Hells Bells

Abrupt Conclusions.

Originally written in 2022.

May 1st, 2025.Azur Republic. Azur Dimension.

Super Harriers pass over a republic convoy. The guns of the ships and their defenders open up, damaging a Harrier and destroying another one. The escorting mechs leap out of the water to begin a dogfight with the jets. Explosions then suddenly destroy the newly airborne mechs as the British fleet moves through the ravaging storm, sinking and destroying the enemy force. The last ship of the convoy slips beneath the waves, and the ships of the British Fleet make their way out of the electric storm that shielded them from enemy radar.

Republic Of Azur Capitals Harbor.

The Uss Texas slips into the harbor unopposed, with masses of bombers flying above. The only resistance left to face the aging ship, is an even older lightly armed coal carrier. The ship fires a shot over the bow of the Texas, telling the Texas to withdraw. The Texas responds by obliterating the ship in point blank range with her new 16 inch guns. The last defense of the failed republic rolls over taking the last fanatical members with it. The rest of the American vessels move into the harbor, firing their main guns, knocking down skyscrapers and destroying what little moral a shore defense may have. The firing stops and is replaced with the bombers above dropping their guided munitions over the undefended military targets and civilian infrastructure. Azur will surrender in the following hours, ending a conflict that started out of nowhere and one the Americans didn't want, entangling them in a dimension they wanted to have a limited presence in.

Innerworld. Yensom Imperial Capital. Yensom Federation.

Wyte looks down at the smoldering city below, the helicopters flying lower and lower looking for a place to land. Wyte spots a clearing in the palace courtyard. The Osprey lowers down over the clearing, its experimental jet engines kicking up dirt and debris in the air. The engines power down and the back hatch lowers, the walkers step out first, followed by the diplomatic team.

WYTE: Alright, let me set some ground rules for you diplomates. Number 1, if they ask anything that has to do with military or conflicts, you will call me in. Number 2, If you feel like you are in danger or something doesn't feel right, you are to immediately inform the security detail and leave. Number 3, in any event that you are separated from the security detail or being held hostage, the code word for us to know is albacore. Any questions?

One of the diplomates raises his hand.

WYTE: Good, now get going.

The entourage moves through the ruined doorway to meet with what little government remains. Wyte boards the Osprey and talks to his second in command.

WYTE: From laying siege to villages, to killing special forces, and now waiting on the sidelines for a peace deal. Nothing these days makes sense in the wider picture.

Wyte fixes new lenses on his gas mask.

RISHU: When you jump from dimension to dimension engaging in conflicts that sometimes have no reason for starting, the history and timelines get blurred.

After affixing the new lenses to his gas mask, Wyte unholsters and begins loading his colt single action army, humming to himself.

RISHU: Why were we assigned here?

Wyte stops midway through loading and gives Rishu a concerned look.

WYTE: Did you hit your head or something?

RISHU: No, I'm just wondering... since Litzain herself recommended we stay there.

WYTE: Odin cut a deal with her that in exchange for us being withdrawn, two US army divisions will be put on standby for anything she needs. As you can see Litzain has gotten even more paranoid after that whole incident. Now the reason we're here wasn't fully explained to me, but my guess is it has something to do with project Icarus.

RISHU: Project Icarus?

WYTE: The precursor to Orian, the Japanese and US came to an agreement to start running experiments on the various mythical creatures in the Innerworld, for unknown reasons the project was canceled and the hidden facility was left abandoned, but not destroyed.

RISHU: So we were sent here to recover something from the facility?

WYTE: Most likely that was the original plan when I was informed in March, but with the appearances of more gates rewrote our objective to regular combat operations. We probably won't know our true objective until a month from now.

Rishu puts on her helmet adjusting the chin strap.

RISHU: You know what I think you might be right about things not making sense in the long run.

The air over the federation is firmly in America's control, the federation seeking peace will be the only thing saving it from complete destruction, but of course things nowadays aren't that simple.

May 10th, 2025. Dimension Azur. over the Jungles of Columbia.

ROCKER: We have a visual on the compound.

Australian and American A-10s move in formation, blinding their approach with the rising sun.

ODIN: No radar detected, begin your runs.

ROCKER: Tally Ho.

The A-10s barrel roll out of formation, encroaching on the outstanding metallic structures peeking out of the amazon. The first missiles fly off their wings, they careen towards the structure. The impacts echo throughout the jungle, alerting the base to the warthogs. The ground is then strafed by the A-10s catching the unprepared anti air with their pants down, destroying the little defenses that remained active after the orbital strike the day prior. The aircraft pitch away from the compound as the metal buildings launch into the air to escape the assault. The spacecraft jumped away from the planet back to which they came. Two more spacecraft lift off but before they can jump they are pushed down by the main guns of an American battleship that jumped in a mile away from them. The battleship fires another salvo, destroying the remaining area and causing an ammunition depot to explode, lighting the morning sky in red and green. The A-10s gain altitude and go through portals, the battleship jumps back to base. The chaos that is the alien corruption plaguing Azur has brought upon a foe the aliens had no intention of angering.