Two cultures in two different worlds from two different realms… one has control over magic, while the other has mastery over science… now the question is, what will happen if the two realms meet. Find out in this story, a Familiar of Zero Fanfiction story, magic vs. science! A lot of OCs plus a time difference, and do not forget to review.
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
Winston Churchill
Chapter 3 – The Race for Halkeginia
Part 1:
The Kremlin, Moscow
October 5, 2010 AD
Martius 20, 6077 AB
It has been eight days since the Americans (and the Russians) discovered the new world. No one really knows what is there, but one thing is for sure, Russia will put a human, a Russian, on its land.
Russia is notorious for having many number ones in the past like the first satellite, the first man on orbit, and the first spacewalk. The only time the Russian number one streak was broken was when the Russian space program failed to catch up with American rocketry. However, this time the race to Halkeginia is not like the one in the moon because this race does not need jumbo-sized rockets.
In the heart of the Russian government - the minister of defense, the director of SRV, scientific analysts, and the leader of the Russian Federation was present in that room. Yesterday, thirty hours ago, a military transport plane from Vilyuchinsk arrived in Moscow and with it is one of the most confidential documents of the day, the data about the discovery of Halkeginia and once the two high ranking officials of the submarine fleet and there 'secret documents' reach Moscow, immediately and without wasting time, Vice-Admiral Alexei Valpozy and Capt. Karovy Sivylovsky went into the Ministry of Defense.
At first, the documents were largely neglected and ignored by the Russian Minister of Defense, Minister Dmitri Vandropov. Utterly disappointed by the minister's actions, the two men dragged the SRV director into the mess.
Once his team scanned and analyzed the data, the minister was left with no choice. He looked at the data himself. A few hours later, a significant change in the reaction of the face of the minister of defense became apparent. Without thinking otherwise or asking himself with questions like maybes and what-ifs, the minister immediately picked up the telephone in his table and called the highest man of the entire Russian Army, the commander-in-chief and President of the Russian Federation, Vladimy Patin.
Now back to the present time, the most prominent names as well as the hidden personas or the people behind the curtain, running the government using backhanded and under the table tactics, begin to appear in the meeting hall. Then, where is this meeting hall located, well it is located under the Kremlin, hundreds of meters deep, and is one of the most reliable nuclear, biological, and chemical proof buildings in the world.
"I still have so many things to do in my office, troubles like NATO. Now, Minister Vandropov, what's the problem?" the President asked him.
"Mr. President, we have stumbled upon something, something vital for the national interest of the motherland, while conducting an espionage mission in a Japanese/American military exercise, our submarines have managed to capture one scene that could change the world as well as mother Russia forever!" the minister proudly talked to the president of Russia. Immediately, he picked up a laptop from his bag, opened it, and then connected the computer to the general mainframe.
"I invite you, my comrades, to read all these files closely. It doesn't matter to me how long these meetings will last, but I am sure, with these kinds of information within our grasp. Without even the United States knowing that we have taken some of their intel," the minister immediately pressed the enter button. Soon, a large loading bar appeared in all the monitors of the room.
"Are you really sure that these documents could change Russia?" the president asked.
"Without a doubt, Mr. President!" he replied.
Left and right, discussions and debates began to flare up inside the room. While the scientific departments quite amazed about the find and the security and intelligence agencies checking the documents back and forth, the President, on the other hand, was scratching his head, wondering whether such an event is even plausible.
"Captain Sivylovsky, what did you see with your periscopes at that time? I wish to know everything directly from your mouth." The President dropped down all the documents in his hand and began to stare with curiosity to the submarine commander.
"While the Japanese and the Americans were conducting their military exercise, my submarine conducted an espionage mission. Our mission is to observe the Japanese and the Americans. At first, everything went well, my submarine was not detected, and we are observing them at close range. Then there was this incident, and at first, I thought it was a hoax or something, but when I checked the radar, nothing was there."
"When I looked at my periscope, we noticed that they were gone. The only thing I can observe during that time was the conversations done between the airbase and the two pilots." The captain said.
"Failed to be detected by radar, and no one can see it. Plus, there is this script. This one is very peculiar too." The president said. "Now tell me, in your opinion, is this an orchestrated plot or just pure coincidence."
'This is all just pure coincidence. As far as I see it, the Americans don't have the technology to make anything disappear. I also capture the entire event at that time, and I can assure you, Sir, something happened out there, and I happened to see it with my own two eyes," the captain said.
"I see, so now the next question. What can you say about this solar eclipse and green orb? Can a solar eclipse manage to open up a hole between two places, like a wormhole or things like that?" The president asked him.
"In my opinion, I think you are right, Mr. President!" the captain nod.
"If you are right on this one, then the last question, if we launch an expedition to this new world of yours, would it be possible for us to make a temporary settlement in that world?" the president asked.
"If that is the case, then I think it is possible." The captain said.
"Ok, now Ms. Catherine, can I ask you a question?" the President asked one of his subordinates. Ms. Catherine or Dr. Catherine is the director of a scientific and research facility in Siberia.
"What is it, Mr. President?" the woman asked.
"When will the next total eclipse, and is it going to happen here in Russia?" the president asked.
"Well, if you are asking for a total eclipse, then the next one would be in June of the next year, somewhere in Siberia." The woman answered.
"Well then, I, the President of the Russian Federation, at this moment, announce the next classified project of the Russian Federation. In June, we will launch an expedition to that world and build a settlement." The president said.
"But Sir, I know an eclipse that is happening sooner than this eclipse; however, it would be a partial eclipse, and it is going to take place in Europe and the western part of Russia. We can use our Black Sea Fleet and conduct an exercise there to cover up our operations." One of the scientists in the Murmansk Facility said.
"Use the Black Sea Fleet and perform an exercise while we conduct our top-secret mission there, I don't want it. If we manage to spy on the Americans during a military exercise, there is a greater chance that their spying apparatus would catch us." The President said.
"I do not want the NATO knowing that we have managed to learn this, and we are conducting a top-secret operation. I want this mission to be as top-secret as we possibly can. Therefore, it is much better if we perform it this time in Russia, and we shall wait for a total eclipse, I have a feeling that a partial eclipse would not give us good results. Now, who's with me?"
"If that is your decision, Mr. President, then you have my approval." The Prime Minister said, and soon the Deputy Prime Minister agree to the terms made by the President.
"If the President has made up his mind, then I would like to agree as well." The Minister of Defense raised his right arms.
Seeing the three of the highest officials of the Russian Federation raising up their arms in approval to the President, soon after, all of the officials from the scientific and research, intelligence, financial, and local branches of the Russian government show up signs of approval by raising up their hands.
Finally, the Russians made had made up their mind, and on June 1, 2011, Russia will and shall put Russian soldiers in Halkeginia.
Part 2:
Shanghai
December 3, 2010 AD
Maius 18, 6077 AB
Two months have passed. America, on its military endeavors in the Middle East, is facing a dilemma.
Tensions in the Middle East, especially with Iran, are rising high enough that war could explode at any moment. Thankfully, the Russians and the Chinese were mediating the conflicts between the countries, easing up the tensions.
On the Russian side, everything is at ease. While the government is trying to ease up the conflicts in its southwestern and western borders (the Middle East and Ukraine), the government, in itself, is secretly improving everything inside Russia. A massive construction and buying spree is taking place in the country. Infrastructures and industrial complexes of the country are currently being changed and improved from the ground up.
The Chinese, however, were not so eased up. Government insurrections and internal conflicts within the communist party plus the democratic strives in Hong Kong are making a volatile atmosphere in the Chinese mainland.
Its military, which is, yes, the biggest army in the world, is also the most disorganized of the three superpowers. While it's competing to be the top military in the world, its militarization efforts are creating disturbances in Eastern and Southeastern Asian regions. And inside China, high-ranking officials in both the military and civilian sides, not all though, are corrupt.
Embezzling funds, accepting bribes, and money laundering are enormous problems in China. The world, after all, has just recovered from the Great Recession of 2008-09. Although it is not the worst-hit country, they are suffering big problems within the state.
There is a mentality in the Chinese government and military which is very corrosive to its overall power, a nobody in China could become an influential man tomorrow if you have friends in the party or if you could appease the communist party or a powerful man in China today could become a very hopeless man if you angered the communist party.
An excellent example of this incompetence, disorganization, and conflicts in the Chinese military is this. Two weeks ago, a Senior Colonel from the Chinese military installation in Zhejiang, tired of waiting for when will the Eastern Naval Headquarters in Shanghai will make a move and send the documents to Beijing. Senior Colonel Zhe Jiang was tired of waiting for reactions (and his promotion); completely ignored the whole chain of command of the Chinese military and directly, he made a report and submitted it to the most powerful man in China, the Chinese Head of State and the leader of the communist party, President Xing Jiangping.
The new President of the People's Republic of China.
In his office in Beijing, the leader of China was quite shocked when he read the report made by Jiang. Reading the summary of the report four times, just to make sense of what he was reading, he found out that the report was made two months ago.
"This reports that you have submitted is vital to the national interest of the People's Republic of China. Why hasn't this report been given to me immediately?"
The President was furious. He knows that this report or discovery could change the fate of the nation at large.
"Almost seven weeks ago, I submitted this file to Major General Tao Zhou. After I figured out that he wasn't able to submit this file directly to Beijing… to you Sir, in the name of my loyalty to the Party and the State, I send this letter on my own accord, just to inform you about what happened on that day," the man's word flattered the President. Immediately, he placed down the documents and looked at his 'new trusty' official.
"I will have this document checked by our scientific department to analyze and try to think about what decision we should do about this discovery of yours." The President grabbed a book on his shelf and looked at the list of military leaders in the Chinese east coast.
He read the 'who placed this man on his position' part of the table. After looking for it, he soon manages to find out that this man, together with the lieutenant generals and the general of the Eastern coast, was placed and appointed by one of his political enemies and his closest rival in the head of state title, Jing Niangping.
"It seems that we need to change this nation from the inside out." President Jiangping stood in front of a map of China, reminiscing, as he remembers the cut-throat politics in the party. "I need to remove this useless heads and change the party from within."
"I shall answer any of your questions immediately, Mr. President,"
"Do you anything about some kind… any kind of crimes these people above have made? If all I have are corrupt and useless people below me, its not a bad thing if I boot them out for their corruption. And if you do, I will reward you by turning you into a general, and maybe even let you do your own projects… you can be the director and manager of this incoming national project," the president said.
Hearing all those offers, the senior colonel of the Zhejiang province was simply mesmerized. Not even wasting a second, the colonel immediately bowed down his head. "Yes, Mr. President, I shall prove to you my usefulness." The man quickly packed up his things into his bag and stood up in front of the President after.
"I expect excellent results." The president said.
"Yes, Mr. President, I shall show you excellent results by rooting out the traitors of the military. Now then, I request to leave your room, Sir!" the man saluted the President.
"Go… and while you're doing your work, I shall send these documents of yours to be analyzed." The President turned his back and looked at his window with a smile on his face. Moments later, the senior colonel leaves his office with a huge smile.
"Let's see what will this new world has to offer!" the president looked at the sky from his window, looking at it very sternly.
Part 3:
Joint Base Andrews
December 14, 2010 AD
Maius 29, 6077 AB
Snow is falling from the sky, its winter in New Jersey. The people there were busy dealing with their equipment. So too is the US army. It has been almost two and a half months since the two F-15s flew over the skies of Tristain. Seven days after celebrating the 69th pre-emptive bombing in Pearl Harbor, personnel in the base were preparing to load the military transport planes with their cargoes.
Along with the hangars of Andrews Airforce Base, 4 C-15B Galaxy, and 6 C-17 Globemaster, were standing. No one in the base really knows what or where these cargoes will go, but one thing is clear, whatever the air force is doing, it's classified. Along with them are Special Forces from an unknown branch of the army. They do not have dog tags; their names were not printed in their uniforms except for these weird tags in their uniforms like Mike432 or something like that. In addition to the peculiarity, they always wear helmets anywhere they go, so no one in the base really knows who they are.
The army called them stormtroopers. These stormtroopers are specialized in dirty and under-the-table transactions. No one really knows what they're doing there, but one thing is clear, all of these planes are going to fly from the US to Aviano Air Base in Italy early in the morning.
One of these stormtroopers was Command Sergeant Major Giles and Command Sergeant Major McWalden. After discovering this brand new world, CSM Giles and CSM Mcwalden were promoted into these promotions, and under the contract that they signed with the commander-in-chief, they could be promoted into General, overseeing the American operations in this new world. Now as commanding officer of the American expedition forces, they were ordered by the President not to show their faces to anyone and that they should keep these operations to be secret to the rest of the world.
"Giles, I never thought we would ever reach this kind of rank. Once we reach that world, we will be automatically promoted as Generals." McWalden said.
"McWalden, don't be cocky about that. We still don't know if that kind of operation would even work in the first place." Giles began to open up his helmet.
"This is just amazing; the US was able to conduct operations like this in the space of two months," McWalden said. Soon, inside his helmet, a video feed began to appear with a man in the monitor. It was the Secretary of Defense.
"Boys, I know you are pretty excited in your first mission as CSM, but let me remind you two one more time… this is the real deal. The government has wasted almost 4 billion dollars in these operations alone, and that includes the planes and the equipment. Don't fail your country boys."
Soon the live video feed was cut.
'Yes, Sir," the two men answered.
Part 4:
Tristain
Maius 26th, 6077 AB
December 11, 2010 AD
The civil unrest calmed down two months ago. Now, in the meantime, life is back to normal. Merchants sell their goods in the market. The citizens bought their products. And the various classes inside the state lives as they should be.
However, in the Ornieles estate, one structure is dominating the featureless land. It was the Université Ornières (Ornières University). This building was commissioned by the duke of Ornières and the duke of the Valliere, which was ten months ago. At first, the construction of this building was slow, and only a few fundings coming from the monarchy was coming in to assist them. The only financial support this construction has is the income and wealth of the Valliere and the Orniele/Hiraga.
However, after the 'steel dragon' incident, according to a meeting a few days ago, the best way to fend off any hostilities from the other side is to adapt and rely more on science and technology while improving magic with science.
Everyone agreed. Everyone knows how powerful the military of the other is. An excellent and concrete example of that comparison of firepower is the Great Dragon's rampage in Halkeginia. Back then, all of the Halkeginian forces have been deployed on one spot, and they only manage to make a small dent on the great dragon. Even the Ostland, with its howitzer, only managed to do a bit of damage more than the fleet. It only managed to make cracks on the dragon's armor.
If Saito and his mediocre F-2 plane, which made massive damages on the dragon's armor, how much more is an airforce full of even more advanced airplanes and weaponry that this?
This has become a dilemma for Halkeginia.
If a single and old model F-2 manage to slay that great dragon, how about an entire squadron of those planes and maybe even better than F-2s.
What if they were to invade Halkeginia and its nations?
It will end up in a one-sided battle, with the Earthlings on the winning side.
After that meeting, the budget and the workforce necessary for building the research and science facility expand exponentially. Not only that, all scholars from all the five major countries and even from the Elven nations began to flock into the Orneiles estate. In a blink of an eye, the featureless land, the edge of Tristain, has become the first industrial city in the realm.
"Saito, what are you planning?" Louise asked his husband.
"After thinking about it for some time, at first I thought that I should encourage people in Halkeginia to study science and technology. That is what I thought about first. Now, after what happened a month ago, I think I should bring the technology from my homeland here. I have a bad feeling that in the future, my world will somehow find a way to come here into this planet… and I know what my people could do." His husband said nonchalantly.
"Don't forget Saito that I am still here for you. You don't need to force yourself to do everything. Don't tire yourself, my love, ok?" his wife, Louise, trying to comfort his husband.
His husband, who is worried about a possible invasion.
"But still, I feel responsible for this. I feel that if I do nothing, in the end, I will see everything burning down to the ground." The boy said.
"Don't be that serious; I think everything will go alright. You don't need to push yourself!" Louise began to increase the volume of her voice.
In an attempt to hammer those words into his husband's mind.
A mind entirely frustrated from all those sleepless nights.
"Louise, you can still use the world door spell of yours, right?" Saito asked his wife.
"Yes, why?" his wife asked.
"I think it's time to introduce the technology of the locomotive and steam technology here into this world." Saito boldly made a declaration. "When we are ready, Louise, can we use that spell again, I have to go to my homeworld. We need to do something there."
"What do you want to do there, Saito?" Louise bowed down her head in agreement.
"Its time to play catch up with my world." Saito looked at his wife. "But first, we need to prepare ourselves."
"This time, we're going back there for the sake of the future of Halkeginia."
Part 5:
Somewhere in the skies between Austria and Hungary
January 11, 2011 AD
Iunius 27, 6077 AB
After three weeks of waiting finally, the planes were starting their mission. From there base in Aviano Air Base in Italy, after 400 kilometers of flying in the sky, finally, the ten planes are in position at the center of an eclipse.
And as expected, the eclipse has begun. Slowly, but surely, the moon slowly cripes into the sun, however, because of it is a partial eclipse, the moon is slightly lower and covers only 3/4 of the sun, but the darkness in the sky didn't even bother the aviators along with 100 personnel and 650 tons of cargo.
Expecting the green hole will appear in the middle of the eclipse, the planes were circling in the possible coordinate where the center of the eclipse should be. A few minutes later, a minute away from the peak of the eclipse, the two commanders of this mission, Giles and McWalden established communications with mainland United States, together with Air Force One, which is flying not that far away from the formation of ten transport planes and three CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters.
"This is the president of the United States of America. I will be observing this task, and I hope for the complete success of this mission. I am watching this event with great interest. Make me proud, boys, make the nation proud." The president said.
"Yes, Sir… without a doubt, we will make this mission a big success." CSM Giles said.
"But, President, I have one thing to tell you before this thing will proceed." The scientist said.
"And what is it?" the President asked.
"This is a partial eclipse, and the last time was a total eclipse… I think we may not succeed this time… We have a probability rate of 0.01% here. That is why I must tell you again, Sir, do not expect too much in this mission." The scientist said.
"Ok, well, whatever." The President answered in the manner as if he just shrugged it off and wholly ignored the scientist's warning.
"Well then boys, the eclipse is going to happen in less than ten seconds. Good luck, and may God bless us all." And that was the last thing the president said before he cuts off the communication.
Ten seconds
Nine
Eight
Seven
Six
Everyone was watching a historical event with pure excitement. Even the president personally looked at the radar screen to monitor the success of the mission.
Five
Four
Three
Two seconds left. Anxiety filled the room. CSM Giles cannot wait any longer, so he rushed into the cockpit and looked for the telltale signs of that green wormhole.
One
Zero…
…
…
…
…
…
Thirty seconds
One Minute
Two minutes
Four minutes
Ten minutes
And the eclipse was over… and not even a pinhole-sized green tunnel-like wormhole appeared. Everyone looked at the radar with disappointment.
The mission was a failure.
-End of Chapter-
In this story, a total solar eclipse is required to travel from Earth to Halkeginia. The first attempt is a failure, but this won't be the last attempt. The mission failed. All those powerful men, governing America behind the scenes (I am not a conspiracist, I am just using their ideas to put some more elements in my story) would be very disappointed. Anyway, America would not give up, not yet. The problem is the next eclipse, a total solar eclipse, would take place in Russia and China.
China is making its own move. However, the Chinese will take a step immediately, just like what the Americans and Russians do. Instead, they will do it slowly.
The Halkeginian Industrial Revolution is coming. The arms race between Halkeginia and Earth will begin soon.
Will you guess it, its Russia. Russia will be the first nation to put a human in Halkeginia. I wonder what the Russians will do when they reach Halkeginia. It's for everyone to answer that question.
Do not worry, I am also planning to try to involve the EU/NATO, and even Japan later in my story. Remember, the national standing for the top superpower will not be permanent. I wonder how I would involve other countries into this mess that is the expansion of humanity to Halkeginia.
And oh yes, the stormtroopers, yes I borrowed them from star wars, and they are one of the best Special Forces Division there is on the United States Army, and yes with a full platoon of them are planned to become the first human settlers in Halkeginia.
No more time difference.
Now, here are the calendar amendments.
Since I am following a calendar similar to the Julian calendar, I will be making changes on the calendar format (although the only differences on it are only its names since I'm using the Julian calendar after 45 BC format).
These are the months, the day lengths, and their equivalent calendar names in the modern calendar.
Ianuarius – January – 31 days
Februarius – February – 28 days (29 on leap years)
Martius – March – 31 days
Aprilis – April – 30 days
Mauis – May – 31 days
Iunius – June – 30 days
Quintilis – July – 31 days
Sextilis – August – 31 days
Septilis – September – 30 days
Octilis – October – 31 days
Nonatilis – November – 30 days
Decatilis – December – 31 days
Well, it is quite similar to the usual Julian calendar. The day lengths are the same. However, since Halkeginia is not the Roman Empire, I made changes in the names of the months. Instead of Iulius, I named it Quintilis (the fifth month), Augustus to Sextilis (sixth month), September to Septilis (the seventh month), October to Octilis (the eighth month), November to Nonatilis (the ninth month) and December to Decatilis (the tenth month).
AD or Anno Domini will represent Earth reference time while AB or After Brimir will represent Halkeginian reference time. The Halkeginian calendar will also be 195 days behind Earth's timeline. So if the date in Halkeginia is Ianuarius 1, 6077 AB, then Earth date will be July 16, 2010 AD. And if the Earth date is January 1, 2010 AD, Halkeginian date will be Iunius 17, 6076 AB.
Finally, there is ArchimedesAckermann. I thank him for providing me the foundations and the ideas of my new story, my fourth story so far. I give him credits for this story, thank you.
Next update will be next Saturday, February 15.
And last but not least, I am sorry for the bad grammar. It irritates me all the time. I hope you understand.
Thank you for reading When Two Worlds Collide...