Libertatis Imperium (Gate)

Chapter 0

charclone

Well-known member
This is a sequel to my story Hunting Freedom. If you have not read it, I recommend that you do. Though, it is hardly an absolute necessity.

Yes. I finally got around to writing this. Not very far in, and don't expect consistent updated, University is eating a lot of time.

A sequel to Hunting Freedom.

With the Gate open between Earth and Falmart, and NATO now firmly controlling it, both Richard and Tara need to determine 'What next?' as both the past effects the present, and the consequences of their actions lead to them needing to take up roles that they had not considered, or had feared to face.

The Saderan Empire still looms, even with its legions broken. The Warrior Bunnies are a people without a home. Enslaved people look for a way to take revenge. And for the Empire, some within it still believe victory is within their grasp.



The air in the temple tasted foul. It had started to taste strange a few hours ago, but now the girl felt lightheaded.

Once, before the girl had been born, it had been dedicated to some ancient god. But now the paint was old, it had started peeling from the walls long ago. The priests of her village had always told her to stay away from it, that there was an ancient evil trapped inside. When the mountain it was built into began to spew smoke and fire, people feared that the evil was escaping.

But when the raiders came, the girl could find no other safe place. They had come, wearing strange clothes, in ships the girl had never seen before. Burning and looting anything they found. She had seen her father killed as he and others tried to fight them.

She had been halfway to the temple when the mountain exploded. Fire rained around from the sky, and strange ash drifted down. It terrified the raiders, and they returned to the sea with their spoils. But the girl had nowhere else to go. Her village was burning, and she knew of no other place. It had been the only settlement she had ever been to.

She had heard tales from traders of other settlements, of vast empires to the south, along a long and wide river surrounded by deserts, and of a people with many cities to the east. But she was young. They were just tales to her. She saw the temple. It seemed so familiar, so safe to her, as liquid fire rolled down the slope far to the west, creating massive walls of steam was they met the sea that surrounded the island.

She had stumbled into the temple, closing the old doors behind her.

She wasn't sure how long she had stayed here, curled beneath a statue, in dark and filthy clothes. It felt like days. She had long run out of tears, reduced to dry sobs.

She had tried to open the door, to look outside, but the door too hot, and too heavy, to move.

She coughed and shivered, praying to whatever deity that claimed this temple for safety, as her parents had taught her. She could barely see, the darkness obscuring any details of the temple. The statue old and worn. What little light there was reflected off its bronze sword.

Hunger clawed at her belly, causing her to curl tighter about herself. Her breathing shallow and rapid.

There was a sudden gust of fresh air.

The girl started, blearily looking around.

Slowly, she pushed her aching body from the ground. Stumbling, she tried to follow the breeze, deeper into the temple. Confused, she found it longer that it had originally been, the ground feeling strange beneath her feet.

She wasn't sure when she had lost her sandals.

She forced her body into a run when she saw the light. It was painful to look at, but it was a reassuring pain. A familiar pain.

She gave a gasp as she suddenly found herself on a grassy hill. Birds chirping from nearby trees. She collapsed in relief.

It was hours later, the strange sun low in the sky when strange voices roused her.

Her muscles burning, she pushed herself up, and moved in the direction of the voices. To tired to try and understand them, or even pay attention to where she was going. This was why she walked straight into someone.

A strange hand placed itself on her, and a face with strangely pointed ears looked her in the eyes. She stared blankly, not understanding what she was seeing, and too tired and hurt to care.

The strange person picked her up, and moved swiftly, calling out in a strange tongue. Everything faded.

When she awoke, she was lying on a soft grass mat, her body covered in strange smelling bandages, her tongue parched, and her belly grumbling. She looked around and saw the inside of a simple but solid wooden dwelling. Slowly, the girl got up and walked out of the house, into the dawn air.

More of the strange, pointed eared people walked around, putting food on a table. One of them guided her to the table, where she sat next to someone that looked her age, aside from the pointed ears.

Her belly growled.

The child next to her laughed and gave her a bread roll.
 
Last edited:
Chapter 1

charclone

Well-known member
Here, have another. Also, feel free to comment.


Richard sighed as he signed the last form.

He leaned back in the cheap folding chair, running his hand through his hair.

A decade of various physical activities, such as sword fighting, blacksmithing, wearing plate armour for most of the day, and general physical fitness had left the twenty-five-year-old in good physical health. Light brown hair topped his head, blue eyes and freckles marking his face.

He glanced around the office, shared with several others.

"Tired?" A voice asked with a ribbing tone. "Unfortunately, the day is only half over."

The uniformed American lieutenant waved Richard away.

"You've finished the paperwork. Go have lunch and then do your rounds." The other man smiled. He was part of the NATO support team that had helped establish the Alnus community, who's duties were primarily administrating the supply needs. "Oh, ask someone to bring me my usual, I'll pay for it."

"Sure." Richard groaned as he stood up. He was no stranger to paperwork; his last job having involved cataloguing medieval artifacts for a museum. But NATO wanted a small forest of paper. Then again, he was requesting assistance to re-establish yet another satellite village to feed the stream of refugees.

Since 'Richard's Rebellion', as the media had decided on calling it, two months ago, Richard had found himself working as an interpreter and liaison for the NATO forces in what is now being referred to as the 'Saderan Theatre'.

Said 'Saderan' Empire had proceeded to engage in a futile series of attacks against the modern forces of NATO. All ended in a slaughter. More than once, he had found himself pressed into service, to help translate the words of a prisoner.

The Saderan Empire had also engaged in an utterly barbaric policy of scorched earth. They were attempting to prevent the NATO forces from being able to supply themselves. A tactic that was normal for desperate medieval forces, as Richard well knew, having studied medieval history in university. Yet, against the modern supply lines of the Canadian and US forces, all it achieved was a steady loss of troops as NATO forces rapidly caught up with the Saderan forces trying to burn villages.

It had slowed progress, as the NATO forces chose to help refugees when they could. Further slowing progress was the allied vassals of the Empire. A major attack from them had caused NATO focus to shift to the south and west, the opposite direction they now knew, from the Saderan capital and heartlands.

All that meant that there was a steady stream of refugees, rescued from bandits, Saderan soldiers, wildlife, even a dragon according to rumours Richard had heard, though none of the refugees he had seen spoke of a dragon.

That in turn meant that his job became both overseeing them, due to the slaves that had escape with him seeing him as a leader and trying to find a solution to the looming threat of insufficient food for them. NATO was at least doings its best to ensure there would be no disease or plague.

Already, the population of Alnus was near two thousand people. Many of them were refugees and escaped slaves, but there were a few former soldiers among them, helping keep order. Feeding them had at first been a daunting task, but fortunately, most of them were former farmers, and many villages were still largely intact, the ones near Alnus, anyway. It had been one of these village's former chief's idea. From these farms, using modern steel tools and farming techniques, though fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals were vetoed, the surviving crops were harvested or tended, and short-term crops such as potatoes were sewn. Other, long-term crops were being prepared as well.

While it did not solve the potential problems right away, it did reduce the risks, and allow for long term solutions. Mostly expanding the farmlands, restoring more villages, and requisitioning additional support from the NATO forces.

Richard shook his head, clearing thoughts of farming logistics from his head. He paused briefly to collect his sword from a locker, before walking down the stairs to the ground floor. The Alnus Administration building had been set up to handle the growing bureaucracy. Already, it was looking like the three-story building would need to be expanded, as more and more people came into what was already being called Alnus Town.

He slipped the sword's sheath onto his back as he walked out of the reception area.

The flamberge zweihander that he had used to kill both a Saderan noble and a Saderan general in his escape from captivity had quickly become his 'badge of office'.

He paused as he heard a pair of footsteps following him. He turned.

"You people are doing the bodyguard thing again?" He asked in Saderan. He was aware that his accent and pronunciation was not helping the issue.

The former Saderan auxiliary just gave him a silent, amused look.

"Trying to explain, yet again, that I am not a noble isn't going to help, is it."

"No, sir. You were put in command over the fief, and you are responsible for the villagers getting roofs over their heads. Many of them even got their old roofs again, repaired at no cost." The elf's amused look grew to a side smile. "I may not understand your people's traditions, but here, to these people, you are a noble."

Richard bit back a groan and started walking again. The word that the elf had used, translating roughly to 'sir' carried more than just connotations of respect. The exact word denoted the acknowledgement of someone who was not a simple officer or knight, yet not as high as a general or senator. It was closer to lord, though the use was different, carrying more respect than simply acknowledging someone's lordship over a piece of territory.

The pair walked in silence through the bustling town. US Marines were currently the ones garrisoning the town, and they would give Richard nods and waves as he passed them, which he would return. He passed a squad breaking up some sort of disturbance at the town's public baths, the smoke giving a good indication of what had happened. A bucket line was already dispersing.

Finally, the pair walked into a tavern. It was called a tavern by the locals, but it was closer to a restaurant. Alcohol was served, supplied in limited amounts by NATO, though how that happened Richard had been unable to learn, but the main attraction was the fact that it tried to style itself after restaurants on Earth. It had earned a reputation of novelty, something that the canny owner had seized with both hands. He had apparently owned a tavern on a main highway that Saderan soldiers had burned down, but he had been able to save several kegs of alcohol, which he started selling or trading to refugees when he got to Alnus. This, coupled with his own business savvy and an agreement with the local NATO command structure, led to him being granted a building in the growing town to sell his wares. His business had only been open a month, yet it's novelty and popularity led to it quickly becoming oft frequented by off duty NATO personnel.

Richard wasn't sure how or why the owner had copied Earth restaurants, but he certainly wasn't going to complain. The food was prepared sanitarily thanks to NATO giving lessons on hygiene, it tasted good, and was well within Richard's budget.

A.N. I hate how I struggle with the site's linebreaks.
 

Bear Ribs

Well-known member
Nice to see a sequel!

The opening needs an extra hard return, it looks like the opening paragraph and author's note are all one big sentence which took me a bit to parse.
 

charclone

Well-known member
Nice to see a sequel!

The opening needs an extra hard return, it looks like the opening paragraph and author's note are all one big sentence which took me a bit to parse.
Yup. Mixed up the spacing. Thank you for pointing it out. The lines appear in the box when copied over from the SB version, but not when I post.

But yeah, a friend bugged me about a sequel, before I had even written the first Hunting Freedom chapter, and I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards, so, here is the sequel. Hopefully it is enjoyable.
 

ATP

Well-known member
Poor Richard.He is facing enemy worst then saderans - paperwork.
Where are cute bunnies ,which should save him?

Jokes aside - good to see you again.Another Gate in 1th chapter?
 

charclone

Well-known member
Poor Richard.He is facing enemy worst then saderans - paperwork.
Where are cute bunnies ,which should save him?

Jokes aside - good to see you again.Another Gate in 1th chapter?
No, still only 1 Gate in the 1st Chapter, that was just a very long time ago, as hinted with the Elves being around Alnus. Note, while the Gate appears on Alnus in Falmart, it has no set place of appearance on other worlds.
 
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ATP

Well-known member
No, still only 1 Gate in the 1st Chapter, that was just a very long time ago, as hinted with the Elves being around Alnus. Note, while the Gate appears on Alnus in Falmart, it has no set place of appearance on other worlds.
So,it is on Alnus entire time,and gods decide where and when use it?
 

charclone

Well-known member
So,it is on Alnus entire time,and gods decide where and when use it?
Its on Alnus all the time, yes. As for who controls it and how... well, you'll need to wait and see. No spoilers here!

In canon though, yes, Hardy controlled when the gate appeared, and the Saderan Mages (who show up nearly not at all for some reason...) made it a permanent structure, to her displeasure.
 
Chapter 2

charclone

Well-known member
Tara kept her discomfort hidden.

Among the refugees had been members of her people, hiding in the countryside, either having escaped from slavery, or the fall of the tribes. There had been quite a few liberated by NATO from enemy camps as well.

Because of her position, or rather the perceived position, as Richard's second in command, and the fact that her people saw her as more trustworthy than a human, it meant that any of the Warrior Bunnies that had problems went to her. At first, it was minor things, how to use a flush toilet, what are they expecting from us, etc.

Now, it had become far more political.

"Why wont this nay-toh allow is to raid the Empire?"

"We should be building this town, and those Saderans should be in chains!"

"Nay-toh is opposed to slavery. And I agree with them! Nay-toh is an alliance, would they let us join them?"

"What would we have to bring to the table? How can we trust them to use us? We should leave, establish a new kingdom somewhere else."

"How can they afford to feed so many people without using slaves? Who does the work?"

"Have you seen those metal beasts? That's probably how!"

"Tyuule was no traitor! It's just a bunch of Saderan lies!"

For the past two weeks, every day, various leaders from the tribes would gather, the tribes that had more than two or three people left in NATO territory, and they would argue and debate about what to do.

"Ka-na-dah has offered us land!"

"So has the You-es-ay! Why not go there?"

"We'd be split up. Weak! And they wouldn't let us hunt! They don't let us hunt here!"

"'Hunting' was what provoked the Empire!"

"Coward!"

"Barbarian!"

"Traitor and whore!"

"Enough!" A young elder, by virtue of being a priest-in-training that had escaped the slaughter rather than age, tried to shout above the racket. "I said enough! We are here to decide what to do next, not squabble like a pack of Saderan children. We are Warriors, not cowards!"

The crowed ignored her.

The elder sighed and moved to sit next to Tara, who had long given up trying to force them to act rationally. Too many were interested in violence, revenge, or simple bloodshed, while others wanted to keep running. There was no leadership. Tyuule had left with no heir, and the Empire had been sure to execute every pureblooded Warrior Bunny, and every male.

In theory, they could simply elect a tribal representative government, like they had before Tyuule's great grandmother had united the tribes against the Empire, forming the second of the three primary factions, where each tribe sent a representative to a council. Unfortunately, it would not be agreed to, there was a reason it had taken a Queen to force the tribes to unite.

The three factions, where one tried to become like the Saderans, another tribe to keep to the old ways, and the third taking the advantages of the Empire's ways, merged with the old ways, had exploded into dozens of fractions.

In Tara's eyes, the old ways were dead. Some remanets would carry on, but they would be echoes, while the those that had copied the Saderans were at best concubines, at worst dead at their sister tribe's hands or slaves. Those that had tried to forge a kingdom were left with a broken dream, never to be rekindled. There would be no civilisation of Warrior Bunnies to rival the Saderan Empire. Instead, they were better off supporting NATO in crushing the Empire.

"Feh." The older woman spat as she sat on the bench. "Idiots. What's your take on all this?"

Tara gave the older Warrior Bunny a look.

"The same as it has been since you first asked, Madira."

"Well, why have you given up?" Madira scowled. "You have the authority to take control. You could even take the Throne."

"I'm not pureblooded." Tara growled. "Besides, you know why."

They lapsed into silence, both scowling at each other, as the rest of the group argued and screeched at each other, interspersed with bouts of insults.

Tara impatiently waited for the allotted time for the Warrior Bunny 'council' to use the building. It had been set up initially as a temporary housing but had since transitioned into a sort of meeting hall. A pseudo town council had formed, though it had refrained from declaring itself, fearing how NATO and Richard would react.

Finally, the clock, provided by NATO, reached half past the hour before noon.

Tara stood up, holding a cone shaped device. The megaphone let loose a loud blast of noise, forcing every Warrior Bunny in range not expecting it to flinch in discomfort. The ears were not just for show.

"Right! We are not making any progress. Why don't we call it here, and come back tomorrow, after tempers have cooled." She shouted.

Several Warrior Bunnies shot her dirty looks, though the majority just gave her tired looks and nods.

Tara waited for everyone else to leave first before she left.

The moment she exited the building, a familiar presence appeared.

"Off to see Richard?" Hannah's face appeared cheerful. Her tone however, suggested something more vulgar.

"His culture is quite different from either ours or the Saderans." Tara replied curtly.

Hannah's face shifted to a look of disappointment as she kept pace with Tara, as she walked towards the 'restaurant'.

"Why are you bothering to follow his culture? You aren't from it, and you aren't trying to abandon your own."

Tara shot an unamused expression at the other Warrior Bunny.

"Because I don't come from a culture where we kidnap our mates. I'm not going to force him into anything."

"And since he isn't going to try and push you into anything, you'll both just keep dancing around it, never getting anywhere." Hannah shook her head. "Kinda sad, actually."

"No, that isn't going to happen. And better that than what happened to Shanta."

Hannah winced.

"Okay, yeah, fine. Even my tribe didn't go as far as to… what was the NATO term for it? 'Sexual Assault'? Any idea what happened to her?"

"More than just rape, but yes. She got sent to prison for several years. And taking people as slaves and asking them if they wanted to mate wasn't any better, they didn't exactly have a choice. How many were actually asked, and how many were 'asked'?"

Hannah threw her arms up in surrender.

"Alright, alright. Moving on… how is the council going?"

"Its not. Remember that fight we had that Richard broke up, back when we were escaping?"

"That bad?"

"Worse, they just know NATO won't let them kill each other."

"Ouch. So, want me to round up some warriors, take them by surprise and name you and Richard rulers of the community?"

Tara sighed and shook her head.

"What? It would get you two together in a reasonable timeframe, and deal with those idiots! Two birds, one arrow! Besides, most of the warriors and soldiers here are loyal to you and Richard." Hannah gave Tara a teasing grin. She amended. "Well, the soldiers that aren't NATO, and I think there are a bunch that are loyal to him."

"Don't. Just… don't."

"Fine. I'll stop teasing."

They passed a field, initially set up for the soldiers of the 'Long Patrol', Saderan slaves and soldiers had sided with her and Richard, to practice in. But today, there was a new figure there. An Iron arm replaced his organic left hand, while an eyepatch covered his left eye. The way he leaned on the crutch suggested a leg injury of some kind. He was being watched over by several NATO soldiers. Canadians, if Tara was correct about the camouflage pattern. He, in turn, was watching several of the Long Patrol soldiers drill.

Finally, they reached the squat, two story building that housed the restaurant.

Hannah didn't miss the way Tara's face lit up when she saw Richard.

He was discussing something about NATO's rules on religion to a young girl. Hannah frowned, as the girl's dress reminded her of something. It wasn't until the girl made her polite farewell and grabbed her weapon from the wall that Hannah recognised Emroy's demigod, sending a chill up her spine. Richard was still alive, and he had not been polite to Rory the Reaper.

Richard's face went from a slightly sour expression, which he had worn while speaking to Rory, to nearly splitting into an ear-to-ear grin as he caught sight of Tara. Hannah covered up a laugh by making a retching face and commenting to a NATO soldier on his way out "Blegh, lovebirds."

Hannah let herself grin as the NATO soldier chuckled.
 

ATP

Well-known member
Yes Richard,do not try anything with ancient murder loli.Warrior bunny is safe choice !
 
Chapter 3

charclone

Well-known member
Richard watched Tara as she made her way to the table, her smile, to him, lighting up the room. She sat in the chair next to him.

Hannah bit her tongue to keep from laughing at Richard's blush as she sat down across from Tara. It was obvious to her that he liked her, and that Tara liked Richard, but apparently, they couldn't recognise each other's attraction.

"So, what did Rory want?" Tara asked Richard, in English, as she fixed the position of her white hair.

"Just some questions about Earth marriage traditions." Richard shrugged, speaking in Saderan, failing to hide his embarrassment. At least he could recognise the situation. "She was curious as to how NATO would handle locals wanting to get married."

Hannah barked a laugh. She stifled it after only one, but it still caused Tara to give her a glare, and Richard to giver her an extremely embarrassed look.

"So…" Tara said tentatively in English. She wanted to ask about some way to spend time with Richard, but she found herself too embarrassed to do so, partly because of Hannah's teasing earlier. "… how are things coming along on your end?"

Richard snorted.

"Well, we are more dependant on freight than I would like, but it's likely to improve. The rail network being established to supply the troops has helped bring food back quickly. The truce being established with the Elbe Kingdom will probably help a well, but they are having issues with food as well, with their levies being dead." Richard shurgged. "No risk of starvation, but its pricey for NATO and the Red Cross. I'm worried politicians back home will raise a fuss."

He shook his head.

"That being said, I'm open to ideas I can float to the General about supplies."

"Lord Richard?"

They turned to the new voice that had spoken in English.

Lelei La Lalena was one of the handful of people from Falmart that could speak English fluently. Her light blue hair considered an oddity amongst the scientific community, one that, when combined with her affinity with languages, had resulted in her often working as a translator for them. She had compared it to being a student to several archmages at once. Richard had only spoken with her a few times, as the scientific attachment to the NATO Falmart command had constantly been on the move collecting samples.

"Yes, how-" Richard cut himself off, responding in English. "Yes?"

"I have an idea. General Jameson let the residents of Alnus camp collect the scales from the nearby dead wyverns, besides the ones the scientists wanted. We could sell those in Italica, in exchange for food." Lelei explained in a monotone voice, calm and matter of fact. "We are unable transport the number that we have and preserve the food on the way back."

"Meaning you need NATO transportation." Tara noted.

"Correct."

"I knew you were collecting them already, er, 'you' being the other residents as a general term. But have you been planning this for that long?" Richard gave her a look. "Besides, the General won't permit civilians to enter a potential combat zone."

"Italica is independent of the Empire. It does trade a great deal, but it has little military, besides its local forces. A… 'city-state'?" The young mage explained. "It is unlikely to have changed allegiances or become vassalized. It maintains a major trade route, and the Empire has been hesitant to risk disrupting it."

Richard shrugged.

"I'll mention the idea to him when I meet with him in a couple days then."

"Thank you." Lelei gave a formal curtsey, taking Richard's tone as a dismissal, and left.

"So…" Richard said, still in English. "What do you two know of Italica?"

Hannah shrugged.

"Heard lots of Demi-Humans went there to serve its ruler. Also heard he has… certain tastes."

Tara rolled her eyes at Hannah's tone at the end.

"City-state, like Lelei said, but I've also heard that it controls a decent amount of the surrounding countryside. It has a small militia, but the Count that rules it accepts Demi-humans among it, often granting them land." Tara frowned. "There are probably quite a few Warrior Bunnies that left for Italica or escaped slavery there."

"So, more headaches for you?" Richard joked.

Tara blinked and groaned, planting her face on the table.

"So… why are your people called the Warrior Bunnies?" Richard asked. "I understand that it's the Saderan name for your people, and that you are a warrior culture…"

Tara lifted her head, and gave Hannah a warning look, silencing her.

Ignoring the grin plastered to Hannah's face, Tara answered.

"As you said, we call ourselves a warrior people. Yes, the name is Saderan in origin, but between our looks and the fact that our culture holds rabbits… or is the correct word bunnies? Hares? Regardless, they are important to our culture. So, a name meant as an insult, instead became a badge of honour."

Hannah leaned over the table and stage whispered to Richard with a saucy look.

"It wasn't just our looks."

Tara shoved Hannah back into her seat.

"Alright… so, Tara, do you mind if I ask a more… personal question?" Richard's tone was slightly more hesitant.

Hannah grinned again as Richard blushed slightly.

"Uh… sure?" Tara cast a suspicious look at Hannah.

"Why is it most of the Warrior Bunnies I have seen have fur on their arms and legs, but not all?"

Hannah planted her face on the table, hard enough to make it thump.

"Ow."

Tara blinked, in part because of Richard's question, and in part because of Hannah's self-harm.

"I don't know." She looked down at the smooth skin on her legs, covered only by the denim shorts she wore.

"Why do you ask?" Hannah looked up, a bruise forming on her forehead.

"Thirty letters from the scientists to ask that question." Was Richard's answer.
 
Chapter 4

charclone

Well-known member
"Italica, huh." General Samuel Jameson rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That would be… here, this urban centre on a long highway?"

"I think so." Richard replied. "With the one further north being Bellnahgo, under the Empire's control. Italica is an independent city-state, according to people, with a culture that is not in line with the Saderan's bigotry."

"Right." Gen. Jameson, US Army and NATO theatre commander thought it over for a moment. "Well, here's the thing. You already have a reputation, spread by the retreating Saderans, and refugees. They seem to think you are some sort of noble."

Richard sighed.

"Yeah, I'm aware."

"Well, I want to take advantage of that, and the politicians don't want it to be a lie. Couple of the people you saved, when you made that rear-guard action at the medieval festival the Saderan's attacked, were from Britain. Since you refused the Order of Canada, and since the politicians think having a 'real' noble acting as one of our go-to translators would play to local sensibilities and preconceptions, while it isn't yet set in stone, you may be awarded an OBE. We'll know before you head out to Italica."

"Order of the British Empire?" Richard blinked. "That… right, would need the permission of the Canadian government to be awarded a 'foreign' award. And that would make me a knight, thus playing into the local culture. What about the rumours of a Canadian peerage?"

"We don't want the locals assuming you will be made the lord of Alnus Hill, it might lead to complications." Samuel shrugged. "Whole area is technically a base, what with the Gate between Earth and Falmart."

"Falmart is actually the name of the Continent, not the world." Richard corrected.

"Huh." The general shrugged. "Well, let me know if you can find out what the name of the planet is. Regardless, the point is, I want you with the group headed to Italica. Both as one of the translators, and to take advantage of the local culture. Noble's leading a trade expedition tend to get treated more seriously than merchants or peasants, according to the medieval cultural advisor."

"Prof. Williams here at the moment?"

"No. You know him?"

"He was my prof. back at uni."

Samuel snorted.

"I'll let him know you said hello. No, he's out with King Duran, headed to the Elbe Kingdom. Now, anyone you'd want to take with you? Should probably have a bodyguard, plus some NATO personnel."

"Major Johnston available?"

"Right, you too are friends. Yeah, he's available. Anyone else?"

"Couple of the 'Long Patrol', I'll have a list by tomorrow night."

"A dozen should be enough, plus some as servants. Not going to request Tara?"

Richard coughed and blushed.

"Well, ah, I, um."

Jameson snorted at Richard's fumbling.

"Alright, her as well. Now, Rory has already requested to go with you, and I want her out of the area. She encourages the Marines too much and they have a bad enough reputation with discipline as is. I know you don't like her, hell, most of the locals are afraid of her, but I've got some reporters headed in for a few days, and I want her out for a little while. She isn't going to put up with their shit, and the last thing we need is footage of her picking up another tank on Fox."

"Plus, the whole demigod thing."

"Oh, don't remind me." Samuel sighed. "I still have no idea how that works."

"Same. Something about being chosen by a god, given stupid levels of regeneration and strength, and after one thousand years of service, they get made into a god. Though, she mentioned that several gods, like Hardy, will strip their demigods of their power before then, preventing them from becoming a god."

The NATO general nodded.

"Yeah, I read your report of that conversation. Thank you, for listening to my requests for information on local culture. Way to many of the civilians we brought over give… less than useful reports."

Richard blinked.

"Seriously?"

"Most are physicists studying the Gate, or biologists studying the local fauna and flora, to be fair, not culture experts, but yeah, not nearly enough of them write what we are asking them too of their conversations with locals. Treating them like dumb savages mostly." Samuel shook his head. "Anyway, get me that list, I want the convoy in Italica by the end of the week. With you having to go by vehicle, since the train doesn't stretch that way yet, that means you leave day after tomorrow."

"Am I allowed to bring my sword and armour?"

"Probably help with the image we are trying to present. Go ahead."
 

ATP

Well-known member
Yes,go ahead and collect another pokemon,i mean girl.Or maybe few?
P.S i think,that there is no reason for our Black Knight to be beaten by angry dominatrix here!
 
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JagerIV

Well-known member
might be worth while to have a bit more info at the topline of what exactly this story is: Its my understanding its GATE in Canada?
 

charclone

Well-known member
Yes,go ahead and collect another pokemon,i mean girl.Or maybe few?
No Harem. Besides, the elf girl mentioned here is from Hunting Freedom, the druidess, she is with someone else already.
might be worth while to have a bit more info at the topline of what exactly this story is: Its my understanding its GATE in Canada?
Probably, but I'm not sure what to actually put.

Its GATE in Canada, yes, focusing in being a sequel to Hunting Freedom.
 
Chapter 5

charclone

Well-known member
"Alright, good news!" Sergeant Puckett announced to his squad. "We are getting redeployed!"

"The front moving again?" Corporal Nathaniel Ross asked, tossing a cigarette. "They finally finished mopping shit up down south?"

"Nope. Got a group headed north to some city, we are part of the backup."

"Ah, fuck." Harry Thomas swore. "You had me looking forwards to something other than MREs sarge. Why you gotta fuck with my hopes?"

"'Cause you were fucking drooling all over the damn place!" Nathaniel snorted. "We aren't leaving this village unprotected, are we sarge?"

"Another platoon is headed this way; they will arrive by sundown. The convoy will stop overnight at the supply depot." The sergeant ignored the byplay. "More troops are headed this way, so once the group is back behind our lines, we are getting some R&R. That being said, Corporal Ross, keep it in your pants."

"So, Fifi, what are you planning to do once we get back to base?" Harry turned to the quietest member of the squad as the squad dispersed.

Philip Fields, Fifi to his squad despite his protests, shook his head.

"Sleep in a warm bed." Came the laconic response as he watched the village.

The squad had been part of an advance force, meant to prevent the retreating and scattered Saderans from burning villages and fields in a scorched earth tactic, thus making the refugee situation worse.

They had chanced upon the village about a day before a fifty-strong enemy force had tried to slaughter its inhabitants. The Saderans had been put to flight in short order, but the force had been told to hold its ground almost a month ago, and protect the village and surrounding area, as more resources were diverted to the South to deal with the Saderan vassals, and the legions coming from the west. In the end, the northern advance had made only small advances, mostly to protect villages and small towns being attacked by bandits, the Saderans having been too shattered shortly after the advance stopped to continue with scorched earth. Bandits, on the other hand, mostly troops that had deserted or armed bands of mercenaries, were still an issue. They had plagued the area for some time and were the main reason their squad, and platoon, were still here, even after the tanks had been reallocated.

A slight smile appeared on the American Marine's face as he watched several of the village's children play.

"Fuckin seriously man, you got any plans?" Harry pressed.

"No. Why?"

"'Cause, I heard about this new place that opened at the Alnus community, heard it grew bigtime. Got a buddy telling me the food is great."

Philip gave Harry a look.

"… and I want to split the bill with someone. Alimony, you know?"

Harry received an eye roll.

"That's not a no~."

"No. Might write to my kids."

"Eh, fair enough."

Philip raised an eyebrow as he saw a row of people walking towards the village in the distance.

"Contact on the east road, appears to be twelve footmobiles, no identifiable weapons." At Philips call, the various platoon members stopped what they were doing and took positions.

The only translator the platoon had (and trusted, after Nathaniel got put on latrine duty for sleeping with several of the village's women) shouted a challenge to the approaching figures.

They stopped. One shifted the hood as if to peer out. They shouted something back in the local tongue.

Harry heard the platoon sergeant talk briefly with the Lieutenant in hushed tones.

"Tell 'em to approach." The Lt. said.

The translator, a former bandit that had thrown in with Richard way back during 'Richard's Rebellion', conveyed the officer's order.

Harry blinked as they got closer.

"They're dwarves!" Some idiot in the platoon stated the obvious.

"No shit Sherlock!" Someone else shot back, over by the Oshkosh.

As lead dwarf spoke through the translator to the Lt. Philip watched them. He blinked.

"Corpsman. They're covered in burns."

"I see 'em. Fuck, what the hell did they do? Go toe to toe with that dragon the Canucks fucked?"

"Probably. Or someone tried to burn them."

Slowly, the platoon relaxed, as the dwarves proved to be no threat. None were armed, as they had fled an attack over a month ago, from Fire Dragon. It had hit their trade caravan, and they had fled to the mountains. Originally, they had three times their number, after the dragon had attacked. Disease and ill-fortune had done the rest in.



A.N. Hopefully this is a believable representation of US Marines.

Yeah, they should be swearing more, I know, but I can only handle so much profanity before it starts killing brain cells. /jk
 

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