Chapter 3
One would say nobles are not for this world, they would be right

The chamber of the Commander of the SCFN Michalek Aircraft Carrier is situated above the command deck. It was here where a very tired and annoyed Vice Admiral Serena Michalek sat at her desk, reading over the 5th report regarding a certain, problematic asset. Putting the report from said asset's Commanding Officer down she looked over at the messenger.

Rear Admiral Luke McCow just stood in front of the annoyed Admiral. What he was expecting from her was a mystery, still he refused to move. The oldest Michalek sister sighed.

"You do know why she's being a pain in the ass yes?" Serena questioned.

The Sean City Ministry of Defense Intelligence Agency has what you call "Factions" inside of its leadership. There are many factions, but specifically the two main ones. The Serena Faction & the Sayori Faction. Sayori Michalek being Serena's immediate younger sister at 16 and being the Director of Intelligence, the highest kahuna at the DIA. However, there is a third faction, the Michalek Faction. That may sound redundant, and trust that it does, however this faction is led by the only son of the Michalek Family. The shadowy figure of Sean City Federal Territory. This faction wasn't just limited to inside the SCMODIA like the Serena & Sayori factions were.

"Him" Luke responded, referring to the mentioned son above.

Federal Army Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Maria de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Ortiz otherwise known as Maki Nishikino is the Combat Medic of Mobile Task Force Alpha-1 "Idols of Revolution", 1st Years Team. The redheaded Spanish Princess was what the people of the empire would call a "retainer" of the only Michalek son, despite being legitimate royalty.

Serena shook her head "You and Jack both know you can't control her, if he's given her a personal mission then she'll follow through with it"

Luke stood in silence.

"So, what do you plan to do with her?" Serena inquired.

"I'm going to attach her to Camp Alves as a Liaison to one of our noble POW's" Luke said simply "maybe royalty to noble we'll get something good out of it"

Serena sighed "We've got four weeks before SPC goes through that gate, and the nobles refuse to talk to all the residential aids we've given them" Serena rubbed her temples.

"Lets hope"

2nd Lieutenant Edward Phillips, a Sean City Federal Marine Commando, drove up to the security gate of Camp Alves. Despite being a field agent for the Defense Intelligence Agency he was still relatively new to the agency, so because of that, he'd been assigned to residential aid.

At the age of 14, Edward was invited into the SCMODIA as an Intelligence Analyst and spent most of his 14's and 15's in the United States trying to form relationships with the daughters of a Connecticut Senator Marc D'amelio. He returned back to the Territory as he turned 16, the Senator didn't win the election, so he was promoted to Field Agent and re-assigned.

Parking up his Land Rover Wolf in front of the Camps Command building and got out. Staring up at the building he dusted off his Federal Marine formals. Edward entered the building and was welcomed by a receptionist.

"Second Lieutenant Edward Phillips yes?" She asked.

"Yes, here to see Captain Bradley Young"

Captain Bradley Young, a Federal Air Force TACp Joint Terminal Attack Controller was now base commander of Camp Alves. It wasn't where he believed he belonged, but he'd never go against the words of Serena Michalek, no one would.

"Of course, just up the stairs, the door at the end of the hallway"

Edwards made his way up the stairs and down the hallway. He looked up at the plaque affixed to the door reading:
Federal Air Forces - Captain Bradley Young
Commander – SCFT FAF Foreign Residential Camp Alves

He knocked on the door and a curt "come in" was the reply. Edwards opened the door and found the captain, who was idly staring at his computer monitor and a small female wearing a checkered red and black plaid long sleeve tactical shirt, black Kevlar body armor with three patches on the front, an alternate Territory flag, a Spanish flag and a rank patch for a Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class, and tan cargo pants inside.

Edwards could tell this girl wasn't normal MODIA. Almost all desk jockeys and intelligence agents employed by the Intelligence Agency wore their branch's normal battle uniforms or, depending on their seniority, Class A formal's. Only members of the Office of Reconnaissance and Espionage, Special Operations Task Forces wore PMC type clothing.

Edwards gave the girl a nod, who returned it, before setting himself up in front of the captain. The captain looked up at the two before turning to Edwards.

"Lieutenant, thank you for coming on such short notice" he said.

"Of course, sir" Edwards responded.

"I know you've been very busy with Lady Viridana and I didn't want to just drop this on you, however" the captain turned to the female and waved a hand, motioning for her to introduce herself.

She turned and saluted the lieutenant, who dismissed it, before fully introducing herself.

"Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Maki Nishikino, Office of Reconnaissance and Espionage, Special Operations Task Forces, Group Alpha, Mobile Task Force Alpha-1 Idols of Revolution, First-Year team"

Edwards was taken aback. Group Alpha – let alone MTF Alpha-1, was the most elite Special Operation Group in the entire Federal Armed Forces. So, what was an elite member of the Intelligence Agency, someone who had to possibly go through Ranger, TACp, Airborne, SERE, Artic Warfare, Mountain Training, ect doing at Camp Alves instead of on the other side of the gate?

The captain sighed "Chief Nishikino here has seemed to have pissed off the higher-ups, so now she's been assigned to Lady Viridana as punishment"

Edwards stared dumbfounded "I'm sorry" he shook his head "A elite member of MTF Alpha 1 pissed off the higher ups?"

"Well," The captain said "more pissed off Serena" he made a hand motion.

"The Admiral is trying to make a statement?" Edwards asked.

"Something like that" he replied.

Maki just stood in silence as she watched the 2nd Lieutenant and the Captain talk. The internal politics of the Sean City Ministry of Defense Intelligence Agency – No, the Michalek Family are as messy as actual American Politics. Whispering, rumors, political dissidence. The many sisters of that family can't decide whether to fight each other or to fight their beloved brother.

Serena's move to punish her brother's personal bodyguard & medic was her attempt to try and subvert his hold on her. This of course wasn't really the case.

"In any case" the captain said, signaling the end of their conversation "Idols of Revolution are going across the gate for the last time at 1400 for a long-term reconnaissance mission"

"So, Maki won't be able to rejoin them huh?"

"Exactly, so you're kinda stuck with her."

Captain Young handed Edwards a folder before dismissing the two.

The Federal Corps of Military Engineers, Office of Logistical Intelligence we're known to be a weird bunch. MODIA High Command never knows what's going on over there. However, credit where credit was do, they can put a residential block together in under a week and an entire residential section in under a month.

Blog 401 was one of the 15 10-story apartment complexes that created Camp Alves, with exemption of the Security Station, the Command Post and the Joint Armed Forces Cantina.

These 10-story apartments hold host to a security station on the first floor, a large common room on the second floor, then 3 apartments per floor after that. The security station has a one-way hallway, a security desk and an armory in the back. The common area has several couches and a large TV mounted on the west wall playing the Federal Armed Forces Network News channel.

Edwards opened the front door to Blog 401, letting Maki in first before following closely behind. There was a single MP at the security desk. Edwards passed his CAC over and placed his M1911 onto the counter. Maki removed the SCTG-150 Riot Double Barrel Shotgun that was slung across her back as well as an engraved Glock 17 Auto that was locked into a pistol holster on her thigh and placed it next to the M1911. She then handed over her CAC.

The MP officer scanned both cards, making sure that the two in front of him had clearance to enter. He was a little taken aback with Maki's card but nonetheless allowed both to enter.

Upon entering the common room on the second floor, Maki followed Edwards as he made his way to the 5th floor. Edwards knocked on the third apartment on the floor. A 14-year-old girl answered the door.

"Ah, Lord Philips" The young girl bowed.

"How many times do I have to tell you Lysithea, I'm not a noble" Edwards shook his head.

"Mother says I should treat you as one anyway" Lysithea responded.

Edwards put his hands up in defeat, he wasn't going to push the topic further. He knew better than to question Lady Virdina and her daughter. Lysithea noticed the small girl behind the Lieutenant and tilted her head in curiosity. Edwards noticed this.

"Speaking of nobles" He cleared his throat "This is Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Maki Nishikino, she is an actual noble"

Lysithea looked at the newcomer up and down. She noticed that the Warrant Officer carried herself in the dignified way of a princess, however something else was meshed with it. She couldn't tell what it was, but her mother is the same way.

Lysithea bowed "Lady Nishikino"

Edwards was expecting Maki to be taken aback by this. That the file he'd read about her being Spanish Royalty was falsified by the Intelligence Agency, but Maki just watched as the 14-year-old brought herself back up.

"Please, Miss Lysithea, just call me Maki"

Lysithea nodded before ushering the two into the small two-bedroom apartment. Each apartment in Camp Alves had two bedrooms each, except for on the east side where the 3 complexes had 3 bedrooms per apartment.

Lady Virdina is the wife of Legate Virdina, the leader of the roman forced from the GATE. He was captured after FNG's 3rd Infantry Battalion's retake of Government Circle. Granted severely injured. Lady Virdina, according to 2nd Lieutenant Edward Phillips, was a special woman. Dignified but held a lot of secrets.

A player in a game that was rigged against her from the start yet ended up holding all the cards. Lady Virdina was born the youngest of her 3 sisters, standing at 5'1, around her mid to late 30's, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Said woman was standing in the living room of the apartment. Now, this woman was the mother to 3 daughters and 3 sons, one of them, Lysithea Virdina, was healer in training so she was brough along with her parents during the invasion. The rest of her children stayed home to take care of the Virdina estate.

"Ah, Lord Philips"

Edward shook his head. Lysithea was one thing, but attempting to stop Lady Virdina was another. Edwards straightened himself up and then deeply bowed.

"Lady Virdina, thank you once again for allowing me into your residence"

Lady Virdina lifted Edwards face up "You know that you don't have to do that every time you enter my apartment"

Edwards slightly smiled. Lady Virdina, much like her daughter, looked over at the redheaded female. She moved towards her, looking her up and down, analyzing her.

"Ah, what's a royal doing dressed up in healer cosplay?" She asked.

Despite this, Lady Virdina bowed in respect. Maki raised her eyebrow. The otherworldly noble brought herself back up and decided not to answer what wasn't asked.

"My mother" Maki began "the queen, was a nurse before she met my father, a prince at the time. I was very interested in her work from a young age"

The woman nodded "but that wasn't where you started huh?"

Maki shook her head "No, I became a volunteer police officer when I turned 8"

The woman wasn't fazed by this statement. She's seen soldiers younger than that "I see, how long?"

"3 years" Maki said.

Edward watched as Lady Virdina continued to grill the 19-year-old teenager before her. It reminded him very much of his first time meeting the otherworldly noble. Asking her background, learning everything she can.

"Now, onto the matter of the Deep Reconnaissance units" said Firestone Major General Antador Thomas.

This was the third meeting of the States Protection Coalition Headquarters regarding the invasion across the GATE. The first meeting, held after the ratification and transport of militaries into Firestone concerned POW's. The second meeting held half a month after the fact concerned the selection of the Supreme Commander of SPC Forces in the Special Region.

In this second meeting, Firestone National Guard 6th Ranger Regiment Colonel James "Delta" Trigger was chosen as the former. Now he appeared, along with the Commander of Mobile Task Force Operations in the Special Region, to this third meeting.

"Okay so, we've already picked out the 1st and 2nd Deep Reconnaissance units" Colonel Trigger responded, "and we're still okay with MTF about their liaisons, yes?"

"Liaisons are squared away" Rear Admiral Lower Half Luke McCow replied.

James nodded "good, now for the creation of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Deep Reconnaissance units"

He then looked over at Firestone's Major General "I believe it's our turn for a commander"

The Major General nodded "Who do you have in mind Colonel?"

James put a file down onto the table. "1st Lieutenant Cameron Nexuls, 6th Ranger Regiment, currently 2ic of 5th Ranger Battalion, Squad 2"

The file was passed around the room.

"Any other Guardsmen?"

James threw down 5 more files.

"Sergeant First Class Emi Suzuki, best rated Medic in the Guard, Corporals Leah Foster and Anthony Lewis, Specialist Natsuki Yamamoto a heavy weapons specialist and Private Keiko O'Ward, the mandatory MP"

The generals nodded. James looked over at Colonel Michael Watkins "Anyone Colonel?"

2 more files joined the original 5 "Sergeant Major Nathaniel Walsh, Company Sergeant for the 1st Special Operations Group Detachment – Zulu, Company 2 and Sergeant Lucas Wagner, one of the best drivers in the 15th Mechanized Infantry Battalion"

"Mayflower?"

3 files came down this time "Sergeant Hye-won Lee, Sergeant Tariq Kamara and Specialist Joesph Nelson. Sergeant Tariq Kamara and Specialist Joesph Nelson are the two best Anti-Air specialists in the guard"

"Ridgeway?"

One more file came down "First Sergeant Sophie Reed"

One of the commanding officers whistled.

James shook his head before turning to the Docklands General "Sir?"

Another file "Sofia Perez, Sergeant First Class, Close Combat Specialist"

"Rockport?"

The last file came down "Master Sergeant Alejandro"

"And last but not least, the Intelligence Agency?"

Luke McCow got up and placed two files onto the table. This got confused looks from the commanding officers.

"Now, I understand that we decided on one liaison per DRU, but the one we had chosen for the 3rd kinda gained an attachment in the last week" Luke said "Chief Warrant Officer 2nd Class Maki Nishikino"

"What about her?" Antador asked.

"She's being punished" was all he said.

"You understand right" Colonel Isaiah Valdez started "that the entire point of SCMODIA Liaisons was to make sure that our Deep Reconnaissance Units follow the Geneva Convention, because, last I checked, us State's didn't ratify it and therefore normally don't have to follow it-"

"And we wanted you to do this right" Luke cut in "yes, that's also the reason why each unit has one mandatory MP officer-"

"So, we agree that two liaisons are overkill, no?" Valdez asked cutting back in.

"Yes" Luke agreed "but this 'situation' is unavoidable Colonel"

Antador held her hand up to silence the Commander of the Norfolk National Guard's future protests "It's fine Isaiah" she then turned to Luke "We approve of this secondary Liaison"

Luke nodded "Thank you Major General"

Three days after this meeting, a full two months after the original Government Circle Incident, the entire States Combined Forces gathered within FOB Defiance. In front of the GATE that leads to the Special Region lay the advanced invasion force. At the front, 20 SS,LLC MVMD-Toyota Armored Military High Mobility Jeeps holding 20 squads of 10, split in 3 between the 6 National Guards, behind them, 2 10 member rows of Spectra Type 91F MBT's manned by the Firestone National Guard 3rd Infantry Battalion, 132nd Armor Company, 2 10 member rows of TMCD Crusader Type 12 Self-propelled Anti-Aircraft guns manned by the Mayflower National Guard 3rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and 2 5 member rows of Spectra Faach Crusader Self-Propelled Howitzers manned by the Rockport National Guard's 35th Artillery Battery Company and the Norfolk National Guard's 47th City of Norfolk Defense Company.

The men and women of the States Combined Forces waited anxiously for the go order. To storm the GATE and pay revenge for the families of the victims. The World sat on edge as a historical moment awaited to play out before their eyes.