"To Secretary Roberson, we are getting reports from our PI censors and agents on the field stating questions regarding JBCR (Fort Carson and Space Base Raymond). In the past three weeks, we have caught seventeen potential leaks regarding what is happening around the Bridge. We are coordinating with the CIA and NSA to plug all leaks about the current war.
As you already know, an information leak about the recent casualty report was released to the online channel Indie News. We found the individual who had leaked the details. It was a contractor who overheard a conversation between staff. Luckily, we were able to interject additional information, making them believe that five soldiers from 4th ID were killed during a training exercise. Lieutenant General Sherman has already increased security around the hospital.
One final element of this report is chatter about the ever-increasing troop level around JBCR. With so much hardware moving between both bases and additional personnel, this secret has raised questions the longer it goes on.
As stated before, we are doing everything possible to mitigate leaks and spread disinformation. Please note that our internal analysts believe this situation is untenable. Either we move operations off base or prepare to go public about operations on Alagore." – FBI Director Ethen Hunter
April 9th, 2069 (military calendar)
Salva, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie
Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore
*****
Sitting in a barely functional, uncomfortable chair, Assiaya stared at the cracked ceiling, unable to look away out of sheer boredom. When the American Ambassador had arrived in the city, she had taken up residence in this building near the Minutemen Headquarters and the Palace.
The Princess had attempted to host a celebration to honor such a high-ranking official. However, the Ambassador had bypassed any formal introduction or tour of the city. At first, Assiaya believed the American woman simply wanted to get straight to work. Now, she wasn't so sure.
After one Zulu week, the woman had yet to interact with the townsfolk or even say hello to the Princess. Worse, the Ambassador had barely left this repurposed building.
"We have been here for three hours," the voice said.
"I know…" she mentally replied.
"Why did this woman request us if she was not going to be here?"
"I know…."
"Three times that woman has done this to us."
"I said I know…."
"It is disrespectful! We are Princesses."
"Princesses who need their military."
"They chose you to lead. We should have gone to that fishing village yesterday instead of goofing around. You know I am right."
Assiaya took a deep, frustrated breath and looked away from the crack in the ceiling. She could be doing so much more with her time instead of wasting it here. She could be speaking with the Council or walking through the city streets, talking with the people—something she had unexpectedly grown to love. Most likely, they would go to the Nagal fishing village soon to secure another source of food.
"We should leave," the voice said.
Feeling frustrated, the Princess turned toward the male secretary, Porter Dickson, who sat at the table.
"How much longer?"
"The Ambassador's meeting should be over soon," Dickson said without looking up.
"You said that forty minutes ago."
"Show some respect," Dickson replied. "Ambassador Susan West is a busy woman. Being assigned to this dirtball, she must have a lot of destructive policies to correct."
While Assiaya wasn't educated in the craft of diplomacy, she knew an insult when she heard one.
The Princess turned toward her motuia advisor, seeking an explanation for the disrespect. She knew her formal master would never have tolerated such behavior. Yeldan, the Wood Elf, was reading through the law books and translating them for the Altaerrie. Assiaya knew her Father had requested that the Council organize their legal system so it could eventually be translated into English.
"Have you conducted diplomacy with humans before?" she asked.
"Longer than any human has been alive," Yeldan replied. "Remember, your formal family were humans and rulers of these lands."
"You know what I mean."
"I do."
"Why is she being so rude? If the Ambassador knew she couldn't meet me for so long, why summon me?"
"You mean why summon you instead of simply requesting a meeting?" he asked. "Only puppets are summoned. There are two main reasons a diplomat would engage in such a practice. One is posturing, similar to what Vagahm was doing with you during your negotiations. The other is intentionally wasting your time as a power play."
Assiaya recalled her time with the dwarves. The negotiations had given her a migraine, but she knew their practices had been conducted with good intentions, at least for their people. With Miss West, however, there had seemed to be an unreasonable hostility toward her since their first encounter.
"What should I do?"
"Right now? The American Ambassador has little respect for you. You must earn it."
"He is correct."
The Princess turned toward the Ambassador's door and took a deep breath.
"Can you distract the American man?"
"Of course I can." The Wood Elf Motuia closed his legal book and stood. "Sir? Do you mind stating your name again? Learning Altaerrie names has been a struggle."
"First, enough with this Altaerrie business," Dickson said. "My name is Porter Dickson. It says it on my desk."
"I do not know the English letters," Yeldan replied. "I thank you, good sir. I shall remember your name going forward. I also wish to address you because I have questions regarding your language."
"I am not the one to ask."
"Are you not a diplomat?"
The Princess watched as her motuia political advisor continued questioning the American secretary. She could see the man's frustration as the elf ignored his protests and continued asking questions.
Seeing that the secretary was distracted, the dual-eyed girl quietly approached the Ambassador's door and tried to open it.
It was locked.
"Try placing your ear against the door," the voice suggested. "Maybe we can hear what is going on inside. If there is a meeting, there would be loud voices."
"I could give it a try," she mentally replied.
She placed her hands and head against the door and closed her eyes. She struggled to hear anything inside the room. That was odd. American technology usually made plenty of noise.
"Try harder," the voice urged.
The dual-eyed Princess focused on her breathing. She remembered the Akuma in the forest, when she had seen multiple perspectives before passing out.
A sudden blue-yellow haze clouded her mind.
Through the haze, it seemed as if the wall disappeared. For a brief moment, she caught a hazy glimpse of the room beyond.
A woman was lying on a couch.
Sleeping.
The vision vanished.
Assiaya leaned back and stared at the wooden interior wall, baffled by what she had just seen.
"Hey," Dickson said. "You cannot be there."
She ignored him.
The Princess turned and walked out of the building.
Once outside, she stopped on the stone road and stared toward the sky.
"Was she really sleeping?" she asked aloud.
"Yes," the voice replied.
"Was that the Ambassador?"
"Yes, again. I saw it with my own eyes."
"I did, too."
The Slave Princess took a deep, angry breath, clenching her hands as rage built inside her. The Ambassador had kept her waiting for hours, and the woman had been asleep the entire time.
Part of her wanted to go back inside and make a scene. Another wanted to complain to Hackett. Yet another simply wanted to scream at the top of her lungs about the disrespect.
Now she understood what her motuia meant.
"I see you have discovered your answer," Yeldan said.
"She was sleeping," Assiaya replied. "No… not sleeping. Napping. Kallem would never accept such disrespect. She asked us to come here just to keep us waiting while she took a nap."
"It seems so," he said. "What does my Highness wish to do now? Head back to the Palace? I believe Lord Ryder will be coming home from his mission soon."
When she heard her motuia advisor mention that her father would be home soon, it only frustrated her more. She thought of her father, his friends, and all the soldiers defending the city, risking their lives while the Ambassador slept.
It sickened her.
"How am I supposed to help solve problems if no one will take me seriously? I think the Americans only see me as a child."
"In their eyes, you are."
"I am almost old enough to have children," Assiaya replied.
She placed her hands on her head and stared up at the gas giant Tekali.
"I am supposed to be a leader. How can I help fix the food shortages if the Americans won't help?"
"I do not believe all Americans are refusing to help," Yeldan replied. "Still, we can return to Colonel Hackett and arrange a ride."
Part of her wanted to return to the Colonel and request his help. But she didn't want to be seen as a child who couldn't fulfill her duties. She didn't want to become an annoying, symbolic puppet who could simply be ignored.
The more the Princess thought about the situation, the more she realized she needed to prove herself—to the Americans and to herself.
Colonel Hackett had given her a diplomatic mission, and she would follow through on it just as her Father would follow through on his missions.
"No," she said boldly. "Father is fighting the Unity right now and is not giving up, so why should I? Uncle Hackett said we could go to the fishing village, and I am not going to let an excetra get in the way. So we are going."
"Harsh language."
Assiaya crossed her arms, still angry.
"She is wicked. I just don't know what to do next."
"I believe I know someone who can help."
April 9th, 2069 (military calendar)
Hiplose Woods, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie
Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore
*****
Seeing two vampires firing against the American assault, Captain Mathew Ryder fired three shots at the hostile who was kneeling, neutralizing the target. This caused the other enemy soldier to attempt to fall back, but he was quickly taken out.
"Don't let up!" Barrett ordered. "Ford!"
As Comanche maintained their fire, the enemy refused to abandon their position. Grenades exploded against the enemy's exterior fortifications, and rifle fire overwhelmed the defenders. However, energy blasts and flechettes mixed with the American weapons, adding to the intense suppressive fire.
With a hostile enemy blast impacting next to the Captain, Ryder lowered himself for protection. He then looked to the left and saw the Horatius Centurion standing with his circiletum, providing leadership for the rest of the Palatini.
"Horatius!" Canina said. "Stand tall against the traitorous bloodsuckers."
Seeing the Primipilus Centurion standing bold and strong in the face of danger, directing the other warriors of Horatius, both Ryder and Barrett turned to each other, impressed by the sight.
"I guess you have competition in the NCO department," Ryder said.
"We will see about that," Barrett said.
With the intense enemy weapons fire continuing, Ryder watched as two soldiers from Horatius' circiletmen fired their weapons from behind a log alongside Comanche. One was Darius Rutilus, a Lat soldier, while the other was their Neko scout, Kirath Trimptus. They were standing next to Benjamin Ford, who was using a scutum as cover while they attempted to clear out a bunker.
Over to the right, some of Comanche were using two boulders as protection. Eger Wallace had his light machine gun firing bursts against the Aristocracy's position. The bulky soldiers were Bruno Barrios and Charlie Higgins, who fired their M31s alongside their Legionary comrades. Fraeya used her magic to weaken the effectiveness of the energy bolts.
The exterior Verliance Aristocracy line started to crumble, allowing both Special Forces teams to slowly advance. Suddenly, a heavy orange elecprobus blast impacted in front of them, causing everyone to seek cover. Additional blasts struck the two teams, stopping their advance.
After sliding into cover, Ryder lowered his VISOR and identified the direction from which the heavy elecprobus fire was coming. However, it was behind a heavily fortified bunker built during the latest attack. He pointed toward the turret's direction, having soldiers from both teams fire bullets and flechettes at it, but they simply bounced off the protective wall.
Warrant Officer-1 Rommel King rushed past their comrades until he reached his Captain.
"Our weapons are useless from here. Orders, Boss?" he asked.
"I cannot get a good line of sight from here," Natilite said. "Do you want me to fly around and flank?"
"No," Ryder said. "You would be an open target, and we cannot support you from here."
As the three debated the situation, the Horatius leader, Flavius-Elpidius Antius, approached.
"Captain, we are about to thrust against their trench. Follow with us."
"Hold on," Ryder said. He looked toward Barrett and said, "Get Ford to toss a Hornet. We need to find another route. Tell Higgins to call in mortar support from the city and lay suppressive fire."
The Sergeant First Class acknowledged the order and left. Ryder leaned against a ridged wall, watching the small drone take off overhead through his HUD. Through the VISOR, he could see Antius staring at him with confusion.
"Why are you doing nothing?" the Capitaneus asked.
The Templar placed her hand on the Lat Legionary leader and explained American technology. Altaerrie battlesuits were interconnected, and their VISORS had a built-in screen that allowed individual soldiers to see the construct's perspective and the positions of other soldiers.
Tiny red boxes appeared over the hostile soldiers from the drone feed. The operator, Ford, digitally marked the enemy. The drone then zoomed out, providing a clear view of the forward trench and bunkers. That was until a bright blue-white light appeared before the feed abruptly died.
Much of the enemy fortification reminded the Captain of old Pacific War videos showing how the Imperial Japanese used rock formations as bunkers, forcing U.S. Marines and Army soldiers to flush them out with flamethrowers.
"Sorry, Boss," Ford said. "I think it was an electric spell."
Ryder was fine with the Hornet's destruction, as he had gathered the information he needed.
"Antius, there is a leveled opening to the left," he said.
"You want my team to march in the open?" Antius asked.
"We will distract that bunker on the right," Ryder said. "Can you flank them? Maybe your mage can burn them out?"
"If the enemy is focused away from us," Antius said, "Ælia will blaze the surrounding area."
Hearing the 120mm M988 stationary mortar system fire from the city, Ryder watched as shells landed all around the Aristocracy position, adding to the suppressive fire.
Ryder rose from his cover and saw the bunker complex. The structure was built into a rocky mount, giving it a decent view of the hilltop. With the intensity of the fighting between the two sides, he could see that withdrawing their forward troops to flank the position would be a mistake. They were going to need more firepower.
"Okay," Ryder said. "We will keep two men forward to make the enemy think we are holding our position. Once the mortar fire stops and the Bigdogs arrive, flank. Higgins."
"Bigdogs?" Antius asked with a confused expression.
Not knowing how to explain to the Capitaneus that Altaerrie robotics were similar to their constructs but built differently, Ryder told the Legionary commander to wait and see before turning to his Airman. Higgins called in the request over DEFNET.
"Minuteman-Actual, this is Comanche. Requesting Bigdog fire support. Over."
"Comanche, this is Minutemen-Actual. Request received and confirmed. Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, is redirecting assistance to you. ETA, five minutes. Over."
"Roger that. Comanche out."
With the additional support inbound, Ryder and Antius prepared their teams for the assault phase. At the same time, their forward units maintained the intense firefight above, colorful explosions from the powerful heavy elecprobus concealed within the bunker. Smaller blasts from other energy-based weapons and hostile flechette littered the area as the Aristocracy desperately attempted to repel the American assault.
The city mortar fire stopped, and within minutes, four dark-steel quadruped robotic drones rushed onto the battlefield. Their armored legs were connected to thick bodies, and each was equipped with either an M2 heavy machine gun or a Mark 70 grenade launcher.
When the four Bigdogs arrived, Rommel King ordered them to engage the bunker. The robotic animals marched through and climbed the ditch that Comanche and Horatius were using as cover. They leaped out and began navigating in pack formation, moving as their heavy machine guns fired .50-caliber rounds into the bunker. The four drones fell back, using the ditch as cover while lobbing high-explosive grenades toward the enemy, detonating over the complex.
"Impressive," Rutilus said.
"And people say I am destructive," Ælia said.
"You should see the big toys," Barrett replied.
"Enough," Ryder said. "Natilite, stay here and assist. Antius, let's go."
As the Bigdogs and four members of their respective teams continued their engagement with the enemy bunker, Horatius followed the ditch to the left. At the same time, Comanche swept right, navigating past a previously captured bunker and onto a pathway.
The path was rough, with much of the surface covered in rocks. The brush and craters, however, provided some cover, as the enemy was focused on the intense engagement at the center.
Moving up a ravine, a couple of Aristocracy defenders protecting their flank spotted Comanche's advance. They took cover in an elevated position and opened fire on the approaching Americans.
Trapped in the ravine, King ordered Kurt Forest and Marcos Gonzales to hang back and provide covering fire for the rest of the team. The others marched up the elevated path, occasionally taking potshots to keep the enemy's heads down.
When Fraeya got close to the base of the position, she quickly chanted a spell. The rock formation the enemy was hiding behind shattered, causing it to collapse. Ford grabbed the elf girl by the arm, and the two sought cover as rocks fell all around them in a small landslide.
"Watch out!" Barrett said, directing everyone to move to the side of the ravine.
When Ford and Fraeya reached the team, the elf mage placed her hand against the wall. The surface extended outward, creating a protective rock barrier that deflected most of the rubble. Luckily, there wasn't much rock and dirt in the landslide, as the elevation had created a risk for Comanche.
Once the landslide subsided, three enemy soldiers stood at the top of the ravine, still recovering from Fraeya's magical attack. They were all exposed without any protection.
No one needed Ryder to give the order. Four Comanche members opened fire without hesitation, neutralizing the three enemy soldiers before they could react. One of the bodies, a J'avais, rolled down the cliff and struck the Elf Girl's alg barrier, lying lifeless at its base.
"This is our chance, Comanche," Ryder said. "Red Moon!"
"Ford, Gonzales," King said. "On me!"
Rommel King took point, followed by Benjamin Ford and Marcos Gonzales up the ravine. Once the three reached the top, they immediately engaged the Aristocracy bunker complex as small-arms fire impacted around them.
While Ryder rushed up the ravine, he heard Kirath, who was trained to use Altaerrie radios. The Neko reported that they were engaged and needed an enormous distraction.
"Higgins, Forest. When we get up there, frag them up," he said.
"Against what?" Higgins asked.
"Anywhere," Ryder responded. "Our new friends need cover."
When the Captain regrouped with his three teammates, he was forced to duck as a red energy bolt flew past. Taking cover beside his XO, he could see the bunker and the powerful elecprobus cannon firing from a small opening. However, additional J'avais were positioned in front of it, guarding the exterior and making a direct assault impossible.
The area around the bunker had been mostly destroyed by mortar and Bigdog attacks. Bullet holes and scorch marks covered the ground from the drones and Comanche maintaining their engagement. The structure itself, though, was still standing with moderate damage.
The rest of Comanche followed behind, joining the firefight. With his hands on his hips, the Captain turned to Ford and Gonzales and directed them where to throw their grenades. The three then stood and tossed a combination of fragmentation and high-explosive grenades.
Three explosions went off, killing some of the J'avais and vampire defenders while scaring off the others. This caught the attention of the elecprobus cannon, which adjusted its fire toward the Minutemen team and away from Horatius. King and Barrett rearranged the Minutemen to spread out so a single shot couldn't take them out, and then they all opened fire on the bunker.
"Wings," Ryder said over TEAMCOM. "A pathway is open. Flank them and cover Horatius."
As the firefight raged, Natilite flew straight toward the bunker, landing on top of it. She turned around and fired her M77 at the remaining J'avais, either killing them or forcing them to pull back.
With the exterior secured, the Valkyrie turned and fired her weapon at the rear guard.
That was when Ryder's IFF registered blue boxes in the distance. It was Palatini Horatius, equipped with US transponders. They approached the bunker from the opposite side. Two had their scutum raised while the others stood behind them, firing their elecprobus and circiletum at the bunker.
With the heavy elecprobus cannon distracted from all directions, the Horatius noble elf mage, Ælia Valhana, in her dragon-scale armor, rushed past her teammates until she was within range of the bunker. Her hand glowed bright red as fire engulfed her before being directed toward the bunker like a flamethrower. The tip of the inferno was shaped like a dragon's head that slammed into the firing hole of the fortification.
Natilite, still standing on the bunker, turned around after feeling the intense heat. As the flames grew uncontrollably, she panicked and flew away, landing next to Ryder.
The Aristocracy bunker was completely engulfed in flames. Everyone could hear the screams of the trapped enemy soldiers before they all fell silent. Moments later, the top of the concrete fortification exploded as dark smoke, mixed with colorful elements from the mana batteries, filled the air.
"Holy shit," Ford said.
"No kidding," Gonzales added.
"She must be a powerful mage," Fraeya said. "At least disciple level."
"I assume that makes sense to you," Ford replied.
"Higgins," King said. "Contact HQ. Tell them we have cleared the opening. 1st Astralis is clear to occupy the hill."
With the bunker complex destroyed, Comanche left their positions and returned to their starting point. The Twins were there, commenting on the intense flames from Horatius' pyromancy mage. The other two were standing over one of the destroyed Bigdogs, most likely inquiring about the non-magical technology.
The rest of Horatius quickly arrived. Before Ryder could congratulate their new allies on their success, Natilite stormed past everyone toward the Palatini Noble Elf.
"What were you doing?" she yelled. "You could have warned me!"
"You knew the plan," Ælia said. "You should have been paying attention."
"I was providing you cover."
"And I thank you for that," Ælia replied, crossing her arms and turning away. "But you are a Templar. I knew you would be fine."
Seeing the two women arguing, Ryder turned away. He knew better than to get involved with a pyromancy mage and an angelic Templar. He saw Antius with his unit and approached the Capitaneus to congratulate them on their first mission together.
"I am not getting in the middle of that catfight," King stated.
The Comanche Captain saw the conflict brewing between the Noble Elf and Valkyrie. One was a powerful fire mage, while the other was a flying Templar. A fight between the two would definitely result in collateral damage.
Ryder turned to his ally commander and said, "Your Palatini fought well."
"It is good to see that you are not weak," Antius said. "Possibly Legionary quality."
"I will take that as a compliment," Ryder replied.
Hearing a sizable number of footsteps and commotion, the two leaders turned toward the path and saw hundreds of Americans approaching. They were Charlie Company from the 1st Astralis Division, who had come to occupy the hill and add an additional layer of protection to Salva.
"I will admit," Antius said. "I was worried about your kind when we first arrived. You might be our type of human, but without magic and no other races on our orilla homeworld, it was concerning that you might not be able to compete. And let us not forget the lack of magitech."
"I get that," Ryder said. "But I will say, never take anything at face value. Always confirm."
The Captain noticed one of Antius Lat's soldiers, Rutilus, approaching and whispering to the Capitaneus. The leader nodded and waved his teammate away.
"Everything okay?" Ryder asked.
"Yes. My legionary wants to know what you and your team threw at the bunker. Those small explosives?"
"Do you mean these?" Ford asked, holding up an M92 grenade.
"Yes," Rutilus said. "What are those?"
"They are called grenades," Forest said. "This type projects shrapnel in all directions against its target. We also have smoke grenades, as well as incendiary grenades."
"Impressive," Rutilus said.
"Hold on," Ford said. "You guys don't have any?"
"No," Antius said. "I have never seen these types of weapons before. Not even against the Unity."
"Now that I think about it," Forest said, "I don't recall seeing the Aristocracy or Unity using them."
"It must be a mage thing," Ryder said. "They act as heavy weapons specialists, so maybe they never saw the need to develop alternative support weapons."
"That is plausible," Antius said.
Ryder found the difference between Earth and Alagore's weapons fascinating. It was amazing that such a minor difference could spawn such a completely opposite mindset. Seeing that Natilite was finished with her argument, he turned toward the Valkyrie to inquire about the subject, since she was the most experienced warrior from this world he had encountered.
However, the Templar crossed her arms and remained unhappy as she passed everyone. He decided not to ask his question and turned back to the Capitaneus.
"We can talk about it more back at base," Ryder said. "Maybe we can arrange some cross-training."
"That would be appreciated," Antius said. He then turned to his people and said, "Horatius. Formation and back to the Palace."
Seeing the Legionaries heading toward Salva and passing Charlie Company, Ryder rallied his team and followed.