Gate: Thus the Van Doos Fought There!
Chapter 3: March to war
August 23rd, Camp Fuji, 1900
'Fucking shit' mentally groaned Kinh as he sat in his bed. 'Fucking Roman wannabess'.
It had been a week since what the media referred to as the Ginza incident. For the troops, it had been long days of hard work in clearing any remaining enemy resistance and fortifying the area around what the media dubbed the "Ginza Gate". Kinh could finally enjoyed some rest and was waiting for Jimmy to meet him before going to the PX and fetching themselves some good cold beer even if it was American beer.
"Wonder what's everyone saying about us?" he asked himself as he picked up his smart phone. He hadn't had time to check his messages and the news but luckily, he had made sure to keep his phone charged though he didn't turn it on for the past seven days.
"AWW TABARNAK!" he shouted as he saw that he had missed half a dozen calls and various unread messages from one person in particular. He immediately started to think what to say to his beloved but bad tempered and overprotective wife as he began dialing his home number.
Jimmy was wondering around in the Canadian officers' barracks as he was looking for Kinh. He was supposed to meet Jimmy at the main door but there was no sign of him. The Marine lieutenant decided to ask some of the Canadians if they had seen his friend. After talking with a few of them, he got directions to Kinh's quarters.
After climbing a quick flight of stairs and going a hallway, Jimmy could hear someone speaking in French and recognised Kinh's voice. Judging from the tone of voice, he was trying to reassure someone that was clearly worried. Jimmy decided to wait for the Canadian officer to finish. After a few moments, a sigh of relief could be heard and as Kinh emerged from his room.
"Sorry I kept you waiting man, had a bit of an emergency." apologised Kinh as the two men walked down the hallway and began making their way to the PX.
"No probs, the hell's going on?" asked Jimmy.
"The wife" chuckled tiredly Kinh. "Marie didn't appreciate finding out that I got in an fight in the middle of Tokyo on television and she didn't certainly didn't appreciate me not calling her back soon."
"Didn't know you were married man. So what kind of gal did you get hitched with?"
"Gimme a sec, I'll show you" answered Kinh as he pulled out his phone and went through the photo album. "There we are!" he exclaimed as he showed Jimmy a picture of he and his wife. The picture itself was very simple with it being simply Kinh, wearing the Canadian Forces' green dress uniform standing next to a short, brown haired woman with glasses dressed with a black dress. Kinh then began telling his story with her.
"That adorkable shorty with a temper is Marie Duguay-Delorme. We met a few years ago at the UQÀM in one of our classes because I showed up late and couldn't find a place at the back of the class to hide the fact I like sleeping in classes." He finished his sentence with a light chuckle before continuing. "First place I found was next to hers in the middle of the class. I remember asking her if she could keep me from falling asleep in class."
"Idiot."
"Ehh, that's exactly what she said. I remember laughing a bit cause I was so brain dead from all the midterm papers I was writing. The rest is well, pardon a historian's craptacular humor, history." Kinh laughed before his mood darkened. "I miss her you know? I was supposed to go home next week but orders came in and we're staying here for who knows how fucking long." He sighed. 'The joys of military life'
"Know how you feel bro, I was supposed to go State side in mid-september and see my gal again." quietly said Jimmy. He couldn't help but share the feeling of missing his special lady and his home in San Francisco.
"Really? Can I see what she looks like?" asked Kinh curiously. Jimmy drew an old leather wallet from his pants and showed him a old picture of a tall athletic redheaded woman.
"My girlfriend Annabel. We've been together for five years now and our anniversary's next week."
"Youch...sorry man." Kinh couldn't help but feel guilty at reminding his friend and how far he was from his loved ones.
"You Canucks apologise too much you know that? It's ok man."
"Okaydoo... so how did you end with her, bro?"
"That my good man, is a story best told around some good beer!"
"As if there was any good beer around here." stated Kinh with a snort.
"Idiot" grumbled Jimmy before slapping Kinh behind his head. The two continued on their way towards the PX to fetch some beer before heading to the Americans' quarters. Upon arriving, the two officers could see the enlisted and officers from the United States and Canada enjoying their free time together. Some Japanese had even come over to try and befriend their North American counterparts. Surprisingly, Itami was there as well as Ryan. They were chatting with a group of Canadians and Americans about anime and manga. As Kinh saw this, he couldn't help but have faith that they would prevail.
"Heh... I think we'll win this one" he whispered to himself.
Office of the Prime Minister, Langevin Block, Ottawa, August 25th, 1700
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was finishing up his day's work. The past week had been nothing short of hectic after the Ginza incident. Due to the crisis, Parliament was preparing to assemble an emergency session to decide what course should Canada take. The prime minister was confident that he could easily have his way since the Liberals were enjoying a majority government.
Yet at the same time, elections were coming soon and Trudeau knew that this was no issue that he could easily sweep under the rug. While his government did lead Canada in a prosperous time and enjoyed popular support, his political opponents from the Conservative Party and the New Democratic Party were itching to have anything that could discredit his party. He would have to be careful with his decisions in the upcoming times.
In the following hours after Ginza, Trudeau was stuck in between a good and a bad place. The bad thing was that the Canadian Embassy had been overrun and damaged with its ambassador, staff and guards gone. Countless tourists had been injured, killed or, according to reports, captured and enslaved. The opposition was already attacking the government over the lack of security for Canada's embassies in foreign countries. It wasn't the first time either in Canadian history that governmental buildings were attacked. Like always, fingers were being pointed at those at the head of the Canadian state for neglecting security and those in power had to defend themselves.
His opponents in the Conservative Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party (NPD) advocated a more cautious intervention. The Conservatives argued that wasteful Liberal spending coupled with intervention would cripple Canada's economy while the NDP wanted to limit operations to avoid another Afghanistan and the scandals surrounding the Canadian military in the aftermath as well as destabilising a whole order world.
On the other hand, the report that Minister of Defense Harjit Sajjan and his ministry produced about the Canadian Forces' intervention brought good news to the Prime Minister. The new CF-188E's and their pilots had proven themselves in defending the skies above Tokyo while the ground forces showed their supremacy over the enemy with no casualties amongst them while annihilating their opposition. This was good news for the fledging modernisation programs of the armed forces that Trudeau intended to promote for the next elections and that had proven their worth at Ginza.
Public opinion in Canada was favorable to retaliating across the Ginza Gate. It wasn't surprising after the casualty reports started coming out to the public. Sensationalist pundits were more than happy enough to enflame the television screens and radio stations about how Canada should join in any retaliation and a good part of the public wanted retribution while images of the grieving families of the dead and missing were used by the media and various groups to push for intervention. The media was attacking the government over perceived sluggishness in the aftermath of Ginza. There were still those who wanted the troops back in Canada and avoid another Afghanistan. Protests were staged by various pacifists groups asking for a more diplomatic solution instead or outright neutrality in the upcoming conflicts. Some were showing images of war-torn Kandahar to build public support and push their pacifist agenda while claiming that such reprisals would lead to another ISIS. The pacifists remained marginal but it would take a small scandal that could be blown out of proportions. Both sides were throwing very thinly insults at each other on national television.
The invaders still left the Canadian Prime Minister perplexed along with the rest of the world's leadership. Just how was it possible for a such a structure to appear out of nowhere in the middle of a bustling metropolis. More importantly, could such a structure appear anywhere else with the same effect or worst? The prisoners weren't of much use so far due to the language barrier. They appeared to speak something that was similar to Latin yet not exactly, as if it was an offshoot of that largely forgotten dialect. The linguists and intelligence services were still working on figuring out how to translate it but were confident in their capabilities of translating it and adapting it to the modern alphabet.
The Ginza prisoners were another source of questioning. According to reports, the counterattacking troops fought their way into the enemy's assembly area. They had captured entire families who had followed their husbands and fathers into the battle. More alarmingly, they had found slaves which had been brought along. This information meant bad news for the captured foreign tourists and Japanese citizens who had been taken to the other side.
Prime Minister Trudeau looked over his notes that he and his aides had taken over the past few days. He started thinking about his choice of words for his next public appearance as he began to prepare his speech and how would he outmaneuver the opposition parties in Parliament Hill.
Camp Fuji Mess Hall, August 30th, 1900
Private Julien Leclaire was currently laughing his ass off at his table after a long day of training with the Americans and Japanese.
"Ostie de tabarnak! Hey guys, come check this out" he shouted as he continued to watch a Youtube video on his phone. Soon more personnel amassed around him to see what was causing him to laugh so much.
"Oh this is rich!" exclaimed a Marine.
"Calisse...how can you be that retard?" exclaimed a Van Doo in French.
"The fuck that French Canuck guy say?"
"Man, what a nutjob."
"What the hell is that...oh my god wark!" mocked Mathieu. As it turned out, Julien had stumbled on a Youtube video channel whose author was claiming that the Ginza Gate was a sham created by the American government working for the New World Order and that it was all a hologram and that the troops were acting the battle and the dead were actually killed by the military.
"Dumbass lady...pretty sure that ugly ass troll-ogre I nabbed with my 203 wasn't a hologram." muttered Dick as he looked half-disgusted and half-disbelieving.
Not far from there, Kinh was enjoying his fresh rations with Alex and Andrew. He wasn't very surprised at the whole situation and didn't bother wasting his precious breath to comment on the subject. It reminded him too much of a former loony colleague at one of his many student and summer jobs he had before joining the military. Instead, he preferred chatting about their day.
"So how was your day dudes?" he asked them.
"Pretty good. Food's better than last night. Americans know how to do some fucking good close quarter fighting" answered Andrew between bites of food. "The Japanese can use some work but they're willing to learn."
"Pff yeah right, that idiot First Sergeant Kuribayashi got herself killed again in the last exercise." complained Alex.
"Quessé qu'elle a calissé encore?" asked Kinh. (What the fuck did she fucking do again?)
He already had an idea where this was going.
"She decided to charge screaming across an open street with her bayonet on. Elle s'est fait calisser une crisse de volée par les Marines." (She got a fucking good asskicking by the Marines.)
"Urgh, ostie d'amateur" (Goddamn amateur) muttered Kinh before taking a sip of his orange juice. "Anyways, besides paperwork for me, I've been watching the news."
"Anything interesting sir?" asked Andrew.
"Turns out the U.N. ain't too happy about finding out these idiot Roman wannabees have slaves."
"Ben kin mon estie!" exclaimed Alex. "What do they want to do?"
"They want to send a U.N. task force on the other side. Guess what? "
"We're leading the charge." stated Andrew as he took a bite of his food."
"Nothing's official yet but I think we're going in with the Americans and the Japanese. Trudeau's been playing up P.R but nothing's confirmed yet. We're getting new top of the line stuff though." continued Kinh before taking a sip of his glass of orange juice. The men knew what that meant.
"Any idea when though?" asked Alex. "Crisse...my girlfriend won't be too happy urgh."
'No shit Captain Obvious!' mentally remarked Kinh.
"Well, it took us four months before being sent to Afghanistan from Canada so I'd reckon it'd be faster since we're already here. Wouldn't be surprised if JTF2's already over here and preparing to wreck some fucking Roman ass though."
'Those poor bastards' thought amusedly Kinh.
Narashino Garrison, Chiba District, August 31st, 2300
A group of non-descript trucks were making their way through the gates of the Japanese Special Forces Group's base. For the past week, they had been secretly carrying in men and equipment from various nations in preparation of a large scale special operation against the enemy on the other side of the Ginza Gate. Tonight was the last convoy of its kind.
Officially, after the Ginza Incident, multiple nations of the Commonwealth pledged their assistance to Japan as the British and Canadian Embassies had been attacked as well as tourists from the various countries that made up the Commonwealth. Most couldn't send large amount of conventional forces yet but they had sent the cream of their special forces for this mission.
As the trucks came to a halt in front of the main barracks, a group of masked soldiers wearing green uniforms quietly poured out of their transports. They quickly made their way inside the building to meet their counterparts.
They were then greeted in an impeccable English by the commander of the Japanese Special Forces Group, Colonel Takanori Hirata. They unmasked themselves before presenting themselves.
"Good evening gentlemen, I welcome you to Narashino Garrison. My men and I are already looking forward to working alongside the elite of the Canadian Forces, Captain Richer."
"Thank you Colonel Takanori. My JTF2 team is more than happy to work with the best soldiers that Japan has to offer." answered Captain Christian Richer as he shook Colonel Takanori's hand. The Montreal native was a tall, gruff unsmiling man with piercing blue eyes and a well grown beard and short brown hair. He then presented the man that flanked him.
"This is my second in command, Lieutenant Jack Johnson."
"Pleased to meet you sir." grunted Lieutenant Johnson. The Manitoban was a slightly shorter man then Captain Richer with blond hair and dark green eyes. He also looked somewhat younger than his commander.
"The pleasure is all mine."
"When can we sit down and talk about the current situation Colonel?" asked Captain Richer.
"Tomorrow morning. The Americans have begun sending small reconnaissance unmanned vehicles on the other side a few hours ago."
"Very well, we'll see what we're going up against. Anything else sir?"
"No, my men will show you to your quarters."
The JTF2 team leader thanked the colonel before his team and him were guided to their new quarters. As the team set themselves in, they couldn't help but feel confident. Whoever JTF2 would fight, they had no chance. The elite Canadian Spec Ops force had already faced off against ISIS in the Middle-East and had proven their might there against insurmountable odds. Against a primitive enemy like the one that emerged from the Gate, it would be an easy mission.
Parliament Hill, Ottawa, September 2nd, 1255
A large crowd had amassed in front of the Parliament of Canada despite the rain, waiting for Prime Minister Trudeau's speech. Many people were carrying large signs in anticipation of his speech. The signs were covered with pictures of the Ginza Incident or slogans demanding an intervention to bring back kidnapped relatives or to avenge those that died on that day. The RCMP had been deployed to protect Parliament Hill in case if things went south during the press conference.
It had been a very busy week for the Canadian government. Between heated debates in Parliament over the deployment of troops, late night planning to multiple interviews on national television, the Trudeau cabinet had been highly busy. There had also been talks with the American President and the United Nations. Today was the big day as the crowds grew silent when the Prime Minister appeared on a stage flanked by the Minister of Defense, Harjit Sajjan. This meant alot. Television cameras were quickly pointed at the podium as Canada's leader began his speech. A speech that would help write a new chapter of human history.
Meanwhile, after successful scouting missions by unmanned vehicles, the Japanese government had declared the region beyond the Gate a "Special Region" of Japan and had asked for help from the international community against whoever on that side was responsible for Ginza. The United Nations had then authorized a joint US-Japanese led task force and there were very strong rumours of Canada joining seeing as the Prime Minister was working to build support for a Canadian intervention that had been asked by the United Nations. Today's speech would finally confirm everything.
"My fellow Canadians, it has been nearly two weeks since the Ginza incident in which many innocents from Canada and all over the world have barbarically attacked by an unknown enemy. We have never seen such savagery committed on our people on such a large scale and I hope that we will never see such an attack again."
The incident had been the worst attack on civilians since 9/11 and Canada had suffered the worst of loss life in peacetime in its history. Many people taking pictures and videos but they held their breath at was coming next.
"However, in such terrible moments, there are heroes that rise to defend those that cannot against evil. Though far from their homeland, the Canadian Forces' soldiers and pilots performed admirably in the battle and fought as if they were defending their homes and families in the great cities and towns of Canada. I commend them for their heroism and bravery but most importantly for the skill they showed in the protection of Tokyo and the Japanese people. I must also extend this to the men and women of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces for the courage they showed as they defended their people, way of life and homeland against an unknown invader. Our old allies and friends from the United States deserve recognition as well for honoring their alliance and treaties with Japan with such great decisiveness and speed when they intervened alongside our armed forces stationed in Japan."
Large cheers could be heard from the massing crowd as Trudeau finished his sentence. Social media flared to life as users began praising the Canadian Prime Minister's speech and his gratefulness for those serving in the military.
"The past two weeks have been busy for my government as well as the American government. We have spent many hours in deciding our next course of action concerning the deployment of our troops at the request of the United Nations beyond the Ginza Gate in what is now dubbed the Special Region."
Silence fell on the crowd as they held their breath.
"It was not an easy decision to make. Such a choice mean sending our brave troops into harm's way. It means risking their lives in battle. However, our citizens who have been taken by the enemy are counting on us to come to their aid and it is the duty of my government to ensure that every Canadian citizen taken been found and brought back to their families! We cannot let our people suffer under brutal oppression and we must do everything in our power to rescue them and any other innocent lives! We will do what is need to bring back everyone to their homes, be they from Alberta, Ontario or Quebec. As such, Canada, alongside the United States of America and Japan, will lead the way into the Special Region and secure a foothold for our nations. I will now allow our Minister of Defense Harjit Sajjan to make special announcements."
All over Canada, people who were watching the speech were left breathless. The internet was filling with users either praising the Canadian government or condemning the use of war, fearing more bloodshed. At Parliament Hill, Prime Minister Trudeau had stepped aside and let Minister Sajjan take his place on the podium. The greying Sikh man who served as Canada's Minister of Defense was an highly praised lieutenant-colonel prior to being elected and decorated veteran of the wars in Bosnia and Afghanistan.
"As a veteran of two of Canada's wars, it is not an easy for me to see our soldiers sent into battle especially against an unknown enemy. However, as Prime Minister Trudeau said, we cannot abandon our fellow Canadians to their fate and it is the duty of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces to fight our enemy and rescue our people. We will dispatch a task force of from our troops and their support personnel stationed in Japan at the moment of the Ginza incident. They have been drawn from the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), the Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal 22e Régiment as well as pilots from the Royal Canadian Air Force' No. 409 and 433 Tactical Squadrons. Additional support units will be sent after a foothold has been established in the Special Region."
Minister Sajjan took a short pause before continuing.
"As such, we have also taken the decision has been taken to increase our military spending. We will make sure that if our soldiers are fighting, they will do so with every tool they need so that they may come home safely to their families and friends as well as rescue back everyone that has been taken by the enemy. We have already made deals with the American government to supply us with new weaponry. I am confident that our well proven troops, with better equipment, will prove more than able enough to overcome anything they will face in the Special Region."
His speech finished, the minister of Defense stepped down to allow Prime Minister Trudeau to answer a round of questions.
Teachers Lounge, Curé-Antoine Labelle High School, Laval, September 2nd, 1310
Various high school teachers were staring at a computer screen as the questions period died down after the prime minister's announcement.
"Well I'd never thought I'd live to see something like this happen. It'll be fun for the new history books" commented a history teacher.
"I hope it doesn't end up like another Afghanistan" added another.
"Check this out...they'll send the Québécois first so they get slaughtered first so the English can have their glory without dying." snidely remarked an elderly teacher.
Marie's face fell as she moved back to her desk at the back of the teacher's lounge. She sat down shakily as her dark eyes filled with tears as she looked at a picture frame on her desk. It was a picture of her university graduation prom when she got her bachelor's degree in teaching. Kinh was standing to next to her, wearing a suit. It was a memory of a distant happy moment.
'Why? Why did this have to happen now?' wondered the French teacher as she tried to compose herself over this new situation. She knew that her husband could end up being sent to war, being married to an officer but still. She angrily wiped her tears as she mentally cursed the Gate thing and the Romans wannabees.
'Crisse de Romains à marde...why did you have to fuck everything up?'
"Heille Marie, are you ok?" asked one of her colleagues that saw her crying.
"Yeah Isa, I'm just dealing with allergies, forgot to take my Benadryls this morning. You know how I'm allergic to my own cats right."
"Tu dis vraiment de la marde (You're bullshitting me)...you know? Wasn't your husband sent over to Japan a few months ago? Wasn't he the one that held the flag in front of that gate?"
Marie couldn't figure out what to say next as her colleague saw right through her lie.
"I think I found the problem. Listen, go get permission and go home okay girl? I'll take over your class this afternoon." proposed Isabelle.
"Thanks, I owe you one." answered Marie as she tried to force a smile.
After a quick tour to the principal's office through student filled hallways, Marie got permission to go home early. As she arrived home, she quickly got to her room and collapsed in a crying heap on her bed as one of her cats ran from the room.
"Tabarnak, it's not fair!" cried out the young woman. "Why did this have to happen? Chuis à bout ostie!" After a moment of sobbing and shouting, Marie came back to her senses.
'Pull yourself together girl! What would Kinh say if he saw like that?' She briefly smiled at the thought. He'd make a sarcastic remark before holding her tight and whispering words of comfort inher ear as his hands would stroke her back. She missed him. She let out a sigh as she wiped her tears and replaced her glasses. There wasn't much she could do to bring him back.
An idea ran through her mind. She picked herself up before heading to her computer and began searching on the internet. If she was lucky, the Canadian soldiers leaving for the Special Region would have something from their families.
Firing range, Camp Fuji, September 10th, 1300
A group of American, Canadian and Japanese officers were observing a weapons training at one of the ranges. Today, it was the Van Doos infantrymen and the RCR's airborne troops training with some of the new weapons and equipment obtained for the expedition across the Gate. The sound of shotgun blasts could be heard as the soldiers mastered their new M870 shotguns with ease and enthusiasm.
With the deployment of troops against an enemy that only fought in hand to hand, National Defense Headquarters issued directives that the newly constituted Canadian Gate Task Force's (CGTF) regular infantry forces be issued with shotguns, a weapon typically reserved for the Canadian Forces' combat engineers and special forces.
The Canadian soldiers were enjoying their training with the shotguns. The two infantry units were particularly pleased as their role as the RCR's battalion was one of airborne troops and the Van Doos contingent served as assault troops. This meant they could and would get uncomfortably close to an enemy who liked to hand to hand fighting. The shotguns would give any Canadian infantry section a rather nasty surprise to give any foolish Roman who got too close.
Another "new" weapon for the CGTF was the American-made FIM-92 Stinger. With the enemy flying around on dragons and air superiority not being guaranteed in the early days of the incursion, it was considered that the troops would need some adequate means of air defense. Canada once had British made Blowpipe missiles but the stocks had long been destroyed due to old age and general ineffectiveness during the Gulf War of 1991.
Besides getting new weapons to fill out the holes in their armoury, the Canadian infantrymen were getting their long awaited plate carriers to replace their old tactical vests while their motor pools were getting an upgrade as well. The Textron Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicles (TAPV), who were meant to replace the MRAP's and Coyote scout vehicles, acquired during Afghanistan, were being deployed more quickly than originally planned. The vehicles had already arrived in stores but the usual sluggishness of army bureaucracy had delayed their deliveries to all units.
As Major Parent put it, the Canadian taxpayer was "en tabarnak" and wanted revenge for Ginza. He wanted everyone back alive. However he didn't want his tax money being wasted by seeing troops getting killed by a bunch of skirt wearing retards because his equipment failed him. Afghanistan was already embarrassing enough at the beginning with the first Canadian contingents arriving in green uniforms and vehicles as well as outdated equipment to fight the Taliban and with elections coming soon, the Liberal government didn't want a scandal smearing its name.
For the troops, it meant they were getting some much wanted new toys and new training.
Camp Fuji roadblock training, September 12th, 0700
A joint JGSDF-USMC roadblock had been set up on the training ground with guards waiting for something to happen. The road that they were watching was leading into an allied compound. The Marines were wary of any unexpected surprise while their Japanese counterparts seemed more nervous.
It had a been while since anyone showed up at the checkpoint. The troops were starting to comment about how boring it was. Suddenly, one of the JGSDF troopers noticed a man dressed in Canadian uniform marching towards the roadblock.
The man was red faced with veins bulging out of his neck and forehead. He was also yelling at the troops.
"FILTHY INVADERS! YOU MONSTERS BURNT MY VILLAGE AND MY PEOPLE!"
A Marine sergeant quickly grabbed a megaphone and answered back while his squad readied themselves.
"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to calm down and stand back!"
"WHY SHOULD I LISTEN TO A MURDERER LIKE YOU?! YOU KILLED MY FAMILY!"
The man kept getting closer and closer. A JGSDF trooper fired off warning shots. But it didn't faze the hostile "local". By now, he walked up to the troops and started shoving one of the Japanese and yelling various curses in the man's face as well as spitting at him. Another had fixed his bayonet and pointed it at the angered "villager". Still unfazed, the man decided to punch in the gut the Japanese he had been berating and tried to grab his rifle.
Before anyone could do anything else, a pair of Marines had leapt forward and grabbed the man from the back and started dragging him away.
"Ok asshole!" exclaimed the Marine, "We're fucking bringing your fucking ass to the MP's!"
They were met with more unsavory insults. The mad "local" tried to undo himself from the Americans' grip by struggling and kicking them. The Americans replied by hitting him with their rifle butts in the sides while dragging him towards the compound.
Back at the roadblock, the Japanese and Marines were looking at the scene. The latter weren't surprised at the local's antics. The former were somewhat shocked.
"Don't be surprised."
It was one of the Marines that spoke up.
"Nani?"
"Shit like this happened in Afghanistan all the time. Pissed off unarmed local shows up and starts pissing on you. You gotta stay cool and still smack his ass around without shooting him."
The Japanese were too nervous to say anything at first. Finally one of them spoke up.
"Do you honestly think that people won't like us on the other side of that Gate? I mean we'll free them from a cruel tyrant."
"Listen kid, no matter what you do, someone's gonna be pissed off about you being there," replied the sergeant, "It's how shit works."
They were interrupted by the return of the Canadian instructor. He looked at the Marines with a smile.
"Good job there eh? Got a few marks but nothing an icepack here and there can't fix."
The Japanese were dumbfounded. This man was praising the Americans for their roughhousing? The instructor looked at them.
"As for you gentlemen," started the man, "I had to be rough because you'll come across this eventually. Better you learn how to deal with this kind of situation now here than over there."
Camp Fuji training grounds, September 15th, 2100
3SON and a squad of Marines was standing guard inside one of the camp's training buildings. It was another late night training exercise. This time, it was in an urban environment and the two squads were tasked with keeping an eye on one of the roads leading into the village. The JGSDF was tasked with assaulting a village while the Canadians and Americans were tasked with guarding it. So far, it was rather quiet.
"Yo, you think they chickened out bro?" asked Dick as he looked out one of the windows.
"Eh, don't think so, it'd be too easy" answered Zach as he readjusted his C7A2's freshly replaced C79 scope. "They must be getting more careful."
Over the past few exercises, the Japanese troops were slowly faring better against their North Americans counterparts and they were showing some much needed improvements. The training had been more intense then what the Japanese were used to but it was needed. Unlike the Americans and Canadians who had fought all over the globe in the past years, they were going on their first combat deployment since 1945. As such, they needed as much practice as possible before going in.
"I hope so, we've been fucking them up good for the past few days" whispered Aline. "Tabarnak, ils commencent à comprendre la crisse de game." (Goddammit, they're starting to understand the fucking game.)
"That's why we don't get cocky people. If the Japanese can learn from a few assbeatings, so can those dumbass toga wearers we'll be fighting soon." warned Mathieu.
"I heard that crazy boot sergeant of theirs is starting to learn." added a Marine sergeant. As he finished talking though, a flare went up in front of them. "Or not..."
"'Here they come!" shouted Malika as she began to open fire into the road leading to their building. Comms cracked to life as officers and NCO's began to order their troops into position. The sound of engines filled the troops' ears as vehicles began changing positions while gunfire rang out as troops exchanged fire.
Meanwhile, in a building near there, Kinh had run for cover inside of a small house with his pronto, Corporal Brisebois before starting to organise his men over the comms. He was going around to check on his platoon when the flare went up. As he finished up, he heard sounds coming from the next room. He made a sign for Brisebois to ready a grenade as the two men formed up on the side of the wall.
"CHARLIE!" shouted Kinh. It was a codeword. Whoever it was in that other room had to answer with the right word. If they didn't, Brisebois' grenade would go in.
"HOTEL!" answered back a voice. Kinh breathed out a sigh of relief as Brisebois put back his grenade in his pocket.
The two men entered the other room and saw a squad of US Army soldiers bearing the 25th Infantry Division's patch on their shoulder with a familiar man at their head. They had taken positions to cover the doorways leading into the room. Kinh noticed something different about the man.
"Sergeant Ryan? Tabarnak! Da fuck are you doing here eh?" exclaimed the Canadian lieutenant.
"Command wants us to secure the buildings around the village entrance and reinforce your position sir!"
"I heard that over comms...didn't expect see you guys show up that fast. Good enough. Some of my lads are in the building on the other side with some Marines. Get your men ready to assist."
"Yes sir!" answered enthusiastically Ryan. The men began moving into position in the other room as they heard a loud screech followed by a green blur charging into the room, with a training bayonet fixed on her gun.
'Ostie de connasse!' thought Kinh as he saw Shino Kuribayashi try and spear one of the Americans. While she did get the unfortunate American, his squadmates opened "fire" and resolved the problem in an expedient manner, taking her out of the exercise.
"Good shot there Ryan." chuckled Brisebois as he looked at the now fuming sergeant. The rest of the men readied themselves for anyone trying to follow up after Kuribayashi's attack. As it turned out, whoever was with her chose wisely to move away and the Americans and Canadians moved outside to help their comrades defending the village's entrance.
In the after action reports, it was revealed the Japanese had shown significant improvements. They had come much closer to success then the last times by pushing back the defensive positions established by the Americans and Canadians. As for one fuming Japanese sergeant first class, she learned a good lesson about not blindly charging into melee.
Huynh Residence, Laval, September 30th, 1900
Sitting in front of her computer, Marie was looking at her emails. Over the past weeks, she had managed to contact various support groups for the families of active Canadian personnel to present her project. So far, it had been well received and now it was a matter of getting everyone to agree on a common design.
'Estie, can't we just agree on something? Geez!'
There was also discussions to form a support group dedicated to those who had relatives amongst the troops being sent over. It warmed her heart to see that other people were banding together to help each other in this trial. Her mind went over thoughts of her husband and if her plan succeeded, she could possibly see him before the troops were sent across the Gate.
So far though, it wasn't a certainty. She sighed at this thought.
Canadian officers' quarters, Camp Fuji, October 3rd, 0100
"Marie? Is that you love?" asked Kinh.
"Oui tabarnak. I've missed you so much." answered his wife as she drew closer to him. "Finally, it's all over and you're home safe."
"Those fucking Romans didn't stand a chance but enough talking about them. Mademoiselle Duguay-Delorme, you are a sight for my sore eyes."
She was crying tears of joy as Kinh took her in his strong arms while his famed youthful smile was plastered on his face.
"Crisse de cave, est-ce que tu fais semblant ou tu vas me frencher tabarnak?" (Fucking idiot, are pretending or are you gonna kiss the hell of out me?) exclaimed the young woman. As Kinh drew in closer for the kiss... and woke up in his barely acceptable bed.
"Tabarnak!" groaned sadly the lieutenant. Tears were streaking down his cheeks as he let out a sigh. He look over at his clock before wiping his eyes. It read 01:00 AM. 'Dammit!' He threw a glance at his picture frame of him and Marie. He was wondering what she was doing right now. 'Probably teaching some fucking high school teens.' He shuddered at the thought. Though he wasn't a difficult student himself, in his mind, hormonal teenagers in a public school classroom were a terrifying prospect for the unprepared.
His mind went back to her though. He missed waking up next to her every morning and enjoying her presence and still remembered his promise of taking her out for a karaoke night and singing 'My Heart will go on' with her on a stage when he got back. Though he could speak with her over Skype and Facebook in his precious spare time, it just wasn't the same thing as being with the person in real life.
"Ostie de Romains à marde" (Fucking Roman shitheads) he sighed as he tearfully curled up in his bed and held on his extra pillow wanting it to be his beloved Marie instead. He silently wished that this whole situation was just a bad dream and he'd wake up next to her.
Luckily for him, the rest of the night went on dreamlessly.
Ginza Gate, October 3rd, 0001
The area around the Ginza Gate had been turned into an absolute fortress. Well manned defenses had their weapons pointed at the dome that covered the Gate while the area around had been sealed off to rest of the world. Only military personnel were allowed near it. Well disciplined troops from the Japanese and US militaries were standing guard, ready if their enemy chose to attack across the Gate again but since the Ginza Incident, the structure had remained silent save for the sound of unmanned vehicles crossing to get a view of what lay beyond.
So far, the land looked wild and untamed with great open plains as the Gate led to a great lush hill overlooking the countryside around it as well as small hills. To the more nerdy fellows in charge of monitoring the video feed, it looked like some kind of real-life Middle-Earth.
However, it was not just a scene out of an epic fantasy movie. Images came through of three camps located on small hills around the main hill. It was apparent that they were enemy camps as the banners were the same as those captured in the aftermath of Ginza. Upon receiving this info, the newly formed Special Region Coalition under the command of General Kōichirō Hazama of the JGSDF began planning the incursion into the Special Region. It was proposed that various special forces theme undertake covert ops against the enemy garrisons around the Gate Hill to soften them up before the arrival of the main body of troops.
For the past two nights, small, discreet convoys of trucks were ferrying men and materiel to the Gate. The troops there were amongst the toughest soldiers in the world hailing from various elite special forces teams from the Canadian, Japanese and American forces as well as allies such as the United Kingdom. Tonight, they would be crossing over to the other side. These select special operatives would be the first fighting men from Earth to fight in the Special Region.
Camp Fuji, November 10th, 1900
For the Marines stationed at Camp Fuji, today was a special day. It was the Marine Corps' birthday. Amongst the professional misfits celebrating this important day, Jimmy and his platoon were enjoying a good barbecue to celebrate alongside their fellows Americans. They had had the day off.
Lately, besides combat training, the Americans, Canadians and Japanese troops had received intensive language classes as their linguists had confirmed that the invaders' language which was an offshoot of Latin. It would help if they were to forge any bond with any friendly locals.
But tonight was a small moment of peace and happiness for the Americans as they readied themselves alongside their allies for the coming battles. Suddenly, a loud voice could be heard by the Marines.
"Hear ye, hear ye!" called out a Canadian Major. "We are travellers hailing from the far north who come bearing presents for a group of mighty warriors celebrating tonight!"
The Americans started to cheer as they saw what the Canadians had bought as a birthday present for the Marine Corps.
"We bought our finest beers, cuts of meat and poutine for you to savour on this special evening. Enjoy it and happy birthday to you guys!"
Beers had been bought from all over Canada seeing as how the troops hailed from many of its different provinces much to the enthusiasm of the Marines who looked forward to tasting so many different beers. The meat and poutine were very well received as well. As Jimmy sat down to enjoy the Canadians' gift, he could see Kinh heading his way, holding two rather large beers.
"Happy birthday man!" wished Kinh as he handed Jimmy one of his beers.
"Thanks bro!"
"Eh, no problems. Seeing as how we'll be stuck dealing with dumbass Romans together, a bunch of officers, including, thought it'd be a good idea to give you guys a present to help relations between our armies. The boys were more than happy to dish out the money for all the goodies."
"Can't say I'm against that." chuckled Jimmy as he clinked his beer against Kinh's. The American drew a pack of cigarettes. "Want one?"
"Nah, I don't smoke. I already drink so eh. Have enough vices already."
"Your loss."
"Sure, I'll see who's laughing when they'll get cancer."
"Dumbass."
"What do you think of the Japanese though?" asked Kinh. He already had his opinion on the question but he always enjoyed having someone else's thoughts on the subject.
"They mean well but honestly? They're a bit naive and green as hell."
"We're not exactly any better though. You and me never deployed into a combat zone either." noted Kinh.
"Difference is that both our countries went to war since 1945 and a lot of us went to Afghanistan or Iraq before this. The Japs? They've spending their time cleaning guns and looking good since 1945."
"True that. Let's hope they learn fast though."
"So far, they're getting better. I heard that idiot Kuribayashi stopped charging head first with her bayonet on." remarked Jimmy.
"Enfin ostie! That shit didn't work in World War 2. Doesn't mean it'll do any better today even if it's against a bunch of skirt-wearing morons."
"Speaking of the Japanese, where the hell are they tonight?"
"Haven't seen a lot of them outside of training. Honestly, can't say I'm not surprised."
Both men knew why. Unlike the two North American countries, Japan didn't share a very warm relationship with either Canada or the United States. The latter countries had a good relationship that could be described as being the same as a pair of brothers who had their differences but could get along.
"Me neither man. Let's hope they're just being tsudere or something like that?"
"Tsu what now?"
"Eh, I have a squad with a metric ton of otakus ok? It means being super distant but becoming friendly over time cause plot wants it. That's how I understood it anyways."
"Useful fact of the day" sarcastically pointed Jimmy.
"Whatever man... but I got a feeling that whatever happens next, we'll pull through and go home safe." declared Kinh before taking a gulp of his beer. "It's a hell of a war we'll be fighting, if we can that a war."
"Well, the important is that we fuck these asshole Romans together."
"Together man!"
Both men clanked their beers. As they looked around, the two lieutenants could see their men enjoying the evening. A feeling of confidence came through the American and Canadian troops. Whatever happened beyond that Gate, they would prevail and carry on to victory as long as they stood united.