November 14th, 2288
Ingram heard the sound of revelie off in the distance at sat up in bed, stretching.
He got up and continued stretching before he put a set of shorts on and a black tank top shirt with the Enclave insignia displayed on the front and back along with the cluster of stars around it.
Ingram put on his boots and left the tent, looking around it seemed, few were getting up, though one girl had already been up, the one he'd seen with the strange outfit, Itami called a gothic loli outfit. ...Ingram still had absolutely no clue what a gothic loli was.
Regardless, Ingram started his morning workout with a run around the refugee area, he noticed he was being watched by the girl but knew there wasn't much of a chance of him actually holding a conversation with her, she was a local, and he knew absolutely nothing of the local language.
Other than the fact he knew the local language was some strange bastardised version of Latin.
It in the long run mattered little to him. Already reports were coming in that people were flocking to the Enclave, a gate opening in south of Boston, apparently, word didn't take too long to travel, a gate opened up, now all the civilians in the commonwealth wanted through. They wanted to claim land as their own. Of course this came with a price.
Civilians would have to be screened, ideologically, physically, mentally, and of course, they would have to be tested for radiation, though Institute personnel, and Minutemen were already across. As well, were a percentage of Enclave forces. Settlements such as Sanctuary, all the way out on the outskirts of Boston were almost abandoned as the word spread.
Ingram continued running his rounds, around the refugee camp as he noticed the... Gothic loli, the strange girl, best described as an elf, and the old man sitting at a table together, the old man was visibly, just sleeping while the "loli" girl, and the elf were talking in their language, Ingram stopped by his tent and stretched before he went back inside and changed to a more... Updated, Enclave field uniform for officers.
Upon leaving his tent, he'd notice the short blue haired girl, talking to the "loli" girl and the elf, the two would follow the blue haired girl. Ingram would of course be curious as to what was going on, but regardless he'd keep to himself, going back into his tent he'd take out an MRE from the already opened box and would come back out, going to the table where the old man sat, he put the box down and opened it, taking out one of the compressed protean bars that were inside of the box, he'd start eating.
It was essentially his breakfast. He noticed the three returned and emptied a few bags, taking them as they left again. Ingram got up and brought the MRE box with him, he'd follow the girls and watch them gathering scales from dragons. Strange indeed, just for what purpose were these girls gathering these dragon scales?
From behind he'd hear a familiar voice yell...
"Hands up!" Kuribayashi yelled and Ingram dropped his MRE, putting his hands up, instantly.
"Woah, hold on there Sergeant, it's just me, Colonel Ingram, just a different uniform." Ingram said
"Oh." Kuribayashi said, almost disappointed.
"Well I'm just glad you didn't shoot me." Ingram said as he leaned down and picked up his MRE box.
"Oh trust me, I was thinking about it but then I remembered there's more than just you." Kuribayashi said.
"Oh so, if I was the only member of the Enclave around in this world, you might have?" Ingram said, turning on the rock to face Kuribayashi.
"Eh, maybe." Kuribayashi said.
"That doesn't fill me with any confidence... But regardless, what are these girls doing?" Ingram asked.
"Oh, Lelei was asking about the dragon scales. They said in this world, they're valuable so we're letting them gather up as much as they can carry, to sell." Kuribayashi said.
"Huh. ...I guess scavenging is scavenging no matter what world you're in. Except in this case, it's not Pre-war ruins being scavenged, it's a battlefield." Ingram said before he offhandedly tossed a compressed protean bar to Kuribayashi.
"Hey what- ...Is this a cereal bar?" Kuribayashi asked, deadpanning at Ingram.
"It's a compressed protean bar. ...So basically yeah." Ingram said as he turned and watched over the girls.
"Unusual concept though, I'll admit." Kuribayashi looked over the protean bar and sneakily pulled a dosimeter to check the protean bar for radiation, thankfully it was free of radiation. So she dug in...
"It looks like that Enclave officer is watching us.." Lelei said as she gathered scales off a dragon while Rory held the bag open for her.
"Oh?" Rory looked around and saw Ingram eating a protean bar while Kuribayashi stood next to him.
"He must not know about how valuable scales are, he is from another world, like the JSDF." Lelei said as she dropped another scale into the bag Rory held.
"True enough.." Rory said, staring at Ingram.
Ingram watched the girls as they finished gathering the dragon scales.
"Seems like they're finished. We'll have to get going." Kuribayashi said.
"Where are they going?" Ingram asked.
"Some trading town, Italica." Kuribayashi said.
"I'll tag along. Would be best to preform my duties and preform recon on the side for General Ward." Ingram said as he got off the rock.
"I... You'll have to ask Lieutenant Itami." Kuribayashi said.
"Right, well first I'll change into something more appropriate." Ingram said as he left, back for the refugee camp, he returned to his tent and quickly got changed into his combat uniform with armour affixed to it, in addition he packed up his dress uniform and visor cap, he put his helmet on his head and attached his gas mask to his belt.
He felt it was better suited due to the fact he was heading into uncharted territory, best to have protection. Just encase.
Ingram finished putting on his uniform and armour before he made his way to the headquarters building, where unsurprisingly, Lt Itami was fiddling with one of the so called "smart phones" Ingram had seen JSDF personnel have.
"Morning, Lieutenant." Ingram said as he made his way to the passenger side of the humvee.
"Uh... Colonel Ingram? What are you doing here?" Itami asked.
"I'm tagging along, I do report to General Ward, personally. Preforming recon on this town would very likely benefit the Enclave, have you any complaints?" Colonel Ingram asked.
"No, not particularly, you can come along if you want, I don't think there will be any problem." Itami said.
"Alright, thank you." Ingram said as he went around to the back of the jeep, it seemed like the elf girl was hesitant about getting in but Kurokawa was there behind her.
Kurokawa put her hand on the elf girl's shoulder, the elf girl turned around to see Kurokawa, who smiled at her, she then noticed Ingram as well, who gave her a smile as well.
Quickly enough, with that, they would all be on their way to the town of Italica... Though back at Alnus, a new situation would pop up.
"So he's been summoned as an unsworn witness, and the Colonel too?" Yanagida asked.
"Yes, also a few of the refugees as well." General Hazama said.
"I understand that, but why Colonel Ingram too?" Yanagida asked.
"Well, under normal circumstances, he'd be brought to a separate, secret meeting, but apparently the MoD wants to give the Diet and Japan a personal view of the Enclave, somehow it's existence has already gotten out, and some of the details have leaked such as their advanced technology, and possibly, just what they might actually be. As well, he was present for the flame dragon attack. So they'll want to question him on just how he apparently, by all accounts single handed repelled the flame dragon. As well, the Diet wants a full briefing on the Enclave's situation. So in addition to the questioning, Colonel Ingram will be giving a presentation on their situation for the whole world to see." General Hazama said.
"Of course. But that will be problematic. Colonel Ingram, and Lieutenant Itami have both left for Italica, along with a few of the refugees to observe the trade that goes on there, atleast.. That's why Lieutenant Itami left, Colonel Ingram.. I'm not sure about." Yanagida said.
"I see, then we'll have to hope it doesn't take too long." General Hazama said...
Along the dirt roads, the scenery had barely changed, from forests to grasslands, Ingram found himself sitting alongside Kurokawa, Kuribayashi had told Kurokawa of his likely coming along and retrieved Ingram's Laser Rifle from the quartermaster.
Ingram just watched the scenery change ever so slightly as the ride continued on for what seemed about half a day. The oldest of Itami's group would spend the time checking the map with the girl, Lelei. That blue haired teen with the strange robes.
Meanwhile he could feel someone's eyes on him. On the opposite side of the vehicle, Rory would watch Ingram who would continue to keep his mind off it. The one thing Ingram did enjoy was being next to Kurokawa, that was an upside to this. Other than that, he forgot what it was like to sit on his ass for a good long while in a moving vehicle.
It seemed in the moment of Ingram's absentmindedness, which was ever so rare, the elf was looking at Kurokawa, only to be noticed, by Rory who quickly remedied it by... As far Ingram knew, by teasing her about it, at least that's what he got from the exchange.
"Sir." Kurata said to get Itami's attention.
"What's going on?" Itami asked, looking over to Kurata.
"We've got a plume of smoke on our two, Lieutenant." Kurata said, Itami looked to where Kurata was talking about and noticed it as well before the convoy came to a halt.
Ingram got up and came to the front of the vehicle, coming over behind Itami's seat.
"What's going on?" Ingram said as he took out his own binocular... Which was actually a monocular... Fashioned out of a long range, laser rifle scope.
"See for yourself." Itami said, almost handing his binoculars to Ingram... Before he realised, he had his own.
"Black smoke. Probably either a signal fire, or something else. Eitherway we ought to be careful. Want me to radio Bunker Hill to go to alert?" Ingram lowered his monocular.
"You'd best. If we get into trouble, Colonel, your guys would be faster to get here than ours. Our own helis aren't going to be up for another day." Itami said.
"Alright." Ingram said before he went to the radio and fiddled with it to get the right channel.
"Control Station Bunker Hill, this is Colonel Ingram, I repeat, Control Station Bunker Hill, this is Colonel Ingram, please respond, over." Colonel Ingram said before he waited for a response on the radio.
"Colonel Ingram, this is Bunker Hill, we read you, over." A woman said, one of the more usual radio operators, Ingram heard every so often when he was on the oil rig.
"Roger, Bunker Hill. Be advised, I'm out preforming recon with the JSDF near the city of Italica, we're seeing a plume of smoke, may be trouble, have a verti-assault force armed and ready, just encase. Preferably Enclave forces. Or hell, send a few Institute Synths if you want. Gen 3, none of those rust buckets of Gen 2s or 1s. They might accidentally shoot up the whole town instead of helping us, over." Ingram said, before he awaited a response.
"You're in luck, Colonel, we'll have one assault team, and one heavy weapons squad, ready, call signs will be Navarro and Autumn. We'll await your signal to send them your way and your radio beacon, over." The radio operated responded.
"Thanks, Bunker Hill, over." Ingram set the microphone of the radio back atop it. Before he went back to his seat and checked his weapon.
"If I know anything about my boys, they'll be quick about getting us out of trouble, should it come for us." Ingram said from his seat.
"Right, let's get going." Itami said as the convoy started rolling, however, not even Ingram could know how bad the situation could be there, but what unnerved him was how excited, Rory seemed to be getting.
Meanwhile, in the city of Italica...
"Norma! Hamilton! Are you alright?!" Pina yelled from the top of the wall which surrounded the whole of the city of Italica before she made her way down a set of stairs.
"Alive and accounted for ma'am!" Hamilton yelled, sitting, she leaned against a wooden barricade.
"Well what about me?! You didn't even bother asking if I was well or not! It hurts my feelings." A tall, grey haired knight said, jokingly, his longsword held, balanced on his right shoulder.
"After all these years? I know you better than that, Grey." Pina said as she reached the bottom of the stairs and approached the tall knight, who let out a hearty laugh.
Not long after, the four would start on their way back to the centre of the city, where it's ruler's home sat, relatively undisturbed by the fighting that had broken out around the city, just some short time ago.
"Your majesty... Why did we come out here to fight a bunch of crazed, blood thirsty bandits?" Hamilton asked.
Pina stopped right in her tracks and turned to the younger girl.
"We didn't have a choice!" Pina yelled.
"They raised the alarm, letting everyone know they had armed forces trying to storm the walls, I thought it was one of the armies from the other worlds! We did what we were supposed to. Rushed to their defense, and what did we find?! Soldiers from the other kingdoms turned rogue!" Pina yelled in anger, she sucked in a breath through her teeth and continued.
"Listen to me! You don't have time to lie about! The bandits will be coming back, it's time to bury the bodies and reinforce all the gates! The rest of my people are coming, but they're still three days away, if you can hold out that long, the order of the rose will avenge your fallen in battle! Just three days!" Pina yelled before she continued on her way to the mansion in the middle of the city with Hamilton in tow.
What would follow after her arrival to the mansion was a brief back and forth between herself and a butler, then a quick meal before she'd retire to her quarters. To dream of a simpler time, when she and those of her order were ignorant of the real dangers of the world, in truth, she wondered, if she only wanted to do this for show, and it just got out of hand... Or perhaps not.
Eitherway she'd not have the time to wonder or dream on it as she'd awaken, splashed with a bucket of cold water, as she did tell the head maid to do..
Pina shot awake, sitting straight up, yelling.
"The enemy! They're here!" Pina yelled, taking in a couple breaths before Grey would speak.
"We're not entirely sure what's going on out there. You might want to take a look." Grey said as Pina got up from the bed she had rested in, quickly she gathered her armour and sword, before she went outside, to the west gate.
It took little time to get there, Pina opened the slat on a smaller wooden entry door on the gate itself and looked through it. ...Three strange carriages and what looked like men in strange outfits inside, just barely what she could make out through the windows on the carriages.
"What the hell is that?" Pina asked.
"What's that one carriage in the back armed with?" Hamilton asked.
"Are... All these carriages... Made of iron?" Pina asked herself aloud.
Norma, up top on the battlements yelled down to the three carriages.
"Identify yourselves! If you're not our enemy, come into the open, now!" He yelled aggressively to the carriages.
Back inside the humvee...
"I think he wants us to come out." Ingram said as Lelei moved past him and went out the back of the vehicle, the elf girl followed and as did Rory.
"Well Colonel, you might not know the language but for being stuck in a freezer for 210 years, you sure can make out basics..." Itami said as he went to get out.
"I've been screamed at by plenty of chicoms, and drunk raiders in my time to know what an ass backwards version of latin is, son." Ingram said.
"Fair enough, coming with?" Itami asked.
"Yeah, fuck it might as well." Ingram said as he took off his helmet and put on his gas mask, only to put the helmet back on immediately afterwards before he followed suit, out of the rear of the humvee.
"Be safe!" Kurokawa said, Ingram gave her a thumbs up before he shut the rear doors and came around, with his laser rifle at the ready, joining Itami.
"Really? A gas mask?" Itami asked.
"What? Best to mask my appearance while I can." Ingram said.
"Fair enough." Itami said before he joined the three girls with Ingram, at the gate.
Itami knocked on the gate and waited, for a short while it seemed to Ingram they wouldn't be interested in opening... Up unto Itami went to knock again. At which point the door was mindlessly flung wide open, knocking Itami straight onto his back.
Ingram almost rose his rifle to take aim before he saw who was at the door. Some young knightly woman who clearly had no idea what she'd done until she looked down to see the full grown man on his back.
Inside Italica..
It didn't take long for the elf, and Rory to drag Itami through the door, Ingram followed behind Lelei and already he could feel a number of eyes fixated on him.
While it seemed like the Elf was giving the red headed knight a dressing down in their own language, Ingram noted a tall grey haired knight, speaking with a woman, another knight, younger than the red head.
Ingram looked down to Itami to see the elf pouring Itami's whole canteen out on his face, Ingram just sighed under his gas mask, it was then he felt the stares getting more and more noticeable as out of the corner of his left eye, he saw the red head shifted her fixation to Ingram and his... Otherworldly getup.
Though Ingram completely disregarded it. He turned around and observed the area around him. It was clear something was going on, and they might've just gotten mixed up into it... But that would have to wait as he heard Itami behind him, Ingram turned around to see Itami sitting up. ...And speaking the local language as far as he could tell. Fluently.
"Well son of a bitch..." Ingram's right hand shifted from the stock of his laser rifle, held out for Itami. But it seemed there was a silence as a younger knight started yelling in the ever so incomprehensible language that Ingram couldn't barely make heads or tails of.
But whatever it was earned a bit of shock from Itami, Rory, Lelei, and the elf.
Needless to say. Most everyone except for Ingram knew what was going on. And he wasn't comfortable with it. In anyway.
It didn't take long for an almost guided tour to start, however it was more of just a regular tour for Ingram as he followed behind Itami, Rory, Lelei, and the elf, though still.
The tall, grey haired knight, and the youngest knight he'd ever seen, followed behind Ingram, Ingram kept an eye on the two by looking over his shoulder, just giving them the universal sign of "I'm keeping my eye on you." by motioning to his eye windows on his gas mask, with two fingers then he pointed them at the two knights behind him.
It wouldn't be long before the group would reach a quite magnificent mansion and the throne room of it's apparent owner. ...A small girl, probably about 10 or 12. Ingram would follow up to Itami after it seemed the red head was finished speaking.
"Mind explaining what the red head's been on about?" Ingram asked Itami.
"Oh she's just explained the strategic value of this place... And it's high... Oh and that exchange before, she's apparently not just any redhead, but a princess." Itami began explaining as Pina would wonder just what language the two were speaking.
"What's going on? What are they saying?" Pina would ask.
"The man in the black armour doesn't speak our language, your majesty. He doesn't even speak the language, Itami speaks, but he does speak a language Itami already knows, English." Lelei explained.
"Eng... Lish?" Pina asked
"English. That man in the black armour is Ingram, his rank is above Itami's but they're not from the same force. Ingram is a Colonel in an organisation called "The Enclave", the organisation, Itami is apart of is the Japan Self Defense Force. They're both from similar worlds but the Enclave has far more advanced weaponry than the JSDF." Lelei explained.
This... Filled Pina with absolutely no confidence. She basically did just let in not only one enemy, but two. But it seemed they were civilised enough, Itami finished bringing Ingram up to speed before he'd ask Lelei to ask Pina if they needed any help dealing with the previously mentioned, bandit problem.
"Lieutenant Itami wishes to know if you'd want help with the bandit problem, though the JSDF wouldn't be able to get here fast enough to help, the Enclave, might." Lelei said.
"I would nominally not ask but... With the lives at stake here, I can't refuse any help. My knights are still three days ride away from us." Pina said.
"She'll take any help she can get, her knights are too far away to help." Lelei relayed back to Itami who in turn relayed it back to Ingram.
"I'll have to contact Bunker Hill. Tell her, she'll have Enclave support in a couple hours. But first thing's first. We need to get the rest of your men in the city, Lieutenant." Ingram said.
"Right. I know." Itami said before he turned his attention back to Lelei.
"Could you ask the princess if my men could come into the city?" Itami asked.
"Lieutenant Itami wants to know if his people can come into the city." Lelei asked.
"Of course." Pina said.
With that, Itami, Ingram, and the three girls with Itami left.
Pina would only be left with a strange... Gnawing sensation in the back of her mind. Like she was going to ultimately regret, letting these people in. ...More specifically, the Enclave.
In little to no time, Itami had third recon come into the city and allowed Ingram to use the radio in the lead vehicle, Ingram climbed in, but unknown to him, he was being watched by the older knight from the distance.
Ingram took off his helmet and set it off to the side before he took off his gas mask and began using the radio, fiddling with it he tuned through the radio channels until he got to the right one, one more.
"Bunker Hill, this is Colonel Ingram. Update on Italica situation. Situation is worse than previously anticipated. Local forces unable to stem tide of bandits attempting to break into the city. Requesting emergency support. Put me through to General Ward. Over." Ingram said, unknowingly he was also being listened in on by Kurokawa and Itami who were about to ask about the support.
Ingram would wait before a response would be given.
"Roger that, Colonel. Putting you through to General Ward." The same female radio operator from before said before some static would be heard, then cleared up. Itami and Kurokawa would, clear as day hear a man with a slight southern US drawl.
"Colonel Ingram, what's so urgent you've need to contact me, directly?" General Ward asked.
"Sir, as you're well aware, I've been going about the duties you've put me to, however an opportunity has arisen." Ingram said, awaited a response.
"Go on... Colonel." General Ward said, clearly intrigued by this "opportunity", Colonel Ingram saw.
"This town I'm currently in, with the JSDF is in need of real defenders. I've seen some boys here, probably as young as fourteen, being brought up to defend this town. I believe if we put sufficient resources into the defense of this town, the Enclave my find little to no resistance to our administrative take over." Ingram reported.
"Hmm... Why should we consider this route, Colonel?" General Ward asked.
"It's as far as I can tell, a major trading city, sir. Possibly even the jugular to the whole of the Empire, if we cut this place out and take it for ourselves, they'll have no choice but to surrender to us. Possibly, but thus far it's about the only trading city I'm aware of. There's also crops here which if we allocate about 40% we could not only feed Enclave forces but the whole of the Commonwealth." Ingram said.
A brief silence would follow, General Ward would clearly be weighing the consequences of this to the rewards of it.
"Alright, Colonel. You have my support. I'll give you whatever resources you need for the operation." General Ward said.
"Thank you sir, I'll just need a few good men. I already managed to get a Verti-assault squad and a heavy weapons squad, but I believe we'll need not only those two squads but we'll need to see about the formation of a special Military Police corps for Italica. To keep order during the transition to Enclave administration, I would also suggest we keep the countess in as the figurehead, however I believe Captain Garvey of the Minutemen would be best to take control of the city. The Minutemen will handle the civilian administration best since that has been their secondary mission. We should also consider sending older stocks of munitions here to, in time, train up a civilian militia to put the future manpower pool to use." Ingram reported his suggestions
"Alright, I'll give you those resources. Can you guarantee that that the transition will be smooth? And we won't have to devote more resources than the ones you specified?" General Ward asked.
His concerns were of course valid, the Enclave was still spread thin, though the gate would likely drive up membership, resources had to be used effectively and less had to be spent for this new world.
"I can guarantee I'll do my absolute best to make it smooth, General." Ingram said
"Alright, Colonel. Support will be there as soon as is possible." General Ward said.
"Thank you, General." Ingram said as the static cut in and changed back to the female radio operator.
"Alright, Colonel. We'll have the Verti-Assault Squad and Heavy Weapons.. Wait a minute. New orders. In addition to the Verti-Assault Squad and Heavy Weapons squad, a platoon of minutemen. Alright, the Verti-Assault and Heavy Weapons squads will be there in half an hour. The first group of Minutemen will arrive half an hour after that along with disassembled automated defenses. All will take six hours. But your first reinforcements will be there in a couple. Hang in there, Colonel, Bunker Hill. Out." The female radio operate said.
"Roger that Bunker Hill. Will hold out as long as we can. Reference point of landing is the mansion gardens in the centre of town, Colonel Ingram singing off." Ingram turned off the radio and sighed.
"I hope the locals don't try to resist..." Ingram said as he grabbed his helmet and gas mask, starting to get out of the vehicle, he looked around and closed the back of the vehicle.
"Lieutenant!" Ingram yelled for Itami.
Itami came from around the side of the vehicle with Kurokawa, Itami hid it well, that he knew what Ingram was planning from what he overheard. But the frown on Kurokawa's face told everything Ingram needed to know.
"Reinforcements will start pouring in, in an hour..." Ingram said, looking past Itami to Kurokawa.
"Alright I'll let the princess know." Itami said before he left, leaving Kurokawa and Ingram alone.
"Dare I ask why you have such a plain look of disapproval written on your face?" Ingram asked, but he knew, he just wanted to make sure it was what he thought it was.
"You're going to use the situation here to advance the Enclave. I heard everything, as did the Lieutenant." Kurokawa said, somewhat frustrated.
"Ah.. So it's about that.." Ingram said before he went over to a set of crates off to the side and sat down.
"Yes, it's about that! I thought you were better than that!" Kurokawa yelled at Ingram, a few heads turned in their direction, namely some from the JSDF.
"Kurokawa, let me ask you. Don't you remember what I told you? My world is dying. People are starving, they're surviving from the few crops they can grow and off irradiated food as well as mutated animals." Ingram said plainly, Kurokawa indeed had every right to be angry about this, but could she truly blame him, for his motivations to do so?
"I.. I know." Kurokawa said, her eyes shifted from Ingram to the dirt.
"Then you can't blame me for what I'm doing. I've estimated there's enough crops all around us to feed the few people that are still alive in the Commonwealth. I won't refuse them that. If another man, woman or child doesn't have to eat razorgrain, tatos, mutfruit, or eat from a radroach, brahmin, or any other mutated horror, left over from the great war. Then I will do what I must. We both have a responsibility, not just to ourselves, our immediate friends or comrades, but to our peoples." Ingram said as he got up and put his hand on Kurokawa's shoulder.
"I know." Kurokawa said, she couldn't argue. If the situation was truly so dire, there in what Ingram called, the wasteland, or the Commonwealth. Then it was necessary.
"I promise you, this food will be going to the wasteland. General Ward is a good man, he won't stockpile this resource while the rest of the Commonwealth, starves. He's like me. From before the war. The US might be gone for us, but we're all that remains of it and those people in my world are all that remains of the civilians there." Ingram said.
"Okay, okay. You've proven your point.." Kurokawa said with a sigh.
"I'm glad I did.. You don't think any less of me, do you?" Ingram asked.
"No, I'm just... I'm sorry. I forgot about all that." Kurokawa said, looking up to Ingram.
"Then please stop frowning, I haven't seen you upset yet, and I'd hate to imagine it." Ingram said, a smile donned on his face.
Kurokawa just shook her head and smiled.
"You big idiot.." Kurokawa said with a smile.
"There you go." Ingram let go of Kurokawa and picked up his helmet and gas mask.
"Keep your head on a swivel, Kurokawa. Least until my guys get here. I'll go catch up with the Lieutenant and we'll get to planning." Ingram said as he went on back to catch up with Itami.
Kurokawa just let out a sigh as she watched Ingram leave.
"So the rumours are true then?" Kurokawa heard behind her, the familiar voice of the only other female in the squad. Kuribayashi.
"Hmm? Rumours? What rumours?" Kurokawa quickly turned around to see Kuribayashi. Thankfully, just her.
"Oh don't even try it, you know better than that, Kurokawa." Kuribayashi gave the other a cheeky smirk.
"I firmly decline any and all conspiracies about myself and the Colonel." Kurokawa said to defend herself.
"Oh so it is the Colonel?" Kuribayashi's smirk remained. It was then Kurokawa realised what she'd just actually admitted to.
"I... Stop. Now." Kurokawa was of course thoroughly embarassed.
"Alright, alright. But does the Lt. know?" Kuribayashi asked.
"Possibly." Kurokawa said.
"Ooh, breaking the rules, without the Lt.'s permission. Unusual for you." Kuribayashi playfully punched Kurokawa's right arm.
"Just keep it to yourself." Kurokawa said before she walked away.
"Alright, fine." Kuribayashi said as she went her own way, the smirk just turned to a smile.
"Well.. Good for her." Kuribayashi let out a satisfied sigh as she'd return to whatever it was she was doing.
Meanwhile, back up at the mansion...
"So this is a map of all the entryways to Italica. Thus far, they've only hit two gates hard. The third, they've left mostly alone." Pina said as a map was rolled out for Ingram and Itami.
"She says, this is a map of all the entryways to Italica. Two gates have been hit the hardest but they've left a third one alone, mostly." Itami said.
"That whack on the head did you some good Lieutenant, I'm glad you were able to make heads or tails from that." Ingram said as he took off his helmet and gas mask, surprising Pina, she'd see a well groomed man with streaks of grey hair, here and there, a cleanly shaven face and blue eyes.
"Alright... So here's how we'll do this. With her permission of course." Ingram said, looking to Itami who would ask Lelei to translate for him as he'd translate to her what Ingram would be saying.
Lelei would proceed to explain as Itami explained to her, to Pina.
"We'll have the heavy weapons squad, here at the east gate. The Verti-assault team will be here at the south gate with Itami's forces." Ingram explained, giving time for Itami to translate to Lelei and Lelei to translate for Pina before he continued.
"We'll have Enclave reserves brought up from the Minutemen, they'll be trusted with the North gate." Ingram finished explaining his plan, just waiting for Lelei to finish translating what Itami told her.
Pina gave Ingram a nod of approval.
"Alright then, we're go then... But the Princess should still keep watch over the east gate with the local militia, just on the off chance they get through Enclave lines." Ingram said to Itami who proceeded to go through the whole thing of translating for Lelei who would in turn translate to Pina.
"Why? Aren't you sure your men can handle these bandits?" Pina asked Ingram.
"She's asking, aren't you sure your men can handle the bandits." Itami translated for Ingram.
"It's not a matter of being sure or not. That's not in doubt, it's a matter of being safe than sorry. The warfare I'm used to involves chicoms and their stealth suits, creeping into trenches and murdering officers in their sleep. With magic it's not too far off to assume this is a possibility so tell her to just be on alert." Ingram said.
Itami would translate the gist of what Ingram said to Lelei who would translate it to Pina.
The plans were set, in the next hour the first batch of Enclave forces would arrive to reinforce, much to the surprise to Pina and her knights, the Enclave arrived by Vertibirds which swooped down, one by one. Pina and her knights watched as power armoured soldiers with heavy weapons of such a type, no one there who didn't know what they were could make heads or tails of what they were or what they even did.
Ingram, himself coordinated Enclave troops to the gates, the heavy weapons squad would be placed at the eastern gate while the verti-assault squad would with Lt. Itami's men.
The strange armour these men wore and the weapons they carried scared Pina and her knights more than they did the locals, more than anything it seemed the locals were happy to have such fierce looking warriors on their side. More so because the troops were ready with extra food on hand for the civilians.
Pina could tell already, she'd regret her decision, and the Enclave would be why. Grey knew it too. These men rode in on metal birds, ready to defend the city with their lives, and they gave out food to the civilians. It was clear they were trying to sway the public opinion to the Enclave, and there was next to nothing they could do to stop it. They couldn't yank the food out of the civilians hands, that would just drive them faster into the arms of the Enclave.
All they could do was sit, hope, and wait, hope that maybe Pina's knights would come through and prove to be a more effective fighting force than the Enclave. But that may remain to be seen.
Hours later...
As day turned to night, the Enclave took their positions, the Verti-assault squad remained with Itami's forces while Ingram and the heavy weapons squad remained at the east gate, up on a pavilion with Pina and her knights.
Ingram watched through his binoculars while the power armoured soldiers below kept their eyes out as a four man fireteam stood with gatling lasers and mini guns. Up on the wall, one soldier was equipped with a missile launcher while the rest of the unit were armed with the previous mix of gatling lasers and mini guns.
Itami just watched as the power armoured soldiers stood out on the wall at the south gate more than they did anywhere else.
"Lieutenant." Itami heard to his right, turning, Kuribayashi came with a night vision monocular.
"Here's your NVs." Kuribayashi said, holding the monocular out for Itami.
"Thanks, Kuribayashi." Itami took the NV and started trying to attach it to his helmet, he'd quickly discover he'd have a difficult time doing it that way.
"Itami, dear.~" Rory said from off behind Itami.
"Hmm?" Itami turned to Rory.
"Why are you and Colonel Ingram helping a princess of an Empire which attacked your homelands?" Rory asked.
"I can't speak for Colonel Ingram, but I'm doing it to try to help protect the people of the city. ...Though I do have a few ideas on why Colonel Ingram might be doing it." Itami said.
"You really meant what you said, about protecting the people, but I would like to know why Ingram might be doing it.~" Rory said as she came over to Itami and offered to hold his helmet so he could put the attachment on it.
Itami handed his helmet to Rory and she held it steady as Itami began to attach the NV to his helmet.
"He's doing it to take the city without having to spill local blood. His people need a portion of the food the city produces, for good reason. They can't grow a lot of food there, and the food they can grow does more harm than good to the people." Itami explained as he got to work on attaching the NV to his helmet.
"I see... So he's doing it, not only to save the city, but to save his own people?" Rory asked.
"He's a soldier, like me. We fight for the good of all people.. He said "If you save one life, you save the world, entire.". That's what he believes and that's part of what keeps him going." Itami said.
"That and love. Obviously." Rory said with a smile.
"Love?" Itami asked.
"Mhmm. Him and Kurokawa." Rory said.
"You know about those two? He actually went for her?" Itami asked.
"It seems so, but they're trying to hide it. Like a forbidden love.~" Rory said as Itami finished up fiddling with his helmet, she turned it around and gently set the helmet on Itami's head.
"I suppose so. Still it might, possibly actually be forbidden. Could you keep it a secret?" Itami asked.
"Of course, if it's of such danger to them, I will gladly keep it a secret.~" Rory said with a smile donning on her face.
"Thanks, Rory." Itami said as he got up and buckled his chinstrap.
Off on the eastern side of Italica, Ingram and a minuteman radio operator were finishing their final checks on the pavilion which Ingram, Pina, and two of her knights would oversee the battle from..
"Alright, Gene- I mean Colonel. The radio is up and operational, radio checks have been confirmed, if any one unit has any problem then we'll be able to allocate forces appropriately." The radio operator said.
"Good work, Tech Sergeant." Ingram said, giving the operator a pat on the back before he went back to the pavilion, taking up a set of binoculars he'd scan the horizon...
As night fell, it would at the start be, quiet and calm.
"Tech Sergeant, keep Bunker Hill apprised of our situation, if anything changes, have them go to full alert status." Ingram said to the Tech Sergeant, set up behind him.
"Right sir." The tech sergeant said...
The night would be wrought with a tensity Ingram hadn't felt since the resource wars and the day he and the men he served alongside, stormed the oil refinery which served as the frontline headquarters for the PLA at Anchorage.
Hours would pass until almost 03:00 in the morning when suddenly...
"Incoming!" One of the power armoured soldiers yelled as he forced two men down, the rest also forced the others on the wall down as flaming arrows came, it wouldn't take them long to understand why they were being forced down as the arrows came down.
The power armoured soldiers let go of the men they brought down and picked up their weapons, holding them up over the about hip tall battlements, they began firing on the bandits who charged the wall, lasers and bullets started flying while every now and again a rocket would also fly.
It seemed the bandits were prepared for arrows as they carried their shields on their backs, but they weren't ready for bullets, missiles, and lasers.
Ingram watched from the pavilion, a smirk donning on his face.
"Tech Sergeant! Inform the other units we have engaged the enemy at the East gate!" Ingram yelled as he dropped his binoculars and took up his laser rifle, getting it trained on the gate while the heavy weapons troops on the wall kept the bandits off the top of the wall.
"Don't bother with trying to tell the civies to keep their heads down!" One of the power armoured troopers yelled to the others in his unit as they gunned down those who tried climbing up the wall, this force was enumerable it seemed.
In addition, they seemed to be driven to die, like junkie raiders, hyped up on psycho.
One of the militiamen cut the top two rungs of a ladder with an axe and pushed it back, causing it to fall over. He was quickly shot by an arrow and taken out of the fight, though he'd get one back for him as an Enclave soldier tossed a frag grenade down and took out a number of bandits but it seemed, quickly like the wall would be lost.
Ingram blew a whistle from the pavilion, which was heard by the heavy weapons troops on the wall, one of them grabbed Norma and jumped off the wall, landing on his feet he set the knight down and pointed back to the back up barricades, Norma didn't quite understand, however when the soldier pointed to the barricades, he knew what to do. Norma ran and got back behind the barricades as the Enclave forces withdrew from the wall.
Sadly some of the civilians weren't fast enough to get off the wall and got caught up.
That would quickly be the least of the defenders worries as the gate was broken through and bandits ran in with their shields held up, only to be met by the towering Enclave force which stood infront of the civilians.
But the bandits... Didn't attack? They drug in corpses and started using them to intimidate the ill-disciplined militia. One might consider they were also trying to intimidate the Enclave soldiers but... It didn't work.
One of the younger militia men went to go try and get retribution for the disrespect the bandits were paying to the dead militiamen they drug in... Only to be remedied by a quick knock back by one of the Enclave soldiers.
Ingram watched with disgust. These "people" weren't anywhere near the standards of subhumans the Enclave once had. No. They were filth.
"Wipe them out." Ingram said, giving one simple order which would be relayed as the Minutemen abandoned their post to join the fighting at the east gate.
Though it was too late...
"Look at these mockeries. They're nothing more than statues!" One of the bandits yelled, to rally his comrades... That was until the Enclave turned on the spotlights on their helmets and leveled their weaponry at the bandits.
This gave the bandits reason to pause as the miniguns spun up and began mercilessly cutting down any and all bandits in their way.
Pina couldn't help but be shocked herself as the Enclave effortlessly massacred the bandits.
In her mind, flashes came to Enclave soldiers, effortlessly gunning down legionnaires of the Empire, Colonel Ingram himself, standing on a pile of ash with his laser rifle in hand. ...Itami and Third Recon also came running with the Verti-assault team, they just stood by as the Enclave gunned down the bandits in the gate, it didn't take long for the bandit army to be almost decimated.
Those who survived, dropped their weapons and surrendered, knowing that they were bested by the Enclave.
The bandits hesitantly approached the Enclave forces who lowered their weapons and advanced slowly, taking a hold of those who surrendered, gathering them in one place, on their knees.
Ingram smiled, Pina watched Ingram who just let out a cold chuckle at this sight.
"Well, I suppose we'd best take prisoners... Can't have our friends at the JSDF be getting upset over the Geneva Conventions." Ingram said as he slung his laser rifle over his shoulder.
"Tech Sergeant! Inform the men that all who surrender are to be taken prisoner!" Ingram yelled as he left the pavilion.
Ingram came down to join with his men, Itami, Kurokawa, Kuribayashi and a few others came, just looking upon the broken bodies.
"The Enclave doesn't mess around..." Itami said as he looked over those who surrendered... A number of women, more men of course, though Ingram soon joined the group.
"So what do you think, Lieutenant. Only result to be expected when these... "People" turn feral and attack their fellow men." Ingram said, looking to the broken bodies around the gate with disgust.
"I suppose.. Colonel. But still. Since these will ultimately be your prisoners, might I make a suggestion?" Itami asked.
"Of course, I'm open to suggestions." Ingram said.
"Then... Let us take the women back to Alnus with us. We'll be able to handle them." Itami said.
"I see... Then yes you will be allowed to take them with you... But I suspect that there will be no room for me, to come along. So I'll call on a vertibird to bring me back to Alnus." Ingram said as he noticed Kurokawa walking over to the dead, just looking them over, she stood before what amounted to a massacre.
"If you'll excuse me... I have..." Ingram said as he left Itami and walked to Kurokawa.
"I'm sorry you have to see this." Ingram said, he stood next to Kurokawa and sighed, looking out to the field of corpses.
"I've seen it before, it's just... Much more different when the bodies are much closer.." Kurokawa said with a frown on her face.
"I know.. If there was a way to pacify them peacefully, that would've been ideal. ...But from what I saw before the slaughter ended, these men had no respect for the dead. Their actions amounted to nothing more than unnecessary savagery, one might think humanity at our own levels, incapable of... But I've been proven wrong so many times.." Ingram said, he put his right hand on Kurokawa's left shoulder.
"I got a couple medics checking over the wounded, we'll give them the medical care we can... You just try to get some rest. You've been up all night like the rest of us." Ingram said with a smile as he turned Kurokawa to face him.
"Alright, I'll.. Go do that." Kurokawa said, she was clearly tired, and still just... Shocked, as she left.
Itami came over and joined Ingram.
"A lot of dead.." Itami said.
"I know. ...Let Kurokawa get some rest." Ingram said before Lelei came running to Ingram and Itami.
Apparently Pina and the Countess wanted to thank Ingram and Itami for their help in defending Italica.
Though Pina had a bigger problem. Though their slaughter of the bandits was disturbing, the Enclave were now lauded as virtual heroes to the populace.
Ingram and Itami came back to the mansion, a squad of minutemen and two Enclave soldiers followed behind them, behind the two soldiers was a Gen 3 synth in an Enclave officer's uniform, it had managed to get ahold of one of the JSDF's translation books and learned the local language, so it would be used to translate for Ingram.
Itami and Ingram walked side by side, into the mansion, following Pina's three knights, she had with her.
"So you're going to drop the bomb on them in the meeting?" Itami asked.
"Certainly." Ingram said, on his way to the mansion, he took a detour and changed into his own formal uniform, he carried his visor cap under his right arm.
"Alright." Itami said as they finally reached the throne room and went in.
"To show our appreciation for your assistance here, we'd like to negotiate fair and equitable compensation." The young knight, under Pina's command, Hamilton she was called, said.
The synth translated that for Ingram, though it seemed Itami had no problem understanding what was said.
"Article 2 regards all envoys. Their safe passage, and their expenses. And article 3 is regarding the trade privilege with shop keepers on Alnus Hill, tariffs are waved. However we would like to make it clear, we possess the right to captives." Hamilton continued.
"We understand that human resources are necessary for the rebuilding of Italica, however, the JSDF wants assurances that captives will be treated humanely.." Lelei said.
"Hmm? Humanely?" Hamilton tilted her head, not understanding.
"Yes. Like a friend or a relative. Like someone familiar. Not treated as animals." Lelei explained.
This caused Hamilton to be quite visibly... Aggravated.
"Would friends and relatives attack? Taking up arms against a peaceful town?! Looting and butchering them?!" Hamilton asked in outrage.
"This is their requirement." Lelei said, plainly.
"Very well then... This will be all, regarding the treatment of the captives. The rest of the provisions of the treaty regard the withdrawl of Enclave and JSDF troops." Hamilton said.
"The JSDF has no objections, however, we cannot speak on behalf of the Enclave." Lelei said.
"What?" Hamilton asked, looking to Ingram and the synth that stood with him.
The synth stepped up and began to speak.
"I was sent to represent our supreme commander, General Russel Ward, of the Enclave Armed Forces." The synth stated, fluently much to the surprise of Pina and most everyone else there.
"It has been observed by Enclave detachments throughout the area that the Empire partakes in the practice of slave trade, which the United States Government is vehemently against. Indeed, before it's dissolution in 2052, the United Nations had several charters which dictated against slavery. While it has been dissolved, the United States still holds to the law of such charters that no humans be enslaved in the United States and to combat slavery, anywhere, and everywhere. Recently the emergency military government of the Enclave has decided with the gate between our world and yours, these amendments are to be expanded to include all, organic, humanoid races." The Synth stated.
"What does this mean?" Pina asked the Synth.
"It means that the Empire is in grave violation of these charters. Furthermore. General Ward has ordered the town of Italica shall be surrendered to Enclave administration. However, the Countess may stay to resume her rule over the territory. But. The Enclave Armed Forces will for the most part be in real control, she shall be a figure head while Enclave personnel are to take administrative control over the territory." The Synth stated.
This, this is what Pina was afraid of happening.
"Furthermore. Princess Pina and her knights are to temporarily stay in Enclave custody to assist in Enclave personnel in assuming administration over this town." The Synth stated.
They also intended on humiliating her by making her and her people give control and show them how the town is administrated?!
"Impossible. Such a treaty will never be accepted by her majesty. ..." Hamilton said, before she looked over her shoulder to see Pina, she was... Just... Defeated. Ashamed of what she'd done, it was plainly written on her face.
Everyone in that room knew, the Synth, and in turn, Colonel Ingram and General Ward's representative were deadly serious.
"Make no mistake. Your forces will not be prisoner to the Enclave. However should you resist then you will be taken into Enclave custody as prisoners of war." The Synth said.
Itami watched, he looked to Colonel Ingram, he saw no emotion written on his face. But it was still plain to see. Colonel Ingram took no pleasure in seeing Pina, or anyone in such a state. They might be slavers by their culture. But they were still people. Far more so than the bandits were.
Hamilton kept her eyes fixated to Pina, who gave her a defeated nod to the terms.
"The Princess... Accepts your terms." Hamilton said, saddened.
"I'm sorry it came to this. But if you knew our situation... You'd understand what this town means for people on my side of my world's gate... Tell her that." Ingram said to the Synth.
"Yes sir..." The Synth said before it spoke to Pina.
"The Colonel says... He's sorry it came to this. But if you knew the situation of our world, you'd understand what this town means for my people on our side of the gate."." The synth said as Colonel Ingram stepped back.
Tomita stood along side Itami, he was also shocked at the turn of events. But as would the rest of Third Recon when they would hear the news.
Ingram, Itami, Tomita, Rory, Lelei, Tuka, and the Synth left the mansion. Silence reigned as Enclave forces stood outside, assembled around the steps. Two soldiers in Power Armour began setting up a flag pole, Third Recon was there as well, wondering why they would be doing that, Ingram stopped at the bottom of the steps as Itami, Tomita and the three girls with them went on, following Itami.
Ingram stood there, the eyes of his men and Third Recon were fixated on him, Kurokawa looked up to the windows of the mansion to see the Princess, tears flowed from her eyes and town her cheeks, she understood what happened...
"Soldiers. Atten-shion!" Ingram yelled as the soldiers in power armour and the Enclave Minutemen did so as well.
"As of 9:00 in the morning! November 15th, 2288! The city of Italica, has surrendered to the United States Enclave Armed Forces!" Ingram yelled, a few of the Minutemen and Enclave power armoured troops looked to each other, almost surprised by this news.
"However! This is not a time for celebration, you all will be stationed here, as the first unit of the Enclave devoted to Military Police duties! Refer to your handbooks on policing occupied territories. If you do not have your handbooks, then they will be issued, or re-issued! Your commanding officer, will be Captain Preston Garvey! ...Right turn!" Ingram yelled, the troops turned to their right to see the flag pole finally set up, the Synth came back from the temporary Enclave headquarters in town, carrying a flag in it's hands.
"Order, arms!" Ingram yelled as he saluted, the troops brought their weapons to Order arms position and the Synth began raising the flag, it unfurnished to show the Enclave US Flag, the 13th star in the centre of the cluster around it, replaced with the Enclave's "E", as the men began singing the national anthem of the United States Enclave.
Which, surprised the third recon, since it was "My County 'Tis of Thee".
Ingram remained there, standing, taking in the sight.
Back up inside of the mansion, Pina could believe what she'd done. She'd ended up handing over the city to one of the two main forces the Empire had gone to war against.
And she let it happen. She should've known better. Now she was virtually a prisoner of the Enclave, and had no one but herself to blame for it.
Soon enough the ceremony was over and Third Recon gathered up the prisoners that Colonel Ingram had allowed them to, sold the dragon scales, and started on their way back to Alnus, Colonel Ingram would remain behind to help Preston take over administrative duties while word spread around, Italica was now no longer apart of the Empire, but it was apart of something called "The United States of America", and under the administration of the "United States Enclave Armed Forces".
Atleast until an elected civilian government could be established. Though many, many guarantees would be given to the populace that next to nothing would change, atleast immediately. They would be free to go about their business, however they had to conform to the law of the city until US laws would be able to be accurately translated and implemented.