In this chapter, we set off after Falmart's answer to "For thou art crunchy and go well with ketchup!" It should be noted that thanks to Nayu's skills with map and compass and an extra set of ears to help Yao gather information on where to go, they arrived at Alnus weeks earlier than in canon.
Also props for those who know the reference in the titles of this and the immediate previous chapter.
The Janus Campaign
Chapter 26: A Desperate Plight
Panache was not happy. The news that her intended fiance had been ordered to prepare and proceed into poorly mapped and possibly hostile territory with the goal of actively seeking out the single most dangerous creature in Falmart had not set well. What was worse was the fact that her responsibilities denied her the personal luxury of going off with him. Aenaire was likewise very unhappy.
"Why?' She asked.
"Because Itami and I are the two men most experienced in local contact situations and we're already both involved. Look," Taylor said gently. "Our orders are to make contact with Yao and Nayu's people, scout out the area. Get as much information as we can and leave the dragon slaying to a properly equipped task force." He touched Aenaire's cheek gently. "Nothing is going to keep me from coming back."
"William," Panache shook her head. "You have no one to whom you need to prove your courage."
"I'm going to come back. I promise. Besides, my mom is coming to Japan soon and if I die doing something stupid when I should be introducing her new grandson and the mothers of grandbabies yet to come, she'll dig me up and kill me."
"If she doesn't, I will," Panache promised.
"See? I have plenty of reason not to get myself killed. And… Aenaire? While Itami and I are gone. You and Galador need to look out for Tuka. Alright?"
Aenaire nodded. "We will take care of Tuka." She looked at Aurelia. "Take good care of our Lord?"
The Bunny Warrior nodded. "With all my strength and will."
Nayu watched them, wondering if this was anything like how her mother and father had been. Briefly, she envied them but she reminded herself that her people still waited for them. She and Yao would ride in separate vehicles, the great 'iron carriages' the stories had mentioned. Yao would accompany Itami while she would go with Taylor. Taylor had not explained his choice in the matter, though Nayu fancied that Taylor perhaps found her more appealing a companion than Yao, who for all of her virtues, was not so easily sociable as Nayu.
Taylor looked back at the team assigned to this scouting mission. Their instructions had been to keep the group as small as possible as they would be going well into the territory of one of the Empire's neighbor states, a nation still technically in conflict with the Pacific Allies but under the circumstances, that could not be helped until an official of appropriate rank could be contacted to discuss that nation's exit from the war. General Hazama had some inkling just where such a person might be found and intended to have a talk with him soon but that was information two junior officers did not need to know for now. The mission would be conducted by two vehicles and nine individuals: Lieutenants Taylor and Itami, Nayu and Yao, Lelei La Lelena acting as mission translator, and the Apostle, Rory Mercury who had merely told everyone it served her purpose and theirs for her to go, although Taylor still didn't quite get the point about the 'blood pact' Rory had made with Itami, claiming that his soul would belong to her if Youji died now. Yeoman Locke would drive the second vehicle, an M1152 ECV, and joining her, Nayu, Aurelia and Lieutenant Taylor would be Mari Kurokawa. Thus limiting the party to minimal size and still capable of continuing their mission should either vehicle become disabled.
With Nayu navigating, the journey which had taken the two Elves weeks of walking took roughly nine hours to travel from Alnus to Schwarz Woods.
"We're here," Yao announced. As Lelei translated, Itami nodded and thumbed the radio circuit.
"Yao says we're here."
"Nayu confirms," Taylor answered.
"Didn't know you spoke Elvish?"
"A little. Nayu actually seems to do better at English though."
"Roger that."
The two vehicles pulled up next to a large outcropping. There was no brush around. The only green was moss. Everyone got out slowly, cautiously.
Yao looked down into the valley below. "I'll let everyone know we're here." She began hopping her way down while Nayu and the others looked around.
"Everything looks so dead here," Kurokawa said quietly.
Nayu nodded. "There's no soil for anything to take root here. But then, that means there's nothing to burn." Nayu noticed movement on the rocks above them.
"Ban!" She exclaimed with happiness.
The older elf lowered his bow just a tiny bit as other elves kept their weapons leveled. "Nayu! Who are these people?"
"They're with the 'Green Men'! Yao and I have brought help!"
Any further comment was cut off as a huge shadow passed overhead, a guttural roar cut through the air.
"Meet and greet later!" Taylor shouted. "Find some rocks and take cover!" He turned to Aurelia. "I need your help!" He said and hurried for the ECV.
"Yes, my Lord." She followed behind him as, in the meantime, the Elves on the rocks above loosed a flight of arrows at the beast, while Itami raced for his vehicle, grabbing his rifle. Kurokawa and Locke following behind Taylor and Aurelia. As Kurokawa grabbed her medical kit, Locke snatched up both her M16 and Kurokawa's Type 64 rifle. Taylor grabbed his M4 Carbine and then pointed to the big M107.
"Grab that. Let me grab some shells."
Aurelia merely nodded and took the heavy weapon as if it were nothing. As Taylor took a box of .50 caliber rounds for the Barrett, he called to Itami. "Move it or lose it, man!"
"Yeah. Just a second!" Itami grabbed one of the Panzerfaust IIIs he had stowed on board ever since the first encounter with the Flame Dragon.
While this was happening, Rory had opted to take the offensive against this particular opponent but quickly found her usually overwhelming advantages in speed and strength were easily shrugged off by this huge adversary who sent her flying, snatched up in mid-lunge, and dashed into the ground. Only the Apostle's legendary resilience kept her from being reduced to paste, let alone remaining in the fight.
Lelei was also finding the beast a surprisingly difficult target. Perhaps the dragon was able to sense a surge of magical energy but for whatever reason, it maneuvered quickly in the air above them. In the meantime, the Dark Elves fired arrows as fast as they could, although some of them noticed as first Kurokawa and Locke and then Aurelia, Taylor, and Itami took cover and chose to emulate this strategy. This saved at least two elves as the monster descended on one of their brethren, standing in the open as they took cover.
Taylor took the rifle from Aurelia, the carbine laying on the ground at his feet. It would be useless in this engagement. The .50 cal was their only chance to make any impact on this fight. Loading it with an incendiary AP round, he took aim. Waiting for a moment when the dragon's good eye was fully fixated elsewhere, waiting for the creature to expose the one spot he had a chance to hurt it. Unfortunately, while dodging Lelei's attempts to engage and shrugging off Rory's attacks, the dragon noticed something familiar. The two large green beasts… It had seen such creatures before… The day it lost an arm. Bellowing loudly, it came crashing down on one, which satisfyingly collapsed under the dragon's massive feet. The other it slapped hard with its tail, the truck's frame buckled against a rock.
That's not good. Taylor thought. Suddenly, to his right, he heard the distinctive 'whoosh' as Itami fired off the Panzerfaust. The shot went wide and Itami swore as the dragon glared at him. There! Right where the rocket had taken off the dragon's left arm was exposed and not covered in scales. A shot there would definitely be felt. Taylor braced himself as best he could, took a breath. Steady… He squeezed the trigger.
The dragon felt a burning pain where its arm had once been. The spot where it was torn off lit with searing agony. This was strange as it had not seen the fire of the thing that had taken its arm, nor the chatter that came with the numerous small stings, The injury was hardly serious, but it hurt This was enough. It had killed one of the small creatures and the two larger green beasts. Satisfied with the results and now distracted by its pain and still confronted by the tiny little creature that was furiously attacking it, the dragon flew off.
Everywhere, people looked around. "We're not dead," Itami breathed.
Helped to his feet by Aurelia and rubbing his shoulder, Taylor nodded, relieved to see Locke and Kurokawa rising from cover and Rory and Lelei walking up.
"Torr is dead," the elf Nayu called Ban said with regret. "But most of us are alive. Thank you."
"He dwells with Wareharun now," Rory consoled, referring to the Tree Goddess who was Spirit of the Forest. For it was said that even though this tribe pledged their worship to Hardy, Wareharun claimed all elves as her children.
Taylor picked up the Barrett. Aurelia held out her hand, her eyes broking no argument.
"You've had enough trouble with that thing for one day, My Lord."
"I don't suppose we can talk about this?" Taylor said as he handed the rifle to her.
With a small smile and eyes lit with satisfaction, Aurelia took the gun. "We can discuss this as much as My Lord wishes but this stays with me." She looked over at Kurokawa. "Would you kindly look to My Lord?"
"Alright. Where?" Mari asked.
"Shoulder," Taylor admitted. "That thing has a kick."
"Especially if you hold it wrong," Itami quipped.
"Bite me, Itami. I was aiming at a target two hundred feet up," Taylor defended weakly. "I hit it. I'd consider that the point."
Aurelia folded her arms as Kurokawa examined the shoulder. "And there are a few of us who would like you to keep yourself in one piece."
Taylor nodded. "You and this shoulder make convincing arguments."
Kurokawa frowned. "It'll be bruised for a while but that seems to be the worst of it as long as you do nothing to exacerbate it. Use ice packs and aspirin." Kurokawa said, using her patented 'stern mother' look.
"Understood," Taylor replied mildly. He then looked over at where their vehicles now lay broken. "I hope there wasn't anything important in your truck, Itami. Because it's gone now."
"Only the other panzerfaust rockets we were carrying," Itami groaned. Not that the one he had gotten out had done any good.
"Our truck looks mostly intact. That means the rations and extra medical supplies should be good. Hopefully, the radio still works."
"Come!" Ban urged. "The rain will be here soon. I think you could use a warm fire after your journey," he told them.
"We'll be ready to go shortly," Taylor agreed. "I need to check the radios and make sure they still work. If not, we've got a serious problem. Itami? If there's nothing left to salvage from your truck, then start everyone gathering up the supplies from the ECV."
"Right," Itami agreed and took charge of unloading while Taylor did a radio check. Fortunately, while the radio in the truck was dead, the portable unit still worked. This meant their mission was essentially unchanged: Make contact, scout, and report.
After loading as much in the way of supplies as practical, everyone followed Ban down to the valley where a visibly relieved Yao was waiting for them.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Torr was killed," Ban told her and the waiting elders. "But the 'Green Men' did repel the dragon."
"Then if the gods will, perhaps Torr will be the last of our people to be so parted from us," Elder Bram replied. He then turned to the seven outsiders who had come to their aid. The Elders all recognized the vestments and blade of Emroy's apostle.
"Your holiness," Bram greeted, bowing with respect."Thank you for coming to this desolate valley."
"I have my reasons," she answered simply.
Taylor smirked at that and addressed the Elders as Lelei translated. "It is no surprise that an Apostle's reasons are her own. Known only to herself. As for the rest of us, our mission is to make contact with you, offer what help we can, and provide our superiors with information so they can decide the safest and most effective means of killing that creature."
"Any of our warriors would give their lives if they could be of use in destroying the Beast," Elder Drah stated only to get a stern eye from Matriarch Kyas. The two had been philosophical opponents for centuries, with Drah believing that the 800-year-old clan mother was too radical while Kyas considered the 650-year-old junior Elder a bit too cavalier.
"Yes," Elder Kemm agreed, "We have heard that you had a great weapon called the 'Iron Cock' It is said this is the weapon that destroyed the Dragon's arm.
"Cock?" Itami looked confused. "Oh! The missile!" He sighed. "We had more with us but they were destroyed."
"That's probably for the best Itami," Taylor replied. "We're here to do recon for the folks bringing the heavy stuff, not make our own Quixotic attack that would probably get everyone killed."
"For the future of our tribe," a warrior named Met said, "We would gladly give our lives."
"Giving your lives isn't the point," Yeoman Locke answered. "Giving your lives and not killing that thing is the point. My training tells me that a dead warrior is just that: A warrior whose use and potential as a warrior or anything else is now at an end. I'm trained to give my life if necessary to ensure the success of my mission or that in doing so, more of my shipmates survive. But I also trust that my officers," she looked at Taylor and Itami. "Will try to find a solution where I don't have to."
"Well spoken my dear," Kyas agreed. The Matriarch studying her carefully. "You remind me of Hodor. Where is your tribe, dear?"
"Sacramento," Locke smiled and removed her helmet, the human ears now visible. Kyas laughed.
"Caught me in a foolish presumption!"
"Yeoman Locke has had experience being mistaken for an elf, ma'am." Taylor smiled.
"I'll bet she has! Well! These old fools," she gestured to the rest of the Elders. "Know that I simply HATE to be wrong about anything! So… Is your Clan name Locke or Yeoman?"
"Yeoman is just my job and Locke is my family name. My given name is Sara."
"Well, Sara! You remind me of my second granddaughter."
"Oh? How many grandchildren do you have?"
Kyas smirked, looking at Nayu. The blood status of her first granddaughter being a sore point with some of the older members of the tribe. Kyas not only had not stopped her daughter from mating a human but had given her considerable encouragement. "One."
Elder Bram suppressed the tinge of exasperation at the Matriarch's behavior. He noted that Drah was managing to suppress his own annoyance if barely. This was good since Kyas would delight in any trace of having ruffled the proud Drah. It was problematic enough on those rare occasions when the Matriarch bothered to attend council but in front of outsiders and in the face of the greatest threat the tribe had ever faced, it was absolutely imperative that the Elders present themselves with calm and serenity.
"So, the question remains. How may we aid the Men in Green?"
"And what do you want in exchange for helping us?" Elder Drah asked not entirely able to keep suspicion out of his voice."
"We're here to help, not extort your people. That said, I think what do we want? Knowledge and just maybe some friends."
"A little knowledge can be a dangerous commodity," Kyas warned, interested in Taylor's answer.
"Knowledge is a tool and like all tools can be used for well or ill. Ignorance, on the other hand, is at least as dangerous if not more so and can only cause harm. So we prefer to seek the knowledge and take the possible consequences rather than choose ignorance."
"Wise words," The Matriarch proclaimed.
"Perhaps. But even a fool can sound wise," Drah commented.
"You're living proof of that," Kyas replied with amusement.
"Kyas… Please," Elder Bram entreated.
"Very well," Kyas turned to the outsiders. "There will be time to discuss our situation later. For now, we should at least offer proper hospitality to our guests."
Bram and Kemm nodded in agreement.
"Then let us welcome you properly after your long journey," Kyas told their guests. "I may no longer have idle centuries to wait but I think we can spare you until morning. For tonight, eat with us and rest." The Matriarch turned to Nayu. "Nayu, do go bring your mother. This is an auspicious day and I should like to share this meal with you both as well as our guests."
Even with limited supplies, the survivors of Schwarz Village were for the most part glad to have a reason to celebrate and turned out in force in the massive cavern that served as the temporary village's communal area. The language barrier proving not to be a serious detriment thanks largely to Rory and to Lelei's linguistic knack but also thanks to Nayu and her mother who both had more than a passing knowledge of Imperial English as well as Yao and Kyas who also both spoke it to a degree. Yao taking lessons from Nayu over the weeks as the pair had walked to Alnus and Kyas learning from Indras and her husband before his passing.
Of course, smiles needed no translating whatsoever. Nor did the still uncomfortable glances from Elder Drah.
"Drah is a very proud Elf," Kyas noted. "He was once one of our best warriors but has always believed in our own self-reliance and avoiding getting involved with the problems of other races. The idea that we are now in the position of having to ask outsiders for help is a great wound to his pride and also, he fears what will become of our people and our culture and ways now."
"We're not here to destroy your people or your culture," Itami protested with Taylor, Kurokawa, and Locke agreeing.
Kyas chuckled. "You are kind-hearted but a little naive. Contact with you will inevitably be a catalyst for change. This valley is devastated. Even once the Beast of the Mountain is slain, it will be many years before Schwarz Woods recovers enough to sustain a village. The Empire is rather larger and more aggressive than it was the last time we had to leave Schwarz Woods. Wherever we go will be with someone else's consent and we will be hard-pressed to simply start from nothing. We will still need the assistance of others to get by, at least at first. Change will come. I tend to think it won't be so bad. But change can be frightening. Drah fears losing everything we are to what we must become."
"Not everyone is so afraid of change," Rory replied with a smirk, looking at Kyas and then to her progeny.
The Matriarch laughed. "My father taught me that 'if one does not wish to be swept away in the stream, one must understand its currents. Sometimes I wonder if he actually meant that literally as he did enjoy sitting on a rock, fishing but I've always encouraged Indras and Nayu to go and learn as much as they could about the world. Nayu is herself part of that change and with the arrival of people such as yourselves, I can only wonder what things she will see during the centuries of her life!"
Around them, it seemed that most of the members of the tribe were amicably disposed. A few even especially so as the young Komu practically fawned on Yeoman Locke, much to the amusement of some of his elders. Mari Kurokawa attracted more than a little attention of her own, especially from an Elf called Fen. In the meantime, Yao and Nayu were joined by two of their sister Rangers, Seymy and Yan. Both chatting away at length about their comrades' journey.
These more forward souls drawing a few disapproving looks from a few of their kin but this hardly dissuaded them.
As the evening drew on, Taylor found himself having to look beyond his scouting mission. He looked at Matriarch Kyas and Elder Bram. "Where will you go once the dragon is dead?"
"We aren't certain," Bram admitted.
"Then I have a suggestion..."
To Be Continued...
So... Itami's rockets went bye-bye.
A Real Shame.