[===============]

12 km away from Diamond beach, the kingdom of Elijah

8:23 AM, September 12, 2021.

Lindor 22, of 679.

USS Essex.

The sun is shining brightly in the sky, and roaring engines can be heard across the flight deck. As the loud chatter of commands within the bridge reports done towards the flight deck and the sight of a busy deck, expeditionary marines board on V-22 Osprey. The captain is perplexed as to how everything happened in less than two months.

On the other hand, it was strange that a change of expression towards Elijah's kingdom had America now willing to aid them in a war they had discussed many times, and the only reason they had to arrive in San Francisco was to ensure that seeing people with long ears didn't make them enemies. The captain was a mix, although having attended isn't an attack but a mistake on their part, having the power of magic and the ability to wipe out the entire US with their magic.

The ability to open portals and dragons, these fantasy monsters if the Chinese got to them, had him wondering if America didn't take on their offer of helping them in their new world, it would be different from what he was currently acting, likely fighting against the Chinese or Russians in Ukraine frontlines, seeing their potential uses he was still dumbfounded what made them want aid from a foreign yet have the abilities li Nah, the captain recognizes that 2020 will be an eventful year.

With that concluded that he walked back inside the bridge after taking his short smoke break, everyone on the bridge saluted his arrival as he simply said: "Continue" everyone went into motion as the captain got back up into his chair. The mission was simple and short, their 13th expeditionary marines will first take and clear the beachside before the main marine forces landed before them, alongside them Colonel Ross would take part as prior reports from Washington informed that representatives would be present on the beach scheduled for the landing.

As the elevator carrying the F-35B descends on the hangar, the engines of the V-22 Osprey become more audible, and one officer approaches the captain to inform him of the following information:

"Sir, all birds are fueled and ready! We will commence on your orders, sir!”

The captain looks at his wristwatch and sees that they have 5 minutes until they arrive at Diamond Beach. He looks over to XO and nods, having previously observed the ospreys packed and ready.

“Very well then, commence launch.”

“Right away sir!”

The deck crew clears out as the ospreys' engines roar, gradually increasing their lift. The five atop the USS Essex move to the side, their exhaust blowing away the waters, which fades as all five begin to fly closer to the beach two kilometers away. They could see the beach not far away from here from the bridge. The captain scans the men, hoping it isn't something they had considered earlier. The dangers of this new world: this isn't the Pacific or Atlantic oceans; it's an ocean from another world. By looking over at the war, the ocean can tell; it appears deeper than any other.

And the continent's landmass in front of him appears quite unnatural and seeing it with his own eyes, he can't believe it's real. His forces are now willing to undertake a military operation beyond "Earth". It's a thrilling time to be alive.

Witnessing the marines aboard USS Essex sent out, hundreds of marines aboard USS Portland, James, and many marines watch as they lead on towards the diamond beach. Over five ships in this small expeditionary force yet more to come once the landing zone is a success viewing such a scene, marines chuckle some whistled at the presence of flying Osprey:

"Fuckers' got lucky, they get to be the first to land on the beach, just seeing this landmass is making fucking going nuts man! first in history that the marine corp gets to fight in some fantasy shit!"

The marine next to James was irritated that their forces would arrive an hour later after colonel Lt. Colonel Theodore Ross gave the rest of the 2nd and 5th marines permission to proceed with the landing operation. James wasn't bothered by the fact that they'd be out of the boat for quite some time. While the rest of the marines gathered to watch as more helicopters left the deck, James went back inside the hangar to prepare for their landing sequence, but because he was part of a rubber landing craft platoon, he would disembark via rubber craft.

He takes a short walk down below on the deck to observe officers with radios reporting down to the crew of AVVs amphibious vehicles, many of which are in formation as Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) crews, hauling in humvees and trucks inside the vehicle. Just an hour away, it was quite a scene for the lieutenant. They would also arrive. Closer to the end of the countdown, Robert Owlman informed him that he should meet up with his fire team platoon.

Having remembered that, he proceeded to the ship's upper decks, taking another room, the briefing room, which was crowded with lieutenants and officers. The only voice he could hear inside the officer quarters was Robert Owlman's, calling out to all officers present, many of whom were standing in the corner or beside the wall, while the rest sat. They all turned to look at Robert, many of them saying, "Yes, sir!" as they were called one by one. With so many people called in, James noticed a map of the beach behind Robert, similar to the one he had.

Lt Colonel Theodore Ross briefed the back at the hangar deck, passing each Robert face to James.

"James Anderson Lillian, Lieutenant?"

"Sir, yes that is me!" Robert chuckled and set the board aside before proceeding with the subsequent move over to the briefing. With that settled, Robert immediately continued over.

"Good morning, gentlemen."

Everyone stood up and greeted Robert Owlman right away.

"Good morning, Major Robert Owlman!"

“Morning troops, here is today's assignment.”

After Robert nods back at them, the room falls silent once more, with the air conditioning inside being slightly louder than the men inside, continuing, Robert looks over behind him to a clearer map of Beach Diamond. Robert elaborates on the Marines' focus on this map:

"While our boys back at the USS Essex send out a signal, our mission is to plan out what our forces will do once we take control of the beach and the talks are cleared in."

Robert continues as he catches his breath:

"Lieutenant Colonel Ross had informed me and Captain Joseph Patterson that fox company will land over at this part of this beach while Golf company and Amphibian Battalion will land just behind Colonel Ross, he also informed us that no hostile forces are present at the beach as an I do need to inform you'll all that we will secure the beach for our usage, once secured we’ll await further orders until notice.”

“Seems easy enough.” James understands every bit of it and having summed up that this landing mission is nothing major, this gave him a sigh of relief having believed earlier that it would be filled with hostiles, having Robert inform him about the validity of the situation seems that it would be a walk in park now the only thing they have to do is what goes after the securing the beach and dealing with whatever that throws that them.

Earlier James had acknowledged that marines and the US forces in this new world would convert the best into a large naval base that can allow US warships and supply ships be able to dock without needing to bring supplies via helicopter, that further applies to the airforce and Robert said before they had entered the portal said briefly that it would take less than two months to complete this large airbase which can carry both bombers and large aircraft.

That left James wondering what would the US do to ship the large aircraft to another continent would take a while and, it would be likely that they would detach the aircraft and ship via cargo shipping ship, as this made James wonder about the future outcomes; Robert continues furthermore, posting in he points his stick towards an untouched field at the northern top.

As stated previously, marine combat engineers and army forces would assist in the construction of the large military base, which would include both naval ports, barracks, and a large airstrip.

James snapped, his mind wandering, and returned his gaze to Robert. Robert gestures to the space:

"Colonel Ross also informed us that by the third day in 002, we will be escorted to Elijah's capital by our friends representing the kingdom of Elijah. Please be on your best behavior when visiting the residents of the capital, and stay with your platoon at all costs, as fireteam leaders will undoubtedly count your fireteam members!"

"Sir yes sir!"

Major Robert is relieved to hear this, hoping that by the time they reach the mainland and the capital, nothing worse than he had predicted will happen. Major Robert urges the lieutenants in addition to hoping that their captain will keep their marines on the frontlines.

"Take note people, any misbehavior, such as disturbing the locals or attempting to bring anything from the new world back to the United States, is punishable by law."

“Affirmative sir.”

"Be advised! Any demeanor examples like disturbing the locals or being caught attempting to bring anything from the new world back to the United States are punishable by law! Remember if say representatives of Elijah had reported any of our fireteam platoons doing shit it's also your responsibility to warn his actions, I swear to christ that nothing major on the blue!"

“Sir yes sir!”

Many of the lieutenants understand what Major Robert had advised them and took into note having to know that even in a new world their actions would issue for the locals and even the news reports, it's likely that any controversial events the news would rail upon the government for anything out from the blue, it wasn't the same as before which ZNN, Pig news or even DEF News would rail over the UMC.

After finishing the briefing for the marines forcing the "Fox Company," it appears that getting the signal from colonel Ross to allow the marines to land at the diamond beach would be preferable. However, after many "discussions," a second diplomatic visit would take place once the marines had completed their mission and returned to Elijah's capital. He turned around and responded.

"You're all dismissed; do whatever you want."

Following many of the officers left the briefing room, leaving Robert alone as he thought but staying behind was James himself, seems that even with a different ranking of officers both are still friends it just that if James hasn't done that he would be the same as him but why he thought, but at the end, it was the from pass now, continuing after Robert asks:

"Do you have anything specific in mind?"

He asked James, gazing back at him with a mutual look both Robert and James were best of friends yet since this operation the tension could be felt in both men for this operation, yet both were confident that it would succeed for the marines and the United States landing into this new world, James glanced back towards Robert he had nothing in mind and thought it would be reasonable to ask minor questions:

"It's not much, but you have to wonder what lies beyond those beaches—maybe guerilla fighters?"

Robert and James were reasonably uncertain about what would lay beyond the beaches, even with their advanced technology surprises would come and go, and Robert was sure that a likelihood of a guerilla war wouldn't materialize with the investment of drones and war experience. But the two were less paranoid about it and simply chuckled knowing those odds are low.

“Heh, but I don’t think anything like that would happen, odds of that happening is unlikely James.”

"There's nothing to see but trees and people," I say, and when we get to the other side, it'll be the same as it is in Iraq. So don't give it much thought, and please, for the love of God, don't smite yourself if you see a flying dragon.

James was surprised that his major would be joking at this time of matter, but it also made him chuckle, and they decided to sit, both looking over at the board as the room was cold and quiet, both just staring towards the board filled with maps and coordination over at the landing position for the marines.

However, Robert was less interested in changing the subject; as his longtime friend, the recent news of James' father's death seemed a more sensitive topic to inquire about, especially as James continued to wonder what had happened.

"How are your parents doing?" He asked slowly, James remained silent, and Robert was uneasy, but the quite long and tight-lipped woman began to lament his question, to which James, surprisingly, replied.

"Good. " To be honest, the situation isn't going to be easy for me; the bills for my father's funeral aren't going to be easy for me; the marines aren't paying as much as I need and I'd have to double up my time from what I had expected; hell, mom doesn't even want to pay him; and my siblings have simply removed our father's existence as if it were nothing."

The news of James' father's death had left him somewhat alone, with Robert assuming that his passing had made him depressed and the family more hostile towards him.

"I can understand that," Robert says as he pats his back. He responded that he couldn't bring a good solution to James' current situation because it would cause more than just a family issue for him and would be better dealt with by actual counselors willing to repair this broken family, but he also didn't want to allocate him a ground method of a current military operation plan because James is more than a lieutenant but a good friend since fighting in Iraq, he continues:

"How is your family?"

In a saddened tone, James chuckled, "Not good..." His relationship with his mother is deteriorating as a result of what happened before the gate was opened, and his siblings have not spoken to him since his father was hospitalized.

"Liam hasn't talked to me since my father was hospitalized; he didn't ask me many questions but still blamed me for something I didn't do." "She blocked me, and I'm not sure what I should do at this point," Ajax said.

James' voice comes off like he was upset during the whole ordeal, alone and just to see this new world, it could nothing change the fact that his family will be gone for good if there's nothing that could fix it he was miserable, Robert could see it from his emotion nothing could fix that but there's a likely chance that when they return from combat maybe a silent chance they could fix this whole circumstance. Neither less to say, Robert, muttered out:

"At times when people blame you for something that isn't your fault, you can prove yourself by being confident in saying that. Just don't cry about it and tell your people your side of the story. Maybe JUST maybe you can fix this."

Robert replied with a better hope for James to fix his family problems, it gave James a slight hope gazing back at him with a smile as he chuckled at it replying with a compliment reply.

"Thank you, man."

Robert was pleased to catch a glimpse of a desiring man wanting peace inside of him, figuring that it was better to have him learn that there is more to life. He appears to have finished their small conversation, and just looking across the room at the clock at more than 2:10 PM, it appears that phase two is approaching. Robert gets up, but not before groaning as he turns back to James:

"James, you should go to your regiment right now; we'll be out like a swarm of bees in no time; I'll see you on the beach."

Robert then walks over to the door in the far corner of the room. He's getting out, but not before closing the door behind him, leaving James alone in the silent meeting room; he could hear his heartbeat.

Closing his eyes, he saw the cold silence turn into a yelling, shouting fight as his brother and sister held their mother away from him around the floor, where dirt and broken shards from the broken vase littered the living room.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?!"

Robert then walks over to the door in the far corner of the room. He's getting out, but not before closing the door behind him, leaving James alone in the silent meeting room; he could hear his heartbeat.

Closing his eyes, he saw the cold silence turn into a yelling, shouting fight as his brother and sister held their mother away from him around the floor, where dirt and broken shards from the broken vase littered the living room.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?!"

The words faded, and he seemed to be able to only walk away from the door the last time he had ever heard from them; neither his siblings nor any relatives from his mother's side had ever spoken to him since then. He was broken and depressed. He was disappointed that he couldn't go explain everything that had happened, but he knew that she didn't bother to listen, and that the rest of the group could.

He was relieved to know that Robert was there to help him, even though he was not an expert in these fields, but he was there enough to listen to and express his family's problems, and he muttered it out.

"That damn bastard."

The news was received over the ship at 2:20, leading James to rise up. It appears that it was the time that marines were deployed over the new grounds and the day, and it was a historical occasion that would likely be forgotten in this new world, he joked.

James does not appear to mind that it is likely that anyone who wants their name to be recognised will completely forget about it, which is a problem for very few individuals. The United States itself didn't appear on this planet to aid a nation in need of protection and support against a merciless empire; it appears that it was more than that. It would seem that it would be better to be a side character than a protagonist, but having realized the circumstances at hand, it appears that it was more than that.

Understanding history shows that wars that haven't involved America are undoubtedly not in their self - interest, which means that the marines and the government itself had arrived for the new world, figuring that being the first to respond and being calmer than most, the total country over the portal and the entrances around it, gives them an advantage over the political spectrum, with the Chinese and Russians now begging the White House to open the gate.

However, there was no reply. James is likely to receive a warning if any mention of the new world is made back to the mainland, thus it is best to keep it quiet and not bring it up ahead. Although their battalion leaders haven't yet given them a warning along such lines, it won't be long before they caution them against discussing their operation in the new world.

"Welcome to the shitter."

He murmurs as he steps out of the conference room and turns out the lights.

[================================]

Diamond beach, Eastern region of the kingdom of Elijah.

11:20 Pm September 12, 2021.

Lindor 22, of 679.

The majority of those who went to the beach to amuse themselves were nobles; not even the peasant could ever have such a thing. Many fled the stressful environment they now enjoyed at the beautiful, crystal blue beach despite the fact that their allies, neighbors, and even their own country were invaded.

Silla Himalayan stands out among the other aristocrats, her chest covered and her skin whiter and cleaner than most nobles' looking over towards the glistening seas. Since the speech at the capitol, when her father's army was routed back in the kingdom of Gallimard, she had become a stunning but difficult-to-manage elf. She was furious since the death of her father had reduced the size of her territory, and she reasoned that a deal with these "Americans" had made the situation questionable.

Even though the conflict is only a little more than two months old, her kingdom's forces outside of the Foreign Army Division currently total around 45,000 soldiers, and many people believe that number to be lower. For this reason, the queen was forced to request assistance from a nation that was not even on this planet.

"How and who are these people??"

Silla simply sighed as she took a huge glass of water from the table next to her and drank it while looking back over the ocean. Her time to unwind would soon come to an end as a young elf lad in a suit and tie appeared behind Noble Silla and started reciting his lines.

"Lady Silla, I have news to share!

Silla responds when her attention is drawn by his cry from behind her:

Has my new pair of sneakers arrived? "I've already waited for more than four days."

But the messenger lad kept going because he was perplexed.

"Dear lady! As soon as they arrived at the diamond beach, Captain Valerie of the First Royal Guard regiment and members of the Elijah Parliament were waiting for you, dear lady!

She hadn't anticipated it. She quickly sprang up and cried back, "What?" She was astonished to hear, "Why didn't you give me a notice?" She was perplexed, and upon the messenger's startling arrival, she turned around to discover that, in fact, the Elijah government's representative, Captain Valerie, was standing behind the messenger, riding a horse and wearing their heavy armor. She rushes over her bare feet as she moves fast in their direction, insisting on the discomfort because of how hot the sand was. She salutes the captain as she scans her.

"Captain! Why was your arrival not announced to the parliament? I could have at least made something.

She screams, but Valerie doesn't respond and continues:

Despite obviously having a border conflict and many of our forces losing their lives while witnessing you upper class people play life like it's nothing, I admire having a sizable amount of our nobility invited to this type of beach gathering.

Even though Valerie had never seen the front lines during the invasion and was outraged that these nobility were merely passing the time as their country was being attacked by the empire from the north, Silla noticed her expression and understood she wasn't having it and responded.

How dare you say we, the nobles, haven't done anything for this country? "My father sent his forces, and now he is at the grand house resting from the wounds he had received back at the Gallimard defence; those people are mindless, and the general's incompetence was what had caused him to no longer walk!”

Silla cried outraged by the insult, but Valerie's expression says nothing as she gazes around the perimeter to see it is an open spot and decent overall for the discussions to talk with what she had retrieved his name as 'Theodore Ross' believing behind Silla is the best spot she fazes behind to her rest of her royal guard men carrying tents and tables a snap from her finger, with no questions ask the quickly went over.

As the men began to construct the tent, Valerie was pleased to know and Silla looked back and gave her the stink eye, as she was annoyed by the fact that she was ignored by captain Valerie and could only reply with a smug face.

Despite being a royal guard captain her close ties with the Queen had her also permitted to act Representative with Valerie having once learned being a good leader means having good communication when it comes to formal discussion, would too have to speak towards the Colonel ross as this was quite nerve-racking but they are allies, not enemies just making sure that for her it goes as plan and allowing the marines to land and run threw this operation.

As her men begin placing down the tent, Valerie gazes over towards the rest of the nobles enjoying the sun, while looking over towards them she speaks over to Silla:

"have these people cleared out the beach, they will arrive any minute now."

Silla wasn't keen on having to be bossed around by Valerie but, with the recent reports at hand it was best to follow along with the command and proceed after as the even like this it's better not to intervene in political enactments, She proceed with the request walking over to the small umbrella covering some from the heat of the sun, she proclaims out:

"Attention! I request that all clear out the beach for the arrival of the delegates of the United States!"

She yelled out loud, some hearing this request immediately took in quickly grabbing their belongings as many of the few remaining cleared the beach away for the request from Valerie and Silla. As many got out there, few stubbornly remaining at the beach, Silla quickly noticed them and went towards them.

"Have you not heard what I said? Under the request from captain Valerie, you must ~"

"Clear the beach' I don't care, Lady Silla." the old woman said in a sharp tone. "I for one had a very busy day back at the fields having to watch over the crop numbers and the situation over the war. It seems that a better deserved relaxation is needed for a maiden like me!"

The old elvan woman seems to not care if it was an engagement between two forces and only priority on her vacation even if the presence of the royal guards and many of the parliament. This attitude had Valerie very irritated, getting down from her horse she quickly walked over towards her and grabbing behind her, she quickly yanked her out from the laying bench as the women looked up at her shocked and horrified that a royal guard would do such a thing.

"HOW DARE YOU~!"

She couldn't finish her sentence, Valerie gives a hard slap to the woman as she looks over back at Valerie and grabs hold of her old woman's shoulders, raising her from the ground.

"How dare you, Lady Eyadi! Disobeying the order from the royal guard and showing your expression towards the royal parliament I would have your noble title seized by now!"

The old woman was in shock, she was breathing heavily and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry my lady! Please let go of me!"

She cries out, and the old lady begins to sob over and dropping her she lands over at the sad as if not picking herself up, the lady cries over from what she had experienced, Silla looked over for the hold ordeal and figured what made captain Valerie so feared, it was her no-nonsense attitude and the reason why she is captain of the royal guards 1st regiment and given the title, "black heart lady."

As Valerie looked over at the ocean, across the horizon appearing at the sky, two gray hovering metal beasts appeared getting closer and closer. It sounds so too getting louder, and gazing back she yells out.

"The Americans are coming!"

She yells, the parliament shortly after all went over to the tent as many remaining royal guards go towards captain Valerie and even silla gets close to the captain to see what is arriving over, they gazed over their comments variety.

"What is that captain?'

"My heavens, that isn't a wyvern!"

They were getting close the beat didn't have any wings but these blades rotating around them feared everyone except captain Valerie, The beast was made of steel, the flag painted at the tail and the sounds of the rotary blades had many intimidated, the sand and many things around the beach flew away the men and the guards covering, what is that they are even glimpsing upon.

The helicopter arrived at the beach, dust and the powerful roaring engines this beast heard and the landing down over, it was a CH-53E Super Stallion and the rotating blades begins to calm down as the royal guards didn't have to cover their faces from the arriving marines, the rear hatch begins to open down, captain Valerie was confident walking love towards the hatch it opens more as appearing, four personal was seen as the captain looks over with a smile.

Coming out, a man wearing some kind of camouflage uniform his ranking and insignias were far different from the ones she had known, and he was a bit taller than she had informed and in his mouth, he was smoking a Cuban cigar as the colonel saluted over Captain Valerie who then introduced himself.

"I am Lt Colonel Theodore Ross, CO of 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, callsign is Hound and I'll be representing the few commanders operating on this special territory."

Despite his appearance, captain Valerie was pleased by his introduction, and quickly after did the same.

"Captain Valerie Vanguard, captain of the 1st Royal guard regiment and a representative of a royal parliament."

Gazing over her appearance, Ross was shocked to see that she wasn't a human at all, but an elf! Her chest is made huge and wearing some kind of medieval armor and it was at it that he wasn't informed of something from the briefing.

More over looking over at the tent behind Valerie she quickly escorts the marines over towards the tent, and having said many things would be given out for the operations in the new world.