And Another Chapter! Time to go back to the Empire!
The Janus Campaign
Chapter 33: A Breeze and then Maelstrom
Fort Defiance, Alnus Hill
The continuing growth and expansion in Alnus Town were accompanied by the recruitment of locals of many races into the units serving in the Janus Theater. Additionally, others were hired as 'contractors'. Orcs were now working in the supply depots. Translators from numerous races were serving with many units in theater. Experts in the local plant and wildlife had been sought out. Most significantly, the Pacific Allies had negotiated their first formal Alliance with a native population.
Surprisingly, this treaty was not with the Kingdom of the Elbe, whose King, Duran had finally come forward to Allied Command to discuss his kingdom's withdrawal from the war, contingent on his return and restoration to his throne. Nor was it with the Uial tribe formerly of Schwarz Woods, although they had been moved to Alnus, pending a further discussion on their relocation.
Instead, it had been with a colony of Faeries living in the forest outside Alnus. The colony, numbering a few thousand strong, had been living in the local woods for ages. Initially, they had considered the presence of Titian's army as an opportunity as they raided Titian's camp in the middle of the night for food, fabric, or anything else useful that they might find. This turned into deep concern when Titian's troops began harvesting part of the forest for lumber to help shore up the defenses at Alnus. The loss of cover and foraging ground was a very serious threat, in their view. So concerned were they, that the colony actually contemplated launching a full armed assault on Titian's troops, knowing that the attempt would most likely lead to the colony's destruction but having no real alternative.
It was with surprise and a mixture of relief and concern that the Faeries of the Alnus Colony witnessed the complete destruction of Titian's army by an army from beyond the Gate. If confronting Titian's 35,000 man army was considered a desperate and virtually suicidal gambit, then being forced to face the army that had so handily destroyed those same Imperial Legions AND those of Senator Godasen was simply unthinkable. Cautiously, scouts and foragers were dispatched to collect the goods of the newcomers in an attempt to judge both the danger and the possible opportunities presented by the new arrivals.
An accidental encounter brought Fae foragers and scouts, Nighean Gaoithe and Dannsaiche Adhair face to face with Marines of Fox Company of the Second Battalion, 5th Marines After talks and a formal apology of cinnamon rolls to Nighean and Dannsaiche for the flypaper, the duo and several of their companions had been formally mustered into Fox Company, with the association doing nothing to smooth the rough edges off either group and certainly not off Nighean. or Dannsaiche. Needless to say, they and the Marines made a good fit.
The nine Fae assigned to Fox Company initially carried their traditional weapons, mainly swords or arrows dipped either in toxin from crimson leapers which tended to cause sharp pain and paralysis when driven into a wound, or, rarely, sap from a plant called Ibora's Heart, which had a highly sedative effect. More recently, a lightweight laser pointer and miniature goggles had been added to their equipment along with a tiny wireless headset. The Fae had already proven themselves as recon scouts. Of course, they also needed a high caloric intake. Whereas their human counterparts might need up to three thousand calories a day, Fae functioned best on four hundred calories. They could survive on much lower amounts but at minimal amounts, Fae could end up sleeping for twenty hours a day. For this reason, one Marine, designated as 'canteen', carried extra rations to help maintain their Fae teammates, who normally deployed in groups of three while on patrol. Needless to say, 'canteen' was usually a Fae's favorite Marine in the field. In particular, Nighean, Dannsaiche, and their partner, Strìnan Sgàthan were particularly fond of Corporal Gataki as the Long Beach native quickly learned their specific individual tastes and idiosyncrasies.
"George," The eight-inch tall Nighean said with a grin. "You're a right good and blessed Èireannach! Ye know right what we're needing, love."
"You know I'm Greek, right?" He laughed.
"Ye'll always be Èireannach to us," Strinan told him.
"In fact, ye give us half a chance, ye'll be Èireannach for life!" Dannsaiche said giving her hips a suggestive wiggle.
"How would that even work?" Private Buckman asked.
"We'd have ta get creative!" Nighean replied. "But that's fine. We like a challenge!"
"Well, before we all get carried away," Sergeant Duncan cut in. "Let's try and watch the shenanigans, I just talked to the L-T. In three days, there's gonna be a shitload of reporters and UN Observers coming in to poke their noses into anything they can. Therefore… First Platoon has been volunteered to head to Italica to reinforce a platoon from Echo Company in assisting in the defense of the city and running patrols in the area."
"Why us Sarge?" Buckman asked.
"Because the powers that be are of the opinion that letting this bunch of screwballs anywhere near the media is not exactly in anyone's best interest."
"Well, at least it gets us away from Major Powers," Gataki commented. The battalion XO was high on everyone's list of least favorite people.
"Major Pain in the arse!" Dannsaiche corrected.
"He's naught but a misbegot motherless bastard," Nighean replied.
And they say we're not teaching them good social manners, Master Sergeant Duncan shook his head. He had heard the scuttlebutt about Italica and he had the feeling that their stay would be as interesting as a Chinese Curse.
Akusho District, Sadera
"Man! I was hoping for a paradise full of beast girls. This place is a dump!" Sergeant Kurata exclaimed as Third Recon and their guides, led by Lieutenant Thomas Theisman, drove through the narrow streets of 'Trouble Town'. A weary and wary populace watched them, standing amid the dirty squalor of Akusho's slums.
Theisman threw a look at Kurata. "If they had known a bigshot was coming for a visit, Sergeant, I'm sure they'd have snapped to and made sure their homes reflected the shining and exotic splendor you were expecting."
Kurata shrank at Theisman's rebuke. He hadn't really meant anything but still…
"Anyway, now that you're with Persia and Katrine, I thought you were off the market," Shino put in.
"Well," Kurata replied in a hushed voice. "It's just… Well, aren't you curious? I mean Even here, these girls are like nothing on Earth! Um… You won't say anything about this, will you? Persia and Katrine are kind of possessive. Besides, what about our squad leader?" He asked, glancing over to where Yao had practically welded herself to Itami's side ever since their return from Mount Tybe. "Or Lieutenant Taylor? They've got at least four apiece! That's not fair!"
"Their cases are different," Shino replied. "As for not telling Persia and Katrine about your wandering eye? We'll see. I just might," Shino replied as the small convoy proceeded to a large warehouse which sat next to the main Allied safehouse.
"We're particularly glad to have you here, Sergeant Kurokawa. Medical help is the most important thing we have to offer down here," Theisman explained. "Major Nyutabaru will fill you in further inside."
It was shortly thereafter that Kurokawa had changed into civvies and began to see patients, Miss Mizari, first among them. It seemed Kurokawa was able to form an easy rapport with Mizari and the other girls working the Venus and the Bacchante. Kurokawa's manner and lack of judgementalism and condescension helped in this regard, although she did find it interesting as Mizari expressed disappointment that Allied soldiers did not seem interested in her services and curiosity in just what would attract them.
Kurokawa could understand Mizari's position. In comparison to most of her customers, Allied soldiers were wealthy and much more sophisticated. On the other hand, what Mizari could not know was that Captain Harrington had recommended using Mizari and the other girls at the Venus as a test case to see if they could be counted upon to follow a set of guidelines that would minimize the risks of disease transmission. If so, then Harrington recommended sending girls from the Venus and the Bacchante to Alnus to set up a licensed and carefully administered legal brothel. As much as it was the popular public solution to declare a 'no tolerance' policy in regards to soldiers seeking out such pleasures, hard pragmatism suggested this was simply not realistic, especially in a particularly exotic land where such things were seen as the cultural norm. It was an imperfect solution in an imperfect universe and as Kurokawa knew, it was the only way for Mizari and her girls to make a living in a hard world and this was a better alternative than other choices to be had.
With Kurokawa and half of Third Recon, led by Sergeant Major Kuwahara on detached duty in Akusho, the rest of the squad were invited guests at Princess Pina's Palace before their expected trip back to Alnus in the morning. As the Third Recon troopers gratefully accepted Pina's hospitality they looked forward to a peaceful night's rest. They would be sorely disappointed, for late that evening, Mizari came to see Kurokawa, bringing with her every single one of her girls from the Venus if Kurokawa was not seriously mistaken, all of whom seemed nervous and or agitated about something if Kurokawa was any judge. In particular, Mizari brought with her a nervous young Siren named Tuwal, who explained that the village she grew up in was near an active volcano and whenever the volcano stirred, it was accompanied by a shaking of the earth. But that she and others in her village would get a certain 'feeling' before the ground began to shake and that she had been having the same feeling since the early morning and could not stop shaking.
Nyutabaru, whom Kurokawa had called when Mizari arrived, noted that many of the other girls of different species were likewise exhibiting cues of agitation and it concerned him greatly as he looked at Harrington and Theisman.
"When I was in Kobe, I noticed one day that the birds and other animals were behaving in a very nervous and agitated fashion. I didn't know what it meant… Until Kobe was hit by a magnitude 8.2 Earthquake later that day."
"Are you saying that you think an earthquake is in the offering, Major?" Harrington asked.
"Yes, Captain " He turned to the radio operator. "Send an emergency Flash message to Alnus and all commands that a major earthquake may be imminent!"
"Yes, sir!" The operator answered as Nyutabaru continued, addressing everyone in the room. "Spread the word for everyone to extinguish any fires and get outside into a clearing if possible. If you can't get outside, then find an interior room and take cover under a sturdy table or such. Better alert the Akusho bosses." He turned to Harrington and Theisman. "Once the operator gets a message confirmation from Alnus, we'll secure the generator and take cover."
Sadera, Palace of Zorzal El Caesar
It had been another uneasy day for Noriko, Tyuuke, and the other slaves in Zorzal's palace. Apparently, his royal heinousness was getting particularly put out with the kitchen staff. Normally that would be a problem that would only fall on their heads as Tyuule had learned how to direct the Prince's bad moods away from the house slaves. Unfortunately, his annoyances this day were simply too many. While he agreed that the kitchen staff should be punished and perhaps he should replace some of them, he was also angered that his older siblings. The First and Second Imperial Princesses had seen to make sport of him publicly, in front of his younger sister, Pina.
Unfortunately, while Zorzal despised his older sisters, Tyuule, as a mere slave, dared not speak ill of Imperial blood. Further, while raping her had been sufficient pleasure for him on previous occasions, today he was getting more impatient to see what results Tyuule had achieved in training Noriko for his pleasure. Tyuule was hard pressed to suppress her disgust and anger at the thought of Zorzal touching her beautiful flower. But for her careful plans to destroy Zorzal and the world that could allow such a monster to exist, she was quite capable of killing him as she was made to stand quietly and watch as he took Noriko, knowing that if Noriko's reactions failed to please him, they both would be brutally punished. But Tyuule's Beautiful Flower endured. Tyuule's pride in Noriko's strength warring with her disgust at watching such an unworthy creature have her.
Finally, the ordeal ended and Tyuule was allowed to take Noriko back to the slave quarters where she began to clean Noriko and tend her injuries.
"You were very brave," Tyuule said. "I'm very proud of you."
"If I had failed, he would have hurt you. I couldn't let him hurt you because of me anymore," Noriko told her quietly.
Tyuule finished washing her and simply held her. Her Flower had grown stronger than Tyuule had hoped and she had suffered to protect Tyuule. Tyuule found herself cursing and praising the gods all at the same time for this as they lay down and Tyuule protectively held Noriko to her…
Only to be woken by rumbling somewhere in the distance but getting closer. She shook Noriko awake as the whole palace began to shake madly. Noriko's eyes went wide as she seemed to recognize this danger.
"Earthquake! Quick! Everyone! Get under the tables!" Noriko cried as the shaking continued and objects began crashing to the floor. After what seemed like an eternity, the shaking stopped. Slowly, everyone got to their feet.
"Is everyone alright?" Tyuule demanded as they each nodded. But Noriko stared up at a crack in the outer wall and the ceiling.
"We have to get out of here! There will be aftershocks!"
"Aftershocks?" Another slave asked confused.
"More shakes. Quakes don't happen singularly," Noriko said and looked at Tyuule. "This building is damaged! We don't want to be in here when the aftershocks start!"
"Are you sure?" Tyuule demanded. She knew what they had to do and that, in itself would have its own dangers.
"Yes! We have earthquakes in Japan very often! There will be another shaking!"
"We have to tell Zorzal. If we try to leave without his permission, he will have us all punished and possibly killed." Tyuule looked at the other slaves.
"You and I will go to Zorzal," she said, turning back to Noriko. "Where is the safest place for everyone else to wait?"
"Move the tables next to the doorway and grab pillows. If the shaking starts again, put a pillow over your head and get under the table. Stay away from that bookcase and the outer wall. Put out the lanterns and candles."
"Do as she says," Tyuule told the rest and then nodded to Noriko. "Alright. Let's go.."
Akusho District, Sadera
"Is everyone alright?" Sergeant Major Kuwahara asked as he finally got his breath, the terrified Naga finally releasing some of the pressure on his ribcage and settled for gently sobbing on his chest as the immediate terror passed. He softly smiled at her, noting that the girl appeared to be about the same age as his own daughter, as he gently rubbed her back. Although she was not crushing him in panic anymore, the Naga, named Uma, held on to him all the more anxiously with her arms on his shoulders.
Getting nods from the other allied soldiers, Kuwahara continued to comfort Uma with a gentle voice, calming her. Likewise, Kurokawa held Mizari, who for all her worldliness, was reduced to a frightened child desperately seeking the reassurance of a mother who seemed so impossibly calm and brave.
As Tom Theisman did a mental headcount, he found a pretty four armed girl named Satha, wrapped around his ankles with two arms while covering her head with the other two For Satha, the 'Green Man' was the only comfort in a world that threatened to crumble around her.
Kurata, for his part, was experiencing a 'perfect storm' of geek nirvana as at least three frightened beauties clung to him. Though he already had Persia and Katrine, the thrill of having yet another Catgirl and a pair of Vulpines all over him was overwhelming as they held on for dear life.
"Save us, Master!" One of the Foxgirls cried as they looked upon him with huge eyes that looked as if they beheld a mythic hero. They would gladly give themselves and everything they had to be saved from the end of everything.
"It's alright. I'm here. You're safe." Best of all was that Kuribayashi wasn't here to spoil his grand moment.
"Thank you, Master!" The second Foxgirl said, snuggling closer as meantime, Major Nyutabaru gently held Tuwal, thinking how her warning had probably saved a great many lives. It was an ability that the Japan Meteorological Agency could seriously use. But Nyutabaru also recognized how bad this experience was for Tuwal. It would take a harder man than he to suggest subjecting her to such trauma again by taking her to Japan where scientists would study her gifts, likely heedless of the cost to Tuwal. For now, what mattered was that she was safe.
All around them, the women of the Venus and the Bacchante and indeed all the residents of Akusho saw that only the 'Green Men' were not in terror. Except for perhaps one young man, who pushed down his fear to find the only person that mattered to him. If the world was to end, he would find Tuwal and hold her as it ended.
His name was Prairie but it was her name he shouted as he stumbled his way through the streets to the Venus, where he knew she worked. He knew of the Green Men, subjected himself to their rules so Tuwal would not lose her job if he saw her. He was not sure he understood them but they treated Tuwal well and didn't cheat her and allowed them time to be together. He had been saving money for them to leave Akusho. He was skilled as a farm hand and because of the war and the levies of men that would never return to the fields, that was a skill in demand. But she was doing even better and at least around the Green Men, they were safe. Perhaps he would consider a job at Alnus. Assuming there was a tomorrow to come, of course.
"Tuwal!"
"Prairie!" She cried, hearing him call her name. Major Nyutabaru helped her up and guided her into her lover's arms. It was what she needed more than anything.
"Tuwal! Are you alright?"
"Yes," she nodded choppily. "I told them about feeling the shakes. They listened and had us come outside. We're all safe! At least for now."
"Hardy will kill and claim us all!" A dazed and panicked man screamed. "PLEASE GRANT US MERCY GREAT HARDY!"
"SHUT UP!" Prairie shouted angrily, not wanting to hear it. "STOP PRAYING AND GET UP!" He stepped back from Tuwal. "There are fires that need to be put out and people trapped in their homes! Hardy isn't going to save Akusho! WE WILL! NOW GET MOVING!"
"You heard the young lad!" Captain Harrington shouted. "I want a headcount of our people first and then we go door to door! Block by block! Let's be about it people!"