Allied Kingdoms Camp, 8:20 AM.
Duran wakes up from his sleep, he stretches his old body on the bed and gets ready for the battle ahead. He puts on his armor and helmet, he went to his desk searching for his sword holster, but surprised to see the documents and letters are gone! "What's happening!?" He rushes outside, officers and soldiers are visible running back and forth through the camp in confusion and panic. Duran approaches one of his soldiers. "What is happening soldier?"
"Oh, King Duran, my apologies! I didn't noticed you. It appears that our officers lost their documents and letters as well as a few slaves." What is happening? First his documents and letters are gone now his officers also share the same conditions! Just what the hell happened last night? "And the Allied Leaders are inside the command tent awaiting your arrival sire." The soldier informed Duran, Duran nodded and hastily makes his way to the command tent.
He enters the tent, but instead of seeing the overconfident Kings and Dukes, he sees panic and confusion on their faces. "Gentlemen, what has happened?" Duran asked to the group.
"King Duran, this is a disaster! Our documents, letters, and writings are gone!" The King of Alguna replied. "We're in complete disarray! With our documents containing information of our armies are gone, we cannot keep track of our troops and equipment!" He continued.
"Anything else?" Duran asked.
"We also got reports from our officers that their personal slaves are gone, and tents ransacked just like ours." League answered. "I received a letter, it's left on my desk." League said, around him the Kings and Dukes looked surprised.
"I also got a letter!" A Duke said.
Another Duke stands up showing a piece of paper. "Me too received a letter!" He said.
This continues until it is now known that every single dukes and kings received a letter from an unknown source. "I will read these letters." Duran said, he takes a letter from one of the Dukes and began to read it out for everyone to hear. "To the leaders of the Allied Kingdoms and Empire's vassals, we, the United Nations of Earth, your enemy on the hill of Alnus demand your armies to retreat from the province and return to your designated kingdoms.
We don't want to fight your armies, nor kill your soldiers, our enemy is the Empire and not your kingdoms. Return to your kingdoms and remain neutral for the duration of the war and we will not attack your kingdoms." Duran finished reading the letter, that's the contents of every letter of every dukes and kings received.
"That is just ridiculous, why would we surrender without even fighting!" The old king of Mudwan protested.
"Our enemy are cowards, we haven't met in battle and they already want us to surrender." Alguna said.
"Gentlemen, I have to disagree with you." Everyone looked shocked. "I think we should do what they say and retreat back to our kingdoms."
"King Duran! You can't possibly pass an opportunity to gain glory on defeating a weak enemy!" League protested. "What reason that can make you think that we should yield to their demands!?" He continued.
"First of all, we don't know anything about this mysterious enemy. Our scouts are unable to even get close to the hill before getting killed." He stated a reason. "Second, have you seen the Imperial Army anywhere on the hill?"
Everyone looked at each other. "N-no King Duran." A young duke answered.
"I think that the Empire tricked us, in order to make us weak and gain control of our kingdoms."
As soon as Duran said that, the entire room burst into laughter. "King Duran! The Empire wouldn't possibly betray us by only sending our army to fight the enemy without support! Emperor Molt must want us to finally gain victories by ourselves for once and don't rely only to the Empire for everything!" Alguna countered.
"What ever you all say, I only think that we should retreat before our impending doom."
Stronghold Zarkin, 9:32 AM
"Soldiers, pilots, tanks and artillery are now put on standby and on high alert General." A Major informed General Robert.
"Roger that Major." Robert cuts the transmission and looked out of his office window overlooking the outer perimeter defenses of the Stronghold. "Looks like the letter is not enough to convince them." He sighs heavily, not only he want to prevent unnecessary casualties of soldier from kingdoms that haven't done anything to them, he wanted them to stay neutral. "Oh well, it's what they wanted. We'll give them a swift painless death." He opens up a new transmission, this one is for the speakers all over the compound.
"All soldiers on the perimeter, prepare for an upcoming attack, artillery, shoot anything comes within your guns range." He ordered through the speakers, on que, he got a message from Long-Range Observatory.
"General, the enemy is marching to our position."
"Solid, copy."
On the trenches, soldiers take their designated posts and get inside the bunkers, tanks load HE shells onto their firing mechanism, mechs and its pilot aim down their weapon's sights, artillery crews kept an eye on the trajectory and the position of the enemy troops. "I felt bad for these primitives." One of the 300mm crew said.
"Why would you feel bad? They attack Zarkin and kill civilians for Christ sake." Another one expressed.
"It's just that, they're so young. They haven't even founded gunpowder and now we're killing them with HE shells and Plasma Rifles? A bit unfair."
"Don't let that take your eyes off from the real prize, we will free slaves from these guy's control."
"Guess you're right, they are slaving innocent women and men. I hear they even enslave kids."
"Now that's messed up."
"Target approaching the one thousand meters mark."
"Alright, show time."
Adjusting their barrels, the artillery fires at the marching army. A few seconds later the first volley of HE shells hit the ground beneath the enemy and exploded, limbs, bodies, armor, and weapons flew across the field as the explosion created small craters on the grass. It's not much of a confrontation. "Damn, just from that alone their entire army is dead." One of the observation officers commented on the "Battle" happening outside.
"They only have Roman era tech and weapons, don't expect much of a fight." Another replied to his comment.
After a quick scan of the scattered bodies, more than thirty-five thousand soldiers are dead from a single artillery alone. The ones alive immediately run away from the bloodbath of that is Alnus Hill, cleanup crews are quickly deployed in order to get rid of the bodies. Rotting meat and flesh can attract and hosts unknown diseases, and Robert won't take any chances. "Make sure every body out there is buried, and take the injured for medical treatment." Robert ordered over the radio.
"Roger that General, we're bringing the trucks and equipment in right now." Lead Hazmat responded
"Be quick, we won't know If they'll take advantage of you guys being outside and ambush you."
"Roger, we'll be done in 40 minutes."
"Make it 30." Robert requested. He then cut the transmission knowing his men will get it done either way. "Maybe it's time to advance." Robert thought, their base of operations is now too small to store more equipment and personnel have been living in bunk beds instead of individual beds with some free space. "Later, when these guys are done and leave the province, we can advance outwards and expand the Stronghold."
Allied Kingdoms, After Battle Discussion.
Silence, nothing can be heard inside the command tent of the Allied Kingdoms. "H-how… How is this possible?" A young duke asked himself. "King of Alguna, Duke of League, and King of Mudwan are dead!" With their most experienced commanders and leaders defeated and dead, there's no hope for the young dukes and King Duran and morale is at its breaking point. "King Duran, what do you suggest in this time of crisis?"
"My suggestion still stands, we yield to their demands and retreat back to our kingdoms and remain neutral for the duration of the war." Duran answered, the young dukes looked at each other, seemingly in an agreement.
"But I have one question, King Duran." A Duke raises his hand. "Will our enemy keep their end of the bargain and don't attack our kingdoms?" He asked, worried of them being stabbed in the back.
"I don't fully know, but our chance of survival depends on this decision and this decision alone." Duran answered. "If we continue fighting, we will be defenseless from the Empire's troops from taking over our kingdoms." Duran stands up from his chair. "I will ride to the enemy fort and end our fighting." Duran exits the command tent, with the hopes of the young dukes on his back.
He mounts his horse, and hastily rode down the dirt road leading up to Alnus Hill, where he will agree for the Allied Kingdom's retreat and neutrality.
Stronghold Zarkin
A Long-Range Observation officer looked down his binoculars and scans the front gate, he takes a sip from his coffee mug before seeing something. Dust, dust from the dirt road. "Front gate this is observation, be advised, something is approaching your position over." He informed the front gate guards.
"Front Gate here, we see it. It's a man in armor riding on his horse." The soldier said.
"Anyone else with him?"
"Negative, no one else." As the unknown rider gets closer to the main gate, the gate guards hold their weapons close and ready to fire in case he tries anything. Once close, the gate guards held up their hand. "Halt!" The horse slows down as the rider dismounts his horse.
The man starts to speak. "I am King Duran of the Elbe Kingdom, I am here to negotiate our term of retreat and neutrality." The guards seem surprised, as if they didn't expect Duran to come and negotiate.
"Hold on one moment." A UNE soldier said in the native language, he immediately pull out his comms system and contacted the General. "General Robert, a King from the Allied Kingdoms is here to negotiate the terms we gave them. What shall we do?"
"Let him in, escort him back to my office."
"Copy, over and out." The soldier nodded to his fellow comrade. "You can come in, our soldiers will escort you to our General."
Duran nodded, he then enters with two soldiers with weird form of armor and weapons. When inside, he is taken away yet confused. Massive iron beasts walk around the fort, metal carriages that doesn't need horses to move, and a variety of weapons he never seen before in his entire life. He is leaded to a massive and tall building. "So this is where their Commander resides." With his escort he enters the building, when the door opens a cold breeze hit him as he felt a change in temperature.
It is a lot cooler in the building than the outside, he almost shivers from the sudden change of environment. The building itself is magnificent, the walls and floors are created from pure white marbles, and their furniture such as chairs, tables, and sofas look so much different than what the have back home in his estate, considering he is a noble, he should have the finest furniture and objects. "Follow us, we'll go to the fourth floor." Duran followed the soldiers up a series of stairs until they're in the fourth floor, this building is much bigger in the inside.
On the fourth floor there is a door leading into an enclosed room, it must be where their General awaits him. One of the guards knock on the door. "General Robert, King Duran is here to speak as requested."
"Come in!" Duran hear a voice from inside the room, his escort opens the door and let Duran go inside. There he saw him, the General. "King Duran! Finally! I am delighted that you have come to talk about the terms, I was beginning to worry that we will have to destroy your army." Duran gulped, but stayed strong.
"I am also delighted to see you, General…?"
"Robert, General Robert." The man sat down. "Please take a seat." He said refers to the chairs across from Robert.
Duran takes a seat with his armor clanking. "King Duran, let's get to the point. Our request for you and all remaining allied kingdoms, is to remain neutral for the duration of the war between the UNE and the Empire, as well stay within your kingdom's territories." Robert explained to Duran.
"I agree to these terms, but I have several questions to ask before I agree to the terms." Duran replied.
"What are your questions?"
"First, will we be unharmed on our way back?" Duran asked.
"You and your armies will be left alone in your retreat."
Duran sighs in relief. "That's good to hear, second, what would to us happen when the war ended?"
"We can discuss that when the time comes, for now, the terms I already given you will be active until the war ended, from there we can discuss further."
Duran thinks for a second. "Very well, Me and My allies will return to our kingdoms and remain neutral for the rest of the war, but I like to talk some minor things."
Duran and Robert continue to discuss about minor terms, conditions, protection on the way back, conditions of the soldiers the UNE captured, etc. This takes more than an hour until they came to an agreement. Robert reaches out for a handshake. "Glad we came into an agreement, King Duran."
Duran takes the handshake. "Me too General."
"My soldiers will escort you back to your horse, King Duran." Duran nodded and leave the room accompanied with two UNE soldiers. Robert sat back down. "Now, that we have ears on the most likely influential Leader in the Allied Kingdoms, we can gather information outside of the Empire's territories." Without Duran knowing, a Listening Spider Drone was planted onto his clothes which the drone will follow Duran around recording everything it hears.
Tomorrow
The allied kingdoms army packs up, they roll up their tents, carry their equipment, and ride back to their respective kingdoms without any harm. "They all on their way home General, no bandits or wild beasts ambushes them so far." A Drone operator informed Robert.
"Great, return to your original mission, over and out." Robert is glad that the Allied Kingdoms soldiers returned to their respective kingdoms safely, what he wants next is a call from the press. "It's time." He connects to every single speaker on the Stronghold, broadcasting his orders to everyone. "Attention, all personnel. Initiate Stage 2." Alarms quickly blares, as the Stronghold goes into lockdown. "We are going through a massive overhaul."
Field engineers and construction equipment is being brought out of every single storage there is in the stronghold, soldiers on the perimeter defenses began digging out the hulled down tanks for redeployment. Drones began disassembling the bunkers on the perimeter defenses, deactivating the minefield, and dissolve the barbed wire fences. Recon drones that have been sent out is recalled back to the Stronghold, as Android spies previously sent out is to report to Command and relay their positions in Falmart.
"Go! Go! Go! Pack those ammo crates and explosives!" Field Officers ordered to the soldiers, as they carry the munitions back to the main armory. The process of dissolving the outer perimeter is in motion, as they plan to expand and upgrade the Stronghold.
"After all defenses on the outer perimeter is cleanse off, flatten the ground for expansion." Robert ordered to a Lead Field Engineer. "Once flattened, immediately start building a second perimeter wall 700 meters around the first wall." The Lead Field Engineer nodded and began spreading Robert's orders through a secure chat channel using his ITab. Robert then look out the windows of his office, overlooking the construction. Tanks being leaded back to the Motors Bays while trucks carrying equipment and material head outside with heavy machinery following behind them with Field Engineers began flattening the land.
In 4 hours, 800 meters of land have been flattened and levelled to be the same height to the first. With the help of drones, this is achievable in a short amount of time, and with the amount of resources they have it's easy to expand. "This should be good, can't expand too far." Robert said to himself. "We're still in an enemy planet, until this war is over, we will have to be careful with our expansion." He reminded to himself, he is right though, you won't know a lot about this planet without high orbit survey from a research ship.
After flattening the land and making it suitable for building construction, Field Engineers began making a "Second Layer" Of the Stronghold and started building more barracks, motors bay, mech repair and maintenance station, 2 more medical bays, and smaller armories. Robert leaves his office building and take a look around of the construction on the ground, he then approaches a group of Lead Field Engineers discussing of the plan. "Any problems you're encountering?" Robert asked.
"No sir, we are not encountering any problem." One of the Lead Field Engineers answered. "We're still discussing where to set up each building."
Robert tilts his head. "And what do you mean by that?"
"What we meant sir is, should we make everything symmetrical, or focus on rapid deployment?" He explains further.
"Oh, well, I didn't specify that in the plans." Robert takes the blame. "Focus on rapid deployment, meaning barracks will be near the gate so men can man the defenses faster as motors bay in the middle and mech repair and maintenance stations on the very rear." Robert explaine.
"Thank you sir, we'll implement this right away." The group of Lead Field Engineers began splitting up. Robert's plan is to make this second layer as Soldiers and Deployment section which this layer will focus on housing soldiers, maintaining vehicles and mechs. As the layer where the gate resides, the first layer will now focus on storage and material warehouses.
Sadera, Imperial Capital.
Count Marcus enters the throne room of Emperor Molt. "Your highness, I bring news from Alnus." Marcus said to the Emperor.
"What is it Count Marcus? Is the Allied Kingdoms destroyed yet?"
"The Allied Kingdoms began retreating back to their kingdoms, your highness." Marcus explained. "Your plan on destroying their armies to gain superiority over them has failed."
"Does the retreating armies included ALL of the kingdoms that come to aid the Empire?" Molt asked to make sure.
"Our scouts said only a few dukes and their armies survived, as well as King Duran of Elbe survived."
Molt lean his head onto his chin. "That is troublesome, Elbe's territories are full of resources we can use." Molt sigh. "We'll let them be for now, what's the situation with the enemy on Alnus hill?" Molt continued.
"The enemy is expanding their fort, your majesty. Our scouts watched as metal beasts flattened the land and metal birds with four revolving wings built another wall using construction magic."
"Well then, in order to quell their expansion." Molt fix his seat. "Poison all the wells, kill all the livestocks, and burn the villages in the province to the ground. That will keep them at bay and prevent them from using our land and resources."
"Scorched Earth tactics, I am only concerned in one thing. It will reduce tax income and we will lose a lot of farmland." Marcus explained his concerns.
"It's to protect the Empire Marcus." Suddenly, someone burst open the throne room door, and a feminine voice calls out.
"Your Majesty!"
"Ahh, my daughter Pina, what have made you come here?" Molt addresses his daughter, Princess Pina Co Lada, one of Molt's many children.
Pina bows. "It's regarding Alnus, of course. I hear that the enemy is moving once again, what actions have your majesty taken in order to halt their expansion?" Pina asked to her Father.
"It's obvious that we rebuild our strength and create a plan-"
Pina cuts in. "Create a plan!? The enemy is on our doorstep we have to act now!" Pina exclaimed at Marcus.
"You're right Pina, you're absolutely correct." Molt said trying to calm her daughter down. "We underestimated the enemy that conquered Alnus Hill." Molt said calmly. "How about you and your knights go and investigate this foreign enemy."
Pina frozed. "Me… and My Knights?" Pina reluctantly asked.
"Why not? You and your knights have proven that you are more than capable in battle than decorations in Empire's ceremonies."
Pina bows once again. "I will not disappoint you, Father." Pina cannot believe it, she and her knight will finally charge into the field of battle.
There, sorry if it's too vague or lack details. I want to finish this arc and finally go to the recon mission arc. Now I can introduce some new characters that will be accompanying 1Lt. James in Recon Team 3, you'll see in the next chapter. And I think in other fanfics, Duran got exploded and loses one of his legs and arms, so I want to drive off from the canon story and make Duran so goddamn wise that he wants to agree to the UNE's demands.
Furthermore, some canon still will be a part of this story, the UNE saving Tuka, evacuating Coda village, etc.
Anyway, See ya bois!