Italica, Alnuska Province, Special Region
0440 hours
"Open fire!" Konrad commands the Third Recon Platoon to shoot the bandits.
Equipped with Night Vision Goggles, the Third Recon Platoon personnel that were on the west side of the gate immediately pull the trigger right away and let a hundred bullets come out from the rifle and enter the bandit's body, taking their life away.
As Piña just arrived at the vantage point to fight off the bandits with his bow and arrows, she was shocked by what she just saw.
The weapon that was used by the other-worlders.
Piña could see how those weapons work, the bandits died easily right after they got shot by the other-worlders weapons. At that time, she realized it again. This is the same weapon that killed so many brave soldiers of the Empire alongside Arpilae, Durosbiaca, and other Kingdoms in Alnus Hill.
"Fuck! That's the other-worlders magic wand! Everyone we charge into the Italica now!" Neuman shouted, followed by an energetic yell from his fellow bandits.
"Блять! Капитан, они приносят таран! (Blyat! Kapitan, oni prinosyat taran!/Fuck! Captain, they bring a battering ram!)." Kalashnikov said after he saw some bandits push a battering ram towards Italica's west gate through the binoculars.
"Sergeant Katsumoto! Use the RPG-29 to destroy the battering ram unit! Kalashnikov, Сколько из них?(Skol'ko iz nikh?/How many are them?)" Tikhomirov ordered Katsumoto to take out the bandit battering ram unit.
"Yes, sir!" Katsumoto replied, obeying his order.
Katsumoto quickly goes to the BTR-82 where the RPG-29 is stored, the armoured vehicle is parked between the MaxxPro and Komatsu LAV, after all, it is the only rocket launcher that Third Recon Platoon brought. Then, he takes the tube launcher and some of the OG-29 ammo and returns to the vantage point.
"Katsumoto! Regroup with Kalashnikov now! He will guide you to the coordinate of those battering rams!"
After Tikhomirov said that, Katsumoto immediately goes to the position where Kalashnikov was.
"There you are, Katsumoto!"
"Where are those enemy battering ram units located?" Katsumoto asked Kalashnikov.
"Alright, it's on..." Kalashnikov tries to locate again the location of the unit they intend to destroy, "West bearing 120! 320 meters, 0.2 miles!" he said while pointing it with his hand so Katsumoto would understand.
Katsumoto aim the RPG-29 at the battering ram unit in the west, throughout his NVG, he could see one battering unit and two huge Ogres that are pulling trebuchets with their bodies.
"Alright, watch my back first..." Katsumoto said as he checked his back so that when he shot the rocket launcher, no one is behind him, "これを食べて！(Kore o tabete!/Eat this!)" he happily shouted while pulling the rocket launcher trigger.
From the distance, from the west side of the city, Myuute and her friends could see how fast the RPG projectile fly in their fellow bandits' direction. In a blink of an eye, she could see the battering ram unit get destroyed while the two ogres with trebuchets lose their balance and fell to the ground, making it hard for the bandits to adjust the weapon again.
"Did...did they have mastered the explosion spell?" Tethrirn said in a scared tone.
Then, an explosion can be heard again from the direction where the battering ram unit is destroyed. Tethrirn could see that now the Ogre's head are now torn into pieces.
"Not really tough after you fall to the ground, huh?" Konrad said after he uses the M203 on his M4A1, it was revealed that it was him who kill the ogres.
To Konrad's left, he could see Piña, Bozes, and some of the Italica militants mesmerized with their mouths gaping after looking at the weapon used by the American, Russian, German, and Japanese soldiers. For him, it's just a regular weapon, but at the same time, he realizes that these people have never seen this kind of weapon.
But to maintain seriousness in this battle, Konrad quickly snaps Piña and her companions to keep an eye on the enemy, "What are you all doing?! Use your arrow to fend away those bandits!" he said as he pointed at the enemy.
"A-ah! Alright!" Piña said as she immediately pull the bowstring and release the arrow. Even though she couldn't see it, her arrow successfully hit one of the bandit's head, right on its forehead and go through its brain, "Use your arrows now!" she ordered her fellow Rose Knights and the Italica militants and guards to use the bow and arrow to fight off the bandits.
Seeing arrows from the Italica side are now raining onto the bandits, Myuute quickly uses her wind abilities to deflect them.
"Missed!" Myuute shouted at them.
"Now let's make this thing quick..." Larvynne said as she now cast a flame projectile spell with her hand, the flame ball floating on his hand and the same size as a basketball, she then release it towards Konrad and Piña direction.
"Watch out!" Konrad said as he looks at the flame ball that Larvynne threw.
Konrad, Campbell, Woods, Tikhomirov, Kalashnikov, Katsumoto, Piña, Bozes, and the other Italica militants and guards quickly dodge the projectile. Fortunately, they're all safe, but the impact of the explosion can be seen on the destroyed wall, and it's very destructive as it disconnected the way to the north side of the Italica gate wall.
"It worked! Heh heh...now let's see how could you avoid this!" Larvynne shouted in a cocky tone as she starts to throw another blue flame projectile.
"Gotcha!" Katsumoto said.
Katsumoto quickly shot the flame projectile with the RPG-29. Thankfully, both the projectile of the blue flame ball that Larvynne use and the OG-29 from RPG-29 exploded in the air after they hit at the same time. Making Larvynne's attack prevented.
"Impossible..." Larvynne was shocked as she could see that the other-worlders could counter her projectile.
"Hey! Don't just sit in there, help us to-" before Stanhope could finish his words at Larvynne, he was already dead after Kudashov shot his head with his DXL-5 Lobaev sniper rifle. Not only that, his death was followed by the death of another four bandits. Of course, this makes Neuman shocked.
Although the casualties right now are heavier on the Cobalt Pincers' side, they are still motivated enough to charge the enemy because of how outnumbered the other-worlders are. They also know that not for long, the other-worlders will be out of "arrows" and "explosive arrows".
"Do not give up, everyone! Remember, we still outnumbered them!" Neuman said as he raises his sword. Then, with a little effort, he banged the Italica west gate with the grip of his sword.
"Oh for fuck sake..." Konrad curses as he looks that the bandits haven't given up, "Campbell, Woods, escort the civilians to the centre of the city! Katsumoto, Kalashnikov, you two alongside me and Tikhomirov will hold this line!" he said as he continue to fire his M4A1 at the bandits.
On the right side of Konrad, he could see that Tikhomirov could easily fend off thirty bandits while doing Tetsudo formation with his AK-12, even though he only could kill twelve of them, the other eighteen are injured because the 5.45x39mm hit their chest, stomach, legs, or even worse; their pelvis area too.
0450 hours
"Feel de Stroom vun dissen MINIMI, du Domms! (Feel the power of this MINIMI, you pigs!)" Weidemann cursed as he rapidly shot at one hundred bandits in front of him with his FN MINIMI Mk3 at the north side of the Italica gate.
"Goddamnit, there's so many battering rams they have!" Baker said as he destroys the enemy unit with Mk 153 SMAW II Serpent one by one.
"Oh great, what's next?" Itami was shocked when he see another large artillery that these bandits brought.
But no, it is not artillery.
Instead...
It's five Lindwurm, walking towards the gate alongside some of the ogres with trebuchets and battering ram units.
"Baker! How many rockets do you still have?" Itami asked.
"Six rockets left!" Baker answered.
"Good! Reload it quickly and target that...uh...huge tortoise!" Itami ordered Baker while pointing at where the "tortoise" was located.
Baker quickly shot in the direction that Itami pointed with the Mk 80 SMAW-NE rockets. Result? When one of the Lindwurm open its mouth, the rockets entered it and make the creature's head explode.
The bandits who were riding at the Lindwurm back completely lose balance and make them all fall to the left side where the ogres are. Just like a domino, when those bandits fall to the ground, the ogre and the trebuchet also fall down.
"Ogre! Stop!" said one of the bandits, "Everyone, put that boulder now in here!"
"Sir Weidemann! They start to use the trebuchet!" Torrigg said as he looked at the bandits who now try to load the trebuchet with something. After he said that, the bandits starts to use a ladder to climb up the wall, he quickly chops the ladder with his axe and then pushes it so the enemy couldn't enter.
Twelve bandits push the stone boulder into the trebuchet pouch. After the boulder is inside, they quickly pull the rope and make the weight on the trebuchet fall, so that the boulder that was inside the pouch is thrown.
"Scheiße (Shit)..." Weidemann looks at the huge rock boulder that flying towards them, "Boulder incoming!" Weidemann alerted his team.
Weidemann, Itami, Baker, Belikov, Torrigg, Panache, and Solar try to avoid the boulder by jumping onto the left and right, but since the rock is too huge, it hit the wall and just like what happened in Konrad's unit location, the path to the west side is split up and the boulder land near one of the civilian's house.
"That was close..." Weidemann said as he adjusted his M92 helmet, then he gets up and starts shooting again as if nothing happened.
"Hey, are you okay?" Belikov asked Panache.
"Y-yeah...I'm fine."
"Everyone! We need to fall back, now!" Weidemann said after he see that almost one thousand bandits have overwhelmed the north gate.
"What? We need to defend this wall you cowa-"
Norma's head was suddenly embedded by an arrow, killing him instantly.
From a distance, it appears that the one who kills Norma is a female moon elf named Myriil Elt'll. She joins the Cobalt Pincers with her moon elf groups.
"I can see it, Myriil! You successfully kill that Rose Knights!" Saevos Ekro'n said while laughing alongside the other moon elves and some dwarves.
"Yeah, but I still need to kill that other-worlders soldier..." Myriil said as she looks at Weidemann who still shooting with his MINIMI machine gun.
But, before Myriil even could shoot her arrow at Weidemann, she see that he already leave the scene.
"Hmm...maybe I could kill him right after the gate opened."
"Omk alle, EDIN! (Come on everyone, attack!)" Challu Areth, the leader of the moon elf group in Cobalt Pincers, commands all of his elves in his native language.
"Konrad! When will our reinforcements arrive?" Weidemann asked.
"-ETA around 25 minutes!-" Konrad answered.
"They better come faster!" Weidemann complained while escorting the remaining Rose Knights, Italica Guards, militants, and civilians to the safe place. But before that, he tries to carry Norma's corpse, even though he knows that this guy is an asshole, but at least he has the courage to defend the front line till the end, and also its been our tradition to bury someone's corpse properly no matter what side or role that he or she has.
Outside the west side of the gate, the bandits start to hit the wooden gate with the battering ram.
To prevent more of them enter the city, Baker volunteered to defend the west side by himself, fortunately, the Stryker is positioned here right after his squad is placed on this side of the city.
Baker quickly climbs onto the Stryker and enters the gunner position that was placed with M2 Browning .50 BMG.
"Let's see how could you all survive...with this .50 BMG." Baker said.
Sees that Baker stay in his position, Weidemann orders Itami, Tomita, Belikov, Kerry, Kramer, and Kirstein to hold the position with him, and orders Panache to escort the civilians to the centre of the city.
After the battering ram successfully destroys the wooden gate, the bandits start to pull back the ram and begin to swarm inside.
"But they begin to stop after they see seven other-worlders soldiers standing still in front of them.
"Oh, hello." Baker greets them, waving his hands, and then starts to pull the charging handle from the Browning, "And goodbye."
Before they could even react; the .50 BMG, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 5.45x39mm bullets starts to penetrate their body armour. Entering their body like their skin is made of paper and going through their internal organs. Killing almost ninety bandits in the process.
"W...what kind of magic is that?" Challu confused.
48 km (30 miles) from Italica...
0540 hours
Captain. Michael Bellrichard looks in the direction where Italica is located. He could see that the lands below him are full of meadows, wheat fields, trees, small villages with houses and windmills, and roads that are made of dirt and some stones.
"Man...it reminds me of Kansas..." Bellrichard said at his co-pilot, Lieutenant. Lionel Allen.
"Yeah, so many fields..." Allen replied, "You come from Kansas, Captain?"
"No. I'm from Nebraska. All my family live in Sidney, near the Colorado border. I'm going to visit them after this mission is finished, just got permission to have a paid leave from Major McFisher."
"You have?"
"Yes. He approved it after I asked for it about like two weeks ago. Cause I have been in this unknown world for five months, my family must've missed me. Fortunately, I got two weeks bonus because I participated in this war."
"Damn, I hope I could get that bonus too." Allen said, "Well then, let's finish this mission together, Captain." he added to cheer up his Captain.
"Let's do it." Bellrichard added.
Behind Bellrichard's UH-60M; there are four Apaches, four Chinooks, five Black Hawks, one Havoc, one Hokum, three Hips, four Hinds, four H-60, and three Eurocopter Tigers that are following him. Not only that, the formation of the helicopters is decorated with a sunrise view, as the silhouette of all those helicopters merges with a golden sun and violet skies. If there's a photographer that is in front of this ITFA helicopter's formation, it would be good for Apocalypse Now remake movie or some kind of rock album cover.
Below the helicopter squadrons, the ground forces with an element of the United States Army, Russian Ground Forces, and German Army are rolling out through the meadow and also avoiding the crop fields. The formation is led by Staff Sergeant. Deon Swanson, who's now commanding from M1A2 Abrams.
Besides Swanson's Abrams, there is a T-90MS and Leopard 2A7 commanded by his long friends since the joint military operation in Afghanistan, Starshiy Serzhant (Staff Sergeant). Sergei Maksimenko[1] and Oberfeldwebel. Noah Lauterbach.
"Just like old times..." Swanson said at Maksimenko and Lauterbach.
"Just like old times, Swanson." both Maksimenko and Lauterbach said at the same time.
"Alright. Remember the plan, everyone. Maksimenko, you turn left! Lauterbach, turn right! The scramble begins at...now."
Maksimenko's T-90 begins to turn left and leads some of the 70th SGMR and some of the 2nd GMRD to the north side of Italica while Lauterbach's Leopard 2 goes to the south side of Italica and leads some of the 1st BCT and 41st Panzerbrigade.
"Don't underestimate them..." Swanson still remembers what LtGen. Washington said regarding the enemy.
Italica, Alnuska Province, Special Region
0540 hours
On the west side of Italica, Rory starts to kill every bandits, ogre, and troll that are trying to reach the centre of the city from the south side with her halberd and the fire support of Kuwahara, Kuribayashi, Kurokawa, Anderson, Edwards, Montes, Kessikbayev, Batsarashkina, Mertesacker, and Viermetz.
Rory starts to laugh manically as the souls of warriors and creatures that fight in this battle are now entering her mind and ready to deliver them to Emroy.
"Do not worry, everyone! We could still weaken her if we attack her together!" said one of the bandits as he raised his sword and start charging at Rory.
"Oh no, you're not!" Rory mocks him as she spins her halberd and successfully decapitate twenty and five bandit's head.
"Superhuman...never thought I could see them with my own eyes!" Kuribayashi said as she fires her Type 20 at the bandits, then she found it very boring she kill the bandits by firing her weapon. So, she decides to put a bayonet below her rifle and starts to charge.
"Kuribayashi, wait!" Edwards said as she try to stop Kuribayashi, "Everyone! Ceasefire!" Edwards commands everyone to stop firing as he is afraid that the bullets will hit Kuribayashi.
A few seconds later after Kuribayashi's charge to the frontline, Batsarashkina alongside Rhaunza also follow her and begin to kill the bandits with their melee weapons.
"I-impossible! They also have an Orc on their side?" a bandit was confused as he did not understand why would an Orc want to protect Italica.
Rory looks at Kuribayashi, Batsarashkina, and Rhaunza; they both begin to give smile at each other and continue to fend off the enemy.
Then, Edwards receive a comms from Bellrichard.
"-Attention, all Third Recon Platoon, the helicopter support will reach Italica in five minutes. All personnel expected to fall back.-"
"Rory! Kuribayashi! Batsarashkina! Mertesacker! We need to fall back. Now!" Edwards shouted as he begins to run to the centre of the city.
"Ugghhh, but I was just having fun!" Rory said in a not satisfied tone, but she still obeys Edwards's command and retreated from the scene. While she runs on the roofs of houses with superhuman speed. Kuribayashi, Batsarashkina, and Mertesacker follow her.
"Looks like the other-worlders are trying to save themselves...and the apostle can't fight us alone! Charge brothers! Kill them! Regain our honour!" the bandit shouted while holding his axe with one hand.
Then, a strange sound appeared, which makes the bandit alongside his companions become confused and stop chasing.
"So those are the targets?" Praporshchik. Tsydenzhap "Tsoda" Chebotaryov asked while piloting his Mi-35P on the south side.
"The one who swarm the gate? Yeah, that's them." Bellrichard replied.
"Affirmative. Permission to open fire."
"Permission granted."
After being allowed to open fire, Chebotaryov push the button that is connected to the rocket pods to unleash the S-8 rockets. Two of the rockets start to fly towards the bandit and successfully kill one hundred and fifty of them alongside two ogres that were accompanying them.
"For all helicopter squadrons, this is Captain. Michael Bellrichard. You are all now allowed to open fire, but be careful with the friendlies inside the city." Bellrichard alerted the helicopter pilots and gunners.
On the north side, one Mi-28 alongside one AH-64 and one Eurocopter Tiger begins to annihilate every single bandit in their sight with the autocannons. Even though not all of the bandits are dead, some of them still got injured by the explosion's impact, but the ITFA didn't attack them twice because they do not intend to kill all of them, they need to apprehend the leader and some of their important members, especially the hybrid races.
"It's...it's...it's the flying metal dragon!" said one of the bandits, we could assume that he is one of those ex-Legionnaires, "RUN! SAVE YOUR LIFE!" right after he said that, all the bandits from the south side starts to retreat and try to leave Italica.
"-Echo Shark, this is Angara 1-1, should we kill those fleeing enemies?-" Angara 1-1, a call designation for the Ka-52 that participated in this battle, asking approval from the Echo Shark, a call designation for one of the Apaches.
"-No need to, either way, they would face something that would make them surrender themselves to us...-" Echo Shark answered, "-Ah, Foxtrot Shark. Take out those three trebuchets.-"
"-Roger that, Echo Shark.-"
When Tikhomirov's unit tried to run away from the scene, Rory accidentally slips off the roof.
"Rory!" Tikhomirov shouted when he looks at Rory who falls off the building.
Tikhomirov knew that she is immortal, but he still doesn't want her to get hurt, not because he loved her but because she already becoming his "ally" of him, so it is his job to protect her by any means necessary.
Preventing Rory to hit the ground, Tikhomirov quickly catches her and then starts carrying her in a bridal style. What he does not realise is that he carries Rory alongside her halberd which is considered heavy by the humans.
On the balcony of the second floor of the castle; Piña, Grey, James, Hamilton, Bozes, Panache, Beefeater, Martina, Shandy, Solar, and the remaining Rose Knights alongside Colt Formal's family, Italica Town Guards, Italica militants, and civilians could see the flying machines that were used by the Americans, Russians, Japanese, and Germans.
"I...it's...it's...IT'S A MONSTER!" Hamilton shouted when she reacted to the helicopters.
"Impossible! Those explosions work without mana?" Beefeater confused.
"Don't tell me...this is the 'cavalry' that Sir Tikhomirov told us about?" Count Formal remembered when Tikhomirov will call cavalry support to Italica.
"By the gods...is this...is this what made thousand of Empire soldiers die in Alnus Hill?" Bozes asked.
Then, they all look at the slow-flying Mi-35P and CH-47F Chinook with the Hind still shooting the bandits using the GSh-23.
Is this the end?
The day when Empire will actually fall?
Did her father just not think about who the Empire will fight from now on?
Piña couldn't find any perfect words to describe her worries, instead, she could only say, "We...we're done." she said while her bones are trembling. For her, she knows that not even dark races empires are strong like this, this is completely on a different level, "Oh...god...is this your punishment to us? Because we think so high and even dare to challenge you?"
Meanwhile, outside the city; Myuute and her friends could see the helicopters flying around the city, eliminating the bandits from the north, south, and west sides.
From Larvynne's eyes, she could see how the helicopters unleashed those missiles at the bandits. Just like what Beefeater thinks, she can't detect any single mana on that explosion and missile. She also realized that the explosion impact of the other-worlders weapons is greater than her fireball spell.
This reminds Larvynne about how her village is destroyed by the Deargdraco, one of the legendary flame dragons that reside in Falmart. She still remembers how that dragon annihilates almost all of her people, it's the same as this one.
But, during her visit to Emberminster. Where she and her new friends need to take a rest after successfully looting a carriage full of valuable items that are owned by the local Alnuska politician. She heard from one of the waitresses in the tavern that some other world soldiers managed to make the left arm of Deargdraco.
At first, Larvynne thinks that it's all just bullshit. Despite that, she actually wants to believe that story. But now, after she participated in this mission, the waitress in that tavern speaks the truth.
"W-we need to get back! We can't fight them!" Neinefru alerts her friends as the plan for Cobalt Pincers to loot Italica is failed, but before they start to run, a UH-60M stop above them.
Neinefru tries to resist the wind caused by the helicopter, but somehow, even if the wind is strong, she hasn't been thrown out yet by that. Then, she could hear a loud sound that come from the helicopter.
"-ATTENTION ALL COBALT PINCERS BANDIT. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED, IT WOULD BE BEST IF YOU DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDERED TO US! NO SUDDEN MOVE OR WE WILL TERMINATE ALL OF YOU!-" Col. Glover said via megaphone with a threatening tone from inside the UH-60M.
After Colonel Glover said that, the bandits could see that some of the helicopters are unloading the other-worlder soldiers. Then, when those soldiers reach the ground, they start to aim their weapons at them.
"Don't move!"
Seeing that there's no other choice, some of the bandits voluntarily be the first one who surrenders and raise their hand. This action is also followed by Myuute and her friends as they know it would be stupid to keep attacking them.
Behind all of the surrendered bandits, Neuman is frustrated that the other-worlders are able to call their backup and annihilate his group in a blink of an eye. He made the Cobalt Pincers for five months and become one of the fearest bandit groups in the continent, and now...it's all crumbling just in one day?
Consumed by his ego, Neuman makes a surprise attack on one of the ITFA soldiers with his dagger and targets the German soldier, "CURSE YOU!" he shouted in desperation.
In a quick reflex, Sergeant. Gabriel Reeves shoots Neuman with his M4A1 and then his lifeless body falls to the ground. When he walks closer to the Cobalt Pincer leader's corpse, he could see the expression of despair on the bandit leader after he moves its face with his boots.
Neinefru begins to cry after she saw how his leader died just in a second. She is afraid to die, but she also does not want her friends to die too. She just hopes that her friends obey what these strange soldiers ordered.
On the other side of the Italica, most precisely on the east side; Rholia alongside Thekas are amazed at what the ITFA helicopters can do to attack thousands of enemies.
Rholia still remembered what Rory said a few days ago. Not for long, something big will change in Falmart alongside this world and it can't be prevented, even the Empire itself.
Hotel Okura Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
0600 hours
Journalists, reporters, and cameramen from CNN, BBC, Fox News, Reuters, Associated Press, RT, TASS, French 24, Spiegel Online, CGTN, South China Morning Post, NHK, Chosun Ilbo, WION, Hindustan Times, Kompas, etc; are taking pictures of Japan Minister of Defense, Kazunori Kôzuke; Korea Ministry of National Defense, Kim Jong-un; and China Ministry of National Defense, Huang Dabao who stands in front of their respective country flags. Because it is the first time that Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of China are in one military alliance and cooperating in a huge military operation.
Many journalists are still skeptical about the American and South Korean government's decision to make the former North Korean Supreme Leader dictator become the Minister of Defense of Korea. But, since it's a huge day, where finally the three "dragons" from East Asia are teamed up, they choose to don't care about it. Not to mention, the journalists are also interested in how could Jong-un willing to give up his ambition on North Korea and prefer to reintegrate with the South, and also, today they would see the both Minister of Defense and commanders that will be deployed to the Special Region from the newly-reunited Korea and newly-reunited China.
"Good morning everyone." Kôzuke greets the attendants, "First, I want to say that I am grateful that everyone is willing to come to this meeting. Because, today, right now, at this time, we are making history. Japan, China, and Korea are historically always having conflict with each other since empire day; but now it can be prevented after we seek a truce and cooperation, especially after Prime Minister Hojō agree to pay the reparations for our war crimes in China and Korea." he added, "I hope that, with this cooperation and peace agreement, solidarity between the people of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean will last forever!"
Clapping began to rumble throughout the room after Kôzuke said that.
At the same time, in a different place. Precisely in Yokota Air Base. A PLAAF Xian Y-20B is unloading two Dongfeng Mengshi CSK-181. The plane itself is parked on the left side of the Korean Lockheed C-130J Hercules and Japanese Kawasaki C-2.
Inside the Yokota Air Base too; Lieutenant General Ronald Boswell, the commander of the Fifth Air Force of the United States Air Force alongside Lieutenant Colonel Jun Kurihama, the commander of the 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of Japan Air Self-Defense Force; is greeting the arrival of Chinese, Korean, Indian, Canadian, Rhodesian, Australian, New Zealanders, Hungarian, Polish, Serbian, Brazilian, and Indonesian troops with their commanders.
As the ITFA want to make a good promotional video about their members and what are they doing in the Special Region. A DJI Mavic 3 flying at the same height as those plane tails. We could see the camera recording the tail of the Chinese Y-20, Korean C-130, and Japanese C-2 to capture the roundel of each plane.
Then, different place but at the same time too, now in Yokosuka Naval Base; another DJI Mavic 3 recording the view of Nanchang 101, a Chinese Type-055 Renhai-class destroyer is parked between Yulgok Yi I, a Korean Sejong the Great-class destroyer and JS Maya, a Japanese Maya-class destroyer.
When all this starts to happen, not only Special Region that will change...but our Earth too...
Count Formal's Castle, Italica, Alnuska Province, Special Region
0620 hours
Princess Piña sits on her throne and stares into nothingness after what she just saw before. Well, the city isn't captured and they win the battle, but for her, the battle is won not because of her and her knights.
It's because of the help of the Americans, Russians, Germans, Japanese; and of course, Rory Mercury herself.
Piña starts to walk back and forth inside the throne room, because she doesn't know what will happen to her and her friends, and this city too. The other-worlders have a weapon that can outclass everyone in this world. They could possibly betray her alongside her allies right now.
"Princess, please, calm down!" Hamilton said.
"Calm down? How can I calm down if they could stab us in the back right now?" Piña yelled at Hamilton, then she takes a small breath again, "I...I don't know what I must do right now, those people have flying metal beasts that could pass the Italica wall, and...there is no way we could defeat them. They were stronger than us, and I...I'm afraid they going to betray us right now and want us to be their whores just for their pleasure!"
"Call me optimistic, but I think they wouldn't betray us, Princess. If they could, they would do that before the bandits' attacked the city." Beefeater said, trying to comfort her leader.
"And what if they do?"
"I'm sure they won't, Princess. What just Beefeater said was right, if they want to kill us, then they should've done it when they arrived in my city." Formal added.
"I can't believe it. Our first mission, our first battle, and it ended a humiliation like this, also, the other-worlders who should become our enemy are helping us and...stronger than us." Bozes said, she feels ashamed and scared at the same time.
Of all knights of the Rose-Order, it was Martina who is now become scared and shocked. She arrogantly has threatening to kill one of the other-worlders when they enter the castle, but now, she regrets that after she sees the true power of the other-worlders.
Fortunately for Martina, that's actually not their true power.
Before Piña could say more, Delilah and Mamina comes in.
"Your highness, the other worlders want to talk with you again." Delilah and Mamina said at the same time at Count Formal and Princess Piña. Piña confused as they talk so calmly in a time like this.
"Let them enter." Formal said.
Piña and Count Formal wait for the other worlders by still standing on the spot. When the door opened, twelve people enter the room which are Rory Mercury herself, two American soldiers, two Russian soldiers, two orcs, one high elf, one lizardwomen, one dwarf, one brunette girl, and one blue-haired girl. To her surprise, the same two magician girls that were with the other-worlders before the attack started.
Both Piña and Count Formal could see that Captain Konrad and Captain Tikhomirov are whispering to their colleagues. Then, the American soldier who talks with Konrad starts to speak up.
"Hello Princess Piña Co Lada, Count Colt Formal, my name is Colonel Christopher Glover of the 1st Infantry Division. This is my second-in-command, Colonel Kusma Lyutenkov from the 70th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade."
"Hello too, Colonel Christopher Glover and Colonel Kusma Lyutenkov. I am Count Colt Formal, ruler of this city and this is Princess Piña Co Lada, daughter of Emperor Molt, the leader of Augustus Empire." Count Formal said, maintaining his professionalism, "Please take a seat with us."
"Sure. Thank you." Colonel Glover said as now he alongside Colonel Lyutenkov and Lelei sit down. While Arpeggio alongside Captain Konrad and Captain Tikhomirov stands still.
"First of all, I want to thank you and your comrades to help us fend off the bandits and protect our city from them." Count Formal thanked them.
"Sorry for interrupting you, but we also couldn't do it without you, Count Formal. Not to mention, Princess Piña too. One of my lieutenants said you bravely go to the frontline and help my soldiers to fight off the bandits. The militants and the guards also deserve their credits too." Tikhomirov said.
Princess Piña feels relieved as the other-worlders are also grateful and respect that she helping them.
"But...it was you who do all things to stop the bandits..." Count Formal said.
"Like I said Count Formal, your people also protect this city. You should be very proud of them, Count." Colonel Glover said, "Oh, also, here are our terms." he added as he handed a high-quality paper to them that he took from his pocket.
This is it, the judgement time. After her mind is entangled here and there, she finally accepts any term she received, even if she needs to become their prisoner.
When Princess Piña and Count Formal look at the terms, they become confused as the list of terms that the other-worlders ask is so weird:
1. International Task Force Alliance allowed the selection of some prisoners. The rest will be taken care of by the Empire itself and they must be treated humanely.
2. Allowing trade between Italica city and Alnus Hill, under International Task Force Alliance and Formal's family policies. This means slaves are not allowed to be traded and needed to be freed.
3. Establishing a diplomatic outpost between Empire and ITFA in Italica.
4. Recognizing Alnus Hill and its 100 miles of its surrounding as an ITFA-controlled area.
"What's the meaning of this? This...this is what you call a 'terms'?" Piña said as she feels this is not a term, since there was no demand for slaves or treasure.
"Well, yeah. What's wrong with it?"
"Sorry to say this, Colonel Glover, Colonel Lyutenkov. These terms sound like you are the one who surrendered to us." Count Formal said, explaining in a simple way regarding Piña's feelings about these terms.
Count Formal's statement makes Colonel Glover and Colonel Lyutenkov confused, and that's when Lelei starts to talk.
"May I explain it to them, Colonels?" Lelei asked Colonel Glover and Colonel Lyutenkov, they both nodded, "Princess Piña, Count Formal. The tributes such as slaves or money charges are not what they want. Because enslavement in their world is considered a barbaric action and unethical."
Both Piña and Count Formal were shocked, how could a very strong and very civilized enemy like them consider enslavement as barbaric? Does this mean they're the ones who are uncivilized and barbaric?
"They are here to rescue their civilians who were captured by the Empire, and they decide to stay in this world to protect the gate. All of this is for their self-defence, they also want to have a peaceful resolution if there is one." Lelei finishes her explanation.
After hearing that, Piña and Count Formal were relieved that the other-worlders willing to have a peace treaty with them. But the question is, how long does it last?
Piña knows that they kept the other-worlders as slaves. She remembers it very well. But she can't do anything as her father doesn't want to release them, especially her older brother who was destined to be the next Emperor as he is a Crown Prince, her older brother has two other-worlders slaves that he sees as an exotic slave that cannot be acquired in this world.
But with this agreement, Piña could easily sneak those slaves and claimed them as 'prisoners of war' instead. But also, thanks to her overthinking mind, she is afraid that the captured other-worlders will keep blaming the Empire for this.
"If I may ask, what is your purpose for establishing a diplomatic outpost in Italica?" Hamilton asked.
Lyutenkov answers her question, "It is to allow both yours and our side to have a diplomatic channel. This also allowed you to work out deals and agreements between our side."
Leaving no other choice, and it's a good idea actually, Piña and Count Formal accept the terms, "I accept the terms."
All of Count Formal's family, Count Formal's personal maids, and Rose-Order of the Knights; are witnessing the agreement between the other-worlder army commanders with Piña and Count Formal.
Outside Italica, the bandits are rounded up by the other-worlder soldiers in order to keep them from fleeing the place...
...or to enslave them, but that's only them, the captured bandits, who think that of.
Myuute and all of her friends were ordered to sit down by one of the other-worlder soldiers. When her eyes look at the surrounding; she could see the soldiers talking to each other while looking at them, the townspeople cheering and congratulating the soldiers for protecting their city, and the flying beast that the other-worlder used now patrolling the city, just in case if there are still some bandits that willing to resist them again.
But what makes Myuute confused is why would these other-worlders want to take care of them such as patching up their wound and even giving them food and drinks? This is not the kind of action that they would expect from a very strong force, she expected that after they got rounded up, they will slaughter her and her comrades.
Then, Tikhomirov approached the two soldiers who guarded the captured bandits. The two soldiers are one Russian and one American.
Myuute alongside her friends shocked when Tikhomirov is accompanied by two Rose Knights, two orcs, one elf, one dwarf, and one lizardwomen. Does that mean the other-worlders have worked together with both the Empire and the local people?
"Hey, Sergeant!" Tikhomirov yelled at the Russian soldier.
"Yes, Comrade Captain?" answered the Russian soldier.
"Listen, since this is one of the agreement parts. I want you alongside your colleagues to bring the prisoner to the Alnus MOB." Tikhomirov said, "I want those groups, that group led by that female leader, those elves with blue and white attires, those three ex-legionnaires, that mage with orange attire, and that horned creature." Tikhomirov points at Myuute's group, an unknown-possibly the Adventurer group, Challus' Moon Elves group, three former Augustus Empire soldiers, Klementia, and an unnamed Tiefling.
"Yes, Comrade Captain." the soldier acknowledges Tikhomirov's order and then he is assisted by some of his colleagues which are American and Russian soldiers. They both help the Russian soldier to escort the prisoners to enter the Chinook and the Hip.
"Is...is this the end?" Neinefru asked herself with a scared tone, "Mister! Y-you won't kill us, right? Please tell me that you won't kill us!" she yelled at the American soldier, wanting to make sure that they wouldn't kill her and her friends.
"Just shut up and get in." said the American soldier while pointing the M4A1 at her. He points the gun at her because he feels that she is very annoying.
Neinefru freezes right when the rifle is pointed at her. Don't want to stay long in this place, a Russian soldier harshly grab her and takes her to the seat of the Chinook while saying 'Get in' in a heavy Russian accent and angry tone, "Залезай! (Zalezay!/Get in!)"
"You sure you don't want to go back, Captain?" Colonel Lyutenkov asked Tikhomirov after seeing the prisoners loaded up into the helicopter.
"No need to, sir. We still need to complete our mission."
"Well then. Do not worry, Captain. Some of the ground soldiers will stay here until our delegation arrived. Which means your platoon would not be alone in this city." Lyutenkov said.
"Thank you, sir. We really need more men in here." Tikhomirov thanked him, he knows that the situation in this city would be more critical if it was only their platoon stationed here.
"Is something wrong, Captain?" Lyutenkov asked.
"Nothing sir, I just...feel this war is very different than in our world."
"Beats me. I shared the same thought as you too, Captain. Back in my days, I thought fighting against poorly-equipped terrorists isn't fair compared to our forces. Now? It's completely unfair." Lyutenkov commented regarding this war, "But, this is a new world, and there's a chance that there is a strong enemy that will cause a lot of trouble. We are like a big children inside a huge arcade centre, but do not know which game we want to play and how we play it."
Then, a short silence happened.
"Alright, I need to get back to the base alongside some of the prisoners you requested. Good luck on your mission, Captain."
Tikhomirov and Colonel Lyutenkov make a quick salute at each other. Then the Colonel enters the Mi-17 and leaves the city.
Inside a merchant building, Lelei alongside Arpeggio and Rory are giving the merchant four sacks of wyvern scales. But before that, she gives him a sample of the wyvern scale first.
The building is inhabited by a merchant named Burem Taeleneos, who is known as one of the influential merchants in the Alnuska Province. He lives alongside his son who also becomes his assistant, Geraf Taeleneos.
"Ah, so you want to sell wyvern scales? How many do you have to sell it?" Burem asked.
Arpeggio put four sacks in front of him, "Five hundred and sixty scales." she replied.
"What? Five hundred and sixty?" Burem was shocked, no one has ever sold that wyvern scales to him with such an amount!
He starts to question himself, where the hell do these girls could acquire so many wyvern scales just in one night? Or probably much longer than that? But he prefers not to talk about it and continue the business.
"Well, one wyvern scale is about ten Aurum...which means it's around one-thousand and two-hundred Aeris and six hundred Denari. You have around five hundred and sixty scales, then you will receive five thousand and six hundred Aurum. However...after the last battle on Alnus Hill, our city is low on gold, for now, I could only pay you for three thousand Aurum, or you could take three hundred and thirty-six thousand Denari, so..."
"It's okay. We would take the three thousand Aurum, two thousand and six hundred off as a discount. But, I want you to give me some information about trading activity in this province." Lelei said.
"It's a deal then." Burem said while signing the contract, "Geraf! Please give this young lady some papers and a quill pen along with my documents so she can copy them!" he ordered his son.
"Yes, father!" Geraf replied, obeying his father.
0720 hours
"You're done?" Tikhomirov asked Lelei.
"We're done, Captain Tikhomirov." Lelei replied.
"Hey, hey, hey! Why it should be me who carries this sack full of Aurums?" Arpeggio complained, "Why not you ask Rory to do this since she's the strongest of all of us in here?!"
"Ohh noo~, this halberd is very heavy! I'm sorry, Arpeggio, I can't help you." Rory said in a contrived tone while pretending that her halberd is heavy. Of course, this makes Arpeggio angry, but she somehow accepts it, although she accepts it in a grumpy tone.
"Are you sure you want to leave soon, Sir Tikhomirov? Why not just stay in here for another night?" Count Formal asked.
"I would love to, Count Formal. But orders are orders. Do not worry, we shall see each other again someday." Tikhomirov replied, looking forward to meeting him again.
"Thank you so much for protecting our city, Captain Tikhomirov. We owe you." Piña said while bowing at him.
"Ah, no need to bow, Princess. We're all working together during the battle. But, you're welcome." Tikhomirov said. Before he goes and after Piña finished bowing at him, he offered a handshake to both Count Formal and her.
"Um...what does this mean, Sir Tikhomirov?" Count Formal asked, wanting to know why Tikhomirov offered him his hand.
"In my world. A handshake means that we have established respect for each other, and hopefully, a new friendship." Tikhomirov explains the handshake meaning.
For Piña, this is the first time she sees an enemy that has respect for her country's force, never in her life she would finally see that. Then, both Count Formal and her accept his handshake and do another handshake with Konrad, Itami, and Weidemann.
"Wait, hold on! Can I go to Alnus Hill with you?" Delilah storms into the crowd while asking a request at Tikhomirov.
At first, Tikhomirov feels fishy about this. He thinks that Count Formal is sending Delilah as a spy so she could tell the ITFA movement to the Empire because no matter how much Count Formal is an independent ruler, he still has a connection with the Empire. But, judging from her body language and tone, he knows that she volunteered to go with them instead of receiving the order from the Count.
"Depends. Count Formal, is it okay if she comes with us?" Tikhomirov asked.
"It's okay. Delilah is one of my best maids, it would be good if she helped you all." Count Formal replied.
Tikhomirov could only grunt at that answer, but not because he is angry, "Alright then. Delilah, follow us."
Before Delilah follows Tikhomirov and the rest of the Third Recon Platoon, Count Formal hugs her and says, "Be careful out there."
"I will, Lord Formal." Delilah replied. Then, she goes along with the Third Recon Platoon and enters the GAZ Tigr alongside Rory, Lelei, and Arpeggio.
International Task Force Alliance HQ, Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation
1000 hours
The newly-appointed Secretary General for International Task Force Alliance, General. Joshua Pickett from the 40th Infantry Division, United States Army, is sitting on his chair and looking at the Moscow city view with snow falling from the skies. From his room, he could see St. Basil's Cathedral and Kremlin stand tall even though the view is slightly obscured because of the bridge.
While Pickett's sipping a cup of coffee, he comments about the situation he is in now, "I wonder what our former generals during Cold War era reaction when they could see an American general become the head of a military alliance that located on the enemy's capital..." then, he looks at the paper that was given by the President, "Meeting with the Defense Ministers and Chief of Staffs from the countries who will join the Phase 2 huh..."
The main point of the letter:
General. Joshua Pickett, hereby I congratulate you for becoming the first Secretary General of this military alliance. With this role, I hope you would become a role leader for every nation's military generals.
I know, you would feel awkward about being positioned as a Secretary-General of the International Task Force Alliance because the headquarter itself is located in the capital of our old enemy, Moscow. So, I also hope you could take out those Cold War-era feelings.
Now, since I have planned to meet these state leaders who will become the Phase 2 member of the International Task Force Alliance, I also want you to meet the Defence Ministers and Chief of Staff of the involved countries:
- Juan Valdes y Ordovás, Minister of Defence of Spain & Alexander Gravina Moreno, Chief of the Defence Staff of Spanish Armed Forces.
- Diana Trindade Amado, Minister of National Defence of Portugal & Vitor Palhinha Monteiro, Armed Forces General Staff of Portuguese Armed Forces.
- Joël Stephanus Franssen, Minister of Defence of Netherlands & Gerardus Peijnenburg, Chief of Defence of the Armed Forces of the Netherlands.
- Maurice Daele, Minister of Defence of Belgium & Charles Moyerseon, Chief of Defence of the Belgian Armed Forces.
- Brian Parker, Minister for Defence of Ireland & Terry O'Keeffe, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces of Ireland.
- Riku Leinonen, Minister of Defence of Finland & Esko Laukkanen, Chief of Defence of Finnish Defence Forces.
- Julia Wännerdahl, Minister of Defence of Sweden & Felix Nilsson, Chief of the Defence Staff of Swedish Armed Forces.
- Viggo Bjerregaard, Minister of Defence of Denmark & Gabriel Abrahamsen, Chief of Defence of Danish Defence.
- Inger Sandvik, Minister of Defence of Norway & Henrik Olssøn, Chief of Defence of Norwegian Armed Forces.
- Patrik Horáček, Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic & František Picek, Chief of the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Czech Republic.
- Korina Christouli, Minister for National Defense of the Hellenic Republic & Christodoulos Angelis, Hellenic National Defence General Staff.
- Ozcan Süleymanoğlu, Minister of National Defense of Turkey & Behçet Hamzaoglu, Chief of the Turkish General Staff.
- Dulamsürengiin Tsolmon, Minister of Defense of Mongolia & Sonomyn Davaasambuu, Chief of General Staff of Mongolian Armed Forces.
- Zulfikar Mahmood Zardari, Minister of Defence of Pakistan & Chaudhry Majeed Leghari, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of Pakistan Armed Forces.
- Antonio Montaño, Secretary of National Defense of Philippines & Ferdinand Nazareno, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
- Lê Văn Lương, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam & Phạm Đĩnh Kháng, Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People's Armed Forces.
- Chalermsak Songkrasin, Minister of Defence of Thailand & Nopparat Kiatniwat, Chief of Defence Forces of Royal Thai Armed Forces.
- Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Defense of Saudi Arabia & Abdullah bin Majeed al-Saud, Chairman of the General Staff of Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
- Mehdi Rezaeian, Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics of Iran & Saleh Khodabandelou, General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Bakhytzhan Yerbolatov, Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan & Vitaly Shukeyev, Chief of the General Staff of Kazakh Armed Forces.
- Thapelo Mayambela, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans of South Africa & Lyle Mashego, Chief of the South African National Defence Force.
Trivial Info:
1. Russian Tank Commander whose first appearance is on Prologue.
A/N:
Finally, Chapter 8 is done! You all must be shocked that I somehow update a new chapter in less than one month right? Well, I'm in a good mood this time!
So what do you think? Reviews are greatly appreciated! Also, since English is not my native language, please let me know if there is an error in my story! And also, if there is inaccuracy info about a military weapon & tactics, please correct me!
And...since this is the first chapter (I think) that uses some foreign languages besides English...please correct me if there's a wrong phrase since I fully using Google Translate - (Writer has skill issue)
Thanks for reading my story, I hope you all like it and that this can turn out to be a good fic for you all.