Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 64: ISR Collection

Milano and Miher sat in front of a digital projection of Brishan. Vale and Thema watched with interest as the two generals were able to manipulate the map for a better viewing angle.

"Interesting, the humans of their world have emulated what mana projection can do." Tryasche said with his arms folded. It was then that Milano looked to the Dragons. "I have pulled up the map as you requested. Now, please show me where my men are."

Vale and Thema uttered words in dragon tongue, and large circles of mana indicated multiple locations on the map. The air shimmered as the red outlines came into focus. Milano’s eyes widen as he counted the number. The Dragons had told him there were only ten.

There were twenty.

The air felt heavy on Vale’s chest as he looked at the scene on the map. "We must reconvene and discuss the increased numbers with our kin." He said gravely. "We cannot leave the fate of our race to the children."

Thema shook his head. "Brother, waiting will only further the progression towards our end."

Tryasche sighed as he looked at Milano. "Forgive us, General. The mana distortions from revealing the circles seems to have addled my brothers’ brains." He then turned to look at the map, standing up. "I believe some are fake." He said quietly, the air around his eyes shimmering with the same glow the map had earlier. "They are certainly learning." He mumbled as his hand turned into a claw. "Ishtra, Lumen, Hecas."

Three words, and half the circles disappeared. "We were not wrong after all."

A collective sigh of relief washed over the room. Milano studied the map as Tryasche returned his hand to normal. The General walked over, standing next to the king.

"I believe the best course of action is to collect information from afar, is it not?" Tryasche said as he turned to Milano. "We need to confirm the presence of enemy forces as well as find your men." Milano nodded, crossing his arms.

"There is only one problem with that, your majesty." Milano said. "We will have to get closer. My birds can’t fly that far out."

Eric walked in, taking his seat as he looked at the leaders of both factions.

"Dryer, here is the status report." Milano said as he gave Eric an outline of what had been discovered. Eric took notes quietly, putting the pen down after the brief.

"Sir, I think this is a trap." He said bluntly as he walked over to the map. He studied it before turning to his notes, referencing them as he spoke. "The locations you described to me, specifically at the town of Gilbrest, are all in open terrain." He continued as he looked at the remaining circles. "It is too clean. Prince Heith likely know about the dragon presence here. He tried to destroy us with the various uses of the Brios. Based off of those patterns, he likely wishes to draw us in to an open field, and then use a similar asset to the Brios in order to target whatever echelon we send for rescue."

Seeing the leaders silent, Eric continued. "I think our men are being held in the central city of Brishania." He said, his eyes dead as he studied the map. "That location is surrounded by mountains and lies in the middle of where four valleys intersect."

Vale finished for him. "It also holds the highest concentration of mana."

Milano listened to Eric finish and reviewed his own notes. "Dryer, we have had four engagements with Prince Heith’s forces thus far. I think that while your analysis is solid, we do note have enough data for pattern trend analysis." The commander stood up and began circling areas on the map. "These twenty circles were where all the circles originally showed on the map. He has changed the tactics from each battle, but one element remained steady."

"Diversion."

Milano looked at Brishania. "I think the Prince wants us to believe the soldiers are there. The centrality of the city allows them to focus assets towards it, and the canalizing terrain on the passes leading to the valleys leads to natural kill boxes. He will use those advantages to target us like we did him. In the last battle he used our own tactics against us. I think that if we head down those passes, the same thing happens."

Vale spoke up. "General, we have been observing the Empire for five hundred years, and while you are correct, bear in mind that most Generals in the Empire prepare brute force and overwhelming numbers for engagements. I want to raise a counterpoint to both yourself and your soldier."

"What if the force your battalion encountered was not one of Prince Heith’s units?" Vale studied one of the reports he had laying in front of him. "My subordinates told me that your unit encountered a Brios that was largely unguarded save for a few mages? From what we know of Heith, that is not how he operates. Furthermore, he would not deploy so many Llrathels at once. After his defeat from your unit a few months ago, he would not escalate into a full force on force engagement."

Miher stood up, pacing the room with his hands clasped behind his back. "Gentlemen, we can sit here all day and debate over which course of action the enemy has taken, but that will do us no good." He turned towards Milano and Eric. "You both brought good points, but remember, this is not Earth. We do not have the luxury of being wrong and calling in an airstrike" He then turned to the dragon elders. "What would you suggest we do? We know that we need to observe from a distance, but to get there, we will have to travel at least four day’s time to get our capabilities close enough to do so."

Eric looked at Milano and nodded. While Eric didn’t think it was necessary to be reminded that this wasn’t Earth, he knew what Miher was saying.

"Alright. We send a team consisting of young dragons and drone operators with Dryers’ HUMINT section." Milano looked at Eric.

"Dryer."

Eric sighed as images of a cat woman and the newest addition to his family flashed through his head.

"I’ll do it."

At home, no one spoke. Jessica sat in the corner, her headphones on full blast as tears rolled down her cheeks. Eric had tried to comfort the young woman, but she had pushed back repeatedly, and finally shut down. Mana fluctuated around her as she cried, and she pulled a blanket over her head. "Leave me alone." She whispered, not wanting to say goodbye again. He had just gotten back from a mission, and now? He was going on another one. Her heart broke as images of the worst imaginable scenarios rolled through her thoughts.

Mia watched Eric as he walked into the room. She was folding clothes as she sighed. "What time are you leaving?" She whispered quietly.

He sat down on the bed. "Should I just...

Quit?"

His body trembled as he remembered the feeling of helplessness watching the Brios charge up. His body was like lead as his breathing pushed him against the bed. His throat tightened as his words came in gasps. "We..." He couldn’t finish the sentence, his eyes searched Mia’s for the answers he desperately needed. Jessica’s reaction to his leaving was more than he could handle, the brick wall he felt between his adopted daughter and himself weighed more on him than any bullet could.

Mia laid down on his chest. "Shh. Don’t say another word. Hold me." She guided his hands to her stomach.

"Our child needs you." She said gently.

A slight pause as she thought about what to say next.

"But our family needs a safe world."

Eric sighed as he held her stomach. The baby kicked, causing Mia to exhale sharply. "That was my rib." She said while chuckling. Eric laughed too, coming to his senses. He remembered their vows. When the world he carried got too heavy, she would be there to help him shoulder the burden.

"I love you." He responded, kissing her forehead.

Jessica came into the room, her headphones now off as she joined them in bed. She snuggled up to them, and the small family sat in silence until it was time for Eric to leave.

Back at Hood Hill, Eric dropped his Go bag in the trunk as he stood outside of his truck. He leaned against the hood while lighting a cigarette. Michael walked up. His face was covered in lipstick. Eric smirked as his eyebrow arched. "Don’t." The newly promoted Captain growled as he pulled out field wipes.

"Young love." Eric teased, chuckling as the rest of the team gathered around them. There were some snickers in the back, but Eric ignored them.

"Alright, General Milano has made the missive very clear here. This is not an engagement. This is recon. We will drive directly into enemy territory. If we get engaged, we are to retreat. NOTHING in this mission is worth your life. We are not heroes. I trained you all better than that."

He turned to the Young Dragons, his eyes cold. "Am I clear?" The dragons responded by gulping, retreating slightly as they nodded. "Yes Master Sergeant!" They squeaked in unison. "Good. Get in the trucks." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

After starting the truck and getting into gear, Michael looked at Eric in shock. "What did you do to them?" Eric chuckled and looked at his captain.

"I was given permission to whip them into shape, so I did."

Seeing that all trucks were ready, he grabbed his mic.

"Go."