Chapter 2
City of Shonio, Special Region
The city was the largest population center in the Empire's East, and only the third-largest city in the Empire itself. It was a hub of trade and commerce and industry for the Empire itself and homeport to the Imperial Eastern Fleet of two hundred galleons and the only one of the Empire's major shipyards in the Eastern territories. The city was founded by Emperor Shonis Al Caesar, the first Imperial ruler to reach the Green Ocean and conquer the steppes and plateaus of the Northeast and then the Jade Mountains and the highland rainforests and jungles between it and coast. Shonio was built at the mouth of the lone large river of the East which gave access to the jungle-covered interior and made its bones first as a hub of the spice trade and the tea trade. Then as colonists ballooned its population the city was the epicenter of several hundred plantations growing various cash crops only found and grown in the East. Meanwhile fishing and whaling fleets were built from the great hardwoods of the forests beyond, and trading ships ranged far and wide, exploring and locating new lands in which the Empire settled all along the coast. Growing from around the city, upriver, and on the coasts were villages and towns raising livestock and growing foodstuffs and fishing the Jade River, its tributaries, and the coast and shipping their foodstuffs for sale to the Shonio, supporting a boom in population and growth in wealth that was unrivalled in the Empire's Eastern provinces. It allowed Shonio to be the jewel of architectural brilliance it was today, with the city built in the middle of the river mouth, spread out onto a series of islands in the delta with a dozen bridges built from the mainland and canals being the main thoroughfares of the city, with thousands of boats moving around, forming floating markets all over the city. All of this was defended by four separate castles that loomed over the river with imposing dark basalt blocks hefted into place with the advent of magic.
All along the Jade River these towns and villages were interspersed and then ended at the city of Descea, a city of the highlands which was a caravan hub which shipped goods and down the river. This city was smaller, ranking at the seventh of the largest population centers of the Empire at last census. This town was the source of the iron, copper, tin, zinc, marble, and granite that formed the source of much of Shonio's exquisite architecture and the city's industry. The city was likewise a hub for dozens of mines harvesting many kinds of precious stones, namely jade, diamond, ruby, sapphire, garnet, and quartz. But the most important of Descea's exports was gold and silver. The Empire's finances depended upon the flow of minted coins from this city which often flowed from Descea to Shonio and then shipped out in great treasure fleets. At one point, the Warrior Bunny Tribes had been mere mercenaries who'd been able to benefit from the caravans of goods that had travelled from the East across their lands and sold foodstuffs to Descea and grew rich and powerful as a result, but it did them little good in the end.
Prince Zorzal had used troops from Descea and Shonio to destroy the Bunnies, and one thing he knew was that these were hard men. The cities and towns here in the East had a much more well-organized system of recruitment and training for their armies and levies. The wealth of the local lords was such that their armories were full of high-quality armor, steel weapons, and men who were well-trained in their use. The laws in these lands were such that each man that could take up arms was required to assemble at their armories and train as units and maintain a required level of fitness. Anyone who couldn't would be punished, both by the land itself and by their fellows. But, this was all kept in rigid order by the Sabina family, a family of high renown and immense respect in the Empire. Not only that, their eldest daughter was his promised, and was formerly a very close friend to his sister Piña and the leader of the Rose Order's Black Rose Chapter.
Her name was Bellona La Sabina, perhaps the finest female member of the Rose Order to have been trained, and the Black Roses were loyal to her, all five hundred of them. With the largest of the Rose Order chapters on his side this would undermine Piña's position if she could not even lay claim to the loyalty to an order of knights she herself had masterminded and founded. The Black Roses, unlike their Western Red, Yellow, and White Rose counterparts, were raised in a martial culture. These ladies were already warriors who had far more combat experience than their Western comrades due to aiding in keeping the peace with annihilating pirate dens, hunting down roving bands of goblins and orcs that ventured down from the mountains, and with partaking in tourneys as equals to their fellow knights of the East. Bellona herself was no frail flower either. She and Piña were friends, having been raised together. And both girls had learned the ropes of politics within the cutthroat arena of the Imperial capital, and before Bellona had departed to return to the East with her knights she was a power player within the ladies of the court and helped Piña manipulate the gears of politics to bring her dream of the Rose Order to reality. The raven-haired lady was also, Zorzal lustfully-remembered, quite the beauty. And he remembered when the two had been promised thinking that he would relish the night he took her to bed for the first time.
But, there was another tool to add to his arsenal, Bellona's elder brother Axios, the greatest general of the Empire's East. It was he who'd stepped up and rallied the Imperial Army as the Warrior Bunnies inflicted grievous casualties and near defeat upon their vanguard. It was Axios that won that war, he was the one who was the man actually leading the army with sword in hand while Zorzal sat on a horse or at a banquet table or having his way with whichever Bunny warriors that had been captured that appealed to him. His sense of duty and strict adherence to loyalty was what allowed Zorzal to claim the credit for the war's inevitable result. Zorzal would call upon his sense of duty and martial prowess once more as the campaign season began to approach once again.
So, he was arriving at the palace here at Shonio, walking with his friends and generals, Mudra, Herm, and Calasta. The soldiers of Shonio stood at firm attention, spears held upright and ready with many of the local Senators surrounding the incredibly old Julian El Sabina, the Marquis of the entire region with the Lady Bellona to his left and the imposing Axios to his right. Bellona had long wavy black hair, she was very pretty back in their youth, now she was the epitome of beauty, the Rose Order armor she wore accentuating every curve and her ample bust plus the small silver tiara she wore upon her head. Her green eyes were piercing and intelligent, analyzing him carefully while her fellow Rose Knights were arranged proudly, their banners arranged prominently. Axios, like his sister was raven-haired, with a wolf's tail hairdue and his armor showcasing numerous minute scratches and knicks but was kept clean. His muscular build was identical to that of Zorzal, who himself was respected for his powerful physique. He wore the armor of his house, a black three-piece articulating steel cuirass and polished chest plate with exposed biceps and steel bracers and large shoulder plates and leg armor with a leather armored skirt. He likewise showcased the house's own color pallet as well with a green cape.
"Crown Prince Zorzal El Caesar!" the herald at the head of the room called out loudly and horns sounded.
"Marquis Sabina!" Zorzal greeted the man who was idly seated in his chair, age having made him nearly senile as Axios and Bellona now held the real power within the powerful territory, "I am so grateful for your hospitality and for your continued loyalty to the Empire and the Emperor. In his name, I come seeking the powerful assistance of you, your bannermen, and your armies."
The old man wheezed slightly and tapped on his son's side, who leaned down to listen to the quiet voice of his father. He stood back up, and rolled his shoulders as he then spoke.
"For what purpose would the Crown Prince seek the armies of the Marquis? To fight against his own kin?" Axios replied, getting a side eye glance from his sister, something which Zorzal picked up on.
"No, of course not, my friend, to fight those who have invaded the holy ground of Alnus Hill and now, through use of power and scheme have taken the reigns of power within the Imperial capital. I know you have undoubtedly heard the news and the tales. It is true, I had thought that my sister was willfully in league with the invaders but I was mistaken, it was a dark magic, one which molded her mind and made her speak and act according to the will of our foe. Now, the Emperor himself was struck down by this same magic, and he too has fallen under its spell. Many in the Senate were acted either in self-interest or they as well were placed under this spell. There is no way to know for certain. But those who have escaped now seek to retake our homes and Empire, and rescue our families from this oppressive yoke now laid across our homeland."
Zorzal had rehearsed these lines numerous times, shaped to the conniving taunts of Tyuule, the Warrior Bunny queen whom he now leaned upon for advice. She had implanted these words into his head, and began to make Zorzal himself believe them as well. The prince had fallen deeply into an angry depression for the long march with an evaporating army with few supplies and even less hope. News of the defeats at Alnus Hill and the capital had spread before them. And Tyuule knew that if she wanted to see the Empire fully evaporate, she would need to have the Japanese come for Zorzal, and do it with force. Thankfully, Tyuule was all too aware that while the generals and leaders of the Empire's armies that had fallen already were fools, the armies here in the East were not led by a fool, this she knew from personal and humiliating experience. If there was anyone in the Empire who could hit Japan with enough force to make them come down with their inevitable hammer, it would be Axios El Sabina.
"You claim that the Empire's center of power has been seized by the invaders from the other world? What evidence do you have of this, Crown Prince?" Bellona now asked.
"The fact that I am here, the fact that these Senators can attest to the behavior of my sister and the actions of the Mages of the city of Rondel, the one force which can make such magic possible."
"Would have anything more specific, Crown Prince?"
"Yes, I would, the tale of the Tyueli Family, you remember the Lady Tyueli do you not, Bellona?"
Axios looked over to his sister, who nodded her agreement.
"Yes, she was a friend," she replied.
"Then you would be bereaved to hear of her passing. While conducting an investigation by the Oprichnina, looking for a treasonous sect within the Senate it was determined that the Tyueli Family were harboring a chief suspect, Marquis Casel. The Oprichnina served a warrant in search of him and went to question the Lord and Lady Tyueli. But rather than answer their questions they chose to burn their own house around them committing suicide and leaving their daughter orphaned and alone. Tell me, was that the act of caring parents or the act of a puppet protecting its master?" Zorzal put the question forward.
This created a stir as many heard this and saw the train of logic. The seeds were sewn, and Tyuule chose now to pounce.
"Show them this, your highness," she offered a vial.
"Oh, yes…" Zorzal smiled and lifted the item for all to see, "During what we felt to be a peace summit with these invaders, our noble Emperor, my dear father, was poisoned. I of course, as Crown Prince did my best to track down the source of this treachery, but found this vial in my sister's possession, the extract of the Night Shade Blossom, a flower found only in the lands of the Dark Elves, with whom the enemy had found alliance, and the same enemy my sister had ventured to speak to, and came back changed. We were unaware of how close we were to uncovering their plot when our glorious capital was overwhelmed by an attack by the enemy which our depleted forces were helpless to defend against. Our own Princess Piña's Order of the Rose fought their own people to defend the invaders who stole our own people away and have declared a separate government, now with my own father as their puppet."
"If what you say is true, then all attempts at resistance against the foe from the other world have met with disgraceful defeat, and the main Imperial Army and the armies of our southern vassals are defeated," Axios replied firmly, "What is it you come here to accomplish?"
"To take the fight to our enemy!" Zorzal declared, "To unite the Empire once more! My sister and father are prisoners of a brutal enemy. Our Empire lies on the brink of oblivion. So, I have come here, to the one part of the Empire I have always known can be counted upon to serve the tenants of what our great people stand for with skill and duty. If anyone would have a plan, it would be the great Axios El Sabina. As a show of my sincerity, I am likewise here to fulfill my father's oath to your house, I stand ready to wed you, Lady Bellona, as was promised many years ago."
The elder Sabina furrowed his brow and nodded, and grunted as he made to stand. His son and daughter likewise knelt to help their father to his feet. He stood, and reached behind him, and a knight offered him his longsword, the strength he'd once felt while holding this weapon was not lost upon him as he rolled his shoulders back and in a hoarse voice he spoke.
"What you say, is disturbing if true. And, if true, could spell doom for all. We must prepare for war. But, we must first learn the truth for ourselves," the old man said, each word labored but wise.
"But father," Axios said carefully but he father placed hand upon his chest.
"My son," he then turned to Bellona, and laid a hand on his cheek, "My daughter, I entrust this task to you. Prepare our people, learn all you can of our potential enemy, and do not flinch in the face of fear. Your great challenge, is now upon you. I am too old, and have fought too many wars to fight this one. Will you take this task?"
"Yes father," Axios and Bellona nodded.
"Now, I take my leave," the old man turned, slumping his shoulders in exhaustion, which resulted in Bellona rushing to his side and began to hobble away, "Bellona, will you and some of your lady knights help an old man to his bed?"
Bellona did as instructed, and with several of her Black Rose officers with her, began to help her ailing father out of the room. The other Senators likewise went over to greet their counterparts and a relaxed state fell over the large marble great hall. So Zorzal went over to the large raven-haired Axios as other knights and officers gravitated to their leader's side. Behind him, Herm, Calasta and Mudra were relieved by the assurance of a warm welcome in so powerful a portion of the Empire.
"Good to see you again, old friend," Zorzal declared and offered a hand which was accepted.
"I am at the Empire's service, my prince," Axios replied evenly, "As ever."
"So, we have much work to do," Zorzal declared, "You remember my generals, the Marquis Herm, Calasta, and Mudra?"
"I know that they have failed in their duty leading the Empire's loyal soldiers," Axios declared and stepped forward to tower over these three young men and address them directly, "Know this, the armies of the East will not take orders from the likes of failures like you."
"How dare you!" Calasta scoffed and stepped forward, enraged at this immediate show of disrespect, "Do you forget your place?! I am a Marquis!"
"You are an embarrassment," Axios shot back.
"You will not speak to your betters this way!" Mudra demanded.
"We have fought against the invaders numerous times! You will need our knowledge and experience, if you want to remain in the presence of the prince with your tongue intact!" Herm warned him.
This elicited a very notable reaction as the men around Axios reached for their swords and began to ready to tear apart the three noblemen. But Axios held a hand up, and they halted.
"If you threaten me, or any of my men again, I will kill you and put your head on a spike like common criminal. Your stupidity will not result in my men's deaths. So, you will hold no command and no authority. This is my word. If you want to challenge it," Axios snarled and stepped into Herm's face, nose-to-nose with the young man, "Then be a man, draw your sword."
"Gentlemen," Zorzal laughed at the exchange, "We need not be adversaries here. Rest easy friends. General Axios, these men are trusted confidants, and have served me well in the past. Surely you would have use for their knowledge and experience in fighting the Japanese invader?"
"Crown Prince, with respect, I need not inform you of the scale of the Empire's previous defeats. Two hundred thousand soldiers of the Empire and its vassals are dead, and half the Empire's territory is under foreign control or influence. A change must be made, that starts with the leadership of the army," Axios responded firmly, and nodded to the three nobles, who were still itching to fight him, "They had their chance, and they failed. Now it's my turn, and I won't be have my command hampered by the likes of them. If you want my army and my sister's hand, we do this my way."
"Hmm…" Zorzal nodded, pursing his lips, "Very well, General. The army is yours to do with as you see fit, so long as I am consulted."
"Then I will begin preparations," Axios declared.
First came the 101st Airborne. M-ATV MRAP's, smaller JLTV's, and even smaller and unarmored Infantry Squad Vehicles, armed with a mixture of M240B machine guns, M2 .50 caliber heavy machine guns, Mark 19 grenade machine guns, and TOW anti-tank guided missiles made up the balance of vehicles that came through. With their imposing and tall silhouettes they came into view, having only arrived in Japan a few days ago along with their compliments of elite light infantrymen they were quite the sight. And there were dozens of them as well, the vehicles beginning their drive further into the base under the direction of Japanese MP's with flags directing traffic as seamlessly as they could. Following amongst these vehicles were FMTV trucks with armored turrets with M240B machine guns towing M119 105mm Howitzers and M777 155mm Howitzers and were followed by a number of additional trucks loaded with ammunition and supplies. These vehicles immediately began to make their way out to the main gate and staged themselves for deployment as heavier American vehicles followed in their path.
Strykers were the next in the column, with drivers and crewmen wearing the recognizable American Stetson hat of the US Cavalry. More than seventy of them of multiple types ranging from the average infantry transport vehicles, powerful Stryker Dragoons, mortar carriers, medical transports, TOW missile carriers, engineer vehicles, recon vehicles, command vehicles, and others rolled through with white and red cavalry guidons flying amongst the units of vehicles. All of them had their infantrymen poking their heads out and with their phones out taking pictures and video as they took everything in. Even more trucks followed in their path towing M777 howitzers as the engineer Strykers with plows affixed to their fronts followed them out with logistics trucks in the rear. Within mere minutes, a couple thousand American troops were now in the Special Region, and then their mammoth column began to roll out into the countryside just outside the gates and halted to avoid inconveniencing their hosts with a massive traffic jam.
Then came goliath trucks, the first being an M1070 Prime Mover towing a flatbed with a giant D9 Bulldozer on the back. It was the first of many and American and Japanese camera crews were present to record the event. Then there were the HEMTT trucks which were transporting various amounts of stuff. Each one of the Woodland-painted vehicles had an American flag flying upon it somewhere with yellow rotating caution lights and high-visibility orange signs on the back with the words "Oversize Load" written upon it. JSDF MP's were there ready and began to direct their newly-arrived allies through the large star fortress base. Truck after large truck arrived with more construction equipment and supplies loaded up, ready to begin work on the American base which was slated to be built North of the Alnus Base Airfield on a hill which would dominate the road to the Imperial capital, Sadera.
FOB Alnus Hill was going to take a few days to build and be secure, so, the American combat units were going to lead the way out of the base. But the engineers would the MVP's for the first stage. A Japanese escort and liaison element was to give them whatever assistance with communication with the locals that was necessary. Staging in a makeshift depot just off the Gate came the engineering element's main body in a long line of JLTV's and M-ATV MRAP's arriving behind with trailers carrying the Multicam-camouflaged engineers wearing the distinctive insignia of the 92nd Engineer Battalion were immediately setting to work, meeting with their Japanese counterparts as more trucks arrived with stacks and stacks of lumber with pre-cut and pre-fashioned lumber and plywood sheets for the various planned buildings for the American base structures. There were dozens and dozens and dozens of green, brown, and black camouflaged vehicles and a great many American flags flapping about as the force arrived and then began to assemble and divvy out their taskings and orient themselves as post-Gate-travel checklists were completed. Each man was wearing their full combat gear loadout with unloaded M4 Carbines buckled on their chests and helmets on their heads as they went about their jobs calmly. Amongst their assets were a line of trucks holding generators, solar panels, towing fuel and water tanks, pontoon bridge components and boats, excavators, back hoes, front loaders, graders, and other various construction equipment with loads with dozens of trucks holding pallets of supplies ranging from rations, medical supplies, batteries, spare parts, sandbag sacks, cement bags, toolboxes, and of course ample ammunition. It was a much more well-endowed American engineering unit than was average, but then again this was no average deployment.
Watching from afar as the Americans now, fully assembled, began their drive towards their chosen base location was Itami, sitting in his Toyota HMV with a briefing report on his allies' forces. They were sitting up high, at the northern security outpost for Alnus Base. Here they were set to meet the Americans' own Special Region Recon Team, a squad from this 101st Airborne's element's recon platoon. They saw them driving their way over, with six JLTV's, two with a turret mounting an M2 .50 cal and a pintle-mounted M240B plus a boxy LRAS3 recon device, two with a Mark 19 GMG with pintle-mounted M240B's, two with TOW ATGM's in the turret with an M240B on a pintle opposite of the TOW. But, like the JSDF element, the Americans had a single FMTV truck added onto their standard vehicle compliment which was up-armored and equipped with a turret hoisting an M240B and towing a launch catapult for a drone, with its covered bed loaded with some extra supplies. One more vehicle was present, an JLTV with a boxy rear end with the medical symbol they all recognized which also towed a water trailer. The lead and second vehicles each had a Lockheed Martin Gyrocam on the back corners while the last two vehicles were towing a pair of trailers, one being a water trailer and one being a fuel trailer. But all of their vehicles had a number of jerry cans bolted on, baskets with backpacks and sacks stuffed inside, and their beds loaded up, ready for their mission.
Apparently, the advice that the JSDF gave about the need to keep their vehicles well-armed in the event of encountering large hostile creatures was well-received. Itami had read the file, he was assigned a recon platoon from the American air assault battalion, nineteen men in total led by a pretty well-decorated 1st Lieutenant which had been supplemented with a sniper team of three men and a pair of medics from their battalion medical platoon, making twenty-four total. A few had been drawn from other battalions to fill in the numbers, but this was a very experienced batch of troops, many apparently having seen action in Afghanistan and in low-scale deployments in Syria. Now, they were here. And his four vehicles and twelve JSDF troops had to keep track of them.
"So, these are the soldiers of a superpower eh?" Rory asked Itami as she sat on top of the hood of the vehicle.
"Yep," Itami said as the seven American vehicles arrived with the other soldiers watching, all of them wearing their new FAST helmets, Type-18 ballistic vests, and relaxing with their Type-20 carbines or FN Minimi SAW's, "Alright gang," he stepped out of the open door of his Toyota, stretching his back, "Let's look sharp, this is their first time out here. I'll give their CO the basic introduction and we'll get going."
Itami was able to speak English fairly decently, it was something he had to learn at least some of while in school and then in officer's training and then while in Special Forces training his instructors had enough of his lazing about and placed him into an advanced English class just to punish him. Once more there he scraped by. But he was able to communicate with English speakers nonetheless, and so would have to exercise those long-unused English skills. Itami had only rarely ever interacted with Americans, and those were basic at best, relegated to simple instances of the Americans asking for directions and him giving some basic replies seeing as the base he was stationed at never saw American servicemen and he himself was never tasked to stuff that would have him cross paths with them elsewhere. Now though, he and Recon 3 were going to be operating right alongside their American counterparts who pulled up, parked and began getting out.
These men were notable to Rory, Lelei, Tuka, and Arpeggio for the fact that they wore different uniforms and held different-looking weapons to the Japanese soldiers, although one could see identifiable similarities. Their weapons appeared similar, their vehicles were similar albeit bigger, and they had various identifiable devices like radios and other electronics. However, one change from the Japanese uniforms that the Americans possessed were special identifiers on their arms, one with their flag in muted colors on both sides and another of a black field with a white-faced eagle. Stepping out from the lead vehicle came a rather average-looking man with his rank emblazoned upon his vest as he stepped out with his M4A1 buckled to his chest. From the other vehicles, the rest of the American team was getting out, and so Itami walked over to their officer and offered a quick salute, which was returned, and then promptly the other man offered a hand. Itami simply smiled softly and shook the man's hand.
"First Lieutenant Yoji Itami, Third Recon Team, welcome to the Special Region," Itami introduced himself in English.
"First Lieutenant Tim Killian, Reconnaissance Platoon, First Battalion, Five-oh-Sixth Infantry Regiment. Nice to be welcome."
"506th…" Kuribayashi mumbled to herself, recognizing that unit designation.
"Isn't that the unit from that show Band of Brothers?" Tomita replied.
"Lock it up," Kuwahara quietly chided his subordinate sergeants first class, before quietly adding, "And it was the second battalion, not first, in that show."
The two looked at one another as Itami and the American officer chatted quietly for a few more seconds and then Itami began his introductions of his own team who were lined up. This went on for a minute or two, and then the Americans were introduced, their unit possessing the lieutenant of course, a sergeant first class, three staff sergeants, four sergeants, and fourteen privates and specialists. It was a comparatively junior NCO's when compared to the Japanese team who had no less than five members who were the same rank or senior to the leading American NCO. They only had three M249's amongst their ranks, the rest having M4A1's with the exception of two of the snipers, who were carrying HK417-based M110A1's while their team leader carried an M4A1 with an M320 grenade launcher. The American recon unit itself likewise had four M320 40mm grenade launchers, one of which was in the hands of their platoon sergeant. At this point, the teams mostly broke up to begin some private interactions as soldiers began interacting with other soldiers and did the same things that always transpired when allied soldiers of different nations meet in the field.
"So, what happened to you Americans and your new rifles? The 6.8 millimeter one?" Tomita asked as he noted that the Americans didn't have their new service rifle, the XM5.
"No one else uses the new six point eight by fifty-five, no ammo compatibility," Staff Sergeant Ryan Moss, their second squad's squad leader, stated in reply.
"So we're all still qualified on our old weapons so that's what we're deploying with so that if we end up stuck in it side by side we could pass mags off between each other," Sergeant Ellis Erickson, his squad second-in-command responded in turn.
"Interesting, you guys are still packing a lot of firepower aren't you?" Kuribayashi noted as she was looking around at their vehicles, "Seven medium machine guns, two heavy machine guns, two automatic grenade launchers, and two TOW systems? What were you thinking you were going to find, the entire Russian Army?"
"Better to have it and not need it," Sergeant Erickson replied confidently, "Besides, your military was the one who said you'd encountered huge armies and dragons that were like flying tanks. Excuse us for being prepared for that."
"And we're not just carrying that, we've got a sixty-millimeter mortar in one of the other vics, a pair of MAAWS, and probably a dozen LAW's and AT4's."
"Jeez, and the SDF only let us carry another Panzerfaust and a pair of Type-74 machine guns in the back, plus the fifty cal on the other Komatsu," Tomita replied, somewhat in a state of weapons envy.
"Yeah I know, at least we've still got air power back at base," Kuribayashi acknowledged, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well the F-4's have been withdrawn now, apparently the F-2's aren't cleared for deployment yet," Master Sergeant Nishina reminded the two.
"Oh…" both sergeants said, moping somewhat at that declaration.
Kurokawa, the team's medic, now went over to the American medical JLTV and noted that one was a blonde-haired girl, tall and with a bob cut and wore a pair of sunglasses, like her fellows. And like her fellows she wore the US Army's new IHPS helmet although she had a gopro on her helmet's NVG rail on the front. It was red so Kurokawa knew it to be recording.
"Hello," Kurokawa said with a smile and a friendly wave with one hand.
"Oh, hi," the girl replied, looking up from her phone which she had been using to take some pictures, finding this all to be quite photo-worthy obviously, she smiled back to Kurokawa, "Are…you one of your team's medics?"
"The only one actually," Kurokawa shrugged humbly, "Sergeant First Class Mari Kurokawa."
"Specialist Alex Irving," the other medic replied, and pointed to the other female medic, this time a black-haired Latina who was slightly shorter and had longer hair who was seated next to her who was listening to the radio on their vehicle, "And this is Specialist Kim Flores. It must get old quick with all those guys around huh?"
"Oh it hasn't been so bad," Kurokawa replied with good humor.
"Yeah well, the common saying in the American military is that the most sure way to get pregnant is to join the Army," Irving replied with a roll of the eyes, "Those guys are tenacious, and outside of a fight, they think with only one thing."
"Mhmm…I know that's right," Flores said with a note sassy irritation.
"But God help anyone who takes a popshot at one of us," Irving winked, "So, in a way we are the safest bitches on the battlefield."
Itami meanwhile, knew that now was the time to introduce the girls, who'd been getting some intrigued looks from the assorted Americans. In particular he needed to introduce Arpeggio, Lelei's sister, who had been learning English and was mostly able to speak Japanese. Arpeggio was very much in the lead of the contention for the JSDF's recommendation for the American teams' guide roster. So, she was given a probationary run at assisting the Americans with Itami and Lelei present as observers.
"So, Lieutenant, I'd like to introduce you to a few of the locals who have been important for our past success here in the Special Region," Itami offered a hand, and the ladies stepped over.
"Yeah, I was wondering if they were the same ones from that hearing last year?" Lieutenant Killian responded curiously.
"They are, this is Lelei La Lalena, a Master Mage of the Coda Village," Itami gestured to the youngest member, "This is Rory Mercury, the…Oracle of the God Emroy…" he hesitantly gestured to Rory, "This is Tuka Luna Marceau, formerly of the Koan Forest Village."
"Sorry, but I gotta ask, are the ears…" Lieutenant Killian nodded and pointed to her ears.
"Yes, they're real, she is an elf, and yes, she is a hundred sixty-five years old," Itami nodded, rubbing the back of his neck with a laugh, and then finished up, "And this of course, is Arpeggio El Lelena, Lelei's stepsister. She is undergoing training for becoming a guide and interpreter."
"Well, the US Army has its own selection and training pipeline for choosing interpreters for deployed elements, but seeing as we're heading out today, we can certainly make sure to give her an honest look and…appraisal," the Lieutenant replied, noting closely that Arpeggio was certainly easier on the eyes than all the interpreters he had worked with previously.
"Sounds good, let's take a look at the map," he offered his opposite number a copy of the JSDF's latest version of the map of the Special Region, and laid out his own new laminated copy on the hood of his Toyota and brought out his compass as Sergeant Major Kuwahara and the Americans' own SNCO, Sergeant First Class Nelson Graham, gathered up as they plotted their first mission.
"So, our orders are to conduct recon and assess the areas around the cities of…Italica," Killian pointed, "and then hook East and check out the Imperial capital, Sadera is it?"
"That's right," Itami nodded.
"Right, then, follow this river to the ocean and follow the coast back to the river coming out of the valley we're in and return to Alnus on the East bank of the river. The cav scouts down there will be headed on a similar route down the south, our superiors' plan is to establish relationships and show that we've come in good faith with the nearby settlements around our FOB. From there, air assets will begin to range further out and map what's out there and we'll start ranging further out as things interest us."
"Sounds like a plan, it's about a thousand-kilometer trip, you and your men got the supplies and fuel for that?" Itami asked.
"Supplies we have plenty of. We plan to have a pair of Chinooks meet us just outside Sadera to top up our fuel tanks and restock any supplies we may need," the American officer tapped on the map.
"Sounds good," Itami nodded in agreement, "Well, let's mount up and move out."
In case it isn't obvious, English will be in Italics when in between quotation marks.
Still having a blast with writing this, looking forward to offering something more exciting in the next chapter, count upon it my friends! In the meantime, any questions comments or concerns you have regarding the story, please let me know and I'll do what I can for you. Until next time, I hope you enjoyed.