Epilogue
In the end the battle to take the capital lasted only three hours or so. This was largely attributed to the destruction of the garrisons and the Jade Palace early on. This action wiped out most of the enemy's manpower. Additionally destroying the entrances to the city made it impossible for the enemy to keep the allies out. The Allied forces' armor vehicles were impervious to everything the empire had. Only a oger, or direct hit from a trebuchet or catapult would have a hope in doing any damage. That was making big assumptions on the likelihood of a hit too.
During their discussions the Emperor learned about the battle on the other side of the gate that started all this. They attacked an island called Bimini, Belonging to a country named The Bahamas. This country was part of a commonwealth of nations under another country called The United Kingdom. That nation and its common wealth were allied with another nation that was nearby to the island of Bimini, The United States. Collectively they had been fighting a large alliance of several nations, or nation like states. The battle went well for their forces at first, But turned south when the US Military arrived.
The real events of the battles fought in this world were also revealed. The initial battle around the gate resulted in four Imperial ships being destroyed, With no losses to the allies. The battle to take saltwood keep, and Mare-Oppidum was over in a few hours. Much like today's battle. Again with no losses to the allies When he sent that Legion reinforcement that included his own daughter. The battle had been lost long ago. That legion marched to their death and he had no way of knowing.
It was the battle against that legion that made everything clear. They never had a hope of winning. There was no scenario in which they would win. In that battle the allied ground forces numbered only a hundred or so, against over a thousand Imperial soldiers. The allies lured the empire to an area and willingly gave them the high ground. To the commander of that legion they must have looked foolish. But a great distance away were enemy weapons that could hurle a 'shell', as they called it an even greater distance. A distance that would take hours of marching by the legion was covered in seconds by this shell. Then he learned that the same distance could be covered by other world vehicles in less than an hour. Or minutes for their flying vehicles. In fact those flying vehicles made the trip from Mare-oppidum to the Capital in an hour. That was a two week long march, or two days for a monarch. But only an hour by these air vehicles, or ten by the ground ones. And again. The allies suffered no losses in that battle.
It became clear. This enemy could out run, out maneuver, and out gun the Empire no matter what they did. Even with magic. Even if every soldier was a mage capable of the highest level of destruction magic. This enemy would destroy them. A destruction mage had to see his target. And destruction magic itself required immense amounts of magical power. It was also very tiring on the mage. These other worlders could rain death upon someone from almost a day's journey away. The emperor knew then, Surrendering was the right choice. Or rather, It was the best outcome after a bad choice made long ago.
The discussion continued for a few hours with some breaks. During these discussions the fate of the captured Bahaminin citizens was learned. Slavery. Most went to labor camps working as miners, loggers, farmers. Expendable labor. Some, Mostly women; Were forced into sex slavery, or servants to nobals. Some were even working as servants to the nobility here in the capital. The children that were taken got off best. They were being trained as gladiators. Well fed and looked after. The UN overseer was furious when he found this out. It would take time. Months even. But hopefully most of the Bahaminian citizens could be recovered.
Back at Mare-Oppidum, Brigadier General Byrne was having a meeting with a scientist, and a mage of this world. After months of research and even some tests. They concluded there was no way to enlarge the gate. Their presence in this world will be forever limited by the sixty foot beam restriction. Teams of historians and scientists began to come over now that the fighting was over. They of course had their opinions. Be Careful of exposing this world to advanced technology. Be very careful of setting up a democratic government similar to one back home. But rather or not those in charge would listen was anyone's guess. Companies sent their own scientists and engineers as well. Their job was to look for resources. There was no way this defeated Empire could pay reparations to the United Kingdom, or The Bahamas. So payment would come in the form of natural resources and land. They were here to find it. Though the expense of transporting it would be high when only barges could make the journey. Sure someone would probably design and make a purpose built ship, but that would take time.
A few months later
Piña stood at the stern of a vessel called a luxury yacht. It had passed through the gate not long ago. For her first time she was in another world. It was night time here. And a dark one at that. The air was cool and crisp, but not cold. It was actually quite nice. She had been told it was just becoming spring on this side of the gate. In her hand she held a beverage that had her namesake. It was very good. Fruity and relaxing. The taste alone reminded her of spending a summer in a beach house owned by the royal family.
Joining her were her friends from the rose order. Two of the ten or so that actually survived the war. The first was Grey. Her mentor, and the man who was captured and imprisoned with her. The second was Hamilton. She survived her injuries sustained in the battle at the capital. But lost both legs in the process. The other world offered to replace them for her. Replacing missing limbs. The very idea seemed unfathomable.
Piña herself was selected to be the Empress. She would spend the next few months learning about this world before taking up the responsibility. Already her schedule was booked for several weeks. First stop was a city named Miami. There her entourage would board something called a jet to a place called New York. Here she would be introduced to people who run the various countries of this world. Then off to the United Kingdom to meet the queen. The figurative leader of that kingdom. Figurative? She was told it would be explained. A few months from now she was to attend a memorial service on the one year anniversary of the attack by the Empire. That would be on the island of Bimini, of which she could actually see the lights in the distance.
This whole past year has been so much. The gate opened, sending then losing an invasion force. Then the war that followed. She lost her friends in the rose order. Bozes, Nikolasha, Beefeater, Panache, and Shandy. Those were her friends and comrades. And now she would be Empress of the Empire. Forming relations with the people who killed them. But Piña knew the people were not responsible. It was a war after all. One that her people; No, her country's former leaders started. And from what she had learned of this world so far, They were lucky. Apparently the armies of this world possessed far greater power than what was displayed in the war. Her job would be a difficult one. How could she negotiate with an enemy who could at any time wipe them out. But they wanted her to represent her people.
It was going to be a tough and very busy future. This future was thus now uncertain. But she knew one thing for sure. She was witnessing the beginning of a new era. For both sides of the war.
Final Authors Note: Well that was fun. I hope you had a better time reading it than I had writing it. I figure most people in the Gate fandom would not like this because of its odd style and short read time. What can I say, im a shit writter. But I did not want to write yet another half thought through story that ends after Itlica because the writer got board. Bad as it is, it is a complete story. I have been reading all the reviews that have come up since I started posting this. I plan on responding to them after the first of October. Ill let the reviews accumulate until then, then respond to some of them in a final chapter. Until then I hope you enjoyed it, and may everyone have clear sky's and smooth sailing.