Is this some kinda selection screen for a game, cuz I swear this is like a game, but I’ll pick ranger, and I suggest everyone does, as our primary weapon is literally a fucking gun.” Jack retorted, and mentally select ranger. [Class: ranger selected. 20% more damage with ranged weapons. 10% more penetration with ranged weapons. Do 50% less damage with melee weapons and take 33% more damage from melee weapons. Magic unaffected, level one]
Damn, Jack thought. What the fuck does that mean?
“Soldiers, select ranger or caster, as the other one seems to be melee, and as one smartass decided to say it on the net. After that, file out of the Bradley’s in an orderly fashion, and proceed in your sections to secure the area, the excavators and trucks come next, except for section Alpha, you’re to scout the small settlement to find as much information as possible. Move out!” The major commanded, and everyone did as told. But then some retards of what looked like elves tried shooting an abrams with an arrow. Yup. You heard me right. And before anyone could react, Jack shot the fucker. As far as he was concerned, games gave you exp for killing things right? So it was no surprise when he looked at his status screen, he had 91/100 exp for level 2 trait, and 90/110 for the class.
As the section hopped into the Bradley to scout out the settlement, he could only look on in envy to those that stayed behind. How come they get the easy job? Why can’t I get a stroke of luck once in my life? Oh well, orders are orders I guess, thought Jack, as he and his friends trundled off.
“Hey Ramirez?”
”What J?” She quipped back
”Well, what do you think of our situation? Of this weird ass anime situation, wouldn’t be surprised if the main character came down from the heavens and absolutely tailed us all, then survived an abrams shell to th e head… yknow what I mean, right?’ Jack replied, wanting to chat to get rid of the silence and foreboding sense of dread he had.
”Well, if your sorry ass stopped yapping, maybe, just maybe, I could understand you, have you thought of that?”
”Goddamn it Ramirez. I know I’m waffling but the question still stands, how do you feel about this whole operation? Everyone sent here or about to come here we’re in the violent first contact, what if high command wants us dead as to not spread the secret?”
”Damn Jack, i knew you were stupid, but not this mentally retarded, but apart from your slightly paranoid self, I think we’ll be fine, the Bradley has a canon powerful to shred any non armoured vehicle, and seeing the most armour these people have is some magical shield of glass or a literal ancient suit of armour, I wouldn’t worry too much. Besides, if shit goes south, we’ve still got a fuckin Bradley haven’t we? Mmm hmmm. We’ll be fine, as long as we don’t get a modern tank put up against us, and even if we do we got the atgm, which doubles as aa against their air force which are literally wyverns. Before you go, what the fucks a wyvern, or that’s a dragon you idiot child, a wyvern is a dragon with two legs, which are essentially made for running to gain speed before lifting off, whereas as dragon has four legs, and is flat against the ground. Think of wyverns as weak dragons with half the legs. Yes I geek out on mythology bs, but it paid off in the end huh?” Lectured Ramirez.
”Wait you finished, sorry miss, but I was asleep the whole lecture, I hope you don’t punish me.” Jack retorted in not his usual voice to say the least.
“Will you two stop arguing like an old married couple? No one wants to hear your relationship troubles, this is the army, not soap opera television, so kindly stop going back and forth, some people actually care about the peace and quiet”
“evidently you, but as long as I had in my notebook, nobody was talking to your sorry ass, and you better shut the fuck up before you piss someone off with less self control than me, so consider yourself lucky.” Jack shot back, and it was only moments later that they were at each others throats, ready to start a fight.
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“Boys, I’m flattered, but is there really need to go to such lengths for lil old me? If you want to impress me that bad, kill some elves instead each other, as every injury you sustain is one less cut for the enemy to kill up you, and as far as I’m concerned death by a thousand cuts is extremely painful. So please be gentlemen, shut the fuck up and stop escalating to needless violence for no reason, understand me?” Though Ramirez was a lowly private and Jack a sergeant, her voice carried a tone of authority that only the strongest minds could resist. Both men backed down like there was no tomorrow.
”Look man I’m sorry, I just like the tranquility of things, i believe me kinda started off on the wrong foot, sol let me introduce myself. I’m lance corporal third class Henry Higgins, nice to meetcha!” The man that identified himself as Henry offered his hand.
”I agree, it’s just that I’m pretty on edge about this mission after everything that happened, can’t we just wait for reinforcements and go in battalion sized and enact gunboat diplomacy? It makes no logical sense. But if you’re sensitive to loud noise, why’d you join the army? Guns and explosives aren’t exactly quiete are they? But I’m Jack Reed, sergeant first class, United States Army.” Jack offered in kind, and shook Henrys’ hand, formalising the non agression pact by the two, and if conditions are good enough in the future, they might even become friends. The soldiers proceeded on without any harassment, and arrived at the mouth of the village. “Halt! Dismount your beasts and state your reason here, lest we attack!” A guard shouted, rather drably, for he was just a knight with a sword.
The driver activated the speakers, “we are soldiers with the United States Army, and we would like to calmly request entry to your fine town here, we have permission from our government to start peaceful diplomacy with you fine people here. Please don’t escalate this any further than it needs to.”
Approximately half an hour later, a rather pompous man with flashy attire came to the walls, and thought threatening them was a good idea. “Hmmm the United States huh? Well, pay up 10 gold pieces, or else your beast might find themselves on the wrong end of a fireball and your men might accidentally trip and fall on our swords multiple times.”
“That is not acceptable terms. The max we can do is 1 piece of gold at a stretch” the driver duly responded, knowing that they were only given one gold and many bronzes and silvers looted from the corpses of the elves that tried to attack them.
”Fine. That is acceptable, but only because it’s your first time here.” The noble inwardly smirked, as he knew that there was no fee was entering towns, and one gold piece could buy quite a lot, worth around 100 bronze or 10 silver.
A squad exited the apc, with a single gold coin in hand, threw it towards the guards. Needless to say, trust was on short supply.
”You dare disrespect my knights by throwing the coin? I have a good mind not to order your killing. 2 gold pieces or else.” The noble hollered.
”Fucking hell man, these nobles. One gold piece take it or leave it. And don’t threaten us please. You really want war with another country, remembered in history as a footnote for the destruction of a border city? We know that it costs no money to enter, so we’re just doing you a favour.” The driver bluffed, hoping to score a hit with those words. The noble had a look of shock on his face. It looked like it struck home, Jack thought as he backed up and aimed his gun towards the noble, in case he tried anything stupid.
”Ok, ok, I’m sorry for playing you for fools, I’ll take the gold, thank you for your generosity oh great travellers, come on in my humble city, allemagne, we’re happy for your choice to come here, but I can’t help but notice your beast doesn’t have a level, and you’re all level ones, surely your country would send higher level envoys?” The noble stuttered, barely able to hold himself together.
“We’re not comfortable with discussing this in the open.”
The apc was left outside, as to not to scare the locals off, for it was quite the imposing presence. 2 squad of 3 walked into to the wide city gates, with the remaining four staying in the apc to protect it, along with the driver. And as the gates slammed shut, the 2 squads slowly faded out of view.