Chapter 15: Interlude I
Lines of steel rails were laid out through the darkness of the GATE, massive lights running alongside allowing the workers to see the safety line tethered in each world, a diesel train system was constructed to ship mass amounts of materials, with heavy equipment, and soldiers riding along. Tonnes of concrete, steel rebars, and barbed wire were quickly erected forming a stronghold for the Earth forces. Aircraft components and heavily armoured vehicles rode alongside excavators and bulldozers.
UN Fortress Alnus was planned to be built in the shape of a massive star, slanting inwards to the top of the walls, each point able to create crossfire kill zones for any approaching enemies. Infantry squads mounted on armoured cars patrolled a 1-kilometre radius zone, looking for any signs of an invasion.
Mortar teams across the nations set up their weapons systems, zeroing in on the surrounding areas. Indian T-72 Ajeyas were dug in just outside the multiple exits, only their turrets peeking out of their holes in hull-down positions. Within the walls, the UN command lived in a single large plain-looking two-story building, multiple buildings filled with soldiers of different nations laid beside it. Runways were under construction, with helipads quickly assembled for airborne deployment and CAS in the form of American Cobras and Russian Mi-24s. Additional drone reconnaissance missions stretched out, American fixed-winged propeller-driven UAVs scoured forests and plains. Small patches of civilizations popped up through the screens, the villages hugging onto every little resource. The largest of these was the city Count Formal fought to defend, the gateway city-state of Italica.
The Count's request and plea for mercy led him on the path to learning the laws of wars on the Earthside of the gate. Seeing a lifeline for his territory in the Geneva Convention, he instantly declared Italica as an open city to UN forces, giving up his home city in hopes of sparing it from destruction. As this information needed to be delivered to Italica itself, the Count and his aides were sent back through the GATE, protected by an American guard unit.
Korea and Rwanda finally assembled the needed mobile forces and support to send their armies through, with the Korean 9th " White Dragon" Marine Brigade of 4,000 men sent through, and the Rwandan Defense Force staying within South Sudan to control the refugee situation. Countries such as the United Kingdoms and France were also contemplating sending their Gurkhas and Foreign Legion in support of the UN coalition.
The 10-kilometre exclusion zone was further extended to a 20 by 20 then to a 25 by 25-kilometre square to ensure that the South Sudanese refugees would be housed properly in the protected area. American and African Union troops constantly patrolled the area, the borders additionally sealed off by chain link fencing. Contractors began construction of buildings and facilities as NGOs flooded into the country, finally a safe haven from the local corrupt government. Civilian aircraft soon joined the military airlift, shipping mass amounts of food surplus to ensure the increasing populace would not starve as food production in the area ramped up. Attacks upon the fence line and checkpoints slacked off as time went on, the South Sudanese forces oddly quieted down with an awkward peace between rebel and government armies as they stared at the UN army, contemplating on what actions to take.
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King Duran straightened his linothorax for the fifth time while balancing his Chalcidian helmet under his arm as he and his fellow vassal state leaders stood just outside the Emperor's throne room. They had been summoned to an emergency meeting over an exterior threat to the Falmart continent. Duran had heard rumors of a foreign army landing at Alnus hill as he passed Italica, but he barely paid it attention as he was comforting his friend's young daughter.
Poor Myui flew into his arms as soon as he entered her room. His heart broke as her sobs filled the room, he still remembered just a couple of years ago, playing with the child in the courtyard. Count Formal had responded to a call to arms even when the Elbian king warned him not to. Now the expedition has returned and none of the Italican men have returned. The Empire had not given any response to why two thousand men, weapons and equipment, had not gone home. The Count himself didn't rejoin his family as the Imperial forces limped their way past the city-state on their way back to Sadera.
His thoughts refocused as the Duke of the League Principality, Ligu, elbowed him on his blindside, drawing his attention. The men were close as they were neighbours and traded regularly, both also fought shoulder to shoulder against the Empire before falling to become vassal states.
" Why do you think Molt called us here?", the man grumbled, resting his forearm onto Duran's shoulder, knowingly insulting the Emperor by using his first name. The Elbeian turned his head completely to the left to identify where Ligu was with his right eye before leisurely looking around for any eavesdroppers before replying.
" Did you notice anything while passing through Italica?"
Ligu's face dropped as he spoke up, " other than the poor girl, no."
Duran just shook his head at his friend, " sounds of battle were heard by Alnus by passing traders. The group was very far from the hill, so it must have been fierce."
The Duke caught up quickly, " you think the Empire's expedition went horribly wrong and otherworlders have come?"
The king opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted when a servant entered the room and announced that the emperor was ready to see them. He raised one finger to his mouth and Ligu nodded, they were to pretend that they knew nothing of Alnus.
Stepping into the throne room, Molt Sol Augustus stood up from his seat, gesturing them forward in a welcoming arrogant fashion. The group of 21 men came to a halt before kneeling on one knee, each showing their subservience by reluctantly saluting in their own fashion. The Emperor just sat back down once he saw this, a slight smirk plastered his face as he rested it on his right hand.
" My Vassals, it would seem that an invader has stepped through the sacred grounds of Alnus, they swept aside the small Imperial garrison of 1000 men and have declared themselves the ruler of the lands," he took a pause, his smirk growing as he spoke again, " all lands that is. I require assistance in pushing them back. My forces are currently busy with the demihumans in the North so I can only spare 2 legions."
The vassals just nodded, waiting for the demands.
" I will need an army, I think a fully equipped and supplied army of 140,000 will suffice."
The men looked up at him with wide eyes and open mouths. Only Duran could answer back, his teeth gritted in anger.
" Your Majesty, why do you need an army that is over half of the total strength of your entire military? Are you foreseeing large casualties?"
Molt waved a hand dismissively, " no, no. I just intend to invade the Western Dominion after clearing the pest. They have been a thorn in the Empire's side for too long."
Duran, now worried about sending his armies into an unforgiving desert against an asymmetrically fighting enemy, asked the question blaring into the men's minds, " Your Majesty, the Western Dominion have never fallen as nobody could ever pull them into a decisive battle, they only know of raiding columns of troops and hiding. Our armies cannot fight in such harsh environments nor can we keep them fed."
BAMM
The Emperor struck his throne as he stood up, the royal guard that lined the room instantly entered a battle stance, shields up and spears raised. The vassals, who were disarmed upon entering, could only stand and wait for death.
Molt, now pointing a finger at the group, sneered, " you will prepare your armies to fight the Dominion or your successors can prepare your armies to fight the Imperial army."
The men could only bow before speaking their pledges and turned to leave.
Exiting the palace, Ligu turned to his comrade to question him.
" So Lion of Elbe, whatever shall we do?"
The one-eyed man rubbed under his patch as he spoke, " We don't have a choice, even if all the vassals fought together, we would only die side by side. All we can do is send our armies to fight the invaders and then try to fight the Dominion. With luck, the Westerners will take pity on us and allow us to escape with our lives.
Sighing, Ligu turned back to the road, " if only our plan survives the enemy."
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The elf village wasn't enough. The fauna in the area wasn't enough. Nothing was enough.
A steel curtain snapped open, a golden orb shining in between the blinds. The reptilian eye blinked as the head raised itself to full height, its neck stretching as the snout breached the opening of the dormant volcano. A roar ripped out, resonating from its throat and echoing off the mountainside, panicking everything in a 5 kilometre radius. A whirlwind spun up as the pair of wings worked to get the tank into the air, the winds lifting the multi-ton beast from its nest.
Swooping just over the treetops, the dragon gilded Northward, back to a village it saw after ravaging the Koan forest.
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Part of the Japanese Third Recon Team have been wiped out in South Sudan, save for:
First Lieutenant Youji Itami, Male 33, Team Leader
Sergeant Major Sōichirō Kuwahara, Male 50, 2IC (Yes I have been spelling it wrong in previous chapters, I'll fix it when I feel like it)
Sergeant First Class Akira Tomita, Male 27, Rifleman/ Dog Handler ( In the lore he is a JGSDF dog handler, so I included that cause combat dogs are awesome)
Sergeant First Class Mari Kurokawa, Female 23, Combat Medic
Sergeant First Class Shino Kuribayashi, Female 24, CQC Specialist
Sergeant Takeo Kurata, Male 21, Driver/ Radio Operator
Leading Private Wataru Katsumoto, Male 23, Heavy Weapons Specialist
The Canadian Contingent of the Combined Third Recon Team, formed from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry:
Lieutenant Dominic Pacetti, Male 32, Team Leader ( Pronounced lef-tenant if anyone's asking)
Warrant Officer Tina Leung, Female 26, 2IC
Sergeant Charles Campbell, Male 37, LAV Sergeant
Master Corporal Brian Lee, Male 25, LAV Gunner
Master Corporal Michelle Cote, Female 27, Medical Technician
Corporal Jeremy Evans, Male 25, TAPV Gunner
Corporal Glen Adams, Male 24, Machine Gunner
Corporal Chris Nguyen, Male 27, Machine Gunner
Private Davis Reid, Male 23, LAV Driver
Private Douglas Chan, Male 22, TAPV Driver
Private Camren Moore, Male 21, Platoon Signaller
Private Stephan Walsh, Male 20, Heavy Weapons Specialist
Private Oliver Girard, Male 21, Heavy Weapons Specialist
Private Ryan Chan, Male 24, Rifleman/ Grenadier
Private William Harris, Male 23, Rifleman/ Grenadier
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The next chapter will continue the story. See you guys in the next one.
