Hakodate, Japan

Oni. The only word to describe the invaders to the northern part of the Homeland of the Rising Sun, villagers from the nearby villages being captured and dragged away, as for those who fight back, are killed immediately. Garrison Battalion that is stationed near Mount Hakodate received reports of the attack and quickly moved into the action. However, that wasn't enough as the invading force separate a small force to raid the nearby village.

That small force met the Truck Chain of 3 Infantry Company, fresh and experienced from Manchuria. But the element of surprise is at the invader's side. As it splits up and blocked the front and back of the chain, forcing the Imperial Army to fight on the spot, but the main force of the attack is at the middle, as this tactic is to split up and surround the Imperial Army in overwhelming numbers.

Hansuke

"Keep firing!" a soldier shouted from the south side of our current position, I aim my rifle at the north side to keep the enemies at bay

"Where's Kenji?!" I shouted nearby, as I took cover behind the end of the flipped truck, Takahiro was still inside to check the wounded

"Kenji's out cold. 3 minor injuries and 2 dead!" he reported, I saw him dragging out Kenji as I kept on firing at the charging enemies.

I turn around to Takahiro as he looks at me, but he suddenly pulls out his Nambu Pistol and aim it at me, and pulled the trigger, releasing 4 shots, and hearing a deep groan behind me, I turn back to see another one of those Oni soldiers as another coming right ahead and I shot it down quick with my rifle.

"What the hell were you doing?! We're supposed to protect the flank!" I shouted at the soldier not too far from me, as he looks up

"I… I ran out of ammo" he answered, not acceptable answer for a soldiers

"Then why didn't you fucking speak up?! We've been through Manchuria! That should be enough to not act like idiots in the middle of the battlefield" I shouted at him, as Takahiro stood his ground beside me and firing his rifle continuously, I let go of the soldier and help in the fight

"Grenade!" Takahiro shouted as he threw a grenade at the group of enemy in a shield wall position, killing them is easy but not enough as they all kept on charging us

"Everyone, we need to provide support at the southern side! The 3rd Company manage to breakthrough the enemy lines!" a soldier who handles communication of 1st and 3rd Company with the same rank as mine shouted as all of us has our hopes up and others cheered in joy, until, "They're position were overwhelmed and made a huge push to group up with us!" he finished, as our hopes crushed.

"Don't lose hope! Keep fighting!" a recognizable voice spoke up midst the noise of battle. Kenji, standing with his Nambu Pistol raised and holding his sheathed sword. Like a damn samurai if he was one from his past life. "Provide support at the southern flank! We will hold this position until support arrive!" he shouted, for some odd reason, that cheap talk is enough to motivate me.

Soldiers of the 2nd Company leap into action and assign themselves to a role to protect and hold the position, Kenji moves up and fires pistol rounds at the charging Oni.

"Ha! That's why they keep interest in you?" I tried to lighten the mood, but still not enough because of the dead bodies of our enemies in sight

"Ask it to High Command" he replied. "Takahiro! Report" he said giving away his usual tone with an authoritative one.

"13 dead, 4 wounded. 3 of those dead are medics!" he reported while taking cover to reload.

"Takahiro, I want you to stay behind and form an area for the wounded" he ordered, Takahiro took a moment to think but nodded, as he took off to do his role

"Kenji! We can't hold this position for long is it?!" I asks him. He crouched down to my level and looks at me

"Yeah, but our faith and will to live should be enough to win, right?" he smirks

"Just like what our senior officer said from Manchuria." I said smirking

"Fight with your will to live, or die trying!" we both said at the same time, as we then laugh. Fools in the beginning of battle will always be fools to the end of the war.

3rd Company made it through and rejoined with 2nd Company, with a lot of casualty, 3rd Company's acting Captain gave his command to 2nd Company's acting Captain, as the soldiers quickly answers to have Kenji as the Acting Captain.

2nd Company stand their ground and manage to expand their position, may it be overwhelming firepower or timed reposition of their defensive positions, but not everything is perfect. Wounded and killed soldiers are piling up, Takahiro who tries his best to keep everything under control but with the lack of first-aids, he is forced to choose who to save.

"Any news from 1st Company?!" Kenji called out, reloading but finds out that he's out of ammo. "Takahiro! Any spare magazine?!" he said, as Takahiro pulled out his unused magazine and throw it at him, but landed a few feet from Kenji.

"Nothing, I hate to think if 1st Company got overrun" Hansuke shouts, as Kenji crawls and grabs the magazine to reload his Nambu pistol.

"Then we must send-" he says but cut off when 2nd Company heard a high-pitched roar from above, Kenji looks up to see giant lizards with wings flying and circling the 2nd Company's position. Some soldiers from 1st Company got grabbed by these flying beasts and flew up into the skies, before dropping them to be killed in a much gruesome way possible. 1st Company is gone, probably overrun, broke off, or simply being killed one by one by their opponents…

But somewhere not too far from the fight, is the Imperial Garrison Battalion Force stationed near the town of Hakodate has kept the fight with the main force of the invasion. The Garrison Battalion which is consist of 4 Infantry and Mechanized Infantry Company with armor support of around 10 Newly produced Type 89 Chi-Ro variant B. But casualties are high on both sides, however the invading army has most of their casualties caused by these tanks, hard to penetrate by primitive weapons like bows and swords, and shields that are easily penetrated by the Imperial soldier's Type 38 Carbine Rifle are powerful enough to penetrate any armor that the enemy has to protect themselves with, that also includes the flying beasts.

The only reason why 2nd and 3rd Company of where Kenji, Hansuke and Takahiro are in is having a hard time is because of the lack of armor support, and so they are focused to fight the enemy that are on land and air. Nonetheless, this battles has sent word to the nearest Imperial land force of around 3,800 experienced and newly recruited men, commanded by Colonel Akio, with used Armored Vehicles and Type 89 Chi-Ro variant A tanks from Manchuria. This also alerted the nearby Aircraft Carrier Hosho (Hōshō) that is in testing carrier aircraft operations equipment, techniques, such as take-offs and landings, and carrier aircraft operational methods and tactics. As reports and requests for support were received, the carrier is quick to change their course and the crews readied the planes from training practices to combat ready planes, prepping the pilots for what's to come.

Kenji

I ran out of ammo and forced to use my sword in this fight, I made sure that no charging enemies to get past me, as I also got cover from my fellow brothers. For hours we fought… it seems there's no end from this fight, I knew that the exhaustion is catching up to us, even how stubborn Hansuke is, he is still a mortal man like me and the others around me.

"The south has been breach!" shouted from behind, I hear more shouting that forced me to look behind to see armored warriors on armored horses broke through the defensive line with the beasts charging right behind them. Hansuke ran up to me and grab me by the shoulder, "We need to get out of here!" he shouted at me and started pulling me away from where we're supposed to be.

"We're not supposed to leave, Hansuke" I said, stopping and pulls his arm off me. "I have to fight… I promised" I continued, pointing the blade of my sword to Hansuke. "I must fight!" I shouted at him, as I then got turned around to see Takahiro with his fist wind up. "Sorry Kenji" he says before I felt the blow of his fist on my left chin…

Takahiro

I winced, rubbing the knuckles of my hand after punching Kenji to knock him out. Hansuke is carrying him while I carry his sheathed sword. "I know why you want to fight Kenji… But, we deserve to live to fight again" I whisper, as only a quarter of us manage to escape through the treeline as the majority of the 2nd and 3rd company got chopped down or worst, captured to be god knows what will happen to them…

For now, we all wanted to live and avenge our fallen brothers… As I think that the Army or even the Emperor will never be happy to know that an invasion happens right at the doorsteps of homeland Japan, my homeland…

For minutes felt like hours of running, exhausted and the survivors dwindling, may it be blood loss or got lost in this forest… Until, we ran out to the open field. Greeted by rifles and soldiers wearing the same uniform as ours…

"Deserters?! Don't move! Or we will shoot you on the spot!" an officer with a rank that gives him the right for us not to talk back. "But we're not deserters! We're survivors from 2nd Company hea- Guh!" he didn't finish as the officer hits him in the stomach with the sheathed sword of his. "Another word and I'll execute you myself, deserter!" he shouts, he then motions to his men to take us in, as we kept our mouth shut, not wanting to get the same treatment like the other guy…

"Hey! You with the sword! Give me your sword" the officer said after noticing the sword I hold. I hold it tighter and stare at him in the eyes. "No sir! This is not my sword, its from my uncon-" I said but cut off by him. "So you're not just a deserter but also a looter?! You're looting the belongings of your fellow brothers in the battlefield?! You should be ashamed! Aki, escort this man to the center! I'll teach him a lesson of why he shouldn't loot the belongings of our fellow brothers" he said, as the guy that I assume to be Aki grabs me and begin to pull me away from the group…

"Wait! Its not what it looks like! Its from Kenji Matsumoto! He's the ow- Guh!" I wheezed after Aki punched me to my stomach… "Shut it, let's get this over with" he said, not giving a care… I'm too weak… As they just pull me away from Hansuke and the unconscious Kenji...