It took some time, but new chapter is here. In meantime I have wroten some shorter stories and now I am back to this. More chapters will be soon.
Chapter 8 - Politics and the Battle of Vale
Vale was a complete surprise to everyone. And for many reasons, it was a reason for nervousness and another confirmation of how unimaginably difficult our task would be.
Our survival and that of many others.
Interview with General Janusz Kowalski
=location: Fortress Shield, IA delegation building, 80 days after the invasion=
"I am officially opening the first IA meeting." - Vakhtang said to everyone gathered - "Everyone here is probably aware of the situation in the war against demons and our plans, but I would like to remind you that we are to share all our information about the sent forces and work on new weapons, especially mass destruction. Since I am the UEG representative, I would like to be the first to present my report. Is there any objection?" - after a moment of waiting, he continued - "Then I'll start. First of all, as I told you, we are in a state of total war and we are currently in a war economy. Despite this, our people have a significant lack of weapons, aircraft, and everything in general. But what is most disturbing is our shortage of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Given the current production and rate of use, we estimate that we will completely exhaust it within 2-3 years. For this reason, we would like to appeal to the people present here to start producing their own weapons of mass destruction and start using them on the battlefield. Apart from that, we have some technological breakthroughs, but most of it is in the experimental stage."
"When will we be able to see the fruits of these experiments?" - Commander Theo Magath asked.
"I don't know." - said Vakhtang - "Currently only the PASS or Plasma Acoustic Shield System is ready for production and the first units should be sent to the front soon."
"If you let me be the next one." - said Historia - "Currently, when it comes to military personnel, we will not be able to send any more. However, we produce a lot of weapons and will soon begin to disperse them among the forces most in need of them in order to raise their standards. In addition, improved equipment for special forces that sign up for the program."
"In that case." - Molt told Emperor - "On behalf of Faltmart and the other dimensions that benefited most from this, I would like to thank you very much for this. The effectiveness of our troops has increased many times compared to previous battles."
Several other rulers of less technologically advanced countries nodded.
"If I may." - said Prince Wales - "After introducing reforms and defeating the Reconquista in battle, our internal situation has stabilized. Now we will be able to send our fleet as support into battle. However, I am concerned about the lack of defensive capabilities against these monsters. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the kingdom of Albion to also take part in improving our combat capabilities."
"I have to veto this." - said Emperor Albrecht III of Germania - "Although the recent defeat may have temporarily weakened the Reconquista, it still has considerable influence. If this technology got their hands on it, we would have a two-front war, with the enemy outclassing any nearby garrisons. Not to mention probably the largest fleet on the continent."
"The soldiers and nobles of Albion will not betray us! It's more likely that you'll want to stab me in the back first." - Wales said.
"You need to be calmer, dear prince." - said Albrecht - "I'm just stating the facts. Your country has had problems for many years. Over the years, the Reqonquiste gathered strength to start a rebellion. One victory in battle and a few reforms will not be enough to completely break it down. Especially since I found one of their supporters in my country. The fool was executed for high treason."
"Easy, please." - said Historia - "We can ensure that the Reqonquiste do not obtain this technology if we keep it only to frontline units and stationary elements around your dimensional island."
"As for these fortifications, are they really necessary?" - asked Admiral Azur Lane - "Don't get me wrong, this is a very powerful defense system and we have already started implementing it, and the Sirens have completely withdrawn, but wouldn't it be better to allocate the resources from it to expanding infrastructure and more mobile units?"
"Even if we go on the attack, we have no guarantee that our enemy won't use something to chew a large number of monsters on our backs." - said Marshal Bingham - "They already demonstrated their concealment skills in battle about a month ago. There may be more that they haven't shown us yet. We have a Chronosphere, so we cannot rule out the possibility that they have such an equivalent."
"We know how the Chronosphere works." - said a clearly nervous commander in a USSR uniform, Oleg Vodnik - "In any case, our forces will join the fight in accordance with the agreement, but since we are bound by a de-militarization treaty, do not count on more personnel. However, we will continue to produce ammunition and vehicles for willing forces. I assume this situation applies to several other countries."
Representatives of the alternate USSR and the Empire of the Rising Sun nodded.
Before the Allied representatives could say anything, Commander Hange interrupted - "Paradis is currently undergoing modernization, but with the help of the GA, we have managed to upgrade and deploy an entire survey corps. And of course, the Colossal Titans from the walls were sent to destroy enemy positions."
"Even though I don't want to admit it." - said the representative of the Kingdom of Britannia, who also represented several smaller countries most 'friendly' to Paradis - "Scouts are the best military unit on the planet. Our production of warships has also increased and we should soon send another division of troops. The rest of our allies do the same."
Marshal Bingham then chimed in again - "And of course, the Allies and our counterparts are ready to send in more military divisions. In total, another million soldiers are fully equipped and ready to fight."
Commander Magath said - "Mare will of course continue to support the IA and our warrior unit, with 2 infantry divisions, is ready to deploy."
"Regarding the Mid-East Alliance." - the ambassador of the mentioned alliance said - "So we sent part of our naval forces and large amounts of artillery."
"Hizuru has started sending our air and naval forces." - said Kiyomi Azumabito, representing Hizuru.
"The Atlas Council has voted to send a group of ships from our air fleet." - said General Ironwood - "We have also begun increased production of mechs and will be shipping more of them. The other kingdoms are sending volunteer troops."
"Of course, you can count on our Kansen." - said Admiral Azur Lane - "But as for the ground troops, you will have to wait a while. They have been greatly neglected."
"We have started production of Pantheons and other fighting machines and are now sending them to the front along with a large number of airships and volunteers." - Ciel said.
"Our forces will join as soon as we defeat the remaining Neuroi troops." - said General Patton - "Fortunately, there are mostly survivors, so we should be ready in a few weeks, maybe a month at most. "These nuclear weapons combined with the air fleet and fighters made quick work of the remaining nests."
"One sec!" - suddenly said Prince Tatsu from Empire of the Rising Sun, or rather Japan - "Doesn't nuclear weapons make the surrounding areas radioactive and people suffer from various diseases?"
"Theoretically you're right." - said Patton - "But the Neuroi killed or drove all the people from our areas, and the fallout only lasted a few seconds."
"Actually, the period of radioactive fallout can be manipulated to some extent." - Vakhtang said - "In this dimension, it is zero, so we have worked to completely eliminate radioactive fallout using the energy of this dimension, or its equivalent in our dimension."
"Before we move on to the next topic, I would like to ask about the status of Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière." - said Duchess Henrietta de Tristain - "I know that she is currently under the care of a certain MAGES., but it is not the family that has started to worry, and since she is the youngest child of one of the main noble families of Tristan, her parents very much want to have more information about her condition."
"Last time I checked, she was with MAGES. in the hospital in the kingdom of Vale." - replied Historia.
"In the meantime, I would like to take into account the territories we have acquired in this world." - said Emperor Molt - "Currently, these areas are controlled over 90% by UEG forces. When interdimensional trade begins to develop after the war, it could result in complete monopolization. Therefore, I propose to start talks on the division of the territory."
"I propose to deal with this when the threat of total annihilation no longer hangs over us." - said Historia.
"We know that IA was founded by you and UEG, so I would like to hear from people who may also be harmed in this way." - Molt said.
"Such economic dependence may actually be exploited in this way in the future." - Kiyomi said.
"I am personally with Lady Historie." - said Hange - "Although this may be a problem in the future, for now we have armies of demons to fight."
Several of the men began to argue with each other until Vakhtang interrupted them - "I understand your problems with our control over these areas, so I propose to place them under the independent authority of the IA, while the island through which the portal appears will belong to the dimension it connects to, and the nations of this dimension will discuss it among themselves."
"This is acceptable." - said Oleg.
=location: Vale kingdom, 80 days since the invasion=
"So, we still don't know what happened." - said Astrid.
"No." - replied Tulip, Reploid of the Guardian organization, as she worked on the computer - "However, I still don't understand why we have to deal with this matter like this. And just like that, secretly hacking into their systems. After all, it's up to the Vytal Festival organizers to take care of this. Why are you so interested in this Yang and Mercury fight? Shouldn't you be focusing more on improving hospital security or something?"
"And that's exactly what I'm doing. I get rid of the problem before it shows up. After the last battle, it became obvious that something was wrong. The White Fang should have hated humans, but they listened to Torchwik. And this plan with the Grims was strange. He simply attacked the kingdom by creating a tunnel. Maybe he had to rush it when those kids accidentally discovered that tunnel. But even then, Torchwik is not seen as a suicidal terrorist, but more as a criminal. For all we know, it could be an attack from a neighboring kingdom. And then there are these Semblances that give any kind of superpower to people from this dimension."
"Isn't that Aura?"
"I'm not sure myself."
"Well, there was nothing in the Vale files, so I don't think there was anything in the Atlas files. Hmm...that's weird."
"What is?" - Astrid asked.
"I have some strange connection with an unknown source. It's heavily encrypted, even better than the Atlas files, but I should be able to locate the source if I break deeper into the Atlas systems."
"Do it."
Tulip started working and was in the system in a few minutes. There were several files passed by until she said in a trembling voice - "Oh no..."
"What?"
"It's a computer virus that can be activated externally to break into... everything. Communications, combat robots, weapons list. There was even a modification regarding deliveries and the drawing of fights. And here is the artificial Aura project. This is Penny, an actual AI like me and the rest of the Reploids."
"Wait, isn't this festival attendee Vytal?"
"Yes, he is struggling right now. Wait."
"It's a setup!"
"I can take advantage of this virus and take over communications for a while."
"Do it!" - Astrid shouted and quickly ran to the communicator, switching on the transmission to the entire hospital - "To everyone, I am announcing a yellow alert. All who are able to fight are to arm themselves immediately and pray that I am wrong."
Meanwhile, in the Arena, Penny and Pyrrha had been fighting for some time. Pyrrha was disarmed and Penny prepared her final attack when suddenly the screen went black and a voice came from the speakers - "Stop the duel! This fight has been fixed!"
Penny lowered her gun as soon as she heard this. Pyrrha, meanwhile, suddenly stopped seeing hundreds of blades and went back to only 8. She looked at Penny and Penny just put her weapon away and looked like she didn't know what was going on either. Then Ruby burst into the audience and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw what had happened.
Cinder, Mercury, and Emerald were completely surprised. But they quickly gathered themselves and started running away. Cinder was already outside the arena and Emerald used her Semblance to disguise herself. Mercury, on the other hand, had a very nervous and fast Huntress in training on his tail. Unfortunately for him, it was also loud enough for the guards to notice him.
"Get him!" - Ruby shouted. The guards quickly recognized him as someone who should have had a broken leg, so they tried to stop him. But Mercury was faster and knocked the rifles out of both of their hands, then used his weapon, Talaria, to accelerate. He ran past a small group of people who were standing at the airport and jumped from the stadium.
"Didn't he have a broken leg?" - asked one of the guards.
"He was obviously faking it." - said another - "I'll quickly report it to headquarters and we can attack - Look there."
Grimm appeared in the sky, not a dozen or two, but a whole horde of Nevermors and other flying Grimm. And in this horde, you could see several dozen flying monsters of the Viridis faction.
Meanwhile, Neo and Torchwick had just escaped from their cell when they heard a ship-wide combat alarm.
"I guess our escape got a little complicated." - Torchwick said.
"You don't even know how much." - Ace Ops leader Clover Ebi said with his weapon ready. At the same time, Atlas soldiers and members of his unit appeared next to him and behind Neo, blocking all escape routes. Clover continued - "I know the General was right to leave extra security in place while he's at the meeting. Now you will get a one-time offer. You will surrender and go back to your cell peacefully, but we will shoot you on the spot. And I don't advise taking the risk, because my colleagues are a bit without mercy at the moment."
As if on cue, the Atlas soldiers moved slightly. Neo and Torchwick, seeing that they had no choice, quickly gave up.
"Specialist Schnee, Torchwick and his accomplice have been captured and we are taking them to their cells." - Winter heard Clover over the bridge communicator. At least there's one piece of good news.
"All right. As soon as you're done, join the ground forces." - said Winter from the bridge of the flagship - "Captain, you are taking command of the fleet. "Deploy all available forces to the defense lines around the Agricultural and Residential Districts."
"What about the kingdom's defense line on the rivers?" - asked the Captain.
"If they are already here, they must have breached it or dug a new tunnel, potentially opened the previous one. Besides…" - Winter stopped midway as the ship shook after being hit by… something. She didn't have to wait long to see that the projectile came from a huge flying grimm in the shape of a whale.
"Evasive maneuvers!" - shouted the Captain and the ship tilted. Dust's only stabilizers on the wings ensured that the ship would not fall to the ground. After another hit, the captain shouted again - "Concentrate all guns on this super-grimm."
"Sir, we have grimms landing aboard the ship." - said one of the officers.
"I'll take care of them." - Winter said and quickly ran out into the field.
The Battle of Vale was already in full swing, and the streets were swarming with grimm and Viridis demons. Citizens grabbed any weapons and began to fight, creating quick barricades on the streets, but without coordination of efforts from the command, many were cut off. The Vale Defense Force increased its combat readiness following the arrival of the IA and the new monsters, but they were overwhelmed by the reports coming in.
However, one person knew what to do.
"Send 2 hunters and 2 teams to support the barricades here." - Ozpin said to the teachers in Beacon - "Additionally, have the ships start evacuating the little ones to the industrial district. Do we have any reports of military forces in the area?"
"The IA has a military hospital and has started organizing defense in the area. They currently have about 100 people with Aura and growing." - said one of the professors, using his Semblance, which allows him to see large concentrations of Aura.
"Try to contact them. We will join forces and establish defense lines between the industrial district and Beacon. Send… 6 teams of third-years, each with full-fledged hunters, to the front to inform and slow down the Grimm attacks."
Astrid had already quickly organized those capable of fighting. Altogether there are already 200 people of almost every imaginable type.
"Okay, listen." - Astrid said to the crowd - "Professor Ozpin is planning to create a defense line from Beacon to us. He designated us several places where we would put up barricades, some of which were already made by armed civilians. Tulip has already prepared a GPS for the vehicle that will take you there. This is the list." - a hologram appeared behind her - "Once you get there, everyone, you are to move immediately. I also received information that there was a small fleet of ships on the front line of the demon dimension in Dorga and it had changed direction towards us. We have to hold on until she arrives." - Suddenly, a huge explosion was heard and everyone instinctively turned their heads towards it. There the once great Atlas cruiser was falling, now just a burning wreck - "To position, now!"
The gathered people immediately started to find a place and moved to the numbered vehicles. Astrid only hoped that the reinforcements would arrive on time.
In the agricultural district, VDF soldiers and armed civilians began to eliminate the incoming waves of Grimm and demons. Many places turned into real battlefields. If it were any other dimension, the defenders would already be overwhelmed, despite the technological advantage. But in this dimension, all soldiers had Aura, and many had Semblance. That's what kept them going. Balls of acid that would melt cars only damaged the Aura, severely. When there was a risk of a break somewhere, someone threw fireballs, knocked over buildings, threw a car, froze the area, or something else. And so the first wave of ground forces was stopped.
But Vale's defenders couldn't celebrate when they saw a wave go by. Armored Death Stalkers, huge Goliaths, and thousands of smaller Grimms in between. Next to them were demons of the Viridis faction, whose mere presence poisoned the trees and the land they walked on. And the worst of all were the hybrids of Grimm and Viridis monsters.
Before the horde stood a black and green monster as big as a house, looking like a cross between a robot and rotten meat. In his hands, there was a huge halberd, which he pointed at the defenders' lines and shouted - "MASSACRE THEM!" - and he rushed to the defense line, with the whole horde following him. One barricade tried to shoot him, but he didn't even notice. When he reached the barricade, one of the soldiers erected a barrier, probably his Semblance. The robotic creature didn't even care about it and broke it in one move, driving the ax into the ground, and destroying everything in a 10-meter radius. Only a crater remained, full of toxins.
"FOR NURGEL AND ARFOIRE! BRING THE DISEASE TO THIS LAND!" - the robotic monster shouted. At the back of the city, he saw another of the Atlas ships fall to the ground. Only two left. But the citizens of Vale had no intention of leaving the defense of their home to other people, and half a dozen smaller Vale-branded aircraft joined the air battle, stabilizing the situation.
"The arena is clean." - said Professor Port, looking at the last Grimm corpses that began to disappear in the smoke.
"All right." - Winter said over the communicator - "Take her out of town. In an emergency, it will serve as an evacuation vehicle. And send whoever you can to fight. The Grimm broke through the defense lines in the agricultural district and split into two groups. One is heading towards Beacon and we can't stop this one. You must..."
The signal was suddenly interrupted, and Professor Port had to act in his own way - "Bart, take the students to the border between the agricultural and residential districts. They're in trouble there. I will run the arena."
"Is sending students into the middle of such a battle a good idea?" - asked Professor Bartholomew Oobleck.
"No, so make sure they just support the military from afar." - said Professor Port.
Meanwhile, Astrid and her squad of 20 people moved forward to support the evacuations and delay the Grimm and demons.
"Big bulletproof scorpion!" one of her men shouted as he fired his bolt-action rifle.
"Jake!" - Astrid shouted, firing a quick salvo at one of the smaller grimms, who fell after a dozen well-placed shots. Jake grabbed his RPG-7 and quickly fired it straight at the scorpion's head. The hit did not kill the monster, but destroyed its armor, allowing it to be quickly eliminated thanks to a short burst from a Browning M2 mounted on the roof of a civilian Humvee that was there to receive repairs and upgrades.
"Mira, where are we standing with the ammunition!?" - Astrid shouted.
"We have half our starting quantity!" - Mira shouted back.
"Fuck." - said one of the soldiers, when one of the monsters impaled himself on his plasma-tipped spear - "With this amount of monsters, maybe it will be enough for half an hour."
Suddenly, another Grimm jumped out from around the corner. Or rather, he flew out and hit the wall. Then the blonde ran into him and crushed his head with her fist.
"Y., Yang, I remember well." - Astrid said.
"Yes." - Yang replied - "I heard what was happening and joined the fight."
"You are with us." - Astrid said in an authoritarian voice - "We will drive to the intersection and set up a post there. Send a message to HQ to send additional ammunition. The second wave will come soon."
"TOO LATE FOR YOU!" - the large monster shouted as it came around the corner and started charging at Astrid and her men. But before he reached them, the floor collapsed beneath him and he fell into the sewage. A moment later, a large column of light hit the monster.
"We will take care of him, you go to help on other sections of the front." - said a woman in white clothes and a black hat, who looked a bit like a witch. A younger girl in a cloak and a wand chanting something stood next to her. As soon as the monster poked its head out, the young woman released the spell and knocked it back.
"You heard Lady MAGES... We're getting out of here." - Astrid said. And so the soldiers began to retreat.
"Sensei, how do we defeat this thing?" - Luise asked, opening a bottle of magic recovery potion.
MAGES. she finished drinking her own potion - "Honestly, all we can do is hold CFW Judge until reinforcements arrive."
"YOU ARE ALREADY DEAD!" - the monster shouted, when suddenly the piece of ground he grabbed with his hand collapsed, and he fell again and shouted - "YOU'RE LUCKY!"
"You're probably unlucky." - Qrow said, walking over to MAGES. and Luise - "So, what's the plan?"
"Slow him down until the warships can shoot him." - said MAGES. Although when they looked at the sky, it didn't seem like such a good idea.
The air battle was not going well. Despite the arrival of more Vale ships, they were unable to penetrate the super-grimm's skin and took constant losses. Currently, only one Atlas ship and the five Vale were able to fight, and although reinforcements were approaching, they had absolutely no chance of eliminating this thing. They simply lacked firepower.
"Miss Schnee, we can't defeat this thing!" - the Captain shouted into the communicator.
"Hold the lines, at least until civilians are evacuated." - Winter replied.
"Captain, we have more objects on the radar." - said the officer - "It looks like they are ships. Unknown configuration. We have a signal."
"Patch it through." - said the Captain.
"This is CPU Green Heart. I'm coming with IA reinforcements." - Vert said over the communicator.
"This is General Apricot from Vale Command." - Commander-in-Chief Vale said over the communicator - "We need you to focus on the super Grimm levitating above the city."
"With all due respect, General, but it's impossible." - the Captain joined in the conversation - "We shoot who knows how many times at this thing, and it still stays above the city. We should focus on defense and allow civilians to evacuate."
"Hell will come sooner than I give up our capital." - said Apricot.
"We actually have something that might work." - said Vert - "Commodore, prepare nuclear missiles. Target is the ultimate Grimm. Work with General Apricot to establish the best positions for our troops. I will join the front lines."
"Lady Green Heart, are you sure?" - said the Commodore - "You suffered significant wounds in the fight against the entire Neuroi hive alone. Maybe it would be better to stay in the command room this time."
"You don't have to worry about me." - said Vert - "General, where are the heaviest fighting."
"The worst is some kind of mechanical monster. I'll give you the coordinates in a moment." - said the General.
There were fights in the streets. The VDF soldiers barely kept the monsters at bay with massive fire. The Atlesian robots were a great help as they absorbed the first waves of the attack, greatly limiting the Kingdom's losses. The retreat was orderly and they always made sure the civilians retreated. In the Industrial District, buildings became fortresses that effectively stopped the onslaught of monsters.
But when the second sun appeared over the city for a few seconds, the entire Vale began to cheer. The Super-Grimm has begun to fall apart, and ships are about to begin supporting them against ground forces. It's time to counterattack.
"FIGHT, YOU JUNK!" - Judge shouted as he tripped again and fell into the sewage.
"How many regeneration potions do you have left?" - Qrow asked.
"5." - replied MAGES.
"So we have 3 minutes tops." - said Qrow - "I knew you were fighting demons and huge monsters there, but this is over."
"WRAAAGH!" - Judge shouted and the shockwave began to spread. MAGES. she intuited Qrow and Louise and teleported a few buildings away. When they turned around, they saw many buildings collapsing beneath themselves.
"Even my bad luck won't make us miss this." - Qrow said.
Then a second sun appeared in the sky.
"Finally, support has arrived." - MAGES. said happily, but quickly grabbed both of them and teleported again a few houses away to avoid being hit.
"GET BACK HERE!" - Judge shouted, destroying more buildings.
"This is MAGES. to the IA fleet. CFW Judge is back and attacking everything around him."
"We confirm, MAGES." - he said in a voiceover to the communicator - "We have him in our sights. The presence of frie-"
"Just SHOOT!" - Lousie shouted.
Suddenly, a volley of laser batteries, railgun shells, and other things rained down on Judg. The firing lasted fifteen seconds. But the dust blew in all directions as Judge roared in pain.
"Once again!" - Qrow shouted and another salvo began to hit this monster.
And he stood up again.
"Shoot until I tell you to stop!" - MAGES shouted.
And the firing continued for another minute. Finally MAGES. she said they could stop. She and her companions quickly approached to see what was left. There was a giant crater where the shot had been fired, and Judge's body lay in the middle. Huge and still in one piece, but there were signs of damage from the bombing. The arms were missing, the torso was pitted, the head was crumpled, and the legs, or their equivalent, were crumpled.
"I think we can consider him dead." - said Lousie.
"Yes." - said Qrow - "There's no way it could withstand that kind of firepower.
"Ragh." - Judge suddenly said and the three immediately prepared to fight. But apart from grunting, he did nothing.
Suddenly there was a roar from above and acid-shooting monsters started flying in, along with Grimm, at least a hundred in all. To avoid the attack, MAGES. teleported them again. Seconds later there was a flash of evil, that was the only way to describe it, light and the Grimms, Monsters and CFW Judge disappeared into it. A moment later, CPU Green Heart arrived, just looked at the battlefield, and moved on.
=location: island R31, 81 days since the invasion=
"Another day, another trench to dig." - said the tired UEG soldier.
"If you hadn't slacked off, we would have kicked him out by now." - said the Albion soldier.
"Guy, I understand that you are less advanced, but it is necessary." - said the UEG officer.
"And how exactly?" - asked a volunteer from Vale - "Digging one straight line is easier than these zigzags and takes less time."
"But if hit, they are much worse for soldiers." - said the officer - "The explosion of whatever the demons throw at us will spread in full force on a straight trench, and so it will only stop in one section of the zigzag."
Suddenly, a green light exploded in front of them. A moment later, a figure resembling a satyr emerged from it, but it was all gray, there was a blindfold over its eyes, but its eyes glowed with a green light that penetrated it. There were green symbols on its body, it had horns and wings. He was holding some kind of weapon in one hand, and his entire body was bleeding from numerous wounds.
"Sargeras... stop..." - was all the figure croaked before it fell.
The soldiers present just stared until suddenly the officer shouted - "You three, keep an eye on him. A gun to his head. You go for line or whatever can catch him. The rest, prepare for battle. I have to contact the command."