"There's more to a landing pad than just a slab of concrete." Talisman said as she gave the area designated for Helicopter operations with a scrupulous eye. Most of it was still grassland at this point, but there was a widening perimeter on the ground that was doing its best to clear a path for the cement trucks that seemed to be as common a sight around the FOB as armored fighting vehicles. "There also needs space for the maintenance crew to work, fuel and munitions to be stored for quick turnarounds, and some kind of overhead cover for the whirlybirds when they're not in use. We haven't been here long enough to see what kind of crazy weather this place could throw at us."
"We've zoned out enough space for all the proper facilities as outlined by protocol." Lieutenant Yanagida assured her, glancing at a clipboard that held a chart of the immediate planned area. "Plus, a little extra just in case we miscalculated. Luckily we're not short on room here."
It had been about three weeks since the joint force had passed through the Gate in Ginza, and no further attacks had been attempted since the initial enemy counter offensive to retake the hill. Things had been mostly quiet since then, giving time for the Civil Engineers who had been working overtime to tame the alien soil and turn it into a decent place to live. Talisman and Razor had missed most of the early efforts, having just arrived a day prior at the insistence of the aviation battalion commander to have someone with operational knowledge in the Special Region to make sure no one was royally screwing up their allotted zone before the JSDF began shipping over the choppers.
To be fair, things were not nearly as bad as they could have been all things considered. The Japanese military didn't have much experience in setting up installations under these circumstances, in fact they had no real experience in dealing with mass troop deployments save for the group that had been sent to Iraq to support the international mission there almost a decade ago. Even then, their focus had been more on humanitarian and reconstruction efforts rather than active combat operations. The US Marines were probably old pros at this sort of thing by know given their far more extensive practice at it, but they were packed away in a corner of the encampment away from most everything esle, so she couldn't do an immediate comparison between the two setups.
"So long as you're sure." Talisman shrugged. "If you all get it wrong, Colonel Kengun will have your heads."
"And probably ours too." Razor muttered from beside her. "You should have seen how obsessively he was working on the preliminaries; you'd have thought the entire place was a minefield with artillery shells raining down every half hour."
"General Hazama is well acquainted with the way Colonel Kengun does things." The Lieutenant said dismissively. "I can assure you there's nothing to worry about on that front."
"Easy to say that when you're not in his direct chain of command." Talisman frowned.
She had never met First Lieutenant Yanagida before coming to the Special Region, the other not being part of an aviation unit nor having a reputation that made the rounds outside his immediate group like Itami. He was a decently handsome sort who kept his short dark hair parted to the left of his face so it would stay clear of his glasses. But below the surface, it wasn't hard to tell that he was a rank chaser, supremely confident in both his words and actions that backed up an ego that was probably only boosted by the fact he was an assistant to the Special Region Commander. Talisman had known a couple of officers in her time who saw positions like that as opportunities to flex authority that they didn't really have. Yanagida seemed smart enough to not try to pull that sort of thing on her, at least not in any overt ways, but it was still too soon to get an overall impression on the man.
"The engineers have been told to make this a priority once they finish their current work on the fortifications, so it shouldn't be too long of a wait before you all can start setting up shop." Yanagida continued, leading the pilots away from the immediate constitution site. "We're hoping to have all the munitions and spare parts needed for immediate operations delivered the same day to ensure there's no unnecessary delays."
"Does the general want us to basically go to work right away then?" Talisman asked. She wouldn't have complained if that was the case, feeling all too eager to explore the skies of this strange new world.
"We're weighing all the options right now but having a bunch of helicopters combing the area could draw a lot of attention that we're trying to avoid at the moment." He explained. "We sent out a few recon teams right after you got here, and the General wants to wait for their initial findings before deciding on any overt action."
"Let's hope they bring back something worth chewing on then. A lot of people back home are anxious for any kind of news from this place, and all we got was a lot of silence and requisition orders."
"We've had to be sure no other enemy counter attacks were coming." Yanagida shrugged. "And even with the most modern technology, building a base from absolute scratch takes time, we can't exactly just roll out into a completely unknown world without setting a proper headquarters and supply chain."
"We're not saying that's wrong." Razor said. "Just trying to convey how people are thinking back in Japan. It can be hard to think about these sorts of things when there's a long, dark, and mysterious tunnel separating the front line from the country."
They had reached a part of the living area established by the JSDF, with both on and off duty soldiers mingling as they all went about their respective business. There had been several trailers set up on the hill, but those were currently being used for mission support, leaving the troops to be housed almost exclusively in tents for the moment. There was talk of more established buildings and other structures that were coming so that the FOB would look like more than just a massive campsite, but that was just pie in the sky for the moment. Talisman imagined that kind of work would probably be handed over to private contractors who would no doubt make a killing from such a deal, otherwise the poor Civil Engineering section would continue being worked around the clock.
"That kind of grumbling isn't just in Japan." Yanagida sighed and shook his head. "There's plenty of folks on this side who want to take immediate action too, especially the Americans. They seemed to get more antsy by the day."
"They don't seem the type who'd be exactly thrilled about being cooped up." Talisman agreed. She'd spent a lot of time in the States during her college years and could remember the heavy dose of culture shock she'd suffer for a good while after her arrival. That kind of thing was not likely to be helped by forcing the soldiers from two very different nations to suddenly live and work together with the stress of a warzone hanging over their heads. "Speaking of which, has there been any...issues between us and the Americans?"
"A few, but it's been mostly confined to verbal disagreements and a single shoving match, nothing major. We were careful to make sure that there's plenty of safeguards to ensure there's not a real language barrier in areas where we all have to work together, and both sides have made a good effort on cracking down on any insubordination that causes any more friction. The Marines a rowdy bunch to say the least, but at least they don't seem intent on bringing us all into it."
"What about the Germans?" Razor asked. "There's some of them here too, right?"
"A handful, but they tend to keep to themselves in their portion of the American Camp. There hasn't been a single incident with them yet as far as I know. Well, besides the grumblings about the lack of drinks around here, and they're just a few voices of many on that front."
"Based on what the opposing force has been, people might have assumed we all had been drinking." Talisman snorted. "I still can't wrap my head around half of this shit, going through some magical portal that just showed up in Ginza one day to fight dragons, fairies, and God knows what else?"
"Well, if you ever manage to put it all together in a way that makes sense ma'am, let me know." Yanagida grinned. "Pretty sure the General would be willing to bring in a lot of good liquor for whoever makes sense of it all first."
~oOo~
The edge of the forest had gone still and quiet, with only the gentle breeze causing the plants and trees to sway being the only source of movement. There weren't any animals nearby, as if all the birds and creatures of the land knew what was coming and had left before the trouble could arrive. Even the insects seemed to have felt the dark encroachment, as there was no chirping of crickets or gentle buzzing of tiny wings this night. It felt all wrong, like the once lively forest was growing sick from an oncoming infection. Though given the circumstances, that wasn't a ludicrous comparison. It mattered little, as Kat'lana wasn't hunting wild game this night, she and the others sought a very different kind of prey.
Under the light of the full moon, she could see them approaching the forest edge. There were at least two dozen of them advancing without any regards to a proper formation or even stealth as they shouted at one another in their cursed tongues. It was an orc scouting party, just as they had feared. Word had first come from merchants and survivors of raided villages who had managed to stagger their way to the south about the oncoming threat, and the destruction they were leaving in their wake. Now, it seemed they had turned their attention towards the lands claimed by House Duron of the Empire. If this particular scouting party were allowed to complete their mission and managed to return to their war band, it would only be a matter of time before the forest would be overrun by the savages.
So, the solution was a simple one. Make sure they did not return.
Fortunately, this group didn't seem all that bright, or just didn't expect much in the way of resistance during their journey. They continued their carefree jaunt towards the woodlands until they were close enough for the wind to carry their stench to Kat's nose. Then, from behind a tree on the opposite side of the group then Kat, a shadow stirred ever so slightly. The orc in the lead suddenly stopped short, causing the others to pause and look at him. He twisted around backwards, showing the arrow that had been shot neatly through his left eye, then collapsed to the ground. The world seemed to hold its breath a moment as the scouts tried to process what had just happened. Then all hell broke loose.
One of the orcs raised his sword and prepared to let out a mighty bellow to inspire the others, but it turned into a bloody rasping as Kat's arrow found its way into his neck. More arrows were fired, and the scouts once again found their footing as they charged towards the direction of their attackers with blades held high. Even with the initial shock, the orcs still held the advantage in numbers with this fight and allowing them to get close to some of the younger and more inexperienced hunters wouldn't end well. Kat loosed another projectile then drew her short sword and leapt out from behind her cover as she prepared to meet the attackers head on. The odds wouldn't be in her favor, but it would buy time for the others to thin out the orc ranks while she kept them distracted.
The first taker was a large one, standing almost a quarter of a meter taller than Kat as he swung his weapon overhead to try and chop her clean in two. Not even attempting to parry what would have clearly overwhelmed her own strength, the half elf dove and somersaulted past the blow, feeling the ground shake slightly from the impact mere centimeters from where she was. She finished the maneuver and sprang back to her feet, slashing at the orc's back with her short sword as she did so. The slash barely seemed to bother her attacker at all, as he used his free hand to pummel Kat across the head with his closed fist.
She fell to the ground in a daze, seeing the world spinning around her as she desperately tried to refocus herself. A dark blob was moving towards her, the orc warrior doubtless coming to finish her off. Kat gripped the grass beneath her, trying to cast her will over the natural world around her with all the focus she could muster. The life beneath her obeyed the spell, and Kat's vision cleared up just in time to see a thick black spike-like thorn emerge from the ground and puncture through the orc's right foot.
The warrior roared in pain and rage, staggering back and limping on his wounded foot, too distracted to strike again at Kat. She scrambled to grab her blade and prepared to strike again at the orc but was saved the effort by an arrow that sunk into the back of his head, cutting of his shouting and swearing. There was no time to celebrate, as the battle still raged around her, and Kat quickly got back up and made a scan of her immediate surroundings.
Another orc had witnessed what has befallen his comrade and had apparently decided to try his own luck in combat. The damned beast was already nearing striking range, and Kat was forced to duck as the orc slashed his jaggedly-smithed sword where her head had just been. This one didn't look as strong as the last, and she decided to fight it head on as she made a counterattack with her own blade.
"A half-breed!" The orc laughed gleefully as their weapons met in a struggle that brought their faces far closer than would be desirable. "It must be my lucky day! Killing you would be the most fun I've ever had! Or maybe I should just keep you, why waste good flesh, eh?"
The orc's breath stunk of something rancid and rotting, bringing Kat as close to vomiting as the insinuation behind the words. She could feel her teeth beginning to grind together as her leg came around to kick free of the deadlock. He came at her again, this time with a cut directed at her legs. She sidestepped the attack, coming in from above his weapon arm to leave a large gash in the orc's side. He staggered back, but Kat wasn't given the opportunity to take advantage of her opponent being off balance as a second orc joined the melee from her left, likely drawn by the call of a "half-breed" being on the battlefield.
Their swords clashed in a shower of sparks that lit the ground around them, Kat catching the larger blade at an angle so it slid off her short sword. To his credit, this orc was not foolish enough to leave himself open from putting too much behind the blow, but it did give Kat the pair of heartbeats she needed to make a slight withdrawal. When she was close to three meters away, Kat dropped into her combat stance once more, seeing as both of her opponents recovered and prepared to come at her once more.
Deciding to switch combat styles, Kat quickly sized up the pair as they started forward. Even though they still towered over her, these orcs were several centimeters shorter than the first she had faced. It would be close, but there seemed to be just enough clearance…
Kat chose the latecomer orc as her first target, taking several steps back to give the impression that she was about to flee from the fight rather than go toe to toe with the two of them. The ploy worked, as the two charged even harder to prevent their "prize from escaping. She allowed herself a self-satisfied smile, then reversed her direction when the orcs were just two paces away. She was close enough to read the surprise on their faces when she let the energy flow into her legs, allowing her to leap over the pair with just a couple centimeters to spare and land directly at their backs. The orcs tried to stop themselves and turn around, but the momentum of their hungry charge made a quick change in position impossible, giving Kat a clear opportunity to drive her blade between the shoulders of the one she had landed nearest too.
The orc made a noise somewhere between a cough and a gurgle as black blood began to ooze from his mouth and the wound alike. Kat ripped her blade free of the corpse, feeling a bit of extra resistance as it passed through the savage's tougher skin, and pivoted around to face her final foe. His eyes burned with a primal fury that was unnerving to see in a sentient creature and gave a bone chilling howl as he made one final rush towards the half elf. Kat kicked at the still half-upright corpse of the other orc and let the carcass fall between her and the oncoming attack, the orc reacting just a moment too late as he saw the obstacle and tried to step over it in an awkward fashion. His weapon arm was raised for a little longer than it should have, giving the ranger the final opening she was looking for.
She came in low and brought her short sword around in a hacking motion, putting all her strength behind the blow as she felt the blade drag ever so slightly through muscle and bone. The orc's entire limb was removed from its body, falling to the ground as his eyes locked on the bloody stump as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. Pivoting on her foot, Kat used the momentum to power one last strike that saw her weapon bite into the orc's neck, making a clean decapitation of the beast who had desired to make her his plaything. The satisfaction lasted only as long as it took for the remains to hit the ground before she once more was looking for another target. To her surprise, there were none left, the battle having finished with her slaying of the final orc.
Suddenly becoming aware of her own labored breathing, Kat relaxed a bit from her combat stance, but did not sheath her blade quite yet. Orc's typically weren't the most intelligent of combatants, but she wasn't willing to take the risk that one of them wasn't just playing dead and waiting for a clear moment to strike. It didn't look like that would be much of an issue, as most had been fallen by good marksmanship with the bow to vital locations, and two of the uninjured hunters were already stalking among the fallen with daggers drawn to make sure none would ever rise again.
But the Rangers had not escaped losses themselves, as the groans of some wounded filled the empty that had once been taken up by battle. Making her way to a different part of the tree line, Kat could see one of the younger hunters she didn't recognize being treated for a deep laceration across his torso, the stain of red blood across his clothing visible in the moonlight night. Dwelling as they did in the forest, the rangers had no armor of their own and not enough coin to buy any of substance. Even if they did, wearing anything but the lightest of mail would run counter to the way they did battle, relying on speed and maneuverability, since most did not share in Kat's innate gifts of the arcane. It left them vulnerable in these kinds of battles where the enemy was not interested in any kind of withdrawal even after suffering terrible losses.
She made her way over to a small grouping where two other members of their little ambush party were standing and talking in low voices as they studied the now bloody forest edge. The older one was a middle-aged human with a full head of brown hair and beard that was only beginning to grey at the edges and a build of a man who had spent a hardy life in the wilderness. Although they had no official rulership or really any kind of government, Joakim Pomner was the closest thing the Forest Rangers had to a leader, having been the Camp Master of the largest group for the largest amount of time. It had been he who'd sent messengers to the other groups to send hunters to repel a possible incursion into the forest and had insisted on leading one of the parties personally. Now, seeing the result of decisions he himself had made, Kat couldn't get a read on how the man was feeling as he gazed outward.
"How bad are things?" She asked, joining the others.
"Nyle got the worst of it, we're not sure if he'll make it." Joakim shook his head. "Tedric, Beau, and Ida were lost in the fighting. There was nothing we could do to save them."
Kat felt a pain in her heart as she looked across the field once more and saw where her fallen comrades lay. Three dead and one more gravely wounded in exchange for an entire orc scouting party. She knew it could have been much worse, but Kat couldn't bring herself to think of it as an even trade.
"They were far tougher opponents than the humans." Kat said. "Their strength is incredible, and they seem to just shake off many of their wounds if not fatal. I don't like our odds if they return in greater numbers."
"At least we have likely bought ourselves a little time." The other nearby hunter commented. "They will likely wait to see if this group reports back before moving anything."
"You assume that the orc warlord will be the patient sort."
"Well, he did go through the effort of sending out these groups in the first place. It would seem odd that he wouldn't even wait for them to return. That's all even assuming that they won't take the long way around to get to the villages on the other side of the forest, that's their true target after all, not us."
"Even if that is the case, it changes little." Joakim said. "We will not be spared even if we are not their primary focus. Orc Warbands leave destruction wherever they go, and they will almost certainly make their way into our territory sooner or later, followed by even larger groups as wild game and the promise of more battle lures them in."
"Then what are we supposed to do?" Kat asked. "We've been able to chase the humans away by making it cost more than they are willing to pay, but these savages are completely mindless and will pay no heed to their losses. We're far too small in number to put up any kind of real challenge."
"I'm afraid I agree. Which means we need to seek help from outside the forest."
"Camp Master?" The other hunter frowned.
"In days past, we would have been able to just lie low and allow the Empire's armies to deal with this menace. But with the destruction of its own forces, the lands of House Duron are just as in danger as we are to these beasts. If we are to have any chance at survival, we'll have to work together."
"The Durons would never agree to such a thing, we've been enemies ever since they laid claim to our lands."
"If we don't stop the orcs, there won't be any of us left to lay any kinds of claims." Joakim said coolly. "We'll have to hope the gods bestow that reality before their eyes and allow them to see reason. If not, then our situation is dire indeed."
"...As you say, Camp Master."
"Kat'lana, your encampment sits closest to the Duron lands, yes?" Joakim asked, turning to face her.
"As far as I know." She confirmed.
"Then it is to you this task must be given too." He said. "Return to your group and tell them what has happened here and my intention to send an envoy to the current Lord Duron to request a truce in the face of this threat. We will remain here and keep watch for any movement and attempt to convince the other camps to send as many hunters as they can spare."
"What if the current Lord won't listen?"
"Let us hope it doesn't come to that." Joakim said gravely, the darkness behind his tone setting a weight on Kat's shoulders. Of course her encampment would agree to send an envoy, and it would likely be her that they sent, being the most experienced of traveling outside the forest. And being a female would be helpful if the lord were to ask for…
Kat clamped down on the thought. She couldn't worry about that kind of aimless speculation right now, not when the fate of her people, not to mention the entire life of the forest and countless innocents could rest on her actions.
"I'll set off right away." She said out loud. "We'll be sure to keep in contact in case anything comes up."
"Thank you, Kat'lana." Joakim bowed his head. "May your stride be quick."
"May your arrows land true." She answered, then turned to head back into the forest. She suddenly felt very tired, as the reality of what was happening slowly sank in. But that was all the more reason to make haste, no matter how drained her muscles may have felt. If their only hope of survival was to convince the Imperial Lord to work together with the Rangers, then they would find a way to convince him. They had too.
If someone had told her even just a brief time ago that this would someday be her quest, she would have thought them taken with madness. It seemed that the most desperate of times did indeed make for the strangest of bedfellows.