No Gods, Nor Masters

Artist, Meet Art

FOB Alnus

The Gate stirred awake once more, the reinforced doors opening to a new wave of NATO and Allied Nation volunteers. The number of military assets from across the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had grown substantially in the past few days, to a whopping thirty thousand men and women from across all states. Recently, there was talks of bringing even states that aspired to join NATO.

One such state had already received approval to deploy troops. She now marched her troops through the Gate, the blue and gold flag fluttering in the winds of the new, alien world. AK-74Ms glowed, brand new, in the light of the place's sun and their camouflage uniforms blended well with what would be their new combat environment. T-80UD tanks rolled forward as well, bearing the digital camouflage pattern the country was so known for.

Behind them, came BTR-4s, the variants with 30mm cannons in automated turrets placed square in the center and better armor. Approximately 900 troops and 20 armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces marched on through. General Hazama greeted the Ukrainian Army with a crisp salute, as did the SDF, US, NATO and, surprisingly, CSTO members present.

The Russians seemed rather surprised, considering the very recent history between them and Ukraine. The Ukrainian soldiers, to their credit, spotted the Russians and remained professional, their faces impassive, stern. Eerily, the Eastern European units seemed to greet the Ukrainians most happily. The hundred Hungarians, several hundred Romanians and hundreds of other soldiers smiled and waved at the Ukes.

The officer in charge of the UAF's UN-requested presence dismounted from an armored transport at the back of the formation, then walked up to general Hazama and saluted, stating, "Major Mikhail Shevchenko of the 93rd Mechanized Brigade, at your service, General Hazama. Our boys and girls are eager to join the fight against the Imps." to which Hazama extended his hand. Shevchenko shook it.

"Good to have you here, Major. You and your troops will be a boon to the north-eastern flank," The General replied, before motioning for the man to follow him. The sight of the UAF seemed to garner some surprise from supervising elements of the UNSC present on-site, including Ivanov and some of the Marine friends left here due to the trip their Lieutenant and comrades were taking.

"Well, holy shit..." Murmured Ivanov.

"Damn good to see the Ukes coming about," Taylor quipped. He looked to the confused Ivanov, then stated rather bluntly, "I was helping train these guys a while back. Can you blame me for being happy to see'em? Hell, I think I worked with some of the 93rd during training."

"Good to know, man," Ivanov quipped, then hummed, "I just never thought I'd see the UAF up close."

"Some historical thing, I presume?" Inquired Sergeant Tomita from beside him. Ivanov nodded, then hummed and pulled out a tablet. He extended it to the Sergeant, who began to read through it while Ivanov simply watched the men march forth. Taylor whistled, then looked to Ivanov, stating, "Jeez, man, talk about shitty alternate histories. Thank God our Russia isn't that fucked."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Ivanov replied as he slid his tablet back into his pocket. What he had given the man to read was a short article about a certain event that occurred in 2022, when two Brother Nations went to war over one of them having imperialist ambitions that should have died back in the 1900s when the Soviet Union collapsed. The UAF here seemed to be in the same state their alt-universe UNSC variation was, but without the War to fight.

"Glad we avoided that," Murmured Taylor, shifting his LMG. He paused as he saw General Hazama and the Major of the Uke forces being met by a worried private from the gate post. The young man stopped in front of them, dry-heaving due to having run like a nutjob all the way to them. Ivanov shifted uneasily, gripping his own LMG tightly. If a trooper from the gates ran this much, it was a bad sign.