Tanya vs. the Empire
Disclaimer: Gate: Thus the JSDF Fought There and Saga of Tanya the Evil belong to their respective owners. Rated M for likely violent elements and extreme bouts of profanity within the story.
Normal conversation: "Being X…"
Another language: "Being X…"
Thoughts: Being X
Chapter 1: Battle of Berun
It would be later surmised that the reason Berun quite easily fell and greatly suffered from a surprise attack was because of the drunken revelry that almost everyone was in a state in. And who could blame them; they've just defeated one of the most tenacious of their foes: the Francois Republic - a nation that could be considered in par militarily, but eventually it too fell to the might of the Empire, just like the Dacia Grand Duchy and Legadonia Federation before it. The Empire's drunkenness in its victories however has made itself overconfident and complacent, especially the capital of Berun, on the night of its victory celebration, when a strange occurrence precipitated into an unlikely tragedy within the city itself.
Downtown Berun
Lieutenant Colonel Erich von Rerugen was trying to relax at the back seat of his service vehicle while pressing his forehead in the hopes of arresting a growing headache that threatened to make his night worse than it is.
I did not drink that much…God. Must be all the stress finally settling in…
The Lieutenant Colonel had to leave the victory gathering, of all high ranking officers, at the 'Beer Hall' early on the account of suddenly not feeling well. Besides that, he wasn't much into such large social gatherings, finding relief and enjoyment in solitude. Thus he was on his way home.
He unconsciously looked out the car's window and saw the festive mood out on the streets. Soldiers and civilians alike were shouting, singing, and carousing; giving great praise to the Fatherland's victory over its enemies, and looking forward to prosperous and peaceful times ahead. The imagery seemed too surreal in the eyes of Rerugen that it was almost glaring, sinful even. He was not ever sure if what the people were doing was right anymore.
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow…
He quickly shook off the thought of that verse.
No, a victory has been won but everyone mustn't get too complacent and cocky, for the times ahead are still filled with uncertainties…
A loud crashing sound followed by a violent lurching momentum jarred him out of his solemnity, and nearly out of his seat, as the car came to an abrupt stop.
Some nearby passers-by and revelers noticed the accident and began milling to the scene.
"Hey, are you okay?" called out a man to Rerugen from outside, being the first one to check on him.
He wasn't hurt actually, only shaken, as he fixed his glasses to see what happened.
The car had stopped and appeared to have been into an accident, judging from the steam billowing out of the presumably wreck front of the vehicle. Funny thing was there seems to be no sign of what caused the crash.
Upon seeing the concerned look of the onlookers he made a face indicating that he was fine. Rerugen then focused his attention to the driver who appeared to be languidly stirring at his seat.
"Are you alight?" He asked with genuine concern.
"I think so…sir. What hit us?"
Indeed what did hit the car? Or from another perspective what did the car crash onto? Through the ordinary plain viewer there appears nothing in front of the car to have caused such a collision as if the vehicle hit an invisible wall.
While the throng of people was growing over at the intersection where the accident occurred, a bizarre scene transpired. Another car suddenly vanished upon reaching the crossing. Not many noticed this but almost all that did thought they were seeing things. Some figured they've probably had one drink too many and almost dismissed the entire thing, except there were frighteningly eerie sounds of commotion that began to emanate within the middle of the intersection shortly afterwards. Sounds of screeching of tires, creepy gibbering and squawking followed by various tones of inhuman growls and roars; the breaking of glass and of course the sounds of pitiful cries of distress. Everyone now present, including Rerugen, took notice of this.
"Look!" someone shouted, pointing at where the car had vanished and where the ominous noises were coming from. There suddenly appeared, when it was just an intersection for automobile traffic, a huge archaic arch-like structure. The appearance of said structure coincides where the Rerugen's car crashed on one of its sides, while the other car that disappeared matches the direction it went, the path leading right through the edifice's huge opening, its dark interior was strangely an impenetrable darkness.
"What is that?"
"Some sort of…gate?"
Rerugen, having emerged from the car, too was curious over this strange development.
"This is…most peculiar…" he murmured while adjusting the frames of his glasses.
Now the people were milling at the new center of attention. Many were curious; some were concerned especially to what the sounds they heard portend to, while others were too inebriated to care of the implications of this unusual sight. The crowd was jarred when something emerged from the wide opening. That something happened to be a car. To some, it was the same car that vanished at the crossings but now looks somewhat battered as it rolled out backwards, unmanned, before stopping several feet from the gate's entrance. Its windshield and a couple of its windows were broken. But what was most disturbing were the telltale signs of bloodstains marring the vehicle in places.
A new, and louder, roar brought everyone's attention back to the structure's dark opening which was accompanied by a mass of gibbering voices and the marching of many feet.
A woman screamed as she witnessed in abject terror the things that were emerging out of the gate. Things likened to fairytale horrors with words coming to mind like ogres, goblins, trolls best described the beings pouring out and starting to assail the bystanders.
Tanya and Visha were hurtling in flight towards Berun at the fastest possible speed their flight gear were able to afford them, though Tanya could have gone faster and way ahead of her subordinate if she wanted to, thanks to a very special experimental orb entrusted to her. But better judgement prevailed in spite of the hassle of a lot of things going through her mind that threatened to cloud her judgement. Going about it alone to a battle, with unknown variables involved, was the last thing she wanted experience again, not since that incident in the Norden front.
She was just a newly graduated officer at that time and faced a whole company of aerial mages of the Legadonia Federation and somehow managed to live to tell the tale while earning more or less six enemy kills in her name that awarded to her the Silver Wings Assault medal and the prestige of that of an ace among aerial mages. Tanya mellowed a bit. How far have she gone from a simple warrant officer to Major in a short period of time in her career in the Empire's military.
"Major! The capital is up ahead!" called out Visha through her com.
Snapping back to the now, Tanya took notice and recognized the light filled outline of the capital of Berun at the distance. Her piercing blue eyes squinted as she discriminately took note of what appeared to be plumes of smoke in the city's skyline. Berun was burning.
"Also, I'm picking up lots of radio traffic that is too chaotic to make out!" added Visha, looking very concerned.
Tanya took a listen with her own com system. What she was able to discern from the rampant radio chatter made her confused and worried at the same time.
"…We need reinforcements…"
"…Where are the Civil Defense Forces?..."
"…Are those…dragons…"
"…Help us! We're being overwhel-Aah! Aaaah!"
"…Enemy force has crossed the Brandenbourg…"
She also picked up words like goblins, ogres, and romans, things that seem not to make any sense.
"Strange. It sounds as if there is no coordination. What is Headquarters doing?" she worriedly mused. Knowing this was getting her nowhere, she decided to tune in to military command.
"This is Fairy to Berun Control, come in Berun Control?" Tanya repeated this several times until she got favorable response.
"This is Berun Control! Thank God, you're here, Major Degurechaff we're in badly need of your-"
"Give me a sitrap?" she plainly said, cutting the operator's sentence, but not before frowning at the mention of 'God'.
"Ma'am?" the operator responded, seemingly unfamiliar with the term. Tanya breathed a sigh.
"Status of the situation!" she clarified, almost snapping.
"Ah, yes. City is presently under attack by an unknown force of undetermined numbers…We don't who they are or how they managed to infiltrate the city…We've been caught completely by surprise!"
She could tell something was off. The operator seemed too flustered. Someone like him shouldn't be on air.
"Where's your commanding officer? I would like to speak with him?" she demanded.
"Major," the man suddenly calmed a bit allowing a brief pause. "I'm sorry to inform you…that there aren't any high ranking officers present-"
"What!" Tanya practically screamed. Even Visha winced at the Major's outburst, having been listening on to the exchange all the while on air. The operator quickly replied, stammering as he did.
"They've all gone to the beer hall amid the celebrations, ma'am. We've been trying to contact them there but the circuits are overloaded at the moment due to the chaos."
This was far worse than she thought. She predicted a future conflict would occur if they did not finished what they started, but she did not expect things to advance this fast. This could only mean one thing.
"Being X…You must be behind all of this…" she seethed through clenched teeth.
Being X a label Tanya gave to a being that claims to be an All Omnipotent being a.k.a. God. Tanya also dubs 'Him' the devil. Whatever he, or it, is he/it is the one responsible for putting Tanya in all of this mess in the first place.
Tanya was no always a little blond, blue-eyed little girl as she is now. Far from it she was in one time a man actually, from another time, another place, another universe. The time 2013, in a place called Japan, and the world he came from was similar yet different to the one she is at presently. One day, as a man, Tanya's life turned for the bizarre when he was the target of another man's sense of revenge and was about to be killed horribly. Practically at death's door, it was there he met and confronted 'God'. Long story short, they both had an argument and God decided to teach Tanya a lesson. Reincarnating Tanya into a girl and transported her to another world. There to learn humility and to be a better person, for if she fails to change her ways and dies again…
"Ma'am?"
"Never mind! Have any units from the fronts arrived to assist?"
"No…You're the first."
"What of the Civil Defense Forces? Rapid Reaction units?"
"Various reports indicate they're doing their best in the defense. But without any concerted coordination, fighting is a mess on all fronts within the city."
"In other words, unless the higher-ups get back to their posts, and fast, fighting will continue on sporadically, resulting in a battle of attrition." she finishes
"Please, Major Degurechaff! We need all the help we could get!"
"Give me directions to the beer hall!" she asked the operator.
"What do you intend to do, Major Deurechaff?"
"I'm going to personally drag the sorry asses of those higher-ups and make sure they do their fucking jobs! Because that's what the taxpayers are paying them for!"
A wall of armored men marched down the street while their inhuman auxiliaries acted as vanguards, killing, raping, pillaging, and practically causing havoc in their path. Any stragglers they miss get handled by these Roman-like soldiers, putting such unfortunates to the sword or spear, or beating them into submission then clamping them in chains to be rallied off to the rear lines. This is how it has been so far for the Imperial forces, ever since they emerged out of the mysterious gate-like structure. They have caught these heathens completely by surprise and have progressed considerably into the barbarian's city in a short span of time, and while there were some pockets of resistance they were no match against the sheer number of their forces.
Near at the rear end of the column of soldiers, their commanders rode on horses, directing their men in splendid, orderly fashion while surveying the destruction they have wrought on this strange city.
"The architecture is strange and yet familiar." said one while scrutinizing the building around.
"I think that's a good thing." answered the main commander, feeling relieved. "I expected something more bizarre than this. Give me streets and buildings of bricks anytime."
Another subordinated snorted in amusement over the remark.
"And these barbarians wielding strange magics aren't bizarre enough for you?"
The commander smiled, feeling confident all the sudden.
"It's true their sorceries have been quite formidable but they're really no match against the might of an Imperial Legion."
His subordinates couldn't agree more and laughed it out, however their crude smugness was abruptly interrupted by explosions out front of the column that made short work of most of their humanoid scouts.
"More magics of the barbarians?"
"And they're getting much stronger!"
"Where are they?"
The roman soldiers had little time to react, much less pinpoint the origin of their attackers, as they too along with their leaders were subjected to the same explosive fate that cut short their lives on this foreign world.
High Above the Scene
"Enemy force neutralized. Mostly." breathed Visha, only mildly satisfied with the end result of her low-yield artillery barrage magic which was channeled through and released via her scepter - her Mondragon rifle – at the unsuspecting romans below. She estimated about ninety percent of the force was eliminated or incapacitated by her attack, though she does notice some survivors still moving, trying to find some cover. Tanya noticed the look on her Second Lieutenant's face and was inclined to remind of her priorities.
"Save your ammo, Visha. You're going to need them in more important engagements."
"But Major, those people…" referring to the citizens below, the dead and the dying, victims all to these atrocious invaders that are ravaging Berun. "They need our help!" Tanya wouldn't have any of it.
"You do know, like I do, unless we restore the chain of command, the battle will become longer and bloodier. Causalities are unavoidable, but it will grow worse unless we are able to make an effective counteroffensive, and we need the higher-ups for that. "
"But-"
Her commanding officer's eyes bulged in alarm, seeing the imminent danger bearing down on them.
"Look out!"
Tanya rushed in to grab Visha at the last moment when something large and fast nearly rammed her in midair which would have been very fatal for the mousy officer had not the Major intervened. However, both girls were unable to escape the buffeting effects of the attacker's flying pass which cause them to careen downward.
"Shit!" cursed Tanya, fueling her strong sense self-preservation as she called upon her special orb to give her the strength to maintain her hold over Visha and to not let go of her, while stabilizing her flight.
"Visha, are you okay?" She shook the brown-haired girl fearing that she may have blacked out. Visha appears to recover from the ordeal quickly
"Yes, I'm fine. But what was that?"
"A dragon…it seems…" she said in relative disbelief. Tanya could not believe it at first when she saw the so-called goblins and romans rampaging in the streets below. While she came to accept magic existing in this world, creatures from fairytales coming to life was stretching it a bit. But after seeing the dragon, all sense of logic and disbelief went out the window.
Tanya had activated a see in the night spell that allowed her to easily discern her opponent in the dark of the night. She could see the dragon-like creature painted in red light by the spell as it was circling around to make another pass at them. A human figure could also be seen riding the thing. Judging by the size of the rider, the flying reptile must be 30 to 40 feet long and about the twice that with its wingspan.
"Really?" piped Visha, eagerly joining the Major by casting her own enhanced vision spell and scanning for the supposed mythical creature.
"Visha, cover me!"
Tanya wasted no time and propelled herself toward the incoming beast and its rider. She switches her rifle to a submachinegun – a trophy from a fallen Entente Alliance mage officer – for an up and close combat with her opponent.
"My eyes weren't deceiving me. Those girls are actually flying!" said the Imperial dragon rider, having noticed the two flying objects earlier and decide to make a close pass at them with his flying mount. At least one of them would have been buffeted to death had not the other one push his target out of the way.
"They must be mages. But this is the first time I've seen one flying!"
From where he came from magic and those who wielded it existed but this is a first for him to witness someone use flying magic.
"No matter! Whatever they are, they're my prey now!"
Having completed the turn he aligned the course of his aerial mount toward the two hovering targets and readied his lance, poised to skew one of them. He did not have to choose which one as one of them decided to face him and his flying dragon head on.
"Fool! Are you that eager to meet your death?"
His arrogance turned to worry when the incoming flyer abruptly rose off his path and did an aerial summersault over him and his mount.
"Impossible!" cried the dragon rider in astonishment. The last thing he saw before he felt a thousand burning metals boring into his body, and the world turning to darkness, was the face of death staring at him – in the form of an evil smiling, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl.
Tanya finished her entire magazine at the roman and his dragon. While she succeeded in killing the rider, the dragon was a far different matter. She managed pump more than half of her burst at it but due to its sheer size and tough hide she only accomplished in enraging it. To her surprise the creature was quite nubile for its size, able to stop in midair and make a full body turn as it viciously went after her.
"Oh, shit!"
"Major! Full passive shell!"
That voice, a man's voice. She recognizes it. Also she needed not be reminded as, on reflex, she focused on strengthening her defensive magic, hoping it would be enough save her from the monster intending to tear her into shreds.
"Open fire!" shouted the same male voice.
There were several gun shots followed by explosions that engulfed the dragon, its death throes being heard from within the billowing smoke the blasts created. Its limped, badly wounded and smoking body soon emerged from beneath the impromptu cloud and plunged its way towards the earth below.
"Lieutenant Weiss, Lieutenant Neumann, Lieutenant Koenig, everyone…You've all arrived." Visha was exuberant tp see her fellow officers and the rest of the 203rd aerial mage battalion making their appearance just now.
"I'm here too, Visha." A bashful Second Lieutenant Vooran Glanz tried to be heard, but no one seemed to have heard him, not his peer, Visha.
It suddenly dawned upon Visha that she almost forgot about the Major. .
"But…What of the Major. Did she…"
"Don't count me dead yet, Visha." A couple of coughs later, and with the smoke clearing, there hovered a rather dirtied Tanya, who seems unscathed.
"Major!" Visha cried out in joy, very glad to see Tanya was okay.
Lieutenant Weiss joined in with Visha's sense of relief.
"Major, we're glad you're alright!"
Tanya sternly turns towards the jolly dark-haired officer, who happens to be her number 2.
"Lieutenant Weiss…"
"Yes, ma'am?" Weiss suddenly straightened up, becoming sober before his CO.
"WE'RE YOU TRYING TO FUCKING KILL ME?"
He winced at admonishment but was prepared to explain himself.
"Ma'am, I had to make a snap decision. That thing was going to eat you! Besides, I have great faith that you would, more or less, come out of it unscathed, like you always do."
"UNACCEPTABLE! I SHOULD SHOOT YOU FOR ENDANGERING YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER!"
"But he tried saving your-" Glanz tried to defend Weiss, but was held in check by Koenig, a man with a ponytail.
"Don't Glanz." said Koenig, shaking his head, warning the blonde-haired young officer not to interfere.
"Forgive me, Major! I take full responsibility of my actions! Do whatever you deem is must, I'm prepared to accept the consequences, ma'am!" stiffly said Weiss.
Tanya looked at Lieutenant Weiss and knowingly sighed. She has known the young Lieutenant since being one of the successful candidates of the special rapid reaction battalion she help in creating. He has great potential and has demonstrated himself with distinction in the field. However, he sometimes lets his emotions muddle his judgement. His decision and its execution were born out of his desire in saving her. But what if it did not go as he planned?
"Lieutenant Weiss. Off the record, I do appreciate what you've done. I wasn't sure if my defensive spell would have protected me from that monster. I admit, your quick thinking may have save me and I…thank you. But…NEXT TIME YOU DO A STUNT LIKE THAT WITHOUT MY EXPRESSED APPROVAL, I WON'T HESITATE TO SHOOT YOU DEAD! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?"
"Yes, ma'am!" answered Weiss, but silently he was glad the Major letting him off lightly that he almost smiled.
"No then…" Tanya turned to everyone. "We've wasted enough time here…Weiss!"
"Ma'am!"
"Koenig!"
"Ma'am!"
"Neumann!"
"Ma'am!"
"Divide the battalion evenly. Spread out and assist and rally our beleaguered forces. Watch out especially any of those dragon things! Regularly keep in touch, and cover each other's backs. Second Lieutenant Granz."
"Yes, ma'am?" stammered the young Second Lieutenant, fearing perhaps of being reprimanded.
"You and Second Lieutenant Serabryakov are with me." At this, the blonde officer clearly showed his delight of being with Second Lieuteant Serebryakov.
"Now if there aren't any questions…Move out!"
"Yes, ma'am"
Beer Hall
"I'm out."
"So am I my friend."
Both Generals Zettour and Rudersdorf have just expended the last of their ammo clips of their Lugers, leaving them practically defenseless. They and other officers managed to repel another wave of monstrous attackers that are presently besieging the place from the outside.
The assault occurred during the establishment's festivities; its halls filled with officers celebrating then the Empire's victory, when these strange man-creatures, thought to be demons by some, literally party crashed and started assailing its patrons. A few officers have been killed along with some wounded. Somehow they able to barricade the place but that did not stop the attackers from finding cracks within the building's layout, turning the fight to one that of survival for the people trapped within the beer hall.
"So this how it ends? How ironic." chuckled Zettour, his gaunt expression was one of resignation over the situation they were in.
"How so, my friend?' asked Rudersodorf, his bushy moustache twitching as he spoke. He too sees things going badly for everyone here unless some miracle occurs, and soon.
"Here we were, celebrating our victory over our enemies only to get caught, with our pants down, with this unexpected attack. This must be the price for our complacency. There are no easy victories."
"Don't be hard on self. Everyone got too cocky: the military, the citizenry, everyone. We thought nothing like this could happen, especially having thought to have won the war. However,"
The husky old general tapped the tip of his boot on the side of the head of a fallen 'goblin'.
"You doubt that this has anything to do with the Entente Alliance?" Zettour shared his doubts.
"I don't know. But whoever they are, they've chosen a perfect time to attack when we let our guard down."
"Here they come again!" shouted an officer, breaking the trail of discussion of the two generals. "And it looks like they intend to break the door down."
Out by facade of the beer hall, two 'ogres' wielding massive wooden mallets tromped their way toward the building's entrance while their inhuman compatriots cheered them on.
"Please, sirs! Hide out further to the back! We'll handle this!" said an officer off front, his gun still having a few bullets left as he aimed it at the door.
"That's very admirable son." beamed Rudersdorf. "But if this is going to be our last stand, I would like to fight it alongside you men. Don't you agree Zattour?"
"Not really. I would prefer hiding in out if it's going help me escape certain death. But under these circumstances I think it's futile."
"Everyone, make your shots count!" called out another officer. All of those still with ammo lined up some distance away from door, their guns poised and bracing themselves for what seems to be the final assault.
"It's an honor serving with you, my friend." Zettour took a steak knife and held it in his hand.
"Same here." Rudersdorf grunted, ready with a heavy iron skillet.
Shots were fired but not from ones inside the beer hall, they were coming from outside. Cries of pain and panic were also heard as the assaulting enemy outside seems to have something else to worry about.
"Could it be our army?"
"We're saved!"
Their premature jubilation was interrupted when a loud voice of a girl started broadcasting a message amid the gunfire and cries of death outside, using a voice amplifying spell to be clearly heard.
"Attention! Attention!"
"That voice…" Rudersdorf recognized it, and so did Zettour.
"It's…"
"This is Major Tanya Degurechaff of the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion! To the people down at the beer hall, if you can hear me, and if you're not all dead, please clear away from the windows and front side of the building. I will commence shortly in casting a diffusive explosion spell, to rid of all enemy presence within the area. Make appropriate steps to insure your chances of survivability…"
"Idiot! Does she intend to kill us in the process?" growled Rudersdorf, his rising anger making his ears red. Zettour however grew very pale.
"I hope she's just joking…"
"No Major! That will kill everybody in the beer hall!" passionately objected Visha, hoping, in spite of the outlandish history of Tanya that she would come to reason over the implications of her actions. Glanz added his insight while taking potshot of the goblins below
"Not to mention the blast taking out a huge chuck of city blocks with it. There could be still stragglers hiding inside in some of them. "
"Fine, fine, fine!" Tanya responded nonchalantly. "I was just trying to pull their chain, that's all. Also," her expression suddenly turned grim. "I wanted them to sweat a bit and reflect over their complacency and incompetence, which have led to situation we're in."
Both junior officers almost blanched at the switching demeanor of their CO, as if they haven't gotten used to her already. Tanya then returned in readdressing her intention to the people of the beer house.
"Sorry, may bad. After consulting with my subordinates, using a diffusive explosion spell is a bit of overkill. Therefore, I'll be resorting to more precise attack magic: a high intensity heat beam optical spell. I'm sure many of you are aware of the effects of this magical attack, and I suggest you follow my advice earlier. Make sure none of you would be in the path of the beam. I'm giving everybody one minute to prepare. Thank you for your cooperation."
"Everybody, fallback!"
The officers and occupants of the beer hall frantically scramble for cover and safety, well away from the interior front of the building
"I swear! I'm going to have a talk with that little runt, if I get out this!" fumed Rudersdorf, as he and Zettour hid themselves behind a long, heavy wooden table that had been overturned.
"Let's just pray she doesn't get too overzealous." Zettour added.
"Times up!"
Tanya pointed downward her arm and a red magical circle materialized and slowly spinning before the blonde girl's outstretch palm. She then proceeded in reciting a chant that would startup her offensive spell.
"Ask and you'll be given; seek and you'll find; knock and the way will be open. O Lord, burn my enemies before me, and send their wretched souls into the netherworld!"
Upon completion of her chant, the circle flashed brightly before unleashing a searing shaft of hot magical energy downward. Wherever Tanya directed her hand, the beam followed. The first victims of her spell were those goblin things by the entryway of the beer hall. Anything that moves the beam touches bursts into flame, delivering a horrific searing death. Some don't die instantly and scatter while still burning and wailing, running to their unharmed comrades for salvation, only adding more panic to the ensuing chaos. Tanya continued sweeping her beam at the enemies below, while Visha and Glanz took care of the stragglers. Eventually the general area near the beer hall was mostly cleared of hostiles, their blackened and smoking bodies littering the ground.
Some officers were dismantling the makeshift barricade they placed on the door until it was accessible again, allowing the entrance of a smug, if not triumphant Tanya.
"Greetings, gentlemen! I hope you're all still willing and able in spite of all the merrymaking and 'excitement' this evening? If you haven't notice, Berun is presently in a state of sieged. Now, if you don't mind going back to your posts…"
General Rudersdorf strode briskly to confront the little blonde girl, appearing not too happy in seeing his supposed savior.
"Major Degurechaff! What kind of stunt were you trying to pull earlier?" thundered the mustached General. Tanya continued with her grinning expression since arriving.
"Stunt? Whatever you mean?"
"Don't get coy with me, Major! If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were considering the possibility of killing us here along with the enemy!"
"And why would I do that? You are after all, all vital for the Empire's survival? Besides, couldn't you take a little joke?"
"A joke? Was that all it was?" The man was about to go ballistic. Tanya bowed her head and became solemn.
"No, and neither is not taking this world conflict seriously. Had we pursued for absolute victory had we had the chance, or at the very least maintained our guard, we wouldn't be where we are, right now…."
"That's enough! Major Degurechaff!" it was General Zattour, his face usually unreadable was showing some stern lines. "As General Rudersdorf said to me earlier we shouldn't be hard on ourselves. We have committed a grave mistake, and the Empire is paying for it. But this isn't the time for petty bickering. We've got to move now and rally our forces."
"But how could we, with those things outside?" pointed out an officer. Tanya raised her head an smugly smiled once more.
"That's why we're here. Visha?"
"The men are on their way. They will be arriving shortly."
Tanya nodded in approval.
"Gentlemen, the 203rd is offering to chaperon you all to your units and stations. I suggest you prepare yourselves, for we have a city to save!"
Back at the Gate
A batch of Empire citizens were being harshly herded into the gate-like structure by romans wielding clubs and whips, beating those too slow or proving to be uncooperative. A man with blond, stylish frazzled hair, who sat on a sedan chair while absentmindedly holding a cup of wine in one hand, barely took notice of the nearby proceedings, dismissing them as routine from where he comes from. He eventually took a sip of his golden cup while savoring the sight of mayhem before him.
"There's nothing like burning a city and rounding up its inhabitants to become slaves that bring great joy to a future ruler's heart. Don't you agree, Tyuule?" said the man with a smirk, glancing to an unusual woman kneeling by his side. Unusual because of the long, drooping, rabbit-like ears she sports atop her white-haired head. White turfs of soft fur covered her in places added to her striking features; more so with the dirty rags that she wore that barely covered her charms.
"As you say, my Lord." the rabbit-woman meekly replied while avoiding his malicious gaze upon her. Her unassuming response tinged with stubbornness was rewarded with a yank of the chain connecting to her collar, causing her to grimace in distress, and forcibly face her tormentor.
"Lord and Master. Say it." Zarzal gave another good pull of the chain for good measure, to emphasize his dominance. She had no choice but to comply if she wished the agony to end.
"As you say…my Lord…and Master…"
He slackened his hold over her and let her catch her breath.
"Better." he grinned. He looked over dreary scenery again before speaking once more.
"All of this must bring you memories. Like your people, these barbarians fought fiercely, but in the end they are no match against the Empire. As it should be."
Having recovered her composure, Tyuule haughtily responded.
"Of course they're no match, my Lord and Master. Thanks to your brilliance, you caught them by surprise, and with your massive army, victory is assured. But, never compare these pitiful excuses of a people to my great warrior-bunny nation!"
She received a meaty slap from the man for her troubles.
"It seems you still haven't come to terms to the fact that your nation and its people are no more. But that's what I like about you Tyuule, there's still fight left in you. The more the reason to slowly beat into your rabbit-eared skull that a queen, of a conquered nation, is now a personal slave to Zorzal El Caesar, Prince of the Empire!"
Someone shouted at Zorzal. Judging from the spouted words it was coming from one of the prisoners; naturally none of the romans understood the language of the unruly 'barbarian'. He was a bespectacled man in dark form fitting outfit, who stood out among his fellow captives and gave the despotic prince a grave staredown. Zorzal needed not understand the miscreant's words to know that he didn't like the guy and would like nothing more than to make him suffer before putting him out of his misery.
"Bring that cretin over here!" he commanded.
God. Why did I do that? Did I really do it for that poor woman? Or is it this killer headache I'm having? With all this hell breaking out, has it finally gotten into my nerves?
He looked at the rabbit woman, who seems rather indifferent towards him. So much for gratitude he thought, but then it didn't seem to matter under the circumstances.
She doesn't even appear human, just like many of these monsters around. Hell, even these men in armor are no better than monsters themselves for what they've done.
Rerugen recalled the events that led him to this predicament. After the freak car accident that involved him, which lead to the startling discovery of strange monolithic structure that magically appeared in downtown Berun, he and many of the bystander had to run for their lives when monstrous creatures emerged out the opening of the structure and started to indiscriminately attack the citizenry. Many were overrun and horribly slaughtered, many other still seemed rooted to the spot, too drunken or perhaps thinking 'this is too surreal to be true, something like this happening in the capital'? Regardless they too fell as victims to the nightmare unfolding before their eyes.
Eventually he was one of the lucky, yet unlucky, ones to be captured and rounded up like cattle. His driver, Kurt was his name, wasn't so lucky, remembering him being decapitated by a flying dragon, after he pushing him to out of the way. It should have been him who died. But then again he might be heading in that direction as two roman solder seized him and dragged him towards whom he assumes to be their leader.
Smiling wickedly, Zorzal made a gesture and Rerugen was tossed right before his feet. Due to his chained wrists he couldn't balance himself properly and stumbled prone on the ground. The blonde prince stood up from his seat and gave good kick to side of Rerugen's face.
"What was that your foul mouth was saying?" he hummed in amusement.
The dark-haired colonel balefully stared at the man towering over him, a trail of blood flowed down his face from a cut to his temple, an end result from the kick he received.
God, the headache is worse than ever! I think I'm going blackout soon…
He made an effort to stare at the rabbit woman. Maybe it was out of sympathy for her, or he wanted to burn a pleasant image of her in his mind before he meets his end. Tyuule gave him a perplexed gaze, wondering of why this man was staring at her. Zorzal could plainly see the pathetic display and sardonically chuckled.
"What? Are you interested in my Tyuule? Is this what's it all about? Oh no, she is mine. Mine alone! But I hand it to you barbarian, for having balls to make such fuss, and for that I'm going to reward you."
He pulls out a dagger and lowered himself so he could grab the back hair of Rerugen's head and level it towards his waiting dagger.
"I'm going to pluck out your eyes and offer them to Tyuule. How does that sound?"
Zorzal turned to face the ex-warrior queen, soliciting for her reaction.
"Do whatever you want. But he means nothing to me." Tyuule turned her face away in displeasure but was feeling confounded by the whole development.
"Aww, it seems you've been spurned my friend. How pathetic." said the young prince with much evil glee in the face of Rerugen's. "But I'm going to still get your eyes, for worth the trouble if nothing else." He poised his dagger at one of Rerugen's eyes, its tip almost touching.
"Make way! A messenger arrives!"
Zorzal groaned, suddenly releasing his victim and taking his seat once again to await for the messenger's report. Rerugen in the meantime could only breathe a sigh of relief, glad even if his painful outcome is momentarily postponed. He pressed his head to ground to relax and eventually listened to conversation between Zorzal and the messenger. Even if did not understand them he sense an atmosphere of distress from the sound of their discussion.
"What! How can that be?" exclaimed Zorzal in disbelief.
"Your Highness, the barbarians have managed to rally their forces and have begun using more powerful forms of magics that wipe out whole regiments at a time. Even as we now speak they're on their way here. "
Whatever Zorzal wanted to say after was interrupted by an ominous sound coming from up high in the night sky. It sounded like a weird humming noise not like that made by bees, that intensifies, thundering as it gets closer. To Rerugen, he recognizes the sound of Fokker Dr1 Dreideckers flying overhead.
"It's the air force. Are we saved?"
High above the Gate
A squadron of red, tri-wing planes flew over the area where the massive out of place structure was located along where the enemy camp stood. Upon seeing it, the flight leader of the group began radioing it in.
"This is Red Leader…sighted main enemy encampment, as well as the suspected massive magical infiltration device…transmitting location to all friendly forces."
"Captain! Enemy fliers at 10 o' clock high, bearing down on us!"
His wingman was referring to a flight of flying dragons on an intercept course with them.
"Alright, let's show them not to mess with the Empire Air Force! Spread out and engage!"
"I see it! The magical infiltration device! There, by the intersection! Also, confirmation of enemy encampment at the foot of the device." pointed out Visha, having spotted the location through her binoculars after receiving the message regarding it through her com. "Empire air force planes are now engaging aerial enemies!" she added.
"Good, it's time to wipe them all out one go!" evilly said Tanya, taking aim and readying the incantation for a powerful, destructive spell. However, Visha quickly warned her.
"No you can't! There are a number of hostages within the vicinity! Also, Colonel Ruregen is among them!
"What? The colonel?" gasped Weiss, quickly aiming his rifle and calling forth a far sight spell which brings out a couple of small magic circles aligned to the sight of his rifle that allowed a high magnification view of the location. Tanya does the safe. Indeed they see the colonel, bound and prone on the ground with several romans surrounding him. Tanya cursed under her breath.
"Change of plans then. We're going to do this the hard way. Nuemann, Koenig, take your men and rescue the hostage. Eliminate all hostile guarding them. Remember, safety of the captives is paramount!"
"You can count on us Major!" ardently replied the stout lieutenant. His ponytailed comrade, joined in.
"Those captives are in safe hands!"
"Weiss!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Your group will cause a diversion to the rest of the enemy while the hostages are being rescued. Give them hell!"
"It will be my pleasure, ma'am!"
"Visha, Glanz, you both cover me while I go save our beloved Colonel."
The two young officers just nodded and understood what to do. Tanya looked over her battalion, seeing if there were any doubts or uncertainties in their faces. She was satisfied to see none.
"Now then, you have your assignments…Move out, people!"
A flying dragon, along with its rider, came crashing down nearby, startling both romans and hostages alike. The air of control within the camp was waning as rumors of their forces falling one after another to the resurgence of the barbarian horde spread like wild fire. Compound this with the appearance of red flying demons that buzz in the air, spewing fire and bolts of lightning at their flying dragon brigades, seemingly making quick short work out of them. Zorzal was flabbergasted by the happenings but had enough sense to try and regain control and order over his forces.
"Stand your ground men! Face these barbarians with pride and courage! For we are the Empire! We are invincible!"
Of course even Zorzal wasn't sure he believed in the words spewing out of his mouth. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt fear, fear of an imminent doom coming. Everything went favorable for him and his massive expeditionary force so far. They caught these barbarians with their pants down, and while some fought back and wielded strange formidable magics against them they were too disorganized and psychologically shocked to effectively counter their advance. These factors, along with their superiorly in numbers, have painted an impression to their enemies that they are unstoppable. But now, that superiority is about to be put into question.
Romans left and right started falling dead within the camp. It took them long enough to realize that they were being attacked by flying men with staves that brings death to anyone that was being pointed at. These same men descended from the air onto the ground near the captives, protecting them from anyone who would do them harm and started picking them up one by one and lifting them off to safety.
Ruregen's headache seemed to have subsided a bit. He was no longer in risk of losing consciousness but his situation still left him helpless and in danger of being arbitrarily killed off, if not by the romans then by friendly fire.
"Colonel Ruregen!"
Oh no! That voice…
"Whatever you do, stay where you are!"
Tanya emptied an entire clip of her rifle, downing a few romans, before landing beside Ruregen.
"Major Deurechaff!"
"Don't' speak, or you might bite your tongue."
Ruregen immediately knew what's to happen. He clenched his jaw and entrusted his salvation in Major Deurechaff's hands. Zorzal in the meantime could scarcely believe what he was seeing. A child, playing soldier? He had faced and battled several female opponents in the past, the most notable being the fierce warrior bunnies, but this girl was no more than a child, barely in her teens, and she came to save one of her kind?
Is this some kind of joke? No matter they're both about die!
"Kill them both!" he commanded, and romans carrying crossbows complied with the prince's order. Their attacks however stop short in actually hitting the two for they were protected by some mystical barrier, causing the bolt to harmlessly bounce off. Soon after, a couple of the attacking romans fell to the shots of a pair of flying men hovering some distance away.
Those two are too slow Tanya thought, referring to the time it took Visha and Granz to provide fire support. Well, doesn't matter. I've got what I've came for. She took a good of look of Zorzal and evilly smiled. I'll be back for you. Taking hold of Ruregen, she then promptly took off to meet up with her team. She then handed her charge to the waiting pair to have him flown to safety.
"What are you going to do?" Visha worriedly inquired.
"I think I just found their boss. I'm going after him!"
While Visha didn't like the idea of Tanya going it alone, she had great faith in the Major of taking care of herself.
"Just don't do anything reckless!"
"You don't have to say it."
And she was off; hurtling towards the way she came, eager to bring down her intended prey.
"She's coming back! Loose arrows!"
Archers joined in, adding to the crossbowmen who tried shooting down the returning target. Tanya weaved and rolled in the air, seemingly striving to avoid the arrows and crossbow bolts meant for her but in reality was trying to distract the enemy from her true intention, and even if an attack connected it merely gets deflected by her magical shielding.
That guy...he must be very important, judging from the way he acts and dresses. Eliminating him right now would probably deliver a great blow to the enemy's already dwindling morale…Well, it's now or never!
After a sudden aerial twist, Tanya dived in straight for the kill, trusting on her inertial barrier to protect her from their puny arrow barrage. A roman officer somehow read the flying girl's plans, that her real target is Prince Zorzal! This theory is solidified when he saw soldiers adjacent the prince falling to her attacks and leaving him wide open!
"Your Highness!"
The officer rushed towards Zorzal. Tanya magically empowers the bayonet of her rifle, making it sturdier and sharper, able to cut easily through both flesh and bone. She makes the swing, relishing the look of Zorzal's horrified expression before her blade hits home. Her blade connects but it isn't her intended target, instead it's the officer who managed in time to act as a human shield for his sire, his head sliced in half horizontally. This however wasn't enough to stop the blade and would still have gone for Zorzal if were not for another factor that saved his despicable life. Tyuule. The warrior bunny queen, with almost inhuman reflexes, rushed for the prince and was able to pin him out of the way of Tanya's blade, barely, leaving him with a bloody scar on his right cheek but at least he is still alive.
"Soldiers of the Empire, protect you prince! Protect him with your lives!" declared Tyuule while covering a pathetically wailing Zorzal who was squirming in pain on the ground from the wound he received.
Whether they actually acted on Tyuule's pronouncement, or It was because it was their sworn duty, the nearby romans crowded around the pair and formed tortoise formation around them, with a wall shields at the edge, and shields rose over their heads, forming a near perfect protection for those within.
After her pass, Tanya flew up and hovered high over the assembled shield formation, her quarry, and that accursed rabbit woman, were presumably underneath all that clutter of crude protection.
"You think that's going to protect you?" she taunted, and started shooting again, using her best judgement in pinpointing her target.
A soldier fell dead right beside Zorzal, startling further an already emotionally disconcerted prince, the image of his near death still fresh in his mind.
"Hold your ground, men!" an officer called out to his soldiers maintaining the tortoise formation after a couple of them already were taken out by the flying girl. He calls out to Zorzal.
"Your Highness, flee while you still can! Escape back through the gate! We'll hold this position as long as we're still breathing!"
"Did you hear, milord? If you really value your life you must get out of here fast! The Empire still needs you!" said Tyuule, offering her hand to a quivering Zorzal. He was dumbfounded, staring at her, unsure on how to react to the gesture but he eventually took her hand.
"Yes, that's it, milord." She helped him up and both of them cautiously maneuvered through the narrow path provided by the milling men within the protective formation, towards their escape route: The Gate.
"This is taking too long." said Tanya in annoyance. She had already killed three romans and wasted half of her clip, which has indeed become an inefficient method of making a sure kill of her chosen target. Also she now notices that the shield formation was inching ever closer towards the opening of the gate-like monolith.
"Thinking of escaping? I don't think so." Tanya took a deep breath and focused, taking aim once more as began to pray. "As You made my eyes see, Lord, make true my aim! Bring death to my enemies!"
She fired a single magically charged round and let it fly though one of the many gaps of the of the shield setup. When it made impact, the bullet detonated, causing an explosion that totally broke the roman's defensive posture, scattering men and shields in every direction. Fortunately for both Tyuule and Zorzal, they were at the periphery of the blast but were still knocked off their feet and suffered some minor injuries in the process.
"Get me out! Get me out of here!" screamed Zorzal, finally at the end of his wits. On impulse, he bolted for the dark confines of the Gate, leaving Tyuule behind. The warrior bunny queen gritted in pain and balefully stared back at Tanya, inwardly cursing the girl. She then followed suit with her master and disappeared out of sight as well.
"Shit, they got away." she breathed under her breath. While she would love to pursue them, she wasn't that foolish to make pursuit alone. Also, she's not sure if there would be any ill effects if she or anyone besides these romans and their monstrous minions enters through depths of the strange magical structure. And of course there's the matter of dealing with the remaining interlopers within the city. The last part seems to get answered as she spots a column of Panzer I rolling down the street and eventually taking line positions and beginning subjugation actions against the enemy, making short work of them. Tanya took a few moments in watching the scene unfold, that crisis was near it end and decided to help out in the cleanup.
The Battle of Berun has ended but at a great cost. A great many buildings and establishments have been damage while some were still burning but are being handled by the city's fire brigade, now that there was little or nothing preventing them from doing their job. As with regards to the death toll of civilians, it was staggering. Going into the hundreds and still rising. An atmosphere of tragedy heavily hung over the air and with the populace, their feelings mixed. Many were mournful over the loss of family members, friends, lovers, and comrades in arms in the hands of these invaders. While other were angry and upset, wanting to point blame at anyone or anything. Why did this happen? Who was responsible? These and many other questions were slowing becoming fuel to a growing hatred within the hearts of the survivors and the living. But for now they had to try and move on, start rebuilding and recovering, and of course be thankful for many things still in spite all that has happened.
Tanya intently stared at the Gate, staring into the dark abyss of its interior, wondering to herself, if all that has happened, this 'thing', could this be all because of 'him'? She then noticed it, the sudden silence. Looking around she sees the world around her having come to a standstill, frozen in time, save her. She was quite well aware of what was going on.
"Being X…show yourself!"
"THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, IS NO."
Tanya turned to the source: a fallen roman, which uncannily stood, floating a couple inches off the ground. Weirdly enough, it was the very roman she killed by slicing his head in half. What was more unsettling was the mouth which twisted into sinister smile. However, Tanya has gotten used to these sick antics.
"What? Are you saying all these crazy shit aren't you're doing? I find that hard to believe!"
"I CARE NOT OF YOUR DISTRUST OF ME. THIS PORTAL…" The floating corpse gestured at the Gate. "IS AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE TO ME AS WELL. HOWEVER THIS I CAN TELL YOU: I FORSEE A GREAT TRAGEDY SHOULD THIS GATE REMAIN OPEN."
Tanya didn't like the sound of this but was beginning to lean toward the plausibility of Being X's story.
"I can imagine. Those Romans, I fear they'll most likely return, If not them, probably something far worse."
"INDEED. IT IS AS YOU SAY. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TANYA?"
"What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously.
"OH, COME ON. AS YOU'VE FORESEEN YOURSELF, THE HATE YOU AND THE EMPIRE HAVE SOWED WILL BEGET MORE HATRED – A SOLE REASON FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO GO AGAINST YOU!"
"So you're really pushing for that. You bastard!"
"AND WHILE YOU WAIT AND WORRY FOR THE INEVITABILITY, ANOTHER THREAT LIES IN THE VERY HEART OF YOUR SO-CALLED FATERLAND."
The horrid corpse wicked smile grew broader, more sinister as it taunted Tanya to no end.
"THE STAKES HAVE DEFINITELY GOTTEN HIGHER. WHICH WILL YOU DEAL WITH FIRST? CAN YOUR EMPIRE TRUELY HANDLE ALL THE ADVERSITY ARRAYED AGAINST IT ALONE? PERHAPS NOW, YOU HAVE COME TO-"
Tanya decapitated the rest of the corpse's head with her magically charged bayonet. It then limply fell back to the ground, but the furious little blonde girl wasn't finished with it. She proceeded in vigorously stabbing and cutting the thing, putting all her personal grudge into the effort.
"No…fucking way…I'll never acknowledge you…You piece of crap! Want to bring the whole world against me? Fine! Bring it on! Up the ante with this…gate thing! I'm going to beat you at your own game! Just you wait! Anybody that stands in my way will get what's coming to-"
"Major Degurechaff! Stand down!"
Tanya stops what she was doing when she heard Colonel Ruregen calling her attention. It was then that she realized that world has come back to life and saw the Colonel, Visha, Weiss, and rest of the squad leaders of the 203rd, starting at her with looks of abhorrence over what she was doing
"Care to explain what the hell you were doing, Major?" asked Ruregen, fixing his glasses as he somewhat regained his composure after that horrific display.
Tanya was at lost to what to say after being caught red handed. They must really think she has completely gone bonkers. But she has, in the past, gotten away with several of her over the top outbursts. It's just that justifying it while mutilating a corpse is going take a little more of explaining. But Tanya knew what to say. She quietly steeled herself and stood a perfect attention, facing those before as she addresses them.
"Colonel Ruregen! Requesting for the 203rd Aerial Mage Battalion to proceed through the gate and to deal with the menace from beyond!"