Treaties and Desert Patrols
I’m sitting next to Rabbit's hospital bed feeling the motion of the waves rocking the ship. Once we got airlifted out from the mansion we were taken to the UER-Thagamizer a battleship and the flagship of the 1st fleet for medical attention.
Rabbit is stable and his leg has been tended to. Now the doctors are just waiting for him to wake up so they can ask him some questions. The biggest one regarding if he’d rather have a medical discharge or get a mechanical replacement. The reason why it’s a hot question is supposedly the process of attaching the base plate for the new leg is painful beyond words and to top it off the patient is required to be awake.
I don’t envy his choice. I pull out my tablet and pull up the initial after-action reports. Not a single vehicle loss. Not that surprising even an RPG-7 won’t be that effective against our armor. The principle it works on just doesn’t work the same as on cold rolled steel.
Next is personal casualties and after some anxious scrolling there isn’t a single death so with a sigh of relief I look through the tagged severity and to my surprise Rabbit is the only orange meaning severe bodily harm but not life-threatening the rest are yellow meaning simpler injuries.
“Impressive as always,” I mumble to myself. “Why thank you sergeant griffin” I snap my head up then snap to attention as I see Tanya in front of me “At ease I thought you knew how we roll… anyway how’s he doing” she gestures to Rabbit. “The docs say he’ll be perfectly fine other than the leg but a replacement is available” She nods and takes a seat “I don’t envy him though I hear once you get through the pain it really is better than the original” “well I guess you’ll have to ask him later whether it’s true or not” she laughs “the treaty is getting signed soon and I’d like his capture to be there to watch”
I look at Rabbit then sigh. He doesn’t need me to watch him he’ll be fine if I leave for a bit “I’m honored general” “Think nothing of it you took him down while carrying your injured squad mate on your back it’s part of the reason why I’m pushing you to be promoted” from her bemused smile I realize I’m slack-jawed “I don’t know what to say” “then say nothing you’ve earned it you’ll have a bastardized platoon under your command now so you better be up for it”
after a moment she gestures to the door and we leave for the broadcasted treaty signing. In the room besides dozens of murmuring news outlets is lord Spero and the African president at a table with the Thagamizers admiral and various captain generals behind lord spero. We fall in line at an adjacent wall and watch.
Sitting at this table with the African president I have to admit I’m impressed by Tanya her strategy sure was bold but she executed it with enough raw aggression that she forced the enemy’s hand. “Now Mr president the terms of your surrender will be total and complete annexation and you will be removed from office but free to live as you please. Do you have any questions that you’d like to put forth for our new residents” The mix of shock and anger has yet to leave his face but he controls himself.
He might honestly fear having the hostage hood put back on him. “What do you intend to do with my people” I smile warmly for my answer “As of the signing of this treaty they now live within the united Elysium republic and will be treated as such. If they wish to pursue true citizenship they may join the military like everyone else. This is optional of course. As for the land, it will be developed and improved to our standards” “You… don’t mean to enslave anyone do you then” “Of course not well that’s not quite true certain crimes may land you in penal servitude but we’ll very clearly explain our laws it wouldn’t be right to arrest someone for them breaking a law they didn’t know existed” the president seems to relax and signs the treaty causing an applause from the bystanders.
Shortly after when everything is said and done the admiral pulls me aside “We’ve identified an approaching vessel, markings identify it as a NATO vessel” “keep an eye on them and once they get within our waters or their gun range whichever happens first hail them” “aye sir”
As I'm not busy I follow him to the bridge and listen in as he hails them a few minutes later when they enter what is now our sovereign water “NATO vessel you have entered United Elysium Republic territory state your business or you will be fired upon”
a few tense moments pass then “We come in peace we were sent to investigate what’s going on” The admiral glances at me and I simply nod for him to continue “Make any hostile movements and you will be fired upon, you may proceed to this location if you wish for a formal meeting otherwise immediately leave”
I watch as one turret rotates and locks on the NATO destroyer. Nearly ten minutes pass before we get an answer the entire time the other ship sat still. “This is admiral Cohen I’ve been granted diplomatic authority we will take you up on your offer to talk” “Acknowledged you may proceed as previously stated”
Everyone on the bridge watches and waits as the destroyer makes its way closer the entire time the turret is tracking it until it finally stops “Permission to cross over with a smaller craft” “granted approach the port midships and await a Crain”
a small craft leaves the destroyer and as instructed approaches then a Crain gently grabs it and plucks it out of the water. we’re waiting for them as they get lifted up. ”permission to come aboard” “Permission granted welcome to the UER-thagamizer, I am Admiral Ariane and this is lord Spero. Come with us”
We lead them through the ship to a meeting room, one of several intended for use by different battalions to meet as needed, “this is an impressive vessel” states Cohen to which Ariane replies “My thanks, inside should be suitable for our purposes today”
we take seats and an ensign brings some water for everyone then ducks out. Now's my time “So what brings you to this region of the globe” Cohen takes a sip of water before answering “Like I said before I was sent to investigate more closely what’s going on but now my mission has changed to establishing diplomatic relations”
I smile warmly “Forgive my bluntness but this is your first time doing this sort of thing correct” he nods so I continue “Then why don’t we disregard formality and start off right, I’d rather not have NATO trying to intervene in our every move” he seems to relax not catching my threat. Cohen replies “So what are your plans in South Africa? Why did you invade them, to begin with,” I hold out my hand and an aid hands me a copy of the treaty which I pass over to Cohen.
“Look under the grievance section” he spends a few minutes reading it over and over I guess from his eye movements. Finally, he sets the papers down and pinches the bridge of his nose “So this all started because they rejected your offer to join peacefully” I lean back in my chair “Correct once it settles down in Beachhead we’ll extend a similar offer to the rest of Africa” bewilderment crosses his face “the rest of Africa wait beachhead?”
I nod my head as if it was obvious “Yes beachhead our newly acquired territory it would be much appreciated if you could have your organization update your maps as quickly as possible” I hear a soft tone and Admiral Ariane leans over to me telling me I have another meeting scheduled asking where I am “one last thing Admiral Cohen if you could leave a way of contacting your superiors with Admiral Ariane it would be much appreciated if you’ll excuse me I’m needed in another meeting” I get up and leave the room letting those two to figure it out. I’m going to gently pressure NATO to put that Cohen as our ambassador, probably stating there will be less miscommunication with him but really it’s so I won’t have one of their pathetic two-faced diplomats.
Only a few events occurred during this timeframe; most of Africa has been annexed by the Elysium Republic, and the entire middle east save for one nation was now unified under the new banner the Unified East though each nation is treated like a state with limited independence. NATO has pushed into Russia and America has sent peacekeeping forces into Mexico.
Lieutenant Griffin- Angel platoon
Another patrol through the desert. Another hot day. After the one-day war, almost all of Africa has peacefully submitted through our battalion has been stationed at the edge because of One issue: the primitive tribes. Almost not a single soul has left them to join civilization as far as I’ve heard. That brings us to the point of these patrols, to drive out to them once they are located by our satellites and talk to them or destroy them.
This measure was actually proposed and voted on by the African people as they have grown tired of the tribes. From what our new medic Barbosa has told us all they would occasionally kidnap people and perform blood sacrifices with them. He was a graduate of the first class from the new residents and Tanya recruited him telling me “You can’t put off getting a medic anymore he has top marks so I’m putting him with you”
at first, being the leader of this oddball platoon was daunting but I think I’ve adapted well. In our convoy, we have two LRVs both with trailers of supplies for our long excursions and a modified tank. It’s still got the two top-mounted Gatlings but now instead of its main barrel, it has two smaller 50mm auto cannons. This version has been dubbed the sky raker. I shift in my seat and pull up a map on my HUD. Then turn on my radio “We're getting close you know the drill stop outside the village me Rabbit and Barbosa will proceed on foot”
Yeah, Rabbit is still with us. He decided to get the replacement and with the help of Barbosa explained why the process was so painful. The base plate has wires that forcefully attach and fuse with the nerves to reestablish control. He managed to get through the process without screaming, tough bastard.
A short while later we are walking up to the village, even that’s being greatly generous, and dozens of its inhabitants are watching us approach. The goal is to search the area and document in great detail everything then tell them to leave our territory or join us or the one they are most familiar with, be destroyed.
An old wrinkly woman in an ornate-looking though not expensive headdress, it's honestly just some jawbones and dead flowers, steps forward from the watching crowd. Great it’s one of these for some reason the tribes led by their women were more bloodthirsty and brutal. God knows why.
She begins yelling at us so I lean over to Barbosa “She’s telling us to go away” he tells me before adding “With a great deal of curses and insults I might add” I chuckle “This is off to a great start. You know what to tell them if they continue we’ll push forward until they strike” Barbosa through his external speakers calmly replies his deep bass of a voice coming out as a deep rumbling almost as if it wasn’t of this world.
The reply is somewhat rehearsed going on about how this is our land and yadda yadda I’ve just tuned it out lately. That is until an arrow bounces off my helmet. I refocus in less than a breath and have my pistol pointing at a woman holding a bow tagged red from Rabbit and pull the trigger. The now headless body drops to the ground to the shock of the rest of the tribe.
A few breaths later the chief raises a fist and screams and the masses charge. I simply open my radio to the whole platoon “Forward element drop-down everyone else opens fire try not to take our buckets off” me Rabbit and Barbosa drop prone as the sky raker rips them all apart creating a fine red mist that’s slowly spreading and a large puddle of shattered bone and gore. Thirty seconds later it stops and the rest of the platoon moves forward guns up to secure the area. Once they pass us we stand up and dust ourselves off.
We join them in clearing the structures, all single-room huts, and document evidence of human sacrifice and cannibalism. Seems like it was the right choice to kill them all.
I walk out of the village to convene with my two squad leaders sergeant Snorble and Sergeant Carola Rosa and the vehicle commander Lieutenant Willy Jenny. “My compliments to your gunner Willy excellent as always” I’m about to ask about their levels of supplies we...
-priority message-
Pops up on my visor. I hold up a finger and turn away “Go for Angel actual” my mind races as I wait a second or two for a response. Then I hear the general's voice “Angel actual get ready to be airlifted out the 104th has been reassigned. You’ll report to Ori and the Iranian president once you arrive, butcher out” Ori and the Iranian president? What the hell are we doing over there? I know Ori is the diplomat sent to the Middle East as a whole but why do they need the entire 104th. I shake my head and turn to my squad leads. I can get answers later. “Pack everything up for an airlift we’ve been reassigned”
The next half hour is organized chaos as loose bags are secured and vehicles are made ready to be picked up. Right on cue the aircraft arrive and we sling the vehicles and climb aboard the last two. Next thing we know we’re speeding off to sand and blood and glass.
Treaties and Desert Patrols
I’m sitting next to Rabbit's hospital bed feeling the motion of the waves rocking the ship. Once we got airlifted out from the mansion we were taken to the UER-Thagamizer a battleship and the flagship of the 1st fleet for medical attention.
Rabbit is stable and his leg has been tended to. Now the doctors are just waiting for him to wake up so they can ask him some questions. The biggest one regarding if he’d rather have a medical discharge or get a mechanical replacement. The reason why it’s a hot question is supposedly the process of attaching the base plate for the new leg is painful beyond words and to top it off the patient is required to be awake.
I don’t envy his choice. I pull out my tablet and pull up the initial after-action reports. Not a single vehicle loss. Not that surprising even an RPG-7 won’t be that effective against our armor. The principle it works on just doesn’t work the same as on cold rolled steel.
Next is personal casualties and after some anxious scrolling there isn’t a single death so with a sigh of relief I look through the tagged severity and to my surprise Rabbit is the only orange meaning severe bodily harm but not life-threatening the rest are yellow meaning simpler injuries.
“Impressive as always,” I mumble to myself. “Why thank you sergeant griffin” I snap my head up then snap to attention as I see Tanya in front of me “At ease I thought you knew how we roll… anyway how’s he doing” she gestures to Rabbit. “The docs say he’ll be perfectly fine other than the leg but a replacement is available” She nods and takes a seat “I don’t envy him though I hear once you get through the pain it really is better than the original” “well I guess you’ll have to ask him later whether it’s true or not” she laughs “the treaty is getting signed soon and I’d like his capture to be there to watch”
I look at Rabbit then sigh. He doesn’t need me to watch him he’ll be fine if I leave for a bit “I’m honored general” “Think nothing of it you took him down while carrying your injured squad mate on your back it’s part of the reason why I’m pushing you to be promoted” from her bemused smile I realize I’m slack-jawed “I don’t know what to say” “then say nothing you’ve earned it you’ll have a bastardized platoon under your command now so you better be up for it”
after a moment she gestures to the door and we leave for the broadcasted treaty signing. In the room besides dozens of murmuring news outlets is lord Spero and the African president at a table with the Thagamizers admiral and various captain generals behind lord spero. We fall in line at an adjacent wall and watch.
Sitting at this table with the African president I have to admit I’m impressed by Tanya her strategy sure was bold but she executed it with enough raw aggression that she forced the enemy’s hand. “Now Mr president the terms of your surrender will be total and complete annexation and you will be removed from office but free to live as you please. Do you have any questions that you’d like to put forth for our new residents” The mix of shock and anger has yet to leave his face but he controls himself.
He might honestly fear having the hostage hood put back on him. “What do you intend to do with my people” I smile warmly for my answer “As of the signing of this treaty they now live within the united Elysium republic and will be treated as such. If they wish to pursue true citizenship they may join the military like everyone else. This is optional of course. As for the land, it will be developed and improved to our standards” “You… don’t mean to enslave anyone do you then” “Of course not well that’s not quite true certain crimes may land you in penal servitude but we’ll very clearly explain our laws it wouldn’t be right to arrest someone for them breaking a law they didn’t know existed” the president seems to relax and signs the treaty causing an applause from the bystanders.
Shortly after when everything is said and done the admiral pulls me aside “We’ve identified an approaching vessel, markings identify it as a NATO vessel” “keep an eye on them and once they get within our waters or their gun range whichever happens first hail them” “aye sir”
As I'm not busy I follow him to the bridge and listen in as he hails them a few minutes later when they enter what is now our sovereign water “NATO vessel you have entered United Elysium Republic territory state your business or you will be fired upon”
a few tense moments pass then “We come in peace we were sent to investigate what’s going on” The admiral glances at me and I simply nod for him to continue “Make any hostile movements and you will be fired upon, you may proceed to this location if you wish for a formal meeting otherwise immediately leave”
I watch as one turret rotates and locks on the NATO destroyer. Nearly ten minutes pass before we get an answer the entire time the other ship sat still. “This is admiral Cohen I’ve been granted diplomatic authority we will take you up on your offer to talk” “Acknowledged you may proceed as previously stated”
Everyone on the bridge watches and waits as the destroyer makes its way closer the entire time the turret is tracking it until it finally stops “Permission to cross over with a smaller craft” “granted approach the port midships and await a Crain”
a small craft leaves the destroyer and as instructed approaches then a Crain gently grabs it and plucks it out of the water. we’re waiting for them as they get lifted up. ”permission to come aboard” “Permission granted welcome to the UER-thagamizer, I am Admiral Ariane and this is lord Spero. Come with us”
We lead them through the ship to a meeting room, one of several intended for use by different battalions to meet as needed, “this is an impressive vessel” states Cohen to which Ariane replies “My thanks, inside should be suitable for our purposes today”
we take seats and an ensign brings some water for everyone then ducks out. Now's my time “So what brings you to this region of the globe” Cohen takes a sip of water before answering “Like I said before I was sent to investigate more closely what’s going on but now my mission has changed to establishing diplomatic relations”
I smile warmly “Forgive my bluntness but this is your first time doing this sort of thing correct” he nods so I continue “Then why don’t we disregard formality and start off right, I’d rather not have NATO trying to intervene in our every move” he seems to relax not catching my threat. Cohen replies “So what are your plans in South Africa? Why did you invade them, to begin with,” I hold out my hand and an aid hands me a copy of the treaty which I pass over to Cohen.
“Look under the grievance section” he spends a few minutes reading it over and over I guess from his eye movements. Finally, he sets the papers down and pinches the bridge of his nose “So this all started because they rejected your offer to join peacefully” I lean back in my chair “Correct once it settles down in Beachhead we’ll extend a similar offer to the rest of Africa” bewilderment crosses his face “the rest of Africa wait beachhead?”
I nod my head as if it was obvious “Yes beachhead our newly acquired territory it would be much appreciated if you could have your organization update your maps as quickly as possible” I hear a soft tone and Admiral Ariane leans over to me telling me I have another meeting scheduled asking where I am “one last thing Admiral Cohen if you could leave a way of contacting your superiors with Admiral Ariane it would be much appreciated if you’ll excuse me I’m needed in another meeting” I get up and leave the room letting those two to figure it out. I’m going to gently pressure NATO to put that Cohen as our ambassador, probably stating there will be less miscommunication with him but really it’s so I won’t have one of their pathetic two-faced diplomats.
Only a few events occurred during this timeframe; most of Africa has been annexed by the Elysium Republic, and the entire middle east save for one nation was now unified under the new banner the Unified East though each nation is treated like a state with limited independence. NATO has pushed into Russia and America has sent peacekeeping forces into Mexico.
Lieutenant Griffin- Angel platoon
Another patrol through the desert. Another hot day. After the one-day war, almost all of Africa has peacefully submitted through our battalion has been stationed at the edge because of One issue: the primitive tribes. Almost not a single soul has left them to join civilization as far as I’ve heard. That brings us to the point of these patrols, to drive out to them once they are located by our satellites and talk to them or destroy them.
This measure was actually proposed and voted on by the African people as they have grown tired of the tribes. From what our new medic Barbosa has told us all they would occasionally kidnap people and perform blood sacrifices with them. He was a graduate of the first class from the new residents and Tanya recruited him telling me “You can’t put off getting a medic anymore he has top marks so I’m putting him with you”
at first, being the leader of this oddball platoon was daunting but I think I’ve adapted well. In our convoy, we have two LRVs both with trailers of supplies for our long excursions and a modified tank. It’s still got the two top-mounted Gatlings but now instead of its main barrel, it has two smaller 50mm auto cannons. This version has been dubbed the sky raker. I shift in my seat and pull up a map on my HUD. Then turn on my radio “We're getting close you know the drill stop outside the village me Rabbit and Barbosa will proceed on foot”
Yeah, Rabbit is still with us. He decided to get the replacement and with the help of Barbosa explained why the process was so painful. The base plate has wires that forcefully attach and fuse with the nerves to reestablish control. He managed to get through the process without screaming, tough bastard.
A short while later we are walking up to the village, even that’s being greatly generous, and dozens of its inhabitants are watching us approach. The goal is to search the area and document in great detail everything then tell them to leave our territory or join us or the one they are most familiar with, be destroyed.
An old wrinkly woman in an ornate-looking though not expensive headdress, it's honestly just some jawbones and dead flowers, steps forward from the watching crowd. Great it’s one of these for some reason the tribes led by their women were more bloodthirsty and brutal. God knows why.
She begins yelling at us so I lean over to Barbosa “She’s telling us to go away” he tells me before adding “With a great deal of curses and insults I might add” I chuckle “This is off to a great start. You know what to tell them if they continue we’ll push forward until they strike” Barbosa through his external speakers calmly replies his deep bass of a voice coming out as a deep rumbling almost as if it wasn’t of this world.
The reply is somewhat rehearsed going on about how this is our land and yadda yadda I’ve just tuned it out lately. That is until an arrow bounces off my helmet. I refocus in less than a breath and have my pistol pointing at a woman holding a bow tagged red from Rabbit and pull the trigger. The now headless body drops to the ground to the shock of the rest of the tribe.
A few breaths later the chief raises a fist and screams and the masses charge. I simply open my radio to the whole platoon “Forward element drop-down everyone else opens fire try not to take our buckets off” me Rabbit and Barbosa drop prone as the sky raker rips them all apart creating a fine red mist that’s slowly spreading and a large puddle of shattered bone and gore. Thirty seconds later it stops and the rest of the platoon moves forward guns up to secure the area. Once they pass us we stand up and dust ourselves off.
We join them in clearing the structures, all single-room huts, and document evidence of human sacrifice and cannibalism. Seems like it was the right choice to kill them all.
I walk out of the village to convene with my two squad leaders sergeant Snorble and Sergeant Carola Rosa and the vehicle commander Lieutenant Willy Jenny. “My compliments to your gunner Willy excellent as always” I’m about to ask about their levels of supplies we...
-priority message-
Pops up on my visor. I hold up a finger and turn away “Go for Angel actual” my mind races as I wait a second or two for a response. Then I hear the general's voice “Angel actual get ready to be airlifted out the 104th has been reassigned. You’ll report to Ori and the Iranian president once you arrive, butcher out” Ori and the Iranian president? What the hell are we doing over there? I know Ori is the diplomat sent to the Middle East as a whole but why do they need the entire 104th. I shake my head and turn to my squad leads. I can get answers later. “Pack everything up for an airlift we’ve been reassigned”
The next half hour is organized chaos as loose bags are secured and vehicles are made ready to be picked up. Right on cue the aircraft arrive and we sling the vehicles and climb aboard the last two. Next thing we know we’re speeding off to sand and blood and glass.
