Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY nor Summoning Japan. They belong to their respective owners.
Menagerie Desert. Same time as the "Attack on Kuo-Kuana".
Upon the harsh deserts of Menagerie, where the land was desolate with no signs of life in the horizon, a large dust cloud appeared.
Those living in this kind of harsh of environment would know that this is no ordinary dust cloud or sandstorm for all that matters.
Anyone with the right mind who lived in this conditions would know that a sandstorm would be around for at least another few months when the winds were strong and the climate at the right season.
The dust cloud, however, was produced, not by any natural means, but by hundreds of armored vehicles speeding at its highest possible travelling speed in this sandy desert. Reaching towards their desired destination… to be precise, their objective.
Among the vehicles travelling the desert is the newly commissioned Type 8 Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) presented in November of 1948 and immediately went to production began two months later in January 1949.
The structural design of the Type 8 APC has a length of 6.1 meters, with a width of 2.4 meters, and a height of 2.51 meters. Having a total weight of nearly 16 short tons.
It is fitted with three 7.7 mm Machine Gun all of which were mounted, in a WW2-style, ball-fitting, one at the front and one each on both sides in a casemate-style typically seen in warships before and during the First World War, along the left side of the glacis plate with the secondary weapon, the Ho-103 machine gun (otherwise known as the 12.7 mm Type 1 aircraft machine gun), fitted to the APC roof in a trainable turret ring with full 360-degree traverse. The Ho-103 emplacement was slightly protected by a rather smallish personal armored shield, but enough to withstand small arms and artillery shrapnel. the commander sat behind the driver with the driver himself situated at the right side of the hull. There was a complete crew of six including the five machine gunners with additional room for up to twelve combat-ready passengers in the rear compartment.
The design sported six road wheels to a track side with the drive sprocket located at the front hull sides and the return roller at the rear. The track function allowed for improved off road performance over that of similar wheeled systems. Her design was such that she was given a sloping front glacis plate and lower hull with featureless slab sides, a flat rear panel and a squared-off upper hull. The flattened top hull was convenient for the carrying of additional supplies and even extra personnel should the situation dictate it. There were circular access hatches located forward and aft of the upper hull slab.
The Type 8 APC was designed and manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to replace the aging Type 1 Ho-Ha Half-Truck and Ho-Ki APC as a multi-purpose vehicle intended to be prime movers of heavy artillery, supplies, and, of course, troop carriers. Top road speed was noted to be around 45 km/h.
Alongside with the Type 8 APCs are the Type 3 Chi-To and type 7 MBT, first manufactured in 1944 and '47 respectively.
The Type 3 Chi-To was developed for the sole purpose of being an all-purpose tank, able to provide infantry support, frontline vehicle, and, most importantly, a Tank-to-Tank battle as IJA officers began to theorize that the tanks purpose was no longer used solely as Infantry Support, but as a means to combat other significant Armored Vehicles that are armed with powerful Anti-Tank properties.
The Chi-To was a medium-class tank system, weighing in at 33 Short Tons and armed with a capable long-barrel type 5 75mm man gun (based on a proven anti-aircraft weapon itself based on an original Swedish Bofors design). Armor protection was 75mm at her thickest facings with construction being all-weld. The long-running track assemblies straddled with the hull which sported a low-set superstructure under the turret. The track systems featured seven small road wheels to a track side with a drive sprocket at the front, the track idler at the rear and three track return rollers. The chassis was fitted atop a Bell crank suspension system and powered formerly by a single Mitsubishi AL Type 4 air-cooled V12 diesel-fueled supercharged engine outputting 412 horsepower at 1,800 RPM. It is currently fitted with a powerful Mitsubishi Type 7 engine outputting 570 horsepower at 2,100 RPM. This provided the modified Type 4 with a top speed of 30 mph with a range of 160 miles, in contrast to the 28 mph speed and 155 mile range.
The 75mm main gun was backed by a single Type 97 LMG for anti-personnel – fitted at the bow – and a Ho-103 Machine Gun as a coaxial mount. There were also mountings on the turret roof for adding another machine gun for close-in anti-aircraft defense. The turret itself sported a rather tallish profile – making the tank system, as a whole, promote a rather tall side profile – a sure negative on the battlefield. The turret was completed with a slightly angled side surfaces and shaped as a hexagon when viewed in the top profile.
The Type 3 was manufactured around the same year it was designated, producing a standard 50 hulls per month as the need for tanks were not urgent enough to have it mass produce in the hundreds.
The Type 7, on the other hand, was the Chi-To's direct successor.
Since the Type 3s production began, development of a new tank under the concept of being as fast and maneuverable as a Light Tank, Firepower of a Heavy Tank, and the armor and weight of a Medium Tank. It was called as the Type 7 MBT (Main Battle Tank).
Full development of the Type 7 MBT began at earnest in 1943 with the first prototype STA-1 delivered in December 1944, and the others in February 1945 (STA-2), January 1946 (STA-3) and November 1947 (STA-4), with test improvements of each one. And by the last month of 1947, the STA-4 was chosen. This prototype would become the production model, with production of the Type 7 began at January of 1948. The same month where the Empire had first made contact with Qua-Toyne.
The hull of the Type 7 was conventional, welded, with a three-sided front slope and well-sloped sides. The catwalks were quite reduced, and fasteners for additional equipment and storage were welded to the side slopes. The turret was cast, rounded at the front, with a conventional mantlet housing the main gun and coaxial Ho-103 Machine Gun, and a long rear bustle with pronounced overhang. Additional storage was often mounted behind, and later on, smoke dischargers welded on its sides. A rather large hemispheric commander cupola was mounted over the turret, topped by a single mount for a 12.7 mm (cal.50) Machine Gun.
The driver sat on the right and had a hatch surrounded by three periscopes, one facing front and two facing the front side corners. The transmission was on its left and could be accessed by removing a panel. The domed commander cupola comprised four vision blocks angled upwards, with a stereoscopic rangefinder with x7 magnification. The gunner had an x6 magnification periscope, as well as an x6 magnification sight.
The chassis and drivetrain was inspired by the Type 3 Chi-To Tank, counting an additional roadwheels than the Chi-To (seven). The roadwheels, drive sprockets (relocated at the front), idler, and return rollers were all tailor-made for the Type 7, although the tracks were similar to the Chi-To type. The suspensions were torsion bars, with four shock absorbers, to the front and rear roadwheels pairs per side.
The Type 7 90mm gun was an inspiration of the Type 99 88mm Anti-Aircraft Auto-loading Artillery with a characteristic T-shaped muzzle brake, but of Japanese manufacture by Japan Steel Works, designated as the Type 7 AT Gun. It had a muzzle velocity of 910m/s [with Type 7 AP-T (OTL M318AP-T ammo)]. There was a small hatch with a flap for ejecting spent shells to the right of the loader. 18 rounds were stored in the rear bustle, while the others were distributed inside the hull. The radio was also mounted into this bustle.
The engine was the Mitsubishi Type 7 12 cycle Diesel Engine, giving 570 hp 2100 rpm, and had a 29600 cc capacity. As customary in previous tanks design by Mitsubishi, the exhausts pipes were located on either side.
During the five year Isolation Period, industrial factories in Manchuria received a dramatical boost in terms of manpower and equipment given to them by the Imperial Army and Government at the time of the IJA's resource and development prioritization at the first half of the Isolation Period.
Since at that time, production reached all time new heights as factories are being made, so too were the vehicles made by the aforementioned factories for the manufacturing of IJA equipment and vehicles.
Not only that, the Showa Steel Works continued to produce more steel and iron in each passing month reaching tens of millions, enough to feed the Imperial Navy of their needs in just the first year. As such, when the prioritization period for the Army expired, and the ratio returned to the favor of the Navy, they had more than enough to suit there needs as well as for their naval counterpart as well.
Inside of one of the many Type 8 APC vehicles was a certain young girl, who looked to be around twelve years of age, wearing the standard IJA uniform, fitting for her size, complete with a standard Type 4 Semi-Automatic Rifle in her hands.
Although as large as it is for her size, remarkably, she was able to hold and even aim it as easily as the average IJA soldier trained to use the rifle with good results.
At first glance, she didn't have any remarkable features, except for her short stature and unbelievably young look. But if you look closely enough, you'll notice her ears… or the lack thereof.
On top of her head, covered by her helmet, was her cat ears. A feature only the sub-human race known as the demi-humans possessed such physical appendage that distinguished them from ordinary humans. That includes her black tail behind her.
Her name was Felicia, the same girl that was shot by an experimental drug at the time of the Lourian Occupation of Gim. The same girl who was mentioned in a report to the Imperial High Command to be healer of sorts. An Apprentice Mage if you will.
As for why she was here, wearing the Imperial Army's uniform and weaponry, and currently inside the Type 9 APC. Let's rewind a bit.
After the annexation of the Kingdom of Louria to the Empire of Japan, the continent of Rodenius was transported to another world alongside with the Japanese Empire, as the latter had similar experience in the past.
The top mages of Qua-Toyne felt a huge build-up of mana gathered around the atmosphere, exponentially growing to the point that when the mages first noticed its build-up it was already too late.
As the phenomena of them being transported to another world came a major shock to them. The Empire of Japan had similar reactions but was toned down in comparison as it was the second they've experienced it.
As the days went by since their transfer to a world where the night showed a shattered moon, Felicia was officially known as an orphan due to records of her parents were confirmed to be killed by Lourian soldiers by the order of their commanding officer.
Since she had no longer have a home, since it was destroyed during the liberation of Gim by the Japanese via Artillery Bombardment and consecutive Air Strikes, nor she had any parents and known relatives to come back to.
Supposedly, she was about to go to the Capital of Qua-Toyne to find a job, a place to stay, and have an entirely new life.
But it all changed when she heard news that the Empire of Japan was recruiting foreign mages into their ranks as volunteers sponsored by both the Qua-Toyne and Quila government to give said mages who are willing to volunteer to join them whether be magical research, soldiers for their Army, sailors for their Navy, receive citizenship to their Empire, and other promising privileges with a high income by the Empire's standards. As such, since she doesn't have anyone to return to nor she had something to stay, she resolved herself by presenting herself to the Japanese Embassy at the Capital.
Naturally, it came as a major surprise for the Japanese as they did not expect Felicia, who was extremely well-known to the Imperial Government as a Goddess of Healing with her feats easily measured by her title alone and was stated in the report to have fully healed a man who had his arms and legs cut off with his body suffering third degree burns. All of which she had managed to do in a meager five seconds, including the time it took for her to regenerate missing limbs from her healing magic alone.
The Qua-Toyne government was also surprised at this. The promising prodigy, and perhaps a goddess reborn in mortal flesh, who had reached the skill level of Archmage in just a few months with near-to-no formal training driven by her hesitating desire and forced actions in aiding the Japanese in their intelligence gathering from captured Lourian officers via torture, heal, torture again, then heal method on a near daily basis. It was also she is able to use near-impossible healing spells thought to be forgotten. Even using healing spells far greater than what they had been purposed for. And with the high mana reservoir, thanks to the fact she had gained it by having her mana pool constantly drained to its limits, and having only a night's rest to restore, especially pushing her own magical abilities to its limit.
She was so well-known, to the point she became a political figure that both the governments of the Empire and the Principality wanted her to join/stay with them.
The Empire of Japan was willing to take her in, solely based on the power she holds. They believed that her possessing modern knowledge would help her produce new spells based on scientific studies of their old world. With elements foreign to her world, and possible technologies it would make by mixing science and magic into one.
The Qua-Toyne, on the other hand, wanted to give her the official rank of Archmage and give her the privileges as a high-standing mage in the world of magic as her potential magic would help benefit the Principality in restoring magic that was once lost and should be restored.
However, to their complete shock and utter surprise, she absolutely stated that she will be joining the Imperial Japanese Army as a mage soldier. A unit using firearms and magic as its primary role.
There was another reason, she was deeply indebted by a certain IJA Sergeant who had supported her in her times of need, a Private who had been her friend at her darkest of times, and their commanding officer, the Lieutenant, who had been a role model in keeping her confidence in seemingly despairing moments.
Of course, when her words reached to the high brass of the Imperial Army itself, they were overjoyed that a extremely valuable person such as Felicia to join them and not to the Navy, much to said branch's chagrin who had nothing to do with them, and would make good use to her.
This was highly debated by the Diet at the thought of a powerful mage would join the Imperial Army, and the Qua-Toyne Government had similar thoughts as well.
The debate had reached nearly two weeks until a compromise was made to appease both sides.
The conditions were:
1.) She will be subjected to the Army and the Imperial Government.
2.) She will be trained as a Japanese soldier with twice the intensity by half the day. And the rest, she will be training to hone and create her magic spells to benefit the Empire's cause.
3.) She will be taught by a University Teacher and a veteran Archmage to improve her knowledge and education by both nations.
4.) Whatever mission that required of her magical prowess must be called by adherence to the first condition.
5.) Finally, she is allowed to travel around the Empire without restrictions and access to Qua-Toyne's ancient library full of spells that cannot be casted by ordinary mages.
This had managed to somewhat appeased both governments, but were wary that it might restrict her more than it could benefit by said mage.
She, who had been subjected to witness every horror during the Lourian Occupation of Gim, accepted the compromise without hesitation. Thus, unknowingly sealed her fate in the unknown future.
The first few weeks since the compromise had been accepted, life was absolute hell for her.
The intensity of the ordinary IJA recruit was hard to begin with, but with the twice the intensity it needed, it became hell.
Her magic training was also hard, she had to practically do what it is essentially known a live practice drill by expending tons of mana over and over by repeating the same spell until she could cast it non-verbally. A feat she once accomplished by performing the same healing spell during the numerous torture sessions she had to participate for extracting information from captured Lourian Officers until she memorized and concentrated it in her mind.
But, if there was a bad, there's always a good side of things. Especially–
"Felicia-chan~ how are you feeling today~? I hope you're doing well, especially when we're crossing this desert."
A black-haired, well-built young man around 18 years of age said in a swooning manner at the physically 13 year bodied cat demihuman who was snapped out of her thoughts by the man who sat across her.
"Hey Private! Would you stop swooning over her for a second!? It's getting annoying here!"
A man in his mid-20s barked at the soldier, with a thick scar across his forehead, similar hair color to the younger man before him.
"No, you shut up, you stupid bastard! Can't you see I'm worshipping our Goddess of Healing, especially when she's gracing us with her presence inside this vehicle!"
The Private, Agatsuma Shiroichi, barked back at his superior, Sergeant Hinomaru Yamashita, as he continued to swoon over his idol while the rest of the passengers – fellow soldiers in the same platoon – could chuckle at their antics.
"The only person shutting up is you, Private! Ever since she healed you from a near-death experience and a fatal bullet wound during live-exercise, you've been heads over heels for her! Would stop doing that, and I'll have your stupid head cut off with my sword!"
"Doesn't it matter, Sarge? She's here with us and I'm gonna savor every moment I'm here in this compartment with her. Right guys?"
"Heck yeah we do!"
"Especially when she one-shot that elephant-looking giant monster with only a Fireball spell."
"Yeah, and that one time she even prevented the entire expeditionary force into becoming a half demi-human."
"That also includes fighting this world's Goddess of Animals with her bare fists and blasted her to the Shadow Realm."
"The spell she used was so amazing, both the Emperor himself and even the Prime Minister of Qua-Toyne publicly dubbed her as the Reborn Goddess of Magic. All hail Felicia-chan!"
"All hail to the cat kid!"
"All hail to the sole female soldier of the entire Imperial Army!"
Laughter broke out while the girl herself was flustered by the praise given to the otherworlders at the feats she made since arriving to this world.
While her healing was greatly potent to easily warrant attention, the feat she made against the Goddess of Animals of this world was greatly exaggerated.
She did not fought the goddess, only negotiating her to have the expeditionary force to not become her subjects and turning them to this world's equivalent of demi-humans.
But the part where she blasted said goddess to the Shadow Realm was partly true. As the Goddess of Animals was a tiny bit arrogant enough to think that Felicia wouldn't pull off an inter-dimensional sending spell to another world. And in order to prove her point, she stayed where she stood and have the entire expeditionary force, including the entirety of the Japanese Empire and the people at Rodenius Continent to watch her and the goddess to showcase she did not have the capability to cast that spell, as well as to humiliate the cat demihuman in the process.
But to the goddess shock, and the surprise of the multi-continental audience, she managed to cast the spell with very specific factors.
Magic in the New World were powered by three separate systems.
One, powered by the knowledge and will of the mind. The knowledgeable and willing you are, the stronger the potency.
Two, powered by the caster's emotions. The stronger they are, the more likely they are to be powerful than it already is.
Three, the most unknown and rarely used system, was physical base strength of the body. The vessel which you are able to cast and hold the magic within.
Since her harsh training and learning schedule. She, who had her body reduced to what was essentially her 13 year old self, had forced to strengthen her body unknowingly reinforcing the vessel to the point where there are no repercussions on casting high-tier magic.
The torture and training had steeled her resolve unknowingly strengthen her mental willpower and her emotions to the point where it had caused her to numbingly cast spells without hesitating. Thus, the potency in which she casted her spells were abnormally powerful enough to have the Archmages of Qua-Toyne breathtakingly stood in shock of her power.
As such, it was these three specific factors that the Goddess of Animals were unaware of and caught off guard as a black portal opened and caught the goddess with no time to react.
And it was that day, both the Empire of Japan and the entirety of the Rodenius Continent had known and revered Felicia as the Reborn Goddess of Magic. The latter of which made a religion in her name, much to the chagrin of the cat demihuman.
Her flustered embarrassment of the mentioned events occurred just three months ago continued n before setting foot to this continent's capital.
Thus, it would be known to the 115 thousand soldiers of the Southern Continent Expeditionary Force to be a One-Day War.
Kuo-Kuana. Few hours later.
Fifteen.
Fifteen souls were the sole survivors of the two thousand lives that have stayed in Kuo-Kuana, the largest settlement of Menagerie.
It was these fifteen survivors that lamented the great disaster that befall upon the Capital of Menagerie.
For 80 long years had Kuo-Kuana had stood as a beacon for Faunus in Menagerie to stay strong and face the hardships they've long experienced.
But Ghira knew that the event the survivors experienced had broken their will and extremely traumatized them.
He could see a Dog Faunus mother holding the bodies of her husband and their limbless child as tears streaming down from her eyes. Gritting her teeth at the extreme sorrow and guilt she felt to be the survivor.
But what's worse is, she's not alone.
He could see a child crying at the remains of her parents.
He could see a young couple counseling at their lose of both their families.
An old Faunus fell to his knees and slamming his fists to the ground, enraged at the destruction caused by the attack.
A family of three, resting on the ground after their serious injuries were treated at the expense of the man helping them falling unconscious due to the severe concussion he had.
The rest stood in shock at what had happened a few hours back.
The large Faunus and his wife stood in front of the rubble of where their house stood.
So much destruction, and it lasted for ten minutes.
And in those ten minutes, nearly two thousand lives were taken from them.
The Belladonna Patriarch balled his fists and gritted his teeth, his wife went over and gave what was essentially a soulless stare.
"Ghira…" she said softly, but her tone was of lose and hopelessness, "What did we do to deserve this? Why...?"
Ghira could not answer her. In fact, he had no answer.
He had no idea this would've happen. Even if he was aware of it, the commitment where the attack was made was so great, he doubt that whatever force he could muster could not stop them from making an effectively destructive that essentially leveled Kuo-Kuana to the ground.
To make things worse, all of the communication systems and devices were all destroyed in the attack. As such, they no longer have the means to contact Sienna Khan nor the Four Kingdoms for all that matters.
They could send mails to White Fang HQ, but it take an extremely long time. And that's not even factoring the messenger being attacked by the Grimm.
For all intents and purposes, whatever the enemy planned this attack, they did it with a long-term strategic advantage in mind. One capable of crippling an entire nation of its ability to respond to any threat.
The planning of this attack was thorough, that Ghira can admit. With the survivors demoralized and traumatized enough to prevent an effective recovery, they've completely ensured that we have no way to defend ourselves.
With their communications severed by the attack, he knew that was no longer a way for them to contact the Four Kingdoms and even the White Fang. The latter of which whom Ghira had faith in in dealing whoever decided their attack with their ever-growing support of the International Faunus populace in Remnant.
Even then, it would take time. Time they did not have the luxury to take.
With the survivors' negative emotions emitting a flare in a dark night, Ghira knew it was a matter of time that the Grimm would attack at any moment.
He and two others were the only Faunus left who are veteran combatants to protect the others. Even then, the Chieftain considered it an impossible task.
But unknown to him, 115 thousand strong soldiers and mages combined with AFVs encircled them.
And cut!
Whew, sorry for the lack of action in this chapter. Hopefully the next chapter would feature with the Expeditionary Force negotiating with the survivors.
And with that said, don't forget to review and press the fav and follow button if you like this story.
Gabrielchiong11 out!