Northwest of Ken — Impact Zone

The field still hissed.

White smoke crawled low and mean. Pools of orange napalm licked at roots and boots alike. The JEF moved through it in gas masks and face shields, a slow machine of habit and grim kindness.

"CBRN, readouts," Chernyshenko called, voice muffled behind rubber.

"Air's dirty but livable past the line," reported Scout Underofficer 3rd Class Shai Aune (URK, dark-elf) over the squad net. "Mask discipline stays on. Don't be a hero."

"Copy," Chernyshenko said. "Nobody breathes stupid."

A Botswanan mortarman—Pvt. Neo 'Stompie' Masire—kicked a charred shield aside and raked the ash with his boot sole. "Sharp-sharp, boss. Fuckin' smells like a barbecue in hell."

"Stop narrating," Filipina maid Aila Reyes said, kneeling by a wheezing Black Dog who'd rolled the white fire off into mud. The man's chest was a patchwork of blister and soot. Aila's gloved hands were quick: morphine, burn gel, saline. "Hey. You're not dying alone, okay? Breathe with me."

He choked, eyes wide and human. Two ranks back, Cpl. Piet du Toit (SA sniper) posted security, barrel steady on the smoke. "You got him, Doc?"

"If he stays and if the winds don't change," Aila said. "Tag him urgent. Stretcher!"

Two URK litter-bearers jogged in, masks fogged, tails tucked tight under harness. They lifted, pivoted, and went—footing careful between sticky, fatal puddles.

A Black Dog crawled from a ditch swinging a dagger with burned fingers. Corporal Dunn snapped a kick, knocked the blade away, and put a controlled burst into the dirt a hand's breadth from his ear. "Don't move! Hands up!" He froze, coughed, collapsed. He rolled the Black Dog, cuffed him, checked his pulse. "Bastard's alive."

"POW detail," Benjamin said. "Blue zip ties. Tag 'em, bag 'em—living bag, not the other kind."

A young Namibian—Cpl. Kaino Amadhila—hauled a five-gallon water can to a smoldering clump. "Foam," he called. A Zambian engineer, Mwansa Phiri, cracked a bottle and smothered a stubborn white bloom. "Sand it, too. Don't be cheap with dirt."

"EOD on me," barked Sgt. Isla MacPherson (armorer, SCO). "There's a cluster that didn't pop. Looks like bad temperaments and worse fuzes. Nobody touch that shit unless you're signing my pay."

Back at the White Citadel, War council room

Anthony looked back at Alicia who is still trying not to vomit from the gut punch, "And would you mind repeating that one more time please? Because I can't say I understand it, but I want to hear it fully from your view and meaning." He said with his growing irritation to the blonde princess and it goes rapidly while maintaining his cool facade, his men and son who looks like he just want to shoot her here and there.

Alicia growled at him, "You heard me Barbarian, I said DISMANTLE EVERYTHING! Are you deaf or something!?"

"And why should I even consider your demand little girl? Can you explain please?" Anthony said in sarcastic playful tone which Alicia didn't pick it up but a few others did.

"Well there's a good explanation." Alicia said as she got up and brushed her hair off before she explained. "This things are... soulless," She said in utter disgust. "Our knights worked so hard to hone their skill and train themselves to perfect the art of war, in honor, and fairness of battle. But those abomination!" She gestured at the vehicles and firearms that they bring with such passion on her tone that made Anthony wanting to either sleep or wonder if he can have a Burger King deployed here. "They destroy everything of fairness and honor in mere seconds! Do you know how much pain they had gone through for this? Their training, that they put their blood, sweat, and tears to hone it? And so, I DEMAND YOU TO DISMANTLE THEM! DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT!?"

Everyone heard that made the JEF wanting to shoot and stab her even more. Her mentality and entitlement was nothing short of disgusting.

'Hmm, not even knights would be this idiot. Hell, they'll even increasingly steal designs and hire such workforce just to have more muskets to have an advantage in the battlefield yet this bitch made every single knight will turn on their grave of putting aside such advantage. And even the knights with us, worked with us, fought alongside us, and trained with us knows this bitch is an idiot for thinking such a thing. Why doesn't she see that? Even though the knights kept the whole not using firearms deal in combat, they will still try or in most cases use only pistols and sniper rifles for longer ranges or if arrows aren't available.' Anthony thought.

"No." Was Anthony's answer to her, she wasted his and his men's time.

"No? What do you mean, 'no'?!" Shouted Alicia as she step closer to Anthony.

"No. As in no I will not dismantle the vehicles and firearms of my troops." Anthony said with a tone of a father speaking to their child.

Alicia's face was red in anger at that as veins were popping on her forehead.

To be blatant to be said 'no' to her face. "You do as I say o—"

"Oh shut fuck up ya stupid bitch. The answer is still no." Anthony as he sticked his tongue out like Luu-luu did in mockery to her. Which made the 300 year old Halfling laugh out loud. He doesn't consider her to be a competent leader. "Eostia is already doomed if this is kind of leader leads them. Hell, if we didn't come to this continent, you all be sex slaves to the Black Dogs. No offense, but some offense."

Hearing that made them little shock, but not that they would be surprise if he says no. After all, they are not from these lands and most of all they are not their leader. And Claudia and the Eastern side knows it.

After all, they're not their citizens and they have no obligation to answer them. But that last line hit deep because it was true. Even Luu-luu didn't say anything as he was right, if they didn't come here then the Black Dogs would already have raped her and her people.

Claudia also didn't say anything as Anthony was right. If the Black Dogs took over Rad and stolen their weapons there... Ken would fall. And she will be a sex slave to either the Black Dogs or it's leader Vult. Mainly the latter.

The Eastern side already decided to stay with the JEF as they have made an agreement before their arrival in Ken since they can see the advantages that they can bring to bear and they all think for their people's safety. And honor be damned if the Black Dogs shows no honor and so they seek a force that does not oblige to honor and only knows how to win the war.

"You dare to refuse me?!" Alicia shouted again at Anthony as if all he said was bullshit.

"Yes." Said Anthony with a shrug, "We REFUSE YOU!"

Before Alicia could speak and pop a blood vessel, Celestine spoke. "I accept your proposal, Anthony." She said shocking some even Anthony himself. The Western side looked at Celestine with shock while the Eastern side could only sigh in relief.

"Really?" Anthony said with a raised eyebrow.

For once, even Alicia agreed with Anthony. "I can't I'm saying this, but he's right. Your highness you can't possibly be—" Alicia was cut off by Celestine.

"I already made decision when I invited them Alicia and that's final." She said before looking at Anthony with soft expression, "Win this war for all of us and I promise I will do everything I can to make up for your assistance." She most of their eyes twitch. "Not in that context." She corrected.

Alicia could not contain herself, "My Lady, you can't accept such a proposal for those barbarians!"

Celestine closed eyes as she sighs at Alicia's stubborn nature, "The moment I have invited them here Alicia was a decision that has already been made and I cannot and will not shy away such a massive advantage we have now. The Black Dogs have no honor and as much as it hurts me both mentally and spiritually... I choose the lesser evil, they fight with no honor and they will win this war with lesser casualties on our side." Celestine said as there was wisdom in her tone of voice.

Grave looked at Claudia, "You already accepted didn't you?" He said as he narrowed his eyes at his daughter-in-law.

"We've seen of how they fight today Father, and I stand with Celestine's decision." Claudia said in a firm determined tone.

"Well I won't accept this!" Alicia hissed. She spun to leave—then whirled and swung a slap at Anthony's cheek.

He caught her wrist without looking. The answering pimp style backhand was a red-printed lesson that spun her a half-step, hair flying.

She clutched her face, eyes watering. "You... you—"

"Motherfucker, I'll do it again," he said, flat as a slammed door. He sighed, leash tugged back into his palm. "Maybe nobody ever told you 'no' or smacked you for endangering people. Listen. If the Black Dogs tear at Feoth's gates, we'll come anyway. Not for you—for your people. Honor or no honor."

Alicia stared at him, thrown off-balance by the last line. Her mouth worked. She turned away, hand on cheek, and as she reached the door, mouthed, "Appreciated..."—so small only Prim saw it.

Grave paused in the doorway, throwing a last glare over his shoulder at the JEF. "You'll regret this. They'll make us all slaves."

"Wow... what an asshole." David said as he put away his pistol.

"Were you serious about the whole coming to Alicia's kingdom to the rescue, sir?" Sir Elion asked.

"Yeah. She may be a bitch and a failure of a leader. But she's still a girl, a virgin given her tone and manners, and her people of her kingdom. I'll be damned if I sit back and watch their place turn into a rape festival for the Black Dogs." Anthony said in his still serious and honest tone.

"Finally, the two biggest idiots and stubborn are gone." Said Maia but liked the words Anthony said... and also felt a bit terrible as she would've done the opposite left the Kingdom of Feoth to themselves.

Even Luu-luu and Kaguya liked the words and also felt a bit terrible as they would've done the opposite too.

"Indeed. And my Lady is right, Honor will doom us, I'll prepare to reinforce our defenses, not long after that the Black Dogs tried to invade us." Claudia said with narrowed eyes. Then looked at Celestine. And then the JEF.

"Henderson—" Anthony said.

"On it," Henderson answered, already halfway out the door, radio at his ear.

Celestine knew one thing, she did the right thing. Making them as an Enemy would be a huge blunder by Alicia's actions and not only that, she could tell that the Eastern side is already with the JEF.

"Are you sure about this Lady Celestine?" Said Prim with a frown. She didn't like of how her cousin treated the JEF, she could tell that they can destroy them if they wanted to without so much as a blink. She just hopes that her cousin's arrogance won't bite them back when the situation was not on their favor.

"Yes Prim." Celestine said with a sad smile towards Prim feeling sorry for their youngest member, Alicia likely forgotten her to cool off. "This is the only way to end the war faster and less casualties."

"I feel sorry for her people more than to her, she would likely fall to enemies trap like accepting surrender when threatening to kill hostages." Muttered Henry as he leaned on the door.

But most of the JEF heard that.

She shown to be very very dumb...

And if the Black Dogs do a Fake surrender when threatening to kill hostages.

Her knights will most definitely beg her not to, and said hostages which would most likely be nuns would also beg her not to surrender.

They could probably at least hold out long enough to counter attack if she didn't ordered a surrender, buuuut she's just THAT special.

Anthony and David seen it and read before. Even the Japanese did it to US Soldiers and Marines during WW2.

"Hmmm... perhaps. We'll determined the distance between here and Feoth and see to it if our navy's longest ranging missiles can reach there." Anthony said already thinking of possible ways to bomb Feoth or it's outskirts.

Celestine, Claudia, and Kaguya heard missiles and paled thinking he was talking about the missiles that is bright as the sun (nukes) that saw in their visions.

Anthony saw their reactions and was quick to clarify, "Not 'those' missiles, but the ones that can take out large targets. Bunker busters. Bridges. Depots. Mean, not apocalyptic."

The three sigh in relief. But Celestine want to know something... non-war related. "I had to ask... what do the women from your lands and countries dress like? If you don't mind me asking."

"And I still wanted to know that rectangular device you always carry in your pocket?" Luu-luu asked remembering all of the 40k troops of the Joint Expeditionary Force besides the knights and some of the maids and butlers carry one.

Maia and Kaguya wanted to know too.

Prim was also curious as well as she seen some of the JEF pull them out.

Anthony thought about it. Ain't nothing wrong with showing what a smartphone is, and there is a ton of pictures on his phone.

"Hmm, I guess there's nothing wrong with that." Anthony said as he pulled his phone out and turned it on and the first thing the ladies saw was a picture of him, his nine wives, and forty-two of his sons and daughters. Including the younger versions of Henry, Aiden, Jackson, Zachery, and Benjamin. They were at a park with the kids playing.

Anthony points out each wife, "Dar is the Barbarian tribeswoman and Zachery's mother, Volet is the human blonde woman and former princess and Henry's mother, Reata is the orc woman and Benjamin's mother, and Yoa is the dark elf woman and Aiden's mother. Each of those four women gave birth to one kid each as you can already know. All four of the babies born were boys. Miliy is the shortstack Wolf Demi-human woman, gave birth to six children. Four girls, two boys, one of the boys is Jackson. Flit is the curvy Cat Demi-human woman, gave birth to five children. Four boys, one girl. Farly is the harpy demi-human woman, only gave birth to two children. Both are boys. Vem is the spider demi-human woman don't judge me, gave birth to fifteen children. Fourteen are girls and one boy. And Geert is the shortstack goblin woman, gave birth to ten children. Eight are girls and two are boys."

He then points out each of his kids, "And the forty-two who are now grown-up 24-year-olds are my kids. My fifteen sons and twenty-seven daughters... Aiden, Ethan, Benjamin, Samuel, Caleb, Zachary, Elijah, Andrew, Jackson, Logan, Owen, Henry, Mason, Daniel, Alexander, Olivia, Emma, Ava, Charlotte, Mia, Amelia, Sophia, Harper, Evelyn, Abigail, Kily, Grace, Zoe, Ruby, Natalie, Chloe, Emily, Lucy, Scarlett, Isabella, Lily, Stella, Penelope, Victoria, Aurora, Lillian, and Macey." He breathes, "Phew, took a lot to get that all out."

Luu-luu gaped. "You... absolute menace."

David smirked. "He's tired all the time."

Kaguya stared at a photo of the wives in normal clothes—slacks and blouses, summer dresses, jeans and boots, a sari bright as a sunset, a hanbok in soft pastels, a hijab paired with a tailored coat, a business skirt with sensible shoes, a lab coat over jeans. "They look... comfortable."

"Mostly, yeah." Anthony swiped. Images of uniforms—female Marines in plate carriers and full-coverage armor; police in stab vests; firefighters in turnout gear. "Day to day it's pants, skirts, dresses, jackets—whatever fits your work and weather. In our armies? You cover what a blade, bullet, or flame would hurt."

Claudia touched the new modesty kit over her own cuirass, cheeks faintly pink. "Sensible."

"And the rectangle," Prim ventured, pointing.

"Phone," Anthony said. "Also a computer. Camera. Map. Library. Message runner. Music box. We link them to a private network—no magic—just radios and towers. Here we run our own encrypted mesh, because your world doesn't have our... uh... signal." He thumbed open a map; a blue dot pulsed over Ken, then a tactical overlay with friendly units and supply icons. "We can text, call, share pictures, track units, order beans and bullets."

Luu-luu reached toward it like it might bite. "And you carry that... everywhere."

"Pretty much." He killed the screen and slid it away. "Tremendous power to waste time, too."

Maia grinned. "Show me the music later."

"Deal."

He scooped the room with a look, the moment of softness folding away. "All right. Playtime's over. We've got pursuits to run and lessons to teach."

Claudia snapped to. "I'll pull seamstresses to finish plate carriers for the western ranks."

"Henderson's building a schoolhouse," David said. "Two-a-days. Scouting comes before standing tall."

Kaguya bowed. "We will unlearn what kills us."

"Good start," Ven'di said, already scribbling a tasking board.

Sir Elion offered a courtly, weary smile. "And perhaps, by week's end, our youngest princess will learn a word she has never loved—'enough.'"

"If not," Aleksandr murmured, "war will teach anyway."

Outside, engines coughed to life; inside, pens scratched over orders. The city of Ken exhaled—still nervous, a little scorched, but breathing—and somewhere northwest the last hiss of white fire guttered into wet earth.

Class was in session.