One of the Russian soldiers pull out a cigarette to smoke and spoke with neutral expression, "I may like sex as long as there is consent, but I would never wish to rape like these bastards. That is beneath barbaric and I would have shamed my family, my father would most likely kick the shit out of me if he heard it."

Another Russian soldier nodded in agreement and lit up the cigarette, "My great-great grandfather fought in the battle of Stalingrad and his stories were brutal, he would never approve of rapists nor any crimes against children."

A butler from the Maid/Butler Corps walked in on the conversation.

"The girls are safe and being treated, they are going to be fine. General Towson wants us to be careful of the news. I will try my best to keep the press under control. If anyone wants a cigarette or anything else, please inform me and I will arrange it. Please stay alert and stay safe. That is all, have a good day gentlemen." The butler bowed and leave the tent.

"LT, LT!!" A 75th Ranger PFC called out to Henry as he ran towards him.

"What is it Allen?" Said Henry.

"We saw more of them, sir. And more prisoners among them, all are women with different nationalities. Some appeared to be from the regular medieval era places we've seen. And also I spotted some that have the same looks as the Japanese." Said Private First Class Joseph Allen.

Henry raise an eyebrow at the mention of the Japanese, "And all of them are prisoners?" He said and he had sinking feeling about it since they are all women. "And are you certain all of them are women?" He ask for more clarification.

"Yes, sir."

Henry could only sigh at that, "Report this to my father." He said as he look to his Sergeant, "And prepare some of your rations along with the Marines, some of them may need to fed and call for more medics just in case someone was too injured or sick given how the way things are. It's highly likely they caught something."

The Sergeant nodded his head before leaving them to do his orders.

They took a rest as some time later they look to some of the Opfor who willingly survive are being tended by the medics making sure that they would live and would get information while some girls who appeared to be shaking in fear in the sight of both the men and demi-human goblins, orcs, and cyclops. And some appeared to be carried in bridal style and hold the troops tightly.

Aiden walked up next to his half-brother and sighed at the sight. "Welp, things are gonna get bad." He said.

Henry nodded, "So much for an easy first deployment..." he muttered.

"Sir Towson, Sir Towson!!!" A Knight called.

Aiden looked at his brother with a glare, "You really have to jinxed it?" Henry's reply was an eye roll.

"What is it?" The two brothers asked in unison given that they have the same rank and last name.

The Knight realizing his slight mistake looked at Henry to confirm which one he called out to. "Well, it appears we discovered some siege equipment up ahead."

"Damn we're gonna deal with a siege?" Said Henry.

Aiden chuckled lightly at this, "I'm sure Father would give an order the second he would hear it. Alright, get some guys who can fly high to take recon photos of the area of where the siege would be."

After an hour later, Anthony and the other officers and Warrant officers get the photos. "Siege Equipment?" Anthony said as he looked at Henderson.

"Yes sir, Siege Equipment and I believe there'll be siege in this area, we only need to know where, since we don't see smoke there might yet to start one." Said Henderson.

Anthony sighed looking at the photos that they took, "Five onagars and it appears to be four trebuchets. Reminds of the siege equipment the Cross Army used."

"No shit," Said David having a closer look. "the way their parts are likely they would make for such siege equipment, not including the 5 onagars."

"How's the interrogation on the motherfuckers?" Asked Anthony.

"Evidence Team is near of getting the information from them." Said David.

Anthony nodded his head, "Good, we're gonna need it." He said, "We'll get the information from the prisoners first and then we'll know how to proceed."

Meanwhile in the Interrogation tent.

"Hey! Wake the fuck up bitch!" Said a Canadian Marine rifle butting the captive that jolt him to wake up, he was tied in a chair tightly with both of his hands tied in the arm chair and legs tied to the chair legs.

Seating in front of him is a man in a foreign uniform that he never seen before, likely some faraway kingdom and a orc in the same uniform.

"Start talking." The orc asked from his spot. The rapist was silent as he doesn't want to give them information.

"Oh, that's what you want to play? Then we can play your games too." Said the foreign man in a foreign accent. He then grab the rapist hair and he pulled it up as he lit his cigarette before he put it to his face near to his eyes, the rapist scream in pain. "Either talk, or I can put this to one of your eyes. And trust me, it'll make sure you will lose sight. Or how about touch by cutting off your hands. Oh wait! We can just cut off your mini me so you don't reproduce you rapist bastard." The Canadian man said in a venomous tone as he maintain his cig to the captive's face before pulling it away and put it on his mouth.

"Please stop!! STOP!! I talk, I'll talk!" Said the rapist in pain and fear.

"Good boy." Said the Canadian. "Now let us begin, who and what is your kingdom called and what land/continent we're at?"

"I'm a member of the Black Dogs, of the newly created empire THE SEX EMPIRE!" He said with pride and a perverted look.

Everyone was silent and contemplate of what they just heard. One of them outside the tent look at her comrade, "Is this rapist for real?" She said in both astonish and disgust in her tone.

"And why did your leader create such an empire?" Said the Interrogator now colder.

"Why would I—" Before he could finish the orc interrogator grab his hair and stare at him with hatred that made the rapist gulp in fear.

"If you don't this knife will be put into your eye. And if you still don't, then I will rip out your remaining eye in a painful manner. And trust me, I've done this to scum like you before, so choose your next words wisely again." Said the orc.

"We are creating a nation where a men is at the top and the women will be our slaves. We will do whatever we want either for pleasure or breeding product to any race and age. It will be a grand nation! THE SEX EMPIRE will be the most glorious empire of all time!" Said the Black Dogs man with pride and a perverted disgusted look in a shameless tone.

The interrogators have the look of disbelief and disgust. "Not even the Cross Army were this degenerate." Thought of the orc interrogator "I feel sorry for his mother, this degenerates is a disgrace to be called a man and they should be punish for this. The general won't like this one bit that's for sure."

"Another question, why did you create such nation?" Said the Canadian interrogator feeling that they might be doing some war crimes in this land. Not that the inhabitants would care since would not likely know what a war crime is. And they know Anthony, David, and Stepan would let them pass on that and handle the media if they pop up.

The Black Dogs man begun to explain how it came to be. 1st in the thousand year war between the 7 shield alliance led by their High Queen elf Celestine Lucullus and the shield princesses of each kingdom and the Dark elves and dark legion led by Olga Discordia. The Black Dogs have enough of the matriarchal society especially when there are more females than males and so they wanted to create a new empire where the women is at the bottom and they could do whatever they want towards them.

Hearing that made the every trooper to hate and disgust them even more. "To think that they have such thoughts it sickens me more. Not even the Cross Army had such an ideology, they just hate and kill any and all non-humans. It's official, I hate them even more and the general won't really like them either." Thought the Canadian Interrogator.

Before anything else he pointed his 10mm pistol at the man who is wide eyed and fired it killing the rapist.

"What did you do?!" Said the orc.

"This bastard is worthless and a disgrace, no use for any information. I'm saving a bullet for him." The Canadian said coldly as he headed to the Command tent.

"That is all I can report to you sir." Said the Canadian interrogator to Anthony as he entered.

Anthony narrowed his eyes along with his fellow Warrant officers and officers, the gravity of the situation may not be as dire as they thought it would be, but still they have to deal a situation that each and everyone of them would never accept, like the Sex Empire.

"What kind of man would name their empire the Sex Empire?" Said Ven'di in disgust.

"One of those perverts." Said Henry.

"No, these are not perverts." Said David, "They are worse, much worst." He said coldly.

"What makes you say that?" Ask Aiden.

David took a deep breath and began to explain, "Their empire is based on a male dominated society, basically the women are nothing but their slaves. They would use them for any purpose and would do whatever they wanted from pleasure, breeding, or any other sick things, they are the type who would rape, pillage, and destroy the lands."

Everyone had their eyes widened, "And they have such a thing in their minds. This is a nightmare." Henderson said.

Anthony then look at the Canadian and nodded his head, "Good job, no use for this piece of trash and we don't need rest alive, not with this empire."

"So what's our ROE now, Ant?" David asked with his arms crossed.

"As much I hate to say it, but we are gonna have to kill any and all of these Sex Empire fucks. And make sure we are clean with this." Said Anthony.

"Damn right. Next thing we need is the media showing up here." Said Ven'Di.

"We can handle that, sir. We have some of the best people." Said the Canadian.

"I know you are, and that's what I'm counting on." Said Anthony.

He then looked at the map that they have acquired after some interrogation to the bastards they have some broader knowledge of where they're currently are. And they are appeared to be near to the City of Rad which is a city of the Dwarfs or Halflings. A species of female exclusive race of childlike appearance but their looks should not fool them as they could live as long as Elves. It doesn't shock them to hear a dwarf or halfling as they meet them or have them in their ranks. They are short people with robust build and it appears they are different in this continent and would prefer to call them halflings as it was more befitting towards them.

"What about the rest of the prisoners?" Said one of the Colonels.

"Kill them, none of the allies here would complain of their death." Anthony said darkly, "And don't try to shoot them either, I don't want the troops wasting ammo for their filth. So use swords, knives, magic, or whatever as long as it doesn't waste our supplies."

Truth he might have massive amount of supplies though he has mostly worry about ammunition and rations since he would try to converse as much as possible due to not having a proper port and land for an airstrip, he trained that for his expedition in case they may need to cut off from supply lines and he knows the feeling of lack of supplies and would do everything he can to spare as many as possible before calling in for more.

The tent hummed with radios, the stink of mud and cordite, and the low murmur of pissed-off professionals trying to stay professional.

"Copy, good work," Anthony said, eyes on the map board. "We've got enough to act."

He looked up at the ring of leaders—David, Ven'di, Henderson, Aiden, Henry, the MPs OIC, Civil Affairs, the Maid/Butler Corps liaison, and the flight lead from the winged-Demi regiment. The room went dead quiet.

"Bottom line up front," Anthony said. "This 'Sex Empire' is not an army—it's an organized criminal cult. They don't get quarter for what we just walked into. Our mission set is now threefold: smash their siege train, rescue and repatriate every survivor we can reach, and roll their command structure up by the roots. We do it clean. We do it fast. We do it together."

He stabbed the map.

"Those onagars and trebuchets are sitting here, here, and here—three dispersed parks with a main staging at this saddle. If they get those engines in place, they'll start terrorizing every town within thirty klicks. We're going to preempt that."

He nodded to David. "Read the FRAGO."

David flipped his pad and rattled it off like a metronome.

"FRAGO 06-A 'MERCY HAMMER.' Effective now.

TASK ORG

TF MERCY (Rescue/Shield): Civil Affairs, FET-1/2, Maid/Butler Corps Med & Shelter Cells, MPs (Detainee & Evidence), URK healers. TAC lead: Capt. Yamada (CA).

TF HAMMER (Strike): Ven'di's Mech Coy (+) w/ two Bradleys, one tank platoon, two Ranger platoons (Henderson as assault lead), Demi-Wing Coy (airborne recon & vertical envelopment), Engr Platoon (breach/demolitions), one 120mm mortar plt attached.

TF RAVEN (ISR): UAS det, scout bikes, two kitsune flight teams, SIGINT box.

TF SABLE (S2/MP): Interrogators, linguists, chain-of-custody team, legal observer.

PHASE I – FIND/FIX

RAVEN launches in 10. High recon by Demi-Wing—photo each engine, count crews, mark pickets, animal teams, and ammo stacks. Kitsune smoke if you take fire, you are not dueling ballista today.

SIGINT tries for command circuits, symbols, passwords. SABLE triages detainees—we need leaders' names, routes, depots.

PHASE II – ISOLATE

HAMMER pushes two axes. Blue Ax: Ven'di w/ armor pins the saddle from the south. Red Ax: Henderson takes Rangers and Engrs through the creek bed to the rear park. Mortars set smoke and HE on call. No artillery beyond 120s—survivor risk.

Winged-Demi Coy inserts two squads behind the siege park to cut runners. You don't hero-ball; you interdict and feed targets.

PHASE III – DESTROY/RESCUE

Priority targets: counter-weight arms, sling beds, ammo carts. Engrs carry thermite and cutting charges—burn ropes, drop frames, don't waste HE where fire does it cleaner.

Mercy follows 5 minutes behind first breach. FET leads survivor lanes; Maid/Butler teams pop privacy screens and triage bays. No phones, no gawkers—Evidence Team only.

MP line splits detainees: High-value (badges, marked collars, unit leaders) vs. general combatants. High-value go to SABLE. General combatants per CDR's ROE."

He paused, looked to Anthony. Everyone else did too.

Anthony's jaw worked once. "ROE is unchanged for today's detainees already on hand—finish what we started. No ammo burned. New captures during HAMMER: if they're fighting, you end the fight. If they break and you can safely take 'em, take 'em—we need heads of network alive. Anyone downrange of a rescuer dies. Any doubt? You protect the victim first. Clear?"

A hard chorus: "Clear."

David continued. "PHASE IV – HOLD/TRANSITION

Raven overwatch stays up for counter-attack.

Mercy establishes safe corridor to Rad. Coordinate with Halfling council via CA.

InfoOps cell: one statement only—'Rescue operation ongoing, survivors protected.' No names, no faces, no numbers. The Butler Corps comms team owns press control."

He snapped the pad shut. "H-hour is R+45."

"Questions," Anthony said.

"Sir," the MP OIC spoke. "We'll keep our folks on a leash, but I want to be crystal: no souvenir hunters, no boots-on-necks selfies. Anyone crosses the line, I don't care whose kid they are—they're coming off the line."

"Good," Anthony said. "Make an example once and we won't need a second time."

Henderson raised two fingers. "Two asks: smoke and shields for FET at the breach, and a linguist glued to my hip."

"Approved," Anthony said. "Maid/Butler liaison, push two shield bearers with FET-1, and one linguist to Hunter 2-1."

The butler snapped a neat bow. "Already staged, General."

Ven'di rolled his shoulders. "Armor wants a rule on ramming. If some idiot tries to tow a trebuchet, I'm not playing tag."

Anthony's mouth twitched. "If it's moving and you can't safely demo it—turn it into art. Drivers, mind your dozers."

Aiden and Henry shared a look; Aiden spoke first. "We'll split—my platoon anchors the left of Mercy's corridor, Henry takes the right and rotates squads to carry litters. We've got extra rations and heat packs."

"Do it," Anthony said. "And keep your helmets on. You're lieutenants first, my kids second."

Henry smirked. "Copy, sir."

The Maid/Butler Corps liaison leaned in. "General: our teams have trauma kits, blankets, modesty screens, and hot broth. We'll also run the intake registry. If media sniff us, they'll meet me first."

"Bless you," David muttered.

The tent began to move—leaders fanning to their elements, runners sprinting, a sudden crescendo of purpose. Outside, engines rumbled to life, mortar crews lifted baseplates, winged Marines buckled chest rigs and flexed pinions against the wind.

Anthony stepped out into the gray light. Smoke hung low over the trees where the first atrocity site had been. He keyed battalion net.

"All callsigns, Towson. This is a rescue fight. You will see things that make you want to do stupid shit. Don't. Be professionals. Protect the living. Document the dead. Break their toys. Bring each other home. Move."

"RAVEN up," came the call. "Eyes on Park One—counting five onagars, two trebuchets staged, crews ~60. Second park shows three trebuchets half-rigged. Light picket on the north. Marking now."

"Winged-Demi lifting," the air lead added. "We've got your eyes."

"HAMMER moving," Ven'di reported. "Blue Ax departing line of departure."

"Red Ax set," Henderson said, tightening his chinstrap. "We ghost in, we cut, we leave. Keep your heads."

Aiden clapped Henry's shoulder as they split. "Don't get shot."

"You first."

They grinned, then jogged off in opposite directions, squads falling in behind them.

Edge of the siege park – 42 minutes later

RAVEN's feed painted men milling around crude war machines—levers, ropes, bins of stone shot. A banner with that same eclipse-mark hung crooked between two carts.

"Mark target: leftmost trebuchet," Henderson whispered. "Engrs, on my push."

Ven'di's Bradleys rolled into a hull-down, dozer blades ready. The tank platoon hunkered behind a berm, guns depressed.

"Mortars," David's voice crackled, "smoke on the picket line—white, two volleys. HE on ammo carts when assault calls splash."

"Shot, over."

White bloom swallowed the park's edge. Panicked shapes ran. The first grenade zipped from a Ranger's launcher and slapped into a sling bed; engineers were already on the ropes with cutters, hissing thermite where coils met wood.

"CONTACT RIGHT—small arms!" a Ranger barked. A handful of black-clad fighters stumbled out of smoke into a wall of disciplined fire; they went down fast.

"Winged-Demi, seal the north gap," Henderson called. Shadows crossed the smoke—two four-man teams dropping to block egress, shields up, spears leveled. One runner took a step, saw a half-circle of steel and eyes, and thought better of it. He went to his knees shaking.

"Ammo cart," Ven'di's gunner said—WHUMP! A neat HE popped a piled wagon, the blast turning rocks into hail that pattered harmlessly across dirt.

"Mercy, you're up," Anthony said, watching the drone feed. The FET line moved as one—shields carried by butlers and maids creating a corridor while medics and CA pulled stunned women out from under tarps and carts. Names were not asked. Warm hands, blankets, water. "You're safe. You're safe."

At the perimeter, an MP squad had three detainees on their faces, cuffed and separated. One had the marked collar. The MP sergeant's voice was flat. "SABLE, you've got your man. He's breathing, and he won't be for long if he twitches."

"Copy," came S2. "Eye marks on the collar. Capture complete."

An onagar's arm creaked, threatening to slip. An engineer slapped a demo on the pivot and yanked a line—crack. The arm sagged and cracked in two.

"Park One is combat ineffective," Henderson said. "Shift to Park Two."

"Blue Ax, push the saddle," Ven'di said. The Bradleys clanked forward, engines rumbling, as a tank rolled over a half-rigged trebuchet frame. Wood screamed and then didn't.

At the corridor's mouth, Aiden took a knee next to a girl clutching a canteen like a lifeline. "You're good," he said, voice soft behind the plate. "We've got you." She nodded without looking up.

Henry rotated a squad forward, swapping a private with trembling hands for another whose face was calm and set. "Breathe," he told the first. "Back to the trucks. Hot drink. Then you come back when you're ready."

"Copy," the kid whispered, ashamed.

Henry clapped his shoulder. "You did fine."

Back at the CP, Anthony watched the overhead turn from chaos to controlled destruction. Stacks burned. Frames collapsed. The number of survivors in green-topped trucks climbed. The number of runners dropped to zero.

David slid a notepad into his hand—S2's first pass: symbols, leader names, depots, a sketch of routes to a bigger camp. At the bottom, a single underlined word from the interrogation tent:

Rad.

Anthony nodded once. "We just kept a city off a chopping block," he said quietly.

He keyed the net one last time as the last trebuchet groaned and fell.

"All callsigns, Towson. Objectives met. Engines destroyed. Survivors secure. Consolidate and prepare to move. We're not done on this continent, not by a long shot—but today you drew a line. And on our side of that line, people live. Good work."

He let go of the switch and finally, finally allowed himself a breath.

Outside, smoke drifted into a high blue sky. Mercy's convoy rolled toward Rad like a promise. And behind them, where monsters had planned a siege, there was nothing left but blackened timber, cooling rope, and the boot prints of professionals headed for the next fight.