+++March 1991
++Unified Front of China
++Tianjin

The IJN Otakisan Maru docked at the port of Tianjin, its massive hull looming over the murky waters of the Bohai Sea. The sky above was gray and overcast, a fitting backdrop for the tension that simmered just beneath the surface. Cold northern wind carried the scent of salt and rust, mingling with the distant sounds of heavy machinery and the muffled voices of the dockworkers.

Horn Company stood at attention on the deck, their Imperial Royal Guard uniforms pristine despite the long voyage. Their TSFs had already been secured onto Type-87 Maintenance Trailers, waiting to be transported inland. Soon, they would begin the journey northward to Harbin, deep into the China's war-torn territory.

Takeru adjusted his gloves, his gaze sweeping over the docks. The reception they were about to receive would be anything but warm.

Despite humanity's supposed unity against the BETA, the past could not be so easily erased. The sight of Imperial Japanese soldiers setting foot on Chinese soil was a bitter pill to swallow for many.

The ghosts of history loomed large, the invasion of China, the brutality of the Imperial Army, the massacres in Nanjing and other cities, the forced labor camps, the failed promises of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. For decades, the people of China had endured the weight of occupation, and though Imperial Japan occupation had ended in 1945, the scars it left behind had never fully healed.

Even now, with the BETA threatening to consume them all, those wounds still bled.

The soldiers of the Unified Front of China stood in formation on the docks, their soldiers and staff watching the arrival of the Imperial Royal Guard with barely concealed wariness. UN personnel, marked by their blues and neutral expressions, flanked them, acting as an unofficial buffer between the two sides.

The tension was palpable.

Takeru knew that no amount of military alliances or diplomatic agreements could change the way these men saw them. The sins of the past could not be undone, and the presence of Japanese soldiers in China, especially those bearing the emblem of the Imperial Royal Guard, was a reminder of that bitter history.

And yet, there was one thing that tempered the hostility in their eyes.

Horn Company had fought off a BETA incursion at sea while the TSFs of the UFC and UN had been on a scheduled patrol. A Company of Twelve units, surviving the Eight Minutes of Death, holding the line and ensuring their safe docking.

Even the most resentful among them could not ignore that.

There were no cheers, no warm welcomes, but there was a begrudging respect.

A group of officials stepped forward to greet them.

At the head was Lt. Colonel Michael Reynolds, an American officer with the UN Army. His expression was carefully neutral, though his eyes held a glint of curiosity as he studied the arriving Eishi.

Beside him stood Senior Colonel Wei Jian of the Unified Front of China. His uniform was immaculate, his posture stiff with formality. Unlike Reynolds, there was no curiosity in his gaze, only thinly veiled distrust for the 'Imperialist' before him.

Reynolds was the first to speak. "Captain Shirogane Takeru. Horn Company. Welcome to Tianjin."

Takeru stepped forward and gave a precise bow. "Lt. Colonel Reynolds. Senior Colonel Wei. We appreciate the reception."

Wei's lips thinned slightly, his dark eyes narrowing. "A formal greeting is all you will receive. Do not mistake this as anything more." His voice was cold, clipped, each word laced with the weight of unspoken grievances.

Takeru did not flinch. "I expect nothing more, Senior Colonel. We are here to fight the BETA. That is all."

For a moment, neither man spoke. The tension between them was razor-sharp, but Takeru did not back down, his expression unwavering.

Finally, Wei gave a short nod. "Good."

Reynolds, sensing the need to move things along, cleared his throat. "Your TSFs will be transported using Type-87 Maintenance Trailers. They'll be taken to Harbin for final re-inspection before deployment. Your pilots will follow separately in armored trucks."

Takeru nodded. Standard procedure. The trailers would keep their TSFs secure while limiting exposure to potential attacks.

Wei gestured toward the waiting convoy. "We leave in thirty minutes. Be ready."

With that, the officials turned and walked away, leaving Horn Company to their preparations.

The Type-87 Maintenance Trailers lined the docks, their reinforced platforms designed to carry Tactical Surface Fighters safely across long distances. Engineers moved with practiced efficiency, securing each Kagerou unit with heavy-duty clamps and hydraulic stabilizers.

Takeru stood near his own TSF, watching as the crew completed their work. His sharp eyes took in every detail, ensuring there were no mistakes.

Jun Sakai approached, hands in his pockets. "That could've gone worse."

Takeru smirked slightly. "It went exactly as expected."

Sakai exhaled, shaking his head. "Still, you'd think they'd at least pretend to be a little grateful. We did just save their asses."

Takeru didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the convoy. "Gratitude doesn't erase history."

Sakai glanced at him, then sighed. "Yeah. Guess you're right."

Nearby, the rest of Horn Company was finishing up their own preparations. Takeda Haruto and Fujimoto Daiki double-checked their equipment, while Okabe Shun exchanged quiet words with Nakamura Renji.

They all understood the situation, even if they didn't talk about it.

The message was clear.

They were not welcome here.

But they were needed.

The convoy departed as planned, rolling out of Tianjin.

Horn Company was split between several armored trucks, their reinforced plating designed to withstand small-arms fire and moderate explosive impacts. The Type-87 Maintenance Trailers followed closely behind, carrying the precious cargo of their TSFs.

Takeru sat near the window of his truck, watching the landscape shift as they traveled further inland. The roads were lined with the ruins of abandoned villages, their structures hollowed out by war and time. Every so often, they would pass refugee camps—clusters of makeshift shelters where families huddled together against the cold.

The BETA had carved deep scars into this land.

Inside the truck, the atmosphere was heavy. No one spoke for a long while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Eventually, Sakai broke the silence. "Do you ever think about it?"

Takeru turned to him. "Think about what?"

Sakai stared out the window. "The way things used to be. Before the BETA. Before all of this."

Takeru was silent for a moment, his mind flickering through memories of timelines long past. "It doesn't matter what was," he said finally. "Only what is."

Sakai exhaled, nodding slightly. "Yeah. Guess that's all we've got left."

The convoy pressed on for hours, the road stretching endlessly ahead of them.

++Harbin

The convoy rumbled through the battered streets of Harbin, its armored trucks and Type-87 Maintenance Trailers kicking up clouds of dust and snow. The city was a shadow of what it once had been. Some buildings half-collapsed, streets littered with the remnants of past evacuations. Makeshift barricades and watchtowers lined the roads, manned by weary soldiers from the Unified Front of China and the United Nations. The closer they moved toward the military installation, the more obvious the scars of war became.

Horn Company remained silent as they approached the base. The weight of the journey, the chilly reception at Tianjin, and the reminder of what lay ahead kept them on edge. They were deep in contested territory now.

At the gates of the area where the Continental Expeditionary Force was, a group of soldiers stood waiting. At the forefront were Lt. Colonel Michael Reynolds and Senior Colonel Wei Jian, their postures stiff as they prepared to hand over Horn Company to their new command.

Takeru stepped down from his truck first, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings before turning toward the officers.

Reynolds gave a curt nod. "Welcome to Harbin, Captain Shirogane. This is as far as we take you."

Wei Jian, ever the formal one, stepped forward. "From this point on, you are under the command of the Continental Expeditionary Force's Imperial Japanese Army contingent." He gestured toward the gates, where a group of Japanese soldiers stood waiting. "Your new commanding officer will handle your deployment from here."

There were no ceremony, no further pleasantries. Just the cold reality of war.

Takeru gave a formal bow, his expression unreadable. "Understood."

Wei studied him for a long moment before turning on his heel, leading his men away. Reynolds lingered for a few seconds longer, his expression unreadable, then followed.

As soon as they departed, a voice rang out from ahead.

"Well, well," the new officer drawled, arms crossed over his chest. "So, you're the IRG bastards they sent us?"

Takeru turned his attention to the man standing at the entrance. His uniform marked him as an Imperial Japanese Army Colonel, though the way he carried himself suggested he had seen more battles than briefings. His sharp eyes flicked over Horn Company with clear amusement.

"I was going to give you all a nice warm welcome," the man continued, a smirk playing at his lips. "But it seems the fucking BETA beat me to it. Hell of a way to make an entrance, eh?"

Horn Company remained stone-faced, their training keeping them from reacting.

The officer let out a short laugh before waving them forward. "Judging by the fact that you're still breathing, I'd say you've already been baptized." He tilted his head slightly. "Which begs the question… what the hell is the Imperial Royal Guard doing here? I thought you guys were content staying back home, looking fancy in your parade uniforms."

Takeru met his gaze head-on, his tone cold and commanding. "The situation demanded it."

The officer raised an eyebrow. "That so?"

Takeru took a step forward, the sheer weight of his presence seeming to shift the air between them. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath the surface.

"The IRG was deployed as part of a strategic initiative to bolster the Continental Expeditionary Force's armored divisions. We bring with us the newly developed domestic-made Kagerous, which will be undergoing combat testing in live engagements." His gaze didn't waver. "We were assigned to Harbin not for show, but for results."

The officer's smirk faded slightly.

Takeru continued, his voice unwavering. "You need experienced Eishi to hold the line. We've already proven ourselves in combat. You don't have to like us, but you will acknowledge that we are here to fight."

For a long moment, the colonel simply stared at him. Then, slowly, a grin spread across his face.

"Well," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll be damned."

He stepped forward and extended a gloved hand. "Colonel Hoshino Ryuji. I'll be overseeing your deployment while you're here in Harbin."

Takeru took the offered handshake, his grip firm. "Captain Shirogane Takeru. Horn Company."

Hoshino gave a sharp nod, his earlier sarcasm replaced with something closer to respect. "Alright, Captain. Let's get you and your men settled in. Follow me."

The base was a sprawling complex of reinforced bunkers, makeshift barracks, and armored depots. The sounds of distant gunfire and the roar of TSF engines echoed through the cold air, a reminder that the war never truly stopped.

Hoshino led them through the base, his hands casually tucked into his coat pockets. "Harbin is one of the most strategically important locations in this sector," he explained. "It serves as a major deployment hub for TSFs heading to the frontlines in Manchuria. We get units from the UFC, the UN, and now, apparently, a squadron of IRG." He shot Takeru a glance, his smirk returning. "We could use more than twelve Units, you know?"

Takeru ignored him.

As they approached the hangars, the sheer scale of the operation became clear. Rows of TSFs in various states of readiness. Engineers and technicians moved between them like worker ants, performing last-minute checks and repairs.

"These," Hoshino said, gesturing toward a separate section of the hangar, "are yours."

The designated area was already prepared for Horn Company's arrival. Their twelve Kagerou TSFs stood in formation, their armored frames standing out against the hangar walls. Mechanics were already at work, ensuring that every unit was fully operational.

"You'll be working out of here," Hoshino continued. "Barracks are across the yard, mess hall's two buildings over, and the command center is where you'll be getting your orders from." He turned to face Takeru. "Anything else you need?"

Takeru shook his head. "This will suffice."

Hoshino nodded. "Good. You'll get your briefing tomorrow morning. Until then, get your men settled in." He glanced at the Kagerous again. "And tell your techs to keep those machines in top shape again. We'll be seeing action sooner than you think."

With that, Hoshino turned on his heel and strode off, leaving Horn Company to their new home.

Takeru exhaled slightly, turning to face his men. "You heard him," he said. "Get situated. We're in this for the long haul."

The hangars were cold, but they were functional. Horn Company wasted no time in organizing their equipment, checking their TSFs, and securing their gear. The tension from earlier had faded somewhat, replaced by the familiar rhythm of preparation.

Jun Sakai leaned against one of the Kagerous, watching as the mechanics worked. "Well, that went about as smoothly as expected."

Takeru glanced at him. "Hoshino isn't a fool. He might not like us, but he understands what we bring to the table."

Sakai smirked. "Yeah. Still, I think you scared the hell out of him back there."

Takeru shrugged. "If he can't handle that, he won't survive out here."

Sakai let out a low chuckle. "Fair point."

Across the hangar, Takeda Haruto and Fujimoto Daiki were already running system diagnostics on their TSFs, while Okabe Shun inspected their weapons' stockpile. The rest of the men were settling into the barracks, organizing their personal gear and preparing for the days ahead.

++Continental Expeditionary Force Outpost

The meeting room inside the Continental Expeditionary Force's command post in Harbin was dimly lit, its walls lined with tactical maps and satellite imagery, it was a place built for war. A long table dominated the center of the room, surrounded by officers, analysts, and key personnel. Horn Company stood at attention along one side, their Imperial Royal Guard uniforms a striking contrast to the standard Imperial Army uniforms worn by their hosts.

Colonel Hoshino Ryuji sat at the head of the table, a cigarette burning between his fingers as he studied the faces of the men before him. His expression was unreadable, but the sharp glint in his eyes told Takeru that he was a man who had seen his fair share of battle.

Finally, after a long drag of his cigarette, Hoshino exhaled and leaned forward. "Alright, let's get down to business."

A large tactical map flickered to life on the screen behind him, displaying the expanse of China, Mongolia, and Russia. Bright red markings — BETA movement indicators blotted the landscape like a disease, spreading eastward at an alarming rate.

"The eastward BETA advance is now classified as a national crisis for the Empire of Japan," Hoshino began, his voice steady but firm. "The Imperial Diet has officially recognized the severity of the situation and has thus authorized the formation and deployment of the Imperial Army's Continental Expeditionary Force."

He gestured toward the screen, his finger tracing the eastern coastline of China. "Japan cannot afford to wait until the BETA are on our doorstep. That's why we're here."

Hoshino took another drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke drift upward. "For years, the BETA have been a growing threat. The fall of Europe has only made things worse. With the majority of UN forces focused on stabilizing the remaining European enclaves, the Far East has been left to fend for itself. That means us."

Takeru listened intently, his eyes scanning the maps. He already knew much of this information, but hearing it laid out so bluntly reinforced the weight of their mission.

"The Continental Expeditionary Force was formed specifically to counter the growing BETA presence in East Asia," Hoshino continued. "We're looking at a large-scale deployment of armored units, with a primary focus on Tactical Surface Fighters."

He shifted his gaze toward Horn Company. "That includes you."

There was no mockery in his voice this time — just a grim acknowledgment of the situation.

"You're now officially attached to the Expeditionary Force," Hoshino stated, "but you're granted privileges to operate independently — within reason."

Jun Sakai raised an eyebrow. "Within reason?"

Hoshino exhaled sharply, looking mildly annoyed. "Look, I'd rather have you follow my orders to the letter, but I know how the IRG works. The brass wants you to have some degree of autonomy as long as you don't disrupt overall operations."

Takeru nodded. "Understood."

Hoshino leaned back, his chair creaking under the weight. "Personally? I'd rather have you boys where I can see you, but I don't make the rules. What I can tell you is that you'll be sent to the front. Sooner rather than later."

Hoshino's expression darkened. He reached for a remote and switched the tactical map display. The image zoomed in on northwestern China, near the Gansu Corridor, where a new cluster of BETA movement markers had been detected.

"Rumors suggest that the BETA have started gathering in Dunhuang," Hoshino said, his tone grim. "If a hive forms there, we're fucked. It would give them a direct path to Lanzhou, cutting through Central China like a damn knife."

The map shifted again, this time to Russia. Specifically, the Krasnoyarsk.

"At the same time," Hoshino continued, "the BETA in Krasnoyarsk has begun an alarming eastward push. If they breach past Lake Baikal and push into eastern Siberia, we'll have a two-front crisis on our hands."

A tense silence filled the room. The implications were obvious.

"We're staring at millions of BETA advancing toward the Far East," Hoshino said bluntly. "The best-case scenario? We slow them down. The worst-case scenario?" He let the silence hang for a moment before finishing, "We lose everything between here and Japan."

Hoshino turned his attention back to the map of China.

"The topography of this country makes full-scale maneuver warfare against the BETA… complicated," he explained. "We have mountains, rivers, and urban ruins creating natural choke points, but we also have vast plains that give the BETA open corridors to advance through."

He tapped his finger against several key locations along the eastern front.

"Our primary job is culling the BETA before they can break through the eastern defenses. If we can reduce their numbers, we improve our chances of holding Harbin, Changchun, and Shenyang."

One of Horn Company's pilots, Takeda Haruto, frowned. "Why aren't we launching a direct strike on Dunhuang?"

Hoshino let out a short laugh, one that carried no humor.

"Because we don't have the firepower," he said flatly. "With Europe in full-scale evacuation mode, our resources are stretched thin. The UN can't afford to commit more forces here, and the UFC is barely holding the line as it is."

He sighed, rubbing his temples. "We don't have the luxury of proactive strikes. We hold the line because we have no other choice."

Silence followed. The reality of the situation was grim, but no one argued.

Hoshino clicked the remote again, bringing up tactical objectives for Horn Company.

"Your unit will be deployed in culling operations along the BETA advance routes," he stated. "Expect to be working alongside UFC and UN units, and before you ask, no, they won't be happy about it."

Jun Sakai smirked. "They weren't happy when we got here, either."

Hoshino snorted. "Yeah, well, they'll be a lot more pissed off when the BETA start chewing through their lines."

He turned serious again. "Our immediate focus is fortifying the approach to Changchun and Jilin. If those cities fall, Harbin is next."

Takeru nodded. "Acknowledged."

Hoshino glanced around the room, taking one last drag of his cigarette before crushing it out. "Alright, I've said my piece. Any questions?"

No one spoke.

Hoshino exhaled, looking slightly amused. "No complaints? No sarcastic remarks?"

Takeru met his gaze evenly. "Complaints won't change the mission."

The colonel smirked. "I like that answer." He stood up, rolling his shoulders. "Alright, Horn Company. Welcome to hell."

He gestured toward the door. "Get some rest. You'll need it."

Horn Company filed out of the meeting room, the true weight of their mission finally settling onto their shoulders.

Jun Sakai let out a low whistle. "Well, that was a nice motivational speech."

Takeda shook his head. "We're staring at millions of BETA heading straight for us, and our job is just to slow them down? That's insane."

Takeru remained silent as they walked, his mind already working through the details.

He had been in countless battles, but this one, this timeline, was different.

As they stepped outside into the chilly Harbin air, he exhaled slowly, watching the steam rise from his breath.

This was the beginning of a long, brutal campaign.