Chapter 3

January 1st, 1900

Jemcaster, United Provinces of Sartoma

Back the Fortress, the situation was still in absolute chaos. But it wasn't the sort of beyond the point of control chaos, but more of an organized chaos as the departments and staff had managed to organize things to streamline information being received throughout the country.

At present, no one was sure about what exactly was going on, as the mixed reports being received over the past hours made very little sense with what should actually be fact.

This caused many headaches, but everyone was doing their best to clear up the clutter and establish an official picture of what was happening.

The clocks now read 9:00 in the morning. At this point, a plate of glazed, powdered, and jelly donuts were provided next to the coffee items in the War Room for the Chancellor and his staff to devour and fill their stomachs while they worked on figuring things out.

Chancellor Sperl picked up one of said donuts filled with cherry jelly and proceeded to eat it on his way back to the large table in the center of the room.

"2nd Armored Division is now being reassigned along the border to up security in response to multiple attempted crossing from civilians with questionable origins." General Riemann declared as he picked up one of the markers on the table and moved it on the United Provinces and Principality border. "Hopefully with the presence of armor and additional troops it will discourage future attemptees while decreasing the chances of anyone getting through undetected."

"5th and 6th fighter squadrons have been assigned in running as aerial reconnaissance along the border." General Schwarzkopf added. "There are still reports coming in of sightings about giant winged lizards and dragons. If so, we'll want air coverage to intercept whatever is setting off these claims."

"We just got enough active ships put together into a temporary fleet to run security along our western coast." Admiral Rudel informed. "Another one is being assembled to fill in the gaps the first can't cover on their own."

"We're still waiting on those photos from our scout plane to come in." Chancellor Sperl said as he bit into his donut and swallowed. "How long until they'll arrive in our hands?"

"Sir, latest update shows they were just processed and loaded onto a plane. It could arrive at this hour or the next."

"Keep me posted. I wanna look into these photos the moment they arrive at our door. Hopefully they can shed more light on what exactly is going on. Any more updates we should be aware about right now?"

The three officers began looking through recent reports that just came in as they searched for anything of value related to their current situation. The admiral paused as his attention was focused on one of his documents and inspected it closely. "Got this one sir, from our eastern fleet on patrol." He then began reading through it.

06:45 — Multiple contacts detected on radar

06:48 — Scout plane launched to investigate

06:55 — Six unknown vessels sighed.

06:59 — Five ships attack the sixth

07:05 — Fighters arrive and destroy four ships

07:39 — Cruisers arrive and identify sixth ship

07:47 — Ship scuttled due to battle damage

"Apparently in the report, the occupants aboard this vessel are hailing themselves from the Kingdom of Arkport."

Something about that didn't make sense as General Riemann responded immediately. "The Kingdom of Arkport? That can't be right. Arkport is a city along our western coast. Where exactly did these occupants say they were from?"

The admiral looked down at the papers and then back at the map on the table, pointing his index finger on a spot north from the homeland. "The report mentioned the occupants said coming from here. They also talked about our land being called the Frontier or Colonies or something else. Other forces along the border reported civilians trying to cross the border calling our land the Colonies. This all just doesn't make sense."

"There? That's Principality territory." General Schwarzkopf noted. "You believe they may possibly be from the Principality and this is all some ploy to catch us with our guard down?"

"Unlikely." General Riemann stated. "I've studied the Prinps in their tactics and doctrines. As devious as the bastards may be, this is not in their nature. If they really were pulling some ploy against us, this isn't in their way of thinking. This is entirely someone else we're dealing with."

"Then who is it?" The chancellor piped in. "Did they recover anything related to the identity of the ship's occupants? Anything like a flag or documents?"

"Affirmative. Before the ship was scuttled they retrieved the flag waving from the vessel's mast. Not only that, but they have the entire crew and someone who claims to be the princess of the Arkport royal family." Admiral Rudel answered. "I've arranged for her to be flown by plane to Jemcaster so we can further question her. Hopefully she'll shed more light on our current plight."

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Meanwhile...

Great Jewel Sea

"No magic? But then how does this ship even function at all?" Princess Rose exclaimed before the ship's first officer who was giving a brief tour to her and her bodyguard. "Wouldn't mana be required for the engine to function and spin the turbine?"

"Again, nothing here uses this mana you speak of. This ship is powered by six diesel engines that work the shafts spinning the propellers."

"Diesel? What is this diesel you mention? Is that what this ship runs on instead of mana?"

"Yes. Since you seem to lack the basic knowledge of it, diesel is the next step ahead from steam powered turbines. We use diesel fuel now instead of the burning of coal or oil."

"Steam turbines?" That was something the princess was more aware of. "You mean like what the dwarves use to power their ships? I've heard they invented turbines powered by steam due to their lack magic. Does your civilization somehow lack magic of it's own?"

"Why are you so on about this magic?" The first officer responded. "Magic is all a bunch of nonsense used for entertainment in children's story books. Have you been living in some sort of fairy tale or something?"

"Do not speak in such a tone before the princess!" Sir Keaton snapped at the officer. "You may be the first-mate of your ship, but she is a princess! She deserves more respect than you've shown her!"

The commander was not impressed of the man's rant. "Two things you should know pal. One being, respect is earned from others, not given. Second being, she's not my princess. If you have a problem with that take it up with the captain. I'm positive he'll say the same thing I did."

"But she's of royal blood! She deserves —," Keaton was silenced mid-rant by Princess Rose who tugged on his sleeve to catch his attention.

"I am not at all offended or feel insulted. Perhaps there's something we're not understanding among this confusion." She said trying to ease down the tension. "Perhaps we can talk more like civil people and get to the bottom of this together?"

That seemed to get the officer in agreement who nodded. "Alright then, we'll start from the beginning of things. What exactly is this magic, and it's properties?"

"Very good then. Magic is an arcane energy that resides with certain individuals or within certain elements across the world. Magic grants those who are capable of wielding it the ability to manipulate certain factors and elements to their own desires. Natural magic comes more commonly in the form of mana crystals. Mana being the basis energy required for the use of magic."

"And let me guess this. Everyone can use this magic to their own desires?"

"Not everyone sir. Only certain individuals who are part of a specific bloodline, most notably nobles and royals, can wield magic. The elves are the only species where their entire population can use magic. I myself am one of such individuals being a princess. We have something called a mana pool which is where our mana energy is stored. By siphoning mana from this pool I can cast several spells so long as I have the required energy needed to complete the task."

"And how exactly does this occur? How does one use this magic to their disposal?"

"It's hard to explain in words, but I can show you a brief demonstration if that's alright?"

The commander had zero objection as he allowed the princess to go on with it. He watched while she held her hand out, palm up, and began to concentrate on siphoning mana from within her. With ease she grasped it and brought it out, casting forth a ball of fire to appear within the palm of her hand. It did not burn her as normal fire would, but it did glow brightly much like normal fire. This shocked the commander who was both impressed and intrigued by how she was doing this.

"How did you do that?" He asked as she extinguished the flame by closing her hand.

"Again, it's magic. What I'm curious about is your lack of the basic concept about it. Have you absolutely no experience with magic at all?"

The commander shook his head in response. "I've seen many things in my life, especially during service. But never have I seen anyone pull off something like that. This whole magic thing is completely alien to us."

"If you have no magic, then how did you achieve your stature as a commander?" Keaton asked. "Only nobles are privileged with such ranks, and all nobles are capable of wielding magic."

"I ain't no noble. I was just a simple man who worked for a four year degree in the academy then joined the Naval Officers School to get to where I am right now in life. No need for magic or nobility status. Just needed a good education."

It baffled them how these people completely lacked magic, or any requirement or use for it. Just where did these people come from? Surely it couldn't have been the colonies.

Either way they were now coming upon on the coast at last. After a tiresome voyage and disastrous confrontation with pirates they had finally here, where the Arkport colony of Stainross should be.

However there was no colony, but instead a massive industrialized city with tall towers and massive ports where large ships were docked and anchored. "This...this can't be right." Princess Rose said as she looked out upon the coastal city with awe and confusion. "Where is Stainross? What city is this? What happened here?"

The cruiser pulled up in the naval harbor where other ships were docked and awaiting their turn for the dry docks. The port contained ten small, six medium, and two large dry docks for holding ships of their respective size. Currently within them were six submarines, four destroyers, two light cruisers, three heavy cruisers, one large cruiser, a carrier, and one of the legendary Citadel class battleships (BB-153) SNS Indomitable.

The titanic ship was undergoing her first refit since her finished construction, receiving new radar and sensors, improved weapons, and a cleaning and renew on her paint job. The large double girder carne was currently lifting the last of her main batteries. The five thousand ton triple 432mm turret was lifted out from the ship to be transported elsewhere, and replaced with a brand new improved turret sporting the same fifty five caliber guns.

"Your majesty, welcome to Marnesse. The biggest international trade center in the world."

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January 1st, 1900

North Border, United Provinces of Sartoma

"Finally! We're getting some freakin' armor to back us up."

The sound of treads over dirt and roads echoed across the area as heavily armored and armed vehicles arrived along the border with half track trucks and regular 6x6 military trucks transporting infantry and equipment.

The 2nd Armored Division had arrived and were setting themselves up along the border with troops and tanks at their disposal.

The first vehicle designed to set the foundations of the Army's Armored Corps was the 1848 Feline, the world's first tank to ever be put into active service and reshape the ideas of modern warfare. With a length of six meters, a width of three meters, a height of three meters, and a mass of thirty tons, the tank was equipped with a petroleum V-8 engine producing over six hundred horsepower to rear mounted sprocket wheels for a maximum speed of fifty kilometers per hour on road and thirty eight kilometers per hours off road over twelve road wheels using torsion bar suspension. Armor configuration was 50mm front, 35mm side, and 5mm rear with the front having a forty five degree angle. Armaments consisted of a single forward hull mounted 50mm L/44 gun, and a rotating turret mounted 25mm L/55 gun with 8mm machine guns on both sides of the hull.

However now this fine machine was far outdated and out of service, replaced by better, more powerful, and more updated machines to wage war across the fields of death and destruction. These were the Cheetah light tank, the Leopard medium tank, the Jaguar SPG/tank destroyer, the Lion heavy tank, and the Tiger super heavy tank.

The Cheetah was the lightest armored vehicle in service with the Army. With a length of six meters, a width of three meters, a height of three meters, and a mass of twenty tons, the tank was equipped with a liquid-cooled V-8 twin-turbo diesel engine producing four hundred horsepower to rear mounted sprocket wheels for a maximum speed of sixty six kilometers per hour on and off road over ten interleaved road wheels using torsion bar suspension. Armor configuration was 40mm front, 20mm side, and 5mm rear with the front having a twenty degree angle. Armaments consisted of a rotating turret mounted 50mm L/77 gun, with coaxial and forward hull mounted 8mm machine guns.

The Leopard medium tank was the Army's true multiple purpose vehicle, capable of serving well in multiple roles. With a length of seven meters, a width of three meters, a height of three meters, and a mass of forty five tons, the tank was equipped with a liquid-cooled V-12 twin-turbo diesel engine producing over seven hundred horsepower to rear mounted sprocket wheels for a maximum speed of fifty five kilometers per hour on road and forty six kilometers per hour off road over sixteen interleaved road wheels using torsion bar suspension. Armor configuration was 100mm front, 60mm side, and 40mm rear, with the front having a forty degree angle, the sides with a sixty five degree angle, and the rear with a sixty degree angle. Armaments consisted of a rotating turret mounted 75mm L/77 gun with coaxial and forward hull mounted 8mm machine guns.

The Jaguar self propelled gun was a vehicle built on the chassis of the Leopard medium tank. Everything is the same except for the absence of the rotating turret and being equipped with a more powerful 100mm L/77 gun with no machine guns.

The Lion heavy tank was an absolute monster bearing true to it's name, serving as the spearhead during assaults into enemy territory. With a length of eight meters, a width of four meters, a height of three meters, and a mass of sixty five tons, the tank was powered by the same engine as the Leopard, capable of reaching fifty kilometers per hour on road, and forty kilometers per hour off road over eighteen interleaved road wheels using torsion bar suspension. Armor configuration was 150mm front, 80mm side, and 80mm rear, with the front having a forty degree angle, the sides with a sixty five degree angle, and the rear with a sixty degree angle. Armaments consisted of a turret mounted 100mm L/77 gun with coaxial and forward hull mounted 15mm heavy machine guns.

The Tiger super heavy tank was death and destruction itself, taking the form of a heavy steel monster. With a length of nine meters, a width of four meters, a height of three meters, and a mass of eighty tons, the tank was powered by a liquid-cooled V-14 twin-turbo diesel engine producing over nine hundred horsepower to rear mounted sprocket wheels for a maximum speed of forty kilometers per hour on road and thirty five kilometers per hour off road over twenty two interleaved road wheels using torsion bar suspension. Armor configuration was 200mm front, 150mm side, and 150mm rear, with the front having a forty degree angle, the sides with a sixty five degree angle, and the rest with a sixty degree angle. Armaments consisted of a turret mounted 125mm L/77 gun with coaxial and twin forward hull mounted 15mm machine guns.

All tanks were designed with tried and tested automatic transmissions to ease with training how to drive these machines, radios for ease of communication between tank commanders, and vertical stabilizers to make shooting while moving forward easier for gunners.

At present, the Army currently owns ten thousand Cheetahs, forty thousand Leopards, ten thousand Jaguars, five thousand Lions, and one thousand Tigers in it's arsenal. While that number was continuously rising as several arms factories were currently producing these terrifying machines of war.

The 2nd Armored Division lacked the heavy or super heavy tanks, but had plenty of light and medium tanks to go around. Fifty Leopards along with thirty Cheetahs and twenty Jaguars rolled up along the border and halted, taking up positions near the cliffs that lead down into the mysterious river that had somehow appeared overnight.

Upon sighting the tanks roll in, the soldiers of the 5th Infantry Division felt relieved as they now had armor and reinforcements to assist them along the border. Now things would be easier as they now had armor support to scare away these civilians who keep on trying to cross the border in horse drawn wagon trains. And it couldn't have come any sooner as soldiers had halted and were trying to get yet another train of five wagons to not proceed any further and to turn around.

"Again you will turn around immediately and head back to where you came from! No one is allowed passage through the border without our acceptance!"

"I will do not such thing! We have a right to come to these lands and set up a new living! We will reach the colonies regardless of what you ruffians say!"

"Try that, and we'll see how you react to the receiving end of an 8mm round to the face!"

Before the squad leader and driver could argue further, the sound of rumbling engines caught their ears before three Cheetahs emerged over the cliff with two Leopard behind them. The Cheetahs drove forward and slid down the cliff towards the river and stopped behind the soldiers halting the train. Their appearance absolutely scared the train inhabitants who looked as though they had never seen a tank before as the 50mm guns were aimed right at them.

"See those monsters? This things are equipped with more than enough firepower to raze hell upon your wagon train and kill every single one of you without pitty or remorse," The squad leader began speaking. "And if your don't back up and turn around this instant, I might as well just let them have at you. So do you want to live, or face off against their fury and wrath?"

The driver didn't respond verbally, but did turn his wagon around along with the other four part of the train, returning back across the border and into the forest out of sight.

"That takes care that. Get ready for the next one to show up." This was the sixth time today they had to halt a wagon train trying to cross the border. What was going on in these people's minds thinking they could cross without authorization?

"We got more movement! Another wave incoming!"

More movement came out from the forest on the north side of the river. This time however there were no wagons, but over a hundred armored men marching in phalanx formation while being lead by a single horseback figure ahead of them. One of them was carrying a long pole hoisting up a flag in the center of the phalanx with a red background, black cross, and a white tower keep in the center.

They all marched towards the beach and were preparing to cross over the river through one of the shallow parts of the water, but just like all who tried to cross they were intercepted by waiting Sartoma guards stationed along the river.

"Halt!" The squad leader shouted as he stood in front to get their attention. They didn't stop.

"Halt!" He shouted again with more volume, but again they didn't stop.

"You deaf? I said halt!" Again they refused to stop as they continued their approach.

"God damnit, I said halt!"

They paused while the horseback rider approached and looked down upon the soldier from his steed. "Who are you strange commoner to address a nobleman and his soldiers with such behavior? State your name and business."

"And who are you to come violating our borders? Either piss off or get shot, your choice!" The squad leader retaliated verbally against this nobleman.

"Is it your goal here to get yourselves killed? Because that's what it likely seems to me." The nobleman retorted. "We came addressing complaints from commoners being denied entrance to the colonies by ruffians who have set themselves along the river. This will not stand and you will remove yourselves before we remove you."

"You're barking at the wrong man here!" The squad leader retorted. "This land belongs to the United Provinces of Sartoma and we will stand here in it's defense to prevent anyone from coming in unaccounted for!"

"Rebellious you are, then you leave me no choice. You and your men will pay with your lives. Starting with you filthy commoner!" The nobleman raised his hand up and shot out a blast of lighting from his palm. It arced towards the squad leader and struck him dead center in the chest, letting out a crack of thunder and throwing him several meters back onto the beach. He never saw it coming or expected it and landed unconscious with smoke trailing from his now partially burnt tunic.

That was the spark that lead to what would be now know as The Slaughter at the River.

"They downed him! Drop them all now!" Nine soldiers who were under the command of the squad leader brought their weapons up and began firing upon the men who came from across the river.

The men in armor and wielding spears were easy to pick off, but the man on horseback was somehow being a bigger issue as he raised some sort of transparent shield in front of him that deflected the 8mm bullets being fired at him. The lead projectiles compressed and fell upon impact, hitting the ground instead of their intended target.

"What the hell? That one is using some sort of black magic! Focus on him!" They continued firing their weapons, still being deflected by the shield but were putting strain on it as it started to crack like glass. However it wouldn't be the soldiers who would shatter and finish the user off but one of the Cheetah tanks as the machine fired it's 50mm gun and struck the shield dead center.

The projectile not only shattered, but penetrated as well and struck the nobleman, blasting him into oblivion as well as his horse as their remains were sent flying off everywhere.

The remaining soldiers who were both shocked and horrified by what had happened had very little time left to react as the guards focused their fire on them, joined by the Leopards above on the cliff and the Cheetahs down on the beach firing their machine guns.

Within seconds they were all killed, a hundred corpses fallen within the salty water with blood pouring out and contaminating it along the stream. The nine Sartoman soldiers approached with caution and inspected everyone of the bodies, putting at least two more rounds into each to make sure they were officially dead.

Tension was beginning to grow between two factions who would quickly grow to despise each other.