Gate: War Of Two Worlds

When the Rangers discovered that Sergeant Larson was taken prisoner by the Imperialists, both Vanguard-3 and 7 would move out to search for him. They were told by the elf elder son that there is an Empire fort somewhere in the region. Good chance he was taken there.

Because of the situation, Sharpe was forced to leave Vanguard-5 at the village until the Canadian recovery team reaches them. While Captain Bailey wanted to go with us, wanting his man back and wanting some payback to. However though, the current condition of his unit, most being dead, wound or missing, forced them to stay behind temporary. While he wasn't comfortable in leaving them there, he no longer feared that the elf elder would do any them harm. Besides, there was no other choice, waiting for the Canadians to arrive would mean waiting a day until they begin their search and rescues.

After a short exchange with Alnus Command, the higher-ups decided to reinforce the two Ranger units. A Stryker platoon will rendezvous with both Ranger teams. Another Stryker company will be operating towards the edge of the operation zone, trying to prevent Empire reinforcements or prevent them from escaping. A French force would be deployed into the area to provide rear cover or emergency assist to anyone who needs it.

To help save time both Vanguard-3 and 7 would temporary separate to cover more ground. It has been hours since the search begins with little luck. Since the search began, the weather has not been on their side.

The weather has become cloudy with occasional light rain. That normally wouldn't be a problem, missions don't get canceled because of a little rain. The problem is that these roads are made out of dirt, which is turning into mud. They were never meant to be used by modern-day vehicles. The JLTC is capable of traveling in this wet terrain however, speed is the key here and this is only slowing everyone down.

For once Rory will be in the passenger seat as Sharpe will in the back on the radio with Alicia. She has traveled the Elias Forest a few times over the centuries and can help with the navigation.

"Lieutenant Peterson avoids the southern route. Take the eastern route for thirty-five kilometers until you reach… Valtris. The town of Valtris and then head south." Sharpe says over the radio as he talks to the leader of the Stryker platoon.

"Roger that. Wait…" There will be a short pause in the radio conversation as Lieutenant Peterson speaks to one of his soldiers. "Negative sir, I-Spy reporting that route is currently occupied."

Since the Air Force got into the fight, the troops on the ground have nicknamed the airborne reconnaissance forces as I-Spy. That can be drones, helicopters or planes, whatever is being currently used. While his team is too far away to get helicopter support, Peterson's platoon seems close enough to get that service.

"What, occupied by what?" Sharpe asks with a confused tone.

"Ah… I am being told a heard of… what looks like some kind of sheep? They have sheep here? Anyway, the route is blocked. I have to go south sir." Lieutenant Peterson says.

"Negative, you will never reach us in time on that route. Farther south the weather is ruining the roads. The Stryker's will never be able to get through there with their weight." Sharpe points out.

Rory will look behind after listening to the conversation. "Major, they could take the Orgo route." She leans back into the back and points to where it is at on the map. "Right here."

"Standby." He looks where she points and think. "Rory, that's hostile territory, Empire territory. Good chance they will be engaged without support."

Lelei looks to Sharpe. "Maybe not. The Empire does not usually scatter their forces out as you do. From what I understand they like to keep them in places that are key to the Empire or where they are fighting. If they run into a force, it shouldn't be that large. What you call a checkpoint if that."

"I know you don't want to lose anyone else but if you need those men, this is your best option," Rory adds to what Lelei says, looking right at him.

Rory could see Sharpe wants to protest but refused to say something. That is something she has grown to respect about him. Most people in power would either say what's on their mind, wanting their opinion to be accepted and don't want other viewpoints. He thinks very carefully what others say before agreeing or disagreeing. However, though, times like this she wishes he agrees with Lelei and her. Why are we here if he isn't going to listen to our advice about our world?

Before Rory is able to ask why they are even here if he isn't going to listen, he would nod his head in agreement.

"Peterson, there is a route called Orgo. Take it." Sharpe says over the radio.

"Are you sure sir? My map says that's Imperial territory." Peterson says.

"I know. This is my call. I need you here ASAP, engage only if you have no choice." Sharpe says in a commanding voice.

"Roger, we will be there. Third Platoon out." Peterson says before getting off the line.

"Roger, over and out." Alicia says as she puts down her headset. "Sir, Vanguard-3 reported in. They ran into a civilian wagon. They claim they saw a large Empire force that moved into the area a few days ago."

"Hmm… looks like they were planning this for a while." Sharpe says, looking at the map, studying it.

Alicia then looks over to the map and points to where she believes their sister unit is currently at. "I think their right here. God, I miss GPS."

"What's a GPS?" Selina asks. She has been quiet, letting everyone do their work. She also has been carefully listening to everything.

"GPS tells us where we are going and where people are currently at, all in real-time. I will explain more later when we have time." Alicia says, giving her a quick smile.

"If they are here, they could be around here. Hmm." Sharpe says, talking to himself. "Rory, you said you know this area?"

"Again, it has been a while but yes." Rory says again.

"What about this village here? Could the fort be here?" Sharpe asks her, showing her the map.

Rory analyzes it. "I doubt it. They are at war with the Wooden Elias Elves. This is pretty far for them to wage a war."

"It is more likely the fort isn't being used to occupy land but to be used as a staging ground." Selina says. "In my country, they built forts as staging areas. Sometimes they were far away from a town, in the middle of the farmlands. I remember my father saying they did that so they could attack in multiple areas at once. To keep our forces spread thin."

"That makes sense. I'm thinking about this all wrong." Sharpe will be thinking of all their points. "Your right. Ok, because of our tech we rely on roads more than they do. That means they could be around here, close to this section of the forest."

"Your so cute when you're thinking," Rory says as she watches him work.

"Wrong time Rory." Sharpe says.

"That's what you said last time at the bar." Rory says back to him as she sits back down.

"Sir, Randy just contact us, he says he sees smoke up ahead. He thinks it's coming from a campfire." Alicia says.

"Alright. Tell everyone to pull up ahead and tell Randy to investigate." Sharpe says to Alicia.

She will send out the order through the team network. Once the order was given the convoy, they will pull over into some brush, hiding slightly. Once parked, Randy, Scott, and Lelei would head out to check out the situation with that smoke. In the meantime, everyone will be checking equipment, rebuilding their vehicles and other tasks.

It would be about twenty-five minutes before they head back from the recon team.

***

"This is big daddy; we are at the location. The smoke indeed came from a campfire." Sergeant Major Randy said over the radio.

Alicia will roll her eyes hearing himself that as a codename. "Roger. Update me as soon as possible."

Randy looks around. He sees about twenty-five, maybe thirty Imperials soldiers. There will be some tents up, implying they have been here for a while or planning on to. Many would-bes by the firepit, talking, laughing about something, others putting things away.

That is when he sees something different. Most of the people he sees are Human, but some will look like dwarfs, like Gimli from Lord of the Rings. He can see about five of them around two of the wagons.

"Lelei, what are those?" Randy ask her in a quiet voice.

She will move up, looking around a tree. Just like when they 'sneaked' into Italica, she will have combat paint on her face. She takes a look at what Randy is looking at. "They are dwarfs."

"I thought so. Let me guess, miners, addicted to gold and wealth. Hate elves?" Randy says, looking through some binoculars.

She looks at him, surprised that he knows so much about dwarfs. "How did you know that? From another one of your stories?"

"Yup. Honestly, that creeps me out." Randy says. So much they thought was make-believe has turned out to be true. All the good, bad and probably the ugly. "Do the Empire employ Dwarfs into their army? Don't want to shoot someone we shouldn't."

"I don't know. I am a nomad. I don't know the inner workings of the Empire. All I know is what I have seen or been told before by my master." Lelei says back to him.

That is when Scott arrived from his recon mission. "Sergeant Major, I count eight wagons. I think they are a supply convoy." He sits down as he says that. "Also, I think their dwarfs with them."

"Yeah, I just saw them. Was trying to figure out if they are working for them or just with them." Randy says, thinking.

"Why does that matter? They are with them. There the enemy." Scott says, getting a little antsy.

"Aren't you supposed to report this Sergeant Major?" Lelei asks him.

He will nod at her. "Doing it now." Randy says back to her. He will get back on the radio and report their findings to Alicia. It will be a few minutes until new orders arrive.

***

"Thank you, Sergeant." Sharpe says to Alicia. "Tell them to stay there. We are going in."

Sharpe waves his hand in the air, telling everyone to rally up. It wouldn't take long for the team to get to him.

"Alright, everyone. We do have Imperials close by, Human and Dwarfs. Both are considered hostile." Sharpe says as he explains the situation. "We are going to meet up with Randy team…"

"And then get some payback." Staff Sergeant Andrew Steele says, getting excited about getting into some action.

"Correct. But keep your cool. Remember, we are on a rescue mission. If he is not here, we need information then, so prisoners if possible." Says Sharpe and then looks to Sergeant Jerry William. "Jerry, stay here and guard the vehicles. We'll call once the fights over."

"Questions?" As he said that, no one will raise their hands. "Alright, let's move."

Once the meeting wrapped up, everyone will go gather their gear.

Sharpe walks over to Selina right the meeting. "Selina."

She stops and then looks up at him. "Yes sir?" She smiles as she wears her helmet, looking like a little soldier. "Stay here with Jerry. I mean it this time. A lot of people are going to die, and I don't want you in the crossfire."

Her smile will go away after hearing that. "But I want to be useful. I don't want to just take up space. I want to be part of the team." Selina says at him, getting a little frustrated now. She knew this was going to happen but that still doesn't mean she likes it.

Sharpe will smile at her, admiring that spirit of hers. "You are part of the team. We wouldn't be here right now if you didn't find that woman. Everyone has a role on the team and besides, you always leave the person you trust the most to protect the camp."

She will tilt her head, thinking about what he just said. Selina still wants to be more active in the team, but she can accept what he said. She will smile and then salute. "Yes sir, you don't have to worry about anything."

He will give her a salute back to her and then head off.

The Rangers will move through the brush until the teach Randy team. They move quietly, not want to draw attention. Years of training, learning how to operate behind enemy lines, sneaking on them for that perfect ambush.

Once the rest of the team arrives, they will take positions. Sharpe moves up by Randy. "Report."

"There and there. That looks important over there. It seems they don't expect an attack. I don't think they were part of the attack on Vanguard-5." Randy says to Sharpe.

"Are you sure? That is a lot of them." Sharpe says as he glances around the camp.

"Pretty sure. I haven't seen any prisoners yet. This looks more like a supply convoy and anything else." Randy says.

Sharpe will think of that information for a bit. "Hmm, better than nothing. A force this large they have to be supplying someone somewhere."

"That's what I thought." Randy commits back.

Sharpe turns around after getting a good look at the camp. "Ok, Charles, take Andrew and Randy and go other there. We will hit them in a crossfire. No high explosive, we need the intel. Once I give the single, break cover and begin sweeping the area."

Everyone will nod and then go around to their positions. It will be very quiet; the only noise is the little rain hitting the ground and the conversations from the camp. And right then and there, as everyone aims their rifles at their target, Sharpe will finally give the order. "Fire."

Right then bullets would rain into the camp from two different directions. Scott M240 would be pouring bullets into the crowd that is by the fire. Years of training, being taught by the best, trained by the best, working with the best. Their skill would show as their targets would quickly go down very efficiently.

A few of them would rally together and form a shield wall, protecting a tent. Those shields would prove to be worthless against the M4 5.56×45mm bullet. Two of them would get hit and fall, the other two would freak out, not understanding how their shields aren't working.

"Right side!" Alicia says.

To the right, about five swordsmen would be charging their position. Scott and Sharpe would adjust their position and open fire on the charging forces, mowing them down.

"I'm getting bored." Rory says with excitement. As the firefight continues, she would burst from their position and charge the Imperials camp, slashing as anyone in her way. As she fights, she will be laughing and giggling, getting way too into the moment.

"RORY! Goddamnit." Sharpe says as he watches her rush into the camp. He will then turn over to Alicia. "Alicia, don't…" He would stop his sentence as he sees her charge after Rory.

"LET'S GET SOME!" Alicia yells, following Rory into the fight.

"… not again." Sharpe says as he reaches his radio. "Rory and Alicia are in the kill zone, pick your targets carefully and begin moving in."

Scott stops firing his M240 machinegun and looks up. "Those two are bad together."

"No shit. Scott, head to Charles position and prove cover fire. Lelei, with me."

Scott will get up from the ground and move left, heading to the other team. Sharpe will move forward, firing his rifle when he sees a target. Lelei follows right behind, staying close.

***

As Rory slashes a human soldier in half, Alicia fire a bullet from her M4 into the skull of a dwarf that came from behind Rory.

Rory looks behind her and sees the dwarf with his battleaxes on the ground. She will then look to Alicia and gives her a thumbs up. Alicia will smile and gives her a thumbs up too.

That is when both of them hear this strange sound. They both look towards the tent and then see this tall cyclops that comes out. It raises this large wooden club, about to swing it down at the two.

That is when a bright light would appear, blinding everyone. A sound of gunfire would be heard and then a large thump would be heard.

When the light disappears, they see the large cyclops laying on the ground with a bullet in its head. Both then look the other direction and see Randy.

"You two ok?" Randy says as he lowers his rifle.

Both will smile and give him a thumbs up. "Were ok Sergeant Major." Alicia says in a confident tone.

That is when Sharpe and Lelei walk up.

"Thanks, Lelei for the assist." Rory says to her.

"You two, you need to stop charging in like that. You're going to get yourself killed." Sharpe says. "Secure the area, any prisoners, move them there."

Vanguard-7 will begin moving around the camp, collecting weapons and searching for information. A few Imperials would try to put up a fight as they retreat but the battle is pretty much over.