"Alright, we got what we need." Said RJ as the 3 Humvees drove next to the Well.
"Nice." Said Fred.
RJ turned to the Village Chief and said in Saderan, "Thank You."
The Chief simply nods.
RJ and Watts enter the lead Humvee while Sungfei enters the last one.
"Alright, Corporal." Said RJ to Cpl. George Yeager. "We'll Head for a nearby forest. We'll set up camp at the edge of the forest."
"Roger that, sir."
As the 3 Humvees drove away, the Villagers got a glimpse of the writing on the sides.
"SEADENT?" Said a villager. "What is that?"
10km Northeast of Coda Village, 1743 Philippine Time
While the SSCTF maybe the only time these soldiers will be deployed in ACTUAL combat, except for the Filipino and American members of the team, it was getting boring rather quickly. For the past few hours, they have been driving away from Coda Village and making their way to a nearby forest so they can set up camp.
In the "Command" Humvee, Corporal George Yeager is talking with Lieutenant Sarmiento about their families and the latter's experience in fighting the Saderans both during the Invasion of Manila and the First Battle of Alnus Hill.
"So wait, you lead a bunch of Reenactors in defending the "walled city" from these Roman wannabes?"
"Yep. That pretty much sums up the Invasion for me."
"Wow."
In the "Transport" Humvee, Corporal Jacinto Ramirez and Corporal Kendrick Lamar were discussing on which fantasy species, such as Orcs and Elves, would win in a fight.
"Have you seen Lord of the Rings? Legolas is accurate as hell with his bow." Said Ramirez.
"Ever played World of Warcraft? I can't count how many times I have been killed by an Orc." Responded Lamar.
"I still think Elves are better."
"And I still think Orcs are better."
"So? At least if we meet a girl of either species, the Elf would be hotter."
"Shut up."
Meanwhile, in the third "Combat" Humvee, Corporal Minh keeps watch for any dumb raiders thinking they are a small, horse-drawn Caravan while Sergeant Domingo and her cousin, Corporal Enriquez, were discussing about how their families were doing.
"So what will you name your kid, Miguel?" Asked Kira after Miguel told her his Wife was pregnant.
"I don't know." Responded the young Corporal. "Maybe something simple like David or something."
"If it's a girl, maybe you could name it after her Tita Kira."
"Maybe."
"Guys…" Said Corporal Minh. "I see smoke up ahead."
Kira grabs the radio.
"R3 Actual, this is R3-3, Minh is reporting smoke up ahead. How copy?"
"Solid copy R3-3." Replied the Lieutenant. "We see the smoke as well. From the looks of it, it's a fire. We will stop a little ways Edge of the forest and check what's going on."
"3-3, Wilco."
Kowan Forest, 45km North, Northeast of Fort Odyssey, 1930 Local Time
The forest was burning.
From where the 3rd SEADENT Recon Team was standing, it seemed like no part of the forest was untouched by the devouring flames.
Lieutenant Sarmiento looks through the Binoculars, looking for what could've caused this disaster.
"You think this was natural?" Asked Corporal Enriquez to Sergeant Domingo.
"I don't know." Answered the Sergeant.
Then there was a Roar.
The Roar was similar to that of the Wyverns encountered in Manila and Alnus but deeper and louder.
Through the binoculars, Lieutenant Sarmiento saw, for the first time, a Flame Dragon.
Based on the reports of the 3rd Recon Team after the Mission, the Red Monster had the height of a 3 Story Building and was breathing Fire through its mouth.
"That thing is like King Ghidorah with only one neck." Said Watts.
"Or Smaug." Said Ramirez.
"What's worse is that there's supposedly a settlement there." Added Minh.
Lieutenant Sarmiento, with a grim look on his face, debated in his mind on what to do. He could turn tail now, leaving any survivors, if any, to fend for themselves while minimizing the risk of the Dragon finding THEM. Option B is to stay and check in the morning for any survivors.
Knowing his mission was also to establish peaceful contact and build trust with the local population, RJ went with Option B.
"Everyone Listen Up!" He said. "We will set up camp 250m away from the Forest. At exactly 0600, Tomorrow, I want everyone up and packing up so we can look for survivors."
"Roger that."
"If there are any." Thought RJ as the Dragon flew away, satisfied with its work.
