Empire on Fire Chapter 1: In The Flesh (Ausozera only, IC)

[Empire of Donner land]

Sauraght, Donner Land

He breathed In and out calmly, reaching for the Pistol on the floor he took it as the crows began to pass and took one of the magazines with his other hand. Selhg placed the magazine into the Weapon, flipped the safety and pulled the slide back hearing the satisfying click of a bullet entering the chamber. He looked at the black object on his hand for second as he saw his reflection in its metal slide that covered the bullet. He was reminded of his time in the LG and the reason why he retired, he was done with the killing and murder, done with being a toy for a politician. He wanted to stop wars, not fight them. Looking at his surroundings it seemed none of his words would help, looking at the Esgonian soldier being dragged and abused, it seemed no words would help.

What he was going to do was stupid, beyond any reasonable doubt. But if it worked it didn't matter if it was stupid, just If it was successful.

He slammed the gas pedal and pulled the gear lever quickly from neutral into its top gear, he looked down as he went from zero to sixty in seconds pressing him into the seat, any other old man couldn't take it, but not Selhg. He pulled right on the steering wheel as hard as he could while pressing on the horn then pulled left hard on it as he crossed in front of the crowd, not trying to hit them ir the Soldier but something else. He looked down at the emergency brake in a fraction of a second as he was about to turn into a crowd of hundreds of people and pulled it while leaping from his seat to open the other door opposite from him. The screeching of tires heard from outside and the distinct smell of burnt rubber

The world around him seem to blur and mix into a single multi colored blob and begin to stop as he reached the door and opened it, his gun in hand, and instinctively fired two shots as he jumped out and hearing the clinking as the casings hit the road. The large people holding the Soldier down fell like dominoes infront of his sights. The crowd looked stunned and were stopped dead in their tracks like a deer in the head lights as this happened in front of them. He grabbed the Esgonian by the collar and pushed the Soldier behind himself, protecting them and pushed the blind folded, tied man into the SUV while shutting the door. He turned around as the crowd started moving again and fired three shots into the air as he rushed to the drivers side. His age hadn't caught up to him yet, he wasn't ready to give up on his country, not ready to let a Phyco power tripping man win.

He pulled the door open and jumped in slamming the gear shift as his foot did the same to the gas pedal and pulling the door closed shut. Already he could hear the rocks bouncing off the SUV and glass cracking as well as the yelling that came with it like a bunch children who lost their toys. By the time their screams were reaching their highest level he was speeding away with his key to getting out of the frozen hell hole. But he wasn't out yet, they'd be looking for him and all the embassies were seiged down or possibly already taken by the rioters.

"Hey, hey Kid." He said. He assumed he was young due to him being in the Military and looking fit. That and they wouldn't send a 60 year old outside the Embassy walls during a crisis like this. "Alright we've got a lot of talking to do between here and whatever embassy we can get to so let's get to know each other, alright? Uhm, got any kids? A dog maybe?" He said calmly, focusing on the road and making turns left and right to lose any trail he had. "A 50 something year old man just saved you, perhaps a thank you would be a correct response." He said letting sarcasm leech into his tone. "Oh right, the blind fold. My bad." He reached from the wheel still looking at the road and tore off the piece of cloth wrapped around his head. "Get talking, sonny, I need you with me."

[Esgonia]

Soraught, Donner Land

---

The soldier eyes were finally out of the dark when his blindfold was removed. He looks around and realizes he was in an SUV, with a man in his 40s or 50s on the wheel, rubbing his eyes, he realizes it was Ambassador Selgh from the Donnish diplomatic envoy. He then apologizes for going through the trouble of saving him then thanks him.

"Yeah, got a wife, and a son, both of them are waiting for me back home. Anyways thank you again for saving my life, sir. My wife wouldn't bear to see me in a coffin just yet."

He then looks around his surroundings as he tries to recollect himself, before asking him.
"What happened here, sir? I mean, everyone wasn't like this a few days ago, and just suddenly, they're beginning to attack everyone. What's really going on here?"

[Empire of Donner land]

Sauraght, Donner Land

Selhg was relieved that he wasn't dead and he just dragged a corpse into a car and sped away with it after doing a spin with a 2 Ton SUV. He looked out the windshield, leaning close to the steering wheel to observe the tops of the buildings and looking ahead at any corners that was reveal those that would want to intercept them as they passed by. There were groups of people, and cars also traveling along minding their own business on the side walks and roads. But not a single Azulnish or Ehgtuian was to be seen. Those that were outside during the chaos were already dead or captured, those that weren't were hiding.

The soldier apologized and thanked him. An apology wasn't needed, the thank you however was much more well deserved. To the trained eye, perhaps even the soldiers eye, Selhg was taking this suprisingly easy, like it was a regular occurrence even. "Don't apologize, you're my Ticket out after all. Hell-if anything I should be thanking you."

"Yeah, got a wife, and a son, both of them are waiting for me back home. Anyways thank you again for saving my life, sir. My wife wouldn't bear to see me in a coffin just yet." They said sitting in the passenger seat next to him. Selhg was again relieved that he had family. He had something to fight for and to die for, his loved ones. "None of us would bear to see any of our loved ones in a coffin. Open or closed casket. Though open definitely gives better closure. But I'm getting off topic."

The soldier seemed to look around, recollection himself before speaking again. "What happened here, sir? I mean, everyone wasn't like this a few days ago, and just suddenly, they're beginning to attack everyone. What's really going on here?" He asked.

"Voy is really what's going on here. He planned it all from the beginning. You see... the Donnish- us- have always been nationalistic, but we have never tried to go outside our boundaries, isolationism, xenophobia. We never truly realized the potential of our Country until someone revealed it to us, Ajehski was a moderate, he kept the country the same but improved relations. Nothing too extreme, but he improved things slowly. But he wasn't exactly a man of words if you get what I'm saying, he lacked charisma. Then comes Voy after him, he rapidly makes the country change from what it was to what. it. Is. now." He said pointing to their surroundings.

"Voy got the attention of 800 Million People, he molded their minds, for a while we were where we should've been. Nationalistic but still holding into our values as Donnish. Then he turned everyone into a extremist with a few simple words and a speech that created hate towards the minority, releasing a energy more powerful than a nuclear bomb. "isolationism is dead" he said. And that energy is what you see today, the exponential power of 800 Million people realizing the Donnish Potential in the world but being corrupted by a man named Newron Voy. Do you see now, kid? This isn't the first time our country has fallen victim like this, one man controlling everything. It's happened since the dawn of our Nation when the Three Empires came together under one banner."

"Those last few times were all failures. The Donnish Revolution of 2014, not enough supporters, plot revealed too early. November Revolution, not enough military support, outnumbered by angry citizens, again not enough supporters. And before that the same thing, not enough supporters. Now Voy has all the supporters, now he's just getting rid of the other percent that won't agree and can be easily blamed. The Minority. It's a vicious cycle that could end here in one man gaining all the power, or the power being returned to the people or perhaps neither of those, of which the latter... scares me the most." He explained calmly but inside the realization of the latter option hadn't come to him until now. Their country could be dominated, separated, out right destroyed, anything.

"What's really happening here... Is the 5th and last Empire." He said coldly.

Portean Embassy

No violence had broken out yet. Not enough to net a response in equal or greater consequence. But the tension was building as the military equipment mounted. The threat of death was smaller than the glory of dieing for ones country, something the Porteans overlooked with the Donnish and the Donnish felt the Portean lacked. Out of all the Embassies this one had the most protesters. The Donnish and Portean had butted heads since the beginning of the first Donnish Empire and even before it. Raiders from the north in large, even huge ships sailed south to explore and find gold and treasure. An activity punishable by death back home due to the ancient isolationism they had put themselves into. They became one of the world's first Pirates. It left a mark even today which leaked into the festivities of the now.

The attack now began. Before they were just trying to scare them, but seeing as it was towering the crowd began to escalate to violence. Projectiles including molotov cocktails were thrown over the walls in attempt to hit something. People climbed on top of each other to try and mount the walls themselves. What awaited them wouldn't be a pretty sight for either side. Both wanted to spill blood, but the Donnish didn't care if it was theirs or not as long as it mixed on the ground with the enemy where in ancient Donnish belief the fight would continue in the red sea of death below them.

Namenian Embassy

It had worked, save for the exception of the many Donnish who died or were injured in the blast. They didn't expect one of their own to do this, much like how the Ehgtuians and Azulnish didn't expect the Ulianihs to do the same on them, explode. The Mob began to rush in but it was too late as they had barricaded into the Embassy it's self by the time they could. Windows were broken as debris was thrown into them. Those with guns tried to fire into the building anyway they could.

Meanwhile, the council of the people who executed the plan to bomb the front gate smiled. It worked, not the result they expected, hoping to have to shoot the woman dead if she didn't blow herself up. They again met with each other in a building across the street to plan and scheme with a full frontal view of the chaos to use. They looked outside a large window that made up a wall on the 3rd floor of the building out of the 8 floors it had. They were visible but would be just counted off as witness' go the destruction they hoped.

Congrevopian Embassy

The Flag fell and fell as they tried to mount the walls but was always caught at the bottom. Eventually as more and more got over the walls the great banner too did get over the wall. A single woman waved it as others began to be motivated to climb over. Unlike other Embassies being attacked they had an actual ladder now making it easier to climb.

Dumb or not, killed or alive, the Donnish felt obligated to go where the flag went and towards what their leader wanted them to do. End the foreign oppression over their country. Any other day the flag would be flying side by side peacefully either the Congrevopian flag, but no where now showed this peacefulness, this normalcy of international cooperation. Only hatred remained. And the flag was used as a battle cry, a declaration of war against their enemies. The Gate only seemed to creak and crack more as the word reached that the, now tattered, Flag got over the wall.

[The Federation of Democratic Regions]

Federationist Embassy, Bögt, Donner Land

In the past few days, things had gone from quite and peaceful in what had been described as one of the most cushy assignments in the diplomatic corps to a struggle just to ensure the mob didn't get in. Ambassador Pleck, a balding man in his fifties with wrinkled skin and a pot belly, had considered it safe enough to bring along his entire family, and the thought that he might cause their deaths put far too much strain on his body. He had died of a heart attack hours after the crisis erupted, leaving the embassy in chaos and confusion.

Of course his grieving wife had demanded they bury him with full honors, but the highest ranking officer on station, a lieutenant with the marine security detachment, had quickly shot her down. Of the thirty or so soldiers present, four were split into two heavy machine gun teams equipped with an M2HB while the rest were divided into rifle squads. Only two were designated marksman, and only one was actually equipped with the right weapon for the job. One grenadier with twenty 40mm fragmentation rounds was the majority of the explosive firepower.

The lieutenant had ordered Sigma Protocol into effect, destroying the embassy files and servers with thermite charges and locking the electronic gates to anyone who couldn't provide identification stating they were either a foreigner or a discriminated group in Donner Land. A mandatory evacuation notice had been issued rather quickly, and the stream of refugees still dressed in pajamas and looking like they just wanted to go back to bed had turned into a steady flow of panicked and beaten families with bruises and luggage.

One family, two young adults with twin little girls, had been mobbed at the gate by protesters and only the employment of rubber bullets had allowed marines to retrieve them. A developing situation, as the report bluntly summarized it. Balling the paper up, Flight Lieutenant Merit tossed it absentmindedly into a wastebin before grabbing the beretta and sliding it into the holster positioned on her waist. Five magazines slipped into the purpose built pouch easily, while the flare gun went in the emergency pack on her chest.

Sliding backwards in the desk chair, she spun around as the chair bumped against the metal frame of a berth and stopped, allowing her to smack the occupant upside the helmet they had decided to dose off in. "What the fuck was that for, klepto? Stealing my pencils and now you steal me away from my wet dreams? Damn you..." Groaned her faithful copilot, flight officer Lannon.

"Shut your mouth and get your gear, grab the rest of the crew for me too." She ordered, before standing up and walking out into the bustling hallway. Aides were scrambling around with stacks of situation reports, while marines in full combat gear sat up against the walls waiting to be deployed. Currently two platoons were embarked which at some point would reinforce the embassy currently under siege by a mob estimated to number over five hundred. She was cut off in the hallway by Lannon dragging two airmen by the air, both with sergeant insignia and helmets held limply.

"About fucking time. Let's go, captain wants us in the air in five. And no Lannon, that does not mean dilly dally in the hallway." Merit barked out, leading the way until she led the group through a side door labeled 'Hangar'. Inside was a single AgustaWestland AW101, more commonly known as the merlin. The doors were already open, allowing the sun to illuminate the interior of the hangar. Lannon took his place in the cockpit beside Merit, while the two sergeants took up position in the back, with Clark on the GPMG hanging out from a door on directly to the rear and left of Merit, and Lee on the opposite door gun. Both fed a new chain of ammo into the guns before pulling back the bolt and sitting back.

"All preflight checks complete, crew chiefs clear, copilot clear. Cleared for takeoff. Primary turbines active, we are airborne. Bon voyage Swift, helloooo wonderful Donner Land! As her crew gazed out on the distant shores which in some locations were already covered in snow, Merit fumbled with the radio until she turned on a popular military music station. "Goooood morning sailors! Our next hit goes out to all those currently deployed overseas, especially in Donner Land. 'Fortunate Son'!"

[Urran]

Sauraght, Donner Land

Heaven's Mercy had slowed to a crawl over the city center, they were looking for a large, angry mob, likely dragging an Esgonian soldier or carrying him through the streets. Something like that would not be hard to miss, right? At any rate, the AH64 was a few blocks to the east, assisting in the scouting operation. Luckily, the Donnish military was not attempting to oust the black flying death machine from its borders, it was really the only cover available for Heaven's Mercy other than its own door guns. The rest of the HH60s and HH53s were already deployed this way and that, rescuing whomever they could.

Where are you? Kenshin thought to himself, gaining a bit of altitude to see over a few of the taller buildings and looking this way and that. He turned down what looked to be a major street, looking out of his window as he banked over.

It was about this time that an SUV ripped away from a large mob and began moving as fast as it could in the opposite direction. The crowd seemed to be none too pleased about this and that meant that whoever was in that SUV was likely a friendly. However, they could not give them cover for two reasons. 1. they were on an important SAR mission, and 2. they were not by any means a gunship.

Kenshin had to wrestle with this, however, two people were in need of help. Then it dawned on him, one helicopter was not as conspicuous as two. If they could get permission from the Mothership for the attack helicopter to break off, it might be mutually beneficial. He decided to try it.

"Heaven's Mercy calling Mothership, do you copy, over?" Kenshin asked into his headset, making another low pass over the wide road, attemping to get a better look at the crowd.

"This is Mothership, go ahead Heaven's Mercy."

"Mothership we have eyes on a black SUV heading due south. Possible friendlies aboard. Request 64 break off to cover them, over." Kenshin said in reply, attempting to keep an eye on the SUV as it sped away.

"Heaven's Mercy request granted, re-routing Unryu to fly top-cover for friendly vehicle."

At that point, the AH64 turned around and began heading over in the direction of the SUV. it was not hard to locate as it was one of the only moving vehicles in all of this chaos. The attack helicopter growled and roared like only an Apache can as it moved low and slow overhead, ready to provide covering fire for the black SUV. The 30mm cannon and Hellfire missiles would provide all the cover that the little truck needed. Chewing through civilian made roadblocks would be easy for something designed to eat tanks for breakfast lunch and dinner.

Kenshin breathed a sigh of relief and began sweeping the area for any trace of the Esgonian soldier. The only bad thing about being a helicopter, even with acoustic reduction, is that you are rather noisy when in close proximity to something and you stick out in the sky, especially when you are painted dark grey and are low to the ground. It would be nearly impossible for the crowd to not notice the chopper at this point. It was dark grey with a darker, off blue black Urranese roundel and Urranese characters and numbering at the base of the tail. That would be a dead giveaway as to the nationality. But it was also not good because their flight pattern was indicative to that of a search. Meaning the crowd would know that they were looking for something or someone, which could complicate things and make their job harder. Worse, they might shoot at the helicopter.

"If anyone points a weapon at us, let me know!" Kenshin shouted over the engine noise. Normally it was relatively quiet inside, but having the doors open made it far less so inside the cabin.

"Roger!" both door gunners shouted at once, each holding on to his and her M240 . This was going to be an interesting day.

[Congreveopia]

Approaching New Hochburg, Congreveopian Government Aircraft:

“Sir? Sir? You need to put your seatback up for landing, sir.”

Commander Julius Lombardi awoke with a start. His neck hurt, and his back was stiff, but at least he’d finally managed to get some sleep on the flight. Wake up in the small-hours of the morning, drive to the airport, then fly to some godforsaken block of ice, because Congreveopia needed someone to be their connection to this new CIGMA group. In fairness, it would have made more sense for him to fly out the evening before and get some proper sleep in his new quarters here overnight, but then he wouldn’t have gotten to tuck his kids in before leaving.

“Sorry for waking you, but we’ll be landing soon, and you need to put your seatback up,” said the flight steward. “Can I clear away your table for you, sir?”

Julius returned his seat to the upright position and rubbed his eyes, trying to blink away his tiredness and the headache that he could feel waking up inside his skull. He looked at the two tiny bottles of in-flight alcoholic beverages that he’d drunk to help himself to sleep, which he now regretted.

“Yes, thank you,” he replied. The steward cleared away the bottles, a glass, and an empty bag of assorted nuts, then walked forwards to take his seat for landing. Julius took his cell phone off the table and then stowed the table. Five new messages on the phone.

Susan: Updated your calendar to reflect that you’re out of Congreveopolis for the next month.
Susan: Embassy situation: They’re going to take out all non-essential personnel. The helicopters have just taken off.
Susan: Embassy situation: They’re evacuating the entire embassy.
Cass: You forgot your shaver. Would you like me to mail it to you?
Susan: Won’t be able to make the flight to New Hochburg tomorrow. Found you a new administrative assistant.

Julius rubbed his temples as the headache grew and looked out the window. The edges of the glass were covered in a webwork of frost crystals, and beyond that he couldn’t see anything other than snow and cloud. He realised he’d forgotten to pack his coat.

New Hochburg, Airport, Julius Lombardi:

“Where’s the jetway?” asked Julius as the Citation X rolled to a stop and the steward offered him his briefcase.

“I’m sorry, the tower said that the terminal buildings aren’t all finished yet, and we’ve got a car meeting us anyways, so they sent us to unload on the apron,” said the steward. “Did you have a coat with you when you boarded? I don’t see it hanging up here.”

“No, I’m from northern Congreveopia,” said Julius, forcing a chuckle. “A little snow’s no trouble for me, and I like to travel light.”

“Of course, sir,” replied the steward “The car should be here in a moment. They were waiting when we landed, they just need to get to our plane now that we’ve parked.”

Julius nodded and looked out as the snow, wishing his suit jacket was a bit thicker. His headache had receded a bit, but he was still tired and sore.

“Ah, here they are,” said the steward, who opened the door and stepped aside to let Julius meet the waiting black SUV.

A door on the SUV opened, and a woman hurried out. She was about five foot with reddish-brown hair, and was wearing a long purple winter coat that looked a lot more sensible than Julius’s suit right now.

“Commander Lombardi, it’s a pleasure to meet you!” the woman said. “I’ve been assigned to be your aide during your time in New Hochburg. If you’d step into the car, it’ll just be a moment while we fetch your luggage.”

Julius gladly stepped into the warmer interior of the SUV while the woman hurried off with someone else to fetch his bags. There was a driver in the SUV and nobody else. Julius checked his emails, and in a minute the woman and the other person were back, loading his two suitcases into the trunk of the vehicle. The woman thanked the person, then climbed into the car as the other person walked off towards the airplane -probably airport staff or something.

“Sorry about that,” said the woman as the SUV began driving. “There is an official luggage processing system, but they’re still working out all the bugs in it, and there’s a chance your bags could have gotten misplaced.”

“It’s no trouble,” said Julius. “Would have helped you myself, but, as you can see, I’m not quite dressed for the weather.”

“Yeah, ‘fraid it doesn’t really get any warmer than this,” said the woman. Outside, the car rolled past, a line of Pack Avengers sitting lightly dusted with a thin layer of snow, the NC roundel newly painted on their comms domes. “Do you have a nice coat or something in your bags?”

“Actually, I forgot mine,” said Julius. “Nexus usually reminds me of the important things to pack on my trips, but I guess I was in a hurry. Is there anywhere around here-”

“-I’ll take care of it,” said the woman, taking out her phone. “Plenty of stores going to open up here soon. Getting hold of a coat shouldn’t be a problem. Anything else?”

“Coffee, if it’s around,” said Julius as a half-dozen Namien army trucks rolled past. “If memory serves, I have a meeting in half an hour, don’t I?”

“A tour actually,” said the woman. “I canceled it. There aren’t any real meetings on your schedule until nine, and I figured you might want some time to settle in more than you’d like to trudge around construction sites in the snow.”

“Ah, that’s fantastic,” said Julius “Quite right you are. Just get me to where I’m staying then. You’re a life-saver, Ms… I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“Walker,” said the woman. “It’s Catherine Walker. Looking forward to working with you, Commander Lombardi.”

[Die Erworbenen Namen]

Front Gate, 1st Platoon

1st Platoon had lost two regulars to the blast, and had the bulk of the wounded. Three, to be exact. Two of those men were returned to the front with a few bandages and morphine. One of the three would die if he didn't get medical care immediately. As the private and corporal lay on the ground, dead, broken, and bleeding, the 1st squad took up their weapons and ammo and settled down in front of the gates. They were down by three men by now, and they had to defend the gate from whatever it was that stood on the other side.

"Comrade Lieutenant Markov! Get your men and build up a wall right here. I want anything, anything at all, you can use to be used. Sandbags, concrete blocks, I don't care. Just get a defensive position in the courtyard." Commissar Utkin stood in the middle of the chaos that was the courtyard, affixed between the front gates and the first platoon, and the wounded and civilians who were being dragged into the Stronghold by the second platoon. He stood like a beacon of hope, but everyone who had any hard experience, or looked hard enough, knew that there was a sign of worry on the man's face. He hid it well.

"Yes, sir, comrade Commissar!" Lt. Evgeny Markov nodded in response, and patted the back of Sergeant Kleid. He lifted up his SMG, and started directing his men with his other hand in waving and pointing motions. "Alright, troopers! You heard the Commissar! Sgt. Kleid, we've got concrete blocks in the garage! Send a few men to grab them! Sgt. Genov, grab the sandbags from the stronghold and start filling them up! Go, go, go!"

Stronghold, 2nd Platoon

"Comrade Commissar, sir! I think I've got something!" Utkin heard the voice in his ear, and he twisted his neck to look up at the Stronghold, then back again. The marksman from second platoon had apparently found something that demanded his attention, and he wondered just exactly what the hell that was.

"Alright, comrade private, go. What've you got?" Utkin replied.

"I've got a group of... Six, seven, maybe eight contacts in a high rise across from us. They're looking way too calm for bystanders..." The marksman reported. "One more contact in the street, doesn't look normal here. Can't pinpoint anything about him."

"Alright, then. Watch him. As for the contacts... Where are they?" Utkin turned around slowly in the courtyard, then began to walk towards the wall, making sure to not look up.

"Right in front of you, sir. They seem to be watching the scene."

"Damn..." Utkin whispered under his breath with a low grumble. Someone was watching them, he didn't care if it was civilians or otherwise, they couldn't be stalking them now. "Marksman, confirm targets."

"Targets confirmed. On Standby." The private replied with a little surprise in his voice, but just adjusted the scope on his M9A2 and checked the chamber.

"Copy. Engage at will."

The marksman held his breath and zeroed in on the man to the far right, gripping the stock of his rifle in his hand. With a slow, continuous motion, he depressed his trigger finger until he let out a single round. The kick from the 8.62 x 60 mm round gave him a little jolt, and there was a loud report from the gun, and a clank as the brass cartridge was ejected and landed on the ground. He saw the first person's head through the scope explode, and the body fall to the ground as the first round tore through the window. Before the body even hit the ground, he let off another round. Then another.

[Free Asian Ports]

Portean Embassy Front Gate
Soraught, Donner Land

As the Donnish protestors scaled the fence, the Porteans were completely silent. All that mattered at the moment was their duty. There would be no other considerations, and no other words about it. "Bayonets, sergeant. This will get bloody" said K101, as she watched the first hands reach over the top of the wall. "AFFIX BAYONETS" shouted Nakamura, over the baying of the crowds. In unison, the Marines quickly, but deliberately, drew their combat knives and attached them to the ends of their rifles.

K101 sighed. "These Donnish are really dumb, aren't they? They probably think they'll get some kind of bloody glory for this. They will only find death" she said as Nakamura turned to listen. "Isn't their fear of death smaller than their mistaken desire to accomplish something?" he asked. The sound of clacking and clicking resonated around the compound as dozens of bolts, slides, and belt feeds slammed shut on firing chambers and fresh rounds. Already, the snipers sighted in. K101 chortled. "That's why they're idiots. They know nothing of death, or why they die. If they knew what a life was really worth, they wouldn't so readily throw it away for something like half-remembered temporary glory. Death must always be feared. Life must always be cherished. They can only be traded if what is gained can be pointed to with pride by their children. What will these Donnish gain here? Only death. Glory can never be found at the tip of a bayonet. Only behind it".

As the last word left her mouth, the first Donnish crested the wall. The snipers opened fire, taking care only to hit those that crossed the line dividing Donner Land from the FAP. High-power 7.62mm rounds blasted through unprotected flesh like a knife through warm butter. Few civilians ever experience the kind of damage a full-power rifle cartridge can do to a person. The energy of the copper-jacketed lead slug hit a Donnish face like a freight train, instantly destroying his head. Blood, skull fragments, and brain matter shot out from the back in a cone of gore, quickly followed by chunks of what used to be a head. All this detritus from the impact of the round sprayed the Donnish crowd as they all watched with their own eyes the instant death of their comrades. The newly headless corpses jerked and spasmed as their brain's last commands were cut off so suddenly. The twitching bodies fell back onto the protesters, still pumping blood like a fire hose as their hearts still had to learn of their demise.

Any subsequent Donnish foolish enough to repeat their comrade's actions met a near identical fate. For now, it only required the snipers to hold off the handful of Donnish attempting to get over the wall. But all the Marines could observe the protesters rally and begin to scale en masse. When the snipers started to get overwhelmed, the gunners of the mounted machine guns mashed the spade triggers of their M2 Brownings, and a horizontal rain of hot lead started bearing down on the Donnish.

Soraught, Donner Land

Two UH-1Ys had been dispatched in response to the Esgonian cry for help. They came in on the same vector as the Urranese helicopters, a couple minutes behind them and maintaining radio contact with all friendly forces the entire time. They flew in slightly higher, though. While the armor plating on a Venom was much better than other transport helicopters, it was still vulnerable to heavy artillery. The Marine rescue party wasn't taking any chances. The door gunners kept a sharp eye out for any such aggressors. Both helicopters had M60s for door guns, as well as a single 70mm Hydra rocket pod and a pair of Hellfire missiles on hard points on either side of the aircraft. UH-1Ys were starting to become multipurpose attack platforms rather than assault transports, which suited the air crews just fine. It merely meant more exciting sorties.

"Bolt flight, reports of target spotted. One Black SUV. Orders to Escort. Assist Urranese Apache as best as you can. Secondary objective is to assist evacuation effort. Upon completion of the objective, return to base" came the report over the radio. The two helicopters vectored towards the Urranese aircraft as both pilots radioed their affirmatives. They only hoped they could get through this one with as few bullet holes as possible. A UH-1Y was hard to miss, given the sound it's powerplant and rotors make. Not to mention the distinctive light grey camouflage scheme and "Marines" painted on the side made it obvious that this was a military aircraft. The Portean roundel was in low-visibility, but the lettering being repeated in Japanese in a smaller font below the originals gave just enough clues as to the country of origin. Either way, it was a target for vengeful Donnish rioters.

Several kilometers, the first wave of transport helicopters arrived moments after the shooting started. The first two HH-53s were loaded up with refugees, followed by a pair of NH90s. The embassy itself had a fairly expansive helicopter pad and even its own hangars with three AS365 Dauphin helicopters. It should only take a couple trips to rescue the entirety of the embassy refugees.

[Esgonia]

Soraught, Donner Land

---

After hearing the Ambassador's statement and gazing upon the surroundings, seeing Ulianish beating up anyone that doesn't seem to be Ulianish, he knew that this was a grave concern to the international community, fearing that the crisis could spread across other nations. With this, he asks to the Ambassador. "So, what should be done now? From my experience in diplomacy, Assassinating him could cause a major outrage and escalate the crisis even further. Should we just escape this hellhole? Or are there any other pla-"

Before he could continue, he could hear helicopters flying over them. Looking out the back, it was an Apache, abeit not an Esgonian one, with a UH-1 alongside the helicopter. It wasn't Esgonian either, but weren't hostile either. Looking closely, he could see the Markings of both the helicopters, identifying them as both Portean and Urranese helicopters. "We got friendly helos on our tail sir. Do you have a radio there so I could talk with them? Along with the embassy?" he asked the Ambassador as his radio was also destroyed when the protesters strip him of his weapons and gear.

Meanwhile, at the embassy, another stream of 2 UH-1J helicopters land at the clearing and begin taking in more civilians. So far, no further hostilities from the Donnish were made, but the security staff were determined to protect the embassy at all costs should anything happen, with the Marines strengthening the gates by reinforcing the locks and installing a barricade. Lead was growing concern over the whole problem as he looked from the balcony along with the MSTF team, seeing the amount of protesters outside. If they manage to break the gates, then it would be as chaotic as ever. Fortunately, the security staff had set up an ADS system to prevent the Donnish from advancing further should they break the gates. If that wouldn't stop them, then the DShK and the amount of soldiers stationed there would probably do as the Marines man the DsHK position while the commander of the Marines smokes a cigarette and gazes at the burning horizon. He decides to talk with a few of the Marines on the DsHK position.

"So, you've been here before?" he asked the Lieutenant and the commander of the Marine unit. "Yeah, was here during the Donnish-Vanquarian War, landing in Oimte. Wasn't easy though, as we had to deal with a few Vanq helos landing there when we separated from the fleet. Heh, that war was a huge clusterfuck, luckily we dealt some shit to the Vamps." one of the Marines interrupted as she returned from the gate after helping the security staff there. "You keep saying that same story over and over again, Lt." Rachelle giggles as she hears the story again. Lead snickers as well, as the Lt continued. "Donnish wasn't all to happy with us either here, and now it's gotten worse. I wonder why.." with Lead replying "Who knows. Either way, getting outta here is top priority. Let those nerds in the EIS handle all this international investigation shit." with this, the Marine squad nodded and watched their positions.

At the rooftop, the MSTF unit set up a sniper position, ready to take out anyone who tries to scale the wall with their PGM Hecate II.

"Amber-2, Amber 1. Is it set?" the radio crackled from Amber-2 as he cycles the bolt.

"Affirmative, Amber-2. It's ready, waiting for the first sucker to try to get up those walls right now."

"Remember, Amber-2, try going for the limbs first, avoid killing anyone unless absolutely necessary or unless authorized. Don't want to increase international bullshit."

"Got it. I'll try not to kill them, out."

Meanwhile, Ambassador Francine oversees the embassy evacuation, telling the civilians to evacuate first as the building is slowly being vacated. Papers were either being destroyed or transported out of the country as a few of the embassy staff had evacuated with the civilians. She covers her eyes as the helicopters dust off with a load of civilians and returns inside and asks for a status report. "All is going smoothly, around 65 have been evacuated, security has been increased, and no protester has done anything yet. We'll be out of here within an hour or two." She nods after hearing the report. But she was still angered and confused as to why this happened. She wanted to ask the Donnish officials about this, but there has been no reply. After her secretary tells her that there was no response again, she says to her "Keep dialing! I want to know what the hell is happening here!" before the secretary tries to call the nearest Donnish government agency, she wanted to give them a piece of her mind.

[Equator Confederation]

Saraught, Equatorian Embassy

The smoke cleared, and the operators could see a few bodies on the ground surrounding the embassy. It all looked and sounded calm out of nowhere: they had retreated. Most of them simply sighed and maintained their positions.
"Well, I guess that will keep them away for a while, at the very least..." Araquenus said to himself, still quite shocked from the effect the gas had caused. He, Yuri and Zermicja withdrew back into the embassy, leaving the remaining operators to guard the perimeter.

'Equatorial' café at Downtown Bögt

Marcos León, once a humble civilian and owner of a popular café in Bögt, now hid inside his own business building, scared of... everything that was currently happening in Donner. That was absolutely the worst moment for his café to have miniature Equatorian flags in front of it and the obviously unhelping name. Constantly checking his smartphone, the TV or whatever else that had news, he sat in the kitchen, praying that he would get out of that place soon.
While three of the workers were asleep, being forced to shelter themselves inside like the rest, Marcos and Daniel weren't. Instead, they were gathering all that they could to protect the front door and glass, as well as getting as many 'Closed' signs as they could. The two young men were easily the bravest in the group, though it didn't mean they would accept being butchered by a xenophobic populace.

[Empire of Donner land]

Sauraght, Donner Land

---

Selhg continue watching the road and gently turning to get to the nearest embassy not trying to attract attention. He looked back and forth from the Soldier occasionally. It seemed the truth and actual severity of the situation was setting in.

 "So, what should be done now? From my experience in diplomacy, Assassinating him could cause a major outrage and escalate the crisis even further. Should we just escape this hellhole? Or are there any other pla-" he asked as he was interrupted by the sound of Helicopter blades cutting through the air. Selhg too was alerted to the sound and began to pull over to the side of the road. They had load their pursuers. But there were still bystanders who wouldn't hesitate to attack if they saw the Esgonian and him.

"We got friendly helos on our tail sir. Do you have a radio there so I could talk with them? Along with the embassy?" The Esgonian continued.

"I'm a fucking Ambassador and Diplomatic Official not a Military Drone... not anymore. The best I've got is a phone, it's got every Embassies phone number but I haven't been able to reach anything. They've stopped my service." He said whipping out a small Smart Phone from his pocket and pointing to the crossed out bars. Thankfully they wouldn't have to contact them. The road seemed big enough for a helicopter extraction and the buildings weren't too high around them. "Get out of the car and watch out for anything, we'll wave the Transport down and get the hell out of this mess. I can already tell the enemy are watching us." He paused after he had said that. Who are the enemy? The very people he took the job for before all of this happened or is the enemy Voy who corrupted them all? Selhg had never been this conflicted before as to who he was was fighting, it was always so clear who the real enemy was until now. Were the people to be blame for the countries violent turning or was Voy, or both.

Selhg held his gun by his side as he stepped out the car and waved it in the air, signaling the Helicopter to land, shutting the car door and walking around it to the middle of the road. Not many cars were out as most had decided to not go to work or travel during this time. Sauraght had the highest population of those Voy despised.

It was at this moment he saw salvation and being able to get out of this mess alive he looked forward. He had something to ask of the other countries in the world, something big. But his thoughts for the moment were ruined by the sound of shattering glass.

He pulled his Sidearm to his eyes holding it at ready and looked for who had thrown the glass bottle at his feet. He stopped as he saw the lone perpetrator In an alley slowly walk out. "You disgusting Sovarich dogs aren't welcome here!" His attitude quickly shifted from agitated to intrigued as he saw the Esgonian soldier. He looked like just another normal person on the street, jeans, a shirt and a jacket with work boots. "You're the one who's trying to smuggle the Esgonian fuck out. Do you know how many crimes he's committed in our glorious country!?"

"What crimes?!" Selhg replied loudly, keeping the gun level to the unknown Donnish man's chest aiming for just below his neck.

"Murder, Espionage, Destruction of Property, just to name a few!"

"Listen, kid, I don't know what you're talking about. This guy's done nothing wrong! He just wants to go back homs to his wife and family alright?" Selhg answered knowing the man was far too gone the wrong road to care for morality. The crimes were made up, to further agitate the populace, Selhg knew this much. "Alright?"

"When I kill that little son of a bitch you're 'saving', I'll be famous, do you know the bounty in his head right now?!" He slowly pulled out a Revolver of some kind, a snub nose cheap peice of metal that paled in comparison to the VPD-45 Selhg carried.

"Put the gun down. You're not going to achieve anything except death from this action you idiot, just put the gun down I don't want to do this." Selhg said pressing down the trigger slowly but stopping before it would go off.

"Voy was right, you're all cowards who have ever or will never do anything for our great country and our glorious leader!" His gun was still at his side and clearly he didn't recognize Selhg.

"Voy is a liar and a monster, Kid. He's only going to make this country burn and you're going to be apart of his torch!"

"You're the liar!" He raised his gun but as soon as his trigger went back, Selhgs bullet left the gun. A loud bang accompanied him stumbling backwards into a wall. Not yet dead, Selhg fired once more into the attackers chest and another quick shot into his head and the man, or what Selhg referee to him as, slumped over across the wall into a heap into the shadow of the alley.

Selhg lowered his gun, observing the motionless corpse lying in front of him. The reality hit him hard, he was just a 18 year old so and so who thought he was doing the right thing. Not a man but not quite a kid. His mind was poisoned by rhetoric, reinforced by his surroundings, and pushed by his friends. Killing innocent people in the streets in broad day light was 'cool', not only that, but for money. He didn't know any better, yet he should've.

"Do you want to know what we have to do, or do you already know now?" He said softly to the Esgonian behind him while still looking at the corpse.

Outside Bögt, Forested Land

"Untuli, you don't seem at all phased by the current events happening in our country, it's off." Xeyn said as the entire squad was marching through the thick snowy woods, similar to where they all took their final tests.

"Your country."

"Why do you keep saying that? You're Donnish, your mother was Ulianish, you told us that ages ago multiple times. If it's not your country then what are you even doing here?"

"I've got nowhere else to go, so why shouldn't I stick around until the end? If anything I should be asking the opposite, why should I stick around until the end. It at least keeps me away from feeling like I don't belong anywhere."

"Your father's race has nothing to do with this?"

"If you think this is bad, you should have heard about my father's stories about how our people were abused. Used like cattle."

"Untuli those are children's tales, stories. There's not one document in history that has described the enslavement of Wulkeno let alone proven it to you. Your fathe-"

"The same thing is going to happen to the Ehgtuians and Azulnish. I don't want to let it happen. They aren't my people by I have some morality, this isn't my country but I atleadt want to help. Im not contractually obliged like some of you seem to think." She said plainly. "That's it."

"That's not the whole story."

"But it's all you're getting."

Xeyn scoffed, "For now."

The radio crackled, "News is saying Ambassador Selhg is smuggling an Esgonian Soldier out of the country. They tied an SUV to him. I think we have an Ally, Keneveh get that laptop out and see if you can get a connection to him some how"

"Uhhh, Copy."

"Sounds like we've got an opportunity to get back at Voy. I wonder if our Grenades could fit in mouths, heheh."

Sauraght City Hall

The phone rang a electronic beep and the secretary immediately picked it up. "Sauraght City Hall, who am I talking to?'" Not knowing it was the Esgonian embassy, forgetting to check the caller ID.

Portean Embassy

As the Porteans deliberately fired down on the Donnish cresting the wall there was a roaring sound, like an engine and only grew louder as if it was getting closer. Suddenly the Gate flew open, a semi-truxk crashed through and tried to turn from the manouver it had done before just as Donnish people got out of the way and flipped over, sliding onto it's side and lacking any cargo being carried. The Donnish responded to the firing of guns with throwing their own projectiles and firing their own Pistols as they rushed into the court yard only to be recoiled back out from the intense gun fire meeting them.

Only a few managed to get behind the truck and begin firing back but they ran out of Ammo or were killed. A few takes by the gates making sure the Porteans couldn't close it again for a second assault as the Donnish regrouped.

Namenian Embassy

"The Namenian embassy isn't done yet. We've still got a long way to go. What else can we do?" One of them said, standing directly at the window.

"The Sovarich fucks won't give up and they probably won't for a long time."

Another was looking at his phone as they talked and looked up holding his phone up showing them. "The Portean Embassy just had a Truck run through the Gate. I think we have out next way if getting in and slaughtering them all!" He said rather pleasantly.

"Where are we going to get a truck?"

"Send one out to get one."

"Like who?"

"I don't know, Avehs-" he was interrupted by a bullet going through his head. And then more flew out going through the window and hitting across the walls. The rest dived away from the shattering Glass in the small apartment.

"Well its not going to be him! Get out! Go, go, go!"

"They rushed out but one more was hit in the side of the chest and fell apart on the ground, dead. The rest managed to get out and onto the street and behind the walls for cover where some of the crowd still was.

[Die Erworbenen Namen]

Anzio

"I heard the shots. Are the targets downed?" Commissar Utkin asked through the coms, finally taking that chance and looking up at the window. He could see where it once was, now covered by the shattered, jagged remains of the glass panes. In its place was now a body, slumped over the edge, bleeding into the streets below. "Hm. Nice job."

"Thank you, Comrade Commissar, Sir. Two targets down as far as I know." The private replied, and as he did so, Utkin could hear the sound of the chamber bring opened and a new stripper clip pushed in.

"Alright, comrade private, what's the situation look like up there?" Utkin asked, looking around the grounds. Nobody yet, but the occasional sound of gunfire pierced the air, making him just as worried about a rush on the compound.

"Sir, the contact is still on the move, and there's a bigger crowd forming. We may need extraction now. I don't think we can wait for a QRF, comrade commissar sir." The private reported. "How is the situation down there, sir?"

Utkin looked around and pulled out his pistol as quickly as possible, aiming the large caliber gun in the direction of a man who had climbed to the top of the wall, and let off two rounds. The man suddenly jolted back, and fell into the street. Utkin swore under his breath, then put his pistol back in his greatcoat. "Private, it's not looking good. Not looking good at all."

[Cruxa]

John

John stood just inside the embassy doors, rifle in hand. He watched the mob outside beat the civilians harshly, pounding them to the ground. The sounds were deafening. As he watched, he was aware of the commotion both outside and in the Cruxan embassy. Phones were ringing off the hook, and multiple other guards were taking positions at doors.

John slid his body armor on over his plain, white T-shirt. He checked both his sidearm and his assault rifle. He examined his backpack, rubbed his lucky shrapnel, and resumed staring.

One of the other guards clapped him on the armored shoulder and held out a combat helmet. "Sir? Sir. Hello?" Startled, John turned about sharply without showing his discomfort. "What is it, Renzo?" Renzo, a nervous rookie in his first year of compulsory service, was a baby-faced child with greenish-brown terrified eyes. "Sir, I thought you might need this," he said, with a tad bit of a stutter.

Putting on the helmet, the HUD whirred to life inside the eyepiece. The computer began counting the number of civilians outside the embassy- around 230. A lot, for an angry mob. The soldiers in the building began to fiddle with their rifles, balking at the numbers. There were ten of them, and even though there were choppers out there, as well as other nations' suppression troops, the soldiers didn't trust in their own abilities. Most of them were green.

Stragglers waving tiny white flags and wearing Cruxan light blue began to pound on the door. John watched this with sad desperation. Until the embassy workers identified these as true citizens of Cruxa, they couldn't be allowed in. "Men, back away from the door," he called, to be heard over the commotion. When the stragglers passed, they'd address the mob.

Embassy workers struggled to process the passports, fingerprints, working papers, visas, IDs, and struggled equally to issue papers for political asylum. The soldiers raised their rifles as the refugees poured in, crouching behind a desk and sobbing.

[Esgonia]

Somewhere in Soraught

As the soldier watched the kid get shot by the Ambassador and die at the pool of his own blood after he previously threatened them, he now knows that the entire situation in Donner Land has gone FUBAR, and that there was no other choice. He nods at the ambassador and tells him. "No other way, I guess. We probably need to move, the shot would have attracted a whole mob by now and we'd be fucked before those helos could land." as he takes the gun off the boy and closes the boy's eyes. "I'm sorry, kid."

---

Esgonian Embassy

After several attempts at dialing them, the phone finally is picked up, much to the relief of the secretary. When the official finally begins asking on who this is, the secretary rushes to the ambassador's side and tells her the news. The Ambassador quickly rushes to the phone saying "Thank Agartha that someone finally picked up the phone." before responding to the call "Yes, this is Ambassador Francing Jercyzka of the Esgonian Embassy in Soraught. I would like to ask on what in the world is going on. People are suddenly rioting and murdering in the streets, why are your people capturing ever foreign individual in country, and what is with the widespread chaos."

[Cruxa]

John

John still stood inside the door, but was startled from his violent reverie by the Ambassador of Cruxa, Evelyn Astorn. "Colonel?" she said quietly from behind him. "We've got to hold out until we can get some more citizens in the doors and safe. Do you think, if we got some reinforcements from a nearby Cruxan fleet, you could hold out for an hour?"

-- TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER --

The three Huey choppers began to settle in the embassy's large but dying courtyard, dropping thirty overheated, packed-in Cruxan soldiers wearing heavy, full Cruxan military gear with belts of grenades and ammo. John stood in the courtyard, with his rifle slung over his shoulder.

The soldiers stood in lines of ten in front of John. He eyed them thoughtfully. "Okay, boys, we have to hold out until the citizens are inside. No formation, no war, try not to kill anyone. Keep the fire suppressive." He grabbed for his rifle. "If you find a Cruxan, help them. They are first priority. Understood?"

John didn't wait for an answer. "Move."

They kicked open the door and walked into a hellscape.

[Empire of Donner land]

Sauraght, Donner Land, Sauraght City Hall

"Thank Agartha that someone finally picked up the phone." The Woman could hear through the phone. She paused for the moment figuring out who it was until they had spoken.

"Yes, this is Ambassador Francing Jercyzka of the Esgonian Embassy in Soraught. I would like to ask on what in the world is going on. People are suddenly rioting and murdering in the streets, why are your people capturing ever foreign individual in country, and what is with the widespread chaos" they had said. They were foreign. She was told only one thing to do in case a foreign embassy called about the situation.

"Sorry- wrong number. Please don't call again. Thank you." She said kindly ans quickly before putting the phone down and going on with her paper work.

Namenian Embassy

The group of people, their council smaller by two, rushed to the wall into the crowd as gunshots went off around them. when they reached it and went up against it resting for a few seconds, the pulled off their backpacks they had preparing for the last moment of their operation to get rid of the Embassy. They had in fact prepared this for months, this just had been their break to finally get it done now that they had support and wouldn't be under threat of Domnish Police intervention.

They all pulled out heavy equipment, military spec from what bystanders could see. Putting on vests over their casual clothes and strapping on elbow and knee pads and to hide their identity wore Balaclava. Among this one if them pulled out a small black box which was criss crossed with duct tape, the horizontal and vertical endings flayed out, as if to attach to something. And among these they all carried VAR-18's, the standard issue Rifle of the D.I.A which was recently phased out for the VAR-19.

Two of the people, now of which only could be known as terrorists looked at each other as if they had known each other for years. "Is this it?" One of them asked.

"Yes it is."

"Jeveski! Set up the charge we were going to use for the Embassy front door! Everyone get back! Get back!" He fired a burst in the air from the Bullpup Assault Rifle.

One of them ran through the crowd as they moved back and taped the black box explosive to the Gate and rushed to the opposite side of the Gate from the others as they moved forward to take positions by it. The one who had taped it to the gate pulled out a small flip phone and pressed a phew buttons until he had found the correct contact named "Johnny" and pressed the bright green call button.

A loud Crack in the air and bright flash with smoke exploded in front of them. The gate was blown open with a large hole in the center where the two came together. The Terrorists waited for the crowd to rush in and they joined in firing at the Embassy Guards from within the crowd practically using them as human shields.

[Free Asian Ports]

Portean Embassy

The semi flipped onto its side as it powered through the front gate. The defenses of the embassy were prepared for a vehicle driving right through, and powered barriers were set to pop up and stop a car in it's tracks. But the huge truck had more than enough energy and mass to still cause damage. The gates themselves were blown off their hinges and thrown a couple meters away. A plume of smoke and dust started filling the courtyard, wafted along by the wind caused by the force of the truck's impact, accompanied by bits of debris. The Marines reeled for a moment after the impact, but started to get back to work as soon as they heard the cheers from outside increase in magnitude. A hole had opened up in the wall, and the Donnish insurgents had started to pour in. The Marine firing line lit up as the entire garrison started to mow down the invaders.

The hole was now actually kind of helpful. It presented a funnel that concentrated enemies in one spot as they tried to enter through the easiest opening. This enabled the Marines to concentrate fire. What few protestors made it past the wreck of the truck were picked off by riflemen. Regardless of what help it was, the truck's untimely arrival meant that the protestors were gaining ground. Luckily, the first of two waves was already leaving. The heavy transport helicopters dusted off fully loaded, and the group of aircraft vectored out towards the recovery ship. Just another hour or two and the embassy would be fully evacuated, left to the Donnish to loot or whatever else they decided to do in the ruin of diplomacy.

Which didn't sit well with K101. All this effort, and still a loss? There must be something that can be salvaged... she thought, reloading her M5. All the effort she and the rest of the FIA posted here had put into this mission was now worthless, and the Donnish were as mysterious as when they first began. Only one thing stood out...

That special forces team from back in Agrabah. They clearly weren't regular Donnish SF. They were definitely different. We have yet to get more intel on them, and we likely won't get another chance to find out. They must be loyal to Donner Land. Maybe they haven't gone insane like the rest of this damn country? I need to find out...

K101 picked up her command frequency on the tacnet. "Mitsuhide, Kamori, get on the next chopper over here. New mission" she said, calling up her detachment of Delta Force operators on board Z-35. "New mission? We didn't get any update in our briefing" queried Mitsuhide. "Yeah, we're doing this one ad libitum. There are some loose ends that need cleaning up. Bring lots of ammo" responded K101 before hanging up. She turned to Sergeant Nakamura, who noticed her new mission being made up on the spot. "Going somewhere?" he asked, picking up a fresh mag to put into his C7. "Yeah, outside the compound. I have unfinished business, and I'll be damned if I leave it undone" answered K101. "Find some volunteers and secure us one of the V-100s. The rest will hold out and leave with the rest of the civvies". Nakamura shrugged "I guess I can understand that. I might be able to find a few willing bodies. You know how to find your quarry?"

K101 was already scanning the tacnet to find what she needed. Presently, she came across a helicopter pilot reporting in the location of a very interesting individual. "No, but I know someone who does..."

[Urran]

Somewhere Above Soraught

The AH64E called over to Heaven's Mercy just after the Esgonian soldier exited to big, black SUV. The package was in sight.

"Heaven's Mercy, this is God's Hand. We have visual contact on the package."

Kenshin turned to his copilot as their chopper was crossing streets at low level, checking out the surrounding areas and trying to triangulate the position of the captured solider. Each of the flight crew in the CSAR chopper confirmed the 64's location, but kept on their current course. "Are you sure?" Kenshin asked, not wanting to go on a wild goose chase because some combat pilot got jumpy and started seeing things.

"Affirmative. Portean helicopter is assisting us in finding cover. No hostiles within distance to do much harm, but that may change. We can hold them off but the streets are too narrow to make a safe landing. You may have to use the rescue winch. Over?"

"Affirmative, reversing course and heading to scene." Kenshin replied and cut off communication. The chopper tilted its nose up and lost a bit of altitude as it came to a short stop midair. Then it turned around by its rotor blades and began heading in the opposite direction, hugging the rooftops and moving at cruising speed back towards the attack chopper. Kenshin was a good pilot, but the FLIR, terrain following radar, and semi-active autopilot aided him in not crashing into a building or scraping the bottom of the chopper on a satellite dish, air conditioning unit, or antennae of some sort or other. Seeing a chopper moving so purposefully, low quickly and so low would definitely be a red flag to the mobs that something was happening.

It was not long before they arrived over the black SUV and their target, plus his very lucky savior. The attack chopper had backed off to do a patrol of the area and to scare away the roving mobs from the scene. The HH60W came to a hover over the SUV and the medical chief attached himself to the rescue hoist before gently swinging away from the helicopter. One of the door gunners operated the winch, slowly lowering the medic, hooked to the steel cable by industrial grade rock climbing hooks and a harness, down to the ground below. Two other harnesses were also attached to the cable.

Once on the ground the officer motioned for both the ambassador and Esgonian soldier to come to him. He shouted something in Urran and then in rather choppy English. "Everything okay! You come us now! We go!" Most but not all Urranese spoke decent English. The poor medical officer did not have that experience unfortunately, but all other crew members aboard the helicopter were absolutely necessary for the crew safety and survival at this point. The Urranese were scared that the mobs had gotten their hands of firearms from ransacked police stations, or even that the police themselves might fire on foreigners or foreign helicopters operating in their airspace. The door gunners kept a sharp lookout in case this proved to be true.

[Empire of Donner land]

Sauraght, Donner Land

As the Harnesses descended Selhg took a few last glances around at the city. Suddenly there was a ringing noise in his pocket. He took it out quickly and saw the number, nothing he recognized, it shouldn't even be a working number. Out of curiosity he answered it as the harnesses reached half way.

"Hello?"

"Selhg! Finally, do you know how many towers I had to bounce this signal off of? It took fucking hours and I had to triangula-", "Get to the point, Keneveh!" He heard from the call as a deeper voice interrupted a smaller one.

"Who is this?"

"Sorry, look, we heard you're one of the only other Government officials that didn't flip their lid with Voy. Sarge wanted me to contact you."

"Okay, okay, who is we? There was a shuffling sound he could hear from the speaker.

"Perun."

"You're kidding."

"I'm a afraid not, Selhg." They said.

"Where the hell are you and your team? It's been a while since we've last met Sergzen." He whispered as the Medic got closer with his harness.

"Indeed, let's talk about the good old times later, we're marching ti Bögt to get Voy."

"He's probably already known of your disappearance, you can't kill him. Not now."

"We've got to stop this insanity, Selhg. It's the only way. We'll contact you later, Perun out." the phone went off.

"Shit." Selhg swore to himself as the Harness finally reached the ground. "Everything okay! You come us now! We go!" The Urranese said in very broken English. Selhg put himself in the Harness and was pulled off the ground and into the Helicopter as he holsters his Pistol into his pocket. It was the beginning of the end, "Any Embassy anywhere, let's go!" He tried yelling to the pilot over the Engines.

[Die Erworbenen Namen]

First Platoon, Front Gate

Utkin was standing at in the road of the courtyard when the door blasted open, and instantly pulled out his pistol with his left hand. The sound of the explosion filled the air, and the bright flash almost blinded the soldiers, who were almost unprepared. Down went the doors, blasting inwards, cracking, and falling over onto the ground in a blaze. Utkin didn't even flinch, but adjusted his cap and cocked his pistol. "Men! Stand firm! Hold your ground! Do not let them get to the strong hold! Hold the line with your life! For the Emperor!"

The first of the mob ran into the door and was instantly met with a 7.62x40 round to the chest. One after another the assault rifles barked, taking down the men one by one. Commissar Utkin was at the front with them, kneeling down and taking one shot after another with his carbine. But there was almost too many to be stopped. Then the MG stepped up, pulling up his MG-5 and flipping the bipod open with a quick jerk, and setting it up on the sandbag.

Nikolai cocked the MG and open fired with a single pull of the trigger. The sudden burst of fire was reminiscent of a buzz saw, tearing through the air a dozen at a time. He fired in quick bursts, making sure not to run out of ammo any time soon. "Suck it, you fuckers! Get some! Come on!"

"Private Viktor! Ring up the radio!" Commissar Utkin ordered, waving his power fist to get the man to come here. He looked up a little bit, watching any return fire, and sprinted across the courtyard to the Commissar. Utkin patted him on the back with his normal fist, then turned on the radio and picked up the headset. "Maginot 1, Maginot 1, this is Commissar Utkin of Anzio embassy requesting immediate assistance. Do you copy?"

"Anzio, this is Maginot 1, we copy. What do you need?" The radio replied.

"We are requesting immediate evac and Close Air Support on our position. I repeat, immediate air support and evac. We are in danger of being overrun. I repeat, in danger of being overrun." Utkin replied, looking around. The gunfire was loud and close enough to be heard through the radio.

"Roger that, what's your body count?"

"Fifty combat, 356 civilian."

"Shit. Standby."

"Goddamn it. First platoon, open up!"

[Union Of Autocratic Empires]

Bögt, Pacifican embassy.

The car screeched to a halt as the party arrived to the gates of the Pacifican embassy. Judging by some leftovers - and the ocasional corpse -, it was pretty obvious the crowds besieging the building hadn't left out of human generosity but that they had instead been driven out, fact that deeply worried the Kaisarine; she knew that, most probably, the demonstrators would come back again, and this time they would be less forgiving in order to avenge their comrades. She had second thoughts about seeking shelter here, but this thoughts vanished when she heard her daughter have a rather worrying fit of coughing in the backseat.

She wasn't going to let her daughter die in the backseat of an old KIA Shuma if she could do anything about it.

"Prepare to move her", the Valkyrian Commander told her subordinates before leaving the car. She did so by putting her hands in the air so the embassy security would realize she wasn't a menace; if they were at least passable at their job, they would suspect of a car speeding towards the embassy's gates.

"My name is Sigbritt Väisänen", she said loud enough to be heard by the embassy personnel, frozen in place with her arms stretching to the sky. "I am an Unionist citizen, and I request shelter in this embassy of the Western Pacific Territories, member state of the Union of Autocratic Empires. My daughter has been badly injured, and she needs inmediate medical attention. We have our papers in order, please let us in." she pleaded as her voice cracked slightly.

Somewhere in an apartment in southern Bögt

In a room more iluminated by the light of a sole computer than by the one of the very own sun, a young man, filled with rage and nationalism, hunched over said device. Corrupted by the sociopathy of Neuron Voy, he and a bunch of classmates had decided to go out and purify their nation of, as they called them, "subversive elements", starting with the monument to the Vanquarian-Donnish war; it was only fitting they would start their saving of their nation in the memorial that honored the battle that sparked the rise of the new Empire.

The original plan, he reminisced as he unplugged his HD camera from the laptop, was go there and teach the scum (Azulnish, Eghtuians and everyone that wasn't Ulianish) a lesson of Ulianish superiority. He still remembered his surprise when they found none other than the greats slut of the South, Princess Historia herself. He remembered how they approached her and, in a display of either bravery, stupidity or naivety, she asked them if she could assist them somehow.

That was when Aleksey, the elder of the group, hit her with a wrench in the head.

He was still rather ashamed of the fact he was too coward to join in in the beating, nothing he was proud of. He helped by recording it, sure, but it wasn't the same, he thought as he copied the link of the video. He noticed it was a lot longer that he remembered - fifteen minutes. Not all of them were the deed itself, though; 2 minutes were about them introducing themselves, and 3 were them getting to the location. There was also a point in which they stopped, in the 13th minute, when Alek told the Sovarich slut to run away. She was pretty good at crawling away with just a leg, he gave her that. A minute later they came to her again and started bludgeoing her again for another minute.

And that was when the car arrived.

He wasn't so sure about what had happened, it all happened too fast. The car stopped, the traitor Sigbritt came out of the car alongside two guns, and they shot at them. They first killed Aleksey's cousin and injured his sister with the same bullet, and Kurt fell down too. Aleksey tried to bravely make her pay, but he wasn't even given a proper fight as that albino shit shot him down.

He had already sent the video to Esgonian, Pacifican, Vanquarian and Portean news outlets, alongside an edited version to a few world leaders (Nanasawa Kubo, Scott Esic He, the Esgonian Council, The Helghast Autarch, Prince Konstantin, of course, and Akanan President) with the words "none is safe", and to the besieged embassies.

There was only one person left.

He finished the vidoe upload and, before sending the message, added a small message: "Your daughter cries like a little bitch. As much of a disapointment as the Kaisar himself.".

He then clicked send, and smiled. This was a new beginning for Donner Land.

Somewhere above the ocean. A few minutes later.

The Kaisar stood up from his computer's desk, eyes wide open and sweating cold, as he had seen the worst thing he had ever seen in his life; Historia, one of his most precious treasures, being essentially tortured by a bunch of racists, mockery and everything. For a few seconds, many thoughts ran through his mind as his eyes started getting wet. He experimented many feelings he hadn't felt in years; uncertainty, queasiness, desperation, impotency and helplessness.

The most intense, though, was hate. Hate towards Neuron Voy, gate towards the Uliansh supremacists and hate against whoever had sent the video. Soon enough, the hate eclipsed the other feelings, as the Kaiser approached his room in the Deus Ex (en-route to Donned Land among other vehicles to assist in the evqcuation), as he pulled his phone and called Maximilian. The High Commissar didn't take long to answer. "Yes, Kaiser Karl?" "You are in command of the Union until further notice", said the Kiasar. The almost emotionless tone tiped off the young man, who was used to his superior's chipper, optimistic tone. "Yes, sir." he answered. "May I inquire what is going on?".

"Back to the roots", was the answer of the Kaisar before cutting off the call. He had made it to his room, and stood immobile in front of an old TT uniform, it's old helmet's menacing gaze meeting with his now dead looking gaze. He caressed the uniform as he thought about what was about to happen.

"Zurück in der Hölle werden wir alten Freund.", he said to no one in particular.

[Western Pacific Territories]

Bögt, Donner Land.
0450 Hours, ||||||||||
Cpt. Price

---

Price noticed that the car was heading towards the Pacifican embassy. He figured the car was either coming here or burning rubber to the Congreveopian embassy. The vehicle made a turn for the gates of the Pacifican embassy. Price shouted "Out of the way, out of the way! Keep those guns raised!" The squad backed out of the way of the gates, half-expecting a suicide-car to blow the walls open.

The car stopped in front of the gates. Price and two others moved forward. A woman stepped out of the car, and everyone knew who it was, the Kaisar's wife. Endless thoughts rushed through Price's head, trying to conceive what she was doing here. The Kaisarine identified herself, whilst Price thought to himself "You're a Unionist citizen? No kidding, we'd let you in identification or not."

She then continued, saying that her daughter was badly injured. Price said with a authoritative voice "We're evac'ing this embassy, we'll be bringing everyone to a destroyer in international waters. There's a medical bay set up already." A helicopter, empty, soon landed nearby. He looked inside, there were two stretchers. He shouted to the pilot "Keep the bird down, okay?" The pilot nodded.

Price's squad entered the helicopter with Sigbritt, whilst Historia was lifted into one of the helicopter's stretchers. The doors were closed, and Price commented "You sure are lucky, this was the last flight out of here."

[Esgonia]

Somewhere in Soraught

The soldier checks his ammo of his recently-acquired pistol as the harnesses descended upon him, looking at his surroundings before it touched the ground, revealing an Urranese Medic shouting "Everything okay! You come us now! We go!" in broken English, with him replying "Okay, let's get out of here before the mobs get here and surround us." in fluent Urranese. He then put himself in the harness as Ambassador Selhg put on his as both of them were pulled off the ground and into the helicopter itself. As Selgh shouted to go to any embassy to escape, the soldier replied to him, stating "The Esgonian and Portean embassy are probably the nearest ones around here. Let's head to the one which is less chaotic."

[Die Erworbenen Namen]

Western Command
New Hochburg, Modeno Territory, DEN

"Comrade Marshal Mikhailov, sir! Urgent radio transmission from Anzio!" Commissar Marshal Yarrick Mikhailov was distracted by the young private carrying a report, and undoubtedly a transcript of the radio, from the Maginot Line where most of the activity was present. All information from the west was thrown into the Line Command, then funneled to Western Command, and then delivered on to Central Command, in DEN itself.

"What is it? Make it quick, soldier." Yarrick spat, angry at being so rudely interrupted. His new home in New Hochburg was a large house near one of the main fortresses, and his first true night there was already off to a bad start. "And why bother me? All decisions are done in Line Command!"

"Sir, read it for yourself." The private replied, and handed him the slip of paper immediately. The Commissar Marshal took the report and began reading it begrudgedly, grumbling to himself. It took him a few moments to suddenly realize what just happened. His face changed almost instantly, from the original look of anger and frustration, now to surprise... Then slowly to anger. He sat there motionless and speechless, holding the report tighter. "Sir?"

"Pass this up to Central, Private, then radio Maginot. Tell them to give everything Anzio asks for unless otherwise specified." Yarrick ordered, putting the report down and grabbing his uniform. "And get me a chopper ready! I'm heading for Maginot!"

Maginot Line Command
Maginot Stronghold, Aratzburg, Modeno

"Western has routed command back to us, ma'am. We've been given the green light." The communications officer reported to the Commissar General, a woman known as Erwin Dravoitsky, a soon to be big player in Modeno. She nodded in relief and picked up the phone besides her, flipping the switch for the airfield.

*****

Maginot Airfield

"Captain! Air support has been given the green light by Command! Get those fighters airborne!" The CO in the airfield shouted from across the airfield, grabbing the attention of the squadron leader there. He turned around and gave a salute, before returning to the three F-9 MRFs on the Tarmac. He jumped in the first one, all loaded up, and began the taxi to his launch. The six engines roared to life with a slow, shrill whine, and blasted out shock diamonds as the engines were set on afterburner. All three aircraft were up and out in minutes, and turned towards Donnerland at full speed.

[Urran]

Above Soraught

And so the Esgonian was secured as well as an old Donnish man. Absolutely freaking brilliant. What were they supposed to do with him? Oh? an embassy? All right then, on with the story!


The helicopter began to move almost as soon as the two passengers were secured inside the helicopter. The doors were shut and locked into place. The medtech looked over their newly rescued hostages passengers. They did not seem to have any injuries, no missing limbs or deep cuts, no major bruising. They were safely secured in their crash resistant seats, though they were not exactly the most comfortable seats in the world, far from it, they were had and stiff, but they could save your life in an emergency.

Kenshin turned around to the Esgonian and Donnish in the back, fortunately he spoke perfect English, like most of the crew, and so he understood what they had told him. Unfortunately, he had other orders. "My orders are to deliver you to URS Nishigara. But if you really want to, I can drop you off at the Portean embassy." he replied, beginning to head in that direction.

It was a rather rapid flight and they were soon above the embattled embassy, the door gunners let out a few bursts from their M240's and the AH64E had accompanied them, giving a three round burst from its 30mm cannon. They were intended to scare the mobs away and make a landing on the embassy grounds safer for those getting off and for landing the helicopter in general. The new plan was to evacuate any that wanted it out of Donner Land and to the safety of the Urranese ships. As such, a complete landing on embassy grounds would be required.