“We should move, Raul,” said Kanon, his second-in-command.

He nodded and stood at the top of their command post. The dazzling city lights of Manila painted the landscape. The gentle moonlight calmly hugged the base’s halls. From there, the battle placements of the entire base went unhidden.

“Do you think it’s China?” asked Colonel Raul Astrea as his clear black eyes stared at the line of trucks and armored fighting vehicles. Soldiers were all over the place, doing their specific tasks. Some were loading the trucks with ammunition, some were checking the machine guns and other heavy weapons, while some were talking with one another. They were probably nervous, he thought.

Two weeks since all their communication satellites and radars malfunctioned, people still did not know what happened. China attacked them, the rumors said, but that was all. The high command gave orders but answered no questions. The small fleet of FA-50PH of their air force was put on high alert against enemy air raids. Then suddenly now, two infantry companies under his command were ordered to reinforce the Malacañang Palace garrison, but no explanation was still given to them.

“Likely.” Kanon gave an immediate answer. “Well, at least for now we won’t have to get stuck fighting our own people.”

For decades now, they had been fighting different rebel groups across the country. Mindanao, especially, had been the battleground of extremists, terrorists, and soldiers. If they were crushed was one rebel group, another rose. It was a vicious cycle that plagued the security of the nation. However, the fact remained that those rebels were in fact also Filipinos hoping for a better life.

Kanon motioned for her company to move. Hundreds of soldiers boarded the army trucks. Soltam M-71 Artillery pieces and ammos were being stacked at there as well. Even their limited TOW missiles were included. They were extremely decorated units belonging to the primary combined arms brigade of the army. But sadly, their equipment was lacking compared to their international counterparts.

“If they are, let’s give them one hell of a fight,” he said. The soldiers cheered as if to reply to him. There was nervousness in their eyes, yet there was also a glint of bravery. Raul was certain they will not back down just because an enemy was stronger than them.

Many said that they were hopeless against China. How can a small country fight a superpower? China’s army and navy had more modern weapons than them, and more quantity as well. They were at a disadvantage on all fronts. For them, however, it was their duty to defend their country, whatever the outcome was.

Raul looked at the embers of stars silently. The light from the vast metro prevented them from illuminating with all their might. Yet, they were still beautiful. But there was something different from it compared to when he stared at them two weeks ago. The stars shone more than usual, as if the light pollution from all over the globe suddenly disappeared. He was not an astronomer, but even he noticed the different placements of stars than usual. There were also birds he never saw, more colorful than what he had set eyes on in his entire life. The winds were noticeably moister.

Along with Kanon and other officers, he boarded an armored car in front of the line of trucks. He sighed and took one last glance at the skies. The beauty of stars still enraptured him. It was something he did not find anywhere else.

“Let’s get this done. Advance!”

Almost 20 trucks began advancing the route to Malacañang. They were escorted by several armored infantry fighting vehicles. Commuters and bystanders were alarmed by the large amounts of military vehicles, but the path was cleared by the local police beforehand, so there it was relatively smooth travel.

When they reach their destination, he commanded each squad to take their respective positions according to their plan. Raul and Kanon went to the commandant of the garrison who were just outside the entrance to the President’s bunker. They saluted at him and began reporting for duty.

“Colonel, who is our enemy? Is it China, sir?” Raul asked.

There were no explanations given to them in their briefing. They were just ordered to reinforce the palace, so they did, but they were also curious about who might be their enemy.

“We don’t know yet, major. But there are rumors,” Colonel Delfin said. He stopped unknowingly, hesitant to continue any further.

Even a high-ranking official like Colonel Delfin, who is the commandant of the security group guarding the president, was not given information. The high command was adamant about securing the information, Raul thought.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

“Rumors?” asked Kanon.

“They say our entire country was transported to another world. Can you believe it?”

Raul and Kanon looked at each other to confirm the doubts on their faces. This was a joke, their minds said. But, considering their mobilization and deployment, it made no sense to them.

“With due respect, sir, but…”

“I know, major. I too cannot believe it,” Colonel Delfin said. “That said, the defense secretary wants to meet you ASAP, major. Report at his office immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

They immediately went to the provisional Office of the National Defense, just a few rooms behind the bunker. In normal times, the office was normally in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, but the emergency dictated that the defense secretary should be near the president.

After an adjutant confirmed their arrival, they were led inside the room. The silhouette of an old man came to their view. He was writing something in a document, and only glanced at them once.

“Major, captain,” Secretary Lorenz called them. “Sit down, you two.”

“I don’t know how a lowly major can help you, sir.”

Raul and Kanon sat at the seats across and faced the Secretary of National Defence, Lorenz Argent. He was a famed strategist of the Philippine Army who brought victory in almost all that the missions he had been assigned. But his youth was visibly long gone. His hair was now a blend of black and white, and his skin was already wrinkled. Still, to the eyes of soldiers like Raul, the man was practically a living legend.

“I would not say you’re a ‘lowly’ major. You’re only 16 years old, a major, and you have been doing great things recently. 56 kill counts in Marawi. 100% success rates in our counterinsurgency operations. It is not a mistake to raise you. That said, I have orders for you, Raul and Kanon.”

“It would be our honor,” they said in unison.

“Right. What do you know about our current situation?”

The defense secretary explained the country’s situation, from being transported to an unknown world to the information about the New Landers. He highlighted how the Philippines was struggling for resources to feed its over a hundred million people. And not only that, but electricity, infrastructure, oil, and military supplies too. After that, he began briefing them about their mission.

“You two will be sent as security detail of the emissary to the new lands. Our agents made contact one week ago with the inhabitants there,” said Lorenz. “You will be sent to the capital of the Kingdom of Rovell, where you’ll represent the Armed Forces at conferences and parties with their royalties for about six months. For that, I will send someone to teach you about their court etiquettes.”

“Understood, sir.” The two of them answered.

In the new lands, the nobles of the kingdoms and empires usually adhere to court etiquettes. In order not to embarrass themselves and the country that they represent, they had to show that they were not ignorant of such social rules. Things like that were fading in the modern world where social caste was more equal than before. But in a world akin to medieval times, an average peasant was just a bug in the eyes of the highest ranked nobles.

“Now, your actual mission is to know the extent of their military. We have been monitoring them with our UAVS and planes for the last two weeks, but we still lack information about their overall strength and tactics. I do not need to explain you that value of information,” said Lorenz.

Raul had to agree. Knowing what your enemy was capable of was essential to warfare. Many times, it even dictated the outcome of a war. The planned takeover of Manila in the Spanish Revolution by the revolutionaries had been thwarted when their existence was revealed way before than they intended. With just a single information, the colonizers had prevented the capture of their capital even if they had been outnumbered.

“Another thing. This one is more important.” Lorenz sipped his coffee and stared at Raul. “Everywhere you look, we are doomed. We don’t have enough food for everyone. Our gas and oil are slowly being sucked dry. The electricity is now unreliable; almost every day there is a power outrage. If we do nothing right now, we will collapse.”

He nodded. No matter how the government tried to stop the news from spreading, the people all felt it. The rich lived half as decent as they had before. The middle-class had slowly turned poor, and the poor to beggar, and the beggar to bones.

“We need to get the resources we need, even if we must get it in other country. Luckily, the new lands are ripe for picking. Almost 500 years ago, our ancestors are in their situation. Maybe now is the time to get what we were stolen before.”

Raul was astonished to hear what the person he looked up to said. “Is that okay, sir? To take what others had just because we need it. I doubt our people will agree with this. Their sympathies always fall in the oppressed. We will technically be the aggressors here,” he said.

The ideology of liberty and democracy had long lived in the hearts of Filipinos. There was no way that they would consent to conquer someone just because of the gain, Raul thought. He felt that there was something wrong in doing that — exploiting other people for their own gain.

“Of course, they will not. But people will always agree to go to war if they are threatened — no matter what morals they hold. We are all alive, after all. It is on the instinct of every living being to survive,” said the defense secretary.

“What do you mean, sir?” asked Kanon.

“Just follow our orders. It is not an understatement to say that the future of our nation depends on this. This is a very important and delicate mission. The general staff agreed it would be best to send you two.”

Raul gulped as if swallowing the same candy that he had always hated. What made him swallow such candy was a mystery to him. He found it distasteful and tiring. Yet he did for as many times as he can imagine. “It is our duty to follow orders. I understand, sir. We will accomplish whatever missions you give us.”

“Good. I cannot discuss to you the entire plan yet. You will be given instructions now and then through our usual radio line. But your first aim is to meet with Princess Alisha. Confirm her participation on our plan. The details are written on this paper.”

“Yes, sir. We will not disappoint you.” Raul paused. He hesitated a bit. “Are we performing as much as you wanted?”

“Yes, you are. Quite so. Those who will be drenched in the mud are what our nation needs right now.”

He stared at the secretary of national defense. The office was silent and peaceful. But his heart thumped roughly. He did not know what the cause of his nervousness was. “What if there is too much mud? Will we not get drowned by it?”

“Yes, we will. We are soldiers, after all. That’s has always been what soldiers are.”