Chapter 15

February 12th, 2043Falmart, Alnus Hill/Base

"We're coming up on the base now boss."

"Good. Finally we can get ourselves some R&R once we get these refugees settled into the new camp."

"A'man to that sir. Wait...we do have a refugee camp at base? Right?"

"We should. I requested it to HQ to set up a site for refugees. If not...I'ma be mad as hell."

The convoy of 5th Marine Recon and tanks of 1st Army had returned to Alnus Base, passing through several armed patrol convoys and small checkpoints surrounding the perimeter of the US occupied territory. The soldiers and marines standing guard waved them as they passed by.

Since their departure and fight against the flame dragon, the base has since shown signs of further development. Several new defensive lines including sand bags and small trenches with automated sentries were set up around the perimeter, as well as several defensive positions with Phalanx CRAM batteries set up and SAM sites. Some areas were still under development as excavators terraformed the terrain and trucks brought in a steady stream of materials and prefabricated fortifications.

"Hey boss, should we wake up our passengers?" Mason looked back where Sergeant Warner was sitting with the sleeping elves and human children. The only other person not asleep appeared to be this demigod child, or whatever she was to this world's inhabitants.

"Yeah sure, why not?"

The female marine shook the shoulders of the elves and children aboard who were in a deep sleep, getting much needed rest after the events that unfolded not too long ago. "Hey, you all sleep well?" Mason called out as Snow started moving on his lap and let off a yawn. "Hope you aren't too tired now, we're just about to arrive at our base. We'll shelter you until you can figure things out for yourselves."

The eastern gates of the base walls opened up as the MRAP approached, followed by the rest of the convoy and tanks heading for the motor pool.

"This is their fortress?" Lelei looked out from one of the L-ATVs as they passed through the thick steel armored doors.

"I must admit, the architecture and engineering is impressive." Cato commented as he looked out beside Lelei. "If these people are at war with the Empire, and this what they're capable of, then I must say his majesty hasn't stepped on the tail of a gryphon. He stepped on a dragon's tail."

The vehicles pulled within the safety of the reinforced concrete walls and pulled aside near the entrance of the motor pool. "Alright, I'm heading to the HQ to check in with intelligence. Debrief and figure out where we put our guests." Mason said as he lifted Snow off his lap and set her in the middle of front seats. "Stay here and keep watch on everyone, hopefully this shouldn't take too long."

"Aye sir." Stewart responded as he settled back into his driver's seat as the lieutenant wandered off from the convoy. Snow jumped back into the passenger seat and stood up against the window, looking out at Mason before he left her line of sight.

"Hey don't worry little guy." Stewart said as Snow whimpered watching her human guardian leave her proximity. "He'll be right back. Just you watch."

Some of the others began stepping out from their vehicles to get a better look at the they were currently in. "So, this where the Men in Green live?" One of the village children asked as they looked around at the various prefabricated buildings surrounding them. "It looks so much more...cleaner, than anyplace I've seen before."

"They have a lot of those horseless wagons and steel elephants."

"What are we even doing here? Are they going to show where we're staying?"

Inside the base, Mason had reported to the armory and discarded his kit before arriving at the intelligence officer's office to debrief on his mission.

"Second Lieutenant Alex Mason of 5th Marine Recon, reporting in sir." The marine salute the officer who looked up from inspecting several documents.

"Welcome back marine, I assume your little went smoothly without issue."

"If you mean by evacuating an entire village and fighting against a god forsaken dragon, I say just another day in the corps."

"I see." The officer nodded and looked down at the documents on his desk. "Speaking of fighting a dragon, I believe we shouldn't have to deal with that beast any time in the near future if what these reports say is true?"

"Affirmative sir. 1st Army was able to arrive and support with tanks. Our LAV managed to tear off it's wing and arm before a shot of a Schwarzkopf decapitated it with a direct hit to the neck. That big lizard is a good as dead."

"Brilliant. We'll send another team out to extract the remains some time soon. DARPA just called and wanted to acquire samples and tissue matter to experiment on. Who knows what kinda black magic they'll come up with using that carcass."

"Sir, what about the refugees we brought?" Mason asked. "I radioed back to base about them and requested the establishment of a refugee camp which was approved. Where do we send the refugees?"

"Ah yes, you'll find the refugee camp about half a mile south of the base. Just take the southern gate and you should see it immediately. I should advise that we're still terraforming the site for it's establishment, and are still setting up the shelters, kitchens, and basic facilities. Also while your unit is here, perhaps you can requisition food and supplies from the quarter master for our new From now on lieutenant your unit will be in charge with their well being as a temporary military police force until we can get a proper MP unit through the gate."

"Yes sir."

"Very good, you're dismissed."

The lieutenant exited the office and returned outside to the vehicles still parked outside the motor pool. "Stewart, Clark, and Warner on me! Leave your vehicles and report to the quartermaster, we need food and water to supply the people we brought with us. Everyone else take the MRAP and one L-ATV to the southern gate of the base. That's where the refugee camp is set up. Leave the other vehicle for us to make it to the site with the supplies."

The marines began to change vehicles so the MRAP and L-ATV with the refugees could travel to the camp while the lieutenant and his chosen companions would remain behind with the other L-ATV. However upon opening his door, Snow suddenly jumped out passed Stewart and surprised him. From then on she ran between the vehicles and latched herself onto Mason's leg who looked down at her surprised.

"Heh, guess she's grown attached to you sir. Perhaps you should keep an eye on her if she's comin' along." Warner commented as other marines looked at Mason to see how he would handle this.

The lieutenant just sighed as he picked up the small pup and settled her on his shoulders behind his neck. "Carry on everyone! Get those civilians to that camp immediately. We'll join up with the supplies later on." With that, the convoy took off and drove through the motor pool towards the other exit where they followed a set roadway that lead towards the southern gate where they would find the site for the refugee camp.

Within the MRAP, the elves and human refugees looked around at the base as they passed through interior checkpoints and convoys of trucks or armored vehicles.

"What is that creature? There's more of them!" A child looked out and saw a line of five CLAW Mk IIIs walking along with a pair of soldiers. The drones briefly pivoted their sensors at the windows to look at the refugees before discarding them as non-combatants.

"Just where exactly did these men get all of these ?" Eletha questioned as she still being surprised the more she learned about the capabilities of these humans. First they wielded weapon that spat fire and metal, then they came with flying steel horses, then steel elephants, and now they have creatures that seem to work alongside them. What kind of a world do they come from?

The convoy reached the southern gate in which the armored doors opened up at their arrival and allowed the vehicles to drive ahead and continue on their way. From there they saw the site in which the refugee camp was being set up.

The site was in the process of being excavated as trucks were driving around loading up or unloading soil in places where it was needed. Excavators were shoveling the soil from the hill side and carving a flat area for the prefabricated shelters to be set up. Most of the terrain was filled with hillsides around Alnus Base, and the general wanted the camp within the proximity and visual of their walls to ensure overwatch and security over their new guests. It was also from here they wanted to start questioning the refugees about this world and how it works so they can better understand the environment they're currently operating within. A flame dragon was already enough of a surprise, and they didn't want anymore from now on.

"This is where they're keeping us?" Lelei looked out as the convoy parked alongside the construction site where engineers were setting up structures and surveying the area for planned construction. Sergeant King stepped down from the MRAP and approached the chief engineer in charge of setting up the camp to get an update on their progress.

"5th Marine Recon I assume?"

"Affirmative, Master Sergeant Freddie King of the 5th Marine Recon Squad. Our lieutenant CO is currently back at base requisitioning supplies for the refugees aboard our vehicles." From the MRAP, the elves and humans climbed out to observe the site and a feel for their new surroundings.

The engineer leaned to the side to look behind the marine sergeant to get a visual on them. "I see, welcome to Alnus Camp then. Mind the dust and dirt everywhere, this place will soon be a paradise for any and all unfortunate souls who come to dwell here. As you can see we've already got a lot of progress done before you arrived, but about 30% of the terrain still needs to be excavated before we can set up any proper foundations. However we've already got a few shelters up and are in the process of establishing the kitchen and cafeteria. Restrooms and bathrooms should be setup within an hour or two."

"Very well. We'll start getting our passengers set up in their new housing while your men continue working. Tell your men to hurry up on that cafeteria cause we're about to have a lot of hungry mouths to feed any moment now."

"Hey man we ain't the Chinese we're the Americans." The engineer chief responded. "Whenever you want something built we don't rush it. It'll be done when it's done right. No cutting corners in our field of work."

"Whatever, just get it done as soon as you can. Just don't take all day."

"Roger that."

About an hour later, the cafeteria and kitchen were set up as engineers focused on setting up the restrooms and bathrooms for whenever the camp's new occupants needed to relive themselves or soak and wash off to manage their hygiene. Later on another L-ATV came driving down from the base with Lieutenant Mason and the rest of 5th Marine driving down with the supplies and provisions needed for the camp inhabitants to enjoy a hot meal for the first time in a while.

Most of the food provided was frozen meats, vegetables, and dough used to cook food usually prepared and served in a field kitchen. Items included beef, pork, chicken, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, bread, biscuits, pasta, and the addition of several spices, sauces, and fresh water available.

A few cooks from the base were transferred down to the camp to prepare the food for the refugees. Apparently the elves had a strict vegetarian diet based on their culture and beliefs, so they only ate the roasted vegetables and bread provided for them with butter and spices. Meanwhile the human refugees ate almost everything that was provided for them. Especially Cato who suddenly started speaking a lot of joyous gibberish after biting into a biscuit.

It was here that the 5th Marine Recon decided to get some R&R while also getting a bite to eat themselves, having tired out after the events of yesterday and the hard work today. The marines grabbed a few plates themselves and ate from a separate table from the refugees, allowing them to have a moment of peace to themselves. All except Snow who continued to accompany Mason and ate from his plate instead of her own.