“The world is still coming to terms with the revelation of first contact with aliens from another world. Since the US President's speech two weeks ago, the world is still coming to terms with the fact that we are not alone in the universe.

  As you saw in our previous coverage, riots and protests have spread across the globe in response to the revelation, necessitating the full mobilization of the military and law enforcement to contain the situation. Most of the early-day rioting has occurred in major cities, as mobs clashed with each other, between religious groups declaring the end times, with anti-government groups, and those who express concern about the aliens. One thing is certain: most people are scared about this new reality, with many experts stating that the country was still coming out of shock, along with the rest of the world. Many online have been comparing the Alagore Bridge event to the September 11th, 2001, attacks, and the Pearl Harbor bombings.

  Most of the looting and mob activity have returned to normalcy, but battles continue to occur throughout the United States. Initially, they were a random expression of frustration, but with more information being released about Alagore and the new war the country finds itself in, lines are being drawn. With the victory at Salva, and the reports of atrocities of what this alien Utopian faction, called Unity, is doing, support for the war has grown. The dividing lines have developed into multiple camps, ranging from religious, love, or racist perspectives about the various aliens on this world. However, most people tend to fall into one of two camps: those who support or oppose war.

  The US government has been operating overtime to maintain the situation. It is apparent that most of Congress supports the White House campaign on this new world, which has already passed a Military Authorization Act, allowing the President to deploy what he needs to defend Salva and the neighboring City-States.

  The recently promoted General Kelvin Sherman has taken full command of all USAM operations on Alagore. Unlike in previous campaigns were commanders have rotated out, our sources have informed us was that this new commander will be permanently in command. While no official announcement from the White House or Pentagon on how they plan to wage this war, with this change of policy applies that the government was treating this conflict closer to the World Wars over the War on Terror or Cartel wars.” – Indie News

  May 8th, 2069 (Military Calendar)

  Highway 2 “Amesrane”, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie

  Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore

  *****

  Captain Mathew Ryder slipped on the wet ground, slick with foliage and fallen tree trunks, joining the rest of Comanche.

  A lightning strike had just hit nearby, causing heavy area damage. Soldiers dragged the wounded to cover, while two IRiSS units smoldered—remnants of the failed assault. Two Light Armored Tracked Transport (LATT) vehicles burned from the earlier ambush. Other vehicles were trapped in magically created ditches, sprung by geomancy runes – this world's equivalent for landmines.

  Ryder scanned the field. Fraeya held her hand high, blocking lightning with alg spheres that absorbed electric charge. Gonzales swapped out fried components in Higgins' exoskeleton. The rest of the unit lay spread out, firing toward the enemy-held hill.

  "That mage has us pinned," Ford said.

  A lightning chain ripped through the ground, smashing a tree into flames. Another struck the log that Wallace and Forest sheltered behind. Fraeya lifted the earth into a barrier, just in time to block a third strike. But then, a ballista round punched through her alloy shield, spraying dirt everywhere.

  Ryder glanced toward the Aristocracy's hillside fortifications. The situation was deteriorating. They'd dug in tight—deep enough to draw the Army in, far enough to pick off armor. Brass had sent in the Minutemen to paint the ballistas. But the enemy was ready and determined.

  He saw more ballista’s firing, their ports sealing after each shot to evade precision missiles. And when American troops pushed too close, a luxmancy battle mage struck with brutal efficiency.

  "Wings," Ryder said. "Can you get a shot?"

  The Valkyrie peeked from cover. Her helmet was medieval in design but fitted with Altaerrie upgrades: a VISOR connected to a CPU pack, and radio gear attached.

  "Let me see... the vampire is behind cover. When he steps out for a kill, I can—how do you say—snipe him."

  Ryder scanned his squad. They needed bait. His eyes locked on Sergeant Benjamin Ford.

  "Hope you stretched. Everyone else—Rommel mark. Cover fire."

  Ford inhaled sharply, then sprinted. His exosuit whined as joints accelerated him forward. Speed over strength.

  Flechettes peppered the area around him. But Comanche’s covering fire made clean shots difficult. Then—lightning struck all around him. The mage had taken the bait.

  Fraeya’s eyes widened. Her gloves glowed as she raised another wave of earth. It surged forward and swallowed Ford just as lightning cascaded around him, blinding the area in white light.

  The mage was exposed.

  Natilite hovered, calm and steady. She lined up her shot. With one squeeze of the trigger, with one bullet. The round pierced the mage’s helmet. He dropped. But a flechette clipped Natilite’s side. She fell hard.

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  Ryder and Forest rushed in, dragging her back. When she was moved behind a log, Gonzales slid next to her and began investigating the wound.

  "I'm okay," she said, checking her chest. A dent marked her armor. "If it had pierced, I’d heal. Go help Ben."

  "No need," Forest said.

  Ryder turned. Fraeya was already there. Barrios laid down fire. The elf mage reached her mound and parted the dirt. Ford emerged, muddy and gasping.

  Barrios hauled him out, Fraeya covering them both.

  With the mage dead and everyone accounted for, Ryder turned to their objective.

  "Nat, Kurt—mark the bunkers. Charlie, link with Aviation. Everyone else, light 'em up."

  Minutemen opened fire. The enemy's sounding stones disrupted line-of-sight. Ryder hoped suppressive fire would buy their air support a clear window.

  He joined the assault, firing his M31 up the hillside. His Combat Controller relayed coordinates.

  Moments later, two AQ-8 Chickasaw II helicopters emerged. Skyfire missiles struck the ballista ports. The drones hovered in, M209 chain guns ripping into the hillside.

  Then came the M65 Buffalo light tanks. They rolled down the highway, stopping near Comanche, unloading 30mm shells into the defenses. Blue crystal embedded in the Aristocracy's walls deflected much of the damage.

  But it was a feint.

  Two M33 Campbell light tanks rumbled from around the previous hill. When they got into visual range, they unleashed their 105mm cannons against the hill fortress. The wall hardened under impact, but they kept firing. Eventually, a crack formed.

  Fifteen minutes of bombardment later, the front of the fort exploded outward—a breach.

  Bravo Company surged forward, storming the enemy's fortified positions.

  "That won’t hold," Barrios muttered.

  "All that work," Higgins said, "and the tankers get the credit."

  "Why don’t you use pyromancy?" Natilite asked.

  "No magic on Earth," Ford replied.

  “That was not what I meant,” Natilite responded in frustration. “I know there is no magic. In the Imperium, we used flame mages to clear trenches."

  "We used to," King said. "But the Army doesn't like single-use weapons."

  "She’s got a point," Wallace added. "With all the aliens, it might be time to rethink that."

  "Or just get mages," Ford said.

  "Only if they’re as hot as ours," Barrios joked.

  Fraeya blinked as glances shifted to her.

  "I... I do not feel hot. I am sweaty, though. Do I look sick?"

  The squad chuckled. Natilite groaned, muttering, "Mother..." before pulling the elf aside to explain human jokes.

  "Enough," Barrett barked.

  "Comanche, fall back," King ordered. "We’re done here."

  As they gathered gear and headed south, Ryder glanced back at the hill. One fort down. Dozens more to go.

  *****

  The Battalion command post was a maze of trailers and LATTs beneath camouflage netting. One command module served as HQ. Another had point-defense lasers. A third charged infantry drones.

  Ryder, Natilite, and King passed the robotic guard and entered the main tent. Inside, Lieutenant Colonel Conrad was mid-rant.

  They’d stalled. Silvium remained out of reach.

  "The man underestimates this world," Natilite whispered.

  "Forget the world," King said. "Artie fights like every step is holy."

  The words hit Ryder. After Salva and the President’s address, reinforcements poured into Alagore. The 5th Infantry and 101st Airborne arrived fast.

  The 4th ID was supposed to return to Earth for recovery, to be replaced by Major General McDowell of the 5th Infantry Division. The now-nicknamed The Battled Fourth had been in constant engagement since the first day, supporting Minutemen and Rangers surrounded and outnumbered. But Major General Webster refused to withdraw to Earth, stating that they had unfinished business. Sherman agreed and rescinded the order.

  PR spun up. Unity was declared an enemy. Posters, broadcasts—all showing the enemy in medieval dress. Not inaccurate. But misleading.

  The implication? Seeing the enemy using swords and shields implied that their enemies were weak, using inferior technology. Of course, the government didn’t want to sell to the American people and the world how dangerous this world was.

  Ryder didn’t think that was the plan. Just a side effect. How do you market interdimensional war?

  "Easy," Ryder said. "They weren’t at the siege. They’ll learn."

  He approached the map table.

  "Captain Ryder, Comanche. Objectives complete."

  "Thanks, Captain," Conrad said. "Or is it—Your Majesty?"

  Ryder ignored the jab as he heard worse. "Whichever pays fewer taxes, sir."

  A few chuckles from the staff, but the comment annoyed Conrad.

  "Wise guy," he muttered, marking a red X on the MGRS map. "UAVs show that Artie is retreating. Likely falling back to Silvium."

  Ryder frowned at the report as it didn’t track. The Verliance Aristocracy didn’t abandon ground easily. One thing he had learned about the vampires was that there was always something up their sleeves.

  "With respect, sir—we should verify."

  "No time. Delay, and we lose our window."

  "Sir. We’ve fought—"

  "Your title holds no weight here. Your team isn’t the center of the universe. We’ve got peasants on the ropes. We’re finishing this."

  Natilite stepped forward. "You should listen. The Unity hasn’t shown on this front. They’re planning something."

  Conrad glared. "I know you’re Hackett’s favorite, but this is my campaign. And I won’t be lectured by a flat-Earther."

  Ryder clenched his jaw, knowing who the Colonel was directing the comment at. He saw Natilite freeze in confusion, knowing that she was insulted, but she didn’t understand it.

  Before Ryder could speak, a tablet was pushed into his chest.

  Major McKee. The XO.

  "Sign this," he said quietly.

  Ryder nodded, realizing McKee had just saved him from a career-ending moment.

  Conrad continued, laying out the plan to seize a fork in the highway. It led to Mendarim—a Kitsune resort city pledging support—and Silvium, a once-Elven stronghold now held by Toriffa J'avais, humans loyal to the Aristocracy.

  Comanche was sidelined for Ryder’s safety. This infuriated him, not just because of the insult, but also because the officer had disrespected his unit.

  When the meeting ended, Natilite stormed out. When they drew far enough away from the Battalion-CP, she snapped, "What was that?! I have faced combat sexism all my life as a Templar, and I am okay with that. But this? What is a 'flat-Earther'? I have never been so offended—and I do not even know why!"

  "Means you’re stupid," King said. "People once believed Earth was flat. The Irony was that ancient people knew better. It was the medieval people who forgot."

  Natilite stared at the sky.

  "How could anyone… how could they believe that?"

  "Unity logic," Ryder said. "Control the truth. Rewrite it."

  Her face changed. Fury burned in her eyes. She turned to march back.

  Ryder stepped onto her path. He'd probably die if she struck—but he stood anyway.

  "Why does he think I’m dumb? I’ve never spoken to him."

  "It’s the sword," Ryder said. "Your armor. People see you and assume… primitive."

  "You are using the word primitive at the end," she muttered, staring at her blade. "That’s what they think of me."

  She stormed off, mumbling in her native tongue.

  The Comanche Captain placed his hands on his hips in frustration, not knowing what to do. That was when he saw the Battalion XO approaching Major McKee.

  "She’s a fiery Valkyrie," he said. "Never met one, but damn. I came to apologize."

  "He insulted her," Ryder said. "She’s bled for us."

  "And she has every right to be pissed," McKee agreed. "But here’s how the Army works: killing officers only flows one direction. Let the system handle it."

  Natilite vented in her native tongue; the translation amulet was turned off. Then she left.

  Silence.

  "Well, Matt," McKee said. "She’s gorgeous. But don’t piss her off."

  "Understood, sir."

  "And besides preventing a diplomatic incident, I came to tell you—stay ready. The assault’s coming."

  Ryder looked at King.

  His heart sank.

  "She’s right. Unity might be fanatics, but Artie will fight to the last."

  "Exactly," McKee said. "Keep your Minutemen sharp. Don’t make noise. Just be ready."

  "Sir?"

  "Something’s coming. That’s all.”