The ISS Pride of Terra, 1st Corps, The Bridge.
Commander Sarah Beatrice Smith stood on the bridge of the ISS Pride of Terra, She was smoking one of her special cigarettes, standing on the bridge as the fleet took orbit over the planet dubbed 67-34-23B on Imperial Star Charts it was an unremarkable planet save for the portions of the planet where life used to existed, The first Expedition which included stealthy scouts and spies, reported the existence of an Republic called "San Magnolia" which was far from a true Republic, Only 85 Sectors are part of their protection but the 86th sector isn't protected by the San Mangonila Military, something the Crown princess isn't too happy about due to her upbringing as a Soldier and Heir to the Imperial Throne, She's already scheduled an Reconnaissance mission to the surface and she will command the troops in the field.
"Commander, Gypsy Company is ready for deployment." Vanessa said as she stood next to her Commanding Officer, the two young ladies were 18 and freshly appointed to their posts due to their accomplishments, yet Sarah's reforms to the Imperial Military were still new and she was already working hard to ensure her soldiers were supplied and prepared for what they will face…
On Sarah's Harbin Class Dropship.
Sarah watched as her men sat down and each of them were talking a few were joking about something Sarah did in the past back then but she didn't care at this point, she was deathly serious only Sarah herself has access to the complete intelligence reports and she is beyond pissed off and scared, Pissed at the Republic and secondly the Legion could fuck her deployment strategies.
"Alright men, listen up, our forces is to do Reconnaissance purposes, to this end we're using my Modified Dropship to drop us off via Stealth, Now as much as I want to deploy the Mobile Suit Corps of General Rockefeller's 1st MS Corps, This will be an infantry-only incursion, Many of you would note I am serious right now, And this is for a good reason, I talked to my Father and the Intelligence officers and got the green-light to deploy here, Now we're unsure of what we could face down there but be careful and watch your sixes, Am I clear?" She smiled when she heard them chorused with Yes Ma'am or Yes your Highness as the dropship took off heading to the planet below…
LZ X-ray.
Sarah watched as the dropship shudders from the fires of Re-entry, The teams' mission was to do some reconnaissance and if possible make contact with the people of the Eighty Sixth sector and deploy Imperial Reinforcements to the 86, but this means using specialized stealth ships to land her troops and she can't deploy her Mobile Suits or air support yet due to the uniqueness of the foe, She bit her lip as the dropship hovered over the LZ.
"GO,GO,GO!" Sarah shouted as the first soldier who landed on the ground after fast rappelling was Vanessa herself followed up by the rest of the Gypsy Company, 86 Soldiers deployed including Sarah which makes the number symbolic to her and the soldiers she's leading as the dropship got the fuck out of there, The soldiers looked around at the ruins, It was eeirely quiet.
"Marines, move out and watch your ass." Sarah said not too harsh but harsh enough to remind her troops that they were as far as she was concerned behind enemy lines, this is why they were on edge, As the marines proceeded through the streets, the Troopers carefully moved their way through, the soldiers by now broken into Squads of 5 soldiers and were advancing carefully, Sarah and Color Sergeant Dragos formed the core of Orion Squad, which was her personal command squad.
"Commander this is fucking creepy." Dragos said as she nodded, the clipped comms chatter she was so accustomed to were just whispers and her men trying to take this in the level of destruction.
"Did you hear that?" An Sergeant whispered as the soldiers who fanned out along the streets and were walking along the sidewalk, They could her a child's cries, this made the troopers anxious as fuck.
"I'll go into the building, Everyone keep an eye out, Roy, Carter on me." Sarah ordered as her two soldiers obeyed and followed their fearless commander…
Inside the building.
Sarah entered with her Shotgun equipped, she had ditched it in favor of the 12 Gauge shotgun employed by the Empire for Close Quarters Combat, The Marines were on edge, even more so after the hell of Theta Ender none of the Marines could even trust a fucking empty building.
"Ma'am, third door on the left." She heard Roy say as she nodded the Three soldiers stacked up on the doorway, She nodded to Carter who opened the door gently, their flashlights on their helmets kicking on as they entered, They saw a humanoid figure.
"Hey, you okay?" Sarah asked as she approached the person or what she thought was a person until it turned around and revealed it was a machine and the Marines reacted 5.56x45mm and 12 Gauge Shotgun shells sounded out, sending the machine down after the first few salvos.
"COMMANDER WE GOT HOSTILES MOVING IN! AS WELL AS FAR LARGER MACHINES!" Sarah heard Dragos shout over her comms as she growled and spoke up in reply.
"All units Fight and fall back, Me, Roy and Carter will jump out the window and join you boys and girls." Sarah said as the other two marines already knew what she was gonna say and the Trio actually jumped out of the windows…
Meanwhile with Spearhead, Laughing Fox's perspective.
Theoto Rikka was watching as the unknowns were fighting, the way they fought was incredible, they fought and fell back, taking cover and using Grenade Launchers and Rocket Launchers to take down Personnel mines and Amiese with reckless abandon, 5.56x45mm rounds slammed into the machines.
"Captain, looks like we have an unknown force fighting the Legion, And they're taking no shit from em, even though they are suffering casualties in the form of dead and wounded, looks like their armor is tough." Theoto said as he watched as the leader of the group rallied her soldiers and barked out orders, she had blonde hair and her hair was to her shoulder, she also wielded a strange sword that crackled in gold-purple energy, she was also firing a pistol one that she used to great effect.
"Good Copy Laughing Fox, Spearhead Squadron, engage the enemy and relieve them." Theoto heard the undertaker say as Theoto agreed and quickly moved in with his team…
With Sarah.
Sarah was NOT having a good day, the enemy was pressing onto her and she was forced to retreat into a building, moving their dead and wounded into the A.O worse she lost contact with the fleet, Sarah also had taken a bullet to her thigh which was why she was moving awkwardly in spite of her Genetic enhancements and her demi-goddess qualities evening out her pain it could've been much worse for her.
"Annnnd I invoked Murphy's Law too fucking soon." The girl said as she heard Vanessa snorted over from her battle helmet, Color Sergeant Dragos was wounded by shrapnel hitting him in the leg. Of course he and his Commanding officer were combat capable, the others weren't lucky.
An Imperial Marine on the upper floor managed to fire a rocket launcher after making sure the backblast was clear and the rocket billowed out from the tube, the missile slamming into a Löwe with full force, yet the machines kept on coming with Self-Propelled Mines trying to force their way in but found the Imperials were competent enough to keep up a stream of heavy fire to keep them back.
"Ma'am! Looks like the enemy is being counter-attacked hard!" One of her marines pointed out as she dared a glance out of a window and gasped watching an Ameise get blown to bits, it's auto loader getting cooked off by a round sent from…. "The left flank." Sarah said suddenly realizing she has a fighting chance now and shouted loudly to her men.
"WE GOT REINFORCEMENT BOYS! UNSURE IF THEY"RE OURS BUT DAMN IT LET'S GIVE THESE METALLIC BASTARDS A SOUND THRASHING!" The oorahs her men gave to her as those who aren't injured opened fire with renewed vigor.
Sarah for her part ran out and slammed into an Ameise and with her power sword slammed it into the processing unit of the Ameise, she felt a certain amount of anger being released as she notice the enemy retreated, She had to smirk and as she jumped off she groaned in pain even as an Medic ran over and helped her over to the stairs where the medic extracted the bullet, the 18 years old didn't scream nor flinch as the medic removed it.
"There's some whiskey in my pack, Corpsman, use it to disinfect my wound." Sarah said pointing to where her backpack lays, It was her old School backpack, but it works out since it is enchanted and can hold anything for her.
"Are you sure, Commander?" The corpsman asked as she nodded while watching the machines that saved her and her men's hide arrive, she had to let out a gasp as did some of the soldiers when they saw a young boy with golden blonde hair, not dirty blonde like hers and green eyes staring into her blue eyes.
"Holy shit…. You folks got it rough." The boy said as he hopped down and called for Snow witch an the others.
"Yeah…. Uhm…. I am Sarah, Sarah Beatrice Smith, Commander of the 145th Imperial Marine Division, I'll tell you more once we reach safety, Right now my men managed to contact our fleet a stealth transport will land and deposit some APCs and a Squadron of tanks to escort us to… where you guys have based out." She said as the boy nodded though confused just as they all heard something looking up, Theo didn't see anything until a section from what he assumes to be the transport the girl mentioned deployed it's cargo, Imperial Army APCs and 4 Valorian light Tanks, The medics moved the dead into body bags and handed them off to the Mechanized Troopers who hauled them onto the ship, the critically wounded were also evacuated leaving 10 Marines in combat capable condition alongside the other 10 lightly wounded yet still capable of fighting to form a small command cadre, before the ship took off and the Imperials plus their rescuers headed back to base…
Spearhead's FOB.
Sarah gazed around the FOB, she and the men and women of her 145th plus the 335th Mechanized Infantry Troopers even the Tankers of the 45th Iron Guards Tank Division were appaled by the poor defenses of this base, already Sarah's worst fears were becoming a reality.
"This is worse than Intelligence predicted." Sarah said over the comms since they were finally away from the Legions' Eintagsfliege swarms which as she predicted, fucked with the troops' communciations ability.
"Yeah…. Fuck man… this is gonna be brutal, Especially since they're kids…" Vanessa said over the comms, she was riding on one of the Valorian light tanks the Imperials used as scout tanks and often as Infantry support tanks.
"Doesn't matter Commander, once the Emperor and the Empire get wind of this…. Fucken hell…" One of the tanks uttered and Sarah at once felt the weight of those words hit her like a fucking freight train, She had heard stories from her parents and the Peregrine Guard about the usuage of Child soldiers, but she'd never LEARNED the extent of what people will do to bolster military numbers.
"Perhaps, perhaps not, we'll get more answers once we fucking park." Sarah said as her men affirmed their princess's words, She had a bandage near her left thigh, as well as a bandage on her head, indicating she took a head wound which was fitting seeing as one of the Ameise fired at her, and actually hit her 2 hours ago, the Young woman just tanked the fucking 7.62 to the side of her head and lived.
After the Convoy stopped, The soldiers dismounted, She watched as they began to drag their supplies out of their APCs, While Sarah's officers gathered around her, She watched as the kids parked, with a young man with Jet black hair, black as the very armor she wore and blood red eyes, Sarah had to literally pause at the young man's features, he looked like an Imperial noble yet, it is vastly different from her people's own Noble lineages an good example is the slender yet beautiful psyqiue of Sarah's second in command Vannessa, the Woman was 5'1 while Sarah was the same height owing to the fact that the pair looked like as if they were related but they aren't.
"Greetings, My name is Sarah, Sarah Beatrice Smith, Commander of the Terran Imperial Empire's 1st Corps, pleasure to meet you, Mr…. Ah…." Sarah paused as she offered her handn and the boy took it yet remaining Stoic as he spoke.
"I am Shinei Nouzen, Captain of Spearhead, Callsign Under-taker." The boy said as his blood red eyes bored into Sarah's own Blue eyes, the young girl didn't flinch if at all.
"Nice to meet you Captain, I wish to thank you guys for our timely rescue, I owe you one." Sarah said as the boy nodded seeing she won't get much out of the Young Captain well- until her stomach growled and Sarah let out an loud 'Eeep!' Which made her men laugh as her face went red as well as the Children laughed.
"You hungry, Miss?" Sarah heard a young female voice asked her as she looked over she saw a girl with black eyes and black hair done up in a ponytail, she nods and smiles.
"Hell yeah, What's your name, Kiddo?" Sarah asked as She and her men followed the kids the 15 years old girl responded after smiling at the older girl for a minute.
"Kaie Taniya, Call-sign: Kirschblüte, I already heard who you are Commander, it is a pleasure to meet you." The girl said as Sarah nodded and with her M-94/95A Pulse Rifle slunged over her shoulder, walking with the kids she noticed a boy with Iron-colored hair cooking, She walked over to him and spoke.
"Need a hand?" She asked and the boy didn't jump, turning around to look at the Girl and was surprised to see her still walking considering her thigh had a bullet wound.
"You can cook?" He asked eyeing her suspiciously as the teen nodded.
"Yeah, I cooked a lot back home, even on Deployment, I tend to cook for the guys, also my boyfriend Valerian." Sarah said as one of her Marines chuckled and the girl turned around and flipped the bird to Roy, the man laughed even harder much to the confusion of the kids in the room.
"The Commander here simps for her boyfriend hard, Ain't that right, boss?" Roy asked as the 18 years old boy could only feel the room get -20 degrees colder as he turned to look at Vanessa who had a baseball bat in her hands as he froze up as did everyone else.
"Oh Roy~ What did we talk about when referring to her and Val~?" The boy stood up and started to back up a bit whimpering as he stuttered.
"LC, C-calm down uhm…. Sarah help." Roy said as he turned his head and noticed Sarah was also frozen in fear having never seen Vanessa act this way.
"Uhm, no…. Ah…." Sarah was clearly surprised as much as her troopers were and she turned around and began to help with the vegetable prep, Roy looked to his Squad leader a lass named Amy and the girl looked away and said through gritted teeth.
"You fucked up, Brother." She said she was 17 a year younger than her older brother but that wasn't the point now was it?
"Apologize to Sarah~" Vanny said almost two steps away from fucking him up, the boy gulped and looked behind him to the Commander.
"Ma'am, I am sorry for calling you a simp, ma'am." He said as Sarah turned around and nodded confirming she forgave him before returning to the Vegetable prep, the room returned to it's normal temperatures as the Marines and Mechanized troopers talked with the kids.
"So…." Roy said looking at Theo who was drawing, Theo looked up at the Marine whose brown hair and green eyes an indication that he's like them somewhat.
"Yeah?" Theoto asked as the boy looked over his drawing noticing he was drawing one of his comrades. "You draw nicely, Yet I'd reconmmend you not draw Jasper, he hates it when people draw him without his consent."
Theo had to nod and sighed leaning back as a Female marine took a sip of Coffee and the look she gave was funny to her comrades.
"Ugh…. this coffee is fucking bland, Boss do we have fucking Coffee creamer and sugar?" The woman asked as Sarah looked back over her shoulder.
"No, we don't but I'll ask the fleet if we can start getting 1st Corps deployed, I want to counter the enemy as soon as we fucking can." The teen said as her men nodded much to the others' confusion.
"Wait, First Corps?" Raiden asked her as she sighed and looked at them all before she glanced at her officer cadre who just nodded to Sarah who sighed and spoke. "We…. aren't from your world as one of you rightly noticed from our equipment and why some of my men are taller than us and y'all…" She nodded towards her troopers who hadn't removed their helmets and they took off their helmets the gasps of shock and swears when they saw the different client races of her Empire in the same building.
"Relax, we mean you no harm." Phyrra Genris one of Sarah's Elven friends and fellow officer said as she smiled and offered an introduction.
"Lieuteant Phyrra Genris, 335th Mechanized Infantry Division, at your service, My Platoon has 4 Squads which round out to 36 hardasses such as Sergeant Tau Tauaalo an Bull'vari and by and large one of our best Close combat and Heavy weapons experts." Phyrra said as the said Bull'vari offered an kind smile to the Eighty-Six kids and spoke, his voice deep yet full of wisdom.
"It is an great honour to meet you young ones, I am the Chief of the Tauaalo Tribe on the Imperial Colony world of Tibrin One, an beautiful pristine Garden world." He said as he showed holograms of the planet, and it was beautiful beyond words, the Tribal nature of the Bull'vari even though they live in Imperial Cities that don't even cover the surface of the world blew their minds, and excited Kurena who was geeking the fuck out which made Tau smile as did Phyrra even Sarah had to laugh her ass off at the 15 years olds' excitement before she decided to ask the question that's on her mind.
"How many years have you been in the Militiary, Kurena?" Sarah asked as the 18 years old heir to the Imperial Throne sat down on the floor, eating the Pasta and Vegetables while her troopers ate MREs that is safe for them to consume as Kurena looked thoughtful for a while.
"I've been in the San Mag Military for…. Four years? I am Fifteen years old, And I think Anju is the same-" Anju and Kurena saw the pissed off looks in the eyes of the Terran soldiers each of them looked very angry as Sarah calmly spoke up.
"I've been in the Imperial Military for Five fucking months, We fought in Three campaigns prior to this, Two of which we've had to deal with Child Soldiers…. I fucking HATED every fucking second I fought them… some of them couldn't be more than 10 years old, almost shot the poor kid…. almost." Sarah said as her piercing blue eyes were darken almost as if it was a bitter memory and it was for the 18 years old Princess.
"You almost…" Kurena can't imagine seeing the girl in front of her pulling the trigger of her rifle and taking a child's life, it must've been hard on her but she digresses as Sarah looks up before speaking.
"I am also the Heir to the Imperial Throne, I am the Empire's Crown Princess, I have the authority and the power to help the Eighty Six… the fuckers behind the walls be damned, We'll begin covert operations designed to bring a bloodless coup in the Republic but for now me and my forces will remain hidden under the radar, via using Stealth dropships until relationships formalized."
The shocked realization she is an Imperial Princess and the Heir to the Throne means that they have an sympathehic faction of the Imperial Armed Forces but that didn't Faze Shin who is suspicious of the Imperial Heiress.
"In-fact my Division is landing, I may head back up stairs and begin talks with my parents to deploy my Brother and Sisters' 2nd, 3rd Corps on the line, They command the Veteran 2nd and 3rd Corps and have been in the Military far longer than I." The Young lady said as everyone else nodded as they walked outside…
Outside.
The kids watched in Shocked Silence as Sarah's troops began to land from unsteathed to stealthed dropships and the Troopers quickly went about digging Trenches outside of the base, linking them with bunkers and other things including Minefields.
Meanwhile Imperial Armored Companies were getting studied by Lev who was fucking shocked to see the behemoth of the Reaver Class Super-heavy Tanks that graced the Squadron's grounds.
"So, you're saying that you have different stuff for different tasks?" Lev asked The 45th's Chief Engineer a woman by the name of Sari Rose Quincy, She was in her 30s and was older then some of the Marines themselves.
"Yep, we're planning on bringing down our Terra Class Mobile Suits to help us fill a much more proactive role, once we…. Y'know get whatever the kids are wearing on their ear-lobes."
Sari said as she watched her Princess's Dropship take off shooting towards into the Heavens, More than likely the Imperial Princess will have a lot to do over the next few days…
Meanwhile, In San Magnonila's HQ, Lena's Handler Room.
Lena just got the report of the anamolies in and around Spearhead's FOB, Even more so this was alarming to her and so she decided to contact Shin and the others which didn't take long.
"Good evening everyone Sorry for being a bit late, I've been getting reports of anamolies all day and Command got spooked is everything okay?" Lena asked as she was at home now, She could hear the crew greeting her warmly and a page being flipped From Shin reading a book.
"Nice to hear from you Major Milizé, everything is quiet around here, No sign of Legion activity." Lena nodded and sighed as she spoke up.
"Command may take the Radars off-line, to analyze the glitches." She said as Shin hmmed and she could hear another page flipping as Shini then spoke.
"It is lights out tonight, Major, We'll see you tommrow, get some sleep." Lena nodded and disconnected from the call unaware that her life and that of the Republic's fortunes will be changing and for the better…
Hey, guys this is my take on my best friend and fellow Author Boris's Story Brotherhood of Steel: The 86th Assault Corps, Only this time I am putting my Stellaris Empire up to the task of helping the 86 while also trying to fight off the Legion.
I hope y'all will enjoy this story as much as I will.
Jack out.