Outskirts of italica
Day 10
0433 Hours
The joint helicopter QRF sped through the countryside towards italica, the glint of the morning sun rising behind them with their shadows darkening the morning sun with their giant figures.
Colonel Riley looked down on his watch to see the time and it showed (04:33 AM). He then looked at the men beside him, before the special region even came to light and they were called upon to assist the task force, they were in training back at Fort Benning either practicing repetitive maneuvers and gearing up for the next war. In about a few minutes, these new troops that have never seen combat before, will have their first taste of combat and war.
"Lieutenant!"
"Yes sir?"
"That speaker system ready?"
"All set up sir!"
"Hit it!"
In a single press of a button to the music player, the crescending intro of the orchestra piece of Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" were blasted in full volume from the mounted speakers of the Black Hawk and Hueys. Guns were racked, cocked and loaded, some of the soldiers loaded a fresh mag into their rifles before racking the chamber.
A JSDF soldier in an American black Hawk took off his helmet before sitting on it, an American soldier noticed him and gave a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey! Why're you sitting on your helmet?"
The JSDF soldier turned to him and said.
"So I don't get my balls shot off!"
Italica, eastern wall
The relentless assault on the wall grew greater as more men from the bandit army poured in from ladders climbing the wall or rushing through the broken gate, the bandits cheered as they slaughtered the defenders and then sky was soon illuminated by a flare fired from third recon. The bandits encouraged their comrades to push forward and although they felt as if victory was in reach, they were met by a horrifying sight: the infamous Rory the reaper who jumped in front of the attacking party with a devilishing grin.
The smaller bandits were stunned and frozen in fear but the large bandit wielding the morning star wasn't and as he stepped forward swinging it towards her, she expertly avoided his attack and used her axe to hurl his body away. Breaking his face cover in the process and he then fell with a huge thud, the bandits who just mere moments ago cheered for victory are now frozen and stunned with fear. However they weren't stunned in fear from Rory as they could strangely hear the distant sound of music, music which is coming closer to them from the sky.
Suddenly and without much warning, a large group of bandits that were standing at the gateway were blown away from an explosion and then what followed after was a barrage of gunfire from the minigun of the JSDF cobras and the M320 chain gun of the US apaches. Followed by the blackhawks, Hueys and Ospreys firing their M240s, M2 brownings or miniguns along with the JSDF and US airborne troops with their rifles.
"All units, weapons free on targets outside of the wall, i say again all targets are free outside of the wall."
"Roger that Talon, Snake eyes 2-1 engaging hostiles at my 12 o'clock."
"Snake eyes 2-1, this is hunter 1 coming in from your six."
The apache (snake eyes 2-1) subsequently fired its hellfire missiles on a clustered group of bandits who think that by interlocking their shields together would prevent them from being killed, they were wrong as what soon followed was nothing more but a crater and a field filled with unattached limbs and the upper or lower half of those bandits. The JSDF cobra (hunter 1) fired its rocket pods, mopping up any stragglers that may have survived.
M4s and Type 89s were being fired downrange from Hueys and Blackhawks down on the hopeless bandit army, who ran in fear and confusion as men were being dropped and killed by the second. The brownings and the miniguns did quick work with the targets they are being pointed at turning into nothing other than pink mists, literally meaning they are disintegrated.
Two bandits on the wall rushed to a unloaded ballista as they desperately try to load it.
"Quick! I need your spear!"
"Yeah!"
The two bandits called out but an Blackhawk spotted the threat and relayed to the nearest gunship.
"Talon Be advised, we have a large weapon the wall down below."
"Copy that, Talon to Hunter 1, you're clear to engage."
As the bandits managed to load the spear and the bolt back, they were met by the hulking grave sight of an JSDF cobra hovering in front of them.
"Hunter 1 engaging!"
It was too late as the ballista and both bandits were blown away by the cobra's rockets before turning elsewhere.
"Hunter 1, confirmed! Target destroyed!"
Colonel Riley looked at the damage from his command helicopter before radioing in.
"Outstanding! get you a case of beer for that one."
As the battle outside grew intense and chaotic, Third recon's and Bravo squad's humvee arrived at the scene, soon thereafter the soldiers and marines disembarked.
"Alright everyone, Bayonets up!"
Itami said as he racked his bayonet on his type 89, however as he turned to Kuribayashi, she then gave a blood curdling yell.
"Alright! Chaaaarge!"
She then charged forward like a bat out of hell and the sight practically dumbfounded Kovak and his marines. Kuribayashi charged bayonet first into an alley towards the battle and soon the marines and Itami with Tomita scrambled to join her.
"Is she a fuckin dumbass?"
"Looks that way Ray, Marines! On me! Move out!"
Third recon's Itami and sergeant first class Tomita were in a stack behind the marines with corporal raymond being point man followed by Hannibal, Foster and lastly Kovak. They head down towards the Alley and down to the battle and soon seeing the sight of the bandit attackers, Kovak shouted an order.
"Form a firing line right here! Keep these fuckers back!"
Rory swung her axe at several bandits who charged at her and it didn't take long for them to lose their leg, arm or even a head however that didn't even deter them.
"SHIELD!"
A group of bandits interlocked their shields together forming a square and they marched forward together to Rory, however as their spears poked out from the shield wall, Rory simply jumped and swung her axe crushing the shield formation and throwing their bodies everywhere. All the while she was giggling with sadistic joy before landing unscathed.
A large hulking soldier tried to swing his axe towards her from behind but Kuribayashi in a nick of time, charged her bayonet into his abdomen and he soon fell from the force. As he tried to reach and grab her, she fired a burst from her type 89, then several bandits charged at her where she expertly avoided them and killed them with either a burst from her rifle or a slash of her bayonet.
Kovak fired a shot from his M4 when one of the bandits tried to stab her from behind with a dagger and soon several shots followed from Ray and Hannibal firing an automatic burst from his M27. Ray aimed his M203 grenade launcher at group of bandits forming a shield wall and the HE round caused a small explosion that blew them away with the shrapnel doing the work wounding and killing them.
A bandit swung his sword above Kuribayashi and she expertly blocked it with her rifle but the resulting impact broke the bayonet mount and the chamber. She switched to her sidearm and the bandit fell.
"Oh crap!"
She said as the rifle was now useless and soon she kept firing her pistol at the enemy, when another Bandit took the opportunity to attack her, Rory stabbed him with her halberd axe and soon Kuribayashi and Rory were protecting each other back to back.
"These two are getting way into it, what do we do?"
Tomita asked Itami.
"Do whatever you can to keep them in front and watch their backs! Kovak! I need covering fire!"
Kovak nodded and with a hand signal, he told his marines to start firing at the enemy troops. The bullets from their rifles hit the charging bandits as they fell left to right and their sneak attacks were futile. The bandit leader looked in anger as he saw that his attack is being torn to pieces but an explosion rocked behind him and he was launched and landed at the tip of Rory's halberd.
"Why? They have no honor! They have no honor! This is not a real battle! Tell me oracle! Please tell me, o messenger of Emroy!"
The bandit leader said with his dying breath as his blood dropped and stained Rory's halberd and some dropping on her face, Rory just looked on with a blank expression and she shook him off, throwing his lifeless corpse away.
The bandits looked in fear as they saw that their leader had been killed, However the battle wasn't over as they still wont be backing down with some shouting that they need to hold it together.
"The oracle killed him! She killed him!"
"Dont just run you cowards! We still have a battle to win!"
Kovak and Itami realised the situation and they didn't want to back down either, soon their radios lit up with a transmission.
"Snake eyes 2-1 to Ground team! You got 10 seconds to clear out from the area before we execute a cleanup on the engagement zone! I say again we're starting a cleanup on the engagement zone!"
The smoke then parted to reveal an Apache gunship with its weapons hot and ready, pointed directly at the stunned bandit attackers who looked in fear at the flying metal beast.
"You need to clear out! Now!"
"Everyone! Fall back! Now!"
"10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4!..."
Kovak yelled as he and his marines ran back behind the wooden barrier, Itami grabbed Rory and carried her in his arms while Tomita held Kuribayashi on his shoulder.
"Hey you dumbass! Let me go dammit! I can run on my own! asshole!"
"3! 2! 1!"
What soon followed was a brief single moment where the M320 chain gun fired burst after burst of explosive rounds on the doomed attackers, explosions followed and there was a huge dirt cloud from where the attackers stood. The italica defenders and militiamen watched in stunned silence as they could not see anything except for the dirt cloud and hear nothing but the screams of the doomed bandits. It only took a second and soon there wasn't anything left and the chain gun fell silent.
"Snake eyes 2-1 to ground team, confirmed all targets destroyed. Have a nice day, snake eyes 2-1 out."
Princess Pina and Hamilton looked in horror at the flying metal beast.
"Its…its…its…a monster!"
Hamilton said in a stutter.
"A flying horse of steel?"
Pina said in a stunned and shocked tone.
"How can this even exist? No soldier or army can match such a level of force…no pride…no glory… nothing left in its wake, only destruction…"
She then looked at the carnage left behind by the helicopter QRF and she could see corpses stretching for miles with some missing limbs or halves of their bodies. The remaining bandits who survived ran in fear or dropped their weapons to surrender.
"Does the goddess really think lowly for us all? Are we really so small? So insignificant?"
The hueys and blackhawks dropped rappelling ropes to drop the troops off, Ospreys landed outside the walls and the marines inside them disembarked. The dropped off JSDF, 101st airborne soldiers and Marines get right to work.
"Go! Go! Go! Secure the area!"
"Move out! I need a perimeter set up right here! Move!"
"Set up a staging area for the POWs! Over there!"
In a matter of minutes, a perimeter was established, a staging area for the POWs and Italica wounded was done. The marines, JSDF soldiers and 101st airborne troops took prisoners from among the survivors. Itami, Tomita, Kuribayashi and the marines of Bravo squad looked on in satisfaction.
"Colonel! This is Major Yota! No more enemies on sight! Looks like we're clear here and its a clean sweep!"
Colonel Riley looked on with his binoculars and after a sip from his cup of coffee, he promptly answered.
"Roger that, all attack units are to RTB, damn good work ladies and gentlemen. Support units and Medevac will move in."
"Copy, Snake eyes 2-1 is RTB"
"Roger that! Hunter 1 is returning to base!"
The Apaches and Cobras soon turned back to Alnus and it was soon left for the Hueys, Black hawks and Ospreys to land and secure a medical evac for any wounded in italica or to provide support.
"Well, i guess we're done here."
Itami said with relief and soon a couple of italica residents walked up towards Kovak and his marines.
"Thank you, we're all safe thanks to you forest covered men and men in green but i must ask who are you exactly? We're do you come from?"
Kovak turned to the old man who asked him before answering in their language.
"We're from the United States and Japan, United States Marines and they're the self defense force."
The old man then looked at the globe and anchor patch on Kovak's vest which displayed the words USMC along with his name and rank.
Italica was finally secured and itami acted as an intermediary between princess piña of the empire and the task force to draft a signed peace treaty. Envoys from both sides will be granted free from expenses and any trade or tax will be exempted for merchants or shop keepers within the vicinity of Alnus hill.
101st airborne and the JSDF 401st will be assisting with medical care for the city inhabitants and defenders. Although technically they are still the enemy, the offer of aid and assistance was accepted, the American leadership under General Harrington also prompted that one of the conditions in the treaty is to leave a small fireteam of US troops in italica to asses its strategic importance.
Kovak wasn't thrilled about the order either to leave a unit behind, since in doing so would make it seem like their objective was to conquer the city after all. Kovak and his marines are ordered to escort the prisoners, chosen by third recon back to Alnus while third recon will remain back and evac alongside members of the 101st left behind as a garrison.
"Well lieutenant, your men did a fine good job out there, i'm glad to have you on our side."
Kovak spoke to Itami and he simply shrugged.
"I'm not too thrilled about what your leadership had to say for italica but i know that you believe what must be done here to make these people at least trust us."
Kovak then gave a look around as the grateful citizens of italica thanked the troops that saved them.
"I know and truth is, they just want a win this time after all that happened in Afghanistan and Iraq, so maybe this time they'll think of something different."
Itami smiled and he gave a handshake to Kovak.
"I'll be looking forward to working with you again! Make sure they have warm beds for us back at Alnus!"
Kovak gave a handshake back and he jumped inside the Humvee, he then gave a smile to Itami.
"You can count on it!"
Itami gave a salute and Kovak simply returned it, the marine convoy departed with the prisoners in tow and Itami alongside the third recon waved. Tomita then promptly asked the lieutenant.
"So what now sir? Are we pulling out too?"
"We still got unfinished business here, the girls are negotiating up there and we got passengers too. So let's just camp out here for the time being."
"Copy that lieutenant."
As they said so several Helicopters and Ospreys took off leaving the city of italica as the happy citizens waved them goodbye, their pilots reciprocate the gesture and waved back as did some of the soldiers that boarded them.
Road to Alnus hill, several clicks from Italica
Day 11
0830 Hours
After the negotiation to sell the wyvern scales were resolved, Third recon along with some soldiers of the 101st airborne were ordered to return back to Alnus. Third recon was looking forward to some rest, especially Itami. Itami's humvee had the special region girls who were fast asleep and three soldiers of the 101st airborne.
"Man, we've been up for over 24 hours and we barely got any sleep since the battle yesterday! This sucks!"
Itami then groaned and his driver (Kurata) noticed his ire.
"We should be about a few clicks away from the base sir, we all earned the rest and its been getting rough out there."
Just then an american soldier bearing the 101st airborne patch and the rank of a sergeant tapped Lieutenant itami on the shoulder.
"Appreciate you sir for letting us take the ride back and you guys look like you've been through hell."
"Its no biggie at all! Although we did crossed paths with a dragon the other day but even that didn't rough us up."
"No shit? You saw a real fuckin dragon?"
"Yep, as big as a skyscraper even Kurata here nearly pissed his pants when he saw him."
"Hey! I did not!"
Kurata gave a tap on the lieutenant's shoulder and itami simply laughed.
"But anyways, when were you guys deployed here? I thought there were info packs about dragons."
"Just yesterday, also that was the first time I even fired my gun in combat."
"Well its gonna be a long ride, might as well just kill me right now, i could use the rest."
Itami leaned back to doze off but Kurata suddenly slammed the brakes abruptly.
"Huh?!"
The sudden stop caused everyone to stumble over, some of the girls in the back fell to the floor.
"Kurata! What the hell was that?!"
"Sorry sir! But we got dust clouds at 12 o'clock."
"Alright, let me see."
Itami looked through his binoculars and the American soldier from earlier went between them to ask.
"What is it?"
"I'm seeing a…uh…a tiara!"
Kurata said and Itami exclaimed.
"A tiara?!"
"Looks like a blonde! With ringlets!"
"A blonde with ringlets?! Where?! I love ringlets!"
The American soldier and his colleagues look in disblief at the Otaku display between Lieutenant Itami and Sergeant Kurata.
"Confirm! One blonde hottie on horseback! A hottie in men's clothes! Followed by even more hotties on horseback!"
"They're heading right for us!"
They zoomed in their binoculars to focus more.
"And roses!"
"And roses!"
The sight that they were looking at was a group of Knights on horseback, true to the words Itami and Kurata, they were indeed beautiful hotties and were heading right for them. The knights had a flag on them displaying a rose flower and the determined look on their faces meant that these must be the rose order of knights founded by princess pina.
"That rose on their flag, this must be princess pina's rose knights."
The american soldiers inside the JSDF vehicles quickly stepped out and took positions with their guns aimed at the knights. The female knights approached them slowly on their horses.
"Woah there! We don't need to escalate anything! We don't wanna mess up the treaty!"
The American sergeant from earlier had his M4 up and aimed right at the lead knight at center mass.
"Are you sure about that sir? They could be trouble!"
"I'm with the yanks on this one sir, they might be trouble."
Itami gritted his teeth and said on the radio.
"Everyone! Hold your fire! We do not need to escalate this! I'm the highest ranking officer here! And I say don't escalate!"
Hearing those words on the radio, every soldier including the Americans subsequently lowered their weapons just as the lead blonde knight and presumably her subordinate a white haired knight with short hair rode up to them.
"Where are you from?!"
The white haired knight questioned Tomita and he subsequently answered in their language.
"Uhm…ugala Italica to home."
"Where is home?!"
Tomita hesitated for a second before answering.
"Alunus Ulu."
Those words escalated everything as the white haired knight and the others drew their swords pointed at both them and the American troops, the American soldiers raised their weapons and pointed them right back at the rose knights. The situation grew tense and it became like a Mexican standoff between medieval and modern times.
"Just say the word sarge! I'll drop em!"
An American soldier exclaimed as he had his rifle pointed at a rose knight, who in return has her lancer pointed at him.
"What do you mean Alnus hill?! You must be the men in green and the soldiers of the forest aren't you?!"
The blonde knight then grabbed the American sergeant by the collar, before barking.
"It's you! You're one of them!"
Just as she did so, an American soldier has his M4 pointed straight at her head.
"Drop him! Or I'll drop you!"
"Woah! Woah! We don't need to escalate things so quickly!"
Itami intervened and he stepped out with his hands up.
"What the hell are you doing sir?! She wanted to kill him!"
"I'm quite aware of that, Private! But let's just take a breather and cool it down a notch. I'm sure my American colleagues didn't offend you, did they?"
Itami said with a smile but instead he was met with a slap across the face by the blonde knight.
"Hey!"
The situation became tense once more as their guns were pointed at the knights, a simple itchy trigger finger and things would go wrong. Nobody twitches, third recon, the rose knights or even the American soldiers.
"We won't yield to enemies of the empire!"
One rose knight called out but the cold muzzle of an M4 from an American soldier said otherwise.
"Your move."
The rose knight gritted her teeth and a fight was bound to break out but itami went up on his feet and yelled.
"Everyone! I got this under control! Just get your asses back to the FOB! Just go! Get out of here! That's an order!"
The American sergeant looked in disbelief before complying and cursing under his breath.
"Damn it!"
In an instant the Americans and the JSDF troops withdrew and drove out of there leaving itami behind. It is then left for the feeble minded itami to bear the brunt of their swords.
Forward operating base Alnus
1730 hours
"He did what?!"
The squad of third recon stood at attention as the major of their unit questioned why they had to leave the lieutenant behind.
"He told us to deescalate the situation sir, he ordered us and the Americans to withdraw and get back to the base immediately."
Sergeant Tomita answered but the major looked displeased.
"Regardless of the damn situation, you don't leave anyone behind! Even if he ordered you to!"
It was then Kuribayashi's turn to speak up.
"With all due respect sir, we couldn't risk a firefight and it's only been a day since the treaty was signed."
Hearing those points, the major relents and sighs clasping his fingers over his eyes as if he was annoyed.
"I suppose it can't be helped.. Have you thought about bringing him back?"
Tomita was the acting sergeant in charge since part of their squad was assigned to another task.
"We thought about a rescue mission sir, we'll infiltrate itallica and try to get him back covertly."
The major, then free from his tired display, looked at the squad.
"Then get to it then."
Tomita gave a nod and they turned to leave.
"Will do, sir."
As the squad walked out of the office, they coincidentally run into Kovak and Raymond in the hallway. Kovak looked at the grim tired look on their faces before speaking up.
"Chewed out?"
Tomita heaved a heavy sigh before speaking.
"Not exactly, our CO is captured by the enemy."
Kovak and Ray looked at them with concern.
"Is Itami still alive?"
Tomita hesitated for a second.
"As far as we know, he made the call to pull us out of there since the treaty is still new and we couldn't risk escalating things with the princess's knights."
Ray crossed his arms before smugly smiling.
"I'm guessing that you're ordered to go back in?"
"By orders of the major himself."
Kovak and Ray gave each other a knowing look before nodding.
"We'll go in with you."
Tomita was surprised by their answer.
"Sir?"
"You left one of your men behind, us recon marines will happily assist you out."
Kovak offered a hand to Tomita and he gracefully accepted it.
"Glad you're on our side sir."
"The feeling's mutual Sergeant."
Outside the east gate of itallica
2230 hours
Tuka and Lelei used their magic to conjure a sleep spell on the guards of the east gate, luckily it worked and the guards are asleep with no memory of what happened. Lelei took a torch and lit a fire to signal the infiltration team. Kovak looked through his binoculars as he saw the signal.
"They pulled it off…let's move!'
The marines and third recon moved in two stacks as they entered into the gate passing the unconscious guards, Ray was point man followed by Cherry, Hannibal, Kovak, Ice and lastly Foster along with montes, the second stack consisted of Tomita as pointman followed by Kuribayashi and Kurokawa along with Kurata and the rest of their unit.
Ray signaled for them to turn to an alley as Tomita nodded that it was clear, the JSDF soldiers and marines moved in unison as they proceeded down the alley with weapons raised and their NODs on. They eventually reached the perimeter of the castle from the alley, watching each other's backs as they proceeded down the quiet empty entrance.
As they entered the grand hallway from the stairs, the stack moved in unison as they watch for movement in front of them or behind them. They eventually reached a door where it could be seen there was light coming from within, Ray hand signalled for Tomita that they want to breach.
Tomita reached the door handle and on the count of three, Tomita opened the door and Ray with his M4 raised into the room was met by a curious sight. A pair of maids were expectantly waiting for them but there was a distinct feature from the both of them, one had purple hair but in addition with cat ears and a cat tail, the other had bright orange hair and bunny ears sticking from them.
"You ladies wouldn't happen to know where lieutenant itami is wouldn't you?"
The Marines and third recon looked in disbelief as they saw itami enjoying himself with the service from the maids, itami didn't notice them until he turned a glance.
"Oh, hey guys!"
A maid with red hair turns to see them, she has a peculiar feature as her hair wasn't made of hair at all but snakes.
"Are these your friends master itami?"
"Yeah, ladies I'd like you to meet my men from third recon and Lieutenant Kovak and his marines."
It didn't take long for the third recon soldiers and the marines to mingle, Ray and Kovak looked in disbelief before Ray spoke.
"Some deployment huh? Lt?"
The marines traded stories with the members of third recon and the maids. The maids were mesmerized by the modern day visitors and their technology in particular. Kurata was trying his hardest to try and impress the catgirl maid (persia), Kuribayashi had her fighting skills adored by the bunny girl maid.
"The way you fought those bandits was truly inspiring! You must be a fearless warrior."
Kuribayashi felt flattered.
"Oh well, it was nothing just a part of our job…"
Ray couldn't help but chime in.
"Oh yeah, she was inspiring alright but if it weren't for us, she woulda gotten her head blown off by that soldier."
Kuribayashi was annoyed at him ruining her moment.
"Hey! I had it all under control!"
"I'm sorry sarge but you did break a bayonet and then some, maybe thats why our squad rolls with yours cuz we're all fuck ups on the same feather."
Kuribayashi gritted her teeth before going after Ray.
"I'll kill you!"
Lieutenant Kovak looked on at his men and itami's as they mingle and talk, taking in the moment of camaraderie between them as well as with the maids. The maids were plenty curious about them, asking about their uniforms, vests and even how their phones work when Tomita pulled out a camera.
"Looks like we can end this night on a good note."
Itami nodded from his bed as he looked on at the moment.
"Let's just call this an intercultural exchange mission."
"An unsanctioned intercultural mission."
That gave them a little laugh as they enjoyed the jovial moment. Kurata spoke up that everyone should gather up for a photo, the marines and the third recon soldiers obliged as they pose with the maids in front of Itami's bed.
"Say cheese!"
"Cheese!"
Kurata proceeded to show everyone the photo, before then everyone started socializing again however they failed to notice that the blonde knight from earlier (bozes) dressed in a nightgown entered into the room looking in disbelief and embarrassment as anyone barely gave her attention.
Bozes couldn't contain her temper at the humiliation and the ignorance from everyone around her as she gritted her teeth and walked up to itami angrily just to land another hard slap on the already wounded lieutenant's face.
Once the situation was cleared up and everyone got dressed accordingly, they were all gathered in the throne in front of princess pina as she scolds Bozes for her recklessness and demeanor. The first thing that was cleared up is the meaning and reason why Bozes had to dress in such a way, according to the empire or this world's customs its customary that sometimes seduction or sex is used as a way of making amends. Bozes looked down in shame as Pina was visibly frustrated, the princess insisted that the entourage to stay till morning and they could talk it out.
"We appreciate the offer milady but we will take our leave now, the lieutenant and his counterpart are ordered by our government and theirs to return to Japan. To report back to our lawmakers."
Kurata spoke and Lelei briefly translated.
"Itami and Kovak are to return to Japan to testify for their senate."
Pina was shocked at the statement.
"To their senate?!"
Pina looked in shock and disbelief as she weighs in on the consequences that such an incident which violated the peace treaty could mean that the Japanese and Americans could use it as an excuse for retaliation. She longingly looked at the half-awaken japanese lieutenant before taking a deep breath and spoke.
"I wish to accompany you back to Alnus hill!"
Lieutenant Itami snapped back to consciousness as he heard her words.
"Whats that?! You want to come back with us?"
Pina nodded and spoke.
"Its only right that i personally apologize to your superiors that we violated the peace treaty, is that alright with you both sir Itami and sir Kovak?"
Kovak glanced at the half awake itami and he then spoke.
"I don't see any harm done but that is something that we can arrange, we'll send a message to set up your meeting with General Harrington and Lieutenant General Hazama."
Pina then nodded.
Several clicks away from Alnus hill
Day 11
0900 Hours
Pina and Bozes were dressed in formal royal empire attire as they sat in the back with Tuka, Lelei and Rory in itami's humvee. The convoy are almost there to the hill and they were given clearance by Itami's major and american high command to bring the two in.
Bozes was shocked at the speed that they are almost to the hill as she spoke up to the princess.
"Princess! I can see it!"
Pina looked at the sight of the hill in disbelief.
"You mean we're already there?"
Just then an american apache flew overhead of the convoy and Pina was awe struck at the sight of the flying metal beast. She then glanced to see several marines and JSDF soldiers doing firing drills at the range before glancing at another to see a stack of army rangers doing a room clearing stack at a killhouse.
"What are those staffs? Is every soldier in this army a wizard?"
She was reffering to the rifles as she turned to question Lelei, to which Lelei briefly responded.
"No ma'am, they aren't using any magic…uhm…those are weapons which they call rifles."
"Those are weapons?!"
"Here's how they work, a small amount of fire is ignited within the cylinder…forcing out a small stone at high speed."
"And every single soldier in this army has a weapon like that?"
"That is correct, its part of their basic teachings…every single soldier from the Japanese and Americans are trained to use one, apparently quite well."
Montes who is accompanying them in itami's humvee, couldn't help but chime in.
"And as our great general pershing once said: there is nothing deadlier in this world or anywhere else than a marine and his rifle."
Those words made Pina think to herself as lelei also pointed out that it was one of the sole reasons that the imperial army that tried to attack Alnus fell and were annihilated. She then felt a huge rumbling as she glanced out the Humvee's window to see a unison type 90 and M1 Abrams tanks rolling forward in a combat formation. She looks on with a combination of awe and fear as she saw the hulking metal beasts fire their mighty cannons at a distant target on a mountain, this is followed by a formation cobras and apaches firing their missiles and shooting their turrets on several laid out targets on the ground.
Pina looked down in shame and fear as she thought to herself.
"Who…no…what have we declared war with? They're monsters, creatures from another world."