Priority: Italica

--Refugee camp, Outside of Fort Alnus--

The 5th SIF, call sign Hermes for this mission, is waiting by the APC and IFV outside of the refugee camp while Ava and a few others went in for the girls and Lucas. No tank is assigned to the unit this time as the offensive operations to expand UNE control territory to the East have begun. The goal is to link up with the ocean and cut off the Empire's trade to the South of the continent.

Ava has been waiting outside of the hut for 20 minutes but there's still no sign of the girls.

"Girls!" Ava knocks on the door.

"Almost done Commander!" Rory's voice coming from the inside.

"You said that 20 minutes ago!" Ava shakes her head and continues, "That's it I'm coming in"

She activates her TAC suit and hacks the door to unlock it. Walking in, she sees Lucas is still in his pajama waving at her, Rory is brushing her hair while there's no sign of Tuka and Lelei.

"What? Lucas go get changed now or you're staying behind!" Ava looks over to Rory "Where's the other 2?"

"Hmm? Oh, Lelei is up stair watching the new Alnus Town, you people build so fast. I would normal take a year or more to build less than such a town" Rory looks at Ava and sees her serious face "Tuka is in the bath"

Face palming "Can you please go get them and hurry?" she then orders the other members of the 5th SIF to go get the wyvern scales bags.

It takes them another 15 minutes to get ready and settle on the vehicles.

"Alright people let got, we're really behind schedule" Ava order through the radio then turn and look at the girls at the back "Next time, when I say 800, that means you girls line up and ready to go 30 minutes before that, are we clear?"

"Civilians huh?" Rob jokingly says.

"uh-huh" Ava replies.

"You think this is going to be routine Commander?" Ashley asks through the radio.

"On paper, it should be, intel shows a lot of bandit activities but I doubt they would be able to scratch the paint of our vehicles" Ava replies.

"Now that I think of it, we're like tourists on a time travel trip" Jimmy says "Going to a medieval city, maybe Mr David here can finally get laid"

"Oh shut up" David laughs.

"It is still hostile territory people, don't let your guard down" Ava comments.

"Fun as always Commander" Rob being sarcastic.

--Italica--

The city of Italica is a major trading hub for the Empire. Mecatua River pass through near the city enable trading ships to transport huge amount of goods from the South of the continent to Italica port and from there is a short distance on land to Italica city. West of the city is The Great Plain that allow safe passage for trading caravans, it is also where the majority of food for Empire come from. Once at Italica, these traders can distribute their goods to either Sedera itself or to the great cities from the East and the Empire's allies using and Dessria Highway.

Italica population is roughly 8000 thousand citizen of all races, but most are humans. Being the most important trade hub, the Empire invested a lot in the defense of the city. The walls are 8 meters (26 feet) tall and 5 meters (16.4 feet) thick defended by 2 well equipped legions at all times, a series of siege engines on top of the walls and have enough food reserve to hold out for a year in case of besieged.

Because the city is one of the wealthiest in the Empire, it becomes the target of the bandit. Normally, no bandit would be mad enough to assault the walls of Italica. However, during the advance through the gate one legion was taken with the city's Count Formal and was destroyed during the New Ginza Incident. The city garrison was further reduced, by order of the Emperor, to reinforce Alnus Hill and subsequently destroyed or disserted to banditry during the Battle of Alnus Hill leaving only a few hundred of legionaries to defend the city.

Pina is standing on top of the main keep's tower looking down to the city and the enemy's camp outside of the wall.

"They have been very quiet, I don't like this at all" Norma says as he walks to Pina with Grey.

"They're up to something, whatever it is, It is not good" Pina replies still looking at the enemy camp.

"There's nothing we can do now your Highness" Grey replies "We can only prepare the best we can and hope that it is enough to counter anything they throw at us".

"How are the troops?" Pina turns around and asks.

"Everyone exhausted and morale is low your Highness. Our knights and what left of the legionaries are trying to maintain their discipline but the militia seem to have lost all hope" Grey reports.

"How's our defense look like Norma" Pina look at Norma.

"Including us we have 503 knights, 148 legionaries and 400 militia. The militia are equipped with gears from dead legionaries and knights but they have neither strength nor skill to use them" Norma walks to the edge of the tower and look down the walls then continue "Most of our siege engines are destroyed by their mage, thankfully they have no means to take down our walls…yet".

"I know it seems hopeless but we must hold on, we must hold until the rest of the Rose Order arrive" Pina says

"Even if they arrive in time your Highness, these bandits still outnumbered us and they were some of our most elite legions" Norma replies being desperate.

"Yes, you are right, but with ten thousand extra knights we can use the advantage of the tall walls and defeat them" Grey speaks from experience "I have seen a smaller garrison defeated a stronger attacking force".

"I hope you are right Grey" Pina says then turns to look at the city and mumble "the Princess of the Empire cannot fail her first quest…".

--5 kilometers (3 miles) East of Italica, the evening of the same day--

The SIFs are discussing what are they going to find or do when they arrive at Italica, whether it would look like Medieval cities of Earth or not.

"So have any of you ever been to Italica?" Ava asks the girls.

"I have not been there for 20 years, I remember it's a beautiful city" Rory says as Lucas just shakes his head indicate that he has never been there.

"We elves do not go to human cities and dwarf colonies except for trader elves Commander, but I heard the head of the city, house Formal, is very friendly to all races unlike most human" Tuka replies.

"I spent most of my life in Rondel and then Coda village, so no I have not been to the city Commander" Lelei says.

"Do you think they willing to talk?" Ava asks.

"House Formal is loyal to the Empire but they are reasonable and prefer peaceful solution over conflict. However, Count Formal was head of the house that went through the gate and maybe killed by your troop so whoever his heir is might not be as friendly" Rory says.

"Count Formal you say?" Ava says as she pulls up the list of POWs from New Ginza Incident and search "He's alive, is it this man?"

The holographic image of a middle-aged man in a white robe with purple outlines.

"That's him, if you have him then you can use him as leverage to make Italica surrender" Rory says.

"Rory can talk to them, she's the Apostle of Emroy they must respect her" Lucas says.

"Right, Rory you think you can talk to them?" Ava asks.

"Sure" Rory shrugs.

"All unit be advised, smoke plume at 2 o'clock" Rob announces over the radio.

"Launch recon drones, let see what is happening over there. Break left off the road and find cover until we know what's happening" Ava says "HQ, you got this? Over"

"Copy that Hermes lead, air support is on stand by and missiles are ready to launch on your order. Over" Chris replies over the radio from his station at Fort Alnus.

As the drones fly over the cities, the sighs of a bloody siege show on the screen of the vehicles. Outside of the walls as well as on the walls are littered with bodies of dead soldiers and civilians. Most of the buildings near the walls are either completely burned down by fire arrows or partly destroyed. People are gathered in the buildings and makeshift camps outside of the main keep's wall, some are taking care of the wounded some pray. Statistics show that there are 7439 humanoid signatures in the city and sixty thousand three hundred and twenty-two humanoid signatures in the camp 400 meters (1300 feet) outside of the city's wall and just out of any siege weapon range.

"HQ, this is Hermes lead, there's a complication at the AO, over" Ava reports to the HQ while the recon drones relay their live images of Italica.

"Copy that Hermes lead, hostile forces besieging AO confirmed and designated Bravo. Enemy troops concentration is high North and West of the AO, light patrol Eastside, the South is inaccessible because of the lake" Chris answers through the radio "General Nguyen is on the Comms. Over".

"Hermes lead, this is General Nguyen, intel shows light patrol on the South can be taken out by recon drones allow your unit to slip through to the city. From there, you should have a clearer picture of the situation and you can decide to continue the mission or not. Over" General Nguyen says.

"Copy that HQ, mission is still a go. Over" Ava then orders her unit to move out "Alright, get back on the road and double-time to the city. Have the drones covertly clear a path".

Rob controls the drones while the APC is on auto-drive. The recon drones are equipped with a 12.7mm gun that can fire 800 rounds per minute in addition to it's advance sensors and camera as well as cloaking technology. In combat, recon drone often replace the role of traditional sniper team as it offer better flexibility in positioning and higher efficiency.

The drones make short work of the bandit patrol squads and clear a path for the 5th SIF to move in.

--HQ building, Fort Alnus--

General Nguyen returns to his office where he turns on the data package sent by the War Spike. Terra Sphere has been decrypting the data from Novea Castle, the amount of information is gigantic and they have only scratch the surface of it. However, information about Special Region was found, although very limited.

The actual name of the planet is Spes, its only moon is Addi and the Sun is Uros. Spes was a secret location and one of the last planets left before the Reaper completely wiped out the Prothean Empire. They were testing on various species abducted from many worlds to produce hybrid warriors as well as researching magic for millions of years. Human, at the time was Homo habilis, was only brought to the planet 2 million years ago and was merged with many other races to create the dwarf, elves, orcs and many other humanoid races found by the UNE.

Novea Castle was an observation post manned by a team of Prothean scientists. During the final days of the Reaper war, the Prothean decided to upload all the information about the Reaper and all the technology into the AI Core for the next generation of species to find and have a chance against the Reaper and then committed mass suicide to prevent the Reaper from wiping through the planet.

The green light on his desk starts blinking indicate a coming call, he turns on the holoscreen and see the lead engineer at Novea Castle.

"Report" General Nguyen orders.

"Sir, there's a planetary shield surrounding the planet that we're working on means to turn it off" the engineer reports.

"Why didn't our sensor detected it?" General Nguyen asks.

"It appears to be a mix of technology and magic sir, that's why we don't know how to turn it off yet" the engineer transfer some data about the shield.

"When the fleet arrive we can have them bombard the shield and destroy it" General Nguyen says.

"Negative sir, there are 6 shield generators across the planet that is drawing power from the core of the planet. If we bombard the shield it would try to stabilize by drawing more power from the core and make it cool down to the point of inactiveness" the engineer pulls up a simulation of what will happen "The magnetic field will disappear as well as the atmosphere, everything without a TAC suit will die".

"Find a way to turn it off, so we can have the fleet's support" General Nguyen orders.

"There's a small hole in the shield a few hundred meters South of Fort Alnus sir. We don't know why it is there but it is just big enough for our Bastions to get through" the engineer says.

"Good job, carry on".

--Bastion--

Bastion is a mobile fortress, 1 kilometer (3280 feet) in length, for planetside operations. The Bastions are deployed by carriers and flagships, each can carry mechanized troops, armors, SF-40, gunships and air transports. It is designed to spearhead an invasion of a planet or hold it occupied.

Although lack the firepower of a spaceship, each bastion has a powerful shield that can take a tremendous amount of punishment and a solid "wall" of point defense and EW suites.

--East wall, Italica--

"What are those?" Pina asks her knights as the strange floating wagons approach "They are definitely not bandits, but how did they get pass the patrol?".

"Those wagons are floating…and horseless, are they using magic?...are they…no" Hamilton shaking up

"What?" Norma asks.

"They could be the other worlders" Hamilton says looking at Pina.

"If they are then we will be fighting 2 enemies at once, this is bad news your Highness" Grey says staying calm.

"It looks like there are few of them, if we ride out now and overwhelm them we might just eliminate the threat" Norma says

"Patient young knight, it could be a trap" Grey stops Norma.

"Invite them in" Pina says.

"Your Highness?" Grey looks at Pina being surprised as everyone else.

"You heard me, invite them in" Pina explains "If the rumors are true, they destroyed 400 thousand Imperial troops and killed the Flame dragon then maybe they can help us defeat the bandits".

"But your Highness, can we trust them?" Grey asks.

"Of course we cannot, but if they come here they must want the wealth of Italica and in order to take it they have to prevent the bandits to plunder the city" Pina continues to explain "I will offer me, Princess of the Empire, as their prisoners with the condition that they spare your lives and the lives of thousands innocent down there"

"Your Highness, I beg you to reconsider…" Norma trying to change Pina's mind.

"Wait, there's someone coming out of the wagon" Grey calls out.

"A faceless woman in strange armor, an elve, a young blue hair mage and…by the gods it's Rory Mercury" Hamilton is shocked seeing Emroy's apostle is with the enemy.

"If Rory Mercury is with them then they must be honorable warriors, I would rather be their prisoner than be captured by those filthy bandits. It is my will, OPEN THE GATE!" Pina tells the guards to open the gate.

As Ava approaches the gate with the girls, the massive gate slowly opens revealing 4 figures in fancy armor who seem to be some sort of knight and a few legionaries waiting to greet them. Scan from TAC suit shows that the 2 girls in armor are very young, the one in golden armor seems to be important.

Pina looks around and see that everyone is looking at her nervously. She feels the weight of the situation crushing upon her, if she is wrong and the other worlder slaughter everyone in the city then it would be her legacy. The naïve Princess that brought the enemy in to slaughter innocents.

The group is getting closer as Pina can hear the blue hair girl talk about the history of the city and that she had never been here but she read about it a lot. The leading woman has her face covered by her helmet so Pina can't tell if she is interested in the story or not. As the group stop in front of her, Pina can see the strange black staff that the woman is holding and she can guess it is their weapon of some sort. Shake the thought she put on the shiniest smile.

"Welcome to the city of Italica!" Pina say as she steps forwards "I am Pina Co Lada, 3rd child of the Emperor, Princess of the Empire. I welcome you to this place".

"I am Commander Ave Bennett of the United Nations of Earth, it's an honor to meet you, your Highness" Ava looks around the ruins and continues "It seems like you're in trouble".

Pina also looks at the ruins and then turn to Ava "Ah yes, I would like to discuss about that with you too. Please come in"

Seeing that Pina is staring at her helmet with a confused and scared look, Ava dematerialize her helmet's front revealing her face which startle everyone.

"She's beautiful Grey" Norma whispers to Grey.

"Quiet boy, she is, but she is also an enemy" while Grey agree with Norma, he as an experienced soldier and a good one know it is no time to let their guard down.

"Lead the way Princess" Ava signal the convoy to move into the city gate.

"HQ, this is Hermes lead, we have identified an enemy royalty and she's willing to talk. Will update you on the situation. Over" Ava reports to HQ.

"Copy that Hermes lead. Over" Chris responds.

As Pina lead the group through the town, the people looks at Ava and the SIFs with wary and terrified eyes. She can see the desperation in their eyes. However, when they see Rory, they immediately on their kneel and start pray to her. Ava knows that apostle are respected but this is the first time she witness it.

"Miss Rory, how long have you been with these people? What do you think about them?" Pina asks Rory as they are walking.

"Hmm, I've only been with them for a few days. They have a lot of strange devices" Rory then looks at Ava "But they are sooooo mean to me, they wouldn't let me sleep to noon".

"Hey, I did say the time we will be going a day before" Ava says with a commanding tone.

"Yes ma'am, whatever you say" Rory giggle.

"What?" everyone are surprised, Pina asks in confusion "You mean Rory takes order from you?".

"That is correct, I'm the commander of this unit" Ava replies "This is my second in command Lieutenant Commander Ashely Le, Lieutenant Rob Anderson, Jimmy Parson, David Smith" Ava introduce the lead members of her unit.

"This is Rory Mercury as you have already know, Tuka Luna Marceau, Lelei Lalena and that boy in our APC is Lucas" she then introduce the girls and Lucas.

"So why are you here? Are you here to conquer the city?" Grey asks Ava.

"We are here to trade" Ava continues "the bags you saw we unload from our vehicles are wyvern scales, we're here to trade them and we would like to have a peace talk with the leader of this city".

The conversation continues on various topics until they reach a big room with a map of the city. Ava can clearly see that is a tactical map of the situation of the city. Although some intel about their enemy are missing, she is impressed with how accurate it is given the lack of high-tech surveillance equipment.

After a while discussing the strategy, Ava agrees that the UNE will help defend the city in return that head of house Formal and Princess Pina must agree to a peace talk.

The sun is coming down and almost out, Ava have the Princess to wait outside while she contacts HQ and requests for reinforcement.

"HQ, this is Hermes lead, be advised that we are going to help defend the city. Requesting reinforcement. Over" Ava reports.

"Hermes lead this is General Nguyen, we have missiles on standby ready for launch on your signal" General Nguyen says.

"Negative HQ, this is a good opportunity to put on a show of force and show the royalty and nobility of the enemy what we capable of. It might scare them enough to surrender on our terms, requesting shock and awe operation at the AO. Over" Ava explains.

"Good thinking Hermes lead, shock and awe operation authorized. Operation Fire Angel is a go. Over" General Nguyen continues "Our forces will be there by morning Commander, air assets are on high alert and ready to assist when called. Over".

"Copy that HQ. Over" Ava replies then start ordering her unit to move into positions as discussed earlier with the Princess and Grey.

--Spes High orbit--

Multiple wormholes open and exiting from them are the ships of the 9th Terra Fleet. Coming out of the wormhole and dropping out of the speed of light each ship creates a shockwave when they stop.

Admiral Owen Hackett standing on his bridge looking at the holographic image of Spes and Uros system. He orders the Bastions to be deployed and tells Comms Officer to open a line to UNE forces on the planet.

"This is Admiral Owen Hackett of the 9th Terra Fleet to Fort Alnus. The fleet is here".