Title: The War of Two Earths
Rating: M for violence, gore, and profanity.
Disclaimer: Fallout franchise is own by Bethesda Softworks while Gate - jietai kare no chi nite kaku tatakaeri created by Takumi Yanai.
Warning: AU Fallout and AU Gate, swearing, death, and violence.
Summary: A strange Roman-like structure rise and Japan found itself invaded by the strange clothed humans and fantasy-like races acting familiar with Earth, claiming retribution against...America?
Chapter 9: On The Messy Road To...
Joint Expeditions Base…Special Regions..
Things have not been going well for the US military in the Special Regions.
The confirmed contacts with the..."USA" have started out poorly. Most of the US military personnel here in the Special Regions weren't sure how to feel about the different "USA". As in the actual legitimate United States of America.
They're not dealing with some secret group of Americans gone rogue or any kind of attempt from anti-American faction to make USA look bad.
They're not dealing with some missing US military who got kidnapped by invisible aliens and dropped off on different but breathable planet like some cheap sci-fi movies.
They're not dealing with bunch of American looking mercenaries marauding as US military.
No, they're dealing with the actual United States of America as told by the prisoners captured from one of the engagements. Their dog tag, their ID, their fatigues, and their armor all screamed the same thing.
The United States of America.
And the United States of America from 2014 is fighting against...that United States of America from 2085. Such crazy idea of USA vs...USA has invoked a whole bunch of mixed feelings among the US military with some questioning why are they even fighting the "Americans" and others asking why those future Americans attacking them? Some have refused to believe the attackers were US (future or not).
Ignoring who fired the first shot, how does a country declare war on...a country bearing the same official name? How would that work? There's no legal precedent as this conflict against the 14 stars USA doesn't qualifies as civil war because of this whole dimension matter and over the Special Regions. Should the US even bother to declare war on...the future US?
The media and politicians are having a field day about this conflict. Not just the USA, but the world itself. Just recently, the anti-American sentiment has surged among Japan with South Korea and China joining in when they heard several of their countrymen died from the "future" US military in the Special Regions. As if wanting to have words in and to no one's surprise, North Korea jumped in to condemn the USA whether it be their world's USA or other world's USA.
Some including the non-American personnel have expressed their doubt about the 2085 part because of the prisoners' equipment and how they fought on the battlefield. For the USA being 71 years ahead, their equipment barely have any sign of...improvement over the current equipment used by the 2014 USA and others.
Causing puzzlement and anger among the US military and others when the analysts look over.
Out of all the captured equipment, there's only one weapon that has caused a greater vexation among the gun nuts and weapon experts than the bizarre beat-up looking "sub-machine gun" RIFLE chambered in .45 PISTOL rounds months ago. It was none other than an unholy cumbersome rifle chambered in 5.56mm rounds that the prisoners classified it as an "assault rifle". A good number of gun experts in the Special Regions including from Japan and China got offended as soon as they laid their eyes on the abomination that one Chinese described it as a cheap "Made In USA" knockoff. Mainly because of the "water cooling" part, wooden (as in actual wood) grip, and unnecessarily complicated reloading mechanism all make no sense in the modern days.
How in the world did those hostile "US soldiers" fought with such a shoddy and obsolete rifle design while wearing gas mask? Do they not know that wood is poor material for guns?
Followed by a more modern looking rifle the prisoners called it an "assault carbine". Chambered in completely unknown ammo that's smaller than 5.56mm bullets in magazine capacity of 24 rounds. The U.S military from 2014 doesn't understand why would the supposedly 2085 US military use an inferior rifle design that bear resemblance to M16 rifle chambered in weaker ammo AND smaller magazine size.
Some who fought the 14 stars Americans described them as odd bunch of soldiers armed with some version of WWI-, WWII-, and Vietnam War- era guns while dressed in outdated all olive fatigues covered by varying body armors with the chest piece bearing a single white star.
Why the hostile Americans even wearing gas mask anyway? It limit their field of vision and make moving around in the forest difficult. The joint expedition forces or the coalition didn't detect any harmful agent in the air.
There is no way the US and others are fighting the "US" from year 2085 as some have bluntly said. Until the sighting of robots bearing the same white star popped up in reports.
Robots…
It is no secret that there's a number of research and development of robots for military use. No country has yet to come up with a viable robot on large scale. An army of war-fighting robots, depending on who's being asked, would be a massive game-changer or an apocalyptic nightmare. In the Special Regions, it's mostly nightmare with varying scale of difficulty, depending on models. So far, the US and others have encountered three different kinds of robots in the Special Regions.
The floating round shaped robot with spikes, nicknamed as "Floaties" have been spotted floating with no visible mean of what's keeping it in air. Though some described them as floating helmets because of appearance. Doesn't require significant firepower as a single or two bursts from rifle can bring a Floaty down.
The more common and odd looking robots with 3 eyes and 3 limbs with each limb being attached to different weapons. Nicknamed as "Tri-Clops", the analysts believed this kind of robot must've been designed to be versatile and optimized for environmental awareness with 360 degree vision and several different weapon configurations have been reported akin to being the Swiss Knife robots armed for short and medium engagements. They have nasty habit of rushing and flanking. Smart enough to move from cover to cover to return fire or engage in close combat as their armor proven to be more durable than the Floaties. The Chinese and South Korean soldiers have experienced greater aggressiveness from the Tri-Clops in firefight as if they're possessed by some malicious spirits hellbent of killing them.
Then...There's third and the most dangerous robots dubbed as the "Metal Ladies". The feminine looking humanoid robots with either claws or swords attached to their forearms are fast and even more aggressive than the Tri-Clops as the Metal Ladies moved like angry bloodthirsty sharks given their tendency to circle around before charging in to kill. Like most of the predators back on Earth, the Metal Ladies are capable of ripping or hacking their targets apart in close distance. Compared to the other two robot types, this kind has proven to be fearsome and happened to be dangerously armed with violent continuous laser fired from their head.
Worse than the Tri-Clops because the Metal Ladies would even crawl and sometime snarl. Possessed by the devils with sole goal of killing-no, annihilating the enemies, no matter the cost it will incurs in process. Including self-destructing. This is not the kind anyone would want to encounter in an ally at night time in city or somewhere in the wilderness with crazy robots prowling and hunting them as if they're nothing but animals.
The Americans who fought in the Middle East along with the Chinese and South Koreans have despised the Metal Ladies more than other robots. Those have yet to fight and joke about the killer robots and apocalyptic future would receive a hard glare or harsh words from those who did. The concept of war fighting robots is no longer limited to the sci-fi entertainment.
The soldiers and helicopter pilots have been "advised" to do either one of three things when encountering a Metal Lady or multiple in the wood. Either stay out of sight to move away, focus fire on one at a time, or blow them up from distance with RPG or helicopter's arsenal.
Although the Metal Ladies and other robots are dangerous, each country in the coalition has "subtly suggested" its personnel to make attempt on acquiring the robot parts or if an opportunity arise, capture the intact robot. It didn't take a genius to realize that the 2085 Americans, despite their oddly disappointing infantry equipment, have the means of producing robots for military purpose on large scale. The chance to study and advance understanding of robotics along with the energy consumption issue and battery would be too good to pass up for any country.
Like the USA and China.
The Americans and Chinese were seen (but not outright reported) competing against each other in acquiring or capturing the robots. The "unofficial contest" between the two nationalities has sometime caused a hindrance as there has been few instances of Americans and Chinese impeding each other's progress even in combat against the hostiles from year 2085.
In one instance, one American was accused of purposely detonating a Floatie that was downed by the Chinese group. In other instance, a Chinese soldier got accused of deliberately driving a vehicle over a Metal Lady's head, crushing it before it blew up.
There was even a short brawl between Chinese and South Korean squads after recently winning a firefight over the destroyed robots. They had to stop when another group of 2085 Americans and their robots showed up with greater firepower. They barely escaped on their intact vehicles with five additional losses, totaling 16 deaths between the Chinese and South Korean squads plus one vehicle that had to be abandoned in haste.
The only positive thing is that there's one less competitor to worry about and that is none other than Japan whose self-defense force has been "politely requested" to keep distance from the battlefield after reporting 14 deaths and 10 captured by the 14 stars Americans in the first few days of the conflict. The JSDF will not be allowed to figuratively lift a finger against the aggressive odd bunch of Americans from year 2085 outside the "self defense" scope.
Finding and rescuing the Japanese citizens is the JSDF's mission however the hope of finding even a single alive citizen taken by the Greenskins has been going down and overshadowed by the presence of aggressive American hostiles. The few dozen Japanese citizens who got taken by the Greenskins are what allowed the JSDF's presence in the Special Regions with the USA's backing against China's and South Korea's protest, the two countries possessing negative view of Japan.
Currently, no nation has yet to capture a whole robot…until 10 days ago when the US-South Korea joint group has just recently fought off the 14 stars Americans and their robots at the river, where two US soldiers came across a still "alive" Tri-Clop missing all three limbs and a single eye. As evident of its body with few holes, it got incapacitated when it and other Tri-Clop robots tried to flank and rush the US-South Korea group's position. After routing the enemy "Americans" and downing the robots at the river, the two US soldiers noticed the sole surviving robot wiggling.
Despite being helpless after losing weapons, the two-eyes Tri-Clop has threatened the two US solders with by yelling in rather lively voice, "THIS FIGHT ISN'T OVER, YOU IMPOSTORS! AS LONG AS I BREATHE, I'LL KEEP FIGHTING YOU!"
One soldier had thought about kicking it into the river but other named Pvt Diana Woodrow disagreed. Private Woodrow thought it would be good idea to take the yelling robot whose sole method of attacking is currently wiggling...menacingly. If anything, the robot might be the source of useful intel or to be analyzed and see if there's anything that could help with the robotic research.
Their sergeant agreed with the idea so the US soldiers hauled the still wiggling robot onto their humvee and drove off with friendly vehicles. Being the one with bright idea, Pvt Woodrow was allowed to nickname the robot and she came up with "Mr. Wigglebot".
And the captured Tri-Clop robot's response to that?
"IT'S SERGEANT, YOU DUMB MAGGOT! I'M NOT A MISTER! AT LEAST RESPECT MY RANK!"
The yelling robot wouldn't stop calling the US military "maggots" and "impostors" along with how they won't get anything out of..."him". Because Mr. Wigglebot refused to lower his volume, the US soldiers tried to find an off button because how the robot talked reminding them of an extremely stereotypical US drill sergeant with die-hard patriotic attitude that would've inspired the US personnel but instead, caused hearing discomfort.
Long story short, they couldn't figure out without shooting him so the ride to the base was miserable and would request for hearing check-up. At one stop to check the area for ambush and a small village for information, the South Korean soldiers got curious and approached the robot. Their curiosity died as the South Koreans quickly got offended and outraged when Mr. Wigglebot called them "communist scums" and how the "Korean People's Republic" will one day fall to the American democracy. Being seen as North Koreans and communists didn't sit well with them.
Mr. Wigglebot has refused to believe he was being addressed by SOUTH Koreans and mocked them for attempting to fool him with the "defunct" flag. The implication of Wigglebot's statement didn't sound good. Or maybe just a faulty error in system, who know.
The US soldiers have hurried to take the olive drab robot away from the South Koreans and the local villagers who got spooked by loud volume. With how animated Mr. Wigglebot acted and spoke, the US squad has realized that the robot wasn't just a simple robot but an artificial intelligence in physical form. This...was bigger than they thought and they really need to haul it to the base immediately.
So they called their superiors at the base and inform them of the captured robot being an A.I. The US military command basically told them to just deliver it to the point of contact. Mr. Wigglebot would become the hot topic of artificial intelligence and its use in military and civilian settings. Unfortunately, his presence and "endearing" personality would also cause the fear of robots and artificial intelligence to increase.
On completely irrelevant note, the initial staff assigned to work on Mr. Wigglebot have largely lost their enthusiasm about the robots and due to the limb-less robotic sergeant's stubborn personality. Despite Mr. Wigglebot's claim that he will not give any answer to the "impostors and commies", his words have concerning implication and didn't paint any positive picture about the USA and other countries in year 2085.
But that's not important for now.
Because it's not just robots the USA and others are interested in, they're keenly interested in acquiring another technology possessed by the 2085 USA.
The power suits, though some prefer to use alternate terms such as "power armor", "power exoskeleton", or "exosuit".
When the joint expedition recons and forces encountered the robots, they've also encountered the bulky metal humanoids wielding minigun or heavy flamethrower. The green armored titans were initially believed to be the fourth kind of robots encountered in the Special Regions. Until a corpse was found inside a broken olive colored armor whose few parts fell off from the sustained fire of high caliber rounds. When the US-Australia-China joint group did sweeping for survivors after firefight, the group found another power suit with dead man inside.
Essentially looking at the unfortunate corpses completely locked in their humanoid coffin with blood dripping out of it. Not much difference from looking at corpses laying on the ground, except the weight and already in casket. And in few instances as the coalition learned the hard way, the "mini" nuclear bombs.
After quick exchange of fighting words, the group tried to move two mostly intact power suits and ran into few problems. One, the hulking metal humanoid dead-weights were too heavy for group of adults to move and there wasn't enough room on the vehicle. Two and while waiting for the helicopters' arrival to pick up the power suits, another argument broke out between US and China personnel with only four Aussies torn between joining the argument or stopping. Three, one of the two power suits blew up during the heated argument and killed majority of the group.
Leaving three Americans, four Chinese, and one Australian as the remaining survivors with two being unlucky for being not far from the blast radius and suffered radiation burn. Those two would later died before the helicopters arrived. When being questioned, the remaining and grieving survivors weren't sure what caused the nuclear explosion.
Perhaps, one or both power suits got too damaged and someone unknowingly triggered it or the explosion was caused by remote denotation. Or maybe someone said the wrong password to make the power suit "safe". Without having sufficient knowledge about the power suit, it was all guesswork and speculation.
Since then, the US and others ordered to just capture the loose part of power suit or call for the demolition squad after the firefight. Off course, the commands reminded the squads to use heavy weapon or call for air support from helicopters to bring down the heavy armored infantry hostiles.
Although the troops have been reminded not to pick a fight with each other, it did not stop the "competition" to acquire the power suits. Instead, the relationship between the US and Chinese military got worse and later, so did the US-China relation back on Earth. Causing the nations to re-evaluate the feasibility of having the USA and China in the Special Regions.
The experts in the future have been fiercely debating over the Special Regions and how the initial participating countries should've done and would've fared if it wasn't for the earthquake that has caused severe landslide.
Rewinding couple months earlier after the Second Battle of Ginza. When the US and Japan sent their first wave of personnel through the Gate, they found themselves on one of the mountains. Already facing the challenges from unfavorable terrain due to insufficient space for proper military base and instead, constructed the "check-in" station manned by small JSDF security along with few helicopter pads and small "parking space" for the military vehicles to include few tanks.
The first wave did reconnaissance of the land before locating suitable area that wouldn't be too far from the Gate and have room to set up the Joint Expeditions Base that'll have command center, multiple barracks, and space for the vehicles and aircraft to include a runaway for the fighter jets to take off and land. The problem was the Joint Expeditions Base construction couldn't start immediately without resolving the immediate issue with the mountain roads that were too undeveloped, ineffective, and unsafe for the heavy vehicles that'll be traveling from the Gate down to the base of the mountain. Japan had sent construction workers and landscapers to make the roads wider and suitable for heavy military vehicles such as tanks to travel on.
It didn't help that the further delivery of more tanks and 1st batch of fighter jets got delayed on the other side of the Gate back in Japan because of protest against greater US military presence and foreign military presence from China and South Korea as well as the claim of outworldly virus dubbed as the "Greenskin Virus" believed to be spread by mosquito and some insects that typically be active in summer and fall every year in the metro parks and rural areas. The number of protesters have blamed the JSDF and foreign military as well as Japanese officials for letting the virus spread out from the Special Regions by not destroying the Ginza Gate.
The hysteria and worry over the virus from the Special Regions has started when the pictures of dead bird with abnormally huge muscle mass began to circulate on the Internet with the picture taker claiming no photo-shop wasn't used and the bird has aggressively attacked him on the street in broad daylight.
Not from the sky but on the ground due to bulky body too heavy for the wings to carry.
Shortly, few more pictures of abnormal looking birds, insects, and critters made their appearance online. Several Japanese have reported being attacked by them and were forced to kill or run to safety and call for local authority. One has posted a picture of sickly colored large koi fish appearing to be eating normal koi fish, committing a ghoulish act of cannibalism. The poster claimed the sickly colored koi fish then tried to jump out of water to attack. Disturbingly, the cannibalism and unnatural aggression toward humans would be the common theme.
In response, Japan's safety and health officials assured the public that the measures have been taken to prevent the possible spread of diseases from the Special Regions natives including the Greenskin invaders. The officials have also encourage checking into the nearest hospital or seeking medical help if people have been bitten by the insects, rodents, and birds as well as staying away from them and remain calm.
The officials' recommendations have invited the Internet trolls and their mocking comments about the diseases and humans suddenly having uncontrollable violet urge upon being bitten by a squirrel or a fly. The Internet trolls were joined by a number of online users scoffing, claiming the pictures were nothing but hoax and fake news. The claims then invited a minority of Japanese blaming the unconfirmed "Greenskin virus" on few instances of Japanese brazenly committing physical assault on other Japanese or tourists with knives or bare fists on the street or in subway station.
Pointing out the second invader corpses were treated with more caution by the authority than with the first invader corpses. How the authority and health organizations acted suggested the dead Greenskins could be carrying some out-worldly virus. More arguments broke and the threads would either get locked or deleted by the admins.
Whether the violent perpetrators and attackers caught the "Greenskin Virus" or not would not be answered for a while as the police at that time didn't have reason to call for medical help. The police just simply treated the attackers as people who snapped under workplace pressure or gangster wannabes.
That is until a terrible tragedy struck Japan and the actions taken by various authorities to include testing the people who got arrested for violence against citizens for any sign of oddity in their blood.
A massacre occurred in one of the karaoke bars in Shinjuku named Aoigatsu Ongaku Bar. Things were going normal with customers coming in and out to rent out the room to sing one or couple songs as the local authority went through the security footage. Almost evening, many customers and staff members were caught on the CCTV frantically running and screaming as they've attempted to get away from a...person.
(Note: Aoigatsu Ongaku supposedly mean "Blue Moon Music" in English)
(Warning: incoming gore. To skip, do CTRL+F and type "Gore finish". Press Enter and continue to scroll down and read)
Or rather, a person barely resembling a human whose dress got ripped from unusual large body mass that look to be painful by judging the permanently agonized expression on his (her?) face with slightly greenish skin. The 'person' was seeing carrying a...man's head dripping flesh and blood onto the floor. Few seconds of walking, the 'person' was met with a group of eight men in black suits surrounding him (her?) with various weapons such as baseball bats, cleavers, knives, and even chains.
The Shinjuku police have identified the men in black suit as yakuza with each being dangerous with each having notorious reputation. Normally, the citizens have been advised to stay clear of the yakuza. But not for this...'person' thing.
What happened next was a carnage. Every single gangster has died gruesomely.
The 'person' threw a man's head at the first charging yakuza armed with a cleaver. Landing a direct hit to his face with strong force that made the man fall on his back before getting stomped by the 'person'. Crushing the chest and ribcage.
Because of the 'person' being 2.45 meters (8 feet) tall, the 2nd gangster tried to jump and swing his bat onto the 'person's head. But he got smacked by the 'person's abnormal size hand, hitting his ribcage. Sending the bat gangster into the nearby table, crashing it and would not get up.
The third and fourth gangsters attempted to flank and charge to stab the 'person' but they ended up getting manhandled. The fifth man tried to help by smashing his bat onto the 'person's skull. The bat broke upon the impact and the 'person' slammed the fourth man against the fifth man before tearing the third man apart. The third man had screamed as his left shoulder got forcibly ripped from torso before being discarded.
The sixth and seventh gangsters managed to get behind the 'person's back and attacked him (her?) with violet stabbing. The 'person' roared and countered by swinging his (her?) backhand at the sixth man whose head twisted so much that his neck broke. The seventh man got away but stumbled and fell on his rear as he tried to keep his distance.
The 'person' made movement toward the gangster number 7 when his (her?) neck got wrapped by a chain toss by the eighth gangster. It was a decision that number 8 immediately regretted as he got pulled when the chain was tugged. The eighth man found himself being hugged and after squeezing, his bones got crushed as the man screamed before being dropped dead after becoming a human ketchup bottle emptied of bloodcurling scream.
The seventh man had taken advantage to go around and appearing to be escaping. Shoving the third and fourth gangsters who have just recovered and gotten up. Because of sudden act of cowardice and betrayal committed by the seventh man, the third and fourth men got lifted by the 'person' who ran. Carrying them before smashing them against the wall, breaking through the wall and crushing their body in process.
Viewing through different camera recording, there was a small number of patrons and a bartender hiding behind the bar counter. When the wall got broken through with two corpses, the patrons have screamed and one ran out while the others tried to hide and quiet each other. It was too late and the bar got littered with more corpses and flesh parts.
To make it even more horrifying for the authority viewing the footage, the 'monster' helped himself (herself?) to raw flesh.
Afterward, the 'monster' ran out of the karaoke bar.
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(Gore finish)
The monster was met with the recent arrival of a police car with two policemen rushing out with their .38 special revolver. The cops were forced to fire when the monster charged toward them with murderous intention. The pistols have proven to be ineffective.
Later, more cops were called by the citizens to respond. Having heard the monster's description of green colored skin, the authority sent couple SAT squads on trucks and helicopter to track and neutralize the suspected Greenskin. The law enforcement found the Greenskin rampaging in the department store located couple blocks away from the karoake bar. However, the squads could not open fire due to too many citizens running around.
Credit to staying calm, few store employees have guided the shoppers out of the building as instructed by a SAT member whose squad has been tasked with protection. The other SAT squads have attempted to corner the monster to the empty area while keeping lookout for the people who have opted to hide in the changing rooms or shopping racks.
Also notified, the JSDF has sent two helicopters with each carrying a squad to support and take over the mission of neutralizing the monster. However, the SAT squads have already taken it down at the cost of six lives.
The monster resembling a mixture of human and Greenskin has killed 8 karaoke patrons with three dead women found in the bathroom, 2 bar employees, 7 gangsters, 4 street cops, 3 pedestrians, a dog, 11 shoppers, and 6 SAT members. In total, 40 human lives plus a dog have been brutally taken.
Both law enforcement and JSDF have faced the backlash from the public in the aftermath. The public could not believe the massacre has occurred in Shinjuku and have demanded the answer from the authority. How did a Greenskin get from Ginza District, Tokyo to Shinjuku? How did such horrific massacre occurred in a country like Japan?
The schools and most of the businesses have temporarily shut down. Several streets have been decorated with tapes and hazard signs, forcing the drivers to take detour with the officers wearing mask giving directions. The news covered the speech hosted by the Shinjuku authority, giving rather unsatisfying answers the barrage of questions shot by the media vultures.
The investigation at that time was still undergoing. Though the authority found out one thing about the green skin corpse after going through the karaoke bar and comparing a woman's face on ID card with somewhat similar facial structure of Nakamura Emika who worked as a local school gym teacher. While the name has not been released publicly, the authority later has notified Nakumura Emika's family and employment just as they did for the victims' family and workplace.
Behind the scene, several doctors and scientists were called to study the corpse. The "transformation" of the woman's body to bizarre male bodybuilder has greatly puzzled the doctors and scientists dressed in full body hazmat suit.
The doctors and scientists have yet to figure out how did the woman got infected with the "Greenskin Virus".
Bitten by mosquito? Drank contaminated water? No definite answer has yet to be found. However, the public have started to see the authority giving greater scrutiny at the water including sewage as well as frequent bug killer spraying in Tokyo and nearby cities and towns including the subway stations.
Not even a week after the Aoigastsu Ongaku Massacre, the media would cover the finding of another green skin human. This time, the corpse was found on the country road and got run over by a moving truck. During an interview, the censored face truck driver explained he was driving a truck at early morning to deliver the customer's furniture when out of nowhere, a "tall mutated looking human creature" made sudden appearance. The truck driver failed to step on the brake and the moving truck ran over and crushed the tall humanoid creature's legs and torso.
The local authority discovered a wallet containing a driver's license and college ID card in the ripped track jacket pocket. The investigators were able to see some resemblance between the green skin human roadkill's face and the picture of Arai Sai, a typical college student. After asking questions, the authority located Arai Sai's elder sister who explained Sai was visiting family and one day, he went out for jogging and hasn't been seen again for the weeks with no call answered. He was reported as a "missing person".
As for the attackers showing no sign of greenish skin but exhibiting violent behavior, the authority took them out of the prison for testing at different location with security guards and medical staffs to take a blood sample. Weeks later, the authority has received confirmation of something wrong found in the blood samples. Right away, the prison has been called to send out batch after batch of other prisoners to see if they've been infected by the virus carriers and started asking questions related to spitting, physical altercation, sharing soap, and so on.
In few days, few infected prisoners were found dead. The cause of death is believed to be the violent reaction of their body fighting against the virus.
Japan will eventually see more and more of citizens and tourists exhibiting violent tendency, undergoing some mutated changes, or dying. It seem despite the best effort of the safety and health organizations, they failed to safeguard the Invaders' corpse and prevent the spread of the Greenskin Virus already infecting possibly thousands by now through insect bites and possible water contamination after several months since the Ginza Gate's opening.
Alas, it'll be a while before anyone realize that the Greenskin Virus isn't just a virus from the Special Regions, but a super virus that defies everything Japan and the world know about viruses. Unknown to Earth of 2014, the super virus has been mutating for long time in the Special Regions and honing through multiple species as hosts.
In the future, the world will be hit with the hard truth.
For now, Japan is working on identifying and locating the infected humans and animals as well as testing the water. At the same time, the JSDF and foreign military have been trying to get through the traffic jam and anti-military protesters to delivery more tanks and first batch of fighter jets to the Ginza District, Tokyo before learning it wasn't just this side of the Gate having problem.
Back in the Special Regions with the coalition.
By the time the Joint Expedition Forces received its first confirmed report of the 2085 Americans, the base wasn't completely finish with the hangars for fighter jets and building for tanks still being in progress while the runaway was 80 percents cleared of the trees. As a result of landslide, the mountain roads have to be cleared of many large rocks. The severe landslide has also dealt concerning damage to several buildings and equipment as well as needing to move the rocks off the runaway.
One serious consequence of the severe earthquake that has most of the coalition leadership was the bad timing as the first dozen tanks that were on their way down to the base after receiving clear signal that the mountain roads could sufficiently hold the heavy weight...They got buried by the landslide. It came at bad time as the coalition need the tanks' firepower and armor to advance and push back the aggressive US military from 2085.
The earthquakes and unfavorable terrain have hampered the coalition's effort against the 2085 USA. The coalitions were forced to inform their respective commands back on Earth about the earthquakes and to send in people to clear the landslide and once again, the mountain roads.
Despite the effort to keep things quiet, the Japanese media eventually managed to find out from someone with loose lips. Later after breaking news, more and more Japanese have called and demanded the end of the JSDF's involvement and destroy the Ginza Gate. In addition, those with extreme dislike of the US military and/or foreign military have demanded Japan to kick them out. More and more Japanese citizens have started to exhibit anti-American and anti-foreigner sentiments.
Interestingly, the JSDF recruitment offices would see an increase of males and females enlisting after the media broke the news of the US military from 2085 being confirmed occupational force in the Special Regions. The JSDF recruitment has been under-performing as many recruitment officers have been trying to attract many young men and women to seek career in the self defense due to the lackluster benefits and salary. The First and Second Battle of Ginza have the JSDF seeing brief spike of recruits for two months before going down until the reporting of Greenskin Virus and hostile US military of different Earth.
Japan wasn't the only country who want to end its involvement with the Special Regions, South Korea and Australia have their share of demand from their citizens to end the deployment to the Special Regions. For South Korea, it was mainly because of North Korea has been acting up with its rockets launching and most of the South Korean government started debating whether they should stay involved with the Special Regions or not. In Australia's case, it was because of the recent hunt for the suspected terrorist groups and ongoing operations in the Middle East but its government has largely opted to stay involved after working out its budget.
On the other hands, both the USA and China unsurprisingly want to stay involved in the Special Regions, seeing the benefits and the problems that they can solve. However, the bad news for the USA is that another of its rivals, Russia has just expressed its interest in getting involved in the Special Regions. Bad news for China is that few more of NATO countries have also just expressed their interests in getting involved.
What considered to be bad news for the USA and China would be considered the worst news for Japan when Japanese heard about the possibility (not confirmed yet) of more foreign military coming to Japan, specifically the Ginza District in Tokyo as if it's the hottest tourist attraction. Things will be very crowded and the people living in Tokyo will be more unhappy. The traffic was already bad with the quarantined zone forcing the residents to take detour. The call to destroy the Gate and end Japan's (and Earth's) connection to other world and thus, preventing more future problems. Plus the conflicting view between the parents (or guardians) and their high school- and college- aged children over the JSDF.
The experts in the future have agreed on if it wasn't for the earthquakes with one minor and one severe, the initial coalition's Special Regions campaign would've fared better as the forces would have tanks on field against the robots and power suit-wearing enemies. Discounting the natural disasters, the Gate's location on the unfriendly mountain and serving as a bottleneck for any military or transports entering from Earth are two factors limiting the in- and out- flow of vehicles. It didn't help that Tokyo is one of the busiest city with almost 35 million people living there plus many cars traveling through the large city.
The experts in the future have also agreed two things with first one being had the Gate opened in favorable terrain without having to worry about widen the roads, the initial coalition would have more service members, vehicles, tanks, and aircraft in the Special Regions. The second one would be the negative consequences affecting the world dynamics, more so on the US-China relation and the direction it has shifted to.
While the US troops have mixed feeling about the 2085 Americans, the Chinese troops have field day as they gained experience and data not only from fighting the aggressive future Americans but from observing the 2014 Americans in action. Granted, they suffered casualty and setback but they managed to collect the data and insight on both USAs.
The US military higher-ups and some US politicians were never in support of China's presence in Japan and in the Special Regions. Knowing the actual and potential threats of operating in the same area with Chinese adversaries and having to "behave and play nice", the opposition in the Special Regions and back at home have been trying to gather support in getting China kicked out of the Special Regions. Such plan has garnered support from many Japanese politicians who desired removing the Chinese military presence completely from Japan. However, they and the Japanese public also want to remove the South Korea's and Australia's military as well as cutting down the US military presence.
But then, the worlds received news of the future Americans agreeing to have a talk in person. The very first talk between the two different Earth as the USA, China, South Korea, Australia, and Japan will be sending their selected representatives along with escort to meet the 2085 USA in the neutral zone. A fortunate news for the coalition as the different world's USA wouldn't see the base's weakened state from the severe earthquake and landslide.
"...Hmm..."
A middle aged Japanese man with short brown hair and mustache sat on his chair in silence, staring at the reports sitting on his desk. Feeling older than his actual age as he look at the number of deaths among his countrymen, both JSDF and civilian workers.
The ambushes from the Special Regions natives….
The attacks from aggressive wildlife…
The unfriendly terrain…
The initial contact with the different version of USA…
The earthquakes with one minor and one severe…
Stamping letters that'll be delivered to the deceased personnel's family...
And recently...The news about the rescue effort group to search and recover the tanks under the landslide and rescue the tank crews trapped…
Too much of Japanese blood has been spilled in the Special Regions, a world where dangers lurk seemly everywhere. Waiting to kill and claim more Japanese lives.
But he could take a very small comfort that the Third Recon Team has been found and rescued. Correction, the remains of the Third Recon Team after the JSDF-US rescue force found the mountain located in the northwest from the coalition base with intel provided by the captured natives with the blond hair elf man named Hodor Marceau being designated as an equivalent of squad leader, given how other captives look at him for guidance. Despite looking like in mid 30s, he claimed he's actually 356 years old.
Akin to figuratively pulling teeth out of the blond hair elf who clearly loathed the "Ameereekans", Hodor reluctantly gave direction in broken English and general drawing of maze-like inside of the mountain where the Third Recon Team was being held at.
But the Chinese and South Korean military have a problem with that plan. The JSDF Third Recon Team's location is not far from the battlefield where the USA, China, South Korea, and Australia combating the different USA on the west side of the mountain range.
The protests from China and South Korea have been noted and ignored when the JSDF-US joint rescue effort has been launched. The objective being get to the location, find the Third Recon Team, rescue, and get back to the base in short amount of time.
The JSDF-US helicopters have flew over the open plain in northwest direction toward another mountain range. There, they made contact with the locals who have attempted to bring down the aircraft.
Thanks to the helicopters' firepower, the rescue force was able to break through the defense and went into the tunnel. Things were going well initially before going downhill. The underground space was a death trap not only for the defenders but also for the JSDF-US. Both sides have limited option to move around in the tunnels with one side trying to kill the invaders and other side trying to advance.
Mostly consisting of non-human defenders possessing superhuman feats have caused so much trouble for the JSDF-US squads. More so when the squads' ammunition was going down while advancing deeper and deeper in the unfamiliar territory with the enemies outnumbering them and have poor radio connection to the outside.
In the end, the rescue squads after losing a quarter of strength managed to locate the Third Recon members who were being escorted with a reptile man armed with a battle ax leading. Before either side could react, another group of defenders showed up behind the prisoners escort group. Being led by a woman with red eyes whom the reptile immediately demanded answer from.
To everyone's surprise, the new group began to subdue the escort while the red eyes woman clashed with the reptile man in melee combat with halberd vs battle ax. The reptile man reportedly got livid after short exchange of words and tried to kill the red eyes woman.
The red eyes woman reportedly demonstrated her melee proficiency and taking advantage of her halberd's long reach to keep her opponent at bay. However, the reptile's strength and speed coupled with rage have overwhelmed and cornered her after rendering her weaponless by breaking her halberd.
He was about to make a kill when the man identified as Itami Yoji shouted someone save her. Out of curiosity, When General Hazama asked Lt Itami what possessed him to urge Rory to be saved, Lt Itami's response was "I'm not exactly sure, sir. I didn't expect to see Lori showing up with a group. Fighting the lizard guy and his group and cutting our rope. I guess I felt she didn't need to die today. She...has been mostly civil and maybe, she can be reasoned with instead of being enemy."
Today, Lt Itami said. Implying he as the Third Recon Team's leader hasn't forgiven Rory's action. And yet, Lt Itami's yelling has saved Rory's life.
An American marksman immediately shot after getting clear line of fire and killed the battle ax wielding reptile man, saving the red eyes woman from losing her head.
After short tense exchange with the red eyes woman and her loyal followers, Itami Yoji has vouched for her, much to other Third Recon survivors' chagrin as stated in the post mission briefing. From there, the JSDF-US squads must execute the next step and that's being get the Third Recon survivors out and board on the helicopters. With the red eyes woman's knowledge of the layouts and her most able follower with keen sense of smell acting as a living radar, the rescue group has fought its way out of the maze-like prison.
Outside, the rescue group forced the red eyes woman and her group to disarm. Although the group protested, the red eyes woman ordered to lose the weapon before boarding onto the helicopters.
Later, the red eyes woman and her group have been placed in temporary containment much to the followers' protest. Once again, the red eyes woman voiced her agreement and got her group to comply. For the emotionless woman, she appeared to have utmost trust from her followers consisted of 3 humans and 5 non-humans after losing 2 humans and 3 non-humans in fight.
The group's grumble subsided considerably when the JSDF personnel bought in food and water.
Personally and although General Hazama was grateful for the red eyes woman's aid and compliance, the Third Recon survivors' state was less than ideal. After learning the red eyes woman's role in interrogating Lt. Itami and being personally responsible of leading an ambush on the Third Recon squad, the gratitude went down more.
The remaining Third Recon survivors have not been fed well and degraded as they've been forced to undress down to their underwear. Most of them need medical care for their bruised feet and check up for any respiratory issue, Lt Itami required immediate and greater care for his injuries intentionally not healed correctly by magic.
Good news is Lt Itami's injuries can be fixed.
Bad news is it'll be a month or little more before Lt Itami could return to duty after physical therapy and examination for any side effect of being healed by magic.
As callous as it sound, the Third Recon team will need replacement to become full strength as the squad is currently little over 50 percent capacity. Due to Lt Itami being on medical leave along with Sgt Major Kawahara Soichiro's and Msgt Nishina Testsuya's death, Sgt 1st class Tomita Akira is temporarily in charge until the new Sgt Major has been assigned and will be in charge. Once Lt Itami return to duty, the new Sgt Major will effectively be second in charge.
General Hamaza could feel a headache forming but he chose to deal with it to focus on the reports. Currently, the highest ranked JSDF officer is reading the report on the red eyes woman, Rory whose name printed in English with no sur name.
Reason?
Rory ditched her last name for what has been guessed to be personal reason. Not that General Hazama or anyone care. For the most part, Rory has been forthcoming with her answers when she was being questioned about everything.
Her allegiance? The Band of Scars.
The detail about the different Earth's Americans? Not so much other than indicating some sort of Americanization process in 14 stars USA territory called American Sadera after reducing the former Empire down to the Remnant.
The situation in the Special Regions? The hate relationship with the Remnant who also has been active. The crossbow musketeer-like attackers must've belonged to the Remnant while the different group of attackers dressed in primary brown and black theme belonged to the Band of Scars. That explained the reporting of various traps.
What factions, aside the 2085 USA and Remnant to watch out for in Falmart continent? Multiple Kingdoms, goblin tribes, and the "Green Monsters".
That last bit had caught General Hazama's and other military leaders' attention. Rory explained it's a term for the people and animals have been cursed by the Green Plague. Believed to be "demon curse" cast by the "Ameereekans" on their first victims being the goblins who've been marauding and tainting the water. Earning the extermination campaign from the Kingdoms to protect the water and prevent their people from turning into the Green Monsters.
Water…
Rory's explanation about the Green Plague and water matched what Hodor and other early prisoners have been saying about the Greenskins. The few "friendly" native towns bearing the Remnant's banner the coalition came in contact with have also said the same things.
The Joint Expedition Forces have came across several Greenskin bases including the ransacked towns and villages. The Greenskins have clearly been brutal and messy as they littered their "meals" throughout the land. The coalition leaderships have already marked them as enemies that JSDF can shoot to kill at will.
General Hazama hoped no one in the Joint Expedition Forces refill their container with water from the rivers in the Special Regions. The coalition command has converted a recommendation to a mandate stating "Under NO circumstances, the water found in the Special Regions is to be consumed."
But what about those who got kidnapped from the Second Battle of Ginza? A JSDF officer has bought it up in the meeting. For the Japanese including the general himself, the idea of countrymen transforming into flesh eating green skin monsters has invoked cold and grim feeling. Akin to having their heart stabbed by a knife.
General Hazama could not imagine the horrific experience imposed upon Japanese citizens during their time under the Greenskins.
Considering how many Greenskins the Joint Expedition Forces had to killed from exiting the Ginza Gate down the mountain to other mountain range and forest...It is possible that small number of the Greenskins may be recently mutated Japanese victims but no sign of Earth style clothing could be found among the corpses.
But then, the coalition got some details about the Green Plague or Greenskin Virus from the American prisoners bearing allegiance to the 14 stars US flag. While the Americans' answers coincided with the native prisoners, there is one discrepancy.
The Green Plague's origin.
The 14 stars Americans also pointed the goblins being the first victims of the Greenskin Virus. However, every single American prisoner has firmly denied their USA having anything to do with the virus affecting the Special Regions and Japan, turning the drinkers into "Muties" or "Greenies". The coalition leadership couldn't decide which side to believe in because both the natives and 14 stars Americans gave no sign of deception or lies.
General Hazama and others didn't believe the USA from different Earth having no involvement in the Greenskin Virus creation. While he's no scientist, there is absolutely no way the Greenskin Virus was a natural occurrence. The 2085 USA has to be involved and ignoring the odd aspects, who know what kind of advancement in science has been made in 2085?
The 2085 USA must've been testing the virus on the goblins as the first test subjects. Given how the natives spoke of goblins, the primitive population didn't seem to care much about the goblins and orcs, mainly view them as lowest of the lowest. Treated them nothing more than rats.
Whether the virus carriers were released intentionally or not is the question. One way or another, Japan will find out. Though the possibility of the captured 14 stars Americans lacking the proper know cannot be disregarded. The virus's origin will have to be solved by the experts, not by military and see what kind of cure or vaccine can be produced.
General Hazama and other JSDF officers have expressed their shock and worry when they heard about the Greenskin Virus being confirmed active in Tokyo and nearby places. Damn Greenskins! Damn them!
How did that happen! What's going on in Japan with the spike of protesting and traffic problem! General Hazama couldn't believe it.
The rescued JSDF and others couldn't go back to Earth for intense medical care for the injuries inflicted by the cruel natives. So the other side had to scramble couple more doctors and nurses volunteering to come to the Special Regions where they would board onto helicopters with the equipment and supplies with more to come, depending on the situation in Japan.
Good news for the doctors who came here earlier with the nurses and medics. They had their hands full with the survivors suffering from radiation from the battles against the different Earth's US military.
The 2085 USA's robots and power suits. The only things that backed the claim of different Earth being in year 2085. Indicating the 14 stars USA possessing ability to produce robots armed with honest-to-earth laser weaponry and the power suit run by some nuclear battery that doubled as mini nuclear bomb.
General Hazama wasn't a fool, he knew why the JSDF has been barred from actively engaging the 2085 US military. It wasn't just because of being a self-defense force, it was because of the enemy technology. Japan has been excluded from the opportunity to acquire robots and power suits.
It was hard to ignore the reporting of a single US military hauling a mostly intact robot through the Ginza Gate, opting to expedited the delivery by using a helicopter after accepting it from the returning US humvees. General Hazama could see the resentment and distrust forming among the JSDF toward not just the US military but also other military.
And that is another issue the Joint Expedition Forces facing. Yes, Japan and other countries have common goal and that's it. China's presence in the Special Regions made the whole operating complicated. Japanese don't like Chinese and Chinese don't like Japanese. South Koreans don't like Japanese and Chinese. Granted, there were few "friendly" football (not American football) matches between all three groups during limited free time.
Then, there's USA. General Hazama has mixed feeling about that country and how its military operates. The US officers have completely different personality and method of getting things done in their own way and taking initiatives. Opposite of how JSDF officers make decisions and get things done albeit at slow pace.
Having USA and China in the same area is akin to having two opposing feudal clans putting up a line between them while telling each other, "We do things here, you do things there" and then tell their own clan members, "We're doing things here and there".
On the battlefield, both US and Chinese squads ended up together in the same area. Shooting their guns at the common enemies.
If only the different Earth's USA never established its presence in the Special Regions, General Hazama mused. The Gate and Special Regions affairs would be much easier and simpler. Japan would have virtually exclusive access to the Special Regions for its whole self. All Japan has to do is claim the Gate as internal affair and the USA wouldn't get involved.
Discounting the Greenskin Virus (likely wouldn't exist without the 2085 USA's "possible" involvement) and maybe some dangerous animals, the Special Regions basically have nothing that can hurt the JSDF.
No point in entertaining such fantasy. So General Hazama turned over the last page of report on Rory's question session, finishing his review.
The general is proud with the JSDF progress in rescuing the comrades from the natives and hostile US military. Unfortunately, the hostile US military still have number of JSDF captives. While the coalition is treating the prisoners humanely, there is uncertainty of how the 2085 USA treat its prisoners. Those who have questioned the 2085 Americans wrote the reports on the implication of their response about their Earth in 2085.
Apparently, the Soviet Union is still around somehow and China...has annexed Japan and other nearby neighboring countries while both Korea have been unified as the Korean People's Republic. The detail has offended many Japanese and South Koreans, not just officers as somehow, words got out and the enlisted ranks got upset or just didn't believe. Forcing the coalition to do damage control as some parts of the detail were missing such as the difference between two Earths and that Earth 2085 has no bearing on what Earth 2014 will look like in 2085.
General Hazama conveniently ignored the fact that he believed in one of his officers who's a "sci-fi geek" and gave believable explanation of some strange parallel dimensions nonsense used in entertainment. Reading the reports about Americans claiming Japan being part of China sound completely unrealistic and definitely will never happen.
One, Japan will not allow such thing happening. It didn't matter that Japan did previously held a portion of China as that's just long time ago and Japan lost it after WWII. Two and as much as he has minor reservation, the USA will not allow it either as that would goes against its interests in Asia to include containing communism. That would be admitting the defeat on the USA's part in democracy vs communism.
Because of those two main things, Japan being part of China in 2085 Earth has no bearing on 2014 Earth approaching new year. It is completely irrelevant and causing unnecessary distraction for some officers who shouldn't take the reports seriously. As much as General Hazama has trust in the JSDF's competency honed by constant drilling and exercising and that the JSDF will do its damnest to defend its home, he know the USA's continuous presence in Japan is serving its purpose as a security against China. Unlike the JSDF, the US military has years of live combat experience under its belt.
As for the very first "peaceful" meeting with the 2085 USA? The Joint Expedition Forces must assume and prepare for the worst. By having the base hospital standby for possible mistreated personnel after doing the prisoners exchange.
General Hazama was about read more reports when he heard someone knocking on his door.
"Come in." The JSDF general called out.
The door opened with a Japanese woman in JSDF fatigue appearing.
"Sir!" She addressed the general respectfully with a salute, "Lt. Tanaka Chihiro is here to see you."
General Hazama recognized that name as the JSDF lieutenant has been part of Rory's question session.
"Let him in." General Hazama said as he collected the papers before neatly arranging them into their folder.
Shortly, an average height Japanese man walked before giving salute. Holding a folder under his left arm.
"Sir! Lt Tanaka Chihiro reporting!"
"At ease, lieutenant. What do you have for me?"
"A new information about our guests."
Lt. Tanaka laid the folder down in front of the general who proceed to open it and read the first paragraph. After flipping the paper around, he saw a note on the second paper with the first setence causing his right eyebrow to raise. After reading it, General Hazama look up and asked grimly, "How did her face look when she made a request?"
"Still emotionless, sir."
"Why are we just learning this?"
Lt. Tanaka wore sheepish look as he answered, "We...didn't think much of her standing among her people. Until couple of them made a lot of noise about how we addressed her during their questioning. When we checked to confirm, she without hesitation admitted this can be done but only she get to meet you."
"Is this request just for me?"
"You and the US, sir."
"I see...Tell her I will meet her in face to face when I am ready." Said General Hazama to Lt. Tanaka who nodded before saluting, "Hai."
The lieutenant left the room, leaving the general to ponder.
"Lt. Itami must've made an impression on Rory for her to offer such thing during his time there." General Hazama thought, "Whether this will be a waste of time or not, I cannot ignore this." And neither will Lt. General Matthew Allen-Carr of the US military in the Special Regions.
He will have to wait his US peer's response and coordinate.
What a timing.
Along with others, the JSDF representatives and security escort will be heading out in two days to meet the USAF representatives in the neutral zone.
"If Rory is indeed telling the truth, then we may have another asset should our meeting with that USA goes unfavorable."
Meanwhile...In the detention building…
A group of 22 Falmartans could be seen gathering in the room with most of them sitting at the strange metal tables that have long seats attached with no back support. Eating meals provided by the Jappanees and ...Ameereekans bearing 50 stars flag on their unfamiliar uniform. Completely different from what the Ameereekans bearing 14 stars wear.
Engaging conversations in Common Language while eating dinner.
Commander Rory's group was surprised to see their brethren alive and well. It was thought that the group under a High Elf man named Hodor Marceau has perished. After a brief exchange of greeting each other, Rory's group has asked Hodor's group how they were treated in the Jappanees-Ameereekan prison.
Many Falmartans have conflicting feelings as the meals provided to them are more than how much they provided to the prisoners. The concept of treating prisoners "humanely" sound alien to the Falmartans.
"I know we're dealing with...different Ameereekans and their allies. But commander, are you certain they'll help us against them?" Hodor quietly asked with his blue eyes looking at Commander Rory. The former Apostle could see the rage in the High Elf's eyes. As with the majority of those in the Band of Scars, Hodor was a refugee who lost his home during the first contact with the Ameereekan group who came, chasing after the former Empire soldiers-turned-marauders.
Hodor was one of the couple defenders responding to the trespassing marauders. Thinking Kowan Village was their target for raiding and pillaging. Upon seeing the number of humans running with their weapons out, the elf defenders have fired their arrows while positioning on the trees. Only for several elves to drop down like dead birds from the trees later after thunderous noise.
When the marauders got close enough with clear sight of their expression, the remaining defenders including Hodor didn't see bloodlust. Instead, it was fear. The marauders weren't raiding, they were running and trying to lose the Ameereekans who showed up with their weapons making the thunderous noise.
Seeing how deadly the Ameereekan weapons were, the eldest defender told Hodor to run and warn the village to evacuate. Forcing him to get away instead of staying to fight the advancing Ameereekans. Hodor ran and used the trees as covers, running as fast as he could.
Upon arriving to the village, Hodor had immediately yelled everybody to evacuate and head south. While urging the villagers to move, two of his lovers came running to Hodor. Frantically told him seven children being out of village to play, prompting Hodor to take one lover, Eraka and have other lover to handle the evacuation.
It didn't take too long before Hodor and Eraka could hear the children screaming. After following the sound, Hodor and Eraka were treated with terrifying sight of children and marauders running from more Ameereekans. Despite his best effort and pushing himself to protect the children, Hodor could only saved one of his daughters.
Forced to run away by Eraka whose last words were "Take Tuka and run, you fool! R-run!"
Another thundering sound later, Eraka's life got vanquished. Carrying a crying terrified girl, Hodor ran and tried to find the other elves in Koan Forest. Only to hear soul-chilling sound of his people screaming with more thundering sound from the distance. Out of two hundreds, only 56 people survived.
Hodor has never forgiven the Ameereekans for their crime against the people of Kowan Village and he has never forgiven himself for being weak. A failure who couldn't protect his people, his loved ones, and his precious children. His only accomplishment was saving his only surviving child, Tuka Luna Marceau by traveling with 20 elves on boats from a port town to the east. The remaining 34 elves chose to go south toward the Elbe Kingdom that would later become part of American Sadera.
"They've been fighting against the 14 stars banner for the past weeks." Rory calmly said before taking a bite out of a burger patty. Savoring the juicy texture and flavor. After chewing and swallowing, Rory added, "We need them and their guns."
"I understand that, commander. Assuming we win and the Ameereekans get sent back to their hellhole, then what?" Hodor questioned seriously as he pointed his finger at the black object called camera, "What about them? Do we pray and hope that they don't take over our home?"
Putting his hand on the table, Hodor went, "How do we know they're not like the Ameereekans we've been trying to hurt?"
Although Hodor wore grim look, Rory could see hear his worry in his tone. Hodor and his group have been worried when Rory's group told them about the "helichoppas" flew over the town located not far from the once abandoned mine. Worry about their family's safety even with the assurance from the "Joint Expedition Forces" that their military is trained to avoid harming civilians. Hodor and his group didn't believe the Joint Expedition Forces but chose to trust Rory that their family is safe as she has flew on a helichoppa and saw that the town has been largely unharmed. Only the large crossbow platforms have been destroyed.
Several Falmartans have stopped talking with a Lennon man speaking up, "Hodor asked good question. What make these people different from the Ameereekans, commander? They fought like the Ameereekans. They used guns like the Ameereekans. They dressed like the Ameereekans, just in different patterns and colors. But what make them different, could you tell us?"
"Commander." A Pooka woman called, "What is your plan? You must have it, I know you do. You always do. That's why I chose to follow you over Commander Henrek. Is this it? Getting them to help us?"
Unfazed by the questions, Rory could see and feel the Falmartans looking at her expectantly. Both humans and demihumans, all leaned forward when the former Apostle opened her mouth.
"My plan." Rory roamed her eyes on each and every face looking at her, "Is simple."
Setting down her fork to stand up and turn around to stare directly at the camera, Rory answered, "I'm going to talk to them."
In different room…
"Ya," A South Korean man in military fatigue speaking in Korean as he leaned closer to one screen, "What the hell is she looking at? Think she has some psychic power? Can she see us?"
"Move your head out of way." A different Korean military personnel made a show of preparing to slap before resuming eating his snack, "Don't be ridiculous. She's just being curious. Probably never seen camera before. Mmm! I'll be right back." He put down his almost empty bowl on the desk to get up.
"Where you're going?"
"Ya, what do you think? To take a dump. What are you, my mother?" The man rolled his eyes before leaving Cho Hyun-Tae who's currently scrutinizing the screen.
On the screen, a woman with red eyes continued to look at the camera. Shortly, the people around her turned around to look at the camera.
Cho Hyun-Tae felt unnerved at how intense the natives look. Feeling spooked after staring at the screen for over 10 seconds, Hyun-Tae got up and decided he's going to bathroom.
"Hey! Tae!" A man in US military uniform called out in English, "Where you're going?"
"Bathroom! Gotta go!"
"Wha-"
Cho Hyun-Tae hastily walked out of the room. Leaving two Americans and a Chinese bemused.