Ghost Recon: The Gate War

by Skootmeister

2021, for 7 years relative peace has reigned over the world in the aftermath of conflict after bloody conflict. The Ghost Recon force takes on a seemingly inconspicuous mission in Japan. Fate however rolls the dice and soon the team, and the world, finds itself at war with an empire of might, monsters and magic. Once again, war has come to call the members of the Ghosts to action.

8. Italica Siege ends

Hello all. Been a while since I posted eh? That's because I was taking a break, doin family stuff, working extra hours, and more importantly was busy with Breakpoint. What was I doing playing a game I clearly stated I had no interest in a while back? Simple: It was on sale. That posed a low risk/high reward potential to see how the game was firsthand... and needless to say, it's bad. Got the main story done and played through Operation Motherland a bit before just looking up the details on wikia... like they took notes from CoD. Thankfully other games like Aliens: Dark Descent and the preview for Tempest Rising helped put that aside. Wildlands too. (Though that game can be partially blamed for how Breakpoint turned out.) I was also relocated to a new site recently and had to get acclimated. It's going well thankfully.

But the nitty gritty can come later. Right now let's get back to it. NGL I struggled trying to keep the situation believably paced without dragging it out. I think I did a basic job but I could've done better. Essentially I bit off more than I could chew. But given what comes after I'm happy with what I've put down. Besides, IT'S. DA SPOOKY MONTH!

Oh yeah, did some thinking and figured it'd be more fitting to have ol Mitchell to his proper rank as far as timeline goes. That being Lieutenant Colonel. (The same rank Nomad becomes in BP as far as the Wikia is concerned funnily enough.) I've already gone through and modified the dialogue in past chapters.

Sadera.

Sadera's record of war was a long one. But one does not gain such a record without evolving and innovating.

Such a thing was integral to their success over the years. While their current formula of legions, scutum, and hastas was long standing, it was not always so. They evolved over the many years of their city's existence. The war bands of tribals, the phalanxes of Ictan, scouting parties, cavalry raids, all came to pass and evolved under their attention. When they battled the likes of kingdoms with their knights, Sadera saw how valuable a force of fully armored men would be, either on foot or on horseback. This also led to them adopting the idea of the metal plate armor over former segmentata patterns. When they were introduced to maces and battleaxes, Sadera was intrigued on how these could arm specialized formations. And it wasn't just for humans amongst their ranks. The races that would inevitably be included in the empire also had an impact in how it fought its wars. Elves were powerful mages and formed unmatched archers, dwarves were exceptional engineers and frontline warriors, orcs were savage shock troopers and skilled hunters, the rabbit people were excellent scouts and watchmen, and the semi-nomadic giants were incredible formation smashers and siege assistants. In addition this extended to their civil life. Many things from how aqueducts were built in neighboring lands to the methods of fishing in mysterious Miwa were learned and copied by Sadera. They were by no means the only land that copied others, but their propensity for it was undeniable.

Hence it was no secret that the moment Savagii brought those weapons back from the battle of Alnus Hill, the mages and scholars took to studying them immediately. Never mind the decree coming from the emperor himself. The very idea that these contraptions existed was something the mages were immensely interested in. If they could figure out the workings and magic, then they could possibly make their own!

At least, that WAS the hope. The reality was for the most part, disappointing, yet offered nuggets of information.

"We've had a few days to examine these weapons. We anticipate further studies to be doubly sure of the claims, but as of now, here is what we know." Olivia Crispina, a fresh adept of the Empire's Mystic Order, began as she addressed the gathered Legates before her, Emperor Molt himself among them. "Before we did anything, we examined all three of these weapons Savagii brought back, we searched for any indication of magical properties, but we found none. There's not even an inkling of magicka in them." She paused letting her words hang.

"When that was made apparent, we called for smiths and armorers to examine them, believing whatever these weapons are, a more material analysis was to be made. But with the utmost of attention, these weapons appear rather temperamental and handling them carelessly has resulted in the injury of one of our fellow mages." Olivia receieved papers from one of these smiths and read from them as notes. "These weapons are very complex, screws, bolts and other pieces take making parts of them. We chose to only disassemble one as carefully as we could lest we break them all. Inside were more parts and pieces. While we still have yet to understand exactly how they function and what each piece is for, we understand the most basic principle of how they work... also learned from the accident."

The smiths brought a small piece of metal with a curved part underneath and gave it to Olivia. "Pulling this part here," she began, referring to said curved piece, "is much like our crossbows. It is what causes the weapon to let loose its projectiles. Said projectiles being these brass colored objects found in the curved rectangular parts in front of the handle." Said part was delivered to her. It's head being pointed almost like a bodkin arrowhead. Below this head was a noticeable line separating it from the rest of its cylindrical body. "A quick look with our magic has revealed this object is made of lead, tin, copper and steel. When used, the weapon ejects the lower half of this object from a flap on the side. We believe that these projectiles are launched somehow within the weapon itself, similar to how we would expect a crossbow to work. How exactly we are still figuring out. On that topic we managed to break one of these objects and look inside, all we found was this powder contained within. We are still identifying the substance, but it is very flammable. And that is all we have."

A few murmurs were heard. So much known yet none of it answered much. "Is it possible we may be able to make some of our own?" Molt asked

"I... humbly beg your pardon your Majesty," Olivia began, "but speaking plainly? We better pray to Ramirus, Phoebe and Duncan fervently if we wish to do so while this war is going on."

The smith stepped forward, urging to be heard. "As it stands... this construction is intrinsic and complex, almost like one of our siege weapons or a crossbow. The materials are not consistent with what we use, they are a combination some sort of metal and some other materials we cannot recognize."

"And what of this... armor my son brought with him?" Molt continued giving no time to let the news sink in.

"That is the good news." Olivia began. "While the Otherworlders weapons are evidently devastating, their armor is quite vulnerable to our own weapons." She motioned for said armor to be brought, mounted on a training dummy's "This... 'armor' if you can call it that," a notable sneer on her face, "is essentially a metal plate with woven fabric. Woven fabric that seems purpose made as our armorers speculate, like padded armor or a gambeson jacket. But compared to our own, it covers less and is far less durable. The only thing that offers any sort of defense would be the single steel plate found within the armor. I would argue this is more for carrying these curved items for the weapon rather than protection. A theory supported by a hunch I had to use one of these weapons on it. While the plate combined with the lining seems able to resist these weapons as well as our arrows, it's virtually useless elsewhere. And the helmet is practically useless as far as combat protection goes... we found that out after testing a mace on it. Add to that the consideration we have magic to augment our own protection as well as our attack power we're looking at a situation where our protection is better, but is limited by time needed, magic for the enchantment, and general allocation of supplies."

"So you're telling us these Otherworlders have weapons that outstrip our own yet they can't create decent armor to save their lives, and the only thing stopping us is the fact we just cannot feasibly provide it for every legionary?" One Legate asked incredulously.

"At the moment... yes." Was the reply.

Another surprise as sure as any. Surely there had to be more to the Otherworld to contribute such a decision, why such a reality was so boggled their minds. Were there other types of this armor they had? Were there other threats they faced besides one another? Here in the world of Falmart there were clearly threats that could destroy even the finest armor from giants to dragons and spells, but that's where strategy and tactics came in, and of course your own monsters and spells to counter the enemy. Outside of that, a good shield arm and a true sword arm decided battles as surely as a full stomach or maintained equipment. As the Legates were essentially brooding over this, Molt continued. "Have you any suggestions on how to proceed with this knowledge?"

"Well, your Majesty. As I've mentioned we need more time to study these items AND to develop a proper response. We are seeking to enchant as many armor pieces as possible to resist these weapons, but with the range they appear to come in as described at Alnus, plus the strange brass items of the remaining two weapons are different sizes, it will be easier said than done, let alone the needs of the mages doing the work. As far as these weapons, the smiths believe bringing in more experienced craftsmen would be a good idea."

"And what better craftsmen than the Dwarves? Specifically the Dwarven Guilds?" It wasn't an outrageous idea. The Dwarves of the kingdoms beneath the mountains were renowned for making quality works, from simple sets of stairs to the massive stone and gold cities that they built into and out of said mountains, and their technology was also quite remarkable. Pumps to clear water from mine shafts, steam-powered drilling devices, complex systems to draw a cage up a vertical shaft, machines that can travel great distances! Some of these ideas had been adopted by the Empire of course, but otherwise there has been no need due to the menagerie of Sadera's people or the Dwarves holding the knowledge for themselves. They are nothing if not stubborn. Then again, why build massive cranes for construction when a giant and winged demihumans could do the job?

In addition the Empire had a close relationship with the Dwarves in the mountains near Sadera, coincidentally the same mountain range separating the city from Alnus Hill and the Otherworlders. It was virtually a no brainer what to do in that regard. If anyone could look at these tools and figure out if they could be replicated, it would be the Dwarves.

"I approve of this decision. Olivia, you and your fellow mages have done well. Continue your work and see the smiths who have assisted you are properly compensated for their efforts." Molt ordered

"Of course, your Majesty. I take it you are taking your leave?"

"Indeed. I must make it back to the Senate to deliberate on less dire decisions." Molt was given his due as he left, leaving the Legates with the mage and formulate whatever strategies they may deem appropriate. So far as Molt was concerned, it was best to keep hands off and let the professionals do their job. He would only intervene if necessary. For now he would concern himself with the matters of the state. If only it was so easy of course.

It had been a few days since he saw Pina off to investigate Otherworlder movements. He was expecting a letter from her for some time now, perhaps a foolish expectation given how focused she always was with her task. But a father must have expectations lest his children fall to the wayside. Thankfully something his other child, Savagii did not do.

For now though, it was time to focus on the present. Most certainly would be the further deliberation of the legionary and auxiliary compensation proposal.

Fort Gate.

While sorting the logistical nightmare of deciding what material would come through the Gate and when, the generals and their staff also had other duties to mind. Among them: Figuring out their enemy.

With interrogations of prisoners, including the captured Legate, Rory's cooperation and asking the mage Kato, they finally had an idea of what they were looking at: The Saderan Empire. At the top of this state was an emperor with near absolute power overseeing the policies of domestic and foreign affairs, and often had the final say. That said, these emperors ruled with a powerful Senate to mediate decisions and represent the larger common folk, and ease the burden of legislation and bureaucracy. Said Senators bore a chance of becoming emperor themselves proving they had considerable gravitas, better known as importance. Though this came with being legally disconnected from his family to prevent power being too centralized. A clever way of ensuring jostling for power only afflicted lesser titles. Some finding purpose in being these simple governors. In essence, it was a semi-elective absolute monarchy. A democratic monarchy if one feels romantic.

As for their military. It was massive, if the saying 'every man a legionary' was true. And if so, then the parallels to ancient Rome were very striking. But these Romans had dragons, giants and magic on their side. Beyond that they had to make assumptions, and assumptions make an ass of everyone. Rory would only say so much and it was unlikely Kato knew the intricacies of Saderan military workings, as for the prisoner, it was a miracle the CIA man got him to talk at all. They had to beware potentially alienating him again. All they had were comparisons to Rome. One thing they could safely assume was that if anything was certain, the magic they saw was the small stuff. Kato made that perfectly clear when describing the ranks magic users could attain. From Novice to Master.

The Empire also followed a henotheistic religion. A form of worship that does not deny the existence of other gods. Rory herself going on about how other apostles of other kingdoms and peoples existed and had interacted with several through her hundreds of years of being one herself.

But then came the big one. They asked how big the Empire was. Without satellites and the limited range of drones all they had were maps they found here, and they had to assume that like maps way back when, they were imperfect. The real pain was figuring out exactly how big the landmass on these maps was. One thing was obvious however, the map they had drawn from the pictures they found was drawn roughly by the Legate, and it carried horrible implications. Much of the continent was shaded in. The rest being outlying areas, rival powers, or kingdoms under some sort of agreement with the Empire. To add insult to injury, they all stated that while the exact founding of Sadera had been lost to history thanks to repeated raids and sacks in her early years, the empire starting at its birth was at least over a thousand years old, and they couldn't agree on wether this was simple hyperbole, mind games or a straight answer. It's bad enough considering many back home consider Rome would not truly fall until the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans or some other more outlandish claim. The same could be said for the Holy Roman Empire, itself lasting a thousand years. If true however, combining this with a generous assumption of how long the city itself had been around... it's been there for much of Earth's own recorded history. That was to say nothing of the other peoples, nations, and collectives besides the empire.

And finally they remembered their supply situation. Drawing up a list of all of this, this entire campaign was essentially beyond FUBAR.

To sum it all up, the Coalition had a clogged artery back home which also served as their only route for supplies to build a fortress to hold back any attack. Said attacks which would surely be bigger if the Empire gathered fast enough. They had no satellites, no air power, no force projection, practically nothing. They were trailblazers if anything. Their enemy was clearly determined in making a stand in war, had literal years of experience, had more land than anyone else and surely knew it well, and is stopped from moving quickly only because of a mountain range and a lucky stroke of defense. And for all that, there was still no solid idea of how far their capabilities stretched.

Suddenly the idea of a ceasefire was very very appealing. But if the Coalition tried that... may as well be ringing the dinner bell for a pack of ravenous wolves. Now was a good time as any to grab a shovel.

"Gentlemen," Valentine began, "I think I speak for all of us when I say we are in over our heads. Good news first?" That sarcastic English charm dripping from his voice. "Well, our force is in great shape. Our only supply route to and from here is more clogged than a diabetic after his fifth fish and chips, we are literally blind beyond the range of Italica AND we are practically surrounded by hostile territory that would make a week in Afghanistan look welcoming."

"And the bad news?" A rhetorical Berathraben asked.

"I don't think the military industrial complex of the United States will fix it... and I'm about to run of tea."

French general Arnaud spoke next with, "We must assume that this empire will be gathering every man available to send at us right now, if not gather outside our backyard and wear us down mentally. The helicopters we sent to Italica barely constitute an attack force as it is."

"Unless anyone has a suggestion to how to solve this, our options are wait, wait, and wait." Valentine finished sipping what was left of his tea. An uncomfortable silence hung over the table.

"Well," Hazama began, eyes turning to him. "I have a suggestion... not that it's a good one." Another round of silence before he was gestures to speak. "Well we're basically out of our league so to speak with everything summed up, right? Well, I think it's safe to suspect our enemy is in the same boat."

Shin responded with, "How do you assume that?"

"As you all recall, the commander of the force that attacked us after we came through asked us to let his surviving forces retreat peacefully. He essentially surrendered. He surely went back to report to his superiors as any of us would. In their minds there is surely no idea of our own capabilities. For all they know we have over a million men ready to cross if need be."

A more relieved silence hung over the table now. "Go oooooooon." Valentine encouraged.

"And with this situation in Italica. It's as outlandish as they come but this may work to our advantage... if our forces come out of this before their own can arrive, I think we may be able to negotiate a ceasefire."

The suggestion was received with mildly incredulous stares, but most outspoken was a now coughing Valentine, having spit what was left of his tea. "Oh are you taking the piss? We fight tooth and nail with these braggarts just to get established and now you wanna make nice with 'em?"

"I didn't say that." Hazama sighed, his brows furrowed, face uncomfortable with his next words. "It's clear there's going to be more bloodshed in the future... too much has happened for peace. But if we can buy time... we can get our own mess sorted out so we can better deal with the war ahead of us."

"As would our enemy." Borislav grumbled. "They'd be fools not to."

"Assuming they'd be willing to accept that ceasefire, and if they're perceptive they'll smell a trap, or our bluff." Shin added. "I sure would. Perks of having a neighbor like our northern brothers for decades. You know when they're full of shit."

"It's a risk... but one I'm willing to take if you all are." Keating finally spoke up. "Hazama's correct. If this goes well we could get bargaining power... and since this Pina is supposedly the daughter of the emperor we could do some arm twisting if need be."

"Da. Every man has a weakness." Borislav agreed. "I agree to this plan." But before anyone could voice their thoughts, frantic knocking was heard at the door. The request to enter was met with a wide-eyed aide.

"Generals, we have a problem. The MV Cape Douglas was just bombed on its way to Japan!"

Italica.

Perhaps one of the most consistent things about history is how often people get it wrong. Or rather the intricacies and details.

Take sieges for example. No offender is as great as the likes of Hollywood, who in a move to wow audiences go for style over substance, a practice that still happens even today. The reality of the siege is perhaps one of the most infamous examples of historical inaccuracies. Scenes of soldiers breaking through the walls the moment the attacking army arrives outside the walls with siege weapons all ready to go. In reality sieges can last days, months, even years, eating up much of an army's campaigning time. The city of Candia in 1648 underwent one of the longest sieges in history for a staggering 21 years in the Cretan War between the waning Venetians and the Ottoman Empire. The simplest method of besieging was simply surrounding the location and preventing escape or entrance, wearing down the defenders through hunger. This was counterbalanced by an attackers numbers being whittled by defenses, incoming reinforcements, and what other factors played a part in the attack.

Of course, Mitchell knew better. One, you cannot always rely on the rulebook to tell you how something will work out, for that way lies predictability and room for innovation on the enemy's part. It's more of a guidebook. Two, it wasn't giants or other monsters that built the Warwolf trebuchet of King Edward I, yet it was these same monsters that had broken through the gates at the east and the north. The worst part was that the majority of enemy forces were pouring in through there. The archers, centaurs and slingers. Hypastos clearly was daring to pull this audaciously clever move. Already there were fires breaking out at the north gate as the invading mercenaries were putting buildings to the torch. He could only imagine what was happening to the townspeople that were still caught over there.

As per his orders, the Ghosts made headway to the central part of the city. At this point it didn't matter if they broke through the south or not. The east would bleed defenders as they made way to support the north, the west would also have to follow suit and answer the call. Brown, 30K and Nolan were sent to the palace itself. The rest would make for the north to get Burke and Diaz. They wouldn't last long on their own out there. It would require speed and precise timing as they drove for their comrades. He could only hope that Pina knew about what the hell was going on.

"3-1, 3-1 this is Ghost Lead, we have incoming from the north gate. I repeat the north gate has fallen!"

"Are- are you kidding me?!" Itami cried over the radio.

"Get your team organized and fall back to the palace. We're making a stand there!"

"How the hell are we- where's the cyclops?!"

"He's... occupied." Mitchell wasn't wrong. The big guy was indeed in the city now, having used the large rocky formations at the north gate to climb in. But instead of joining the orgy of destruction, he had moved to one of the city's inns and took it apart to get to the cellar, grabbing the giant barrels of wine and mead to guzzle. Ironic the biggest most dangerous creature in the bunch was more interested in drinking himself into a stupor than destroying and maiming the settlement. This did mean he was essentially out for the count, more concerned with filling his gullet. Which meant more firepower to focus on the rest of the enemy. The two Humvees raced to the north side, the snipers making their exit running alongside the walls. Less of a chance of being seen considering the foe didn't know they were there in the first place, something that would change rapidly no doubt.

Perhaps the worst part of it all was the fact that they had to let what was happening at the northern town section happen. Only so much a couple snipers could do against a couple thousand men. The arrival of help would only do so much as well.

"Drive, drive! Anyone gets in your way, crush them! I'm not leaving my snipers out to dry!" The drive to the walls didn't take much time. But that also meant it wouldn't take much time for the enemy to get close in their spree. Mitchell's Humvee parked and waited for Diaz to descend from her perch during which a large group of hoplites were making their way towards them, and upon spotting them, made to attack. Closing in as quickly as possible. Smith opened up with the M134, Beasley opened up with his ACR, Mitchell his MR-C. Red diamonds filled their CROSS-COMs as lead flew into the air. Very quickly the mercs backed off unwilling to face the firepower bearing on them. That was until centaurs made way from their rear forcing a gun or two to shift focus.

"There's already more of them than we can handle. We can't do two angles of attack." Smith stated.

"Diaz, you better get down here now! They're piling on us!"

"Hold your damn horses, I'm coming!"

"These horses are too much to handle, Diaz!" Beasley shot back slapping a new mag in.

Said 'horses' being the centaurs, throwing what little javelins they had left. Rather accurately at that. Thanks being they couldn't form a Cantabrian circle. Or unfortunately, given they could've used that to just point and shoot as runners ran. Further attacks included both centaur and rushing hoplite before they all finally decided to just hold off and focus on looting. Diaz arrived soon after and threw herself into the Humvee. The moment that happened, Mitchell and Beasley did likewise and wasted no time getting out of dodge. "Burke, we have Diaz. You got Kim?"

"Just got him! We're making our way back, we better be ready. These guys are going absolutely crazy here!"

"Get back to the palace. We set up on the walls there and prepare for the onslaught! Reinforcements are on their way right now!" Mitchell was getting an update from the assault drone at the east gate. Turns out the defenders had the same idea and were pulling back. Over at the west gate, the attack was losing steam, likely with forces moving to enter elsewhere or wait for their friends to open up. So everyone cut their losses and pulled back. And if the footage was any indication, so did most of the townsfolk. A major sense of deja vu was coming over the captain as the same situation back in Tokyo presented itself in his head. A repeat of the scenario was unlikely to end the same way, especially with the people coming to run or hide. The looting was a blessing as much as a curse with the majority of mercenaries taking to grabbing whatever goods they could. "Brown, you go to the east palace gate. 30k, you go to the west. I want Sasagawa at the front with his team on support!" In addition, both the Komatsu LAV and the Mitsubishi Type 73 with their mounted weapons. The Humvees would take the sides. The rear could be comfortably left relatively undermanned. Mitchell's own men would be scattered alongside these smaller walls. Add to the fact that these walls were not symmetrical and had sections of the running wall sticking out, crossfire could assist in the defense. The M.U.L.E. made its way back with the retreating crowd. The assault drone unfortunately got crushed by centaurs running inside. With four main roads and whatever small gaps between buildings leading into the palace grounds, there were clear killzones, so there was a chance.

As Mitchell made his way into the gates amongst people making to escape the carnage, he found Pina there amongst her knights... all bearing signs of battle. Blood and dents on the armor. Grey was the only one up and about giving orders for the other soldiers. Nero and Helena occupied themselves bringing what people they could into the inner walls. Pina however seemed stiff as a board. Unable to act. It was clear this was her first command, and now that things weren't going well she had no idea what to do. The same behavior Itami has demonstrated twice now. He himself seemed on autopilot running for the wall, but his face spelled 'I have no idea what I'm doing and I don't wanna die.' Come to think of it, this behavior was being shown on the faces of the other soldiers, save Kuwahara and Kuribayashi, the seasoned veteran and the eager beaver. Being behind another wall should help their spirits, hopefully. Rory was amongst them, delivering a sermon to a crowd of gathered townspeople and legionaries taking in what encouragement they could in what could well be their final moments. He wouldn't count on her acting like she did with the dragon. She herself said the gods, therefore apostles rarely if ever involved themselves in such affairs. The legionaries taking positions inside for if these gates also fell. As new positions were taken, Mitchell got ahold of command to get confirmation of the reinforcements coming in. Indeed, the reinforcements were finally on the way. It was just a matter of holding out.

"Short controlled bursts, people." He ordered, "they're gonna be coming at us with everything they got." That being said, it was clear the defenders weren't in high spirits. The Legionaries seemed at the very least to be putting on a brave face. "Command, this is Ghost Lead. How much longer until those reinforcements get here? The enemy has breached the gates and is closing in on the city center!"

"Ghost, it's command. We just sent them off, they will arrive within the hour." There was some good news... now it was a matter of holding out just a little longer.

"Okay, listen up people. I just got off with Command. Reinforcements are on their way and will be here within the hour. We just need to hold them off until then!"

"Respectfully, sir. We won't last half an hour at this rate!" Sasagawa protested. "We'll need a miracle if we're gonna get out of this!"

"I'm afraid I agree." Kuwahara began. "If they can convince the cyclops to come and settle things we won't stand a chance. Assuming your launcher can't hurt it that is." And with it having only one shot left, the ZEUS may not be of much help anyway.

With the knights, a rather grimmer outlook was taking over. "It's no use!" Grey shouted. "Even if they take their time they will send men to keep us locked down. We cannot fit all of these people inside the inner walls! We must abandon Italica!"

His comrades looked at him with utter shock. Given how vital Italica was as a place for trade and legions making their way between the mountain ranges to the western side of the continent. Never mind the potential loss of face from having this town looted by a band of mercenaries. Heads would roll, and if she was not careful Pina would be part of this group.

"Grey, do not say such things!" Nero cried out. "We cannot just run now! We have to hold and drive them away!"

"Italica is gone and nothing we or these Otherworlders do will change that. The people are ready to kill one another to ensure they get into the inner walls. The mercenaries will be here before we know it and it's clear the Otherworlders cannot stem the tide now! Pina, we must go, we can bring as many people as we can to one of the nearby forts while the mercenaries take to looting the city!" But Pina continued standing blankly. She wasn't registering what Grey was saying, she didn't even seem to be registering the situation at all. It was easy enough rousing her from the gates to move to the center of Italica. But now? Now she was just frozen with no direction on what to do.

She took it upon herself to guide this city through its crisis of a mercenary army and here she was, failing miserably.

"My brother was right..." she muttered. "I'm not ready for this..."

"Pina, snap out of it! We need to do something!" Helena herself now showing the strain the situation placed upon her.

"Gods be good, where's OUR help!? He should've been here by now!" Nero spat regarding Saderan reinforcements.

And the final piece of panic on the crisis cake arrived in the form of many of the people who were trying to get inside the palace grounds now deciding it was better to flee altogether. Fleeing for the now deserted southern gate to make for the countryside with the mercenary army more focused on making way to the palace. The one consolation being it meant fewer people to look after. How they'd eke on afterwards was on them though.

"Sir! They're heading for us now. Got the main road from the north filled with them!" Diaz said over the comms. It was now or never. Now making for the top of the palace walls, Mitchell was set on this last stand. And all too aware of how he didn't have a backup plan for abandoning the city altogether from the current circumstances.

"Lieutenant Colonel."

The oddly calm voice of Kato came, there he was, just looking about the panic. "How much longer until your reinforcements arrive?"

"Within the hour." Was a curt reply.

"And they will be sufficient to repel the sellswords?" He asked

"If not then I better think of a plan to get my people out of here." Mitchell's answer didn't seem to elicit any visible response from the sage who merely looked down in thought. After a few seconds he looked back up.

"See to your men... I'm going to try something." Before Mitchell could even ask what, Kato turned away and made for the north side of the palace walls where what legionaries remained stood in defense. His presence seemed to confuse the floundering spirits the legionaries had. "Grey!" He called out to the senior knight. "There's only one thing we can do with the worst coming. Get these people to the destroyed South Gate... have them evacuate."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard him." The voice of Rory came. "If for no other reason than to spare them more suffering at the hands of these sellswords." With that Kato turned and stood waiting for the mercenaries to come closer through the streets. And it was when they got to the threshold of the palace square did they stop in their spear walls. All their eyes trained on the old but built among the legionaries.

"Hold your fire." Mitchell ordered.

"Sir are you serious? We got clear shots now!" Kuribayashi protested over the radio.

"No, look at them. They didn't stop for nothing." Came the LTC's reply. "They're apprehensive about Kato there. If hands are thrown and he gets involved they might not even need us."

"If that's the case then why didn't we mention this to the mercenaries?" She protested again.

"Besides us not knowing ?" Kuwahara answered. "Besides? We could've with Rory-san but they could've just seen it as a bluff, and that Hypatos isn't stupid."

"Yeah but didn't Rory say she isn't allowed to get into 'mortal business' like this? I mean the dragon was one thing but..." Kuribayashi's question trailed off as she tried explaining herself, hardly necessary as this exact same question was now playing on everyone's brain.

Rory did say she only came along with them back then to ensure the safety of the people, and she came along here to help get into Italica... but that didn't explain why Kato speak up when the mercs attacked again in the first place. And if there was something more going on... The more experienced of the soldiers shook these distractions from their minds and got back to keeping an eye on the enemy. If nothing this was delaying their advance, and every second was precious.

The ranks of mercenaries were giving way as Hypatos was making his way forward to see what the issue was. Apprehension soon made its mark on his face as he was able to see the mage.

"Sage Kato..." He began. "What an unexpected development."

"I could say the same for your siege upon this city... considering you had Italica surrounded and knew the Otherworlders were here I'm surprised you didn't know I was here as well." He responded. His voice containing a hint of amusement. The hoplites murmuring amongst themselves as the two traded banter. "All that said, I'm certain you now have more than enough for your remaining men to get back to Ictan without trouble. Especially now that the cyclops is getting his fill of drink." The sound of a bellowing belch was heard after that remark.

"Compared to what we'd find in the palace? Surely not. We may not see pay for a long time after this. Even with the casualties we've taken, never mind letting the men vent their frustrations out after the Otherworlders' little stunt in our camp." Came Hypatos' snappy reply. "Besides, you think us intimidated you stand before us? You took a vow to not partake in a battle ever again as I recall.

"Yes... I have... buuuuuuut," Kato continued with a hint of mischief in his voice. "There's no rule saying I defend myself, and should I happen to be attacked in such a matter? Especially by a stray spell by a mage I'm certain is among you... well, I suppose I'd HAVE to fight." Those who listened carefully could hear the sounds of legionaries laughing softly at the remark. "So go and search those homes you've torn into. Surely some minor noble left a few trinkets behind."

Mitchell couldn't believe his luck. If Hypatos took the bait he and his men would be off the hook, maybe Gray's evacuation of Italica would be unnecessary. If luck holds out they may be able to sell these scales without issue. Now the ultimate concern lay in how long until Saderan reinforcements arrived. And Hypatos knew that too. He turned on his horse and made for the north section, the rest of his forces following suit, some grumbling about the decision as they dispersed into the city.

"We're just gonna sit here and let them go about their business?!" Kuri exclaimed.

"No. We're taking advantage of whatever time we can get." Kuwahara replied. "Or did you forget what happened the past few hours?"

"But we can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"We act out against them and we throw away whatever chance we have of getting out of this alive! We can't win this fight. We just need to wait for reinforcements to arrive in time and we'll be able to head them off then."

To tell the truth, no one liked this plan. But that was often the thing, the best plans weren't always the ones with a happy ending nor the most popular.

"Sir, we should probably at least have some eyes patrolling the edges... just to be safe." Diaz suggested.

"That does sound like a good idea, these mercenary types often aren't the most trustworthy." Kuwahara agreed.

"Kozak, make sure your drone is up and running. I want as many eyes watching as possible. If there's a break in this little truce we fall back to the palace again." The absurdity of this situation was most certainly not lost on Mitchell. But in his experience, mercenaries often fell into one of two categories: True to their word or sleazy as all hell, and he wasn't going to take a chance to find out the details the hard way so far into this skirmish.

"Command, this is Ghost Lead. Come in."

"Ghost Lead, this is Command. Go ahead."

"We caught a lucky break. The mercs broke into the city but they found our resident sage and suddenly seem too skittish to come forward."

A moment of silence passed. "Say again, sounds like you said the hostiles are holding back."

"That's an affirmative. I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth so tell those reinforcements to punch it as fast as they can while we got this battle on pause."

"Uhhhh... understood Ghost Lead. Command out."

"Lieutenant, you take your people with their vehicles and cover our right. We'll take the left. If you see anything suspicious report it in but don't take action unless they come at you." Mitchell ordered. "Leave the M.U.L.E. here, it'll serve as a nice deterrent alongside Kato."

A sigh of relief escaped Sasagawa's lips as they reached their side of the square. "I thought we were dead for sure."

"Don't let your guard down." Kuwahara ordered. "We're not out of the woods, we can't get lax."

"So... what now?"

"As the Lieutenant Colonel said. We monitor this area see if any mercenaries are trying to sneak us by. We find any, it might get us stuck but it shouldn't get us killed. We make for the walls if we get into trouble. Stay sharp."

"This entire thing's been one big roller coaster. First we get here then we stay then we attack then hold them off now this..." Kuribayashi muttered to herself as they drove through their assigned flank of the city.

"And what was that Hypatos mentioned? Something about an oath of pacifism or whatever?" Sasagawa muttered. "What's the deal?"

"Man... check out the smoke coming up back there." Kurata muttered, changing the subject.

"If anything we can be thankful it's where the mercenaries broke into, so it's their problem to worry about." Tozu answered.

"Taking time to fight fires they start while looting a city?"

"Given the holdup they'll lose more loot if the fire spreads further." Kuwahara said. Their patrol was interrupted by a woman's scream somewhere in the northern part of Italica.

"How many more people you think are trapped back there?" Kurokawa asked with trepidation.

"Nothing we can do for them right now, not unless they happen to be in our line of sight with no mercenaries around. Any breach in this fragile agreement and we'll pay for it before the cavalry can even get within spitting distance." Kuwahara responded.

Kuribayashi spat before talking. "Speaking of this you hear the way Kato-sama spoke about all this? Putting himself front and center but acting like nothing else was up like Sasagawa-san pointed out."

Mitchell for his part wanted answers with this lull. "Lelei... what the hell is going on? Why are they so reluctant to attack with Kato there?"

"Master Kato doesn't like to talk about it." She began. "But he came from Rondel, said to be the home of the most prominent magical schools on the continent. He studied there for a while before he left. He never explained why he did it, but in the time since then he never stopped practicing magic. He was quite an adventurer and made a name for himself."

Mitchell cocked his head in curiosity. "How so?"

"He used magic to create a reservoir for a large town." Mitchell did a double take hearing that.

"... did you just say he made a reservoir... how big?"

Lelei's neutral tone of voice belied the gravity of her answer. "I saw it long after the fact. It is large enough for a flame dragon to comfortably lay inside if there was no water. A dam keeps it all in place." Basically what she was saying was that Kato was powerful enough to blow a giant hole in the ground with magic. If that was the case... then how far did it go? The more Mitchell learned the less it seemed like magic was just some gimmick and the more it was like a nuclear bomb or weaponized algorithms. Of course that's exactly what it was, a proper weapon.

"Hold on. If that's the case why didn't he do anything earlier? Goddammit, why didn't he do anything when the Flame Dragon attacked us?" His tone betraying his attempt to hide irritation. Lelei's blank stare just seemed to irk him more in the situation.

"The Flame Dragon isn't easily killed. Rory herself fighting it should've proved that. Never mind how much magicka it would've taken. That being said, he never did do much as far as combat spells went when he took me under his wing... but he never talks about it. You're better off asking him."

"So you're saying he's bluffing?"

"He may... but I refuse to believe he wouldn't do anything after this."

Mitchell had an answer but it wasn't what he wanted. It seemed like for every blessing this situation he gained it came with a condition. He was only glad that reinforcements were seemingly mere moments away.

"Ghost Lead, it's 3-1."

Bracing himself for more bad news, Mitchell responded. "Go ahead, 3-1."

"We got an eye out on some mercenaries sneaking through the alleyways. Some just slipped past over to our side of the city. I'm going to check it out." And there's the sleazy nature showing. After what he went through so far Mitchell was taking no chances.

"Understood, 3-1. Listen, reinforcements aren't too far out. Unless they're attacking stragglers, leave them be. We can't risk the ceasefire we have over a few trinkets." Having addressed Itami, Mitchell got ahold of the drone via CROSS-COM. Sure enough there was a small but sizable group of men crossing over along the far side near the destroyed gate. The rest of the city was clear. On his side save the fleeing refugees at least. On the other there were men trying to keep fires out while others went house to house grabbing things. And that was the more tame stuff he saw happening up there.

The cyclops really seemed like the most tame of the bunch there. How ironic.

The sight of Hypatos returning broke his temporary trance. More specifically was the small crowd of civilians down with them he had tied and being corralled ahead. Men, women, and children, about 30 of them. He was already putting two and two together getting his people on the horn.

"Pina! Countess! Loui! You have made a good point. Now we shall make one ourselves." Hypatos gestured with an arm, to which the hoplites forced the hostages to stand before everyone. "As you're surely aware there are many people still back there. And despite our frustrations, I have instructed my men to show as much restraint as possible. But now? Now I think we can actually talk."

It seemed Pina finally woke from her long stupor, as she was already making for the walls. "Hypatos! Stop this nonsense! You think we're going to-"

"Pina, PLEASE do not make assumptions before hearing my offer. It will be my FINAL one. I agreed to keep my men on this side of the city, but they grow restless. This is my effort to keep them in check while getting what they want. If you and the people of this city scrounge your side of the city and grab whatever valuables are here, we will gradually release captives!"

Pina and her knights grew visibly angry. "You expect us to just bow to such-" Before she could continue, Mitchell placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

"Lelei, tell her I wanna talk to her." The two went to the side and spoke. "Listen. Accept his offer."

"Are you mad? Never mind their reprehensible acts on the people, if we give them what little there is-"

"LISTEN!" Mitchell shouted. "It'll take a while to gather and search for all of those valuables, right?" Pina nodded, though clearly unhappy with being interrupted. "That's time we can spend 'gathering' goods when we're just extending time for reinforcements. Mine will arrive in the hour. Hypatos for whatever it's worth is practically handing over time."

Pina was pondering, the knight named Nero was urging her to not accept that deal, to which Helena urged in opposition so the people wouldn't suffer any more. Mitchell could see the pressure of all this getting to her again, it was in her eyes. She was freezing up. The centurion approached and gave a gentle shake. Speaking softly. "He said, 'Madame... some of the men have families here.'" The implications were laid out, and Pina made way for the edge of the wall.

"So be it... I'll send out volunteers now."

"Then in good spirit... these ones may go... now, MAKE GOOD ON YOUR PROMISE." A wave of his arm and the people were released, allowed to cross over to the legionaries waiting. Now Mitchell really started praying to whatever god was listening for those reinforcements to hurry up. It was bad enough that Itami's team found some hostiles sneaking about. A quick check in with Command placed them at 30 minutes inbound.

"Sir, it's Kozak."

"Go ahead."

"Hey I got some movement from mercs in between the alleyways of the city."

"Give me a moment, I'll sync to your drone." Mitchell's CROSS-COM indeed showed mercenaries sneaking to and from buildings in the city. But something was definitely wrong. They were going too fast between the buildings to be looking for any loot inside, especially with how these were two and three story buildings, and most of them were at the sides of the square surrounding the small palace. "Kozak, see if you can get a look inside." Kozak moved the drone close enough to look inside one of the buildings. The hot white image of a man on the other side of the wall slowly turned into one man... and a whole hell of a lot more inside. "What a clever asshole. Ghosts, watch out, we got hostiles filling up the houses to our sides. Looks like they're trying to surround us. Command, this is Ghost Lead, can you get that drone looking down the street leading to the North Gate? I got a bad feeling in my gut." Looking down that way, there was a shitload of the remaining centaurs lining up behind the mass of hoplites... hoplites slowly breaking into the alleyways to sneak through and get into structures. Hypatos was offering one hand and arming the other.

"Shit... 3-1 you there?" No answer. "3-1 this is Ghost Lead, are you there?" Still no answer. "Goddammit. Command, get the drone over 3-1's last known position, we got hostiles surrounding the-" The sound of gunfire in Recon Team 3's direction.

Total War Rome: Melee Cafe

This didn't go unnoticed by everyone down on the ground. Hypatos turned back towards the legionaries and Kato after hearing the sound, and gave out an order to his men. Whether he was planning all this or perceived the act as a breach of the truce mattered not as the hoplites who were originally slowly trickling into alleys and side roads now scattered back and rushed into these paths. They moved so damn fast! Simultaneously the centaurs charged forward down the main road, long spears at the ready. The M.U.L.E. wheeled in front of the legionaries to take aim along with some of the Ghosts at the walls. Hypatos himself making way back to join them. No one bothered trying to shoot him with that magic shield he had on his armor or whatever. The rest of the incoming cavalry? Easy pickings. That was until a familiar shade of pink formed in front of the charging forces. Another damn barrier! So there were magic users down there after all.

Almost instantaneously, Mitchell noticed that Kato's staff was glowing a purple shade with sparks of electricity shooting out here and there. His other hand forming a growing swirl of light mint green magic. As the charging centaurs drew closer these forming spells grew in intensity before finally, Kato unleashed the lightning towards the barrier. Upon colliding with the barrier, lightning crackled across its surface while it grew dimmer while struggling to stay alight. Finally, it harmlessly shattered and was suddenly followed by the mint green magic which slammed into the front ranks of the centaurs who suddenly slowed down, the rest behind them crashing into one another and causing a big mess. Those affected by the spell and not being caught in the pile up looked around like fish out of water. Mitchell ordered his men to move the Humvees to the north road and block the area while he still could.

"3-1! 3-1! Come in! Lieutenant Itami, come in!" The attacks from the hoplites were very piecemeal, but the flow and angles of attack were spread out even more so with the Humvees blocking off access, the Ghosts running back with the Zeus T2 to see the palace and the M.U.L.E. leaving pieces of mercenary all over the place with the .50 cal. "Itami if you can hear me get back to the center of town immediately! Things just turned to shit!"

The appearances of two people on top of one of the structures hoplites were pouring from. Both were humanoid, male and female with hairstyles that seemed more reminiscent of feathers with headwear emphasizing this. And they had to be feathers, for their legs were those of a bird's with talons. One blue the other green, and both had magic at the ready. It was only Kato's intervention with a lightning bolt that drew their attention away for a mage fight. That meant no magic for either side at the moment, and it was getting more down and dirty on the battlements with the knights joining in the melee.

In addition to the Ghosts having returned to the palace, the Japanese had driven back like mad with centaurs hot on their tail and tracers flying from their guns, some of the mercs getting ran over and sent flying from being impacted by the vehicles.

"Come on come on come on!!!" Itami screamed urging his people to get moving.

"Man it's one thing after another with this team! First Itami-san's lack of a spine and now Kuribayashi-san's bloodlust!" An agitated Tozu screamed.

"Shut up and get moving!!!" Kuwahara ordered. "Kuribayashi-san! Get back here!" Said woman was however in the throes of anger and was intentionally going into the charging hodgepodge bayonet at the ready. That was after having killed three others with said weapon. Tomita and Wataru making to get her back

"Cover them!" Mitchel ordered. Now he had a Gung-Ho soldier to look after. He could only hope Sasagawa got her under control, Itami was hopeless in that regard. Said man seemed more panicked than before. No one could get a good shot on the two bird people as they kept teleporting, eating Kato's attention, rounds were all but wasted trying to hit mercenaries. Taking a moment to use the CROSS-COM on Kozak's drone, centaurs were spotted circumventing the palace and going towards the fleeing civilians. The only thing keeping them at bay were lighting strikes coming down from Lelei. Whatever aid was welcome at this point. There was no denying it any further, the battle is now a frenzy. So Mitchell did what he did best, fired his weapon and kept what semblance of order he could. No more strategy and tactics. It was a big brawl now.

All or nothing.

The sound of stomping got their attention. The icing on this shit show has come, the cyclops had decided to stop drinking and come to join the fight. The sound of his belching is what made it demonstrably clear to everyone involved. The M.U.L.E. opened up on the thing with whatever ammo it had left. But the .50 cals while leaving impacts on the giant clearly only just annoyed it at worst and left wounds better done a thousand times at best. "Okay okay I'm done." And it talked... wonderful. "Gimme the weird spotted clothes people, I have a score to settle!!!"

Immediately after came an explosion on his burned wounds, making the beast reel. None other then Bo got his M32 up and firing. The cyclops instantly lost his temper and began swinging, some debris from homes flying around. Bo took the initiative and took the now empty M.U.L.E. for a ride, luring the cyclops away into another part of the city. The balance of power in the center up in the air again. Mitchell's covering fire was interrupted by a javelin going right by his head. Hypatos was in the midst clearly trying to get his attention. Shooting the man was pointless, remembering he had some kind of enchantment on his armor and there was no telling how long it would last under pressure. Nor would he be goaded into battle.

On the other hand, Nero was clearly eager to prove his worth, as not only did he engage the mercenary captain, he straight up rammed into Hypatos' horse and brought them to the ground. The sword came down only to be blocked by Hypotos' shield, and a kick sent the knight away.

"This is it you sellsword, bastard!" Nero declared. "However this ends, you won't live to see it!!" Hypatos however seemed unconcerned with the knight's venom and got up, his smaller round shield ready to bear. "What? You think I don't care about them? I'm a knight of Pina Corretta's order, of course I care!" Nero let lose a blast of ice magic, shards and icicles flying towards Hypatos, he answered by huddling behind his shield again while letting fire fly forward with his own magic. Nero's comrades, busy dealing with the other mercenaries coming forth were unaware of his current predicament.

"What? No witty Ictan retort? No counter to my way of seeing things?" Nero taunted raising his swords for another swing, only to shift suddenly and stab forward, scratching Hypatos' own armor. "Come now! You're so close to death! Give me a lecture about how immortality is out of your grasp now! How your name will not be remembered thanks to our meddling!"

Once again Hypatos said nothing and simply blocked or parried Nero, even throwing in a lighting bolt with magic. The continued silence of Hypatos in this brawl was starting to annoy Nero, who let this be shown with more aggressive attacks, even so much as using both hands to send ice towards Hypatos after one block made him drop his sword, yet no matter what he did Hypatos never managed to get him to break his defense. It was infuriating.

"SAY SOMETHING, DAMN YOU!!!!" Nero's next strike was met with a lightning fast counter knocking his helmet off and sending him to the ground, leaving him dazed and confused. His recovery was followed by a sandal-clad foot slamming him back down and a xiphos but inches from his face.

"You talk too much." Was all the mercenary captain finally said. Before he himself could finally strike down Nero, Hypatos was once again knocked over, this time by none other by Kuribayashi. The moment Hypatos saw Kuribayashi running for him bayonet drawn, it was too late. The bayonet went straight at his chest, but as expected his armor blunted the impact, saving his life. It did cause him to be sent to the ground, but it also cause her blade to break. Kuribayashi unleashed her munitions full salvo, but as was already established, the enchantment saved Hypatos' life again, letting him sweep her legs and go up and bring his Xiphos down. Which was blocked by her rifle... and while it saved her life, it broke said weapon's barrel. Now it was useless. Her turn to kick came, letting her back up. In her bloodlust she pulled out her sidearm, a Minebea P-9 and unloaded that... again, no effect.

'How strong is this damn magic!?' She thought in fury, ignoring the calls from her COs. No doubt about it, this guy was going down with hand to hand. That suited her just fine, she relished true experience. Hard knuckle tactical gloves made that a much more appealing idea too.

Hypatos on his part was fairly pleased with such a display. The woman had the same fire she demonstrated before... but it was likened to a Minotaur's fury as opposed to a spear's precise thrust in the sense she went all out and only now was realizing how he was to go down. He knew she wouldn't understand his tongue... but his tone of voice could goad her into making a mistake, he knew. "Once more you come to me." He began, making sure his voice took on a mocking, amused tone, belying how seriously he was taking this. "Not only do you save a knight from imminent death, an enemy of yours no less, but you show you really are something of a gem... it would suit. me to bring you home. Means more treasure for my men." The goading was working, she began striking at him, his shield taking the brunt. Whether it caused her pain striking it directly or not she didn't show, and he backed up to be closer to his own side of the melee. Further from the recovering knight, and whatever help she would need.

"So what has you so angry now? Did my men have their way with a townswoman? Did they steal something of sentimental value from someone? Did they put a child to the spear for getting in their way? What makes you attack me so?" He was no fool, looting is no clean act, and he was aware of less savory actions, but he had to look after his own men first. It's not his fault some pompous noble promised more than she could offer for a spat with her sister. Nor was he the only one to do so.

He thrusted forward with his sword, only for her to not only dodge, but she slammed a fist down onto his arm. The pain was undeniable. No matter, she was getting further and further. Finally, some of his men pounced onto her. One gave a thrust of s spear right next to Hypatos, he was met with getting yanked closer and his slammed with her fists. A second swung down with a sword, she lifted said arm up and kicked hard, the sound of a leg bone breaking, and his screams confirming it only to be silenced by a knee to his face. A third was making his way, but he was taken down by a shot... the female's friends were not far off. Hypatos decided it was best between the two then and attacked again.

However over the sound of the cacophony of conflict, perceived only by Rory who was about to make a major decision, the sound of rapid beating came. It got louder and louder, the only indication Mitchell got was a call over the radio.

"Recon Lead 3-1, Ghost Lead, anyone reading?"

The call was unexpected to say the least. "Ghost Lead, go ahead."

"Lt. Colonel Kengun of the 4th Combat Unit, we're inbound and ready to reinforce you." That sentence was an immediate relief for the Captain.

"Damn you for taking so long, and thank god you're here. We're set up in the middle of the city with the mercenaries attacking. I assume command has briefed you on the finer details of the situation?"

A grumble could be heard in the radio. "We'll take what we can get. Any priority targets?"

"Yes, the road leading north and a cyclops chasing one of my guys in a ground drone. Hit them and mind the alleys when you set men down. They have a major foothold in the northern section of the city. We also need coverage of civilians to our south."

"Understood, keep your heads down."

"You hear that people? Reinforcements are finally here!" The Lt. Colonel's declaration was met with exasperated relief and groans of 'finally.' The beating of the helicopter rotors was finally heard as Bells and Cobras flew overtop, Bells finding spots to sit down and unload soldiers while unleashed whatever salvos they could. The big problem would be the cyclops Bo was still distracting.

Wait... was that 'Ride of the Valkyries' playing? Suddenly Mitchell was regretting counting his lucky stars, that was until more spears and rocks from slingers came his way. "Okay people, it's time to push back. Go, go!" The Lt. Col made his way down the palace walls first, with the mercenaries being put into a disorganized frenzy from the reinforcements, it was time to pounce. "Form a wedge and then a double column once we reach the main road. We're pushing back to the north gate!!!"

"Thank Amaterasu, Buddha, the Kami, whoever!!!!" Itami shouted seeing the Ghosts go forth. "We're saved!"

At last the mercenaries were starting to run, and then in turn were being pursued by the remaining legionaries and the 4 knights. And of course the 2 mages Kato had done well keeping at bay across the rooftops. Crazy how an old man like him, as seemingly well-built as he was despite his age could pull it off. Needless to say there was no way Itami wouldn't be made to follow. And he was on his way to do just that when Kuribayashi yet again made an erratic motion to charge, this time at Hypatos himself rallying whatever men were left to run for an escape while Kuribayashi was trying to lay into him.

"So... this is how it ends... so be it. You win." A chance, he took it, a swipe from his xiphos scraped into Kuribayashi's leg, causing her to give a short scream of pain before kneeling instinctively. Hypatos himself fled, shouting for whatever men could hear him to flee. There was no hiding it, the day was lost. All he could do now was rally what men he could and race back for Ictan as fast as possible... at least there would be less men to compensate, for what it was worth.

Back with Mitchell, the plan was straightforward. Push forward. Something the Saderans amongst them were clearly keen on. Their haggard pursuit got more orderly as the centurion's now raspy voice called them to order and advance with a focused tempo. The fact Mitchell's order for columns happened to have his men alongside this advancing force covering the alleys was once more another piece of irony sticking out in his mind. The cleanup was going far better with the choppers sweeping the roads in front of them, cutting down any fleeing stragglers as those still holed up at the gate were long gone.

Meanwhile, Bo was still leading the cyclops on a wild goose chase through its own forces. "Hey! Hey! Wataru, fellas, you guys there!? I need some heavy support! This cyclops ain't stopping!"

Mitchell was first to respond. "You alright!?"

"I'm fine but this guys getting closer! He's smelly! AND he's angry!"

Mitchell was quick to make orders for a chopper harass the giant of it kill it. But he wasn't willing to risk one of his own on that whim. "Make your way back to the palace. I'll be there!" He turned to Brown. "Brown, you're in charge! Keep going up the main road and flush these mercs out. I'm going back for the Zeus!"

"You got it sir. C'MON PEOPLE, LET'S GO!" With that Mitchell made his dash back to the palace, ignoring the exhaustion from the day's events growing. Ignoring the Japanese team following suit behind the advancing Saderans and ignoring Kurosawa looking after Kuribayashi's leg as he went straight for where he put the Zeus. Bo's CROSS-COM footage showed he was getting closer and closer, all the while the cyclops roared as it swing closer to his mark. Screaming something about eating him.

Being made alongside the renowned Javelin system, the FGM-172 SRAW (Short Range Assault Weapon) is a fire and forget weapons system, featuring a pre-launch system that measures target speed and direction and is used in conjunction with known missile flight performance to predict where the target will be when the missile is in a position to intercept. The missile also uses an inertial guidance unit that sends the weapon over the predicted intercept point, compensating for crosswind and launcher motion. He only had the one shot, but even if he only hurt the beast, it would be enough. Not that he doubted it's power. He personally used this to crack Abrams tanks the rebels in Mexico commandeered during the rebellion.

Down the road leading west he saw Bo racing ahead in the M.U.L.E., and barreling behind him around a corner was the cyclops. Having just fired his last grenade, Bo was now set on avoiding the beast. Up ahead Mitchell took a knee and aimed. The sight giving range and solution data. Locking onto the thing like this would be an issue... but that's where the SRAW's other strength came forward. It could also be fired like it's predecessor the AT4 or the MAAWs. Unguided and traditionally straight shooting. He pushed the trigger and the 139mm missile was sent flying. The cyclops himself only noticed at the last minute, the munition impacting him right in the eye. The cyclop's head was vaporized by the explosion with scant few bits and pieces being sent flying. The body kept running slightly before finally tripping over itself and falling with a thunderous thud.

The Lt. Col only lowered the now snout weapon and looked ahead.

"Colonel. Youga here." The radio buzzed. "No more enemies on site. Anyone not here is likely bugged out and ran off tails between their legs. Looks like we got a clean sweep. I'm out."

"All right."

"It looks like we're done." Itami said next on the radio.

"Brown? How's it looking?" Mitchell asked as he checked the UAV feed overhead. Indeed a large number of now beaten mercs were running off. To who knows where was anyone's guess."

"We're looking good, sir. Bunch of dead hostiles and those not here are long gone... sorry to say that Hypatos fella got away too."

"That said... we can rest easy. After this there's no way he's gonna come back." Only then did Mitchell allow himself to fall on his back and relish what time he could now that this whole clusterfuck was over. Just this once he would let himself have no dignity.

"That was awesome." Came the voice of Kuribayashi letting the scene sink in.

The fact the battle was won was settling in, even the remaining Saderans so focused on hating the Otherworlders we're letting out cheers. They won! The only one not celebrating was Pina, among the rest of the forces who pursued the mercenaries. "They completely crushed them... they're retreating now..." She looked up to one of these Otherworld contraptions that hovered ominously over her, the air around her being whipped into a small torrent as what looked like blades spun so fast she could barely see them. A chill ran down her body.

It felt like she was the only one realizing what the future could hold.

Polis of Phidelos, Ictan.

Sadera is a true beacon of knowledge and culture

But those who believe the continent has never seen the likes of such before have short memories. For to the southwest, direct south of the land holding the western desert and Denzalcia's holdings sits a peninsula, a peninsula of hills, mountains, and poli. What lesser people would call 'cities.' The land of Ictan, home to the Ictun city states. The Ictuns were a strange people, they kept to themselves yet their ideas were infectious. Some encouraged intermingling while others had social strata. They bickered over who owned what yet they always came together should a foreign invader come forward onto their lands. For how long could they have their ways if they did not band together?

Ictan was more than just another land, for scholars, learned men, mages and enthusiasts of all kinds were just as likely to come here as anywhere in the empire... in fact one Saderan Senator was bold enough to declare 'Sadera conquers through blood, Ictan conquers through culture.' It was true, many people, even the Saderans fell in love with aspects of Ictun ways. Be it architecture, playwrights, warfare or even more radically, systems of governing. For Ictan was a place of many city states holding power over the lands, some having differences in their ways of ruling to degrees. Some shared the system of having a single tyrant in power who either ruled alone or consulted a council of advisors on the best action to take. Some have themselves to one of the gods while others merely let themselves be guided. Some like the city of Aegeas preferred a more democratic approach with procedure and regulations while a city considered their 'other,' Strato, had a rigid yet chaotic mix of elders, councilors and a king.

And it was this wide menagerie of ways to run one's home that interested many, even kings from distant realms if for no other reason than to see if there were things to apply rather than adopting a whole new system. That or the wine. It was one or the other. Even slaves that hail from Ictan are some of the greatest prizes. The perfect individuals for teaching others. Some travelers came to Okeanos to experience a half-aquatic home, for the people here lived close with merpeople. Some traveled to Orosos to live in the mountains and see the countless griffins that made their home there. All cities had populations of all sorts of creatures from man to centaur to even Minotaurs and cyclopses, and some lucky visitors would get the chance to witness the oracle of Phidelos and have their futures told. Today however the oracle would address not just one person or several in succession, she would address the entirety of Ictan's ruling class. And not just within the peninsula, there were leaders from cities across the known world, colonies of the Ictuns, who flocked here to hear the oracle's words. Men from cities that spread the Ictun way as much as imports the world to Ictan, as well as material goods like food. They had all gathered into the seats of the temple's inner sanctum. Cut off from the outside by guarded doors, the room was lit only by light from the opening at the very top and fires lit around the walls on torches. On the temple's roof were paintings in iconic Ictun style of warriors marching, ships sailing, beasts and people, and more. Add to that it was rather tightly packed. It wasn't just leaders, it was select subordinates, councilors, seers, advisors, and priests, keepers going around urging their guests to keep their discussions quiet lest they disturb the oracle inside her own quarters. Not that it was easy. One guest was notably missing from the assembly.

"Where is Adrastos?!" The voice of a tyrant shouted, eliciting harsh shushes from more docile leaders and temple keepers.

"Shut up, you old fool! Do not disturb the oracle!" A king demanded.

Quiet murmurs began after that allowed one of Aegeas' many Pentacosiomedimni named Gerasimos Nikias, an aging member of the top class of Aegeas society, and his friend one rung lower in the Hippei class and a highly skilled griffin rider, Pilatos Anastas to think besides themselves.

"King Adrastos is always late. As are all Stratos." The old man muttered.

"If it's not religious rites, it's training matters. If it's not training matters, it's whether they decided to march. If it's not deciding to march-"

"- it's about getting their damned broth." Gerasimos finished with a quiet laugh. "The Stratos are nothing if not late to anything save a battle. You'd think they'd ride a griffin or take a Minotaur for a mount to prove their prowess. Assuming they'd let their non-citizen stock do such a thing."

"And they are stubborn to a fault. A Stratos would march to the ends till his feet turn to stubs rather than let one offer assistance. If you're not a Stratos, you aren't in the phalanx." Pilatos responded

"Bah enough of that. It's enough making me think of their rancid slush they call a soup." A few chuckles shared before they settled into silence, thinking of another topic to speak of to pass the time.

"Gerasimos, you are more leaned in history than I am. Has anything like this ever happened before?"

"Such the attempted Miwan invasion far to the east. Or the time the Mehmeds and the Khufus signed a peace treaty."

"The desert land people signing a peace treaty? Usually they're either killing each other or taking a break from killing each other!" Pilatos' joke wasn't an exaggeration, the peoples were renowned for their history of grievances towards one another.

"Indeed. But this... a world of other lands? Other peoples with strange contraptions and magic? I dare say only the rise of..." He held his tongue, as though continuing would summon something unholy. "Well... you know."

"Yes... I do... it makes you think though. Maybe this is the opportunity we are looking for." The moment he registered those words, Gerasimos looked to Pilantos with a mix of anxiety and fatigue. He knew what the young man was about to bring up again. Liberating their northern neighbors. Cities to the far distant parts of the peninsula that came under the sway of the Saderans, most of them after a war that ended many years ago. A collection of agreements and alliances between leagues coming into effect when the empire prodded one place to many in their expansion. The initial effort was resisted, but many Ictuns used the matter to push further beyond into their lands as retribution as well as some new lands in a settlement. A few trinkets for the hoplites wouldn't hurt either. The empire having its focus on an Orc horde was having some issues focusing their efforts. Not to mention some rabbits and other foes took advantage of the chaos.

Savagii put an end to those hopes. He was but a teenager, at 16 yet he rallied forces and thrashed the efforts to expand, and took poli as recompense. It's been a passionate subject of debate for many an Ictun across the peninsula.

"No. We will talk no more of this, not here." Gerasimos declared, earning Pilatos' scorn

"Damn you, old man, we cannot put this issue off forever! The peninsula is split on the matter as you know!"

"Every polis save Stratos is divided on this." Gerasimos cheekily corrected. "We have other matters to worry about, be it more rat men landing on our south or these Otherworlders being more than your imagine chance at revenge."

"That's a funny way to describe justice. If we cannot speak of it now then when? And where?"

"At the Ekklêsia back home, as we've always done."

"Baaaaah and let the 'wise council' debate endlessly about it all over again. We know what they're going to say. They'll bicker before they decide to postpone it yet again."

"And your solution is... wait, let me guess. Bypass the vote with emergency powers?"

"Wh- NO, no! Just we need to be more focused on the greater threat of the Saderans."

"With Hannibal out and about and the likelihood of another war with Denzalcia to match with these Otherworlders. You're overreacting my friend." Gerasimos responded.

"I recall Archias of Altis said the same thing when the empire had troubles before... he's dead now." Pilatos responded.

"And unlike these enemies of Sadera, these Otherworlders are a complete enigma. We will only know if they are anywhere near safe when the Oracle-" Gerasimos's words were cut off by the entrance of another figure. Make that three figures. At long last, Adrastos had arrived. The king was the iconic image of a Stratos. A muscled body that made any other mighty man in the room look pitiful. Clad in a linothorax with steel and bronze for added protection, and spear and shield at the ready. At his sides were two royal guards, slightly less impressive than their king, these men with their horse hair helmets and distinctive hoplon shields left no myster as to their identity.

Perhaps the biggest giveaway of their status was the noticeable glow of red from underneath their helmets, coming from their eyes. A sign of blessing from the Ictun god of war, Nikomachos.

"You are late. AGAIN." The tyrant from before boomed.

"Perhaps we should have mentioned we gathered for a war, he'd be first here." An official voiced, leading to a raunchy laughter from the assembly.

"Then you'd never show up and leave us to do all the work you know you cannot accomplish. Then claim it was all your idea while swilling your wine and donning perfume." Adrastos dryly responded, leading to a few theatrical 'ohhhhhs' from a few in the crowd. "Surely with how late I am you've already figured out a solution? Besides, there was a Minotaur in my way." The king preferred to stand with his men. Better that way.

Gerasimos looked back to Pilatos. "We will talk about this later." On cue, the doors to the oracle's inner sanctum opened. Out came Phoibos's chosen mouthpiece to the world, covered entirely in glistening white robes with only the occasional glint of her skin being seen. A vibrant white shade from her time spent inside. Upon reaching the center of the round temple chambers, she lowered the hood of her robes, showing her elaborate long brown hair and dazzling silver eyes. The Oracle of Phidelos was ready to speak.

"I welcome you to my home, men of Ictan. And Adrastos is correct, you most likely would end up leaving him to do all the work." A short chuckle came from the king. "You all came here for one reason. The news from Sadera has spread like wildfire across the continent, this we all know. But you ask, what does the future hold? What will these strangers from another world bring to us?" She let the silence hang for a moment. Doing this, she brought her hands up, the one hole letting in skylight closing, and the torches lighting up the chambers changed their shades. Purples, green, blue. On the walls, the drawings came to life. Shifting and changing in form. Two distinctive groups formed. Saderan legionaries on one side and strange looking men wearing foreign clothes and strange staffs in their hands.

"These Otherworlders seek war with the empire. That much is certain." The paintings took action as these strange men did what could only be described as cast some kind of magic from the end of their staffs, killing the groups of Saderans. "But their fervor will give way. Bloodshed will cease, for but a time." The advancing men then stopped, looking around in confusion, the forming of a gate structure from the art showed more waiting on slowly moving contraptions to make way through, their body language indicating impatience. "These men will be put off time and again by our home in more ways than can be imagined, but they remain a danger. The way they understand the world much too different from our own for true peace. Conflict is inevitable." More images of Saderans and these men in a meeting, only to start pointing fingers and scream at each other, leading to more warriors to sally forth.

"As this occurs, forces will gather and take action... a change in the wind is upon us. Unless we the people of Ictan act carefully and decisively, we will not endure. Temples will fall, virgins will be desecrated and the Gods cast to the void... and our way of life will be extinguished." The fires took an evil looking green and purple baleful glow as pictures of flames engulfed the walls. And just like that, it ended. The pictures reverted to their appearance before the Oracle came forth, the flames now a warm orange shade and the skylight opened. The Oracle then turned and retreated back into her chambers. This was the typical act of the Oracle. She never gave straight answers. The only offered a riddle of sorts and it was up to the men of the room to decide on what it meant.

"Well!" Adrastos boomed before clasping his hands. "That's that taken care of." He made way for the exit.

"Where are you going!?"

He turned to the person shouting. "The Oracle has spoken, has she not? Whatever is going to happen, these Otherworlders are clearly dangerous and it's going to lead to a tidal wave of trouble as she pointed out with 'forces gathering.' Which means I must be with my people when something happens." He turned back for the exit, continuing with, "If any of you perfume users need me, my doors are open, but I will not sit on my ass while you prattle on what to do." The king of Stratos now gone, the room took on a tone of anxiety and uncertainty that lasted for a few moments.

"Aegeas is willing to host such a summit should the need arise." Gerasimos chimes in as he stood. "Until then I shall await word. Do take care my friends." He said trying to not sound standoffish or aloof. After such a revelation it was hard to really seem genuine. Pilatos followed closely as the temple began to empty. The wait was far longer than the actual revelation, now no one spoke.

"Gods be damned." Pilatos spat when they were far from the temple. "It is always riddles and roundabout clues. Why can they not just give us a straight answer?!"

"You know better than to question the Gods, my friend." Gerasimos scolded. "The fact we have an idea of what is to come is enough."

"What is to come? What EXACTLY does that mean?! How do we decide on what to do when we don't even know what the hell to watch out for!? Oh wait. Let me guess... the Gods will tell all." Came an irate spat from Pilatos.

"Now Pilatos you know better than to complain about such matters. Where it not from their mere guidance we wouldn't be where we are now!" Gerasimos's response was even but held as much venom. Pilatos growled very angrily, though it slowly subsided into more of a grumble and then just stopped.

"I'm just sick of sitting like useless a urn."

"It's that griffin flier attitude of yours. So hot-headed and quick to act. It's behavior you just get used to. And it's harder to break than keeping a centaur from drink and spirits." Gerasimos jested.

"Mmmm I don't know about that. I've seen some centaurs who vow to run into a forest of spears before giving up drink." Pilatos responded with a bit of a smirk forming.

"Indeed. But that attitude is what makes you such a good flier. All I can say is we will know what to do and take action. But we must be smart about this. In the meantime you'll be in the skies ready to warm us before the disaster lands on us."

"Assuming some centaur doesn't do so first."

The two men shared a laugh. An odd pair with such differing outlooks. Though that's just part of Ictun life.

For now, the cities will watch and wait.

Italica

As soon as the fighting ended, whatever efforts could be done to launch a clean up began. At least long enough for the scales to be sold, which was taking a long time to pass.

"So... it's a victory." Helena sighed, seeing what priestesses were left giving the final service to the dead.

"No." Pina said glumly. "It wasn't even Rory either... it's the Otherworlders. Not us... and they're the ones who are our enemy in case we forget."

"True." Gray said bitterly. "I don't expect things to last like this."

"What do you-" Helena began before realization hit her.

"My brother was right... all I wanted to do was scout them out... then I decided to stop and save Italica. But I fear I only traded one villain for another. The mercenaries would've made us go through hell, true. But they would've left. What of the Otherworlders? They arrived faster than our own reinforcements could... and in an impromptu manner as well. If they were to turn that power against the city, I couldn't stop it even if Rory herself helped."

"But no they world never-"

"Are you willing to stake your life on it?" Pina interrupted. "You remember what their Lieutenant Colonel as he's called said? He was wishing to depart and leave us to the bandits to save his own. It was only the promise of reinforcements that stopped him from retreating. Now that the threat is gone... and I can't help but wonder if I inadvertently made things worse by calling for my brother to come. At the end of the day, it was but a truce, and our peoples are still at war."

On the other side of the equation. Mitchell had finished counting his lucky stars and was set on getting out of dodge quickly. The efforts of the JSDF to offer what humanitarian aid was nice, but unsure if enemy reinforcements were on the way he was still eager get out of dodge. The most he could do though was get his own people out. Said people were currently getting whatever rest they could. It was a miracle what forces left here were now more hospitable to them... or maybe that was just because they were as bloodied as they without any reinforcements.

His own people had their fair share of bruises, and the Japanese had a leg to tend to. Well they would if healing magic didn't come. A damn shame they couldn't take it with them, even if they tried looting the stores for healing items. Most were used up by now.

In any case, the only things happening were the fact he alongside the Lieutenant and COs of Combat Unit 4 were present getting addressed by this Helena and Pina. And to expedite things, Kato cast his speech spell or whatever it was called.

"To show our appreciation for your assistance here, we'd like to negotiate a fair and equitable compensation." Basically either a thank you or a 'take this and get off our back.' "Article 2 is regarding all envoys and their save passage as well as their expenses." Things getting complicated. "And Article 3 is regarding the trade privileges with shopkeepers at Alnus. Tariffs are hereby waived. However we would like to make it clear that we possess the right to captives."

Before anyone could get a word in, Mitchell spoke up. "I'm afraid we're at an impasse here." He said, gaining attention. "We... don't have any legal power to arbitrate anything here. The truce was done out of necessity and was impromptu, what we're discussing here is out of our pay grade."

"I... see... is there anyone who can?"

"Not unless you give us time to get a diplomat willing to come all the way out here. We weren't exactly expecting negotiations so soon." He answered.

Mitchell saw the look Lt. Colonel Kengun was giving him. A not happy look. He could care less, knowing these guys would probably accept it out of the blue and dig a deeper hole.

"... then in that case we can make an informal agreement to get things for proper negotiations underway?"

"That would be best... though any official decision on either end would render it null."

"Then informally, the terms have been agreed upon."

This little meeting was over. The Coalition troops left the room for their own people. "Damn American butting in. This is gonna look so good when folks hear about us letting the prisoners get mistreated back home."

Mitchell gave a look to Kengun. "This coming from the man playing 'Ride of the Valkyrie's and drinking a cup of Joe from a chopper. It's not our city, not our territory. This entire situation was unexpected and impromptu the moment we accepted the refugees and you know it."

"So you're saying we do nothing?"

"I'm saying we let the suits deal with it and get out of here before enemy reinforcements arrive. Don't forget this is still a hostile land. They'll handle this their own way, nothing we can do about that. Take it from me." Mitchell's words brought back a few unpleasant memories. Such as the stoning of a woman in Afghanistan who slept with a soldier, and the overall incompetence that was birthed from army politics. That whole insurgency died when the Blacklist ended. Never mind clean up COIN OPS and Caldwell putting in effort to make the "puppet government" do their damn jobs. Woman could be terrifying when need be ever since the Artemis invasion.

They turned the corner, but before Itami could pass, Mitchell held out a hand to block him. "You go ahead, need to talk to the Lt. real quick." Kengun didn't give any reaction, just kept walking with Lelei and Kato. Looking at the younger man, he got straight to the point. "What happened out there?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Before it all went to hell, I was trying to get you on the horn, you didn't respond. Not only that, Kuribayashi was a rabid dog. What the hell happened out there?" Itami got quiet, seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

"We uh... we followed some mercenaries like we said. Going past, breaking that truce... we caught them with some local women who didn't get out... they uh... they uh..."

"I get it." The Colonel said, keeping Itami from reliving that experience. "That said, what happened was still a disaster. You were hiding behind walls and one of your men was out and about like a loose cannon."

"It's not my fault, she's a damned psychopath!"

"It IS your responsibility, thought. That's what being a commander at any level is about, son. Looking after your men whether they're a model soldier or a misfit. If you can't do that, they get themselves and others killed, and it lands on your head. It was sheer luck and timing the 4th Combat Unit turned up. If not we'd be... she'd end up like those women if not worse." Itami could only look down in shame. He had no real comeback, not to a guy like Mitchell.

"She just doesn't respect me, nothing I do is gonna get her to listen to me when she's like that." He admitted. "Even Pops couldn't keep her in line."

"That's something for you to figure out. I had to do it, and so did everyone else like us. And I suspect she's not the only one who doesn't listen to you." He added. Itami shook his head.

"Sasagawa-san and Tozu-san are completely indifferent."

"You have to find someway to make them respect you. If not then make sure you keep the respect of Kuwahara. He's a model soldier if anything. Make sure you lead by example... don't sit back and cower. That can get you killed just as much."

"But..." He was getting into that denial phase. "I can't... I'm... I'm not good at this. I'm nowhere cut for this."

"Neither was I... or 'Pops.' Or anyone else here. Maybe you're right. Maybe you aren't cut out for this. But until then you have to tough it out and get through it. Don't drag the men under your command with you like so many ill-suited leaders from the past. This is the eye of the storm so to speak, it'll pick up before you know it." With that Mitchell left the Lieutenant be. "Oh... and Lieutenant."

"Yes sir?"

"Make sure you read that book I gave you. It'll save you a lot of trouble." The Lt. Col left Itami be after that, making for his own people and preparing to leave.

"Radio check, this is Hunter 1. I got something on the scopes, Hunter 2 you got it too?"

"Yeah I see it coming in, what's tha- OH KAMI!!!"

Meanwhile. "So how did it go?" Gray asked.

"For the most part? Well. Nothing formal really given their lack of legal power, but they're taking a few prisoners, we're picking up expenses and preparing for whatever talks are held in the future." Pina responded. "As of right now, everything is in limbo."

"That is true, but I would be keeping an eye out for their true intentions. With everything to be arbitrated. Will they be leaving men here for a while?"

"From what I see no."

"Hmmm... a red flag already. Unless there's more going on we don't know. This whole thing feels odd."

Pina nodded, these are truly an odd people. "They're from a different world I know... but the less they share with us the more questions rise on how to treat them. For all we know..." Her thoughts were interrupted by a screech... then the sound one of those contraptions letting whatever weapons it had loose before its blades reached a higher pitch, then a sudden crash.

All parties involved looked up the moment the screech came, and Mitchell's worst fears were proven true. Sadera had sent reinforcements. In the form of a wing of dragons. And this time with a Cobra down and no AA whatsoever they were sitting ducks. There was no winning this fight.

"Hunter 2 is down! I repeat, Hunter 2 is down!" The wreck of the Cobra had managed to land softly by the palace, but the rest of the choppers that were in the air found themselves accosted by the dragons. Only 7 other Cobras around to keep the Bells and whatever troops were on them safe. Mitchell running out to see the chaos could do nothing but watch helplessly, save for screaming on the radio for the chopper unit to get out of there with their men still alive. It was ironic when one considered some of these Bells were inevitably taken down, and with a whole squad on board with it

"Shit shit shit!" Kengun shouted.

Mitchell himself running for a Humvee on instinct to man the M134 as best he could, take attention off the air wing. "Everyone focused the dragons! Give the Combat Unit a chance to escape!

"What are you doing!?" Kengun shouted.

"Buying you time. Get out of here. NOW!" Before he could even get a chance to reach the vehicle, a massive form landed in front of him, sending him on his back. Looking up he saw a familiar sight. It was the cyan scaled dragon... the one he saw back at Alnus. And there on his back was the man he saw there, now healed and far more in shape for a battle. With everything happening so fast, Mitchell slowly put his hands up. "Recon Team 3, Ghosts... this is Ghost Lewd." He began somberly. "Drop your weapons."

"WHAT!?" A distressed Kuribayashi screamed with some murmured of concern from the others.

"Drop your weapons. We can't win this, and no way only seven Cobras can fight them off." As if on cue another Cobra was taken down by ice shards while a third got treated to a lucky slash of the tail. "Get out of here Kengun. Now."

Pina was scrambling trying to flag one of the riders down. She had to stop this. Informal or no she made an agreement with these people. Her brother had arrived finally a moment too late, she'd be damned if he broke whatever chance there was. More and more she realized this wasn't stopping anything. "EMROY, SOLARIS, ANYONE STOP THIS!!!!"

"STAY YOUR BLADES, SONS OF EMROY!"

A voice sounding as though it came through a jet engine was heard. The only other sound heard were the groans of wounded JSDF men, fires, and the ever distant engines of the retreating choppers. Rory was at the top of the palace. "Cease your aggression, True Saderans! You have missed much since the call for help. The Otherworlders have defended the city side by side with those here!"

"SAVAGII!" Pina's cried out, getting her brother's attention.

"PINA!" He leapt off his mount who kept its eye on Mitchell and ran right for her, granting a brotherly hug upon reunion. "Gods be good I thought you were done for. What is going on!? When did the Otherworlders get here? What is Rory speaking of?!"

"Savagii please!" She responded quickly, "Stop attacking them! They helped us defend this place!" He heard her words, but didn't register them.

"... I'm sorry?"

"She speaks the truth!" The centurion cried out. "They came here to let refugees from the flame dragon sell dragon scales of all things! They kept the mercenaries back alongside us!" And taking after their commander, the other legionaries were scurrying across the city to wave down the riders and keep them from attacking, as were the townsfolk waving white cloth as though to try and further their point.

"I... I didn't... what?"

"Brother... perhaps we better speak of it inside." He was at a loss of words, it was clear in his eyes. But if his sister, and a centurion were saying it was true. If the apostle of Emroy herself was calling for peace...

...

"So let me understand this... this all happened because of a spat between a local family and was only halted because of the Otherworlders?"

Savagii's question was incredulous, but open to answers. And he could hardly be blamed.

"We were suspicious too. The fact they were out here so far from their fort at Alnus? Were it not for the presence of Rory herself..." Gray's statement went without saying. The demigoddess, standing there in the room was silent for the moment, save for a box she gave.

"And... you helped them when the Flame Dragon came and attacked them? And they brought an entire caravan of refugees to their base?"

"Yes." A blunt reply. "I was set on killing them had they not spared you and the survivors at Alnus."

"Haaaaa, seeing you unleash your fury. Gods that would've been a sight. But yes... yes I remember that. We were beaten and bruised, yet they let us go. And now here we are where they are at OUR mercy. It is almost as if things are coming full circle." Savagii was silent for a moment, thinking on the situation...then he turned to Gray. "Gray, you say these Otherworlders were insistent on leaving until reinforcements were guaranteed to come?" Savagii asked the old knight.

"Yes. At least the one that claimed to be in charge.?one of them on the other hand was rather eager to help. Then when they claimed to know help was coming, when that happened they ran a night raid on the mercenaries to weaken them."

"They knew for a fact help was coming... their messengers are that fast?" Savagii asked dumbfounded.

Pina shook her head. "There were no messengers. No birds or runners or anything. They used some kind of little box item. They talk to it and a voice replies to them."

Gray spoke up with, "And I heard them regard each other by names and labels. The soldiers here that is. They use those same items and speak to one another." Savagii was stunned. These Otherworlders had some sort of magic or contraption that allowed them speak to one another instantaneously across great distances? Already he found himself yearning to have such a thing. There have been experiments by mages to use scrolls that could send messages to another across such distances with magic, but that had yet to be realized. It was down to relying on reading the ebb and flow of a battle and trusting the initiative of one's subordinates, something the Saderans prized highly. This would help explain how their battle lines could react so quickly despite seemingly no communication.

"Rory, if I may, you were at the Otherworlders' fort. What was it like?"

"There are many structures up and built. Made of concrete and other material. They have many comforts for their soldiers and a secure position. But the majority of the fort is still tents and trenches. Sometimes when I see their contraptions that they call 'vehicles' coming through, some are war machines like those things you destroyed they call... heli- helicopters." The word proving strange to her tongue. "Other times it is machines I see digging into the dirt with men moving material around. Wearing these bright colored vests and helmets."

That's where the other thing Savagii noticed came up. It was the arrival of reinforcements from the Gate that ultimately drove him back at Alnus. Now here was another case of reinforcements arriving turning the tide. Up until now, everyone including Savagii had considered the Otherworlders had a massive army on the other side slowly pushing through. Now here was Rory, allowed into the fort, saying they seemed to be having some sort of logistical issues. Were his assumptions wrong?

"Savagii?" Pina asked.

His eyes opened, a sort of twinkle to them. "Pina... Gray... everyone. Do you recall what Zorzal said the Gate led to?"

"A city...?" A confused Gray answered.

"Yes. A city... I think... I think I understand now! But first-" Savagii stood, brushing himself off. "Take me to the cells... I have a favor to repay.

...

Mitchell was no stranger to being pinned down. But being locked up? That was new.

He always assumed he would be held in a tunnel down in Afghanistan, or caught and sent to some gulag in Russia. Here he was in a dungeon of the city he just helped save. Along with his people and the SDF soldiers. At least it wasn't as damp, dank and dark as he thought it would be. But it wasn't exactly comfy.

"Hey Itami-san, you regret staying and helping yet?" Tozu snapped.

"Oh give it a REST!" Sasagawa muttered. "I mean sure bad call but... oh forget it..."

"Anyone got a harmonica? I'm thinking of making a symphony." Nolan remarked with his hat over his eyes.

"I mean look on the bright side-"

"Bright side!?" Tozu began, cutting Tomita off. "WHAT bright side?"

"I mean we're still alive."

"Uhhhh YEAH for now. You forget these guys are basically Romans, right? Well we got three likely paths ahead of us outside of prisoners. Slavery, gladiators, or crucifixion."

"Honestly I think you'd be a good slave, Tozu. They probably put more stock on smart people like they did back in the day." Nolan commented. "Though I'm sure I'd be 'premium stock.'"

Wataru winced. "You are NOT going there, are you?"

"YOU would be perfect gladiator material, Wataru. Right along side Bo here. You'd be the Brother Otherworlders, be a great ticket seller."

"And you'd be stuck into a classroom yelling at a bunch of kids about how you can't heal boo-boos by waving your hands." Bo joked back.

"Might be a good idea, actually." Sam, seemingly the most comfortable of the bunch. "We could form a gladiator troop and win riches and fame."

Nolan laughed. "There you go!"

"Tace illuc!" The guard shouted, growing tired of their banter.

"I know you're just lightening the mood, Nolan... but not the time." Mitchell said. The sound of footsteps approaching caught their ears. The guards took notice and swiftly stood attention.

"Legatus!"

"Otia, legionarii. Hie ego videre captivos." The guards led the legate down the hallway between the cells, stopping right outside Mitchell's. "Kato!" He called, a wave of the staff outside, and the man spoke again.

"Can you understand me?" The Legate asked, the spell working its well... magic. A simple nod from the Lt. Col was the answer. "I am Julius Aurelius Savagii... Legate of the empire, son of the emperor himself, and the man your army faced at Alnus... the man you defeated." Son of the emperor? That was a bombshell of information. "Now the calliga is on the other foot. My sister Pina, Gray, and even Rory has gone into detail about how you were willing to stay once reinforcements were coming, though originally wanted to leave." Another moment of silence. "Your mind was in the right place. I would've surely done the same. Yet you stayed, to give the city a chance and let the refugees sell the scales. Speaking of, you'll be pleased to know they are finding luck trading them for gold and silver. So your efforts are not in vain."

Confusion was setting in. Why was he telling this to him? "And you... you seem familiar to me... that attire, those patterns... tell me, are you the man I made my plea to at Alnus? The man I asked to let my people go?"

What was the point of playing coy now? "I am." Was the reply.

Savagii closed his eyes. Then smiled. "Then consider this repayment. Guards! Release them, see their injured are properly healed and they are not disturbed. They are permitted to stay in the city for one night as thanks for their assistance. After that... they will have to leave. By then the scales should be sold."

Immediately, the guards went and unlocked every cell, allowing Mitchell and his people to go free. The role he played in letting Savagii go was coming back to repay him. This Savagii was no warmonger that's for sure. So not only did he look after his people or act in the interest of his home, he had a sense of honor and fairness.

"Damn. So much for our gladiator team."

"Shut up."

"Until further notice... I feel it would be wise to grant some of you your weapons." Savagii began. "And it has come to my attention that Pina and her knights were trying to come to an agreement with you but you lacked the proper authority... perhaps I could help in someway? Or at least ensure your safe passage out as I have promised?"

"... I do need one thing."

Fort Gate

"Thank the lord almighty."

General Keating's exclamation was calm, but it was clearly a heartfelt response. He and the rest of the generals feared the worst hearing that reinforcements came and caught them off guard. The fact they were willing to honor a truce at least for now was a big help. And right now it didn't hurt that the leader of said reinforcements was the same man who they spared after the Alnus battle. "Mitchell we're gonna get these choppers fueled up, get back over there and get you people back home. You've earned a good long rest after this."

"Oi." Valentine began. "What's this about diplomats and negotiations then? They want to come to the table for tea?"

"Sure seems like it." Mitchell's answer came from the radio.

"Well... I guess it's a good thing we made plans for this."

"Sir?"

"We'll talk about it later, Mitchell. Right now you get rest and make sure you're ready to leave at dawn. For now let's just say things have been moving slower at our end than we liked." The call ended, Keating turned to his compatriots. "Gentlemen, I think it's safe to say we made the right call planning for a ceasefire. Sparing those survivors was a plus."

"You can say that again. I already got in touch with my government, so far they're willing to entertain the idea. Not sure if the rest of our alliance will fall in after the ship that got bombed." Hazama said.

"Gaaaah sure it will." Berethraben chimed. "We just need to be vigilant on this side of the Gate for any surprises as usual is all. If this Savagii can get his own people to agree to such a thing, then maybe, just maybe we can work something out."

"Yes. Maybe." Hazama muttered.

Borislav cleared his throat. "Let us not forget, we are doing this because we are not in a good position. If we don't provide the illusion of some control, we may just encourage an attack. If this ceasefire we wish to push is to be realized, then we must be prepared to offer one hand but arm the other."

Shin chuckled. "Well you needn't worry too much. My superiors in Seoul have gotten back to me as well. I've just been given a list of forces I can pick to to bolster our ranks if need be. Ahhh the joys of not disarming after the Cold War ended." The jab was clearly directed towards the Europeans.

"Don't forget the logistical problems." Berethraben reminded him. "We get those sorted out everything else gets taken care of."

"Well we have a plan for that, in case you forgot." Ernaud responded. In the time between when they heard of the ship bombing and reinforcements arriving at Italica. They went for the simple answer for their issues. Japanese, Korean and American hardware would get priority for now. Then the Europeans and Russians would have their hardware moved in. So long as anti air was brought in, especially with how devastating dragons proved against choppers, the rest would be a case of getting picked or taking turns.

And finding out what bastards bombed the cargo ship.

...

"-that despite taking damage and lower bow compartments flooded, the MSV Cape Douglas will be able to make its delivery. However this damage will take her out of action until she can be repa-"*

The news report was turned off, a group of men donned in M70 brushstroke uniforms with bandanas let out exhales.

"Well... the good news is our new method works." One said in Malay.

"A shame the ship didn't sink. One more imperialist vessel for the depths never hurt." Said another, Malay as well.

"That's beside the point. That's one vessel that won't be delivering goods for a while. Anything that can hurt the infidels even it it's a mere inconvenience is a win." The head of the group elaborated.

"That is true, sir. But they will retaliate. It may not be long before they find one of our facilities."

The leader closed his eyes, the only the thing seen behind his balaclava. "Perhaps... yes... I will contact each one as soon as possible. We can always find another method, if we must milk this one for what it's worth before moving on. Embong, are our other assets in place?"

"Yes, Akmal. And our friends are also ready to act when we desire. We need merely say the word."

"Good." Akmal sighed. "Nawfal, Saleem, you will be in charge of keeping the drone bombs flowing and keeping an ear out for their response respectively. Isnin, keep an eye out on the Streit of Malacca. We must be able to find cargo ships making any attempts to resupply from Europe."

"Yes sir." Akmal's phone began ringing shortly after.

"Hello, my friend."

"Akmal. Good work with that cargo ship." The caller said

"Ahhh I just gave the orders. Thank Nawfal for his work."

"Pass him my thanks then. I'm calling you because it we need to act on the incident now before whatever other groups out there try to take credit for it. Let the world know who was behind it. It'll be another headache for the infidels to worry about."

"Of course. Anything else I should know?"

"Not at the moment. My business trip is still in effect, but I should be back in a week's time. Maybe two. Until then you must keep working. You are the face- eh image of our Brotherhood. Don't let them forget our name."

"Do not worry my friend... I will make sure they remember us forever."

AN: And there

Took me long enough, eh? Well now that this splinter is out of mah foot I can better continue until further notice. Here's hoping your Spooky Month is going great so far!

See ya in a while!