Hells Bells

Escalation

March 8th, 2025. Imperial Palace, Kurzen. Arragon Republic.

?: The island was taken, and the Chinese driven out. you did great in rallying the soldiers around you.

?: Good job in securing our interests in the Gods, commander.

?: You earned your medals commander, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

RISHU: You are a cold blooded man, Wyte. What the fuck happened to you?

MAC: DND has screwed you emotions Wyte, you're no longer you.

PETER: It was a choice you couldn't change Wyte, just calm down and think.

?: You're only in that commander seat because of your father. You didn't deserve it.

?: You're a fucking disgrace to that uniform.

?: You didn't deserve those medals.

LITZAIN: Your a brave man, but a broken one.

A knock at the door jolts Wyte from his sleep.

RIVET: Commander Blechin, Vice President Litzain is requesting a meeting with you.

He rubs his face, wiping sweat from his forehead. He checks his watch seeing the time is 0800. Pulling the blanket off himself, he rolls out of bed and begins to put an old service jacket on.

WYTE: Yea, see her in.

RIVET: She should already be in there, sir?

He stops and takes a look at his desk, seeing a woman with long dark hair standing behind it. He blinks at her.

WYTE: Thank you Rivet, you may get on with your day.

Footsteps echo down the hallway and as they begin to fade. The commander gives an annoyed remark towards the woman.

WYTE: Isn't a bit scandalous for the most important woman of Arragon to intrude upon a man's bedroom unannounced?

LITZAIN: It was announced.

Her cold tone told the commander to keep it serious. He wanders over to her while speaking a theory boiling on his mind.

WYTE: My guess is your presence has something to do with the Coliac response on the Minskin Plains?

LITZAIN: If it remained on the Plains, it would be of no concern to involve the Americans.

That statement gave Wyte an uneasy feeling. The feeling is amplified when she points out the balcony window.

 Arragon Capital Rail Yard. 1st Railroad Battalion. Gun Frala.

Originally Written in 2022.

SPOTTER: 86.3 degrees in elevation.

The artillery spotter radios to the operator. The operator turns a wheel, which causes the massive barrel of the gun to rise until reaching the desired elevation.

OFFICER: Load High Explosive Ordnance shell, 63.5-94.2

LOADER: Loading HEO, 63.5-94.2.

The loader moves a stake on one of the many grooves on the warhead. Yelling 87.8 before slamming a hammer onto the stake, denting the groove. The 4 loaders heave the shell onto a loading platform. Another loader runs up pushing a cart with two powder charges on it. A loader spins a wheel that pushes the shell into the gun. Two loaders put the powders onto the loading platform, which they are then pushed into the gun. A loader closes the breach. The loaders run off the gun platform and onto a platform below. The officer radios the spotter to confirm if changes are needed, once everything is set in stone, the officer jumps onto the lower platform. The crew put on their ear protection, and the officer opens a hatch and grabs a cord, grabbing it firmly. He draws a cross on his chest, then pulls the cord.