CHAPTER 10:
THE GATE OPENS
Anyone who said that fatherhood was easy should be shot, Harry thought. It wasn't that he didn't love his children, quiet Fran, mischievous Balthier, and temperamental Lily. But they weren't even two years old, and while they were fairly advanced for their age, that didn't necessarily make them more mature. Still, he thanked Merlin that they knew when to behave. And they were currently being watched by the maids of the Formal Estate while he and Tyuule spoke to Count Formal, along with Formal's youngest daughter, Myui.
It wasn't even a secret that Count Formal frequently hired demi-humans as paid servants. He was easily the most progressive of the nobles within the Saderan Empire proper, and a willing informant for the Bunny Warriors on the state of affairs within the Empire. Admittedly, his hiring of demi-human maids had quite a bit to do with a fetish for them, but he generally restricted himself to looking rather than touching. "Many nobles collect works of art, statues, paintings, and so on," he had once said to Harry. "They neglect the beauty created by nature, works of art formed from nature. True, many do desire beautiful women…but they are not content with allowing their beauty to shine forth in their house without indulging in base instincts."
This wasn't to say that he didn't hire human servants: his elderly head maid, Kaine, was a refugee from a village brutally conquered by the Empire some decades before, and there were many human servants. But there were a number of Catgirls like Meia and Persia, Medusas like Aurea (basically Gorgons, but they were beautiful, without a petrifying gaze, but with a tendency to absorb lifeforce and memories through their snake hair), and, of course, Bunny Warriors.
They had been summoned here by Count Formal over a matter of importance. Not only had the Gate been confirmed as about to be opened, but Count Formal had been summoned to gather his soldiers to venture through the Gate.
"Of course, I cannot refuse a summons such as this," Count Formal said, rubbing his moustache. "And I will have to take the auxiliary unit with me, Your Majesty. But if by some unhappy chance we end up on Earth, what should we do?"
Harry frowned. "Surrender, really, if you can do it without getting backstabbed by the rest of the Imperial Army. Maybe you could send the auxiliaries away, supposedly to scout out the opposition, but to actually warn them. Rory warned us, and we've sent word to the Department of Mysteries back home. They've sent word to every magical government in the world, though whether they warn the Muggle governments of their countries is another matter. Croaker, our boss, has stated that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has been warned. Apparently MACUSA is warning President Dirrell of the US. Most of Europe, a good chunk of Asia outside China and Russia, Australia…if there's a Greco-Roman gate where it's not supposed to be, they're going to be ready. Dunno about Africa or the Americas outside the US and Canada."
"And this…English you speak…will they know it in other countries?"
"More than the mangled Latin people here mostly speak, though that's not much. Hmm…maybe I should give you a letter or something if you're captured. Aside from yourself and your staff, few people in the Empire know our alphabet. Which is weird, as our alphabet is derived from the Romans' alphabet. And if you're lucky, you'll end up somewhere where they'll adhere to the Geneva Convention, meaning that they'll treat prisoners of war fairly. Especially if you don't go killing civilians. Then again, given the existence of places like Guantanamo Bay, that may not work out. Our world pretends to be more civilised than most, but, well, human nature doesn't really change that much."
"For my sake and Myui's, I hope I do end up somewhere where I can negotiate the surrender of my soldiers. Unfortunately, it probably won't be that simple, not with Senator Godasen leading the punitive force."
"Godasen…" Tyuule mused. "A mage and one of the war hawks. Ambitious too. Unlike Cicero, you can't reason with him. I heard from our contacts within the capital that he was working to try and undo the Fidelius on our home. Encouraged by both the Emperor and Zorzal."
"Indeed. Rumour has it that recently, Zorzal purchased one of your people captured some time ago to use as his concubine, and bleached her fur so that she resembles you."
"…A few of us left the tribe in protest against me," Tyuule mused. "Mydia stayed, but Renner and a few of her supporters…" Tyuule shook her head. "Still, rumour has a tendency to be fabricated or exaggerated. I hope it isn't true. The thought of one of my people, or indeed anyone else, being the pleasure toy of that…monster…" The Bunny Warrior hissed in hatred and disgust towards Zorzal.
"In any case, regardless of where the Gate sends us, can I ask for your people's support towards my daughter?" Formal asked, changing the subject.
"Of course," Tyuule said. "Given her age, Myui is inexperienced with politics. What about Princess Pina?"
"I can count on her support, true, but she is still a supporter of the Empire, even if you have tempered her worldview," Formal said. "Still, the news that she and her older brother Diabo are in alliance is both heartening and concerning. Diabo is an inveterate schemer and an opportunist, not to mention a coward. Still, if he supports her, it may be that he's hoping to either have her support to claim the throne himself, or else put her there, and act as the power behind the throne. But there's a major obstacle in the way. Or rather, two: Molt Sol Augustus, and Zorzal El Caesar. What's more, Diabo isn't well-liked by most senators, and many dismiss Pina as being a would-be soldier, unsuited to her gender."
"A woman can be a warrior, even a human," Harry said. "You've met Hermione and Luna. There's Yao, and of course, I'd be remiss not to mention the love of my life and her people."
"Ahh, lucky man," Formal said with a smile. "And you are correct. The burdens of child-bearing aside, there's no reason for a woman to not be a warrior, save for the attitudes of men. Indeed, females of animals are often the most ferocious fighters, especially when defending their young. Why should it be any different with a being of reason? Why, look at the Apostle you associate with! The gods show no favour when it comes to gender and fighting, why should it be any different with mortals? Still, while Pina has the fire and the honour to be a warrior, she is still unprepared for the true realities of war."
"She had better hope she never experiences it," Harry said. "I experienced a civil war back home. It's not glorious. It's not honourable. It's just horrific and bloody. And not all wounds heal, especially the emotional ones."
Formal nodded solemnly. "Indeed…"
Their talk turned to lighter matters for a time, before Harry wrote some letters, in English, for Formal and the auxiliaries to carry. Then, Harry and Tyuule picked up their children, and used a Portkey to head back home. Then, after tucking the children away and getting them to go to sleep that evening, Tyuule called for a War Council.
After explaining the situation, Tyuule looked at the gathered Bunny Warriors. It was Mydia who broke the silence first. "Lady Tyuule," she said, "I have an idea. Should the Gate open onto a new world, their armies will bring back many captives. With your permission, I would intercept as many of these as I can."
"As long as it doesn't get traced back to Asterix, then fine. Use those bandit weapons you captured during the latest raid on the bandits operating near Italica. Use the Portkeys for a quick extraction. Leave no trace of Bunny Warrior involvement."
Harry nodded to himself absentmindedly. They had recently dealt with a group of bandits attacking the outlying farms within Count Formal's territories. The bandits had a few slaves, including a Siren by the name of Myuute Luna Sires. The avian demi-human had been, thankfully, not forced to become their sex toy, though the petite avian girl was a talented mage, used to protect the bandits during battle, and attack anyone who got too close with wind magic. She had surrendered, though, when most of the bandits had died, and Harry had used Legilimency to establish her bona fides. Myuute had been given a choice to either join Count Formal's household, or to join Asterix. She'd chosen the latter.
"Should we be as careful as before?" one of the other Bunny Warriors, one of Mydia's more measured supporters, asked. "If the Gate does open onto another world with advanced technology, then it means we can be bolder. After all, the Empire would be concentrating on stopping the advance of the enemy, and we can act with impunity."
"That would be true, but we have no guarantee that the Emperor won't send troops to attack us, let alone that the Gate will open onto a world like Earth," Tyuule said. "Should the incoming army be a friendly one, we will seek an alliance."
"And if they are unfriendly?" Mydia asked.
"We will consider what to do when the time comes. As our Honoured Sorcerer has already seen fit to enlighten us, there are still many belligerent states and terrorist organisations on his world who may see Falmart as an opportunity for conquest much like the Empire. Others may pretend to be liberators, but would conquer us if they believed they should. Not to mention criminal organisations with extensive reach. However, we also know about their weapons and technology. That already gives us an advantage that the Empire does not."
"How can we tell if they are friendly or not?" Parna asked.
"Firstly, they'll probably bring a flag with them, just like the knights here do. But instead of heraldry, it'd be a flag of their nation," Harry said, before conjuring up a number of flags as an image. "Those three at the top are the flags of the three main superpowers of the world: the United States of America, China, and the Russian Federation. The other three are the flag of my birth country, the United Kingdom, as well as the European Union and the United Nations. The EU isn't one country, but a collection of them."
"Like the Empire?"
"Not exactly. It's more like…a group for trade agreements and political alliance. I'm sorry, I never really paid attention to that. The UN is a governing body comprised of most if not all countries that deals with international issues. Of course, the flags are one thing, but how they treat people here is another. Militaries back home don't have a good track record lately, what with the War on Terror. Then again, the terrorists often disguised themselves as civilians. And that's another problem. If they get to negotiating with the Empire before we speak with them, the Empire may denounce us as terrorists as a ploy. All of this is assuming, of course, that the Empire attacks Earth."
"We're still grateful for your insight, Honoured Sorcerer," Mydia said, nodding in surprisingly genuine respect. While she still had designs on Tyuule's position, she was content to wait for now.
"Then our course is clear. If the forces coming through the Gate are friendly, then we will ally with them," Tyuule said.
"Ally, but not submit?" Mydia asked.
"Of course…"
Thus followed a tense several days of waiting. Then, finally, Harry, Hermione and Luna each got separate letters from the Department of Mysteries via House Elf. News that they had been dreading, but in a perverse way, inspired hope.
At 02:30 GMT (11:30 AM UTC+9) yesterday, a spatial distortion caused by magic was detected as forming within the Ginza District of Tokyo, Japan. A Greco-Roman structure was seen materialising, the Gate you warned us about. The Japanese Ministry instantly alerted both mundane and magical authorities, and a general evacuation was hurriedly organised. At 02:50 GMT, the Gate was fully materialised, and enemy forces emerged. Due to scepticism from many of the authorities, as well as heavy localised traffic due to a Doujinshi Convention, the evacuation hadn't fully proceeded by the time the enemy forces attacked. However, we believe that many lives were spared due to forewarning. The local DMLE cooperated with police in initial efforts, until the Japanese Self-Defence Forces arrived.
Final casualty figures are still being compiled. However, nearly two hundred are already confirmed dead, and eyewitness accounts say that several Japanese citizens, as well as tourists, were abducted and taken through the Gate. If Asterix has any means of rescuing them at this time, then do so as soon as possible, and keep them safe.
In addition, one of the enemy commanders, one Count Colt Formal, as well as many of the soldiers under him, including the Bunny Warrior unit he commanded, has surrendered, with the letter you wrote found on his person. He and the others that capitulated are being treated well, but are being kept away from the other captured soldiers, who have expressed a desire to kill him for what they consider treachery.
The response of the Japanese government, as well as its allies in the United Nations on the mundane side and the ICW on the magical side, is still being considered and likely will be for weeks if not months. One of the many reasons, of course, being Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, as they had renounced their right to wage war after the Second World War. However, the Japanese and the US are currently in negotiations to allow a potential amendment to Article 9 in light of what happened.
In addition, given your involvement in the affairs of this world, there are rumours that elements of the Ministry here in Britain are calling for your recall to stand trial, for not doing enough to prevent this attack. Though given that most of those killed were Muggles, I think it's rather hypocritical, given that it's mostly the more rabid Purebloods calling for this. And their point is to try and seize Potter's monies from Gringotts, after having tried unsuccessfully before. However, there are more concerning developments here. This new Pureblood faction has learned of the Veil, and may attempt their own expedition through it. I'll compile a list of names of those to look out for.
I am forwarding on what information you have brought to us so far to Lieutenant General Kouichirou Hazama of the JSDF, who has been tentatively pencilled in as leader of any expedition beyond the Gate, as well as to Hideyo Komakado of Defence Intelligence Headquarters. The latter is also a notable member of the Japanese Ministry of Magic, and the main liaison between the Ministry and the DIH.
Vultures are already circling within parts of the Japanese government, both magical and mundane. Some view it as a chance to get more resources. MACUSA's also worried about Dirrell's ambitions in that regard, and there's some ominous mutterings within China and Russia already.
We'll notify you of any further developments as they happen.
Saul Croaker, Department of Mysteries.
CHAPTER 10 ANNOTATIONS:
So, the Gate has finally opened up in Japan. Which means that soon, we will come across Itami and company…
Also, yes! I have finally surpassed Split-Girl's In Which Harry Ditches Everybody! Welcome to Ancient Culture Chop-Suey in terms of favourites! Which means that this is the highest-ranked Potterverse/GATE crossover…out of admittedly only three stories.
Finally, before I get onto the review-answering, I'd like to plug one of my latest GATE-related challenges. Not a full fic, but one of the challenges I post for other authors to take up in the forums of DZ2 and whitetigerwolf. I've actually posted a lot of GATE challenges lately, with crossovers like One Punch Man, Doctor Who, Girl Genius, and the Vorkosigan Saga. This latest one is pretty unusual, with Blackadder. Imagine modern versions of the cast of Blackadder Goes Forth instead of the JSDF…
Review-answering time! claire nunnaly: No.
KyonSmith13: Well, you'll see the fruits of at least one of her fields of research during the Flame Dragon attack. However, Lelei would probably prefer to see the applications of such things as well as the theory. And as it happened, I had written this chapter some time before you suggested that regarding Formal.
jgkitarel: Hey, you have no argument from me. I pointed out that she is basically Hades with Zeus' immorality and hedonism.
LoamyCoffee: Why Luna?
hakon2feb: For all her bossiness, Hermione would make a much better teacher than Snape. She'd actually give a damn about teaching, for one, and Snape doesn't like teaching anyone he doesn't favour. Plus, I wrote the bit with Giselle falling off the cliff as some dark comedy. Given what she does on her mistress' behalf in canon, she deserves that and more.
comodo50: And Hardy would probably do the same to any woman or girl who caught her eye.
Celestia GF of the Void: She won't be ridiculously buxom if I do go down that path, but she will have enough to basically start prodding herself with glee. "AT LAST, I HAVE BREASTS!" Actually, I'd view her as looking like Irisviel von Einzbern from Fate/Zero, only with black hair.
No numbered annotations this time.
