Chronicle:Star-crossed

Who could have thought that the rival superpower blocs of the world would actually work together one day? That's what Dylan Bluebell thought when the news broke out about the ABC's intervention in Blausland. In true TTO fashion, almost all member states decided to join in aiding with the invasion.

This was the young sergeant's first time going into actual conflict, one moment he was on the East Coast next moment he knew he was on a transport plane. Even worse he was in the 13th Airborne Division, the only division in the whole 30 active service divisions in the Union State that was an airborne division. His luck right?

The invasion had started just a few days ago with extensive air battles alongside naval landings to secure the coast. Now was the ground war and so he would be dropping into enemy territory, rapid deployment to take the strategically important town of Monroe Hill for coalition forces. From there he had no idea what they were going to do.

Packed like sardines, he and pretty much the entirety of his company were stuck together on a single plane. Everyone else in the battalion just like their vehicles and heavier equipment was on other transports flying right beside the one they were on but the loud sound of the plane's engines made it hard to determine if there really were multiple planes traveling together. All they could do was pray everything goes well and the 3rd Brigade completed their task easily without any problem.

There were 2 saving graces that kept everyone's hopes up higher than they would be in a situation like this. 1, the Blauslanders had already been pummeled the first few days with extensive air campaigns and artillery bombardments and it was rumored that the legendary ace MorningStar was escorting the transports. No one had gotten a good look at the FSF-15s escorting them yet to see if any had a morning star emblem on the tail yet but hopes were high it really was him.

Some of the higher-ranking officers including the major began to get up. Dylan felt someone nudge his shoulder to his right. "You think it's time?". His automatic rifleman, corporal Sampson asks him. "Looks like it-" His response is cut short when the major raised his voice, standing in front of them all.

Almost like clockwork he began to issue orders that were also chants everyone had to go along with. Simple things like getting up had to be repeated by everyone, all 80 plus of them echoing in what was essentially a big metal tube with wings. Even the aircraft crewman looked annoyed, rightfully so because he probably would have seen and heard this charade over and over again through multiple exercises.

Orders begin to be issued left right and center, what to do now and later and after. Officers walk back and forth between the lines of men checking if they had clipped their harnesses properly so that the troops dont fall to their deaths because of 1 little mistake.

Everything is set and the aircrewman opens the door to the side of the plane patting the first man in line to jump on the back to encourage him. He steps forward, his face becoming pale but he knows he needs to do it and thus he jumps as soon as he is told to. Like a chain reaction soldiers jump out of the transport plane, and within seconds it is Dylan's turn. There was nothing else to do but jump.

And so, he did.

The landing went smoothly, the rest of the brigade was landing around them too. He had landed in a massive patch of golden yellow plains with patches of woodland dotted around the area, their arrival had thrown the animals into fleeing the area leaving the place devoid of life. "Rifle squad 1. We've got new orders. Gather your shit up and let's move." Dylan's squad leader, Staff Sargent Baywood Hale utters.

Everyone quickly packs up and takes out their combat gear gathering up in front of the squad leader. "The major has received orders from the division command, there is a Fengese scout unit in a village near our objective under siege. You know what we have to do.".

'"oh fuck me we have to rescue a bunch of Fengs now?".' one of the privates shouts in disbelief. "I can't believe it too y'know, my dad fought in the Kaurissmas war against them.".

The 9 of them began to make a move, around them their fellow squads began to disperse covering ground that needed to be secured before taking the town. Their first engagement was a close call when an RPG missed hitting them by overshot, the humvee next to the squad was kind enough to retaliate alongside the rifle squad with its 50. caliber machine gun mounted on top.

Over time as they advanced towards the village where the Fengese supposedly were, resistance got worse and worse until it was a full-blown gunfight between Blausland troops and about 3 rifle squads worth of Union State paratroopers. Both sides exchanged fire at a moderate distance but it was clear who had the advantage.

"Splashed another, nice work.". Dylan watched as another Blauslander fighter fell telling Sampson whenever he hit one. The fury of the Union State soldiers was quickly degrading the combat effectiveness of their opponents. "WE SURRENDER DONT KILL!!! NO MORE!" Bravely one of the Blauslanders got up with his arms in the air from his position yelling in broken Saessish, he looked to be no more than 20 years old judging from his young face.

"All of you out of your fucking trenches! Hands up no sudden movements!!! ANY SUDDEN MOVEMENTS AND YOU WILL BE SHOT!!!" The squad leader of another squad yells, more soldiers arise from their positions laying down their arms. "Walk towards us! SLOWLY!!!" The same squad leader barks at them.

Dylan looked to his own squad lead nodding his head in the direction of the slowly approaching soldiers, intent on finding out what to do. "Me and bravo element will take them into custody, go up to the village and check for the Fengs. Go!".

"You heard him lets move!" Dylan tells his element as the whole squad gets up in sync. The village was nothing more than a few brick houses, the first house Dylan and his men cleared they found deserted. Elements from the other squads too moved up and began to secure the village clearing the other houses.

The 4 men ended up at a house that was nothing more than a brick rectangle that had sheet corrugated metal for its roof, curtains covering the only window giving them no insight into what was inside. But it was certain that something was inside evident by the sounds of shuffling. Could these be the Fengese scouts they were looking for or just a Blauslander ambush? There was only one way to find out.

Dylan signaled for his rifleman, private Terry Burch, to breach, he kicks in the door with enough force to make the wood it was made out of splinter. "Union State!" He screams announcing who was coming in followed by the others entering behind him.

"Welp here they are." The private says, all 4 lay down their arms coming face to face with what were the Fengese scouts. There were 3 of them, 2 were still alive but beyond saving having sustained injuries that could have been saved but had gone long enough untreated, and 1 was also alive but just only bleeding from her abdomen and hyperventilating. She pointed a pistol at the Union State soldiers looking dead into Dylan's eyes while another hand covered her injury.

"Easy there gal. You speak Saessish?" Dylan gets on 1 knee to be level with her, their eyes locking. "Y-yes I do..." She says between bated breaths. Dylan puts his hand on her gun and slowly pushes it down along with her arm, she offered no resistance to his actions having used up all her energy fighting the Blauslanders.

"I need to check your wounds for you alright?"