Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 62: Dragon factions

A young woman stood in front of a desk addressing an older man. "Father, we have been sitting in this realm for five hundred years. The humans have shown they can fight back and destroy the circles! Why must we wait? We have the chance to fight back!"

The man stood up, walking over to the red haired woman. "Felicity, you are so much like your mother. It pains me daily to see her eyes reflected in yours."

He walked over to the window as he stared out past the mountains. He watched as birds of steel rose into the sky. From reports he heard, they were not run on mana, but fuel. "Very well, child. The man said as his form took shape. A massive black dragon stood where he had.

"Vale and Thema, accompany me. We shall see what these humans beyond the gate bring."

As the helicopter landed, Eric stepped out with General Miher as he looked around. Every soldier in the vicinity was looking up. "I know apaches are cool, but...

What the fuck?" He saw the three dragons making their way towards Hood Hill. Eric sighed as he looked at Miher. "I told you there were dragons, sir."

The dragons landed approximately half a football field away before morphing into their human forms. "These are elders." Eric remembered what Mia said about Elder dragons, "the older they look, the older and more powerful they are." Each dragon walking towards them looked dignified and they carried an air of elegance. Mana circled around them, red or blue motes of light floating peacefully around their suit and ties.

The man in the middle stepped forward, offering a bow. "Good afternoon Gentlemen. My name is Dragon King Tryasche. I think we can help each other."

General Miher looked at the dragons and scratched his head. "Dryer, translate."

Eric sighed. "He said his name is Dragon King Tryasche. He claims that we can help each other."

Miher locked eyes with the Dragon King, offering his hand. "Tell him my name and invite him inside the battalion footprint. We will discuss more there."

Once inside the command room, both sides eyed the other coldly. The Dragon King met Milano and Miher’s eyes, while Eric stood in the middle, acting as mediator and interpreter.

Miher began the meeting. "What is it you wished to speak about? I am unaware thus far of anything our side has done to interact with yours."

A slight pause followed as Eric translated.

Tryasche thought for a moment before responding.

"We dragons had long been the protectors of this world, seeking balance and guidance for the mortals. That balance broke upon the governance of the Cartharic empire. For five hundred years they have wrought havoc and power on the world, claiming each piece as if collecting marbles.

Until your unit arrived through the threshold that stands between worlds. If the empire is a fiery pit of chains, you are the shears that cut them. We seek your ability to destroy those chains, and can offer the whereabouts of your men taken by the empire."

After hearing the translation, Miher sat back in his chair. He ran his hand along the underside of his chin as he studied the three men.

"What would you require in return?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The three dragons shifted in their seats. They kept their eyes level with Milano and Miher.

"Destroy all the Empire’s mana suppression circles. At present, we know of ten. We cannot get close enough to destroy them, but your capabilities far surpass ours with long range targeting."

Milano sat back in his chair as he spoke to the General.

"Sir, I had to use a B-2 to get rid of one. Ten of them may be out of our operational scope for the time being. The empire has already proven they have ADA capability, so we cannot land strike teams in their territory."

Miher paused as he looked at Milano, then back to the Dragon King.

"Dragon King Tryasche, I must apologize. We unfortunately cannot use the same ability to destroy all ten mana suppression circles at once. It is outside our scope of operations for the time being."

Tryasche listened as Eric translated. His brow furrowed as he thought. Vale turned to Tryasche. "My liege, perhaps we can offer transport?"

Thema responded for the king. "That would not work. Human riders take years to train, and no dragon alive would allow humans to ride them after the persecution of the last five hundred years."

Tryasche observed Eric as the latter listened to their conversation. "You are of divine descent?" He questioned, his eyes glowing as he read Eric’s internal mana. "Why do you not go and rescue your men? And the girl? A hero perhaps?"

Eric snorted inwardly at the king’s question.

"I do not know, your majesty. I do know, however, that one man no matter how powerful cannot overtake an entire world. I would not be so brash as to charge dug in fighting positions with a teenage hero who is inexperienced in true conventional warfare. Please forgive my blunt nature."

Tryasche nodded at the man’s response, then turned to Milano and Miher. "I understand you cannot target all ten at once. You also have infrastructure you must protect with limited assets. In that case, I offer a concession. My daughter has not yet integrated into the world. Her mana heart is not so susceptible as those of us elders are. I propose we send small teams after each target.

And the first target will be the one where your men are."

Miher and Milano both leaned forward as the dragon’s words were translated. Milano was taking notes, while Miher looked at Eric.

"I agree with your assessment, Dragon king." The General said while looking at Tryasche. "However, we have assets that can conduct reconnaissance over a period of time. My counter concession is to wait for a week while gathering data. Depending on where this location is, we can then determine who and what to send. After the first mission, depending on success or failure, we can further discuss an alliance at that time."

Tryasche stroked his graying beard as he looked at his advisors. "Vale, what do you think of the General’s proposal?"

"I think this is a wise proposal sire. If we are hasty, we may lose not only a powerful ally, but kin. Our ilk are little in number, and losing just one will not bode well for future generations."

Tryasche turned to Thema. "And you?"

Thema sighed and turned to his king.

"Sire. I see no choice in agreeing to the proposal. By the day we grow closer to chains or extinction. If we are to fly the skies free again, we and these otherworlders must conjoin. They fight for the same goals we do."

Tryasche then turned to the General.

"Very well, we will accept your proposal. On the morrow I will send four of our youth. They are young, but powerful. They will be training with you as you see fit. And none of our kind see humans as weaker, so tarry not on the thought of them subjugating your forces."

Miher nodded while understanding the underlying messages in the king’s speech.

"Very well. I will also ensure that your youth are under our watch while here. We have confidential equipment we do not wish to reveal until such a time as it is deemed necessary."

The two shook hands, and the meeting was adjourned. As they stepped out, Felicity and Jessica were sharing a hug, while Liam was staring at the ceiling.

Jessica, Liam, and Felicity stood outside the door as the meeting was underway. Liam stood next to Jessica, hugging her at the waist while Felicity stared at the two. "Is this the place for that?" She hissed.

Jessica looked over with a grin, her mana pulsing ever so slightly. Liam felt the pulse and sighed. "Babe..." he cautioned.

Felicity felt the taunt from Jessica and released her own pulse. The two women sharing an icy staring contest.

"My Dad took out a brios."

Felicity bristled at the challenge, staring at Jessica.

"Well my father fought against an entire legion so we could escape into our realm."

At that, Jessica toned down her mana. She understood the implication that the dragon woman was saying. "I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been hard. I know the feeling. I was taken from my parents to this world and forced to fight against the denizens of this world simply for scrap meals."

Felicity softened her own glare, her eyes kind and understanding. "Perhaps we are not so different after all." The young woman said gently. "Prison feels the same, no matter what the bars are comprised of."

Liam stood in the middle, confused as what looked like a cat fight had turned into a somber exchange of trials. Feeling his own survival at stake, he stared up at the ceiling. "One, two, three..."

He counted ceiling tiles monotonously as the two women shared tear filled smiles.