Gate: War Of Two Worlds

Vanguard-7 would finally be back on the field after a long break. The current main objective with the Vanguard program is to send out teams into the world. Their job is to go out to explore this alien world, make friendly contact with the locals, try to bring them into our sphere of influence, form trade and most important find what could be a threat to our world.

The 75th Rangers were chosen for this task because they are some of the best warriors America has to offer. They are able to adapt to new and changing environments while on the field. They are highly trained, some of the best and are able to fight against superior numbers. Their history has been busting the door open for larger forces to follow. Fighting the British back in the Revolutionary War, climbing the cliffs of Point Du Hoc in World War Two and being some of the first troops in the invasion of Panama back in the 1980s. They seem perfect to spearhead our effort in this world.

The team convoy will be driving along and all they have seen so far is farmlands. It has been fascinating seeing what Earth considers ancient culture and seeing that as daily life.

Sharpe is sitting in his seat as Staff Sergeant Steele drives his command JLTV. As he looks at the bright sun, an idea appeared in his head. "Damn... can't believe I didn't ask this before."

He looks into the back of the vehicle and see Selina, Rory, Lelei and Alicia. Selina is watching something on a tablet that was given to her, Lelei of course be reading a science book and Rory will be cleaning her Hilbert.

"Ladies, question. Correct me if I am wrong, you call our sun Flare correct?" Sharpe asks.

Rory looks up at him and smiles, nodding at him. "The god of the Sun, yes."

He nods his head, glade he remembered that right. This world has so many different gods, each representing having many different roles. Until Earth ancients gods where a god represent one thing. "Ok, so what do you call your world?"

Rory seems a little confused by that question. She knows that he knows the name of the land they are on.

Lelei looks up from her science book. "Our continent is called Falmart."

Alicia looks down form her magazine. "No, he means your planet. Like our world is called Earth, our country is on the North American continent."

Both Lelei and Rory looks at Alicia and then at each other. Lelei then breaks her gaze at Rory and then back at Sharpe. "I understand now, I don't believe there is a name for our world."

Rory adds to what Lelei said. "Something on that scale would have a god name. Like the Wareharun, the God of the Forest."

"It could be the God of Miritta. She is the God of Fertility, she gives life to us all." Lelei says.

Sharpe realizes that his innocent question turned into a far bigger subject then he intended. Nothing is simple in this world, at least it is interesting.

Rory looks at him and then asks. "Why do you care?"

Before he says anything, Alicia commits again on Rory question. "Hes a nerd, he likes space, and other science topics, if you haven't figured that out yet ready." She says hinting at the Optimus Prime figure on the dashboard, next to the Kaeso Sura figure. "It is not that its important, its just about knowing stuff for the sake of knowing something."

"I understand." Lelei says back to Alicia. She goes into deep thought, pondering on the question. "Next time I go to the Magic Academy, they might have a name."

The Magic Academy is located in the city of Rondel. The city is home to many magicians, scholars and what the Americans call scientists, and other professionals and intellectuals. For the everyday people, information like this has no meaning since it does not help them in anything.

After hearing that, Rory will roll her eyes. "I know what they are going to say. Last time I was there I remember them using the word Uros for some reason. I forget why they were talking about that but they didn't know what god that was. It is a topic that doesn't get much attention though. At least since the last time I was there." She says now pondering what that bit of information.

"I never heard of that name before. My master would have told me during my training." Lelei says, adding to what Rory brought up.

"Interesting. What do you call the moon then?" Sharpe adds, leaning back into his chair.

"Idos, that God of Cosmos." Lelei says.

Rory nods. "Yes, Emroy and Idos has been competing against each other since the dawn of the world. I have faced against his apostle throughout the centuries."

"Wait there is another one of you?" Steele says with a surprise tone in his voice.

Rory looks at him with a no shit look on her face. "Of course."

"Now that is interesting." Sharpe says, taking that fact pretty serious. It is a thought he has pondering on before, meeting someone like Rory but that is not on their side.

Thank god you're on our side Rory. Alicia says, turning the page of her magazine, not fully paying attention.

As the conversation continues, Alicia radio console goes off. She has this annoyed look on her face, assuming it is just another update request from Alnus Command. She picks up the handset and dose her job. Her mood would quickly change, going from casually bored to fully professional. Sir! Alicia says as she switches her radio from private to public, so all of Vanguard-7 can hear what she is hearing.

"This is Vanguard-5, need back." Back now in the background there is yelling, screaming and gunfire. It sounds like pure chaos. The team automatic SOS message would begin as the person on the radio would just stop speaking.

As the message went on, Sharpe would order the rest of the team to triple time it and head to their last known location.

***

It would be a few hours until Vanguard-7 would reach their sister unit location. As they pull up, they would see another Ranger team here, Vanguard-3.

"Team, pull up there. Steele I want you on the .50 cal." After saying that, Sharpe gets on the team radio. "Randy assist in security. Don't trust the locals until we know whats going on. Charles, with me. Jerry, see what you can do with the wounded."

Everyone will knowledge as their three vehicles pull up. There are six other vehicles here, all from Vanguard-3 and 5. Once their vehicle stops, Sharpe leans back, facing the three girls. "Lelei, I could use your help in Public Relations. Rory, help with security. I don't want the locals wanting to do something iffy. Selina, stay here."

Everyone gets out of the vehicle to do their task. Before Sharpe leaves, he would move his head through his side of the JLTV and looks in the back again through the open window. "Selina, remember our agreement." He says in a serious tone.

She would nod her head and grab the helmet she was given. Unlike Rory and Lelei, where they can defend themselves if needed, Selina cannot. To help justify allowing her to travel with them, she had to agree to terms, like wearing a helmet while in a combat situation.

Second Lieutenant Charles Johnson rushes to Sharpe as he walks to the officers of the other Ranger units. As they walk, they see dead bodies, bullet shells, blood everywhere. "Damn, what the hell happen here."

"Lets find out." Sharpe says back to him.

Once they walked to the other officers, they will look at both Sharpe and Charles. Captain Bailey, the leader of Vanguard-5. Right now, he looks like he just finished a crash course from boot camp. There will also be Captain Charles, leader of Vanguard-3.

"Hey guys, statues report." Sharpe says to them.

Captain Charles would be the one that speaks first. "We got the SOS, came here as soon as we could. By the time we got here the fighting was already over. That was an hour ago."

Sharpe will take a glance around, just seeing all the dead bodies that are being gathered into a pile. Then he looks to Captain Bailey. "What happened here Bailey?"

"Exactly as it looks like. We were ambushed." Captain Bailey said.

"I see that but how?" Sharpe says again.

"I talked to the village elder, he said he does not know how the Empire found this place." Captain Charles says, speaking for Bailey.

Sharpe looks to the captain. "You're kidding. He says with a sarcastic but serious tone." Have him explain this.

Captain Bailey will raise his hand to interrupt Sharpe. "Hold on Sir, the rest of the unit would be dead if Elder Elfifh didn't help us out."

"It only takes one sir." Lieutenant Charles says, Sharpe second in command. The three officers looks at him, acknowledging he has a point.

Sharpe looks back at Bailey and then just realizing something he just said. "Rest? What do you mean by that?"

"I will show you. Follow me." Captain Bailey said in an angry tone. He begins walking away as everyone follows him.

As they walk, Captain Bailey will explain what happen in the fight. "First arrows rained into the village. Still don't know how they got so close. This place was supposed to be safe. After that, cavalry just came out of the brush and then they were right on top of us."

They will stop by Vanguard-5 vehicles. Right next to them will be three bodies lying on the ground side by side. The three bodies are fellow Rangers, laying there dead.

Rory walks over, seeing all the officers gathering around something. Once she gets there, she sees what they are all looking at. She has been around these people for a while now however she has yet to see how they react to their own follow warriors. Death has been normal to her, she has killed more than she could count, three dead soldiers is not an unusual sight, soldier die. This time it is their own warriors and she can sense a lot of anger and frustration coming from the four.

The dead Ranger on the left will has his arm cut right off, died from bleeding out. The one in the center has an arrow to his side and a hole in the center of his body, from being stabbed by a sword. The last Ranger has three different arrows in him.

"What happen to him?" Lieutenant Charles asks, looking right down at him.

"That's Tomas, he was on the .50 Cal when the attack happened." Captain Bailey says. "He will take his helmet off and takes a breath. He refused to go down. He was the first hit but continued firing the .50 caliber, killing most of them. We were outflanked by that direction. He was able to prevent them from riding right into us but took a second arrow in the process. It was shortly after that when a third arrow hit in right in the neck, dying then."

That is when Captain Charles speaks up. "Another thing sir, last count. We are missing a body."

Sharpe will look at Captain Charles. "WHAT!? Where is the body?"

"I already reported that in sir. Command figure out what to do. Probably got dragged somewhere." Captain Charles says, not really happy with that thought.

"Have you spent out search teams?" Sharpe asks.

"Not a large-scale search yet. Area is still too hot." We don't know whats out there and Captain Charles take a quick glance around and speaks softer. I don't trust the locals. Didn't want to divide us in this situation."

Sharpe takes a deep breath, hating everything that Captain Charles just said. However though, he had to agree with his decision. The price of command, sometimes you just have to pick who is more important.

"No, you made the right call. I think we have the resources to being looking around." Sharpe says and then look to where Rory at. "Rory? When he looks there, she would be gone. Wasnt she just there?"

***

Lelei and Selina are walking around the village. Most of the elves are cleaning up the mess from the attack. A few of their people also died in the battle, mostly by arrow fire. The mood in the air would be tense as everyone seems either scared or angry on what just happened.

Lelei wanted to see if she could help any of the villagers and Selina did not want to stay in the vehicle. Both agreed to stay with each other as they explore the area.

"It looks like they are not use to being attacked." Selina commits as she sees the situation.

"I don't think anyone is Selina." Lelei says back to her.

"No, back in my country, being attack was very common. You can become numb to it after a while, it being a part of life." Selina says back to her.

Both will remain quiet for a bit as they look around.

After some time, Selina will be the one who breaks the silence. "Lelei, what do you think will happen? When she saw Sharpe walk to his fellow Rangers, he seemed very angry. Not just him but the other Rangers that were on guard seem angry to."

"I don't know. From what I understand they wont take lose on their side very well." Lelei says that based what she has seen from them. "They are Soldiers Selina, they accept that they could die anytime, it doesn't seem like they like it when it happens though."

That is when they see a female elf, sitting down by a hut crying. That didn't seem abnormal, a lot of elves would be crying right now. That is when Lelei notices that elf is holding a green jacket, like the ones the soldiers wear. "Selina stays close."

Both of them will walk over to that elf. "I am sorry but where did you get that jacket?"

She looks up at the two girls and look a little confused. "I'm sorry, what? O, this. It belongs to one of those soldiers."

"Why are you crying? Was it given to you?" Selina ask the elf.

"His name was Larson. Right before the attack came two of those Empire soldiers came." The elf says.

"What happen to him?" Selina ask her in a soft tone.

The elf looks up at Selina. "They took him. Larson was trying to protect me, but they took him."

Lelei will lean in after hearing that. "Did you tell the Americans?"

The Elf shakes her head no. "The elder doesn't want us interacting with them right now."

But you need to tell them. Selina says to her. "She takes the elf hand. Come on, we need to tell them."

"But the elder..." The elf says before Selina interrupts her. The attack only happened a few hours ago, the gravity of what just happen is still settling for the villagers.

"No. The Empire is going to kill Larson unless we stop them. They can't help him if they don't know who took him. Lets go, you can follow me." Selina says as she begins leading the elf women to Sharpe.

Lelei follows behind the two, impress by Selina sudden action.

As they get close, they can overhear Sharpe asking where Rory is and some arguments with the village elder.

"MAJOR SHARPE!" Selina says as they walk to the Rangers.

He and the other officers would be very confused on why there is an elf with her.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Elder Elfifh says, not liking what he sees.

"Hey! Don't you yell at her!" Sharpe says to the elder.

Both of them will look directly at each other, clearly not trusting each other.

"I knew I shouldn't trust your kind. Humans, they never can be trusted. I thought you would be different!" Elder Elfifh says angry.

"Our fault!? You promised our safety, saying that the Empire didn't know where your village is!" Captain Bailey said, pointing his figure at him.

***

For generations the Empire couldn't find the villages of the Wooden Elias Elves. We are the masters of these lands and every time the Empire sent armies here to claim these lands, we slaughter them all. Using the trees and terrain to our advantage, our arrows could easily kill their soldiers.

Over the years though, it has become harder and harder keeping the Empire and their vassals out of the Elias forest. Truth be told, we could win every battle, but it is only a matter of time before we lose the war. It might be another century or two, but it is clear it is going to happen.

When the Americans arrived and offered peace terms to set up what they call a refueling outpost and in return, they would provide trade and security. Everyone has heard of these Other Worlders from the other side of the Gate, a people that is at war against the Empire. Those matters mean nothing to our people.

The problem wasn't that Elder Elfifh, my father allowed these Other Worlders to come to our village but that he agreed to negotiate with them. While most of the people trusted in him, I and a few others didn't. We fought bravely to defend out lands against outsiders for centuries, there is no way we are going to surrender our lands to anyone.

The final breaking point for me was that some my people and they begin to make relations with each other. Sharing stores, telling secrets about our way of life to outsiders and much more. If my father isn't going to do what is right, then I have to.

I had to act quickly, there was not a lot of time to form a proper army that could fight back. I was able to recruit a few but if this plan going to work, we needed more. It was decided to ask the Empire for help and ride these other worlders from our lands. As future elder, I agreed to allow the Empire forces to move through out lands as long as they leave us alone.

The attack went off as planned. The elves that are loyal to me helped sneak the Empire legionaries through the forest so my people couldn't detect them. While the attack was happening, I was surprised on how many these Other Worlders were able to kill. There magical weapons are nothing he could even imagine; they are truly a powerful enemy. Seeing that only removed any doubts he had about his plan.

After the attack, we helped them take one of their people to be questioned and made as an example. I personally don't care what they do to that man. My current part is to stay here, watch them as see what their next move is.

I have been sitting in this tree, watching. Seeing more and more of their strange metal wagons appear or as they call then, a vehicle, it seems they are coming to take my people lands. There is this on man that just arrived, he seems to be someone important as everyone else seem to be listening to him. Killing him would end any chance for peace between our people.

After spending a few minutes thinking on how he would kill that soldier, he decided to kill him with his bow. I already killed one of them with it today and at this range it will be easy. Slowly he will aim his bow, getting ready to release his arrow at that soldier.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

He will hear a female voice coming from his right side. He will look over and see this girl in black and red cloths. She would just be sitting there looking at the village. How didn't he hear her or notice that she was right there.

He would be speechless as he sees her look right at him and give this devilish smirk. Bad idea, that is my friend your aiming at. She says l.i.c.k.i.n.g her lips with a grin on her face.

***

"Selina? What are you doing?" Sharpe says, all confused on whats happening now.

"Major, she has something to say." Selina says, bring her to him and the elder.

As Sharpe looks at the elf women, that is when he notices one of their jackets in her arms. Before he would say anything, he hears one of the Rangers from Vanguard-5 say that is Larsons jacket. "Why do you have it."

"Don't answer that, I said don't speak with them." Elder Elfifh says.

"And why not! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY MAN!" Captain Bailey yells.

"Captain!" Sharpe says, looking back at him, trying to maintain any form a clam in his troops. Then he looks back to the elder. "Where is he."

"How did the Empire find my people! You had to bring them here." Elder Elfifh says.

"So we attacked ourselves? Bull, your people had to sell us out." Sharpe stated.

"We would never, my people also died in that attack!" Elder Elfifh said back to Sharpe. "We have been safe for hundreds of years until you arrived."

"STOP! Both of you!" Selina says as she walks up to the two. "Just stop, neither of you are to blame. Just listen!" Once she said that, she looks up at Sharpe and realizes she just kind of talk back at him. The realization she might have just unsettled him would scare her a little.

There will be a short pause in the conversation, which allowed everyone to think.

"OK, I will bit. You didn't sell my people out then. Now, what happen to Larson." Sharpe says, still wanting answers.

The female elf will look at the Rangers. "Well, we were at my hut right before the attack happen. Some of the Empire soldiers attack our hut and took him. He fought bravely but there was to many."

That is when Captain Charles speak up. "No, that doesn't sound right. How did they know he was in your hut?"

Sharpe looks at Captain Charles and then back at the elder. "That is a good question."

And right then a loud noise would come from the trees. This young elf would burst out of the trees and slams into the ground. That is when everyone sees Rory pop out of the same tree and lands right next to that elf. She takes her Herbart and slam the blade right next to his head. As she looks down at him, she licks her lips, feeling the l.u.s.t to kill him.

"STOP!" Elder Elfifh says as he rushes over to her. "That is my son! Don't kill him!"

"He is your son!?" Rory says, now confused. "Then why was he hiding in the trees about to assassinate him." She points to Sharpe.

As the elder goes to his son, some of the Rangers and elves walk over to see what in happening.

After seeing Rory points to him, he will be surprise. "Wait what? I just got here. Wait, assassinate?"

That is when the realization of what is happening hit everyone. The truth is that these elves did sell out the Americans to the Empire but, it was some youth who did it.

"Tell me it is not true, tell me there lying." Elder Elfifh says to his son, hoping the truth is a lie.

He will look down in shame, unable to say a world.

Captain Bailey will try to walk over to the kid, wanting some revenge for what that kid did to his men. He would be stopped by Sharpe, shaking his head no.

The elder will slap his son face, forcing him to fall back to the ground. "You have disgraced your people. You dishonored our word. I will deal with you later."

"Wait." Sharpe says. "Where is our man."

The elder looks back down at his son. "Answer the man."

The young elf looks around and realize his situation. After much thought, he decided to speak. "The Empire has them. There is a fort east of here, they probably took him there. I I promised a prisoner for their help go get ride of you."

After hearing that, Sharpe will walk away, heading to Alicia. Rangers, mobilize. "Were going hunting."

As everyone gathers up, getting ready to leave, he stops Selina. Two things Selina. "One, never do that again. You could have gotten hurt."

After hearing that, she will feel sad, like she dishonored him. Before she could speak, wanting to say her opinion, he would stop her.

"Two." He says, showing two fingers. "You stopped a bad situation from getting worse and found the truth. I'm proud of you, good job." After saying all that he will walk away, giving order to both Vanguard-3 and 7.

Selina stands there a little confused. "I, his mad and happy?"

That is when Rory walks up, seeing the whole thing. "Don't worry. You should know by now hes a bit overprotective. Good job." Rory pats her on the back and heads to the JLTVs.

Selina thinks about it and then smile, heading to the JLTV to.