Austronesia People's Empire, Imperial Majahapit, New Guniea, New Papua Guinea, Jayapura Pupua, Jayapuya Mining Complex
1st Year of the New Age Thursday, 2nd Week, 3rd Month Of Abraham.
"Heal!"
Glows of radiant lights lit up the interior of the emergency trauma tentage as a group of elves used their magic to heal the wounds of the injured soldiers.
Meanwhile, medical personnel worked fervently on the wounded as they were carried out from the dungeon in an almost endless stream. Soldiers carrying stretchers were directed to different tents, each designated for varying degrees of injury, with the medics hastily scribbling medical lingo on the foreheads of the wounded.
Odysseus had immediately mobilized some of the elves to the scene when he saw the disastrous action inside the dungeon, knowing that the standby team of medical staff alone was not enough to handle all the casualties.
The miners and workers all also abandoned their work and helped transport the wounded to the medical area set up for treatment, while Colonel Ciaphas organized the rescue and medical teams.
The men of Platoon 2, who had been battling the Evolved Silver Land Dragon, had suffered one form of injury or another and most of it severe, while the two sections from Platoon 3 who were sent to reinforce the fight against the dragon also suffered heavy casualties
Platoon 4 of Alpha Company were deployed to help medevac the wounded out of the dungeon while Platoon 1 remained above ground as security for the mining complex. Odysseus could be seen running between the medical tents, casting major healing spells on the more critically wounded to stabilize their conditions.
Nearly an hour later, five half-tracks, with two bearing the red cross on their sides and the others in dark navy gray, rumbled into the mining complex, bringing additional medical staff and supplies to assist with the treatment of the injured.
—————————————————————————
Austronesia People's Empire, Imperial Majarlika, Manila, Malacanang Palace, Quezon Room
1st Year of the New Age, Friday, 2nd Week, 3rd Month Of Abraham.
"Your Majesty."
Amelia, an officer from the Austronesia Constabulary's Intelligence Division, barged into the grand Quezon Room without so much as a knock.
"What's the matter?" Emperor Maximo, seated alone before his computer, looked up, knowing the IDAC rarely contacted him in person unless something serious had happened.
"Alpha Company on the dungeon has taken heavy casualties in the dungeon just minutes ago," she reported. "And that's not all."
"How bad?" Maximo asked back. "Is medical support in place?"
"Platoon 2 and half of Platoon 3 is effectively rendered non-combat capable," she replied grimly, "That's almost 4% of the Alpha Company's fighting strength. Colonel Ciaphas Cahyono was on-site, and had already used his authority to mobilize all available medical support over to the mines."
"Understood. And the other issue?"
Amelia hesitated. "...You need to see this," she said, gesturing for the Emperor to follow her.
"What is it?" Maximo asked, rising from his desk and following her out of his office. They walked briskly through the Palace's halls.
"Just two hours before Alpha Company's incident, Team Charlie, one of the Special Operatives we sent into the outside world had reported activity within the Orcs' homeland," Amelia explained as they entered another room filled with an array of television screens. "We launched one of our remaining satellites to monitor the situation, and this just came in," She turned to a staff member. "Bring the satellite feed on display 2," she instructed, and the technician quickly complied, tapping on his keyboard.
An overview footage appeared, showing a massive meteor-like structure. "This was taken 20 minutes ago," Amelia said, pointing to a crescent-shaped cove where dozens of small shapes could be seen. "Zoom in there."
The image zoomed in, displaying a large cluster of ships beating out of the messy chaotic harbor, heading towards the exit of the cove. Amelia changed the settings of the video to real-time, and the image jumped to another view, showing a large flotilla of crude wooden ships advancing through the seas.
"The computer analysis estimates they will hit the northeast coast of New Guinea in five days."
"Damn, we knew they would send more, but it's still surprising how fast these wooden ships can move. What's the status of our forces on the Isle of Guinea?" Maximo asked.
"Alpha Company is stationed at the Jayapura Mining Complex, Bravo Company, or the 39th Infantry Battalion at Buna, Charlie Company, also known as the 352nd Infantry Division at Gona, with both armies reinforcing the island's northeastern provinces," Amelia recited from a list. "And lastly, Delta Company is at the Guinea Highlands where the largest mountain ranges resided, training new recruits."
"What's the landing zone of those Orc ships?" Maximo asked as he rubbed his bearded chin in thought.
"Here," Amelia responded, highlighting a location on the tactical map. "The entire Orc fleet is expected to land roughly over a stretch of 100 kilometers along the coast."
"Intel reports 273 ships of various sizes. The most common type is a galley-sail configuration, numbering 191 vessels in total," she said, showing an image of a long rakish design with a low freeboard with two sails, a catapult at both ends of the ship, and rows of oarsmen in either side. "Intel is designating their estimated tonnage as a frigate type and call sign as 'Dagger' class. They also estimate a crew of roughly 180 to 250 manning the ship with cruising speeds of 12 knots per hour using both wind, rowing, or whatever weird magic they possessed, along with a burst speed of up to 20 knots. It also mounts twenty to thirty primitive catapults."
"The second most common type of ship observed is this," Amelia continued, switching the image to an overhead view of another larger vessel. It featured three sails and a higher freeboard, with around eighty catapults on the top deck and on the sides, along with what appeared to be a ram at the bow as it cleared the waves. "This resembles an old Earth sloop-of-war, though with a straight bow and an underslung ram. It likely carries a single broadside of ballistas below deck and Intel thinks it carries a crew of roughly 150 to 200 Orcs. We've designated it as the 'Sword' class destroyer. The Orc fleet has around 50 of these."
"There's also another less common design seen here," Amelia said, changing the image to display a large twin-hulled galley. It looked like two galleys were clobbered together, with dual sets of sails on each hull and rowers on either side. "This appears to be their supply or troop transport. Intel guesses that it could hold roughly 400 to 600 bodies onboard. We've classified it as the 'Scabbard', a transport class, with 11 such vessels in the fleet."
"Finally the rest of the ships are a mix of designs, most likely prizes captured ships from the surrounding kingdoms," Amelia pointed out as he highlighted the rest of the seagoing ships. "At first, we estimated their total force at 34,000, but now that number has changed and we believe there could be between 40,000 and 50,000 Orcs."
Maximo sat down on the command chair with his fingers gliding over the images on the display. "Put me through to Colonel Ciaphas Cahyono," he instructed the comms operator.
When the call connected, Maximo asked, "Colonel, what's the readiness of the Navy Fleet?"
[A dozen of our battleships are standing by on the northeastern coast,] Ciaphas Cahyono reported. [The medium-weight vessels are being recalled to the naval base.]
"And the Phoenixes?" Maximo pressed.
[We have only eight operational,] Ciaphas replied. [The rest are under maintenance, Supreme Commander. Most of the pilots aren't ready for combat, and the aircraft are not fully armed. We can launch the Thunderwings instead.]
"Do we have spare rocket pods for the Thunderwings?" Maximo asked. "Load the Phoenixes with the rocket pods, and let the pilots learn by a trial of fire!"
[But, Supreme Commander,] Ciaphas protested, [These eight are all we have left after the war with the Demons. The next batch of airframes is weeks from completion, and the pilots aren't fully prepared!]
Maximo waved off the objections. "Colonel, remember what I've told you before? We've got enemies at our doorstep. We can't afford to coddle the men now."
Ciaphas sighed in resignation and nodded. [I'll call for volunteers.]
Maximo nodded thoughtfully before asking, "And what about these 'Combat Walkers' I've been hearing about?"
Ciaphas' expression brightened at the question. [Ah, I'm glad you brought that up. A few days ago, Sir Odysseus wasn't able to join the Dungeon Level 2 clearing because he was busy creating more Earth Golems. He's been combining them with our advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. So far, he's successfully built over a few. And from what I've heard, he's working on something even bigger, a major new project.]
"Good to know. Reported me of any updates," Maximo said and ended the call. "Amelia, instruct the IDAC to maintain UAV or Satellite surveillance over the Orc fleet and raise the alert to Condition Yellow. Contact the Major Generals of all divisions in New Papua Guinea to cease all training exercises and recall anyone on leave back to active servicing. The entire island will be our main defensive force."
"Yes, Sir," Amelia nodded firmly before going off to carry out his orders.
Maximo leaned back in his chair, staring at the display showing the approaching fleet.
"Damn it, why now?" he muttered to himself.
"The last time a battle took place in New Guinea was when Australia, the Old United States, and the UK Netherlands fought the Imperial Japanese during the Second World War. History never changes."
————————————————————
In the Ocean near the Eastern Seas of New Papua Guinea
1st Year of the New Age, Saturday, 2nd Week, 3rd Month Of Abraham.
Orc Warmaster Jiak the Skull Krusher flexed his green-toned muscular biceps before the throng of Orcs gathered before him.
Seated on a throne made of skulls from various creatures and species, he towered over even the tallest Orcs with his body twice the size and muscle mass of the average Orc.
And the aura that radiated from him was so intense it could intimidate even Level 10 magic users.
His a Transcendent Tier-1 being.
A spray of seawater splashed over the quarterdeck where his skull throne sat. Jiak wiped the saltwater from his bluish hair done in a mohawk style. His square jaw chewed constantly on a piece of tough gristle that he spat over the side of the ship. This ship, the 'Skull Taker', was a prize he had captured many moons ago.
"So, yer tellin' me da delay uv da ships was 'cause of the tides an' winds, not yer own failin's?" he growled, glaring at the two goblins who cowered and whimpered before him.
"Yesss, Warmaster! we no meant for delays! it was da winds an' sea!" the whimpering goblins cried out, trembling in fear.
"If 'dat's 'da kase," Jiak said, waving a hand toward his personal guards, which were hulking Orcs clad in thick armor reinforced with small metal plates. The guards picked up the terrified goblins, lifting them effortlessly, one in each hand. "Then send 'em ta WAAGH! 'n advance ta let 'em appease Monolith, the God of War, since dey blame 'em for da delay. A proper apology iz in order, yeah?"
The goblins shrieked in terror as they were held by the larger Orc guards, biting and scratching at the armored hands holding them but to no avail, as they were unceremoniously stuffed into the yellow-painted cannons like unwanted rubbish, wailing in fear as they were blasted into the air, and disappeared into the sky.
"Any more 'cuses about da wind an sea?" Jiak roared across the deck from his throne to his crew. When no one dared to respond, he nodded with satisfaction, "No? gud, 'dat's wot i thought. I want ta reach 'da landfall before 'da sun sets!"
And the crew hurriedly went above their tasks, while the Orc Shamans cast more wind spells to fill the sails, pushing the ship faster.