After a difficult time, the muses and the spirit to write have returned. I am so glad because this story gives me great joy to bring to my readers. So... Here we are, a fresh chapter. Read, Review, and hopefully Enjoy!
Chapter 56: Operation Drive-Thru Part 4
West Wall, Sadera
Captain Nakajima loaded a fresh magazine into his rifle. He and his men were holding a firm foothold on the Western wall, for the moment. It was a stalemate: Nakajima's company was too scattered to take the wall completely and the defenders so far lacked the strength to force Nakajima's men off. To Nakajima's relief, the stalemate finally broke with the arrival of Bravo Company of Team Bastogne. A squat, broad-shouldered American wearing Captain's bars scrambled up beside him.
"Captain Nakajima? I'm Captain Brent Davis, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion. The rest of the Battalion will be here soon."
"Good. I have men needing medical evacuation."
"Then let's take this wall. Then we can get the choppers in here and get those men out."
With a firm nod of agreement, Nakajima pointed to where his men were dug in and where the enemy still held. "Alright then. Let's do this."
Akusho District
It was a calm and orderly evacuation of the 'Peace Faction' Senators, their families, and Mizari's people. With the surviving crime families of the district watching for the possible deployment of Imperial forces into Akusho, there was sufficient evacuate. There was even the opportunity for Mizari to engage in a little entrepreneurship, arranging for extra wagons to carry out various personal items and riches belonging to senatorial families… For a fee, of course. After all, Mizari and her people would need starter capital to set up in Alnus Town.
Major Nyutabaru stood close by the radio watch. He and Lieutenant Theisman carefully checked to ensure every last piece of off-world equipment had been accounted for and stowed for evacuation, along with the senators and their families. Their mission inside the Imperial Capital was at an end. It was time to leave, as soon as they received word that the West Gate was secured.
West Wall, Sadera: 1st Battalion Team Bastogne
"Archangel, this is Trumpeter. Objective secure! Requesting medivac helicopters, our position."
"Roger that, Trumpeter. We'll get medivac underway. Good work, Colonel. Archangel out!"
Colonel Zane promptly instructed Captain Vincent to detach one platoon to secure an evacuation point for the wounded: 1st Battalion troopers, JSDF, and even some Saderans… including a couple of imperial mages… were now being tended by medics. The victory had come at a cost, but now with the objective secured, the evacuation of Peace Faction Senators could begin.
Akusho District
Major Nyutabaru listened calmly as the radio operator confirmed Alnus's word that the West Wall and gate had been secured. It should be soon that the route out of the capital was completely secured. Nyutabaru, Captain Harrington, AND Lieutenant Theisman ALL knew of Miss Mizari's deal to transport the fortunes of various escaping senators and nobles. Nyutabaru flatly declared that his concern was the safety of the senators and he had no men to spare to guard the treasure wagons which would follow at the back of the convoy. However, Captain Harrington pointed out that anything that deprived Zorzal of resources could only be considered a good thing. As such, 2nd Lieutenant Tremaine and Sergeant Harkness joined Lieutenant Theisman in watching over the back of the convoy. And as soon as the route out was secured, Senators and their treasures alike would slip through Zorzal's hands and beyond his grasp…
Order of the Kestral: Training Barracks
Optio Venarus grimly inspected the entire company. Hadrian and Aelred noted uneasily that the optio was not checking the polish of their armor but seeing its fit on each and every cadet, making sure every man had his sword ready. Once he was done, Venarus addressed them all.
"Forces of our barbarian enemies are attempting to raid the city. Real soldiers of the Imperial Legions will deal with this attack. We are to stand by in case we are needed to maintain order in the streets. In that event, you will receive instructions on how and where to deploy."
Hadrian frowned and glanced at Aelred. Things were definitely out of control.
407th CSH, Italica
Colonel Potter took a quick glance around the ER. The vast majority of the most severely wounded casualties coming in were Saderans. But Saderans, American, or Japanese… Such distinctions dropped at the door. These young men were among the lucky ones to have made it this far. Over at Captain Pierce's table, Captain 'Ugly John' Black was supervising an elf girl named Arien as she applied sleep magic to Captain Pierce's patient. So far, such magic seemed a promising replacement for conventional anesthesia in cases where extended surgical sessions risked dangers such as wound infections and blood clots.
In cases like these, every advantage helped.
Outside, the sounds of angry voices rose combatively, soon joined by crashes and the sounds of scuffling.
"What in the name of Sam Hill is going on out there?" Potter demanded.
Radar took a quick check. "A couple walking wounded, sir. Looks like a Japanese and a Saderan… Major Winchester is breaking them up!" Sure enough, the enraged tones of Major Winchester's voice cut through the air…
"THIS WILL CEASE IMMEDIATELY! I do not care whether you like each other or hate each other and I could not care less what EITHER of you might think of ME. But THIS is a hospital! There WILL be order here! There WILL be peace!" Winchester wheeled on the JSDF paratrooper being held by an Orc serving with the MPs. Speaking in precise Japanese, Winchester glared into the paratrooper's eyes. "Whatever opinions you may keep in your private thoughts, you will show a superior officer RESPECT! And you will behave PROPERLY!"
Winchester then turned on the young Saderan, struggling in the arms of a human MP, and pointedly spoke in Latin. "Healers work here! If you insist on behaving like children, then I will TREAT you like children!"
"Now… " Winchester spoke with deliberate malice, turning to Koirre. "Specialist, go find Major Burns with my compliments and tell him I have two cases that require his particular set of skills…"
Training Barracks of The Rose Order
Amaretto quietly looked over the training grounds. Dozens of Prince Zorzal's Scourers now patrolled the grounds and the members of the Blue Rose and the new Pink Roses were confined to the barracks pending further commands from the Crown Prince. Their instructors; however, such as Gaius Scipius, the Order's archery instructor, were being held in the headquarters of the State Security Militia. It chafed the 18-year-old knight to no end to watch these thugs strutting about. But without a plan, the best that any attempt at armed insurrection would accomplish would be to ensure that their instructors would be killed and they, themselves, would be put down in short order. Still, the one thing that her instructors had taught her was to keep her eyes open for an opportunity. In the distance, she could hear what sounded like claps of thunder on an otherwise clear morning. Overhead, the precise flights of the Wyvern Corps were no longer parading overhead but instead were turning and weaving in desperate maneuvers, and Amaretto recognized their opportunity might just come very soon. Although the armory had been locked down, they could still fight with kitchen knives if they had to… At least until they could get into the armory. Amaretto turned to her sister Claret, who was watching at her side.
"Tell everyone to don their armor and stand by. Tell Paloma to smuggle whatever cutlery she can find from the kitchen. I don't know what's happening, Claret, but we just might get to pay these dogs in their own coin. And I do not intend to miss it."
Task Force Enterprise
Up ahead, the South Gate loomed. The SAS team controlling the gate quickly waved through Taylor's unit. With Panache guiding the column toward the training barracks from the lead Humvee, Sergeant Nakamura was in full regalia as The Reaper's Herald. Most city militia and security forces instinctively gave the woman they presumed to be 'Rory The Reaper' a wide berth.
And then they finally reached the gates of the Rose Order barracks. Reaper's Herald, or not, the State Security guards had no intention of standing aside. Not that they did not fear Rory Mercury, but given the prospect of being caught between the Dark God's Apostle and their Prince's wrath, they were inclined to pray that the Gods would be merciful. Their Prince was not.
While ramming the gate might seem appropriately dramatic, Taylor simply nodded to Sergeant Davis, and the guards were cut down where they stood. The State Security forces had done a fair job in converting the barracks into a jail, but jails were meant to keep people in, not to keep invaders out. Two Marines swung open the gates, and the column drove through. The State Security garrison belatedly began to respond to the assault, only to find themselves caught between the small invasion force and hundreds of angry Rose Order Knights. It was a brief fight. Within minutes, Panache was overseeing the distribution of weapons from the armory.
"Arm up! Armor up! Load the wagons! Provender and supplies first! Then load any spare armor and weapons in that order. Anything we cannot transport, we will put to the torch! Our enemies will have nothing but ashes when we leave!" Panache paused and turned to Kahlua.
"Kahlua, once we're ready to leave, you and Corporal Peterson will lead the Pink Roses and our supply train to the South Gate," Panache instructed. "We can't risk taking half-trained knights into a fight."
"I understand," Kahlua answered. "We'll be waiting for you."
"Just hurry along. We'll catch up, just as soon as we finish dealing with those State Security bastards."
Task Force Yamato
"Primary objective achieved," Taylor's voice came over the radio. "Proceeding to the secondary objective."
"Acknowledged," Itami answered. "We'll be reaching the palace soon."
"Good luck! We'll rendezvous as soon as possible!"
"Don't be late."
"We'll be there."
Itami thumbed the mic off. Theoretically, Itami would prefer to storm the palace with all possible speed and ferocity. But that was simply not an option. Princess Pina could very easily be killed if they attempted a direct assault. They would have to infiltrate the palace instead. This did not sit well with Bozes and Vifita, who would have to wait beyond the palace gate while Itami, the Apostle, the Mage, and the two Elves infiltrated the palace under the guise of bearing tribute and the Apostle coming to give a 'Blessing' to Crown Prince Zorzal. Hamilton, meanwhile, along with Kurokawa, would locate Emperor Molt.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Cassiopea made her choice. She knew that Zorzal would not win this battle. Zorzal and Bouros and all the fools might cling to delusions, but it was time for her to save what she could. Cassiopea masked her true thoughts one more time as she approached Zorzal. She kept her posture submissive to him even as she speared Zorzal's lackeys with her gaze.
"My Prince, while it is our fervent hope that our Majesty's legions, the Imperial Guard, and State Security will smash the barbarians, prudence demands we take steps to prepare in case of an unexpected defeat or act of treachery to ensure the safety of your person. However unlikely, you must know that your loss would be an unthinkable disaster for the Empire," she lied. "I will ride to the Kestral Order barracks. If the soldiers of the Empire should suffer defeat, then at least the Sadera's sons will stand and defend their city and their Emperor." How easy the lies had become! The vixen marveled. She watched as Zorzal considered her words. Words selected to mix the right amount of confidence with the tiniest bit of doubt, and the correct mix of fawning patriotism and loyalty.
Zorzal slowly nodded. "I am certain our armies will smash the savages, but the sight of Sadera's sons standing to protect the Empire will be gladdening in the hearts of our citizens. Such dedicated young men deserve the honor of being part of this day's glory. Take a horse and go! Inform them to stand ready."
"As you command, My Prince," Cassiopea bowed and withdrew. Of course, she would do no such thing. She would instruct them to stand down and survive. She just had to reach them in time.
To Be Continued