Chapter 3 Part 3 Boys Will Be Boys

USA Command Center, Tactical Operations Command,

Odyssey Island, Unknown Southern Region.

One month after preparations for both political and military operations, Odyssey Base now expanded to form a proper comparison with US Military Installations on Earth. Personnel traffics move back and forth from their respective buildings currently conducting their given tasks to make sure future ops have smooth operation flow. Constructions of new tech building has been finished within time for new members to execute productions of materials needed for their faction.

The refineries now processing the raw materials mined from the Southern Sector. Oil, gas and even steel needed for the prefabricated construction materials and war machines were produced en mass as if the Great War was still on. The production lines of the factories and even the refineries Alex acquired deeply impressed him as a researcher for Zeta Electronics. From that, he learned more about US Military Industrial Complex.

WW2 was the only time United States truly shown the world her industrial might in early 20th Century Industrial Era with thousands of war machines produced in the production lines to the point a single car factory could manufacture more than a hundred Willy Jeeps in a day. Those jeeps may be easy to produce, both the vehicles and its spare parts but Alex still impressed by the accomplishments of past mass production facilities. Now, with SPAM units utilized in the new production methods, the raw materials mined and extracted from the ground could be produced in shorter time period compared to past methods. Eventually, this discovery proved that Terra is very rich of minerals, even surpassing the Earth's natural resources as far as he remembered. These prefabricated materials could eased the resources intake used by Alex for other projects.

The base expanded nearly thrice the previous size where he started. The US Airbase from RoTR now has been increased in size. Alex had ordered the construction of another two Airbases with additional of six hangars each instead of standard four hangars. Alex, with the help of the construction and engineering teams had build new schematics for current Airbase which there are new additional three sub-variants of them. Upgraded Airbase (Six hangars), Heli Pads and Airlifter Pads which their names alone designate which kind of vehicles produced in the Airbase.

The success of the construction of new ammunition plants had gave Alex the incentive to produce missiles for his forces. Explosives such as 40mm grenades and even mines now available for him. Its a bit overkill for him to produce missiles that capable to take out tanks and used them against insurgents like the Reunion but after he read the reports from Pathfinder teams in Chernobog, he and his command staff chose to go all the way in.

The reports shown both visual confirmation of the aftermaths of Reunion attack on the city. One of the city's sectors was marred with molten and burnt structures. The pictures taken from the recon teams shown on the main screen of TOC room shivers everyone that seen them. Arknights was not kidding when the developers said this world is full of monsters, and the proof lied bare before them. The structures were literally melted as if they were made of of candles instead of reinforced concrete. The roads still has marks as if they became lava before cooled down by the cold climate of the region. Most materials melted turned to obsidian glasses on the ground to the point the Pathfinders even took picture of skeletal remains carbonized and merged into the ground. Those image were horrifying for the command staff as well as Alex himself.

" Talulah is really a monster of her own. " Alex stated, yet even his voice faltered a bit thanks to the images before him. ' She is an elite of her own, of course she is powerful as heck ' his mind told him.

He shook his head to regain composure and began to proceed his plans. He turned to his aid next to him and said, " Does the transports ready? "

Lt. Wilson nodded his head and replied, " Yes sir. The transports and escorts are fully fueled up and warmed up. We also has received the report that one Stratotanker is in position for mid-air refueling for our flight to FOB Redwood. In Redwood, there are two newly constructed V-22s, two Blackhawks, six Little Birds and two Comanches awaiting our arrival." Lt paused a bit and turned to a new page. " We also received confirmation from FOB Greene that they had produced three Blackhawks, four Little Birds and three Vipers. They are now on standby as QRF to Lungmen if needed."

" Good, the preps are now complete and we are all green for next tasking. " Alex satisfied with the reports.

" Now, we play the boring parts. " He sigh and slumped his shoulders down a bit, " Politics…..and Corporate. Good God Almighty, I had to act as both General and CEO of Axiom, huh?"

The men inside the command room chuckled at his remarks. The tension was lifted with some officers even snickered at their leader. One of them, a Warrant Officer operating the HUMIT operations in the command room replied, " Look at the bright side sir. At least you can get some pretty girls with these kind of pocket."

The rest were amused and even nodded their heads. " True, true."

" Yeah, and signed myself into perpetual suffering of being hunted by women that wanted to take my pants literally and figuratively. Yet, your words are true." Alex said. He turned to his terminal and began to add new memos. " Now, all I need is to find good looking woman for me to settle with. Especially, the exotic ones." he snickered on his own words.

" Ohhhhh….I see that you're only interested in exceptionally rare, sir." Another replied, this time from a Sergeant in Communication team in a scandalously tone.

" Damn right I am." Alex then stand up as he began addressing his men.

" Listen up and listen well. I have a dream. I dreamed to have a beautiful wife by my side and have family of my own. I dreamed to have a future for me and my family." The men listen attentively to his speech.

" This world is unforgiving world, men. A world scarred by apocalyptic disasters and monsters roaming these lands made men stronger to survive here. Politics that so convoluted to the point even Games of Throne and the Romance of Three Kingdoms looks like a children's guidelines in world politics. They have the strengths and experiences far exceeding us in this world. They aged longer and moved faster than us. They build cities on tracks for years while we still tried to make sure our own world does not melt down and sink us. Heck. Even their armies are better equipped than ours. Energy shields, advanced armors and even magical Originum Arts that far surpassed our own knowledge in science. We are totally outmanned and outgunned compared to them. "

Alex paused and looked at the men around him. The room's activities halted as the men listened to their leader. He then continued.

" Yes, we are weak. Yes, we did not have longevity, strength, agility, intelligence and even wisdom of Terran Races. Compared to them we are just weak and fragile race, even if they did not know of our existence. If they really know of us, one thing I guaranteed to all of you that some of these A-holes will try to subjugate us. Subverting us to their will and exploited us for their own interests."

" But, there are one thing our mankind knows the best for ourselves. We excels in conflicts, we adapt to the world we're living, and we conquered the world for us to live. Now this is the time for us to make our own mark in this world. To carve our own future, to have our own happiness."

" I maybe never going to return to Earth for my family there. But if God wills me to stay in this world, then all I want is to live a worthy life so when I move to Afterlife and meet mom and dad. Then, I will stare straight to them and tell them, ' I had a wife and she's a cute anime Catgirl! '".

Thus, the ovation of applause raised from men inside the command room as if Alex just won a medal or an award. One even whistled supporting the leader's statement on his determination even it was hilarious. The most surprising reactions were some men actually shed tears of his call. They had the true opportunity than others on Earth. The real opportunity that had been dreamed by boys in 21st Century. Not just travelling in a new world, but they also have the opportunity to find their actual real life Catgirls that looked exactly what they imagined in anime.

Small tears flow from Alex's eyes. These men are his brothers. They are the only family he has and he will try his best to gain their hold in this world, for their future and happiness. He may have his personal mission in this world, but it never did deprive him of his happiness. Its his right to create his own piece in this new world, and he is going to fight for it.

He wiped his tears and tried his best to have a breather. He took a deep breath and relay the order for next mission. " Ok, ok. That speech is most cringe I could utter. But one thing that will never change. We are making our mark in this world. We will carve our existence in the history books and we will earn our place in Terra!"

" Dum Spiro Spero. As I breathe, I hope. " The motto he adapted for this campaign has been the best of the other callings he had collected. Alex may just a normal human including his men, but in this new world, this place is now their new home.

" Now, lets get this done and then get ourselves some booty, men! " The cheering became louder as ever. The men are now motivated again for something quite childish. But, good morale is good morale. No one wanted to dispute that.

In this desolate and terrifying world, there are things that will never change regardless of time and space. One sentence embedded within the pages of history, one that shall never lost to the cruelty of time.

' Boys will be boys '