On the other side of the gate

J POV

We're still in our transport waiting to get to the other side, I still got the same song running. Then as the song ends the driver speaks up.

A/N: Not the song above the one from last chapter. Though I bet some of you lads will quote the song.

Driver: We'll be there any minute now! Chatter is, it's night over there.

I mutter a curse and swap my sunglasses to my Tac glasses.

Me: Okay! When we get there, get the fuck out and get set up! Illumination rounds should go up in the sky! Got that?!

SDF Soldiers: SIR, YES SIR!!!

Me: Alright! Then let's show them how it's done! GOTT MIT UNS OORAH!!!

The transport stops and we all hop out, taking positions pointing out to the surrounding areas.

Illumination rounds go up into the sky and we see a massive force waiting.

Tank Commander: CONTACT!

I click on my radio and say 3 words.

Me: All units, Smoke 'em

(Or is that four?)

Time skip

Imperial Senate
3rd POV

The Imperial Senate is in discussion about the gate situation. A single man is standing in the center, as he voiced his concerns to Emperor Molt Sol Augustus. This man is Marquis Casel.

Casel: My lord, the gate situation is an utter catastrophe! I am sorry to report, that over 60% of the Imperial Army is gone! How will you respond to this situation?

The senators in the meeting all murmur in uncertainty.

Casel: How do you intend to lead the nation in the face of such a crisis, Your Majesty?!

Molt remains calm and steady.

Emperor Molt: Steady Marquis Casel, no doubt things seem untenable at the moment.

He covers his eyes with his hand and continues.

Molt: And yes it would appear the military advantage we had, has completely evaporated. But I believe what actually troubles you is whether our subordinate nations could combine their forces and bring rebellion to the steps of the capital.

He lowers his hand and a wicked smile is plastered on his face.

Molt: That is the true threat, is it not?

Casel is baffled by this and voices his confusion.

Molt: Every time we find ourselves in a precarious situation, The Emperor, The Senate, and the people of the Empire unite as one and thus manages to grow even stronger from it. My dear Marquis, you cannot win every battle in war. Therefore, I will not hold anyone accountable for what happened at Alnus Hill. I'm sure that neither the Marquis nor the senate wish to engage in debates, rather than trying to keep the Capital from surrounding forces.

Senators all smile and murmur in agreement to the Emperor as Casel, under his breath, say:

Casel: He's conveniently forgotten that he's the one who started this.

An old man with a walking can and bandages on his head, named Goadasen, makes his way to the center of the senate.

Goadasen: What is your plan, Your Majesty? Two days was all it took for their army to cause such incredible casualties. They've seized control of Alnus Hill, the gate, and are now establishing a foothold in our land. We've tried to take the gate by force once they arrived and it was a complete disaster. We couldn't even get close to them. Never in my days have I seen such sorcery! It's as if they cast fire itself!

A bald man in armor named Podawan, rises from his seat as he voices his opinion.

Podawan: We must fight! Our vassals must give us what we demand! Rebuild our army with their soldiers!

This causes an uproar as many senators argue on what the empire would do next, until Emperor Molt silences them all.

Molt: Waiting for matters to worsen is not the answer. Therefore, we must stand and fight. Send messengers as far and wide as their horses will take them. Tell them we need their assistance in repelling the invading forces and we need them now.

Molt rise from his throne and gestures outward.

Molt: Make it so! Have Godu, Rio, Gwaban, and all the allied kingdoms rally to us! It is time to retake Alnus Hill!!

Senators clap and cheer in agreement as Casel approaches him.

Casel: Your Imperial Majesty, I fear that Alnus will leave another battlefield littered with the corpses of men.

The Emperor smirks at his statement.

Time skip
Morning

J POV

Yesterday, a recon unit spotted large amounts of hostiles amassing just south of the hill. It look like a counter-offensive, but we have no idea when they'll launch. So everyone here is on high alert and constantly looking out for the enemy. I'm currently tossing away something I just used, then going to check on a lookout. the private, who is the lookout, turns around and salutes me.

SDF Lookout: Good day Lieutenant!

I look at him confused then look behind, only to realize:

Me: Oh! Sorry I keep forgetting I'm a Lieutenant...

I say laughing and rubbing the back of my neck.

Lookout: I don't blame you sir. You were just recently promoted.

Me: Thanks private. As you were, I'm just checking up on you.

Lookout: Well it's been all quiet for now sir.

I take out my binocs (my shortening for binoculars) and scan the sector.

And end up spotting a whole division worth of hostile forces crossing the exclusion line.

Me: Oh goddamnit! Got a whole division inbound!

I push the button to my com and radio the arty battery.

Me: (Radio) Hammer-5, this is Wolf do you copy? Over.

Hammer-5: (Radio) Good copy Wolf. Send message. Over.

Me: Got a fire mission, about 800 mikes south, division of hostiles, hit 'em. Over.

Hammer: Copy that Wolf. Firing for effect, wait one. Over.

Multiple booms sound out as the battery fires.

Hammer: Rounds are out. Awaiting for confirmation of destroyed target. Over.

I look through my binocs again and wait for the destruction.

The smoke clears and I see no one left standing.

Me: Hammer, target destroyed. Good effect on target. Break. That's all of them. Out.

Lookout: Holy shit...

I turn to the lookout and see him looking out in shock at the scene.

Me: Hey kid. This is nothing compared to Afghanistan and Iraq. This? This is just another day in the office for me. Don't worry you'll get used to it eventually.

I pat his back and walk away to do other duties.

Time skip
Midday

I'm now eating a MRE with a few grunts, cracking jokes, laughing, and just having a good time.

Me: So, I was a Private First Class and I was with some 1st Recon guys that had a reporter attached to them. I was with them at a checkpoint and they were stopping a car. Right? Well, one of them fired a 40 Mike Mike and hit a local in the back of the head with it. Next thing I heard had me dying I tell ya. He said: "At least we gave him a happy meal before he died! Now we check that, before we hit him in the head with a fuckin 40 Mike Mike!"

A/N: That was a great reference ngl.

We all have a good laugh at that until I see something out in the distance. I take out my binocs and see another large enemy force but this time supported by wyvern riders.

Me: Shit that's more than last time! Get your shit together and get ready!!!

Everyone starts scrambling for their gear as I yell out to the tanks.

Me: HEY!!! I WANT THOSE 105s FIRING!!!

Tanker: Wilco sir!

Me: Get that AA up too! Those wyverns are gonna be bitches to handle without them!

All around me, tanks and artillery fire. I look to the skies to see the wyverns coming in.

Me: The hell is that AA!? We got incoming damnit!!

SDF Grunt: Sir! AA is up and online!

Just after, the AA guns point to the sky and fire on the wyverns, shredding them to pieces.

They fall out of the sky as the tanks and artillery boom. In the distance, you could hear screams and death while men are blown to pieces. I do feel a little sympathy, but the bastards wanted a war and now their getting one. After awhile I call for a ceasefire and look through my binocs to see crippled bodies and limbs. So much death and agony, but it's their folly for not taking a hint and backing off after this morning.

Time skip

Night

It's been a long and shitty day. Here's hoping that the enemy will take a hint and not bother attacking tomorrow. Currently I'm inspecting the MG nests, making sure the boys have ammo and such, the nests are set about half a klick from the razorwire we set up.

A/N: Klick means kilometer

Me: Eyes and ears open boys. Last thing we need are hostiles slitting our throats.

MG Gunner: Wilco, Lieutenant.

I take out my binocs and spot some movement. I act on my suspicion and call the artillery.

Me: (Radio) Hammer-5, this Wolf, can you use the 80s and fire a few of illums towards checkpoint "Spike"? Over.

The response comes back a few seconds later.

Hammer: (Radio) Copy Wolf. Illums going up, wait one. Over.

I look through my binocs again as the flares light up to see a shield wall at the wire and some of them over it.

Me: Shit! Hostiles in wire! Their past checkpoint "Spike"!

MG Gunner: (Radio) All units, enemies are inside the wire! It's a night attack! OPEN FIRE!!!

The MGs open up laying down a rain of lead as tracer rounds fly toward the enemy. I go along the line and direct their fire.

Me: COME ON BOYS!!! I WANT TO HEAR THOSE 30s BANG!!!!

I look through my binocs as the enemy fall to the machine gun fire and artillery fire. Through it all I spot a silhouette with a bow and arrow. He lets the arrow loose at our position.

Me: What's your game man...?

I feel a impact and hear a twang near my head. I look over to see the arrow about 3 inches next to my head.

Me: Damn man....Close but no cigar. Still a good shot though.

I look and observe the figure again as he just stands there. Then a shell hits in front of him as he disappears from the explosion.

Me: Poor bastard...CEASE FIRE!

The fire stops and nothing else sounds. No screams, no nothing. I walk back to my tent but not before praising the boys.

Me: Good shit lads. Get some rest, we'll have to do a BDA tomorrow.

SDF Grunt: Yes sir. Thank you sir.

I give him a smile and walk into the night.

Time skip

The next morning

We're doing a Battle Damage Assessment (BDA). We're, as in me, Itami, and Kurata. But goddamn...the scene is like something from the Great War...

A/N: Be honest this does look like something from WWI

Craters, broken weapons, and equally broken bodies litter the area. Vultures and crows circle over head, waiting to take scraps of flesh and muscle off of the bodies.

Itami picks up a piece of a broken bow while I dig into my shirt to grab my cross necklace and rub it whilst my eyes are closed.

Kurata: So, did you hear the report? Intelligence says they lost about sixty thousand.

Itami: plus the sixty thousand in Ginza. That's about two army corps of men...

Kurata looks at Itami skeptically.

Kurata: Don't tell me you're worried about them.

Me: Kurata, look at it this way. The enemies we're used to actually shoot back. These guys? All they have to shoot at us with are bows and arrows, like the one Itami is holding now. You gotta admit, it's a little sad. Innit?

Kurata looked down solemnly and muttered a I guess.

Then Itami spoke up, frustration present in his tone.

Itami: A hundred and twenty thousand people... why would they send so many? What kind of country are we fighting?!

He tosses the bow in his hands and I feel like an honest answer could help.

Me: The Soviet Union from the looks of it.

Kurata: Wait...you mean they wanted them to die?

Me: That wasn't what I meant, but you're on to something there. Look around, you see all these different banners around plus the different types of uniforms these guys are wearing.

Itami: What's your point Kesler?

Me: Considering these guys are medieval, these could have been vassals or lords. If so, and this is just speculation, then whatever king or queen sent them knew they were outmatched and would die. Most likely to secure their seat of power further.

Kurata: So sending their armies was a political move rather than a militant one sir?

Me: Exactly specialist. No matter where you go, good men and women die because of politics.

Itami: That's how you feel about war Kesler?

I nod and tell them we should go back. And that's exactly what we did.

The Imperial Capital

In the capital, the imperial retainer Marcus is informing Emperor Molt about the failed attacks on Alnus.

Marcus: Your Imperial Majesty, the damage sustained by the Allied Kingdoms' Forces is expected to reach over one hundred thousand dead and injured. The defeated armies have no officers remaining and are making their way back home on their own.

Molt looks satisfied with this news.

Molt: Just the way I conceived of it. The potential threat of our quibbling neighbors coming to raze the empire has been successfully eliminated. Torch all the towns and villages between us and Alnus Hill, poison all of the wells, herd their livestock this way, and burn the crops. That should keep their armies from eating our food and water, then we can plan a counter attack of our own.

Marcus looks at the emperor concerned.

Marcus: So it's a scorched earth policy...that causes me worry about the tax revenue decrease and inside secession.

Molt looks confused.

Molt: What do you mean Marcus?

Marcus: Well...There's a problem, your Majesty. A movement is forming behind Marquis Casel to replace you as the head of Senate, Sire.

Molt is amused by this and laughs.

Molt: Can you imagine how much service I'll get from the Senate when I expose this travesty? Go ahead and let the Private Council know I'll be needing their services right away.

Suddenly the doors to the throne room open loudly as the princess of the empire, Piña Co Lada, enters adoring armor and a long sword.

Pina: Your Majesty!

Molt: My darling daughter...to what do I owe the pleasure?

Pina: It's Alnus, of course.

Marcus hums in interest.

Pina: It is my understanding we were soundly defeated at the Gate and that the armies of all our subordinate nations were routed on Alnus Hill just a few days later.

She suddenly stands more firmly.

Pina: What is Your Majesty doing in response to this situation?!

Marcus decides to respond to her query.

Marcus: Obviously, we aim to regather our forces, create a plan to counterattack, and-!

The princess interrupts him before he finishes.

Pina: Create a plan?! The enemy is at our doorstep, we must move now!

The Emperor cuts in, stopping his daughter.

Molt: Pina, my dear, you're right. You're absolutely correct. However, the issue at hand is that unfortunately, we do not know much about the enemy forces occupying Alnus Hill.

He raises his head and sits upright.

Molt: Why don't we try this? Take all of your knights from the Order of The Rose and scout the situation for us.

Pina looks at her father shocked.

Pina: But...do you mean it? You want me to take my people?

Molt: Well why not? You've been longing for a chance to prove that your knights are doing more than just marching and color guard. So here's your chance....

Pina gasp, closes her eyes, and kneels down.

Pina: Consider the mission done.....Your Majesty.

A/N: Over 60 reads in 2 chapters. That is more than I expected but hell there's always a surprise on Wattpad. Thank you lads for reading and the support. And to those who are also following Remant's Payday. I will be starting that shit back up next week and I'll have the next chapter out by that time or the week after.

Well you lot have a g'day or night where ever the bloody hell you are. Flatcap out.