Sansekiro Fortress.
8:30 PM
The contrasting lights of the two moons cast their presences on the beautiful garden in front of the tea room, highlighting the intricate details and meticulous work done on the trees. The small fish pond glistens under the moon lights, creating a tranquil and dreamy atmosphere.
Ambassador Anderson looked back to the room, ceasing his admiration of the garden outside the tea room. Shingen sat patiently, enjoying the late night cup of tea with another Lord whom Anderson does not know.
“Lord Shingen.” Anderson adjusted his ties. “I want to thank you personally for welcoming us even during such harsh circumstances.”
“It is only right, Anderson-sama. I am merely fulfilling my duties. Many generations ago, my forefathers were responsible for welcoming foreigners from the Eastern Continent and beyond as Presidents of Foreign Affairs. My family still carries that role, although it doesn’t mean much now as we have not had contact with the outside world for a long time.”
Seeing an opportunity to make a good impression, Anderson reached out to Lord Shingen. “Perhaps I can offer you a ticket to the outside world, Lord Shingen, when all of this is over. Your family’s assigned role in dealing with foreign affairs may return.”
“Thank you, Anderson-sama. But we have a big hurdle ahead.” Lord Shingen said, putting down the warm cup of tea.
“Tomorrow, we set off to the southern island.” Lord Daisuke announced, his menacing voice immediately darkened the mood.
The burly General had a scar on the right side of his face, a mark of experience and veterancy. This man clearly will be leading the raid down south, no doubt about it, Anderson thought to himself. A brave man, unlike him, Anderson wonders if someone like General Daisuke is even scared of anything like how he himself is afraid of jumping out of a plane. He was supposed to get here by boat, but due to the urgency of his presence, he had to be thrown out of a plane departing from Azuria which was something he had never experienced.
“I understand the urgency, Daisuke-dono, but shouldn’t we delay this raid?” Lord Shingen interjects. “The aid that the Elysians delivered this morning with their flying crafts have bought us more time for preparation, if we delay this by a week we could be better prepared.”
“Your concerns do find its validities, Shingen-dono. But the final decision is on the Jotei-”
“Jotei-sama!” The servant outside the tea room announced the lady’s arrival as the doors were slid open.
Senki looked around the room, finding herself comfortable on the soft Zabuton. Her expression remains contemplative. The atmosphere of the room became one of conflict, splitted between delaying the raid and moving out tomorrow.
“You must be the one they call Anderson-san.” Senki asked.
“Lord Daisuke, Lord Shingen,” Senki looked back and forth between the two men. “I have overheard your disagreement, each of you may elaborate.”
Shingen begins first, pitching his reasoning. “As you may have known, the generosity of the outlanders knows no boundary.” He gestured at the Ambassador, who smiled in return. “They provided us with not just food, but an opportunity to clear out this mess from the south. Their men have offered to join us in our raid, it would be most prudent to give them more time to prepare themselves due to their exceptionally more advanced weaponry.”
“But Shingen-dono,” Lord Daisuke interjects. “The Onibanes and Kibaōkami are gathering their forces down South for a final assault on the mountain. They are coordinated this time, for reasons unknown. If they attack now, even with the Elysian’s support we would be overwhelmed. The Elysians cannot support us from outside the typhoon barrier in any meaningful way. Our gunpowder supplies are running low, and the people are tired, our only move to survival is preemptive attack while the monsters are still reorganizing.”
“Hmm…” Senki contemplates carefully.
Anderson noticed her slightly emotional expression, but he made no comments about it. She had just lost her father the day before, not many can get over such an event in a day, he figured.
“...While Shingen-dono’s proposal finds merit, we cannot wait. Daisuke-dono is right, we have to attack first. There is no other way.” Senki said to the dissatisfaction of Lord Shingen. “And Ambassador-san,” She said, turning her head to Anderson.
“How may I help you, Empress?” Anderson replied.
“What are the terms of your country? Surely all this help does not come for free.”
Anderson pulled out a stack of documents from his metallic briefcase, with a single blue-colored file standing out in particular. A servant respectfully handed over the small stack of paper to Senki. “Your assumption is correct, Empress. My country has expended an enormous amount of money and resources in order to help your people. My leaders do expect returns on this ‘investment’, if you could call it that.”
“It is only natural.” Senki comments, taking the paper and begins reading the terms out carefully.
Anderson watched the Empress with some nervousness. Due to what he had been instructed to do by President Irwin, he felt unease as the Empress’s eyes darted between the lines as she read the terms along with the other Lords. President Irwin laid out three courses of action for Anderson to do depending on what kind of civilization the Harukamians are, all of which are meant to expand Elysian’s influence and reach on the Eastern Continent, if not quickly then slowly and surely.
After assessing the Harukamians’ dire situation, he had opted for the most aggressive strategy which would turn the Harukami Shogunate into an associate state of the United Federation should they accept the terms. The final goal of President Irwin is already known to Anderson and a few other high-ranking officials: He wanted to eventually absorb the southernmost archipelago into the United Federation itself through soft power and diplomacy for any potential resources, much like how the United Federation of Elysia did with the Rafael Archipelago in their old home world.
The old Elvish Kingdom, now turned into the Elvish Republic in the Eastern Continent, had already been incorporated legally into the United Federation of Elysia after victory over the Yarian Empire. The Kingdom of Azuria and Principality of Lior have also been turned into a substantial dependency of Elysia, receiving infrastructures and modern industrial goods in exchange for raw materials, fuel and foodstuffs. Bolstered by recent successes post-Transference despite the economic downturn, President Irwin wanted to continue this streak of territorial and influential expansion as much as possible to prepare the country for any hardships that would or could be thrown at the United Federation in this new world.
“This… this is nothing less than subjugation!” Lord Daisuke lashes out, angered by the terms. “What are your real plans here, Outlander?!” He puts his hand on the sword which causes Anderson to recoil back in fear. “Woah!”
“Calm down, Daisuke-dono! There is no need for violence!” Shingen tried to calm him down. “We can still rule the country ourselves!”
“I have fought the enemy for decades in the hope of freeing our people, I cannot have them under foreign occupation like this!”
“Enough, Daisuke-dono.” Senki said, her tone of voice unusually calm which caused Lord Daisuke to sit down, terrified. “You are scaring the Ambassador, have you forgotten your manners?”
“M-my apologies, Jotei-sama.” He said quietly, slightly shaken. “It’s just that… I can’t accept this insulting treaty.”
“Your input is not needed, have you forgotten that as well?” Senki said, reminding Daisuke that all power in the country belongs to her before switching to Anderson. “What happens if we don’t agree to this, Anderson-san?”
Calming himself down and back on the Zabuton, Anderson cleared his throat. “Then, we will pull all our troops out and… leave the archipelago to its demise before going back to take it for ourselves.” He said honestly as instructed by the President, who wants to create trust by not deceiving the natives of their true intention.
The atmosphere of the room fell into silence as Anderson’s words lingered in the air, weighing down the Harukamians in the room with its implication. Sooner or later, the Elysians would return to their land to take over, the only difference would be who would be in charge.
Finding no way out of the situation, Senki spoke up. “The Harukami Shogunate accepts this treaty, for it would be in our best interest to continue to exist. No matter how slim that chance is.”
“I’m happy that your country went with this decision.” Anderson bows respectfully, happy inside knowing that Lord Daisuke won’t kill him for the perceived insult. “I hope the cooperation between our countries will be fruitful.”
“It appears to be late. I shall take my leave, Empress.” Anderson stood up, collecting the stacks of papers before leaving the room. “I bid farewell and wish you good luck in your quest tomorrow. Our men will support your raiding party.”
August 12th, 1427.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Yukihara Mountain, Harukami Shogunate.
Training Yard.
5:20 AM
Joker and Richard paced around the recently organized munition depot by the 92nd Airborne, searching for heavy equipment to bring with them for the upcoming raid. Lewis is in the middle of a slightly heated conversation with Boris, the content of which Joker barely pays any attention to.
“Where the hell do they put the missiles?” He checked the crates’ markings, finding only small arms ammunition and grenades.
WARNING: FIRE HAZARD
AMMUNITION UNIT, 5.56x45MM, 16.800 ROUNDS.
DESIGNATION: Cartridge, Caliber 5.56 mm, Ball, M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round
Serial Production Number #04560010
Made in Elysia
Manufactured by Arden Ordnance Works
Date: 5/10/1985 (read in Date/Month/Year)
Factory RA071
Joker drags the heavy crate, passing it to Richard who puts it aside.
“There you are…!” Joker smiles menacingly at the large green-colored munition crate, dragging it out in the open before opening it. The odd markings on the crate caught his eyes.
WARNING: EXPLOSIVES
PORTABLE MISSILE UNIT, FIRE AND FORGET, ANTI-TANK, 127MM, MONARCH II.
DESIGNATION: FGM-127
Serial Production Number #00000421
Made in Elysia.
Manufactured by Atlas Dynamic.
Date: 2/8/1427 (New World calendar)
Glanville Production Facility Number 12
“What the hell is a Monarch II?” Joker quickly opens the crate, revealing a new weapon he had never seen before. The crate contains a new missile tube, but also a single large camera-like equipment.
“What is this thing?” Richard chimed in, looking at the missile launcher with curiosity. He read the instruction marking on the camera-like unit inside the crate.
WARNING: FRAGILE. HANDLE WITH CARE
COMMAND LAUNCH UNIT, MONARCH II
DESIGNATION: CLU-127
Serial Production Number #000000062
Made in Elysia.
Manufactured by Atlas Dynamic.
Date: 24/7/1427
Glanville Electronics Facility Number 04
“Come to daddy. Heh heh…” Joker tried lifting up the missile tube before being cut off.
“Hey!” An Airborne lieutenant yelled at them. “That’s Army equipment! Yours are over this side!” He points at the stack of crates containing older AT-84 rocket launchers which annoyed Joker.
“Great. Army got the new stuff and we fight with shits my grandfather uses.” He laments, angrily closing the crate of the new missile as he watches Richard lifting the AT-84 crates up, moving them to the cart.
The Airborne lieutenant left, causing a devious thought to run through Joker’s mind as he looked back to the new missile crate. “Hmm…”
Makeshift firing range, Sansekiro Fortress.
5:30 AM
A squad of Marine riflemen fired their R-25 rifles on a set of wooden targets, quickly reducing them to small chunks beyond recognition.
“Backblast clear!” One of the Marines yelled before firing a shoulder-fired rocket onto a distant target, obliterating a larger wooden target often reserved for cannons in an instant. The smoke eventually subsides, revealing the pitiful leftover of the wooden target.
Lord Daisuke widened his eyes as he witnessed the demonstration, impressed by the incredible firepower the outlanders possessed. He thought of what Ambassador Anderson said yesterday. If these outlanders did indeed leave this island as they had come, then the Shogunate would surely fall and there would be nothing stopping these ‘Elysians’ from taking over the ruins of the Shogunate for themselves.
Realizing what the meaning behind what the Ambassador of these outlanders has said, he exhales in defeat. “I supposed everything has a price…”
“That would be correct, Lord Daisuke.” A familiar voice behind him said. “I believed the Empress had made the correct choice.”
“That is bold of you to say, how will you people be even gonna govern this place through the typhoon barrier? Your country is far away, on the other side. Your military and capabilities may be strong, but keeping a foothold over this place will eventually be too costly.” He said to the outlander's Ambassador.
“We have a reason for that, Lord Daisuke. Besides, I don’t plan to go home empty-handed. That would look very bad on my record.” Anderson produces a photo from his briefcase and shows it to the General.
“Our reconnaissance flights detected immense energy output from this place here where you’re planning to head to: Hōshōjima Island.” Anderson pointed his finger to a picture of a mountain, the low quality of the image wasn’t pleasant to look at due to it being taken high from above the clouds, but it was enough so Daisuke could make out a few familiar sights.
“The Azurians confirmed the magical signature irradiating from this mountain to be the source of the typhoon. It took them a while, but they figured it out.” Anderson explained.
Daisuke chuckles at the absurd capabilities these outlanders have. He would’ve killed hundreds of monsters by himself just to get a map which contained information like this, and yet one is being handed to him like a piece of cloth.
“We will move out via air mobility to the south. I have requested additional assets from the fleet.” Captain Raleigh reported. “We won’t be able to carry much, but better than marching through hordes of those things.” He pointed at a wolf-like creature trapped in a cage.
The albino-colored creature looked odd, but nothing out of the ordinary from what the Elysians have already seen in their time on this new world. It sat there silently, uncaring of the fact that it’s in the middle of a firing range and being observed by Elysian Marines, Azurians and Harukamians alike. Instead, it acts much like how a dog does, acting all adorable by rolling around in the cage.
“Private,” Raleigh ordered a Marine. “Piss it off.”
“Yes, sir.” He lifts up his rifle, firing a single shot into the creature’s belly.
Filled with rage, the albino wolf lunged towards, biting the bamboo bars aggressively as it attempted to break free from the cage. Its head suddenly split open into four like a flower, revealing its fleshy insides and hundreds of sharp teethes. The creature wrapped its head against the wooden bar and began to twist the it, cracking the bamboo. The horrific sight of a mutated wolf sent chills down the Elysian Marines, who instinctively raised their rifles at the creature.
“That’s enough, put it down.” Captain Raleigh orders.
A stream of 5.56 quickly followed, tearing the beast’s flesh apart violently and covering the sand barrier of the firing range in a mix of dirt, blood and metal.
“Kibaōkami.” Captain Raleigh announced to the men. “That’s what the Harukamians call these things. Our designation for these sons of bitches will be Kilo Bravo. Susceptible to small arms, but ferocious and hunt in pacts of dozens.”
He directed everyone’s attention to the tactical map hung on the wall. “Recon flights suggest their pacts are gathering, up to ten thousands and increasing just down south around thirty-five klicks from this place. If we do nothing, within a week they’d triple in number. The Empress was right on her instinct. If we don’t move out now, we’d run out of ammo before they run out of meat to throw.”
The revelation of the horde’s true size struck fear into the Harukamians. Each individual swordsmen and spearmen could barely defeat one Kibaōkami, while each creature requires dozens of musket shots to bring down for good. They only had ten thousand soldiers left, not even enough to defend even a portion of their defensive structure in which they had surrounded themselves with.
“Support is also limited. The 9th Marine Expeditionary Fleet has already moved in striking range of cruise missiles” He moved the stickers indicating the fleet’s position. “Problem is, the Fisher Class frigates coming with us only carried enough Harbinger missiles for two salvos. So if they run dry, the Navy won't be able to help unless we’re in 127 mm cannon range… which will be unlikely given the location of our objective.”
A sense of imminent danger creeps in the further Raleigh explained their strategic situation. Many Marines found themselves missing armored supports during their war with the Yarians, now without any armored support but a small detachment of LT40-556L Hustler that came with them, which were only armed with 40mm automatic grenade launcher and a 5.56mm coaxial. Knowing that heavy armored support won’t be available, several Marines sought to carry more ammunition and grenades on their pouches, ignoring the heavy weight that came with such decisions.
Understanding the concerns of his men, Raleigh resonated with them. “If I had the power to cancel this raid, I would’ve done it. Unfortunately, the powers that be are interested in something inside this mountain – something that’s generating the typhoon surrounding this archipelago. They want us to investigate this device, and shut it off if possible. After which, we will recover it.”
“So…” Raleigh looked over to the Empress in the distance, noticing her quiet attention ever since he began explaining their strategic situation to the men. “Is there anything else we should know, Empress Harukami Senki? If I may ask? Your life will also be in grave danger if you go on this raid with us.”
She looked away slightly, making a slight pained reaction before returning to her stoic expression. “That’s all. You have done a good job.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Empress. Then we shall move out after loading the cargo.” Captain Raleigh looked to the distant sky, eyeing the pair of familiar silhouettes and chopping noise of the massive UH-48s. “I hope Lewis talked it out with him…” He whispered.
Random Information Card
C-157 “Starlifter” Strategic Airlifter
The C-157 Starlifter is a large military transport aircraft designed and manufactured by Evalyn Aerospace in the United Federation of Elysia for the Elysian Air Force. It is the largest military aircraft in service, specifically engineered for strategic airlift missions, capable of carrying oversized and heavy cargo across long distances. A smaller tactical airlifter aircraft was proposed, but was rejected by the Department of Armament and Defense as the capabilities required were filled by UH-48s.
As these were highly expensive assets to both produce, procure and the lack of political will to invest into military capabilities not seen as necessary for a war with the Socialist Republic of Yarik, the United Federation have only operated 24 aircrafts of this model compared to nearly four hundred UH-48s tiltrotors in inventory. Production line has been restarted after President Irwin’s request.
Design and Structure:
- Primarily constructed from aviation-grade aluminum alloys, composites and titanium.
- High-wing design with swept wings as well as a T-tail configuration for improved stability and control at low speed.
- Powered by four turbofan jet engine
- The aircraft has a three flight crew, two pilots and a navigator.
- Equipped with a fully fly-by-wire flight control system.
- Both the nose and tail section can open, allowing for rapid loading and unloading.
- The aircraft was not armed, but did have flares and chaff dispensers for self defense.
Performance:
- Cruising speed: Mach 0.77
- Operational Ceiling: 10.500 meters / 10.5km
- Range: 15.000 km range without payload. 9.000 km with payload.
- Payload capacity: 127.000 kg / 127 metric tons.
From now, information cards will only be added if needed additional context! (Informations will be withheld unless revealed through the story)