"To the Speaker of the House and Oval Office, I have finished preparing an outline of the tasks below. With the discovery at Mount Olympus on Mars, it has shaken many elements of the government. This discovery has proven to be challenging to handle in an ever-changing world.
The CIA recently reported that the RIA and Indians know that we have discovered something on Mars; however, we still do not know what exactly we found. Outside of our core USAM allies, only the French knew of the facility. With the sudden resources diverted to the dormant volcano, we expect the other Great Powers to monitor the situation carefully.
We continue to tell the story of how NASA-JAXA discovered a rich vein of lithium, which the general population has bought. As long as we maintain a minimal presence, focusing on mining over the military, the cover story should be able to hold long enough for the topic to fade out of the public square; however, that brings the issue of deploying additional military forces.
This brings me to the primary issue. The alien construct identified as Akuma has proven to be a threat. A second expedition team was deployed into the facility, encountered two machine warriors, and our forces were forced to retreat. It is clear that these robots are protecting the facility.
I propose to hold off on additional teams until a primary base can be established at the entrance. We still need to find out if there is a connection between the three worlds (Earth, Mars, and Alagore). I spoke with the newly appointed NASA director, Lauren Grace, who said we are children playing with a nuclear bomb and should be careful.
However, the head of Space Command, USSF Major General Harris. Believed the potential wealth of technological knowledge could be gained from this facility, based on the defenses. From his reports from Alagore, the enemy has proven more advanced than they expected." - Counselor to the President Robert Murry
March, 16th, 2068 (military calendar)
Palonpulas, The Unity of Cordinlane
The Valley of Beginnings, Cordinlane, Alagore
*****
It was another bright day over the beautiful city of Palonpulas, with sunlight reflecting from the dew of the morning rain. Councilmen Orthrendia Isorkoia of the Xarok Higher Chiefdom had a good view of the plaza below, seeing the large crowd gathered for the common mini-festivals.
The people were routine, to the extent that they almost acted like a mob rather than a civil gathering, which was typical of such festivals. Only a few guards were needed to maintain order, as the people only wanted to see the execution, spiritually involved. Everyone knew not to interfere in the Temple of Enlightenment affairs.
A dozen prisoners from Aldrida were escorted out of a prison carriage by the Temple elite guards. Many were Lats from Hispana, others Noble Elves from Thali'ean, and others from the resistance of fallen kingdoms. In front of them was the High Priestess from the Temple of Enlightenment, who was leading this festival and was wearing the standard uniform: a long gray dress with blue lining around the collar and lower half of the sleeves. Around the waist was this brown leather band.
Seeing the Temple's involvement made Orc Councilmen chuckle. The Unity had been waging this war for nearly two decades—all to erase the false Goddess Tekali's influence on Alagore. Step by step, the people's armies had dismantled and erased the Temple of Astral Emilinya's presence. Every empire, every city, every village—nowhere was left untouched.
"I believe the High Priestess is enjoying herself," Isorkoia asked.
The female Dark Elf Councilwoman, Esorru Inzar responded, "The ability to decide who lives and dies is a powerful drug."
"At least it is against our enemies," Isorkoia said. "Their faith has proven to be wise. How much longer before our armies reach the Holy See?"
"I believe the Odessia said by the end of the year," Inzar said. "Once Thali'ean falls, there will be no resistance left to the Temple of Astral Emilinya's. The days of the old are finally over."
Orthrendia Isorkoia thought carefully on the subject. It had taken decades to reach this stage, and it felt somewhat unreal. The head of the Katra and Temple of Enlightenment, Odessia Eraunis-Horkuo, had preached that this day would come. While the Orc never once doubted the promise, it always felt out of arms reach. But now, victory was around the corner.
While the enemies of the Katra have resisted, their orilla beliefs have not been kind, which only confirmed the Katra path. The masses within the occupied regions and those with vassals themselves are converting in record numbers, resulting in high morale. Everyone knew the Holy See, the centralized religious institution of Tekali tentacles across the moon, would be at the doorsteps of the Unity by the end of the year.
The old texts stated that the darkness would come and be fought against by brave men, saving the world. Isorkoia's question was whether those invaders were the light, not darkness. Would Teklai be powerless to resist, breaking the bravory of Men? That was what Katra stated, and that theory has been proven correct. Bringing light, not darkness, was the key to global dominance.
"Is this one of the staged events?" Isorkoia asked.
Esorru Inzar said, "The term stage is not inappropriate, but yes. The first two deaths were enemies of the State; however, the third one in line is a plant."
Isorkoia turned toward the tall Dark Elf, a dark-skinned female with long green hair and bright yellow eyes. For a female elf, she was tall, being taller than her by a few inches. Her clothing was the highest quality silk, a multi-layered dress with red lining and feather-like designs fading down the dress.
That was what Orthrendia Isorkoia thought. The Temple of Enlightenment commonly staged executions for public entertainment and propaganda purposes. As the Dark Elf stated, staging wasn't the correct term, as most of the prisoners were enemies of the Katra. While erasing those who opposed what was allowed within the manifesto was necessary, redemption and conversion were also essential to educate those who resisted that it was wrong to oppose progress.
That was why every shipment of war prisoners arrived; one of these festivals began. A large crowd gathered as if the event were a mini public festival. The Council wanted their citizens to see what the barbarians were like on the other side of the world. For centuries, everyone on Cordinlane had always been seen as inferior compared to the people on the Aldrida continent—with their superior civics, culture, spirituality, and economics. And now, the roles were reversed, bringing much justice to this historical shame.
All the people wanted to see was what the heretics were like, proving they were the superior civilization. Others want to be part of the moment, mentally confirming that their people were on the right side of this crusade to reshape Alagore from poverty, decriminalization, faith, and determination. Others want to see the enemies of the Unity beg for forgiveness, proving their superiority over those who cling to old traditions.
The Orc executor was a tall, built male intent on imposing cowardice and dominance. He stood next to the first one in line, a Lat centurion from the frontlines.
The first-person kneeling was executed without hesitation as part of the festive. The Lat was a typical leader or influential type, the backbone of what remains of the Coalition, so they were a priority to humiliate. Their kind was also known to reject any redemption offers by the Katra. The idea was to strike fear among the rest before it was their turn until the third or fourth in line, when someone was allowed to beg for forgiveness, rejecting Tekali and all past sins and willing to embrace Enlightenment.
This person was always a plant. Someone tricked the rear within the line to break down and follow suit. All to manipulate the group to reject their beliefs and beg for salvation, to which the remaining prisoners would be taken for reprocessing and reeducation. The ones who refused or hesitated to abandon their past were executed on the spot, finishing the festival.
Orthrendia Isorkoia watched as the crowd celebrated another successful convention. "The crowds are pleased. Another good day," he said.
"We have been doing this for so long that it has become as efficient as a workshop," Inzar said. "I do miss the old days when it was less refined. There was more... personality to them."
"That does make me wonder," Isorkoia said. "How many people know that this is an act?"
"I do not know. I assume a sizable amount understands that this is propaganda to some degree. But as long as we win, the people will not care."
"It also helps that if anyone expresses disloyalty, they would suffer a worse fate."
Esorru Inzar then reached into her jacket, pulling a dioliet out of her pocket before putting it away.
"What is it?" Isorkoia asked.
"The Chancellor is summoning us," Inzar said. "There seems to be a situation within the Verliance Aristocracy."
Hearing the Aldrida Vampire Nation, Isorkoia sign with annoyance by rubbing the upper part of his nose. "That Vampire knows how to be a thorn. What did they do this time?"
"I do not know," Inzar said. "The Chancellor will meet with us at the lift."
The news was surprising; however, it was not the first. While the war's progress had slowed in recent years, victory was inevitable. Whatever the Verliance Aristocracy was up to wouldn't change the fact that the Katra would win this war, regardless of that Vampire's pridefulness.
"We better not make him wait," Isorkoia said. "This event is over anyway."
The councilman and woman left the upper platform that oversaw the festal and entered their cart before it was pulled through the streets by a Giquus, a four-legged animal similar to the horses the Lats utilized but larger. The beast had white, brown, orange, and blond hair flowing down from its head, flowing down its neck, only stopping at the front legs.
The two council members traveled through the streets of Palonpulas; Isorkoia stared at the city's architecture. Gray brick walls made up the lower half, with the upper half having brown wood but with a gray tint gloss sprayed over it. Around the exterior of these walls were potted plants built into the superstructure to show natural beauty. The roofs had black pantile tiles.
Moving along the street were dozens of electric lines, bringing electricity from the dam north of here. Lampposts stood tall from the side streets with glowing gold from the crystals. Some of these lamps hover in place thanks to their anti-gravity magitech, lighting up the parks, markets, and plazas.
Staring at the modern designs, Orthrendia Isorkoia felt a strong sense of pride. There is running water in every home, electricity to bring the sun into each home during the long nights, worker constructs produce clean streets, visual screens for the thriving broadcasting industry, and, most importantly, daily luxuries that only the elites could enjoy are now affordable for the ordinary family.
"What we have accomplished is impressive," Isorkoia said. "What a glowing Unity we have created."
"I still remember when this was a swamp," Inzar said as she read a book. "Poorly built shacks and tents."
"You mention that at every opportunity," Isorkoia said.
"Because that is how we elves appreciate what has been accomplished," Inzar said as she turned the page. "One flaw with short-lived races is that you cannot value the progression of a society. Children forget what things were like before. They forget where we come from and lose perspective."
"That is why it is the elder's responsibility to educate the youth," Isorkoia said with a chuckle. "But I will grant you that as I have even seen elders who forget. I will say, your long lifespan has not made you immune to stagnation."
"True. Another blessing is our Unity."
The philosophical debate regarding the differences between Aldrida and Cordinlane had been preached multiple times within the Council chambers. The world had always been divided between nations and empires, city-states, and Villages. While most are multi-racial, they are typically hegemonic by a dominant species.
Cordinlane was no different only a century ago. Then, one day, the five nations merged into one with a common belief, which Isorkoia believed was their great benefit. They separated the Unity from all other countries across Alagore. The Orcs, Dark Elves, Vampires, Kipine, and Dwarves of this great continent are all coming together to create this utopia.
"If only the rest of the world would embrace what we have accomplished," Inzar said. "But they would prefer to maintain their archaic traditions and superstitions. Rejecting power, medicine, peace, and many more blessings. Sad."
"It is hard for some to give up everything they know," Isorkoia said. "Darkness is hard to see through. Even we had our holdouts in the early days."
"I still remember these days."
The cart stopped to allow two mothers, an Orc and a Vampire, and their children to cross the street. Esorru Inzar, the councilwoman, watched as she closed his book.
"It is interesting," Inzar said. "They call us monsters for what we do, yet they resist. They fight against the prosperity that we have achieved. How many have they sacrificed to prevent..., this?"
"I always found it strange," Isorkoia said. "If a child was trapped in the well, is it moral to ignore those in need? How selfish would it be if we horde what we have accomplished from the world, knowing we could improve the world."
"We shall never understand the unempathetic," Inzar said. "It does not matter anyway. The war is close to being over. Progress will be brought to them regardless of their wishes, and after erasing enough holdouts, the rest will fall in line."
Orthrendia Isorkoia watched the two families heading to a playground. A sense of pride in their people's safety and quality of life. The level of harmony of what they had created. However, the topic also angered the Councilman, and he thought about the nations of Aldrida.
If successful, there would be no more wars on Alagore. All the nations and territories were united under Unity rule. Then, everyone could finally live in prosperity. Then, the offerings of the Katra could finally be brought down by the heavenly gods, as they have foretold—no more starvation, sickness, freezing at night, and discomfort.
The cart continued to pull the two through the city streets, approaching the central port. It took about half an hour until they reached a large facility. All around the facility were crates, merchants, dock workers, engineers, and constructors working on their tasks. Many were loading walkers and carts with goods from the recent shipment, some food and others luxury items, all to be sent to the local markets.
As the two approached the center of the warehouse, they walked onto a large, circular platform with glass walls that outlined the rim. They stopped by the entryway as they waited for Chancellor Obsidian Hreffron.
They didn't have to wait long as they noticed their fellow politician approaching. He was a dark red-skinned Vampire wearing a navy blue tunic with red rims made from the finest cloth. His pants were finally pressed.
"I see you are late," Inzar said. "Even though you contacted us."
When the Chancellor reached the two Councilmembers, the Vampire grabbed the Dark Elf's hand and gently kissed it. "Observant as always. Now, thank you for joining me so quickly."
"We were not doing anything urgently," Inzar said.
"We were touring the city," Isorkoia said. "We witness another shipment of prisoners from Aldrida."
"Oh, really?" Hreffron said. "How was it?"
"The result was expected," Inzar said while adjusting her black with white pattern silk rob clothing.
"Whatever keeps the populous happy is better than sending the Tarts to work camps," Hreffron said. "Redemption has always been a founding principle of The Unity. They must be shown that they are wrong to oppose us, and if not, they made their choice."
"The Katra has guided us well," Isorkoia said. "Now, what is the urgency? You said something about the Verliance Aristocracy."
"That," Hreffron said. "They have shipped a new group of prisoners. They should arrive today."
"While I am thrilled to hear that the Verliance Aristocracy is finally honoring our treaty," Inzar said. "I must ask, though, why does a shipment of undesirables matter?"
"I thought they had refused to deploy troops to our cause?" Isorkoia asked.
"Yes," Hreffron said. "The failed excuse of a vampire has been a coward, but there has been a change in the last few weeks. In this lot, some come from a backward forgotten city-state called Salva, which rebelled against the Verliance Aristocracy."
"I did hear something regarding a rebellion within his territory," Isorkoia said. "Why should we care?"
"The fool annexed land without our blessing," Inzar stated. "Now, he cannot maintain control of it. Let them crumble. We have more important areas of interest."
"The rebels, nothing at all," Hreffron said. He then started heading through the glass entrance. "I care little about rebels; however, that is not the fascinating element. With them are Altaerrie prisoners."
As they watched their Chancellor headed deeper into the port, Isorkoia looked confusedly toward his fellow councilwoman. The Dark Elf had the same reaction. Being on the foreign committee, he knew most of the major powers across Alagore, yet he had never heard of these Altaerrie folk.
At first, Orthrendia Isorkoia assumed they were a rouge group or a vassal of the Coalition. However, the Chancellor would only make some random faction the center of his attention if there was something more to it. The question was, who was the Altaerrie that the Vampire was passionate about?
The two council members quickly followed their leader onto the platform, stopping by one of the internal railings. Once the three were on, two orc operators walked onto the platform and headed toward the center.
One of the orc engineers was a mage, who began chanting as they placed their hands on an orb. The other Orc was at the control panel, operating the platform on opposite sides of the center crystal. The orbs glowed, and then the crystal did. The energy admitted channeled to the outer crystals.
The ground shook slightly with all the crystals glowing from the mana surge. The walls around them started sliding down. When the platform reached the next level, the three could see additional dock workers performing daily tasks. Two more levels passed until the sun rays glowed off the protective glass surrounding the platform. Outside the glass barrier was the aura of the many activated crystals, encompassing the platform as it left the ground facility and rose into the sky, heading toward the Palace.
Isorkoia watched the lower city of Palonpulas getting smaller. "What is this Altaerrie you speak of? I have never heard the term before," he asked.
Hreffron stared at his fellow councilmen in shock. "I am surprised. Have you never heard of the Lat-Orc legend on Aldrida?"
"I care little of Aldrida folklore," Isorkoia boldly stated. "Unless it is directly related to our enemies, I do not waste time researching their history."
"I see," Hreffron said. "It would be wise to learn those traditions, as that is where the unknown arrives."
"Thank you for your wisdom, Chancellor," Inzar said.
"Now," Hreffron said. "I have been informed that thousands of years ago, the orcs on Aldrida discovered a device from the ancient world, the Bridge. It is believed that the lats came through it from a world called Altaerrie. I have spoken with your scholars, and they believe this is the birthplace of humanity."
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Hearing the news, Isorkoia was shocked at how calm their leader was acting. He was not fearful of lats, as they were weak and stubborn. Still, if the Coalition allied with another Great Power from another world, it could complicate their geopolitical objectives, possibly extending the war.
"Are you sure?" Isorkoia asked.
"Completely," Hreffron said. "The reports are still raw; however, no other species within their ranks have been observed—only a Lat-like human species. The Priestess that oversaw the Verliance Aristocracy has confirmed this news, so the information must be valid."
"Chancellor," Isorkoia said. "I think you are focusing on the wrong details. We must learn everything we can about these people."
"Assuming that Hispana discovered a Bridge," Inzar said. "We must take the manner seriously, especially if it is connected to their origins."
"If the Verliance Aristocracy does not contain the situation, it will open an additional front," Isorkoia stated.
"Fear not," Hreffron said. "Remember. The Domain is forever growing. See this as an opportunity to prove your worth toward the Katra. After we finish off our enemies, the Altaerrie will falter under our might. Then, new prospers beyond this world."
"I am concerned that we are overstretched," Isorkoia said.
"Of course, we will be responsible," Hreffron said. "But let us not forget, time is on our side."
"The Chancellor is correct," Inzar said. "Time has always been our ally. The outcome has been secured, regardless of these Altaerrie."
"Correct," Hreffron said. "This is a gift. Hispana had laid the seeds of their species' defeat."
Isorkoia walked toward the railing and started the glass window that redirected the intense airflow, allowing the passengers on the lift to stand in peace. Below, the Councilmen could see the city of Palonpulas, which settled below the capital place that floated above the landmass. The structures shrink in size as they ascend. From this height, while it was possible to see the citizens below conducting their daily routine, they looked closer to insects than people.
Noticing a cargo airship coming to dock, he stared toward the horizon. Airships of all types floated around the skyline, and interceptors were on patrol. Cargo and troop ships came and went from the ports below and above, heading toward other cities on Cordinlane.
The floating Palace of Torllopus exemplified their achievement after uniting as one people—a statement of their power and strength. Decades to build from all five nations of the Unity, it had been described as the castle in the sky.
The floating city of Torllopus had four primary levels with smaller sub-levels. An extensive ring docking network circled the castle's outskirts, and eight sizeable magitech anti-gravity generators maintained the castle's position above the lower city of Palonpulas.
While the Orc Councilmen were confident that their people could deal with these newcomers, he was still concerned. They were so close to conquering the world and had all their progress possibly jeopardized because of these Lats or Altaerrie, or whatever they were calling themselves. "Regardless of these newcomers, Hispana would be the throne on our side," he said.
Hreffron approached the Orc councilmen's side, looking out into the horizon and seeing the snowy peaks of the Vendare Mountains. "Do not worry, my friend. I will admit, this was unexpected, but in the long run, it will be beneficial."
"I am confident," Isorkoia said. "Nonetheless, I would not be doing my duty as the head of the Foreign Committee without being concerned. If Hispana placed faith in them and the Aristocracy failed to prevent a foothold, that means they are a threat we should not take lightly."
"What you said is wise," Hreffron said. "The last thing we must do is panic when facing the unknown."
Hreffron turned around and leaned against the railing as they neared their destination. "We will meet with the rest of the Council, and I will inform them of the proper situation."
"What about the war?" Inzar asked. "Redirecting resources away from the Coalition might embolden them."
"You are correct," Hreffron said. "Thali'ean Fiefdom and Hispana Republic have been separated. We already know that the Lats have been able to hold against our attacks, but our campaign against the Noble Elves is. Our forces are pushing against their capital soon. From there, we can surround these Altaerrie on two fronts."
"After that," Inzar said. "Hispana will fall, and then we can bring our full might against the Altaerrie without distraction."
Isorkoia finally understood what the Chancellor was getting at. "You wish to contain the new threat while we focus on the Coalition?"
"Is that wise?" Inzar asked. "While Kallem is a coward, he is no fool. He would not allow himself to be defeated so easily. We will send a small force to assist, but we will allow the Verliance Aristocracy to soak the bruises while we prepare for the final blow."
"I will support your plan," Isorkoia said. "We do have other allies near the region. What about the Kiriyaks?"
"Hmm," Hreffron said. "You are correct. That would open an additional front."
"Are they still recovering?" Inzar asked. "I have not followed them, but if I recall, they are still dealing with an insurgency?"
"The Pamlinitie Kingdom needs a good fight," Hreffron stated. "Offering that will make those religious zealots fall in line. That was our mistake when we waged the coup."
Isorkoia nodded in agreement, placing his thick, dark gray hands onto his white-haired chin. "That is a Kiriyaks for you. We could have used the Aristocracy threat to unite the Pamlinitie, but we missed that opportunity."
"You state that," Inzar said. "While the Vampires over there are bothersome, having them as an ally is preferable than then having two allies waging war amongst one another."
"I agree with you," Hreffron said. "Victory will come. No need to question the path. Now, we will summon our vassals in the region to assist Aristocracy. Let them bleed the Altaerrie and themselves. Once the Coalition crumbles, then we can remove this thorn."
As the lift entered the hovering air palace, Orthrendia Isorkoia was impressed by the Chancellor. The councilmen never served in the military, so understanding the tactics, he typically left for the military staff. From what he understood, the Vampire also never served, but the Chancellor's in-depth knowledge regarding strategy continued to surprise him, even though it might seem foolish.
Still, the concept of partly ignoring an unknown enemy to this degree might be troublesome later. Even a nonmilitary mind could see that. The problem that kept annoying Orthrendia Isorkoia in his mind was that Hispana spent so many resources and risked everything to bring these beings to Alagore to change the course of the war.
March, 16, 2068 (Military Calendar)
Office of the Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon, Virginia, United States
*****
Lieutenant General Kelvin Sherman sat uncomfortably in the simple chairs outside the Secretary of Defense officer's office. He had never enjoyed this seat style; it never felt right, especially when he was forced to wait a lengthy amount of time.
Time was vital for gaining information about what was happening. The Lieutenant General had passed through The Pentagon dozens of times throughout his career, ranging from simple assignments to operational directives and task forces, but this time, something felt different. While there always had been highs and lows within these walls, there was always an objective reason. In an international crisis, you could have felt the situation. A victory overseas celebration could be heard. This..., was different.
While he couldn't place his figure at room temperature, he did feel that the military capital was fear and uncertainty. He could most strongly say that no one was speaking about whatever was happening. None of his friends, contacts, and favors he had would speak. All acknowledged that same feeling; however, they did not have any knowledge of why. Something had changed, and the highest echelons of the military kept it quiet, but they could not police the mood of whatever was going on.
Hearing the door open, Sherman saw the female assistant exit the office and approached him.
"The Secretary of Defense will see you now," the woman said.
"Thank you," Sherman said before heading toward the door.
Once inside, Sherman stood at the door, waiting to be addressed by Secretary of Defense Charles Robinson, sitting in his comfortable chair. The man was in the traditional black suit with a white shirt. The tie was red with white stripes. While the hair still had its black color, there were signs of gray, showing the age and stress of the office.
Robinson turned toward the Lieutenant General after finishing typing on the computer. "Thank you for coming at such short notice, General. Please, have a seat," he said.
"Thank you," Sherman said as he approached the desk. "What could I do for you?"
"I will discuss the reasoning soon enough," Robinson said. "I do want to say multiple people recommended against you. But there were a few who did and that is why I summoned you. From what I understand, you specialize in unconventional warfare. Is that correct?"
"Unconventional warfare is an overused term, sir," Sherman replied. "In a changing world, you must think outside the box. Traditional thinking, whether tank column's clashing or chasing cartels in the jungles or American streets, you need to be prioritized; otherwise, military doctrine stagnates and countered."
"I already see why many do not like you," Robinson smirked, saying, "No one likes a troublemaker. Thinking outside the box because if it works, it embarrasses people like me."
"I apologize, sir. I meant no insult."
The Secretary of Defense chuckled, slightly shaking his head sideways in a humorous manner. "And yet, that was not a correction. Some people I spoke with said you specialize in unorthodox warfare."
"That is correct," Sherman said. "My Task Force has been to take what we know and flip it over. I will admit, most of the time, what we come up with is nonsense, but that is the point. I will always be the first to admit that different does not mean better. But-."
"But same does not mean it will work," Robinson said. "Was that what you were going to say?"
Sherman thought carefully about how to respond as he realized the Secretary of Defense was testing him. Otherwise, why would the Secretary take great interest in a theoretical warfare like his? It was a known fact that the military brass threw him in the basement because of his unorthodox ideas about playing around away from places of influence.
The First World War introduced trenches and the evolution of machine guns, something that Generals didn't factor into their strategies until it was too late. In the Second World War, the Japanese caught the Pacific Fleet off guard because the aircraft replaced the battleship. The examples continue as there are multiple examples of a new technology or concept that changed how wars are at fault.
The logic of his methodology gave credit to the military for him to wage simulations of unorthodox warfare but was strange enough not to be taken seriously, which was a blessing and curse. He had grown used to operating independently as the brass left him to do his work. If nothing came from his Task Force, it was a few bucks within an Astralis-Superpower budget. If anything came from his project of note, they could take credit.
That begged the question, why has the Secretary of Defense taken an interest in his work so suddenly? Politicians rarely enjoy people of this type, those who enjoy rocking the boat. Inventing questions to seek answers.
Robinson leaned back into his chair, staring at the Lieutenant General. "What are your thoughts on what happened at Ford Raymond?"
The General was baffled by the question. Clearly, the Secretary meant the terrorist attack by Uptopist eco-warriors that happened earlier in the month, but the matter was a Space Force matter, not Army. He quickly realized that the politician's question wasn't the main topic but the door opener. To what, he had no idea.
"With respect," Sherman replied. "Shouldn't you ask someone from the Space Force? I was not there."
"I understand," Robin said. "Still. Humor me."
Finding this meeting strange, Sherman decided to play along—the fact that he had no choice. The progression of this meeting confirmed his suspension and that something eldritch was going on. "It was a terrorist attack. The report said it was from one of the many Utopian groups," he answered.
"You don't sound conceived."
"No. While they would do something like that, attacking a facility with senior political and military personnel, it was too focused. Why were there that many senior personnel at a next-generation engine test anyway? Also, the security situation made no sense, focusing on interior over exterior threats. I know it is unrelated to what happened at Raymond, but the 4th ID has been conducting unusual training missions since then with a black-out zone around the Fort."
"I see. Please, have a seat."
Sherman understood from the Secretary of Defense's mannerisms that more was going on than the cover story stated. He saw three old-style chairs in the center of the office. The General sat on the one with green cloth, while the Secretary of Defense sat on the dark brown chair in front of him, holding a folder.
As the General settled, Robinson removed his jacket and placed it around his chair, making himself comfortable.
"You are correct," Robinson said.
The Secretary of Defense then grabbed his cell phone and activated the television screen on the wall. A video displayed an Army Ranger platoon engaging an unknown enemy taking cover by a rock formation. The unit was in the middle of an intense firefight.
As the Lieutenant General carefully watched. He quickly noticed colorful flashes coming from the enemy position and impacting the area around the Rangers. This confused him as the flashes loomed like energy-based weapons, but nothing the General had ever seen. A new hostility emerged before he could inquire what he was witnessing. At first glance, the hostile-looking human was larger, taller, and in dark armor, which looked closer to a history book than modern warfare. However, the hostile hands were glowing bright blue as lightning strikes impacted the Rangers.
The screen shut off as Robinson turned toward the Lieutenant General and said, "What do you think?"
The General struggled to understand what he saw. Besides the device screen resolution limitations, everything in the video looked realistic, assuming it was not AI-generated. However, what he practiced was unorthodox ideas that were outside of anything he could conceive. It was as if he was watching a video game or something.
Sherman's first conclusion was that the video came from a programable intelligence MovieBox device, a home device that allows PI to gather information from the Internet to create movies for home use. For the more expensive boxes, a skilled user could make a decent movie with the PI device, with enough examination that the human eye could detect the flaws. With this, outside the strange magical elements, he found none.
However, the General knew he wouldn't be summoned over an online PI video. He didn't want to outright state his mind until gathering more information, so he decided to play along.
"Is this a joke?" Sherman asked. "Is this another PI-generated clip floating around the Net? Why is the government caring about a MovieBox creation?"
"If I had a dollar," Robinson found humor in the response. His mannerisms then became serious. "I can tell you do not believe what you see."
"If it is an artificial creation, it is the best I have ever seen. The question is, is it?"
Robinson took a deep breath as his mannerisms changed. The cheerful switched to serious. "What you witnessed was taken three days ago as part of a counterattack against an alien empire called the Verliance Aristocracy. The skirmish you just watched took place on a moon the locals call Alagore, orbiting a gas giant called Tekali."
While General's mind struggled to accept the details of what was presented, it was putting all the pieces together. Everything was starting to make sense—why the tension within the Pentagon, the strange attack in Colorado, and why he was summoned? He couldn't imagine something more unorthodox if the United States was somehow at war with an alien civilization in another world.
"What is this, Verliance Aristocracy, you said?"
"Correct. They are a Vampire-led fiefdom that has been giving the locals trouble. Skirmishes like those have been happening around a city called Salva, which we have allied with. We have been operating there for about three weeks now and have been able to secure a foothold at a great cost. Our forces have established an outer perimeter outside the city, but it won't hold. Colonel William Hackett is currently rebuilding the City-State defenses for a lengthy siege with the objective to hold the line until we can properly deploy additional forces."
Seeing that this was not some random kid online spreading a fake PI fantasy video, Sherman asked, "How did this begin?"
"You might find this humorous, but they contacted us," Robinson said. He then began explaining the concept of the Bridge, how it was sitting in a London Museum warehouse collecting dust. The trigger for all these events started with an Orb on Mars, an unknown alien facility that the Marines and Guardians are attempting to capture from the facility defenses known as the Akuma. The Orb acted like a microchip or command code for the alien device. Regardless, the Bridge opened to Alagore, and since then, US forces have been protecting these resistance fighters against the Verliance Aristocracy.
Sherman struggled to grapple with what he was being told, as it was a lot to consume. It was not because none of it made sense. In fact, it was the opposite and that was what terrified him. Hearing about Mars automatically made him believe in the possibility of a two-front war with this new enemy and old ones.
Also, since the Verliance Aristocracy was the baseline, it was only possible with further investigation to predict what the enemy was like. While the screen showed some alien technology that had been discovered, he knew this was only the icing on the cake.
The Secretary passed a large file, and he began diving into them. While there was too much to dissect here, skimming proved what his eye saw. An alien Bridge at Fort Raymond, US forces on a moon fighting alien fantasy creatures. All because of an orb that was discovered on Mars.
"There is more than that," Robinson said. "As you can see, we are in a pickle."
"I can see that," Sherman said. "You are telling me we are on a moon fighting magical aliens while helping these Salva people. The only way to supply them is through this one device or portal. That will complicate logistics for a regional theater, at least until we can establish ourselves. However, if what you said is true, we have local allies with a solid defensive,"
"You pick up quick," Robinson said. "The people saw are only a regional vassal—their masters, the Unity, as the native calls them. The Minutemen made first contact during a rescue mission."
"I see why you have not gone public," Sherman said. "But that won't last long with the resources required just to hold the city."
"That has been a constant topic of conversation at the White House and Congress. The truth is that we are still figuring out what to do with the situation. While we have repelled the enemy from the Bridge and gained a foothold at Salva, telling the American people that an unknown alien force surrounding their soldiers wouldn't be conceived well. The President is looking for a decisive win before going public to help smooth over the announcement."
The General understood the politician's perspective. Coming out now would only frighten the public, so they want a more stable situation. This was not a factor in the Iranian-Russian Alliance, Indonesia Indians, or Türkiye response. While the situation was stabilizing, going public was still not ideal, as public support would be key for an adventure like this.
"Let me ask you this, Sherman," Robinson said. "What do you think we should do?"
"Before I answer, what are our goals?"
"It is pretty simple. A Utopianist faction is taking over the world, and we want to stop them. That would be a major public point. Another, they came to us seeking help and they are the first aliens that we have ever encountered. And let us not forget, this is the first time we have encountered aliens from another world, and many want to be our friends."
The points made sense for the General. Many of them were feel good reasons, easy for a general public to disgust. Assuming that they play this once in a millennium opportunity.
"And the private reason?"
"People have been labeling this new area of spaceflight as a Second Manifest Destiny: sailing into the final frontier, homesteading on Luna and Mars, and such. However, such expansion has great limitations for obvious reasons, like breathing. However, this Bridge device could be a new dawn for humanity. They have resources and technology that we have never seen before. This magic could spawn a second industrial revolution if we can master it, but most importantly, they have people. That was a resource our grandfathers took for granted."
The General couldn't disagree with the Secretary's points. The scientific and economic wealth could be endless, based on the video. The fact that Alagore has a population that is of great interest to many nations of Earth with a declining populace. If the United States could carve out a sphere of influence on this world, it could secure a long-term future in trade and stability and the country as a dominant power for centuries to come.
"What is stopping us from closing the Bridge?" Sherman asked.
"Right now, nothing," Robinson said. "If we lose our side of the Bridge, which we almost already did, the plan is to destroy the device and call it a bad memory. If we take that option, we would rather have that be before going public. Again, for obvious reasons. Once we go public, we don't want to then explain how we lost and were forced to destroy the possibly greatest opportunity in human history, and we are the ones who screwed it up."
Robinson then reached over and grabbed a bottle of beer from his desk. The Secretary offered Sherman, which the General rejected.
"However, there is a concern about a long-term threat if we don't address them now," Robinson said. "We know so little about them, and they have made threats against Earth."
"Genuine threats?"
"They seem hollow now, but we have no idea. We are operating in the dark at the moment. Hell, the ancient Romans and Chinese knew more about each other than we do right now."
Now the General understood why he was summoned. He felt shameful that he didn't figure it out sooner, but this situation was unprecedented. "What do we know?"
"A Minuteman from CFT-1, Captain Ryder, was taken prisoner for a few days," Robinson said. "He saw firsthand what they are capable of. It could be an empty threat, but we need to know more to make an educated policy on the matter. The issue is that the real threat is this Unity. We barely understand the Verliance Aristocracy and we know less about The Unity."
"What about the fact that Captain encountered an Akuma?"
"I was getting to that," Robinson said. "It is clear that there is a connection between both worlds if the same robotic soldiers are there. As I said, we do not know enough to make an educated decision, so we have to play ball."
"What is the situation regarding that alien facility?" Sherman asked.
"We are in the construction stage," Robinson said. "We know they're hostiles within the alien facility. It is going to take time to build out the base before we can neutralize those Akumas. But that isn't the main issue. We are confident that the RIA knows about the facility."
"I think it is safe to assume," Sherman said.
"For now, Space Command will be taking the lead on Mars. The Army will be handling the Alagore theater."
"I understand. Now, back to our operations on Alagore. I am reading here that we have issues with the locals. I thought you said we are allies."
"Yes and no," Robinson said. "Relations have been rocky overall. Salva is currently leaderless from a recent battle before our arrival. Local villages and towns have been hesitant to side with us. The truth is, we have a credibility problem."
"I understand. We are the aliens, so I should have realized that. Even a best friend at some point becomes an unwanted guest."
"Correct. We are trying to figure out a solution to the problem. We thought about installing a Military Governor. The other is to promote one of the locals."
"Neither of them is ideal. While installing a Military Governor would work in the short term but will send the wrong message to the other towns and villages. It would only show that we are aliens looking for conquest. If we want to show that we are supporting rebels of an illegitimate regime, we will want a native to have political control. However, it couldn't be any average Joe as they wouldn't have the proper creditability toward the same people we are trying to influence."
"That was our conclusion."
The General was again surprised by the response. While, of course, the White House and other government agencies would develop a simulation to determine the best outcome, there was always a gap between the brass and the facts on the ground. Most of the time, he is self-inflected by political bias, wanting to achieve an outcome based on unrealistic methods or, from his experience, laziness. However, based on how the Secretary had spoken to him and the pre-agreement they had been, he could only conclude that the White House was taking this situation far more seriously than he was accustomed to.
Sherman quickly scanned the file that the Secretary of Defense gave him. He noticed the detail regarding the Coalition – the Noble Elves dominated Thali'ean Fiefdom and the ones who sponsored Mr. Raegel and Miss. Fraeya Holiadon expedition, the Hispana Republic.
"What if we contact one of these two? They are potential allies, and if we make contact with them, we will resolve this issue."
"Impossible," Robinson said. "We currently have no means of contacting them. Even if we could, the enemy would block off all land routes to each other. By the time we could create a corridor between us and them, it wouldn't resolve our credibility that we are facing."
"Alright," Sherman said, feeling stumped on the issue. "Whoever takes command of this operation will need to address that issue. We won't be able to resolve it here."
"I was afraid you would say that," Robinson said. "Colonel Hackett has been looking for a solution to the manner. His last report stated he might have a lead, but it was too early. Assuming that issue gets resolved, what would you do going forward?"
Sherman started as the Secretary of Defense, understanding that he was being tested. The Lieutenant General then skimmed through the recent battle reports, studying the situation. "First, since this is a classified operation, you must keep as much in-house as possible. You need to establish a dedicated Corps to this operation and have all units deployed on Alagore under it," he said.
"Simple enough."
"That part, yes; the rest, no."
"What do you mean?"
"According to her, Unity has an Air Force. They will have more airports than we can create in the near midterm. The enemy will force us to fight a defensive war, and there is nothing we can do about it, regardless of whether the White House goes public. The priority should be to expand until we find a better defensive position and dig in as deep as possible."
"I see where you are coming from, but the White House will not tolerate a passive doctrine for long."
"It is not about what the White House wants. Focusing on this region will become a bloodbath, and forces will be surrounded. That is why Nevali shouldn't be our long-term focus."
The Secretary of Defense stared at the Lieutenant General with a puzzled look. "Okay. You have my attention."
"Once our situation stabilizes in Nevali, we should redirect our focus on contacting and supporting the other factions. Hispana and Thali'ean, it is pronounced. The enemy will try to keep us contained in Nevali; we should ignore that and focus on potential allies. We keep the war on their territories, forcing the Unity not to consolidate against us because if that happens, we lose. If successful, we will have multiple stage's to wage an offensive war with proper native support."
Robinson crossed his legs, staring at the Lieutenant General. After what felt like minutes, the man chuckled and nodded his head. "A Defensive-Offensive Doctrine. Interesting. Alright. You got the job."
"Sir?"
"You understood what I mean. You must have known what this was about. A friend of yours pushed heavily for this, and I can inform the President that this will be an appropriate choice.
The two stood from their chairs, and Robinson was the first to extend his hand. Sherman took it, and the two shook.
"Welcome to the war, Lieutenant General. You leave for Colorado in the morning."