Waking up early, I yawned and got dressed. I explained the situation to Summer a day or two ago and so Cinder and Emerald have been staying over with her and Tai for the last few days and will be with them for the next few weeks while I am on deployment. "I'm glad that Summer agreed to this, though I'm starting to miss them already," I said to myself as I put on my uniform's tunic. Adapting the M43 uniform from WW2 to the needs of this army for adoption was a bit of a challenge, as this is an openly integrated armed force compared to Atlas or Mistral. Meaning we have to compensate for animal parts with the uniforms. For the most part, this ends up with the bulk of the Faunus uniforms having to be tailor-fit to them. With armorers taking dremels to brand new helmets to make space for ears, antlers, horns, and whatnot. "God if that ain't the most annoying thing ever though, the next iteration of combat uniform will need to address that more readily," I mumbled to myself while tying the laces on the combat boots. With the army being only a division large, it was cheap enough to adopt a full-sized leather boot, for the sake of giving everyone something to be proud of, the army has adopted jump boots for standard issue.
Grabbing my trench coat from the coat rack by the front door, I walk out of my apartment unit and shut the door behind me, locking it before I start making my way out of the building. I ran into Moka returning to her unit from the mailroom, "good morning Brian," she said cheerfully.
"Morning," I replied with a smile.
"Going somewhere?" She asked me.
"Ah yeah, I'm going on deployment, this was sort of an inevitability as multiple congressmen are from the outlying settlements, hoping to be able to receive better protection for their homes and their constituent's homes," I said with a nervous laugh.
"And the uniform?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Standard issue, it's not like the metal-plated armor that Atlesian soldiers wear but it provides better mobility and the webbing allows us to carry more gear and ammo into a fight,"
"Well, it's certainly a look,"
"Well, I'm hoping this republic and its army can make this uniform a symbol for progress and safety,"
"Well it's a good start at least, much less cold looking than the Atlesian uniforms, probably easier to keep up with in cleaning too, white is impossible to keep clean," Moka expressed before continuing on her way back to her home.
"Yeah, it's a start at least," I said to myself.
Arriving at the main gate for Vale, I find a flurry of activity as the infantry companies start to assemble for the mission. "Good morning ma'am," I said to Hilbert as I walked up to the battalion headquarters.
"Morning Captain. took you long enough to arrive," she said, chastising me subtly.
"Yeah well, I thought we were assembling at the garrison, didn't know we would be at the gate immediately," I lied. Truth be told, I was held up by foot traffic and making a deposit for the next month of rent. Not that I think it'll take that long to get this assignment finished, the hike over is only expected to be a day or two, but things happen.
"No matter, you're here now, Able company is assembled and waiting for you, we're moving out in 5," Hilbert said while putting on her helmet.
"Yes ma'am," I said before walking out of the battalion CP. I made my way to Able company and briefed the men on the situation.
"So we're on the march for a week?" one of the men asked.
"Just about, once we reach the settlement we'll be splitting the platoons up and spreading them out around the town and until the rest of the regiment and the engineers arrive with the constructed road and rail, we'll be cycling in, and out of defensive positions and the town to protect it and start fortifying it," I explained.
"What are the chances of a Grimm attack sir?" someone else asked.
"Likely, we're the relief force for the huntsmen team assigned to this place, they've been very busy supposedly," I answered. "Now then, if that's the only question, we ought to get ready to move out, it's time we kicked some teeth in," I said, bolstering the spirits of the men.
"Landauton Village, population 500," Private Ingelman read out.
"I'm impressed they managed to keep this many people alive out here in the sticks," Private Goldfield commented.
"Goldfield, do me a favor," sergeant Williams said with a sigh.
"Yes sir?"
"Shut the fuck up," Williams said frowning. Goldfield, taking the hint, simply nodded and quieted down. Looking around I noted the hesitation of the townspeople who were outside at the time, I guess they weren't alerted of our arrival beforehand.
I turned to the Major and whispered to her, "we may need to find representative Scarlet, I imagine that our best shot at getting a friendlier welcome is to have the representative introduce us," I told her carefully.
"I'm inclined to agree," the Major said while scanning around, "you got any suggestions as far as the town's main government building?"
"Towns of this size don't tend to have dedicated buildings for these things, they're usually very communal, see if you spot anything resembling a church or chapel," I explained while scanning around myself.
"Uhh I couldn't help but overhear sir, but how about that building over there, it has the highest flow of traffic besides the market, at the very least we may get directions to the representative," First sergeant Clover suggested pointing towards a CCT relay tower.
"It's a place to start anyway," I said to the sergeant. I signaled for the company to hold their current positions and for Clover and a few privates to follow me. Hilbert stayed behind to start organizing the battalion after the march. We walked over to the relay tower building and entered it, being greeted by a secretary.
"Welcome to Landauton Village, how can I help you, are you a traveling hunter or a trader?" She asked me.
"Not quite, I'm Captain Brian Nash, Valean republic infantry," I said introducing myself, "I'm looking for Representative Harry Scarlet," I explained.
"Oh mister Scarlet should be in his office over there, are you the detachment sent by the capital to help us reinforce our defenses?" She asked while getting up to escort us to the office door and let the representative know about our arrival.
"Yeah, we are, the rest of the battalion is out by the edge of the village slowly arriving after a week-long march," I told her before turning and instructing the sergeant and his men to wait outside the building. Walking inside the representative's office, it was quite barren with only a small liquor cabinet as its main decoration, the rest of the office was dominated by a wooden desk and filing cabinets. The secretary took her leave after I had entered the office. "Representative Scarlet?" I asked.
"Yes that's me," he replied, "you and the rest of the soldiers at the edge of town is our requested military detachment correct?" He asked me.
"Yes sir," I replied, "is it possible for you to gather the village together and explain our presence here, it would serve to prevent any unwanted animosity between our people and should allow for better cooperation among each other," I requested.
"Of course, it would be in everyone's best interest to get along and work together, as agreed upon your men will be taking over security duties from the huntsmen team here," Scarlet said while rising from his seat.
"Of course, I'll be returning to the battalion now, however, I expect we should be in frequent communication for the next fortnight or so," I told him before taking my leave. Returning to able company with the sergeant, I see that the bulk of them have already sat down and started napping. Sighing, I shouted, "At your feet soldiers!" Getting their attention and having them scramble to get up. "I understand you're all exhausted from the march, however, I need you all to be alert, this isn't like on base where we have the walls to protect us, we need to be alert and ready for a Grimm attack at any time, not to mention we need to prepare fortifications," I said calmly to the men, "now, at ease, we should be receiving orders soon," I told them before turning around and walking to Major Hilbert.
"What's the situation, Captain?" Hilbert asked as I walked up.
"Representative Scarlet will be letting the townsfolk know about our presence and why we are here right-" I get interrupted by bells ringing and a bunch of civilians pausing their activities to head towards the relay station. "-now…well I feel like he could have waited a few more seconds," I finished after h the bell finished ringing.
"Alright, well once we get a copy of a current map of the town and its land deeds we ought to be able to start construction on trench works and basic fortifications," she told me.
"Yes ma'am," I replied, "what should I report to the men for now though?" I asked.
"Organize a few patrols and have them move out and do some scouting," she told me.
"Understood," I replied, turning around. I returned to the company and briefed the lieutenants about the situation and had them organize one patrol each and have them cycle out patrols once an hour until further notice.
Shoving the entrenching tool into the ground, I wipe my forehead with my arm and sigh, "Christ on a bike I forget how much digging trench works require," I mumbled, nominally I don't technically have to be digging as I could very well be at battalion HQ doing "work" but I figured it was worth joining the men as a show of solidarity, not to mention with roughly a third of the battalion on patrol, one-third resting or doing other base duties, that leaves only a company of soldiers left to go around and dig a network of trenches around this village for us to defend from.
"No kidding, I don't think I've had to dig so much in my life sir," Sergeant Kelso said while unscrewing his canteen cap.
"Try not to drink more than you need for now, we don't know if the village's well can support what is effectively a doubling of the population here," I said offhandedly.
"If it can't?" Kelso asked.
"I guess we'll just have to drop a rope down there and expand the well ourselves sergeant," I said after a moment of thought.
"I hear that the mess is being supplied with fresh vegetables from the farmers in town, which should be good for morale after this past week of canned rations," Lieutenant Meehan said walking up to us.
"Lieutenant, what are you doing here?" I asked, "I thought you were going to be at battalion CP helping organize the engineering detachment,"
"I was, seems the platoon of engineers are preoccupied first and foremost with the planning stages of the wall for this place," Meehan said with a shrug, "so the major dismissed me and told me to report back to company headquarters,"
"Well grab a shovel and start digging then," I said tossing him my entrenching tool, "we still have quite a while to go, I need to go check in with the major anyway," I said before climbing out of the partially dug trench.
"Running away from the digging work sir?" Kelso asked.
"Hardly, but as your CO I have my pile of crap I need to tend to before I can continue digging trenches and foxholes with you guys," I said, rolling my eyes, "in any case I'm going out to go requisition some actual digging equipment for us to use,"
"Why didn't we do that to begin with?" Kelso asked, confused by the amount of digging we've been doing with the piddling entrenching spades
"I dunno about you, but I'd rather not have the first impressions these civilians get is that we're here to uproot their lives by taking their stuff for our use," I said sternly, "of course, these damned spades aren't worth anything other than moving some dirt for a quick embankment, so I'll go see if they have any shovels and picks they're willing to lend us," I said with a sigh.
"Alright, we'll be waiting," Kelso said, going back to digging the trench. I gave a small nod and started heading towards battalion CP.
I take note of the engineers and town builders discussing details on my way into town. My thoughts drift however as I enter the town's community center which we have taken over temporarily as the battalion headquarters, "I wonder where that huntsman team is? We're supposed to be debriefed by them hours ago," I thought mildly concerned. I find the Major talking with Baker company's CO and walk over, "Afternoon major, Feixian, what are we discussing today?" I mused as I walked up.
Captain Feixian spoke first, "Where that damned huntsman team is, we were-"
"-Supposed to be debriefed by them hours ago, I know, you getting irate isn't going to make them appear faster y'know," I said finishing his statement.
"Though it certainly makes our jobs harder, as their debrief was meant to give us a better picture of the situation at hand here," Harper said with a sigh, "in any case captain, what are you doing here, I thought you were going to help your men with the trench works," she asked.
"About that, I'm gonna need you to put out a general requisition for all digging equipment, these entrenching tools are slowing progress down significantly," I told her while grabbing a cup of coffee from a nearby coffee machine.
"I'll see what I can do about that, until then I think the engineers have some tools you can poach for the day, they're not set to start construction until tomorrow anyway," Harper replied.
"I'll be sure to check on my way back, send a messenger out if and when you get the tools collected," I said while stirring creamer into my canteen cup of coffee. Honestly, I could just make a pile of shovels and pickaxes but it would be extremely hard to explain how and why I can just make things at will, which will quickly spiral out of control and create more trouble than it's worth. At least with my family, I can trust they'll keep shut when I ask them nicely to do so and Summer is already in the loop when it comes to my abilities so it's not exactly a shocker when I can just make stuff.
"-Captain!" Feixian shouted.
"Huh? what? Sorry I was lost in thought for a moment there," I replied, returning to them.
"Yeah we can tell, I was just asking if you're heading back out, mind dropping off these orders to the engineer company they should be on your way back," Feixian said while holding a slip of paper.
"Sure but I didn't know you held rank above Captain Green," I said sarcastically.
"Ha ha, very funny," Feixian said dryly, "these are for him to send over a couple extra privates to us, the field kitchen is proving to have some issues that need some fixing and they have all the tools," he explained.
"I already said yes, but good to know I suppose," I said rolling my eyes, "I'm headed there anyway since I was going to poach those shovels and picks that the major mentioned," I said, taking the slip of paper.
"Right, good luck to you on the trench works, oh and if you run into the huntsman team, be sure to give 'em a good wallop for me will ya?" He said as I started to leave the tent.
"I'll keep that in mind Feixian," I said amused. With that I took my leave and headed back towards my company, stopping by the engineers to borrow their full-sized spades and axes along with dropping off that note. Arriving back at the half-completed trench works I cleared my throat and called for attention, "Alright good news, those of you who want to exchange your entrenching tool for an actual shovel or pickaxe can head into town to do so, the engineers have made their tools available for our use, so be careful with them, for my sake if nothing else," I announced much to the men's amusement and cheer. Hopping back into the trench with Kelso and Meehan I see that they haven't made much progress since I left.
"Welcome back sir, might I say that was a rousing speech," Kelso said sarcastically.
"Mhm, here's that shovel I promised you," I said passing him one of the two shovels I grabbed.
"The other one for me or am I chopped liver?" Meehan joked.
"The latter, I could only reasonably carry two of them and needed one for myself," I said before continuing the digging I had left off at.
"Yeah, alright, I'll be back after I get an actual digging tool and not this garden spade," he said while climbing out of the trench.
Seems that Vale has a nasty habit of getting flash rains, at least out here on the frontier. Since all digging work had to be halted as storm clouds started building up and we had to quickly set up tarps to keep the water out of the trenches. Right now the bulk of the company is sitting under the tarped-off trenches or in ponchos nearby.
"Just my luck," I mumbled while watching the rain fall.
"I mean it's not like you knew this was gonna happen, don't beat yourself up over it sir," Kelso said while passing me the flask of whiskey he snuck out here.
"Yeah, I suppose so," I said before taking a swig of the whiskey, "in any case I'm going to have to say we'll be late for the check-in time, not to mention I think the company radios are flooded out at the moment," I said while looking at the backpack radio next to me. We had tried to get it under a tarp before the rain set in, but in the chaos of getting the tarps set up we had managed to lose track of its location and it wasn't until the rain had properly set in that we found it sitting by a tree completely soaked in water.
"I'm inclined to agree," Kelso said, taking back the flask. We heard the sound of fighting nearby and quickly grabbed our rifles. We scan the area and don't see anything.
"I'm going to go check on the other dugouts and foxholes, I don't think it's one of our own, but it wouldn't hurt to stretch my legs a bit," I said while putting on a poncho, "keep watch here in case a loose Grimm tries charging our position or something, I'd rather the radio not get more damaged by the time I get back," I said to Kelso, who nodded in agreement. Climbing out of the half-dugout trench, I walk around to the other positions and check in with each group, all of them mostly just preoccupied with passing the time while the rain does its thing. So that rules out infighting at least. The sounds of fighting seem to only get louder with time, so out of an abundance of caution, I call for the men to grab their rifles and stay on alert.
My concerns were very much proven to be well placed as shortly afterward the huntsmen team we were meant to be debriefed by. Burst out of the woods with a pack of beowolfs on their tails. "Fire on those oversized feral dogs god damn it," I shouted at the shocked soldiers. Kicking their attention back into their jobs as army infantrymen, they proceeded to start firing at the wolves nearly aimlessly as I realized the biggest failing in my time as an instructor in the infantry school. I had taught the soldiers how to engage human targets as that was the immediate threat inside the kingdom, however, I had failed to remember that there was a far more serious threat to humanity which we would likely be called upon to fight, the Grimm. I would surely have to pay the price for this failure if I don't take action now. I quickly shouldered my rifle and took aim at any of the beowolfs charging towards a position, my men did what they could and a few even managed to kill some. Though I ended up having to shoulder the bulk of the assault alongside the huntsmen team, who ran interference and kept the damned creatures distracted from our lines.
The last of the beowolfs were taken out by the huntsmen and I called for the men to cease fire, "Alright reload your rifles and stay alert for another wave, we can't be sure these things aren't going to come at as while we're not expecting them," I said to the men. I then turned to the huntsmen, "And you four are coming with me to battalion CP, I have a handful of irate officers waiting there for your debriefing," I said with a frown. The huntsmen to their credit just nodded and followed me as I walked to battalion CP.
Walking inside the community center once again, I quickly ditched the poncho by the door. "Major, I have found the missing huntsmen, it seems they were fighting a rather large pack of beowolfs. It also seems that my section of the line is where they ended up dragging them to, in any case here they are," I said to Harper while drying myself off with some paper towels. "I will also add that we should work with Beacon Academy to provide our soldiers with training on how to fight Grimm, as I imagine our encounters with them will only grow in number," I said.
"I'll be sure to send the message to Colonel Ivy and General Macnamara, however until then we'll have to make do with our existing training," she said before turning to the huntsmen, "as for your four, you'll be giving me and my men a thorough debrief on the situation here, leave any details out and so help me gods, I will find a way to revoke your huntsmen licenses," she said seething with anger.
"Y-yes ma'am," they replied sheepishly.
"Didn't know that making huntsmen fear her was a talent she had," I said to Feixian who was currently amused at the sight before him.
"She's an ex-huntress, she retired as the bulk of her team had died or simply drifted away, since her retirement she had a family," Feixian explained.
"So she has the righteous indignation of a mother scorned and the fighting abilities of a hunter to back it up, no wonder she managed to cow them so quickly," I said with a chuckle, "that does also explain the saber she always carries with her, I had assumed she just was overcompensating for her rank," I mused.
"Nah, that's her personal sword, General Macnamara supposedly signed off on her carrying it as a duty weapon," he said back.
"Well I need to return to my men, send a runner out with any pertinent intel for me will ya? Our radio got flooded out so we can't receive a radio call," I told Feixian before putting back on the poncho I ditched at the door. Walking outside into the pouring rain, I start walking back to the defensive positions and hope that the rain starts clearing up soon.
So in a change of events, I've actually decided to write out this first assignment my character receives. So hooray for new content I suppose. Anyway lemme know what y'all think in the reviews. Also I should say that I am still workshopping a better summary, so bear with me if it changes every so often
