(September 25, 2025, Near Coda Village, 1401 hrs. SRST)
When the recon team of Sgt. Snow, aided by the Infinite Team, found a destroyed village minutes ago, they saw nothing but charred remains. The only thing that wasn't is a girl found in a well, who was rescued by Itami and the others. On their way to Coda Village, the area that the pilots discovered early in their operation, the medic and the teammates were surprised to learn that she is an elf.
"She is an elf?!" Takeo asked with some shock. "Really?"
"Yeah really, Gremlin." Snow replied with calm. "Medic, how's her condition?"
"Her condition is slowly improving." The medic reported. "I better dry her up."
"Get going, Kurokawa."
(Coda Village, 1409 hrs. SRST)
As Kurokawa removed the wet clothes and replaced them with a casualty blanket, they reached Coda Village, where the aviation mechanics were standing by with a fuel truck on hand. The recon team reported what the others saw at the forest. The Infinite Team landed to meet up with the recon force so that they can also share their other findings.
"...there is a settlement burned down?!" One of the mechanics asked in shock.
"Yes there is, in a forest." Snow detailed his findings. "Only one survivor was found in a well."
"She is an elf as well." Itami finished the report.
The way the settlement was destroyed brought suspicion within Akira as the way it spreads suggested it was done by abnormal means.
"Sgt. Snow, do you have any powerful weapons with you? He asked the leader.
"Yeah we have." Snow responded. "Why?"
"I don't know what we'll be facing, but it appears that a dragon is responsible."
"If that's the case, I recommend a full evacuation of the village." Reaper suggested. "The villagers might suffer the same fate as the settlement."
"Good idea." Snow agreed. "We'll escort the villagers to safety. Infinite Team can provide recon from the air. Close air support is also what we got for this."
"I'll tell the mechanics to refuel our planes. We can't stay up longer for the trip home with just little fuel in our tanks." Akira told the men.
Itami, Reaper and Snow went to the village chief and explained what happened. This shocked every inhabitant around the village and they scrambled to get as many of their belongings as possible.
(1411 hrs. SRST)
On the outskirts of the village, a sorcerer and a young female student were also busy getting their belongings to join the evacuation. Due to his old age, he fell as he was carrying too many books for him to handle.
"Master, what happened to you?" She asked her master.
"Ugh...owww...that dragon is going to attack us fifty years early!" He responded with pain. "Lelei, what can we do?"
"There is one thing we can do. We just have to prioritize the most valuable books." Lelei told her master.
"Right." The old master said. "You are a smart person, Lelei."
"You better need some rest." Lelei suggested.
"Hmph! Why should I listen to a little one like you!?" He rebuked Lelei. "I only wanted a curvy lady like your sister."
He started laughing like crazy, prompting Lelei to use her magic at him. She started to blast him using her ice magic.
"Wait!" The master asked. "What are you doing? Don't you know that magic is sacred? Don't abuse it! AAAH!
He fell to the magic Lelei unleashed at him. Moments later, he had enough and continued to do what they are supposed to be doing a minute ago. Shortly after, they were ready to move.
"You can't take a joke, I see?" He said with regret.
"I blame you as my educator, Master." Lelei said as she sounded the horse to move. The horse didn't move, which surprised her master but not his student.
"It didn't move. Look's like we're carrying too much."
"That's what to be expected. That's what happened when you said to pack everything."
"We don't need to worry." He assured. "I am a sorcerer, after all."
"You said that magic is sacred." Lelei reminded him. "It should never be abused. Those are the words you said, but since we have no choice…"
She used her magic to help lift the wagon out of the ground. They are on their way to meet with the evacuees.
"Sorry, I should have known." The master said.
"It's okay. I just know that this is how you are." Lelei said with calm.
(1423 hrs. SRST)
When they reached Coda Village, a number of wagons are lying in wait.
"What's going on ahead." The master wondered.
"Master Kato, Lelei!" A villager called the two. "There is an accident! A axle broke and the wagon flipped to its side! It's blocking the road!"
"Get me someone to handle that wagon!" A man wearing green clothing said as Lelei continued seeing what happened. "We need help with the evacuation!"
"Yes, sir!" Another one said.
"Is all of the planes refueled?" A man, this time wearing a different design and a strange helmet, said. "We have to take-off!"
"Yes, captain!" Another of the strange-looking outfit replied. "All planes are ready to go!"
"I never heard of that language before." Lelei murmured what he heard.
"I never see such clothes before." Kato said with a similar tone. "There are women in the army?"
"We have an injury!" A female with the green clothes reported when she saw a girl lying flat on the ground.
"I better check."
"Wait, Lelei!" Kato pleaded.
Lelei rushed to see what happened to her.
"Looks like a concussion, possibly with a fractured skull." She observed.
"Please, you need to stand back." The man wearing the gray helmet said.
She saw a horse prancing wildly as the fear it may hurt the three people hangs over. Suddenly, the man took out a strange contraption, shooting lights at the horse. The horse fell suddenly and it gushed out blood from its injuries.
"Everyone alright?" The man who used the contraption asked.
"We're alright." The lady said. "You're safe now."
Lelei thought on how those 'men in green and gray' saved the life of her and a girl.
"Those people...they saved me."
"Look!" A villager announced. "The iron eagles are protecting us!"
Lelei was stunned with awe as the 'iron eagles' are flying up above them.
"Iron...eagles?" She wondered.
(On the road, 1735 hrs. SRST)
The villagers began their move away from the potential threat of a fire dragon attacking the settlement. Some people felt exhausted from the migration.
"I feel thirsty!" Kato complained.
"I don't think we can rest for a while." Lelei replied to her master.
As the villagers are moving, the Infinite Team and Sgt. Snow are recalling what happened for the past three hours as delays prolonged the evacuation.
"It's been three hours ever since we left Coda Village." Itami recalled. "If that didn't happened, we would have moved farther enough."
"I know." Reaper responded. "We all have to deal with issues like this. It's not their fault either that they have to make tough choices."
"Like one time we have to push a wagon out of the mud." Snow recalled. "And also to burn down another just to get one family to move."
"That's horrible." Kuribayashi joined in. "Why can't we get the other units to help? We could at least ease the burden."
"We can't do that." Itami told her. "We are technically past the front line. We might even alert the enemy should we send a large unit here and there would be spontaneous battles and civilians can be caught in the middle. Unplanned combat and runaway military costs can plague us. It will just be destruction. But we must provide help whatever we can."
"Right." Takeo agreed.
"Yeah." Kuribayashi said.
"Me too." Akira joined the agreement.
"So do I." Reaper responded with the same answer.
With the words of encouragement Itami uttered, they set aside their worries and focused on giving the villagers a helping hand they deserved. Just as they finished their conversation, however, Reaper noticed the fuel gauge showing a low reading.
"Low on fuel." Reaper said. "We better come back for them tomorrow. I'll inform Snow about this."
"Roger, captain." Itami responded.
"This is Reaper of the Infinite Team, we are at bingo fuel. Returning to base. Tell the village chief that we will return the next day."
"Copy that Infinite Team." Snow responded. "I'll tell the villagers of your return."
Lelei and Kato saw the fighters preparing to return back to their base in Alnus for refueling and maintenance. As the villagers feel sad that the fighters are heading back, Sgt. Snow and the village chief assured them of their return.
"Don't worry everyone!" Snow called the villagers.
"They'll come back for us!" The chief informed his people. "We are still safe!"
They felt relieved by their words as they moved on.
(September 26, 2025, 0901 hrs. SRST)
The recon team continued to escort the villagers out in the wilderness. As a precaution should Snow's team needed help, the Infinite Team turned on their radio direction finder to locate the convoy. They are kept on guard for any encounter and they have machine guns ready to fire. A soldier then used a binocular to look for any far objects, but then he noticed something.
"What did you see?" Snow asked.
"Hold on." The soldier said. "I need to get a closer look."
When he zoomed in, he noticed some flock of crows.
"Crows?" He reported what he saw. When he peeked closer, he noticed a young girl wearing a black dress with red outlines. She is also shown to be wielding a big halberd.
"Is that a girl?!" Snow asked with surprise. "She's not even suppose to wield that!"
The girl then began to approach the convoy, while the team was just standing by.
"Where are you from?" The girl asked despite the distance. "Where are you going?"
"What is she trying to say?"
"Don't know, but why is a little girl doing here?
"It's the oracle! She's here!" A child called out to the others as they ran for her.
"An oracle?" Snow asked with confusion as the village people gathered around her.
"Where do you come from?" She asked the people as numerous replies came to her.
"From Coda Village." A kid responded.
"There was a fire dragon attacking another settlement. We had to flee." A elderly woman stated her reason.
"Look's like it appears that she is of religious importance." An explanation from a soldier came.
She then got closer to the vehicles with curiosity.
"What are those?" She asked.
"Don't know." The kid responded. "But it's way comfier than our carts."
"How does it move? Were you forced to flee from your village?
"No." The kid replied. "We're fine."
"I wonder how it feels to ride it."
"Umm...please." Snow responded. "We need to get them out of danger. But you can come with us if you like."
With glee, she accepted and accompanied them to their destination.
(Roche Hill, 1301 hrs. SRST)
They reached an area known as Roche Hill. The conditions and the landscape turned slightly arid when they entered the place.
"Looks like things are getting a little hot." Snow said with some discomfort.
"But the passengers at the back are fine." Kurokawa reported. "No issues here."
A radio signal was heard over the vehicle. It was Reaper calling.
"You people alright?" Reaper asked. "Just checking on you to see if you ran into trouble."
"No problems here, Reaper." Snow reported. "But we just picked up someone wearing a black dress, something like 'gothic lolita'"'
"Gothic lolita?!" Itami asked with shock. "Really?!"
"Yes, we did. Nothing unusual for them though." Snow continued.
"Well, we better get moving though." Takeo joined in. "We just encountered yet another unusual girl here."
"If we see something unusual, we might…"
Just as he was about to finish what he was saying, a recon soldier using a binocular spotted something. He noticed a flying object coming towards the convoy.
"Sir, we detected an unknown flying object at our eight o'clock!" The soldier reported with urgency.
"Let me see." Snow requested for a binocular. When he zoomed in, the fear many people dread came to attack them.
"A dragon?!" Snow said with shock. "Damn! All units, break off and engage the dragon! Protect the villagers!"
"Roger, sir!" The team broke off and engage the dragon, hoping to draw the fire away from the villagers.
"Sgt. Snow, what's going on?!" Reaper requested.
"We are under attack by a large fire dragon!" Snow reported while a barrage of gunfire was heard. "It's trying to attack us! Requesting air support, ASAP!"
"Roger, Sgt. Snow." Reaper said. "We'll be there to support you, ETA five minutes. Keep your signals up."
"Roger!" Snow replied. "All units, keep moving and pulling your trigger!"
The team continued to open fire as the fire dragon began to breathe out flames from its mouth.
"Watch out!" The driver turned sharply and his vehicle narrowly evaded the flames.
"We almost got burned here! Keep firing!"
Multiple barrages of bullets tried to hurt it but to their surprise, it has no effect.
"What is that thing even made of?!" Snow asked what is going on.
"Don't know!" A soldier said. "Our bullets are not scratching that thing! We better get the rocket launcher ready!"
"Good idea!" Snow responded.
"Two minutes." Reaper announced.
"They are coming! Keep the dragon distracted for just a little while longer!"
With the plan in place, they moved in almost all directions, making the dragon loose focus as they continued to fight back defiantly.
"60 seconds." Reaper announced. "We're almost there! Hang on!"
In the middle of the fight, the elf girl suddenly woke up and rushed to Sgt. Snow. She was pointing at something that Snow doesn't know, but upon further analysis, she was clearly trying to say where to hit the weak spot.
"All units, target the eyes!" Snow ordered. Let's blind that dragon and go home!"
Just as it was about to start, the Infinite Team arrive in time to help.
"This is Reaper, we are approaching the target at our eleven o'clock." Reaper declared and the team proceeded to fire the rockets. "Firing rockets!"
"Firing rockets!" Itami announced.
"Rockets away!" Takeo shouted.
"Rockets away!" Kuribayashi said the same. "Time to light up the fireworks!"
"Rockets gone!" Akira shouted. "You're clear to shoot!"
"Thanks for the support!" Snow replied. "Keep hittin' it."
The rockets fired from the planes gave the dragon some significant damage as the soldier with the shoulder-mounted rocket launcher aimed for its eyes.
"Rocket away!" He shouted as the rocket leaves the tube and flies towards the dragon. However, its aim is off.
"What?!" He said in shock. "I missed?!"
Just then, the oracle kicked the door and left the vehicle to launch an attack on the dragon. Though not directly, she created a shockwave using her halberd to make the monster loose its balance. Thanks to that, the rocket returned to its intended course. It hit the dragon with a large explosive force, severing one of its arms. Without it, the dragon was forced to flee.
"Is...is it over?" One of the villagers asked.
"This is Reaper, we confirm. Hostile dragon has escaped the combat area."
"Roger, Reaper." Snow reported. "However, we have casualties. We'll attend to their needs."
(1903 hrs. SRST)
In the wake of the attack, those who didn't survive the encounter were buried with honors from the escort team. Itami then comforted a little girl, whose parents were lost in the encounter. Reaper, along with Sgt. Snow and Tomita, were talking with the village chief regarding the fate of the other inhabitants.
"We'll be moving on to the next village." The chief said to the leaders. "But we can't get all of our people to come with us."
"So, you can't take them?" Snow asked.
"No, I'm afraid. We have suffered too much for today." The chief said frankly.
"We'll take the others with us." Akira suggested. "We can take care of them."
"If only the top brass would allow it." Reaper said with concern. "USEA used that excuse to declare war a few years back."
The village chief then took off his hat to express gratitude to the men and women who fought for their safety.
"On behalf of Coda Village, we thank you for helping us today." The chief said in gratitude.
The adults from the village then prepared to leave for the next one, with the others, mostly children and elderly, assigned to Reaper and Snow's supervision.
"Goodbye!" Kurokawa shouted to the departing refugees.
"Take care of yourself!" Kuribayashi said while joining the farewell.
The villagers expressed gratitude as they leave.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you for protecting us!"
When the departing villagers were far from the escort team and the other villagers, luminous flowers lit up the scenery close to Itami's allies. The only thing Itami needed to keep the kids and elderly happy is to establish a refugee camp back at Alnus.
"Alright then, we'll bring you people to a new home." Itami declared to the villagers. "You can count on it."
Reaper and Takeo then approached Itami to help make the idea feasible.
"We'll follow your lead." Reaper said. "We got your back."
"Count us in, Itami." Takeo joined in as well.
Itami nodded with a smile as his fellow allies also showed optimism. The villagers joined in as well as the elf girl, the oracle, the old sorcerer and his student. Things started to look bright for them as they prepare to head for Alnus Hill.