GATE episode 2
Firing the first shot I could feel it, a change in the winds an omen of death and chaos. This would be my home.
Or my tomb.
Mowing down the initial wave of enemy forces I felt that this was just a recon group. Either way the enemy was dead, and we had our foothill.
Putting my Baretta dober cannon on my back I chuckled and said, "the enemy has been sent to hell what a shame I would think they would put up more of a fight."
Itami approached me and said, "if things play out for your benefit high inquisitor you could meet that perfect fight you have dying for."
Smiling I said, "it's about time I met a foe that could satiate my blood lust."
The general in charge then approached us and said, "with what remains of the enemy in retreat it's time we start establishing a base of operation, Itami go and let HQ know we are ready for supplies to be sent through the gate."
Giving a fist bump to Itami I said, "good luck brother" before looking at the general and said, "how can I assist general."
The general looked at me and said, "high inquisitor I am sorry to say but you are not needed yet, unless you want to help with planning the layout of the base of course"
Smiling I said, "very well" before walking with the general to the tent that was set up. I of course thought of this place as a military base first, so tank placements were definitely needed. We would go over all kinds of details and I would send a request for a proper set of wings back to dark legion….my wings, the wings that earned me the nickname of dark angel.
As a dark legion ambassador rushed through the gate in a car I saluted the man and said, "ambassador I assume The Doctor has brought what I requested?"
The man nodded and said, "the doctor upgraded the wings too to fit with your recon engines and had shown me how to attach them" before going into the back of the car to wheel out an L shaped car with my wings. A pair of marble white angelic wings made from the strongest of metals and coated in tungsten. These were mine and mine alone.
The Ambassador then handed me a cartridge and said, "also doctor Miandi took what we found out about wyvern scales and assumed there would be creatures that preyed upon it and decided to up your already dangerous thermal cannon rounds, this is an experimental high thermal shot we call hellspawn rounds, according to the doctor this is supposed to combine already existing plasma shelling with a tungsten core so the bullet can be tipped with a armor piercing round and be heated to the same temperature as the sun"
Snickering I said, "how many rounds do I have Ambassador?"
The Ambassador said, "12 round clip for now but if the data you give is sufficient, we may make this style of bullet standard issue to the baretta dober cannon and other tanks within the dark legion."
Nodding my head and turning around I let the ambassador attach the wings and instantly the wings sprouted to life with my thoughts and with a smile I said, "time to give these puppies a spin" before breaking Mach 3 and flying around Alnis hill like an angel.
As soon as I landed though the dark legion ambassador whispered in my ear, "High Inquisitor a small satellite array has been deployed secretly last night so you can have access to the Argus A.I"
Snickering I clicked a button on my helmet and said, "Argus report!"
A man dressed in a priest's cloak then appeared and said, "ready and awaiting orders High Inquisitor."
Smiling I looked at the ambassador and said, "thank you for the aid and equipment, I am sure this will all come in hand in the long run."
The ambassador nodded and departed allowing me to fly around the complex to break in the new wings.
This did give me an advantage as while in the air I saw approaching soldiers with wyverns flanking them and said, "time to make these men fear death" before flying off to deal with the wyvern.
The air may not have been my main terrain, but I wasn't at a disadvantage. The Wyvern swooped around me, and its rider was in awe shouting, "an angel here! Why do the gods send one of its own to fight us!"
I hated that word, angel. I was no angel, the blood of millions was on my hands I am no angel…I am death. Pulling out my Baretta dober cannon I aimed it at the man and pulled the trigger burning him and tearing the wings of the wyvern. I was in awe as the wyvern died but look relatively unharmed as if the heat wasn't hot enough to melt it like the rider. This would make for good data for later.
Avoiding the aerial bombardment from the JSDF I kept flying around the battlefield landing only to slice the heads of the generals to take their helmets for my collection.
Flying back to Alnis hill I laughed and said, "too easy" before landing in front of my brother letting my wings fold into the back unit.
Itami chuckled and said, "I see you had fun."
I nodded my head and said, "shame these men couldn't give me the fight I wanted maybe I'll find that death I crave later…for now I'm gonna get some sleep, wake me up when we have a proper recon mission."
That night while the enemy had their little night raid, I slept remembering Cambodia and the mission that made me want to die in combat. The day my commanding officer betrayed me and left me for dead.
In the jungles of Cambodia many years ago I used to be part of a small group of deacons, initiates within dark legions ranks, who were tasked with assassinating the Cambodian dictator before he could launch nukes to start WW3. The mission went sour when our commanding officer betrayed us and had most of the team executed including my fiancée. As a sign of good will the commanding officer said he would give the dictator me as a prize if he called off the attack. I was tortured for 3 days before something in me snapped and I killed everyone in that god forsaken building, women and children included. When I finally came to and realized what I had done I saw it as a great dishonor but instead of taking my own life I would let someone else take it on the field of battle, at least then my name would be remembered as more than just a demon with blood-stained wings.
Waking up to my brother tapping me on the shoulder I said, "we got ourselves a mission?"
Itami nodded and said, "you'll be joining the recon division with me on a scouting trip into these foreign lands as our aerial eyes and muscle should we need it, are you ready for this, and guess what…they put me in charge of the 3rd deep recon and surveillance unit, so I guess that makes me on par with a paladin right?"
Nodding my head I said, "an initiate level paladin yes, but not higher than I was before Ginsa you'd still be taking orders from me brother" before getting up and stretching.
"Give me a couple minutes to get ready, when are we deploying?" I asked as I went over to where my body glove was hanging to put it on.
"002 hours is when we're meeting at the gate" Itami said.
I nodded and said, "so in like 30 minutes…yeah okay I'll be ready by then" before putting on the body glove and walking over to wear my armor plating was stored to attach it all.
As I attached the helmet, I muttered to myself, "Argus report."
Argus appeared in my helmet and said, "how can I assist sir."
"Bring up satellite imaging of what you believe to be the enemy's capital" I said while putting on my boots.
Argus did just that and I was impressed with how lavish it was, almost like Rome, it glistened with marble.
Whistling I said, "how long would it take by flight to get there?"
Argus then brought up a chart and said, "using your recon jets I'd say about 4 hours nonstop, however there are loads of towns between here and their capital, so it would be in dark legion's best interests if you tried to establish connections."
Nodding my head I said, "very well…okay let's do this" before attaching the back module of the armor and feeling the entire thing lock together.
Heading out I saw the 3rd recon and an older man approached and said, "Sir! 3rd Recon team is ready, sir!"
Itami walked up next to me and saluted the old man saying, "Hey old school, how are we lookin here?"
Argus brought up stats on everyone we were with, Sergeant Kurata and Katsumoto, Sergeant first class Tomita, sergeant major Kuwabara and kurokawa, leading privates Higashi, Furuta and Tozu, private Sasagawa and master sergeant Nishina. Not a bad ensemble of people if I had to be honest.
Itami then got in front and said, "uhhh thanks for falling in or whatever, I am lieutenant Itami, nice to meet you, this is my second in command high inquisitor Itami, my brother as you all know you are only to refer to him as high inquisitor."
Under his breath Itami sighed and said, "oh god, we miss one train ride on the way to sexy shimbashi and now I am here with a platoon full of dudes."
Grinning under my helmet I noticed Sergeant Kuribayashi who once tried to join dark legion but was denied due to her affiliation with the JSDF and said, "well, well, well Kuri it's been a while."
Kuribayashi turned to be and looked at me with a shocked glance and said, "Jango! Holy crap it's been too long old friend I heard you got promoted to high inquisitor congrats, love the new armor!"
Smiling I said, "yeah I have to admit it fits like a glove, but the real question is, are you ready?"
Kuribayashi chuckled and said, "yes high inquisitor."
My brother sighed again and said, "alright let's get crackin"
Kuribayashi sighed and said, "did they seriously send that dibshit to lead us?"
I sighed in response and said, "unfortunately yes."
We then mounted up into the jeeps and decided to meditate blocking out all sounds within my armor.
It felt like a short car ride till we came across a small village named Coda. I got out and took off my hood and helmet to seem a bit more friendly to the locals who spoke this weird language but upon analysis by Argus it was found out that it was derived from Latin, so it became a little easier to speak. The locals were all friendly and even gave us food and showed us their language and gave us directions to a local town ruled by a lord who would be more than happy to help us. Getting back into the jeeps I opted to sit shotgun with itami.
Making some small talk Itami said, "man it's nice out here. Just like I hoped it would be."
Laughing I said, "reminds me of Scotland with how empty it looks."
Itami sighed and said, "true it does but honestly I was hoping to see some dragons around here."
Laughing I said, "bullshit you wanted to see a hot elf and I know it."
Me and Itami kept talking about how plain the setting was around here and how barren it was and teasing the leading private about knowing the magical girl intro.
The day went on with us just driving and navigating and I ended up calling it a day and locking myself into my armor to sleep for a bit.
Argus then woke me up and said, "Sir! Massive fire up ahead"
Waking up I rushed out of the jeep and activated my wings to get an aerial view shouting, "I'll scout on ahead Itami bring up the rear only if I need it!".
Zooming towards the firs Argus shouted, "warning massive heat signature detected airborne 30 feet ahead."
Looking up I had to really move back in time to see it. The horror of the sky. A red dragon, and it was at that moment I knew what this world had to offer me. The one thing I wanted, a good death.
I wanted to go in and fight it but then I put two and two together and realized the reason the dragon burned this forest. There was a town there.
Getting on the comms I told my brother what happened and what I had found and told them to approach the village.
Landing in the village now covered in ash and smoke I removed my helmet to honor the dead here. I could sense it, the souls of those departed from here. It was a bit overwhelming, a flamethrower on wings.
Itami and the 3rd recon soon made it to me and Itami walked to me, "so…is this the good death you wanted?"
Smiling somberly, I said, "it is but…I think I'll hold off on dying till we make an established base of operation."
I then brought up argus and said, "do a life scan for any survivors."
None, there were no survivors.
Sighing I walked around to see if I could find anything and overheard the conversation between Itami and Kuribayashi.
Kuribayashi looked at Itami and said, "Lieutenant at first glance here, I'm seeing about 32 foundations throughout the settlement, and the majority of which seem to be roughly the size of family dwellings, sir. We only found 27 bodies. The rubble and the wreckage might be hiding the rest."
Kicking around I heard Itami mention how we should radio command about this to be warry of the flying tank with a flamethrower and watched as he threw a bucket down a well only for it to hit something.
Itami then shouted they needed a hand and that they found a survivor.