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 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 who acting familiar with Earth, claiming retribution against...America?
Chapter 6: Medieval Prison Suck
Thud!
"Lieutenant!"
"Sir!"
"I got you!"
Multiple exclamations could be heard in Japanese as the almost naked captives rushed toward a barely conscious man who was just shoved forcibly into a large cell while the cell door rattled and slammed shut. His exposed skin bearing new marks of tortures in form of scars and bruises with some being repeatedly healed and injured. Sweating could be spotted on his skin as two prisoners noticed when they caught him, preventing a hard landing on the cold, uncaring floor.
Sgt Kurokawa Mari, the Third Recon Team medic, got down to check on the recent injuries as Lt. Itami was laid on one of the cots.
One man got up before aggressively marching to the prison bars where an emotionless red eyes woman is standing.
"You-!" JSDF man quickly paused to switch to English with his finger pointing sharply, "You assholes!"
He was joined by fellow Japanese, expressing their displeasure and anger at the barbaric treatment of their lieutenant whom they haven't seen for 2 days when the guards came with a Viking-like man leading to the large that the surviving Third Recon Team members have been relocated to from their individual cells. The guards stepped over the several thicker cots with to roughly snatched Itami and handcuffed him as if he's a criminal.
Itami's squadmates have protested off course. Only to be pushed back by the armed guards with one saying they ought to be grateful they're getting better meals and water twice a day along with more frequent changing of the buckets used for bathroom purpose.
It has been 15 days total since the Third Recon Team got ambushed and captured as prisoners. Or is it 16 day now? Hard to tell day and night. The prison wardens and guards don't care enough to interact or give even basic information aside occasional ogling at the prisoners' state of clothing, mainly the female ones whenever they're patrolling through the hallway to check on every hallway containing cells.
Assholes, they still refused to provide clothing or blanket as the large cell is still cold with uncomfortably hard surface to stand or walk on. Granted, they have more room to move around and can interact in face to face to catch up. In Japanese, off course since the prison guards and other locals do not understand it.
A bulking prison guard sneered, remarking with unfamiliar words not covered in the translation book. It doesn't take a genius to realize he's insulting by judging his unfriendly tone.
The red eyes woman cut him and other guards off, presumably telling to get back to posting or something because the prison guards nodded. But not without throwing appreciative glance at the Japanese women, prompting a growl from Sgt Kuribayashi who didn't appreciate the perverted look.
At first, it was awkward to be in the same room with male squad mates while being in underwear that the locals thankfully didn't take away. With repeated conversations in the first few hours as just to get it out of way, it has been agreed among the Japanese to pretend they're all wearing swimsuit along with a reminder that they're all professional self-defense service members. Albeit promise of violence from Shino.
"Enough." The red eyes woman sharply cut off the angry Japanese as she spoke in English better than the most locals but still have few mispronunciations, "Be glad we heal him. And be glad you have him a leader back here. A leader caring about you. For your condition, he ask ni-cer 'hos-spit-tal-ity' and not be all way interrogate-ed."
"Heal, my ass! You bastards didn't finish healing him!" Shino snarled heatedly in English as she stomped toward the red eyes woman, pointing at unconscious Itami. The red eyes woman is lucky to be standing far from the sturdy prison bars, otherwise Shino would've grabbed her to give a bruise or two.
"Yeah!" Several JDSF personnel voiced their agreement.
Still unfazed, the red eyes woman responded, "That not my problem."
"Oh, it will be your problem when my foot goes up your- Hey! Come back! Where are you going?"
The red eyes woman has already disappeared from the sight, prompting Shino to slam her palms against the bars, growling in Japanese, "Bitch."
Oh, just wait. Once they figure out a way to escape and get their gear back, Shino will make that red eyes woman who would visit their cell more often compared to the prison guards pay. The red eyes woman's visit was mostly to escort someone delivering meal, probably to ensure the food is not poisoned or just to observe Japanese prisoners as if they're zoo animals in their man-made habitat.
Creepy ass bitch.
Never once display any kind of emotion with creepiness supplemented by unnatural looking red eyes as if the woman is a vampire. Or just a plain creep who like to watch people sleeping as Shino remembered of that one night. When Shino was struggling to fall asleep on her cot with occasional adjustment of her body for over twenty minutes. Just when Shino turned on her right side, she spotted a shadowy figure with red eyes staring directly at her as if they're in creepy story Shino remembered reading it out of boredom when she was in middle school.
For who know how many minutes or hours, Shino defiantly stared back at the red eyes creep who was just simply standing motionlessly without even blinking as if engaging in silent battle of will. With Shino straining to keep her eyes open to avoid appearing weak or signaling any kind of message suggesting weakness or lack of resolve. Until finally after seemly eternity, the red eyes creep silently walked away without giving any kind of acknowledgment which counted as a win in Shino's book.
"Damn creep." Shino sourly thought with her mind back to present time.
Turning around with a heated huff, a 23 years old close combat specialist moved to stand with other Japanese gathering around unconscious Itami whose bare chest still heaving.
"Well, how is he? Beside the obvious." Shino asked in Japanese as she crossed her arms.
"Those cruel brutes!" Mari hissed indignantly, wearing sharp expression previously of appalled and horrified as she held Itami's left hand, feeling the bones inside before moving onto forearm and elbow. "He has been cut and healed repeatedly. One finger has been dislocated. Don't get me started on his elbow and others! Also intentionally healed improperly."
"Shit. They crippled him!" Someone exclaimed in outrage, preventing Mari from listing more of Itami's injuries.
"Not completely crippled. The medical facility at the base, provided it's been set up on schedule, can fix most of his injuries." Mari shook her head. Once the Third Recon Team escape and make it back to the base, Lt Itami will get the necessary treatment. Or wait for the rescue team to locate wherever this prison at and get the surviving Japanese out.
"Then we need to try harder and figure out the different plan."
"How! These bastards here- the non-human ones are stronger and faster than us! Not to mention we're in medieval time with our bare ass weaponless and outnumbered! They killed-"
"We know, Tomita! We know!"
"Damn bastards don't even let us out for anything other than interrogation! Nothing else! Only our lieutenant been in and out!"
"Keep! It! Down!" Mari sternly prevented a possible argument, "Go over to that corner and keep your voice down, lieutenant need a quiet rest...Same goes for you! He doesn't need to be crowded like this so give him space."
"Gomen..." One muttered while others sported apologetic look. Shino scoffed before muttering, "Back to passing time, then."
The cell became quiet. Until Takeo commented after a sigh, "You know, this is a reminder that I should be grateful I'm not born in feudal time period."
"Or in ancient Rome." Someone added darkly at low volume.
"Or any dark ancient time period for that matter."
"...How did our ancestors stand all these...barbaric stuffs in their time? I don't mean just Japanese but humans in general. You know, throughout our world history."
"They just do until they don't."
Someone cynically spoke, "You do realize some places back on Earth are still like this, right? Such as human rights violation, unsafe conditions, and others."
"I don't know if we'll be interrogated again. I mean I'm surprised they're not torturing us every single day, I don't trust what that red eyes woman said. It's been almost a week-"
"Respectfully, please don't remind me."
"Damn, thought lieutenant said his sessions have been...civil. For the people here minus the whole face slapping thing from the bizarre woman with personality of stone statue."
"Yeah well, that hairy bastard disagreed."
"Oi, whose turn to count the time? Think it's been another hour by now."
"I'll do it, think it's my turn to count." One man got up to pull a single straw from his cot to add it to a group of straws indicating with single strand of straw equal 1 hour and a group of 24 straws equal one day.
A few small talks occurred as to pass time, though few like Shino started doing exercise to vent their frustration and restlessness despite not getting sufficient fill from meals. Shortly, she stopped exercising at Mari's 'recommendation'.
The room may be larger but it's still a prison with stronger bars.
The meals and water may be frequent, but the prisoners could feel hunger and thirst especially when they tried to stay in shape by doing basic exercises.
The prisoners may have been relieved to be talking to each other in face to face instead of walls and dim light, they are still miserable.
The red eyes woman may have said no further interrogation for them (if they understood correctly and the woman can be believed), the prisoners are resentful for the fact that their squad leader has been interrogated frequently and roughly. Who know when those bastards decided to change their mind
Once again, Shino hated the current situation as she sat up with her back against the wall and legs almost straight. Noting how dirty her bottom of feet look.
"I miss my boots. Steel toes and all." Shino thought, imaging kicking that red eyes creep's ass or face. Would be nice if she know the creep's name so she wouldn't constantly refer her as that woman or that creep.
As if reading Shino's mind, Tomita Akira could be heard asking, "Hey, did any of you catch her name yet? That Face-slapper-san?"
"No. I don't even know any warden's, guard's, whoever's name." Someone replied tiredly, "Not even the ones bringing our meals and water or trading our buckets for empty buckets. I've been referring the girl as Food-chan and the boy as Bucket-kun."
"...Did any of you notice we're the only occupied cell in this hallway?"
"You asked that question yesterday and day before yesterday. Yes, we noticed."
A different man muttered under his breath as he cast a discreet glance at his unconscious superior and the visible scars and bruises. He could even see some sign of burning with some portion of skin being different color, "...What did they do to him."
Unconsciously, Itami's scarred right hand slowly formed into a fist.
Later…
"Ugh,,," Itami groaned groggily. His eyes opened to see blurriness before closing.
"I'm back with my squad..." Itami thought as after blinking to see Mari, Takeo, Shino, and others. Well, the remaining of his squad, Itami reminded himself bitterly when he learned that in addition to Pvt Sasagawa, the squad has lost Sgt Katsumuto, Sgt Azuma, and Msgt Nishina in ambush. Sgt Major Kuwahara did survived but suffered grievous injuries from the ambush.
It was that woman with red eyes who killed Kuwahara Soichiro personally with a knife. Ignoring protest and threat from the still conscious survivors, the red eyes woman wasted no time slicing the Sgt Major's throat apart.
Spilling more Japanese blood on the ground.
Bastards!
They couldn't be bothered to heal the old man's grave injuries. They chose to just dispose a dead weight callously and moved on. Leaving the still tied-up body behind at the red eyes woman's order to keep moving, according to Sgt Kuribayashi.
Damn it! He has daughter, Itami remembered the JSDF veteran telling about his small family, showing a picture of a young Japanese woman bearing a smile to the squad prior to the expedition.
Grunting, Itami tried to shift himself into sitting position. A pained groan escaped his mouth as he scanned his living squad mates one by one.
Kurokawa Mari…
Tomita Akira…
Kuribayashi Shino…
Kurata Takeo…
Tozu Daisuke…
And Furuta Hitoshi…
"And then myself..." Itami's mind said with a mixture of pain and...fury. A cold bitter fury toward the Special Regions. Japan should've destroyed that damn Gate up. Consequence to be damned. So what they're dealing with the USA's illegal occupation of different dimension? For all they know, it might be alternate version of USA or something with different rules.
Damn this world! Those good men didn't have to die in this medieval world that might well be Earth's Vietnam War and other wars filled with guerrilla warfare.
Furthermore, Itami had tried to get information about the kidnapped citizens from Japan. The locals didn't care to answer other than saying the victims are likely already dead by now.
Ok, that was bullshit. They didn't say "likely" in their answer. No, those who actually bothered to answer said to give up the hope because the people taken by the Green Monsters die a horrific death since they're nothing but food or...something.
Something what?
When Itami asked for clarification, he got told to shut up or received hitting from his escorts for asking question.
"Easy sir! You've just had rougher...session. Way rougher than the previous sessions." Mari cautioned, checking Itami's neck scars, "You're not fully healed."
Feeling pain lingering in some areas of his body, Itami grunted, "Let m-me sit up...H-How long I've been o-out?"
"Ah!" Itami winced as his body coiled in pain. Shit! Shit! Shit! Ah shit! His body is still hurting!
"Sir!"
"Lieutenant!"
"Give him space!" Mari addressed, keeping her eyes on Itami's body language. Somewhat pressing her lips together in distaste. She's hating the lack of healing supplies that could be used to alleviate pain. The brutes have taken them and without ginger care, who know if they're still serviceable.
"Ok, I-I think...I'll keep lying down." Itami groaned with panting as he rolled onto his back after enduring a brief flash of pain.
"That would be advised." Mari agreed, examining Itami's visible bruise in left side, "To answer your question, it's been...around four-five hours, give or take, since those brutes bought you back here."
"What did they do to-"
"Baka! We've agreed not to ask a while ago!" A sound of whacking could be heard.
Private Tozu rubbed his head, muttering, "But they've been focusing on lieutenant. Especially that asshole. Rick something?"
"It's Rikkon." Itami corrected Daisuke before adding, "Ugh...He a-and others decided I w-was too helpful."
"Too helpful? Sir, are you serious? They came over two days er nights ago and snatched you like they're boogeymen because they thought you were being...too helpful?" It was spoken with incredulity.
"Yeah..." Itami affirmed with a pained nod, "T-turned out most of them didn't believe me. Including Rikkon."
Itami frowned as he thought about his sessions with the Viking-like man named Rikkon, the main interrogator. As opposed to the red eyes woman who bizarrely hasn't done anything beyond face slapping and asking questions, Rikkon has been brutal and sadistic as he utilized a wide variety of torture techniques on Itami. Albeit the lack of focus on asking questions on his part.
Punching face and sides? Getting beaten the crap out of him? Those were just appetizers.
Cutting skin over dozen times with each cut being justified that Itami told a "lie" or not giving the sufficient answers.
Carving various shapes because just repeatedly cutting skin wasn't cutting it and Rikkon was just happened to be in the mood. Satisfying his urge to spill blood but couldn't without killing Itami possibly by playing out his sick imagination into reality. Probably because of the red-eyes woman if Rikkon's expression of disappointment was anything to go by.
As far as Itami has noticed, Rikkon probably have far...torturous techniques in his mind but couldn't because they'll likely cause death. Viking? Forget Viking stuff, Rikkon is a damn monster in disguise who was able to describe his experience in torture...In broken English.
The torturer has even produced several human scalps with some still have hair attached to brag about his past victims. Claiming one was from an Ameereekan 'long time' ago. And then a chain of cut up fingers and toes.
Apparently Rikkon learned how to flip a bird at courtesy of his past Ameereekan victim's cut off middle finger.
Then came the torture devices...
Flashback…
Itami grunted as he felt a sharp prolonging sensation traveling through his nerves when his skin got sliced, letting blood out.
"Try again." Rikkon said with sadism gleaming in his eyes, not minding he has some of Itami's blood spilled on his beard and tunic. The knife he's holding is dripping blood onto the stony floor as the interrogator asked in broken English, "Tell me. Baaaaakaaa. How...to...make...buuuulleet? It easy for you. Tell me!"
"I told you b-before," Itami glared defiantly at Rikkon, "You don't h-have proper-"
Another cut made and this time, it's close to his neck.
"I can this all time." Rikkon spoke in broken English before gesturing his hand at Itami, tied to a X shaped wooden contraption with arms and legs spreading, ordering in native language.
A younger man in grayish tattered robe with dirty blond hair and green eyes smirked as Rikkon stepped aside. Walking to stand in front of Itami with his hands glowing. Moving in motion over Itami's body, healing with the cuts closing. It was easy to see that the healer relished in Itami's pain.
"Let go again, baaaaakaaa." Rikkon returned to standing in front of Itami. Readying to make more cuts.
Later…
"GRR UGH!" Itami half yelling and half clenching his teeth in agony with his eyes glaring. His arms and legs fruitlessly shook, bound by ropes tied tightly. His torso is being carved a star with Rikkon moving a knife in reverse grip while pressing other hand to hold.
"Baaakaaa...Oh baaaakaaa. This be...four times. You like in pain?" Rikkon tilting his head tauntingly and close to Itami's face mixed of agony and rage.
"…You...are...scum." Itami growled with his hands clenching in fist. His face sported various bruises and cuts.
"Oooh...Shh shh shh!" Rikkon shaking his head, leaning away from Itami with the knife being playfully waved in air, "No, baaakaaa. I not scum. You scum, yes."
Receiving a head gesture and another round of healing from the blonde healer's magic, the majority of Itami's star shape scar faded. Leaving few lines behind on skin.
"Now...baaaaakaaaa. How many you here? How many Ameereekans?"
Later…
The wooden device groaned with creaking sound.
"-NGGGG!" Itami did his best not to scream as he shook against his binds keeping his body to the damn chair with his left arm setting on a table with the wooden torture device attached. The device has metal part resembling a screw pressing down on Itami's left middle finger.
With a turn Rikkon did, the screw slowly pressed down more. Causing an intense pain signaling throughout Itami's arm.
"Wonderful tool, yes?" Rikkon spoke with enthusiasm as if pitching the new product while petting the medieval torture device fondly, "Years ago. Smart man made this. For Ameereekans, see? They enjoy hurt us. We enjoy hurt them. This do well on you, baaaakaaa."
Itami growled with his scarred chest heaving.
Baaakaaa...baaakaaa...baaaakaaa.
Why is this damn son of bitch keep calling him, using stupid damn pronunciation of "baka"!
Bending down a little, Rikkon inspected Itami's middle finger sporting nasty bruise caused by a thin screw. "I like big finger. Hurt more, see?." Rikkon continued before flicking playfully that caused Itami to grit his teeth, "Break it. More finger. Break them. Oh you know. Heal, yes. You be thankful to Gery here. Yes?"
The blond hair healer nodded with a smirk of equal sadism that Rikkon possessed, "Yes. Hurt Ameereekan."
Rikkon shook his head playfully, correcting Gery in the Common Language while pointing finger at Itami, "No no no. Not Ameereekan. He Jappanees."
Sneering, Gery responded back in Common, "Ameereekans, Jappanees, still enemies."
Rikkon nodded as if conceding before looking back at Itami, "See? Now more..."
"As I told your boss, we're not allied with those Americans. We're allied with different Americans!" Itami reminded Rikkon who rolled his eyes before replying.
"Ameereekans still Ameereekans."
Itami clenched his teeth when Rikkon set his hand on the handle to bring the screw down deeper into his middle finger.
Just before Itami's middle finger get broken, someone outside the room knocked, calling out an announcement in the Common and the doors opened. Entering is the red eyes woman with her usual stoic expression, staring at Itami before staring at Rikkon.
Was it the poor light playing trick or did Itami spot a sign of disapproval on the red eyes woman's face? No, it must've been poor light.
The red eyes woman spoke emotionlessly in the Common Language to Rikkon and Gery who both later nodded. Rikkon begrudgingly freed Itami from his binding and the thumbscrew device, where Itami swore he saw fear in Rikkon's eyes and how sweaty his hands felt.
Or was it actually a disappointment that the red eyes woman ruined Rikkon's fun. Preventing Rikkon from utilizing his various torture devices that he promised Itami that he'll be truly in the world of agony.
Rikkon stepped aside for Gery to heal Itami's recent injuries with reluctance. Not to completely heal as Itami noticed when Gery muttered some excuse.
Then the guards walked in to heave Itami who found himself unable to properly stand after being in several uncomfortable positions for a long period of time.
Flashback end...
Seeing few of surviving squad mates glancing at his noticeably ugly scars, Itami answered with a weak grin, "P-Part of risks that come w-with being ah...squad leader." He tried to relax his muscles before adding, "B-Beside, I r-requested to leave you alone. R-remember?"
"So you along with the red eyes and others have been reminding us." Shino spoke up with a frown. Damn Itami's selfishness, Shino thought. She didn't like Itami Yoji when he came on board to introduce himself as the new squad leader. Mainly because of Itami's otaku nature and rather laid back personality. But now, Shino hated seeing Itami in his current state.
"R-Red eyes? Ah t-that would be L-Lo-o-ree." Itami said before letting out a sigh, briefly closing his eyes before opening. Remembering Rikkon calling out the red-eyes woman's name sounding like Lori. Finally, he learned the name of the red eyes woman.
Truthfully, Itami wasn't sure what to think of the red eyes woman whose name is strangely English, considering that's the language spoken by the Americans (and others), the so called the Demons in Green. From what he has seen and experienced coupled with what his squad told him, Lori is a highly experienced fighter with halberd (which he has just remembered) and knives coupled with stoic personality.
Believed to be a leader or at least, one of the leaders. considering how Rikkon and the others behaved around Lori. Furthermore, she's a callous murderer who didn't have decency to bury Kuwahara's body. True, she cut the eldest man's throat instead of maiming him to death or something but still...leaving his body behind out in the wilderness?
To be eaten by damn animals or...the Greenskins? The JSDF will remember this and Itami will make damn sure Japan remember it. That woman, Lori will pay the consequence for the unjustified attack on the JSDF.
But then, Lori displayed her strange incompetency with interrogation despite her personality and lack of aversion to killing. She has never gone further than slapping Itami's face as she was focusing on firing question after question. Leaving occasional hitting to Rikkon.
Perhaps, she prefer to kill quickly instead of prolonging as the others did. Itami briefly seethed, recalling the detail of Master Sgt Nishina's death at the hand of a minotaur woman during the ambush. He didn't deserve to die! None of them deserved to die!
"Eh? Ro-ree? You said Ro-ree?" Hitoshi misheard what his superior officer said, "As in..uh, Rory?"
"Pretty sure he said Or-ry." Daisuke said, "No, hold on. That doesn't sound right."
"I know it's difficult but you need to try and keep your ears clean." Sgt Tomita said with a head shake, "He said Lo-ree. Like how the word 'lion' is pronounced in English with 'L' sound, not 'R' sound. So it's Lori, not Rory."
"That is rather...American name, don't you think? I must admit, I'm expecting the red eyes woman to have exotic name. I mean, she has red eyes. Not to mention-"
"Not Ro-ree? Or...Ror-ree?"
"No, look at my mouth. Lo-r-"
"Look, I don't give a damn about how her name is pronounced. 'Lori', 'Rory', or whatever. For all I care, her name is Lori or creepy ass vampire. In case you need a reminder, she's responsible for our comrades' death and our capture. What matter is we need to escape this hellhole." Shino bluntly bought her squad's attention onto the current situation.
"She is r-right." Itami agreed with a weak nod, catching everybody's attention. Seeing this, Itami took a deep breath before explaining, "W-While being dragged, I hng!...I picked up someone saying about no more round...Or at least, that's what I interpreted."
"No more round of...interrogation? For you, sir?"
"Can't be c-certain but I have no d-doubt our captors will soon kill us. Heard 'pray last day'."
"Like hell they will!" Shino growled, smacking her fist into her palm.
"How soon?" Akira asked seriously.
"They didn't say more since Lori shushed them." Itami answered seriously, "C-could be later today or tomorrow. But very soon and- ah! Have an idea."
Everybody gathered around, standing with anticipating look. Even Shino is doing it.
After couple seconds of staring at his squad, Itami muttered, "Er...Y-you should act casual."
Several people shuffled, spreading out within the cell as Japanese language could be heard.
Unseen and in different hallway, the demihuman guards with keen hearing frowned out of annoyance as they shared a look, not liking the foreign language they're unable to understand. The language they've been hearing sound completely different from the native tongue and the filthy demon tongue called English.
One of the commanders said the alien language is called Jappanees, a language spoken by Jappanees. Like what the hell, same name for the people and language. Different 'kingdom' from Ameereekan hellhole called Ameereeka.
"Still hearing funny gibberish." Guard one muttered with rabbit-like ears twitching before mocking, "Eh, eh, yeh? Naa-nee?"
"Tell me about it." Guard two growled while scratching dog-like muzzle before scratching his balls, "These humans still look funny to me. Almost hard to distinguish their face." Though the two women have nice shape.
Shit, his nose is still being aggravated by the smell. But better be safe than giving any kind of opportunity for the demons in green to exploit and escape.
Fucking Ameereekans.
Meanwhile…In different room...
"Commander! She's here as you've requested!" A gruff voice could be heard from the other side of the door.
"Let her in!"
The door opened, revealing a stoic red eyes woman who walked in.
"Have a seat with us. We were just talking about our plan regarding the...Jappanees now we know what we need to know."
"To put them to death, I assume." The red eyes woman spoke calmly as she sat down on a wooden chair.
"Ah, you've been told. Good! Yes but there is a small issue with that. A very small at that." A bulky man with black bushy beard began while leaning against the table with his heavy hand slapping its wooden surface, "See here. Henrek and I are having a disagreement on when to kill them. And since our fourth commander fell in that damn world and our fifth is still out, we have yet to decide the replacement, that leave you to settle the matter. As in right now."
"I see." The red eyes woman look between two male commanders, 1 human and 1 reptile-like humanoid before stating, "Go on."
"Not wasting time as usual." A reptile-like man named Henrek commented before speaking, "I believe we should take the Jappanees out, have them march in line to the square outside-"
"Which is honestly foolish idea if you ask me." A bulky man interrupted while ignoring Henrek's glare.
"-where our warriors and people can see them in daylight. I will, off course give a speech about the enemy to boost our morale before executing them personally."
"Personally, he said." The bulky man snorted.
"Yes, with my ax. It is suitable for beheading, after all. Once all of them have their head cut off and collected, their corpse will-"
"Yes yes, just tell her when you planning to kill them."
"For love of- Keep your mouth shut, Karsss." Henrek hissed in irritation, "Wait for your turn. Now, their death will take place in a week for the festival."
"See?" Kars leaned back against his chair with arms crossed, "He want to wait for that festival of his where everybody will be attending. Including most of the guards. Well, I disagreed. Not only that would allow the prisoners to exploit an opening in our guard, it would be better if we just kill the slant eyes humans now and not waste our food and water them now we've gotten everything out of that man you and Rikkon have been interrogating."
Kars made a swift chop motion with his right hand, "Just kill them off, drag them, and throw them out in the wilderness. With your support, we can immediately march straight to their cell and put them to the swords. No need to waste our breath with fancy words on them. I know you are the woman of action."
Kars shot a mocking look at Henrek who elected to ignore him and instead, addressed the red eyes woman, "Don't listen to him. Unlike Kars, you are smart enough to understand the importance of keeping our people's morale up, yes? To remind them that the demons can be beaten back out of our world. That they too bleed."
Henrek's yellow eyes stared at a pair of red eyes, "To remind them that the blood we've lost will not be in vain. To claim our retribution." Malice could be spotted in his eyes.
Kars snorted, shaking his head disapprovingly, "Don't try to manipulate her, she's not going to fall for it."
Addressing the red eyes woman, Kars went, "Since we have spoken our stance and it was your group who captured them in the first place, we will go with whatever you decide. Even if that mean wasting our precious food and water on them for...another week."
"You two are aware I still have more questions to ask." The red eyes woman asked in monotone, "The Jappanees man has been forthcoming."
"Yeah, so what? That slant eyes man said they're the Ameereekans' ally." Kars answered while Henrek added, "Which mean they're our enemy."
"An ally of the different Ameereekans." The red eyes woman reminded her peers, "The Ameereekans have been marching from the west and we have Jappaanees and the different Ameereekans marching from the east."
Whether Itami's claim about the different Ameereekans could be true or not, the red eyes woman couldn't detect any sign of deception on his face. She could tell that Itami believed the Ameereekans that the Jappanees allied with are completely different from the Ameereekans who've been ruling over the central portion of Falmart for two decades.
Kars wore dismissive look, saying, "Ameereekans are still Ameereekans. The more we kill them and their ally, the better we will be. We've been taking their weapons and learning how to use them to kill more of them as we refine our strategy against the Demons in Green."
As dishonorable as attacking from the shadow instead of traditional open field battle, it has been working well against the enemy patrols just as well as the Ameereekan weapons "acquired" from ambushes and smuggling. Thinning the number of Ameereekans that occasionally ventured out in eastern Falmart, sometime with their hellish golems called ro-bawk.
Completely different from the earthen golems the red eyes woman is familiar with. Compared to the ones in Rondel, the Ameereekans ro-bawks are made of metals and have been destructive. Capable of firing deadly projectiles from their limbs as the ro-bawks slowly advanced without stopping. No matter how many spells the mages have cast to rain down destruction upon the soul-less metal creations followed by the relentless Ameereekan invaders and their bulky iron monsters possessing terrifying power.
Capable of destroying the buildings with loud noise that thundered through the defenders' skull.
When the defending mages could no longer protect their beloved city, the devastation came to the streets. Many mages have died with unfamiliar injuries filling their body. Years later after the Empire's defeat, few different kinds of ro-bawks made their appearance such as the bulky ro-bawks walking, the floating ball shape ro-bawks with three eyes and the human-like metal women ro-bawks. All capable of firing deadly red light as heard from words of mouth. There's even a whisper of how few Ameereekan golems capable of conjuring lightning though that may be influenced by alcohol talk and there hasn't been further whisper after that.
"Me being there didn't matter at all..." The red eyes woman thought, gazing at Rondel on the map that's lying on the table. Currently occupied by the Ameereekans in form of crude star shape wooden figure with similar wooden stars dominating the central land of Falmart.
The red eyes woman continued to gazed at the map on the table with small clay and wooden figures signifying factions and control with couple clay figures representing the red eyes woman's and commanders' faction.
A pair of torches being held by human hand and wolf-like demihuman hand crossing, symbolizing a mutual understanding and banding together against the Demons in Green and their greed. The Band of Scars as the faction is called and symbolized by the number of scars on both human's and demihuman's hand. Representing the scars whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual inflicted by the Ameereekans' occupation and the lack of signs from the gods.
The red eyes woman could feel a familiar itching reminder from her chest where the Ameereekan projectiles left their mark, forcing her to have a realization. Unlike the wounds she has suffered in the past, the wounds inflicted by the Ameereekans didn't heal as she was used to. If it wasn't for the horse pulling a cart she managed to jump on, the red eyes woman thought she would've died as the Slaughter of Rondel being carried out.
The grim aftermath upon escaping Rondel had many victims experiencing one common conclusion. Some figured it sooner than others. Some realized upon encountering the Demons in Green. Some resisted until they could no more or failing to receive a single- even a little bit of- sign from the gods but no sign could be seen or heard.
The gods have abandoned them and the previous cities, towns, and villages that fell to the advancing demons and their unholy power from the different world.
Just as La and Elange have abandoned the mages and common people on Rondel to the Ameereekans and their unholy power...
Just as Hardy abandoned the people in the land of now former Elbe when the Ameereekans invaded after shattering the Saderan Empire apart. Frightening the other Allied Kingdoms when they learned of the Ameereekans' fearsome power when the Kingdom of Elbe fell. For what reason the Demons in Green marched and conquered the land of Elbe, nobody know or could believe when asking those returning from the Ameereekan land such as merchants and travelers.
Perhaps out of greed for land? To further demonstrate their supremacy over the lesser powers? Perhaps to taunt Hardy by driving her followers to the east without incurring her divine wrath? Or perhaps, they knew they will not incur divine punishment at all.
Hardy...Most of the former Elbe residents resented Hardy and the resentment grew with the news of the second Gate spreading. Why did the divine bitch open the gate, letting an unholy army of demons in disguise?
Why, many common people questioned. The red eyes woman remembered many refugees asking why are they being punished? Why the gods are suddenly cruel? What wrong have the mortals committed that warrant their life to change? Why the priests and priestesses who managed to escape not have the answer?
Was it not enough to lose home? To witness the destruction of their ancestral land and culture inflicted by the Ameereekans? To watch the once mighty Empire military falling with many holes in their body from the distance? To witness the mages faltering in their defense as their magic could no longer withstand the might of the aggressors and their creations?
To hear the many frightening sounds echoing from the distance and the people screaming? To see the holy statues shattering apart! To see someone they knew getting turned into bloodied mess beyond recognition! To be forced to leave most of their belonging to escape the demons waging destruction.
To reached the Imperial Capital only to be turned away and forced to brave the road along with the refugees who still couldn't get in? When their camp could no longer be tolerated by the once mighty walls of the Imperial Capital?
To be forced to live in despair as the refugees seek for shelter and safety?
Was it not enough to run into the deserters who turned to banditry harassing them for every bit of food, coins, and even warm bodies to bed? To see their mother and sister taken by the force? To see few good men died to free them! To see their elders protesting and even put up fight! To see their surviving neighbors running away, abandoning them to mugging and raping.
Was it not enough to endure the attacks from the mass of goblins and orcs running amok. Unchecked. No longer in shackles by the Empire and were free to kill, pillage, and rape their victims so their number replenish and grow.
And then...came the plague that made its mark half a decade ago...Whether Ameereekans actually caused the plague or not, it didn't matter. The red eyes woman knew many people blamed the Demons in Green as well as the goblins and orcs for the rise of the Green Plague. She also knew few people blamed the gods, cursing them.
Why the gods are forcing them to suffer? Why must they endure all of this? Why?
Why?
Why?
WHY?
WHY?
WHY THE GODS HAVE ABANDONED THEM?
WHY ARE THEY BEING PUNISHED?
What started was few voices questioning their faith eventually becoming the mass of voices filled with resentment and distrust toward the gods, the apostles, and worshipers. These hardened people would be described as...Those who have lost...
"And then we have the other side..." The red eyes woman thought with hidden contempt, "The condemners..."
Best described as Those who have condemned...They believe the gods are punishing the suffering people with inaction for any kind of slight they have made against them. Children or elders, it didn't matter to the condemners.
Ignoring their prayer for aid...For hope...
Those such as the religious leaders in eastern Falmart who have not suffered as victims of the Demons in Green condemned them. Branding them as heretics…The scum and filth who dared to slight the gods...are to be cast away to death…Or better yet, to be hunted down and killed.
The condemners believed their faith is being tested by the gods including Hardy. Testing their mettle against the demons from different world. Even stating the people witnessing their loved ones turning into the Green Monsters from the plague or incurring gruesome death by the Green Monsters deserved such fate for slighting the gods or simply justifying that was due to the gods' will.
Even the Remnant's council and military leaders are wary of the religious leaders and their sway over the population despite adopting the greater emphasis on range engagement and new tactics inspired by the Ameereekans. Not wanting to go through another infighting as the unity is badly needed not only against the Ameereekans but also against the other kingdoms harboring no love for the former Empire.
Whether the Ameereekans intended or not, their presence has noticeable and damaging effect on one of the common things practiced by all the people regardless of races and locations. Shaping their attitude and mindset for the next twenty years…
Faith.
A fallout between those who lost and those who condemned…
A gap between those who lost faith and those who kept faith…
A bitter feud between the refugees fleeing from the central Falmart, bringing their burdens and the citizens and dwellers in the Remnant's and few of the Allied Kingdoms' land in eastern Falmart. Some remaining cities have balked at being burdened by additional mouths to feed and losing space to enjoy because of the beggars that somehow kept getting through the gates.
Worse, there has been a murmur that the faith in central Falmart isn't what it used to be 2 decades ago, much to the condemners' outrage. Particularly in the so-called Liberty City, Rondel, and other cities under the Ameereekans. The red eyes woman knew how much the condemners desire to purge the land of every single bit of the heretical Ameereekan way of life and the indoctrination of the lost innocents born in the Ameereekan captivity.
"And let's not forget the former slaves..." The red eyes woman thought, recalling the slave revolts and the news of the Ameereekans forcing many nobles and slavers to cease practicing slavery. The demons have then further disrupt the way of life by bringing many nobles down to the level of...commoners. To this day, the condemners still swore to bring back slavery and the "proper" value to central Falmart.
Even though the slave revolts in eastern Falmart quickly became part of problems during the infighting between the governors and local nobles, the religious leaders, and later, the military officers who decided neither the nobles and religious leaders should be in charge and it's the military that should be in charge. Never mind, their military got decimated not only by the Ameereekans but also the desertions and massive disruption in supplies, food, and other essential goods.
Eventually after half a decade with the infighting among the former Empire's remaining powers along with the apathetic responses from the Allied Kingdoms...Those who lost came together to form the resistance against the Ameereekan demons and the condemners. Thus, that was how the Band of Scars came to be.
Forged by the scars…
Hardened by the cruelty…
Faced the harsh realization of being abandoned by the gods and faith...
The red eyes woman moved her eyes away from the Ameereekan parts onto different figures.
Few clay figurines have a pair of draconic-like wings attached to their right side, representing the Remnant or the Empire as preferred by the current power in charge of the former Saderan Empire in eastern Falmart. The figures used to have two pairs of wings but have two wings carved off to reflect on the reduced state of the 'Empire' today.
Although the in-fighting has ended a decade ago in addition to the build-up and adopting new warfare, the Remnant military is still a laughing stock compared to most of the Allied Kingdoms' military today. Based on their last reported positions on the map, it is easy to see how active the Remnant has been in the eastern region in effort to show their strength. In the same land that the Band of Scars has been active in. Fortunately without killing each other ever since the people have noticed the Ameereekan force including the ro-bawks openly marching from the east in greater number.
Later...More Ameereekan force coming from the west. From the other Gate opened by that damn Hardy, the red eyes woman thought with loathing in her mind. Unseen by her peer of equal ranking in the Band of Scars.
Moving onto the Allied Kingdoms...they've been keeping within their territory with no change since few kingdoms took more land after taking advantage of the Empire's downfall 20 years ago and the Remnant's weaker military presence. As far as the Band of Scars know, those kingdoms have been culling the scattered goblin and orc tribes who have been raiding and breeding on their land, thus spreading the Green Plague and defiling the water.
At the same time, keeping their guards up against the Ameereekan force. If the red eyes woman heard correctly, few Kingdoms have been forced to be civil to the Ameereekan diplomats, lest they'll suffer the same fate as the Kingdom of Elbe did.
"You are aware we also have the Green Monsters and the plague." The red eyes woman stated, referring to the Green Plague victims whose body has been twisted and deformed into something monstrous from drinking tainted water.
"Yes, you do not need to remind us of that plague." Henrek spoke with distaste. At least, the monsters also attacked the Ameereekans.
"We are surrounded by the enemies." The red eyes woman added.
"We are also surrounded by the allies bearing our torch." Henrek said, "And those harboring resentment against the Ameereekans. As much as I...dislike the Remnant, their people are at least of our world. No matter how delusional they are with them insisting being called...the 'Empire' and wasting time praying for the gods who don't care."
Kars snorted, "HA! Stubborn lot. Still refusing to be considered as the vanquished."
"Indeed..." Concurring, Henrek proceed to recite a local phrase, "The victorious ones cannot be recognized when the vanquished ones do not recognize their defeat."
The black beard man frowned as he narrowed his eyes at the red eyes woman with suspicion, "What are you getting at? How much questioning do you have with the damn prisoners? From what I heard, we got everything we need to know about our enemies along with unneeded lies."
Such as the claim about the world called Earth containing over 200 kingdoms or nations with Ameereeka being one of them. Tch, how ridiculous. Nothing but a big lie to make the people of Falmart think twice. No sane kingdom would tolerate that many adversaries.
"Hmm, I am curious to hear your answer as well." Henrek look away from Kars to the red eyes woman, "Not only you have been...accommodating that particular prisoner's wishes, you've been reportedly visiting the cell every night."
"As I said, Henrek and Kars. The prisoners still have use." The red eyes woman replied stoically, "It is still too early to kill them. However-"
The commanders then heard a sudden commotion outside the room.
THUD!
The door slammed open as a young Volraden man ran in, shouting, "WE'RE UNDER ATTACK! UNDER ATTACK!"
"WHAT? WHO?" Kars demanded loudly as he and other commanders got up, "HOW MANY!"
"AMEEREEKANS! OUR EYES SPOTTED COUPLE STRANGE WINGLESS METAL BIRDS FLYING TOWARD US!"
"Flying?" The red eyes woman thought as she went to grab her halberd while Kars held his sword and shield and Henrek got his ax.
"FLYING? WELL, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR! LET'S SHOW THEM OUR WELCOME!" Kars roared as he shoved the young wolf demihuman aside to exit out, "OUT OF MY WAY, BOY!"
Out the doorway, the red eyes woman watched Kars leading small number of guards through the dim lighted hallway.
"...Feragon, is it? Lead the way to the Ameereekans." Henrek ordered as he heaved young wolf boy back on his feet. Addressing the red eyes woman, Henrek said, "We will finish this discussion later, you go with him."
"Where are you going, Henrek?" The red eyes woman asked stoically with barely any expression saved for an eyebrow raising.
"To the prisoners, off course." Henrek gave a side glance before exiting out, "They will not ruin my plan."
Silently, the red eyes woman watched Henrek's back getting smaller and smaller before disappearing around the corner. Pondering on the reptile-like peer's words.
Lead the way to the Ameereekans, Henrek said.
"He still doesn't trust me." The red eyes woman thought before addressing Feragon, "Let's go, there is no need for you to guide me. We need to prepare for the assault."
Outside…
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot, Choppy. We will be reaching to our lovely destination. The weather there is reportedly beautiful and the location has excellent tour. Hosted by our Japanese friends. Please fasten your seat belt, thank you for choosing-"
"Yeah yeah, cut it out." A female American pilot cut off Choppy's announcement, "Need you to focus on the mission. We've just flew over a town who already signal the alarm."
"I am, Bulldozer." A pilot call-sign Choppy hid his smirk as he knew how much his co-pilot still dislike her call-sign. Another voice spoke on radio, "Hey! Before you two start arguing, how about letting us exit so we can catch up with the Japanese?"
Both pilots spotted two JSDF helicopters hovering with multiple personnel sliding down with the rope to the ground while the other three helicopters, the AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters have starting to strafe before firing with their mounted gatling gun.
Spraying 20mm rounds at the primitive anti air platforms resembling a large crossbow. The other American helicopter is also strafing with a gunner firing from the side. Several ballistas began to fire in conjunction with the enemy crossbowmen.
"Don't let the big bolt hit us. It could seriously mess the paint!" Choppy warned as one heavy bolt flew pass by, narrowly hitting the rotary blades.
"Never mind that, we need to find a different spot to drop or wait!" Bulldozer responded before the combat squad leader spoke, "No time, just let us get on the ground and go! We need to move fast as in now! Dropping now."
Several American soldiers began to descend with the last one signaling the helicopter to go. A number of diverse enemies appeared with their crossbow, bows, and melee weapons. The ranged enemies began to fire as the melee enemies moved side way for flanking action.
"Move it! Move it! Quickly get behind the trees!" One American soldier urged as he dashed toward a nearby tree, providing shelter against the flying bolts. Quickly peeking around the tree, Msgt Ryan Ager aimed his rifle to fire, killing an elf and two humans who didn't take cover quickly.
"Watch your three and nine! They're flanking!" Msgt Ager called out and later, his squad shot down several animal-like combatants. "They may be fast, but our bullets are faster! Move, move, move!"
The American soldiers rushed through the trees, using them as cover against the bolts and arrows. They need to group up with other American squad and the JSDF Combat Teams to enter the enemy base.
They got Japanese captives to rescue and they need to complete it quickly as the command only gave them a small amount of time to execute the rescue mission while being outnumbered in hostile environment. The multi-national joint force has much bigger enemy to worry about.
Bigger threat than the Special Region hostiles and the Greenskins.
The situation in the Special Regions has started to heat up after receiving a report from two different groups being attacked by a faction possessing modern weapons and robots. Another report came, detecting a greater movement coming from northwest.
Supposedly the United States of America bearing the 14 stars flag as depicted by the prisoners' drawing back on Earth. The report is still being verified and checked but the command has been buzzing as the officers held emergency meeting and the delivery of armored vehicles and aircraft has to hurry up. But there appeared to be problem on the other side back in Japan.
Off course, the JSDF wasn't happy with the short window of time since the drones have just spotted the base and nearby town whose location told by a blond hair elf and other captured fighters. But they have the opportunity to rescue their countrymen and they just need to navigate through the mine that said to be maze-like, crawling with greater number of locals if the translation was right.
"At least, we don't have to worry about damn lions." One American man spoke up.
"GRAWRRR!" A loud thunderous roar could be heard throughout the trees with some being snapped broken.
"Murphy...Just fire your gun." Other American growled before calling for the helicopter for close ground support. Preferably blowing the damn herculean lion up with a missile.
"Keep moving! Our pilots are tracking for the beasts!"
"I can see the entrance! More enemies coming out! Some have guns!"
The defending enemies began to fire, adding bullets to the mixture of bolts and arrows at multuple JSDF and American squads.
The helicopters flew over the enemies, shredding them with spray of leads. Two attack helicopters fired missiles at the charging vehicle size beasts, either killing or gravely injuring them. The Americans and Japanese squads advanced slowly to the mine entrance from several different direction.
Gunning down the melee enemies attempting to flank them and engage in close combat.
One Japanese hit an cat-like woman's face with a rifle stock before finishing her off with short burst of bullets.
A group of elves armed with guns firing, suppressing one JSDF squad before being flanked by other JSDF squad.
Multiple crossbowmen and archers tried to support their gunmen but they too have been gunned down by the American and Japanese rifles and grenades.
Bodies after bodies began to decorate the ground as the US-JSDF squads reached to the entrance. Some of the soldiers began to reload while other switched to shotguns issued since there will likely be heavy close range combat with the hallways.
Two squads will be staying out, guarding the entrance with the helicopters will be around for while in case the enemy reinforcement from the town arrive.
The remaining squads will be braving the maze that many knew will be bloody and risky, given the natural physical gifts possessed by the non-humans and their penchant toward melee.
One JSDF, a squad leader spoke on radio, "We're going in."
And into the depth of hornet's nest, they go.
Author's note: Thank you for your reviews and suggestions. Yes, I understand why some of you think it's unlikely the Fallout USA abandoning the effort of quarantining communism in Asia. What a dumb idea, right? I originally didn't intend to write that part because there wasn't much lore about Asia other than Fallout China and the fact that the last U.N president was a Japanese man named Sakugama Okiri. I'm also unable to find anything about Fallout USA keeping their multiple bases operating at same level as our USA in Asia PRIOR to the Sino-American War (Started in 2066 winter). I tried to find when Fallout China started annexing its neighbors. Based on wiki, I'm guessing before 2066 spring where it stated Fallout China found itself at risk of collapse. Fallout USA didn't wage war against Fallout China until Alaska got invaded.
Well, obviously the Sino-American War didn't happen in this story thanks to Hardy being imbecile but Fallout China still annexed its neighbors while Fallout USA still anexed Canada. I'm also unable to find Fallout USA still having allies saved for "friends" in form of few European companies manufacturing 14mm ammos. Can't imagine USA still having allies after annexing Canada and again, every other countries have their own issue and priorities with some defending their remaining while others seizing resources.
With how much Fallout lore talked about divergence from our reality (examples being Soviet Union still around and a whole bunch of absurd technologies) and after flipping a coin, I decided to go with the idea of Fallout USA being a fortress of American democracy, keeping communism out because quarantining both Fallout China AND Soviet Union need a poopload of resources and manpower. With the European Commonwealth's absence and many countries experiencing shitty ass economy and bankruptcy, there's not going to be many hosting countries able to afford to pay their share of maintaining the Fallout US military in Europe and Asia. And then, we have Fallout USA's population (stated to be 400+ millions) and media attitude (taking page out of Vietnam War protest and how media protrayed US).
I don't need to point out how shitty and selfish pre-war Fallout is compared to ours (and the Gate anime's Earth). Picture this, you're an average American living in shitty neighborhood that used to be nice and danty until 2050s. You can't afford to drive a car because of gas price and shortage and you can't afford to buy a fusion car that came out in 2060s (because that's more than 20 years worth of your salary). You're paying 60 USD for a loaf of bread, 40 USD for a pack of 2 water jugs, and maybe a magazine but wait, you've just checked your wallet and magazine is 40 bucks! You can't afford that and because of sales tax along every little bit of taxes (local, county, town, city, tourist, convenience, etc), you say "Holy shit! Everything is expensive and I can't buy things I need because they're not on shelves!"
But wait, there's more! You have family! A spouse who couldn't get a job (after getting laid off and replaced by a robot) and 1-2 kids. Including yourself, you got 3-4 mouths to feed. You also got a bunch of neighbors in similar situation as yours and all of you are paying crazy amount of taxes. WTF are you paying taxes for in world like this? What's that? Japan can't afford to pay 50 trillion USD this year and to compensate, US gotta cough up more doughs through taxations? Fuck Japan! South Korea? Screw em! You got mouths to feed! And so do other Americans with their own family. You ain't paying taxes to protect Japanese and Koreans from commies. That's Japanese's and Korean's problem. But you? You got your own problems to deal with.
But wait, there's still more! The European Commonwealth no longer exist and a bunch of European countries duking out? What the fuck are we keeping bases and keeping good ol American men and women there for? Get them out, you ain't paying more taxes for USA to pick up the slack to protect Europe from the commies. You're hungry! Your spouse is hungry, your kids are hungry, and your whole neighbors are hungry! You got crimes spiking up! Unemployment spiking up! Robots taking jobs! Your current job is paying you a shitty salary that barely cover living expenses. And yet, you're hearing American soldiers- true and patroitic Americans dying in Europe and Asia, protecting Asian and European people from sinister communists and their menancing way of living. Oh wait, the US government is raising taxes again to maintain the military bases and has just issued further rationing on additional kinds of food.
I'm no economy/tax expert because that's a headache. For sake of simplicity, let's say you now owe...100,000 bucks to taxation and your kid is looking at you, holding a ripped comic of the Silver Shroud. Asking about your brother/sister because they're kid's favorite uncle/aunt and happened to be serving in US military. Looking down, you're holding a small letter from your parents stating your sibling died somewhere in Europe/Asia on a random street while trying to buy a grocery but a bunch of local shoppers there didn't like that because as far as they're concerned, that's their food the American shopper dared to buy. But you don't care about that, you care the fact that your sibling died in random country. And then your radio began to talk about sending more American troops to resource-starving countries and to buy bonds as support because the Resource War is heating up on other continents.
Later, your radio came on again with a host stating, "Ok, we're now paying quadillion bucks for each military base we have in Europe and Asia because the hosting countries are too dirt poor or refusing to pay their share. Oh and the people there are spitting on our troops' face, waving their middle finger counterparts and telling them to go home and piss off because our American exceptional presence is taking up resources and valuable spaces."
OK, "maybe" disregard the part about Fallout European and Asian average citizens waving middle fingers at Fallout US military but that's the impression I'm getting from reading Fallout lore, playing Fallout games, and scrolling through a whole bunch of Fallout threads. Living in the pre-war time suck. I'm just simply taking advantage of two things: One, there's barely Fallout lore outside USA so again, I'm just filling in blanks. Two, this is fanfiction. I did warn you this is AU Fallout.