August 11th, 2016 of the Gregorian calendar
The afternoon sun shinned brightly as a column of transport trucks drove their way down the road pass lush green fields and the occasional local on the side of the road who'd watch the Americans drive by heading to their destination.
While the Americans were superior to their adversaries in technology, the sheer size of the Special region helped trumped as it was about the size of Eurasia with the Alnus peninsula being the size of Afghanistan. To help ease the load the older M113s were brought back into frontline service, many refitted with the M168 Vulcan and .50 cal to protect against any potential threat.
Michael looked around the dimly light compartment, he hated that fact that he was stuck in a claustrophobic metal can with eight other men. "You think they'll fight?" Asked one man, another replied "Ah! I highly doubt anyone would be stupid enough to fight us Anderson." Giving a little chuckle and Johnson decided to join in.
"I don't see why not, it took us nearly a month to secure the land around Alnus." He stated, "Probably take us many more until the bastards give up." The young soldier took a look around him. To his left Cork was out cold using his own shoulder as a pillow, to his right Zhao was writing in a little book which possibly could've been his diary but he wasn't the noisy type and didn't want to piss off the Corporal.
Then weight in the armored transport shifted as the M113 came to a halt. "Righty there boys! This here your stop." Said the driver as the metal door swung open and the soldiers hoped out. Johnson before getting out jolted Cork awake and motioned him to follow.
When you arrive at a place where you expect a firefight, your blood pumped and you're ready to kick ass but the soldiers instead of a fight were given silence as tall stone walls don't talk.
The mission at hand was to hold onto the city of Italica, a large trading hub in the crossroads between the Alnus peninsula and the rest of Falmart, then wait for reinforcements to arrive. This force of eight-hundred were renounced for their athletic and fighting capabilities which had earned them their famed nickname.
Then a figure appeared above the wall, then another and then another, all in peasant clothing with swords and pikes in their hands: a militia. Thompson looked to Zhao and nodded, "Hello! This is the United states army!" Yelled the Asian-American cupping his hands together, his fellow countryman barely understanding whats he's saying due to still learning the basics of Latin.
"We urge you to surrender, you shall be treat with respect and dignity. We wish no harm but fail to comply and we shall use force if necessary!" The peasants seemed to talk to each other for a second before disappearing. "They didn't respond sure." The Colonel shook his head, "Fucking hell.." Then as to answer the front gates just opened, for a minute confusing them.
"This is Werewolf-1, move forward but preside with caution." Thompson orders into his radar and slowly the force moves up to the gate. Just like their training they aim up and around the corners to prevent a ambush, moving swiftly and one by one entered the city inside the giant walls.
Dispight not fighting on another both sides were on edge, the Americans had no idea if they were in a trap or not and the defenders were terrified that this new force would burn the city to the ground.
Civilians watching this saw men in green pointing strange staffs and big metal carriages with even bigger staffs on top that made a growling noise.
Thompson was the first to break the silence, "People, I am Colonel Thompson of the 27th regiment, 1st battalion." He said in a load, authoritative voice. "We wish no harm and simply wish to see the end of the war. May you kindly please let you see your commander."
"Are you the men in green?" They turned to see a middle-aged man with silver hair and shining armor walk up to them, he looked experienced and wise. "I must say you don't look as terrifying as the stories tell."
Thompson lift one eyebrow, "hmm...Interesting, I propose you are the commander of this force?" Zhao translated and the Knight shook his head. "No i'm not. I'm Sir Grey of the order of the roses, my princess is. I can lead her to you." Signaling with his hand to follow him. "Collins! Take you men and follow me." He ordered in english, the four man team slinging their weapons over their shoulders and formed a formation around him.
The group walked their way through the city, the soldiers occasionally turning their heads to the building which looked more like the ghettos of Chicago then a massive important city. All the way people stopped what they were doing and in either fear or curiosity watched the American soldiers walk by. Some whispered amongst themselves.
"Col-nel Thomson." Sir Grey mispronouncing both the man's rank and name, "I must say, your magic is quite impressive." Thompson scoffed at the older man's sentence. "It ain't magic, it's simply American ingenuity." The machine gun operator translated again, 'No magic?' He thought to himself. 'Then the empire after so long has finally meet it's match.'
Fuaneos 11th, 687 of the Imperial calendar
The princess paced about in the large room of the Formal palace where the young heir sat in silence listening to the older girl occasionally mumbled to herself about the city militia, moral, supplies etcetera. "Princess, please don't worry yourself to much, im sure we can hold out until the or-" "we've only got a six-hundred strong militia of peasants! Not professional soldiers! They were all massacred at Alnus, the nearest Imperial detachment is at Deabis." Myui though the youngest daughter of Colt had been chosen for her calm manner, and even she found this quite hard to deal with.
"Those peasant have fought the bandit forces are for two days now, despite being untrained and heavily outnumbered by a army which many I may add are imperial deserters and when was the last time th-"
In a split second the red haired woman marched right up to her seat and stared the girl dead in the eye, "Don't you dare bring that up. The empire has protected Italica for centuries, long before your house was ever formed. The empire may have lost some battles but even in as dark times as the Arctic war we triumphed over our adversaries."
Then the door were suddenly flung open, startling both of them and princess Piña let out a long breath. It was only a cat-person maid named Persia who adjusted her spectacles before bowing. "Lady Formal and princess, Sir grey has arrived with a commander of the Other-worlders." She said in a calm voice but Piña's heart skipped a few beats. They were here! What did they want? How did they want? Her mind filled with all the things that could go wrong.
And the moment came, Grey walking with five men all in green clothing. They carried strange black staffs that looked sleek and metallic, they wore no armor and looked more like hunters with big round helmets on top then actual soldiers. 'Is this their general? Maybe we can get the jump on them and ransom him for peace.'
"Your highness, this is Col-nel Thompson of the Other-worlders' army who call themselves 'Americans'." His defined face showed his authority but gave a slight smile. He greeted in a strange language, instead he opened his hand and aimed it at her. "He's it's a pleasure to meet you." She took a quick glance at the soldier, a translator who's skin was slightly paler, wore glasses and eyes seemed to be more narrower. she knew merchants did this as a sigh of a deal but to a royal? Impossible! Hesitatingly she grabbed his and they shook slowly, unfamiliar with the gesture of good will.
"So you are the men ive heard about, where's your armor?" She so politely asked but Grey answered for Thompson. "They don't or at least not like ours." A army without armor, ludicrous. "The ranges they fight are incredible, that's why the expeditionary force and the coalition army failed so miserably."
"He's right for we only suffered a handful of casualties at Alnus, and believe it's best you surrender the city without bloodshed." "Then what are you terms? How do we know you simply won't burn Italica to the ground and take it's people to be slaves? As the countess of this city this is my responsibility for what's in the surrender conditions." Everyone turned to Myui who sat in her throne a little to big for her.
The strange man translated and Thompson grasped his head and his bodyguards silent not understanding what was going on. "Yes, my father...he was apart of the expeditionary force that crossed the gate into your world." Her voice became quieter and Thompson who commanded a force of a few hundred killing machine felt his heart strings being pulled but kept face, "He feel sorry for your lost, you must hand over the city." "If I surrender the city then will you help us?"
Now Piña felt the lump in her through worsen. "What seems to be the issue?" "An army of bandits, many made of deserters who survived the defeat at Alnus are attacking Italica. Please, we'll comply to any demands you wish." If they survived this the first thing she was going to do was strip this little girl of power and have her executed for colluding with the enemy but now she had bigger fish to fry. "Countess, what makes you believe these 'Americans' can help us against a army of 35,000 strong?" All piña heard of them were tales made up by scamming opportunists and drunk veterans who could barley make sentences.
"They are the enemy, they'd likely cooperate with the bandits to raze Italica of it's riches." The red-head crossed her arms in defiance to hopefully show them she and the rest of the empire wouldn't be pushed around, even if some simply wished to lay down without a proper fight.
"Princess rest assured, we're eight-hundred strong and have defeated countless enemies many times stronger. Reinforcements should come at the very latest two days."
Piña had been taught that the empire was strongest and was chosen to be the sole rule of all of Falmart and even the world, and not to deal with anyone if it didn't favor them one hundred percent but thankfully the rest of her knights were coming sometime tomorrow so at least she wouldn't be alone when the time came they fight.
Then an idea came, a sneaky but ingenious plan or at least it was in her head. The Southern gate had already been weaken by the previous and there for much easier to breach. If the Americans were there and soaked up most of the damage, Piña, some of her knights and the militia could simply backstab them and defeat what was left of the bandits. Killing two birds with one stone could allow her remaining knights to arrive, hold out against them and bring victory to the empire and legitimize the Order of the roses as a capable fighting force in the ranks of the Imperial army.
Piña looked over to Myui for a answer, "Alright, it'll surrender the city over to you Other-worlders. All I ask is that my people are treated with dignity and respect." Thompson walked over to her and the two shook hands. "Deal. You have nothing to fear, you and your city will be safe from harms way as long as we are here." She didn't know if the at was lie or not but then maybe he was trying to win Italica over? But for now as the saying goes keep your friends close and enemies closer.
"But we'll need a strategy first..." Piña stepped in and pulled out a scroll and laid it out onto the table right next to them. "This is the mal of Italica and the surrounding territory of the Formal clan. Usually groups of bandits used to be at most about a dozen and easily managed by the the clan's personal troops and city militia but ever since they were slaughtered in your world the bandits have pillaged the land as they please. They've besieged this city for three days, morale and water is low." She let sighed, Thompson's soldiers looked at each other in confusion.
"They've attacked all four of the gates but the southern way hit the hardest, we fear they may breach it. I need your men to hold the gates at all costs. We'll give you additional men to assist you."
"Good plan, now we shall prepare." He turned and with his bodyguards walked off and the cat-maid closed the door shut but off course the countess had to open her mouth. "You're plan is to tricking the Americans into sacrificing themselves into the slaughter. I believe not only is it dishonest but stupid to believe they'd be so easily fooled."
The princess wanted to kill her, like take her head clean off her shoulders with a blade kill. But she stopped herself from grabbing the handle of the sword. "For the love of the gods with you just shut up! I have it all taken care of." "You'll just got here!" The girl was usually quite and polite but if she wished to for her clan to survive she had to be strong and firm. "Since the start of this war my people have suffered, without the men to patrol the streets and work in the fields we've tipping on the verse of complete social collapse. Commoners are beginning to starve on the street, some are abandoning their children because they can't feed them let alone themselves but are you doing?!"piña felt something bubble inside of her, maybe it was anger or her pride being smashed, no matter for this girl was on a tight rope over a pack of hungry wolves.
"Let me tell you. You and the rest of the nobles in Sadera are galvanizing at your fancy balls and indulging yourselves on the blood, sweat and tears of everyone else who bows down before you. Italica has been loyal from the beginning and yet we are left to die by those we served so well."
"You...you little brat!" Piña's face became nearly as red as her hair. "How dare you speak that way about the empire! Without us the continent would still be in the dark ages and you'd be some forgotten sex slave of the demon races. We purified Falmart of the savage races and brought prosperity unlike any time before. Had we'd not lost the war with the Avionese, the the empire would control the entire world by now!"
The Imperial-Avionese war was a stain on the empire's history and reputation, in 650 war broke out between the two countries over fishing rights and violation of territorial water by both sides. In short the war was a complete embarrassment as the Avionese with their side mounted ballistas and sea wyvern carriers decimated the smaller and poorly constructed ships of the Imperial fleet.
"If the empire is so strong how come the enemy is in the city as we speak, perhaps they'll treat my people far better then the empire ever did." Myui knew if the Americans lost then the princess would have her publicly crucified but if they won then her father's city could be spared. "If that's the game you want to play the so be it." The princess regained her composure, and without a word left the throne room.
-Six hours later
His eyes slowly opened to a light grey sky with the tips of pine trees touching it like fingers. The young man groaned as he lifted his upper body off the ground and looked around at his surroundings. It was pretty clear that he was in a snow covered forest, he noticed he wore black boots, jeans and a thick green jacket.
Michael not wanting to freeze in the tundra he found himself in and started to wonder about hoping to find any sight of civilization. For him seconds turned to minutes and the minutes into hours, passing by tree after tree while his boots made a crunching noise as he took each step. "Hello?" He stopped and waited for a response, "Is anyone out there?" He cupped his hands together to helpful make his voice louder but once again nothing. 'Damnit!' He thought to himself but just as he make his first step he bumped into a tree. "Ah fuck!" He cursed to himself but then noticed some, there maybe fifteen or so yards lay a small cabin with four by four windows and a small porch. Best of all there was smoke coming out of the chimney!
He rushed to the door and pushed his way through the ankle deep snow, finally climbing the porch stairs and near banged on the door. "Hello! May I come in?" There was a pause, "You may sunny." The voice was rough and sounded like a heavy smoker. Slowly he opened the cabin door, then his senses were hit with the beautiful smell of coco and peppermint. There just mere feet of him was an old man with a red plaid shirt and had a long grey beard that went down to his neck.
"G-gr-gramps?" Michael stuttered, he hadn't seen him in years. "Hey Michael, long time no see." The old man pushed himself off his rocking chair and walked his way to his grandson. He placed his hand on Michael's shoulder and said, "How about you do me a favor. How 'bout you wake up." Micheal blinked a few times for a moment, "Wait wha-"
"Wake the fuck up!" For real Michael jolted awake and his eyes darted all over the place trying to get his bearing as gunfire could be heard, he wasn't in a snow covered forest but in a foreign city on a whole new world. "Huh-the hells coming on?!" Cork who was right over him bent over, grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled his friend up. "We're under attack! We gotta hold until reinforcements come!" Micheal grabbed his weapon and took off the safety ready to fight.
The two bolted out of the tent he had slept in and up the steps to the Southern wall where the enemy was attacking, men blasting away with their guns. "Your finally awake sleeping beauty?" Said Sergeant Collins as he took out his empty mag and placed a fresh on in. "Yes sir!" The young private moved before cover and rapidly let off a few shots at the near invisible enemy but he could hear their bloodthirsty roars. Men who craved the flesh of his fellow man and dreamed of violence.
As tracer rounds flew into the pitch black screams could be heard as men were mercilessly torn apart by 5.56 and 7.62 NATO rounds, some stopped as they watched blood pour out of their bodies before dying. 'Dear god...why won't they fucking give up?!' At this point he was barley aiming at this point, just putting the weapon in burst mode and rabidly firing hot lead like it was Call of duty.
"All units cease fire! Cease fire!" Colonel Thompson's voice order on the radios, the men one by one stopping while adrenaline was still pumping strong. "This is White-tail over." Says Collins on the radio while the soldiers around him listen for instructions. "Companies Alpha, you're needed to help the militia at the eastern gate. Company Bravo you'll defend the northern gate, over."
"Roger that! Ev'ry one hail ass!" Captain Felkin could be heard yelling as the two-hundred man company rushed to help their unlikely allies at the Eastern gate.
-Meanwhile at the East gate
She sat there stunned, watching the carnage unfold from the palace. The princess was persuaded by lgloo to stay from harms way as if she was harmed the moral of both the city and the whole of the empire would drop immensely but still, she felt...useless. Piña even though being merely the daughter of a combine turned wife who died when she was young had trained for a good part of her life for the moment she'd ride into battle with her comrades and earn her rightfully place. She was supposed to be there commanding the peasants to fight for everything they held dear, to survive but there she was in a front row seat to the battle and a recurring thought drummed into her mind. 'Where are they? Where are they? Where are they?!!'
They had to be there! They couldn't just watch as the city they captured be ransacked by bandits and deserted traitors. The Other-worlders just...then it clicked. "They...they knew." She mumbled to herself, "they knew I'd use them as bait." She felt the grip of guilt strangle her heart, she knew they were there by her orders. Of course the bandits knew she couldn't sent them to the south gate so they attacked the less defend east gate.
She saw arrows fly from outside the walls and rain down on the militia, some being hit and those who weren't killed cry in agony, she saw bandits climb up the wall one by one being slaughtered but they just kept going. Soon a section of the wall was overwhelmed by bandits who without mercy cut down any militiamen in sight, both sides fighting in close quarters. Was Myui right? Did she and the rest of the Saderan elite were riding off the sufferings of the lower classes. 'But their peasant! It's their duty to serve the empire!' Her thoughts were interrupted by three massive fireballs shot through the air and her heart for a second stopped. The princess watched in horror was one hit the wall and taking at least a dozen or so men with it, and the other two smashed into the building just behind. She from the balcony could hear the screams bellow, they no matter how hard she covered her ears wouldn't stop and finally she had enough. She couldn't stay on the sidelines any longer!
Without a second thought she rushed through the palace and before she knew it she was on the streets of the one proud trading city. She could see people running in the other direction away from the fighting, some carrying their children who wailed in fear. "I am Princess Piña co lada! Daughter and fourth born of the emperor, I must fight for the empire!" She could she the courtyard, she was close!
The princess ran to the steps and climbed as fast as she could, she had to fight with her people. The young woman looked side to side seeing what was left of the militia pushing and kicking ladders of the walls to keep the enemy away. "Princess!" She turned to see Igloo who slashed a shirtless bandit, pushing him off the wall and then turning his attention back to her. "I couldn't seat back while these traitors attack us!"
"I but my highness pl-AHH!!" Piña jumped back in terror as lgloo, one of the first members and highest commander of the Order of the roses was stabbed in the back by a bandit. For a second the two had eye contact, lgloo's eyes glinted with fear before going dull and his body thrown down into the mob below.
Time seemed to slow, below on the ground the bloodthirsty mob cheered as they spat and modulated his corpse, the bandits in front of her smiled sinisterly. "What's a pretty lil' lady here in armor?" In a flash he pulled out his blade and swong, it was too fast...she was going to die. 'All the training...was it for nothing?' She watched the blade getting closer to her face until-Bang!!!
With a thunderous clap he dropped down and a pool of warm blood slowly formed under his body. She looked behind to see a Other-world in his green clothing and pouches, holding his black staff in his hands. With a node of his head. She noticed on his right side of his chest were letters, letters of the old righting system the first humans used when they walked the the gate and the letters read, "Johnson".
Now part one of the battle of Italica is done and part two should been coming soon, as you see I've tried to add more dialog. I'd also like to thank those who've both supported and added gave advice, it's deeply appreciated and I plan to see this story one day completed. Once again thank you and I'll be back soon.