Chapter 1:
Dawnstar Hill
The armoured column of the 1st Digital Marines was soon envelopped in darkness when it entered the gate to the DigiWorld. The dark void was long, empty, lifeless and silent, even the roars of the vehicles' engines were somehow muffled. 2nd Lieutenant Raymond was sitting in one of the Cougar MRAP following behind the M1 Abrams at the front of the column with some of his Marines, which also included a Cyberdramon amongst them. The digimon was sitting across him with his M240B light machine gun. He was one of the few digimon who could use human weaponry with ease. The digimon inspects his weapon and his chest rig, given by the marines, every minute, an attitude that was ironic since he's one of the most intimidating looking fellow in the platoon yet he seems nervous and fidgety beside the sleeping or pumped up human Marines.
"You okay Lance Corporal?" The digimon perked his head up and looked at his officer.
"Yes sir, just a bit nervous." He replied.
"Do you have family relatives in the DigiWorld?" Asked the Lieutenant.
"No sir, my family is back in Tokyo."
"Ah... so you have a tamer?" The digimon nodded.
"Yes sir, but I consider him as my little brother."
"Just try to relax a bit okay? Just remember your training and you'll be fine."
"Will do, sir."
A few minutes later, the tanks had already passed through the other side of the gate, behind them were the MRAPs and LAVs stopping for the marines to come out and take defensive positions. The tanks were spread out to make a full 180° radius defensive field of view, the infantry and light armored vehicles between each tank. Once boots on the ground, the marines laid down on the slopes of the hill, making a firing line in front of the vehicles whilst the mortar teams were deployed behind them. Stephen laid down on the ground with his platoon, soon after Cyberdramon laid down on the grass next to him with his backpack full of ammo boxes and 40 mm grenades.
"Did someone ordered a platoon size ammo supply?" He asked amusingly.
"Thanks, just make sure we really do have enough ammo."
"Already did, sir."
Stephen's radio sprang to life and heard a tank crewman announcing:
"Mouvement to our twelve, six hundred meters, over."
He looked at the designated direction and indeed saw bright lights appear in the distance. It was a huge army, consisting mostly of foot soldiers with only a few aerial digimon flying above the army.
"Hostiles confirmed, awaiting orders." Said a tank crewman.
Stephen inspected his M4A1 before looking through his ACOG to see the lights moving closer at their positions. He placed his thumb on the select fire and took the safety off.
He then heard on his radio the order from the leader of this expedition, Colonel Eversman.
"Engage all hostiles. Hold the line for the rest of our marines."
"Give them hell boys!" Shouted an officer in command before a storm of bullets and tank shells started to pound the enemy downrange.
The M224 mortars began their rain of death to the marching army. The night sky was soon filled with whistles of the mortars, the hill spewing light at the digimon as explosions erupted around them. Meanwhile, aerial digimon rushed forward, closing in on the human force rapidly.
"Their air force are closing in on us!" Yelled a marine.
However, the threat was soon dealt with when machine guns and missiles flew at them. Small arms fire as well as 20mm rounds and .50 calibers were shot through the air, decimating the aerial force. LAVs and IFVs opened fire and lit up the sky with tracer rounds and missiles. Eventhough they're losing numbers quickly, the digimon army managed to be in range and fired back, unleashing their firepower at the Marines. Stephen continued to open fire even when bullets and energy projectiles flew above him. They were now starting to take some losses but it was nothing compared to the imperial soldiers who were suffering heavy casualties. Either they underestimated them or their weapons couldn't fire as far as the humans, Stephen didn't care.
He took out the empty mag and placed another one in his carbine before continuing his fire, he shot in short bursts when suddenly he heard someone yelling in surprise and pain.
"I'm hit!"
He looked behind him and saw that one the mortar teams' crewmen has been shot. Hopefully for him, a corpsman was already taking care of his wound while the other crewmen resumed their rain of death.
A few minutes later and the imperial army was starting to fall back while the Marines continued to shower them with bullets and shells as their numbers increased by the minute.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Ordered the lieutenant and the other officers.
The sun was beginning to rise up while the Marines continued to receive reinforcements while others went down the slopes of the hill to secure a foot hold for their soon-to-be Forward Operating Base. Unlike humans, digimon vanish when they die, so the Marines couldn't get an estimate of enemies killed during the onslaught.
Stephen walked down at the base of the hill cautiously when he then noticed something ahead of him. He raised his rifle, the barrel aimed at the thing and slowly approached it. When he was a few meters away, he noticed that it was an unconscious Weregarurumon laying on the grass. The human poked it with his weapon before quickly taking a few steps back as the digimon started to move and growl. At first he was relaxed when he saw that the creature was confused but then immediately tensed up and raised his rifle at it when it growled and looked at him aggressively, ready to strike at any time.
"Easy there buddy, just put your paws in the air and we'll calming talk about it." He said calmly. The digimon didn't seem to trust him.
"I promise I won't harm you if you think I'm gonna shoot a bullet through your brains."
"If I were you, I would listen to him." Stephen looked to his right and saw a Flamedramon with his M16A4 aimed at the commando-type wolf.
"Lieutenant." He acknowledged.
"Sergeant."
The wolf looked between them before lowering its guard and released a sigh of defeat.
"Fine... I surrender." It declared with a feminine voice.
Stephen looked at the sergeant and nodded. He returned the nod and approached carefully at the other digimon.
"Sorry for making you feel uncomfortable with these but we have to for safey reasons." Said Flamedramon as he cuffed her with zip lock handcuffs which she easily complied. They walked towards the top of the hill with Stephen walking ahead of them.
"Permission to speak sir?" Asked the blue dragon.
"Granted."
"Uh... where should we put her, sir? We just got here and we didn't even started to establish a makeshift F.O.B." The lieutenant thought about it for a moment before finding a simple solution.
"Looks like you're going to babysit her, marine. Take her to one of our MRAPs and take care of her humanely, got it?"
"Crap." Flamedramon swore under his breath, obviously embarrassed by the task that was given to him.
"Don't be sad sergeant, I bet you two will get along perfectly." Stephen said jokingly.
The two digimons glanced at each other and instantly looked away, now flushed from the embarrassing moment.
Meanwhile elsewhere.
The noise of rapid metal clinking was heard all over the courtyard as Knightmon runs through the corridors.
"Why do they have to build such a big castle?" He asked at no one in particuliar under his breath.
Eventhough he passed the rigorous and painfully long training of the Royal Knights' Strike Force, he still has a bad time with his commanders' castle. A few minutes later, he finally arrived at his destination. He opened the heavy wooden double doors of the meeting room and immediately knelt down once he was in.
"My lords, I bring urgent news!" He declared hastily and bowed his head down.
All 11 Royal Knights were present in the room, sitting around a wide wooden and marble round table. At the end of the table was the current leader and co-founder of the Royal Knights, Alphamon. Standing to his right was Ouryuumon, the Captain of the Strike force, and to his left was his second in command, Omegamon.
"And what seems to be this urgent news?" Asked the Aloof Hermit calmly while resting his head on his hands.
"The humans are here and are now occupying Dawnstar Hill!" The Knightmon replied.
The Royal Knights were surprised by the news and started to talk to each other, slightly a bit worried. Alphamon raised his hand and soon after the meeting room was filled with silence.
"What happened to the Imperial forces stationed there?" He asked.
"The 54th Legion was completely annilihated along the 52nd Legion who was sent in the portal, they're currently sending the 33rd Legion as we speak."
"Impossible! How could they have managed to defeat two entire legions and being able to take a foothold?" Asked incrediously the Knights' tactitian, Duftmon.
"Maybe we really did underestimated them." Declared Magnamon.
"Do they have the firepower to defeat them?" Asked Ouryuumon at his subordinate.
"Can't say I know sir. I'm just a messenger to the Scout Force, sir."
"What do you think of this Alphamon?" Asked Omegamon to the black knight.
"If they managed to take a foothold at Dawnstar Hill, they'll probably begin their occupation in the local area, either by force or peacefully." He then looked at largest member of the order. "Examon, I want you to go there and try to establish a friendly contact with them. If they accept it, lead them here so we could negotiate and have them as our allies."
"Do you really think they would trust us?" Asked Dukemon.
"In times of war, sometimes you need to form an alliance with an unusual force if they have a common enemy. Perhaps they could help us end this war once and for all." The Royal Knights nodded in agreement. "Besides, I think it's about time we finally meet our creators, no?" He added jokingly.
Once the meeting was over, Examon headed to the exit until Alphamon called him.
"Try to keep out of imperial sight. Good luck."
The massive dragon nodded before opening the wooden doors and prepares himself on the task at hand.