Chapter 3: A Town At The Crossroads

Now this is where the story begins. Again you must know that I mean no disrespect to history or the generals here. By the way some of the lines and the story/scenes come from both historical facts and mostly from the movie Gettysburg, where I decide to make a story of it in my own way. There are likely some changes I would put, like the generals' ranks because they are so great, and should get higher. Hope you appreciate this.

Disclaimer: I also do not own the 1993 movie Gettysburg and its lines either.

The Union forces were already heading north to pursue the Confederates to thwart their invasion, and probably their intentions to conquer ORB. The Army Of The Potomac, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, orders the army to move as quick as they can to assist TERMINAL, and let Lieutenant General George Gordon Meade in charge for the time being due to meetings with the Union generals and their allies' leaders. The Digidestineds, led by Tai, all 300 of them coming from across the world, were highly respected by the army, as their Digimons would be of great help to them. Kira, Athrun, and others including Sergeant Buster Kilrain, and Edward Elric are among the top aces and elite men in the Union.

They made a move to pursue them. As they do however, a scout working for the Confederacy named Henry Harrison, riding on horseback, picks up their locations on where each group are heading. He rides off, reporting to a nearest Confederate outpost where Lieutenant General James Longstreet is. He reaches the entrance where he was stopped by guards. "What's your business here?" he was asked. "I'm here to see Gen. Longstreet." he replied. "Are you that scout he sent" said one of the guards who know him.

Harrison nodded. He and his horse were then escorted inside and to Gen. Longstreet's place. "Sir, a scout has come to report to you." A guard called to Longstreet within his tent.

When he got out, he asked Harrison, "So Harrison, what have you got for us?" "Well sir, there are forces moving up down that road 2 hours from here, heading towards you guys. Also, I've seen many Digidestineds along with the other corps there." he reported. A few FAITH members who were beside Longstreet, and one of them doesn't seem to agree with him.

"Are you sure about your report? Are you telling the truth? Surely sir, Gen. J.E.B. Stuart would've reported to us." a young man and FAITH member called Shinn Asuka protested and being cautious. "Now listen good sir, I'm telling the truth here. Gen. Longstreet has assigned me and I've done my objective here." Harrison reassures to him. There was a brief silence until Longstreet said something. "Major Sorrell? Would you go to Gen. Lee and notify him of this?" "Yes sir." Sorrell saluted and Longstreet salutes back. "Captain Goree? Give this man a tent, and a cigar too. What's your name? Oh Rey Za Burrell, could you tell Durandal about this?" "Yes sir" both Goree and Rey said and saluted him.

Now cut to where Lee, Longstreet and Gilbert Durandal had a strategy meeting in a tent.

Longstreet: "Harrison says the lead corps is here with the Potomac army, some brigades behind, supported by a column of cavalry and Digidestineds. There are 100,000 altogether."

Lee: "Are you sure we can trust this man? This Mr. Harrison?"
Longstreet: "We can You remember him, the actor from Mississippi?"
Lee: "An actor? We move on the word of an actor?"
Longstreet: "Can't afford not to."
Gilbert: "Relax General. I've hired that man myself and placed him under Longstreet's authority."

Lee then sat down and puts his glasses down, catching a breath, and thinking what to do.

Longstreet: "Oh one thing. A new General is leading the army, but only temporarily. George Meade's been chosen by General James Solomon."

Gilbert: "…George Meade? A Pennsylvania man. Meade will be cautious, I think, taking some time to get organized. I think we should move swiftly, there may be an opportunity here."

Lee: "I agree. (Stood up and goes to the map) I think we should concentrate here Looks and points at the map , all the roads converge just east of this gap, and this junction will be very necessary."

Longstreet: "Really sir? I thought we're heading for ORB."
Gilbert: "We are. But our objective first is to destroy the Army of the Potomac and take care of the Digidestineds as well."

Longstreet: "As you wish sir."
Lee: "I left my spectacles over there, what is the name of this town?"
Longstreet: "…Gettysburg."

Meanwhile, just arriving at the town of Gettysburg, a Union cavalry force under Brigadier General John Buford has come. Riding with them were Tai and his team, riding on horseback along with their Digimons while Matt, TK and Mimi rides on Garurumon, Sora flying on Birdramon and Izzy on Kabuterimon. In addition, Edward and Winry rides with them, and Alphonse (in human form of course) as well. They were told by Maj. Gen. Roy Mustang to go ahead to know the situations ahead and assist Gen. Buford.

Also coming along with them was Kazumi Asakura (from Negima) on her horse Digimon, Sleipnirmon. Her Digimon is capable and worthy for scouting and spying. Due to his speed, he can slip pass enemy detections, and if they were cornered by the enemy, they can get away in a flash, and the pursuers cannot catch up and already lost track of them. This method is also good for hit and run tactics if she decides to or when told to. The reason she was riding with them is because Negi Springfield, the leader of his team the entire Class 3-A, all 31 girls including Kazumi, told her to know the situations ahead and report back so that he knows what lies ahead and tries to come up with a helping strategy.

Anyway, they stopped at the outskirts northwest of the town, nearly far from town. Gen. Buford, Col. Thomas Devin, Tai and Edward took out their telescopes and see far ahead that a huge battalion of Confederate infantry moving in their direction, towards the town.

Tai: "That's infantry alright. Moving in full force."
Buford: "Any sign of cavalry or any heavy weaponry, tanks, mobile suits and walkers?"
Edward: "None sir. All they got are some infantry supporters and three mobile suits. Strange, enemy moving in an enemy country blind, what can you make of it?"

Buford: "They're headed this way."
Devin: "Really? I swore that they were heading for Harrisburg and onto ORB."
Buford: "They were. Lee's turned, that's the main body of the army. There's too many troops to be a raiding party; there's power behind it. Now let's go back into town."

The whole cavalry force turns around and head back into town. They arrived northwest of Gettysburg. Gen. Buford, Tai, Devin and everyone dismount themselves from the horses. Birdramon and Kabuterimon landed down. They all looked around the grounds of Gettysburg and Gen. Buford can see that the high grounds hold significant strategic importance. He talks to Col. Devin, Tai, Edward and Izzy who comes along to make any strategy for them.

Buford: "You guys know what's gonna happen here?"
Devin: "What sir?"
Buford: "The whole damn Confeds are gonna be here. They'll move through the town, occupy those hills on the other side. And when our people arrive, Lee and Durandal will have the high ground, and there'll be the devil to pay! The high grounds!"

Izzy: "You mean when we attack them on the hills (Checks the map of the town in his laptop) we're gonna have a tough time dealing with them?"

Buford: "Exactly. Meade will come in slowly, cautiously. They'll be on his back from Washington. Wires hot with messages: ATTACK! ATTACK! So he will set up a ring around these hills. And when the rebs are nicely entrenched behind fat rocks and high grounds Meade will finally attack if he can coordinate the army. Straight up the hillside, out in the open, in that gorgeous field of fire."

They move around where they think it's the place to set defenses. Buford still continues delivering his speech to them.

Buford: "We will charge valiantly, and be butchered valiantly. Afterwards men in gold watch fobs will thump (thumps his chest) their chests and say what a brave charge it was."

He pauses for a while, took off his hat to wipe out his sweat off. In his thoughts, he can like plainly see what is really going to happen, as if he's got a premonition of some sorts. He still continues to talk to them.

Buford: "Devin, Tai, Ed, Izzy, I've led a soldier's life. And I've never seen as anything brutally clear as this. As if I can see the blue troops in one long bloody moment, going up to the long slope to the stony top. As if it was already done, already a memory. As if tomorrow has already happened and there's nothing you can do about it."

Tai: "Yeah. Very clever speech you got there."

Buford now thought of starting up plans for their strategy here.

Buford: "Izzy, give me the details here."
Izzy: "We have 2500 men. And there should be 20,000 coming up that road in the morning."
Tai: "So what can we do? Let me think…"

Buford: "If we could hold this ridge for a couple of hours we can keep them at bay. We'll block that road for hours until our army gets here. We must PREVENT them from achieving the high grounds!"

Devin: "Well our boys are ready for a brawl no doubt about that."
Izzy: "You're right, this is an efficient plan (Looks at his laptop, planning and coordinating)."
Tai: "So, what do you mean by that?"
Tentomon: "Care to explain Izzy?"

Izzy: "We'll force them to deploy. That's a narrow road they'll be coming down there. If we can stack them up, it will take them a while to get on track and get into position. Repeat this process for some time until our forces arrive. I hope we'll hold long enough."

Buford: (Nods and agrees, looking satisfied with Izzy's guesses) "Is Calef's battery and heavy units up yet?"
Devin: "Sir, his six cannons, tanks and other weaponries are deploying forward now."

Buford then turns back to his officers. "How far back is Gen. Reynolds from here?" he called to ask them. "About 10 miles sir, not much more." one of his officers replied. Then few minutes later a scout that was sent on spying ahead along with Kazumi had arrived. Kazumi went down from Sleipnirmon and tells Buford the report.

"Sir, you were right. I can tell the Confederates are coming this way, they're all concentrating in this direction." she told him. "She's right sir. My scouts tell me the same thing." said a Colonel named William Gamble, supporting her. They then noticed Gen. Buford's face looking quite serious. His thoughts and fears are confirmed. He then makes a plan immediately.

"Then, we'll hold them here in the morning, long enough for Reynolds, Mustang, the infantry, the Digidestineds and our forces to arrive. If we hang on to the high grounds we'll have a good chance to win the fight that's coming. Is that understood?" he said to everyone. "Yes sir!" all his officers responded. "Post the cannons and heavy weapons on this road, the Chambersburg Pike. The rebs are sure to hit us in the morning, I think we can hold them for around 4 hours."

"Come on General we can hold 'em off a damn live long day." Tai said. "He's right, sir. I think we can hold them off nearly throughout the whole day." Tai's Digimon partner Agumon said. "He's right sir." one of the officers agreed. "Alright then gentlemen, let's get posted. Tai, Edward, you and your friends can go around town and do whatever you want for the time being." Buford said.

And so, the cavalry force begins to set up defenses, planning and getting themselves armed as well as getting their weapons loaded and ready. Tai and friends went to town to get supplies if they can find some that are helpful and taking a break. Izzy, some time later after their break, he and Tentomon decides to go all across Gettysburg, exploring the hills so that he can get a detailed data on his laptop in order to come up with any good strategy in case something will happen here and is needed in the future.

Dusk arrives. Buford writes the situation in an email to Lt. Gen. John Reynolds from his mobile command center. It reads:

General Reynolds my troops and a handful of Digidestineds are deployed on good grounds west of Gettysburg at Chambersburg Pike. I've sent reconnaissance parties in every direction from which the enemy might be approaching. I'm satisfied that AP Hill's corps is massed just west of here. Rumor says that Richard Ewell's coming over the mountains from Carlisle. If so, 2 Confederate corps will converge upon us in the morning. Do you want me to hold this position if attacked? Confirmation requested. – J.N.O. Buford

He then sends a messenger to send the letter to him. Tai and Kari were on the fields, seeing the stars and going around, relaxing, and they need it for the big fight that is sure to come. In addition, Kira, Lacus and Athrun's forces had arrived along with Murrue Ramius, Andrew Waltfeld, Mu La Flaga and the forces from ORB and TERMINAL at around 10PM. They are now all armed and ready for tomorrow's fight.

So end of the 1st "official" chapter. Tell me what you think. No flames plz. I'm sorry for this, but it's gonna take a while for me to finish this story due to school work and me concentrating on writing other fics. See you soon fellas.