August 20th, 2016 of the Gregorian calendar
Kowalski scanned the map carefully like a archeologisttrying unlock a mystery, hisblue eyes looked at the pieces that represented his troops. The American forces since arriving in this new world had expanded to a impressive 110,000 soldiers had been moved through the gate and stomping over the Saderans like it was nothing. Of a estimated 200,000 enemy dead, he'd only lost about fifteen soldiers killed and thirty-nine wounded.
To the South-East of Alnus near the Saderan-Elbian border was the port city of Deabis, a potential staging ground where the empire could launch a rather annoying counterattack on their right flank so the first division was assigned to capture the city as air support denied Deabis reinforcements either from land, air or sea.
The man if he had it his way would have the princess shot but President Reed wanted her and her band of female knights be used as puppets to control Sadera and it's valuable resources. 'Politics be damned..' he thought, but there was a silver lining that made his day a little better. Two client states of the Empire named the kingdom of Alguna and the duchy of League had both sent for peace but these were simply two small steps to victory over these Magical-Romans.
Smith felt the tank lurch forward as he gave the order for the tank platoon to advance on the enemy trenches. They finally began to learn not to run at them like madmen and instead hid in earthworks shooting arrows and swinging their weapons in close quarters, opting to let the Americans come to them but none of their weaponry could ever harm a tank.
A ballista fired a spear at Smith's tank but it measly shattered on impact, "Williams put those lil' fuckers in the ground." He simply said and stared blankly as a HE shell blasted the weapon and it's crew into thousands of tiny charred pieces. "Hahaha!!! Got 'um!" Cheered the gunner while he chewed on a strawberry flavored bubble gum and Pérez loaded in a new shell.
The Saderans seeing four iron beasts rolling to them without sign of stopping decided it was time to go and hastily climbed out only to be gunned down by .50 cals spitting lead. The tanks effortlessly rolled over the trench and continued on their way to their destination, a tiny town called Arlon on the outskirts of Deabis.
Behind the tanks were eight M113 personnel carriers packed to the brim with soldiers ready to fight, unless the enemy threw boulders at them they were completely immune to the enemy's attempts at stalling their advance. This armored pack continued to rumble their way through the fields recently plowed for harvest as Arlon was drawing near.
"Alright driver, smash through that gate!" The tank had no problem created a entrance for the rest to enter and the other vehicles rolled in before unloading the soldiers. Very slowly the tanks and APCs moved forward through the deserted streets as soldiers hid behind them, checking the roofs, alleyways and windows for any potential Saderan soldiers in hiding. "This is Foxtrot-actual, any got eyes on the tangos, over." "This is "No signs of them, over." Reported Cowboy as the Americans arrived at the town square where a little fountain sat.
Suddenly there was a yell, "Nunc Socii, adolebitque eos!" Without warning a flock of small iron balls came flying in and upon impact, burst into flames. As fast as they could the column turned to their machine guns at every rooftop and window they could see and blasted them. One of these balls hit a APC's gunner who had his back turned, causing it to shatter and allowed the flames to engulf him. The poor man let out a horrifying shriek before a arrow went through just above his cheek, the other crew members bailing in fear of the fire spreading to the front.
Men yelled as they charged head first into the buildings and after a while flushed out all enemy combatants, but then arrows began to bounce of the front's of Smith's tank. "Goddamn bastards, we got some in the house front of us!" He shouted, though his gunner needed to hear anymore after that. "On the way!" Williams fired a shell going fasting then the naked eye could see and slammed into the two story house, causing debris to fly into the air. Smith had use the hatch door as a shield to protect himself.
When the smoke cleared a massive whole on the left side appeared on the second floor and a chunk of the roof was blown off. Soon came out a group of people of about a dozen limped their way out and the men were shocked. It was a combination of wounded soldiers and civilians in rags who pleaded in the once previously dead language mostly likely for mercy. "Shit..." Pérez muttered under his breath. "Fuck, now their using civies like body shields?" McKey was at a lost for words, being a young recruit he hadn't had to deal with things like this unlike the others who had once faced a enemy that hid among innocents.
"Hands up!" Smith yelled in Latin, the Saderans quickly obliged and the US soldiers walked up to inspect them making sure they weren't a threat anymore. "Now who in the fuck is the commander here!" And as if on command a man in clad armor and sporting a short sword on his him stumbled out, and he didn't look happy.
"nothi! redire super hic!" He screamed in a near drunken slur, making it clear he was somewhat intoxicated. "What's he saying?" Asked Williams while the Saderan commander continued to ramble and rant. "He told them to come back and is calling them spineless cowards."
The Saderan then looked directly to the Americans and continued. "He now calling us demons that don't fight like real men and that we are no match for the Empire." He translated blandly, bored watching this lunatic try to intimidate the obviously superior US soldiers.
Then he pulled out his sword out, Salvete Imperi-" BANG! He froze and slowly looked down to his chest where a hole had been punched through before failing dead onto the ground. The Soldier who had shot him placed down his M4 and the others simply looked blankly at him, a rather normal day in Falmart.
Fuaneos 25th, 687 of the Imperial calendar
Zorzal chugged down his wine like there was no tomorrow, letting out a refreshing sign as he looked to his favorite toy Tyuule who simply lay limp after their "session". All the other slaves couldn't satisfy his primal hunger like the Bunny-woman. The crown prince had taken her as his sex slave after four month long Imperial-Bunny war which all but wiped out the warrior-Bunnies as not only a species but as a culture since most of its members were either slaughtered or sold to nobles or brothels around the country.
Fucking all the exotic woman Falmart had to offer wasn't his only talent, he since boyhood had studied at the Sadera military school where he learned what it took to not only be a great leader but to lead the Empire to victory when it inevitably gained excess to new lands on some far away continent. Zorzal had also played a large role incrushing the great peasant revolt of 680 where peasants in the Volgolian region rose up against the Empire but where crushed like the filthy bugs they were.
As a reward he was given command of the Oprichnina,a special organization tasked with cleaning the empire of all traitors to the empire. Even so, they had never seen actual combat before and all of Zorzal's requests for them to join the war against the Other-world barbarians were denied by his father whom did nothing but sit on his throne not giving a damn about the enemy who sat on their doorstep.
The brute agreed with the scorched earth policy but hated that they weren't launching a massive counterattack to drive the invaders out of Sadera and into their homeland though he wasn't going to let it down his spirits as he took another gulp of wine.
He turned to the door as it opened to reveal Marcus, a messenger and asked, "What is it that you want?" The messenger clear his throat, "Your father has asked you to join the meeting with the senate." "Alright."He replied, "Then tell my father I'll be their shortly." Marcus bowed his head and scurried away. 'Damn it, he better have something worthy.' He thought to him as he prepared to get dressed.
A hour after receiving the message he arrived at the Imperial senate where all senators sat bickering with each other. The emperor raised his hand and all fall silent, "Prince Zorzal, Im glad to see you've arrived." "Yes father, what is that you wish to speak about?"
Molt leaned onto his right hand, "Ive gathered you all to discuss on replacing our armies after our recent defeats. We still are in the dark on why their magic is so much stronger then ours but General Godsen despite his rather defeatist attitude has seen their magic first hand." The elderly general got up from his seat and cleared his throat, Zorzal could see the look of cowardice in his eyes.
"Thank you your majesty, Their magic is unlike we've ever faced. They have back staffs that created a loud popping sound like this, Pow! Pow! Pow!" Everyone looked at him with weird looks but the general continued. "That's what their staff make before shooting what evidence I've gathered to be tiny metal stones" he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small of metal, and was jagged in the back.
"Whatever they are they appear to be quite dangerous, perhaps we should try to duplicate these." Suggested one senator, "Are you out of your mind? We don't even who what these are!" Says another, "It's clear we're outmatched. We myst negotiate a truce!" and soon it erupts into a shouting match between those who want to fight, those who want peace and those who want to adapt to the Other-worlders' cowardly ways.
"Enough!" Everyone stops to look at Zorzal as he stands up, "You all are arguing like children as a powerful foe sits at our doorstep. The great city of Italica has fallen and Deabis will soon follow, what do you think they'll target next?" The senators all look to one another.
"We must not allow these scum to use the wheat of our land! It all must burn and the wells poisoned. Once they're starving we'll slaughter them all and show them the true might of Sadera!" He raised his fist in the as while senators clapped and cheered this speech.
"So you plan on destroying the harvest and cause a famine?" Zorzal felt his blood boil as he looked to see the marquis of the Imperial senate Casel el Tiberius looking at him with scornful eyes. "And you don't seem to understand the severity of this matter, least I remind you that we are at war and must do what is needed for victory." He snapped back.
"It's autumn, If we destroy our fields then we'll be in danger of having no food for winter. As much as you wish to ride into battle head first you simply cannot was the resources of empire in such little thought actions. Furthermore who do you plan on replacing the men we've lost?"
Zorzal scoffed at what he believed to be stupidity, "Simple, conscript at least one man from every family or buoff slaves." The senator whispered amongst themselves either in agreement or disguise.
"Father! What do you think, should we gather all the empire has to offer and fight for our homeland or should we sit around on our hands like Marquis el Tiberius wishes us to do?"
Everyone stared at the Emperor with much intent, after a few seconds he let out a sigh. "How about we have a vote? All in favor of my son's solution say aye and those against say nay!"
"Nay! Aye!" Zorzal smiled, 280 against 220. 'Finally.' he thought, 'Good thing the senate still has a spine.'
Im not dead guys! Ive been quite busy but I ain't going to leave this story in purgatory or just quit. As you see Zorzal still his scumbag self but with a differentto the cannon story: He actually is a alright military commander. As I've said before I want the Saderans to actually try to find ways to combat the US but not be turning the tide of war. I'll update as soon as I can so take this chapter as a little thanksgiving gift from me to you.