“Sir. It says, Captain Reynolds, sir. I’m sorry, sir—”
“Don’t apologize. Just pay attention and don’t let it happen again. Your name, son?”
“Dale. Dale Brown… Sir!”
The captain moved boxes around on her screen and checked a few other boxes and appeared to type something in the air. The screen flashed twice. She read from the screen. “Section Delta. Room 19. Move it.”
Dale turned and looked at Brian.
“Goddamn it, soldier. You’re going to learn to follow your fucking orders.”
“But sir—”
“Don’t but me. Move it, move it, move it!”
Dale rushed off, headed towards the Delta section. He assumed that Brian would show up shortly after him.
...........................
Dale hunted for room 19. He found a series of doors, 16, 17, 18…
“Excuse me, um, sir?” Dale asked a uniformed captain with the name Black on his uniform.
“You lost, son?”
“Um. Yes, sir. I’m supposed to go to room number 19.”
“Nineteen, huh?”
“Yes, sir.” Dale looked at his feet. He felt stupid.
“Well, that’s special operations. Take the hall down to the end and then head up the stairwell, you’ll see it on the right. Take that hallway all the way to the end. Nineteen will be on the left.”
Dale said, “thank you,” while moving towards the end of the hallway.
“Soldier.”
Dale turned and looked at the captain.
“That’s, thank you, sir. You might as well get used to it. Add a sir to everything you say when talking to an officer.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you… Sir.” Dale turned and sprinted to the end of the hallway. He found the stairs and headed up to the top and looked down a long empty hall. He walked to the end and found a door with the number 19 stenciled in red letters at eye level.
He knocked. Nothing. He waited a minute and then knocked again. Nothing.
He decided to try the door knob. It opened, and he walked in.
...........................
Message from CaptIanRedslogg74b:
Hello and Welcome to Unit 19 training. Please take a seat and a good looking lieutenant with sexy red hair will be with you shortly. Don’t flirt. I have dibs.
Message to CaptIanRedslogg74b:
Yes, Sir.
Message from CaptainRdKilzer87c:
Ignore that lecherous bastard. I’ll be out in seven minutes. And relax.
Message to CaptainRdKilzer87c:
Yes, Sir.
...........................
Dale sat in the waiting room for thirty minutes before Captain Redding entered the room and introduced herself.
“Sorry to make you wait,” she said. She extended her hand, and Dale shook it.
“Now, let’s see. Dale Brown. Preliminary diagnostics put you with us, hmmmmm. You know what Unit 19 does, soon-to-be-private Brown?”
“No.”
She stared at him.
“No, sir,” Dale said.
She walked towards a second doorway in the room.
“That’s better. You might as well get used to it. That’s the military around here. Eyes and ears everywhere. Don’t trust anyone, Dale. Let me tell you. And stop staring at my ass, private.”
Dale wondered if she had eyes in the back of her head. He flushed red, looked down, and shifted his weight.
“Well, don’t just stand there looking stupid, follow me.” She opened the door and walked through.
Dale followed her and nearly crapped his pants.
...........................
Dale stared like a child seeing a replica of an African Elephant or a Burmese Python for the first time. The room opened up into a vast field exercise, or so he assumed, maybe it was a porthole to another dimension. No game he’d ever played or holo-movie he’d ever seen had been able to create such stunning and life-like graphics.
“Wow,” he said.
“Wow, what?”
“Wow, that’s some amazing creature generation.”
“Wow, that’s some amazing creature generation, WHAT!?”
“Sir!”
“Better. You slow or something? You’re drooling.”
“No. No, sir. I’m amazed. I never knew such things could be created and be so real.”
“Created?” The Captain looked at him and then smiled.
“Sergeant Dyfrig!”
A lizard-like humanoid that stood a little over two meters tall rushed to Captain Redding and stood at attention.
“Yes, sir!” he said.
Dale was jaw-dropping astonished.
“Sergeant Dyfrig, this young man, soon to be one Private Brown, if he can get his shit together, thinks you’re a great construct in some kind of child’s game. Don’t break him, Dyfrig, but please disabuse this private of the notion that you are some kind of stupid Rhith construct made for his amusement.”
“Yes, sir!” As the word sir exited the mouth of the lizard-like creature, he dropped to the ground and swept Dale’s feet out from under him. Dale fell to the ground, and before he could regain his composure the lizard had wrapped its tail around Dale’s legs, pinned Dale’s arms behind his back, and had his fangs at Dale’s throat. His breath smelled like rotting meat and his forked tongue flickered against Dale’s neck.
“That’ll be all, Sergeant Dyfrig. Dismissed.”
The lizard went back to a mixed group of reptiles and men while Dale stood and brushed himself off.
“This isn’t a game.” The Captain walked off towards a large gray tent. “Well, follow me, soon-to-be private Brown. Let’s see if you’re as stupid as you look or if you’re just having a bad day.”
...........................
Dale, nervous and shaken, followed Captain Redding into the gray tent, not knowing what to expect next. There were rows of tables and filing cabinets to his left and an old rusty metal desk to his right.
“Sit.” A short and somewhat round man in a civilian suit sat behind the desk.
“Yes, sir.” Dale moved to the chair.
“You can drop the sir. I’m a civilian consultant,” he said. He looked to Captain Redding and dismissed her.
Dale sat in the chair and looked at the walls of the tent behind the desk. Odd looking star charts hung on the wall, some of them high-resolution photographs, and others that looked like children had drawn them with felt markers.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” The man pointed to the charts.
“Ummm. Fascinating.” Dale didn’t want to say more.
“You’re thinking that the primitive looking ones were drawn randomly by a kindergarten class, aren’t you?”
“Well, not exactly, but—”
“No need for lies here, Dale Brown. I’m not a military man. You can talk to me straight. That chart, there,” he pointed to one of the more roughly draw star charts, “was drawn in haste by a rebel in another world. He was paid well, but, unfortunately, he still succumbed to his wounds. Never-the-less, he provided us with a great deal of valuable information.”
“Of what, sir? I mean—”
“Oh, yes, rather rude of me. I’m Preston Gathers, as I said, a consultant of sorts. I work as a liaison between the governments of Earth and certain factions within the House of Nagant, specifically the monk, Senga, who is our primary contact. You look confused.”
“Yes, um, Mr. Gathers. I’m a bit lost.” Dale looked around, and then rubbed his neck. A bit of reptilian saliva stuck to his finger.
“Here, use this.” Mr. Gathers handed him a tissue. “Nasty stuff. Be sure to wash your hands before you eat.”
Dale rubbed his hands on his pants.
“Now, where were we?” Mr. Gathers looked at Dale. “Don’t be shy, son. I haven’t got all day.”
“Hmmmmm. I don’t know myself, s—I mean, Mr. Gathers. I was told to come to Unit 19. I’ve been tackled by a giant lizard and yelled at for
not remembering to say sir and I don’t have the slightest clue what I’m supposed to be doing. I thought this was supposed to be a testing day. Trials. For the Nagant War draft and everything. I’d be at school if I had my choice, to be honest. Since you said. I’m…” Dale quit talking when he realized he was sounding like a nut.
“Testing? You think you’ve been brought here to Unit 19 for testing and trials?”
Dale nodded. He was more confused than ever.
“If you get inside the door, son, you’ve been thoroughly vetted. I can guarantee that. I’m surprised nobody explained all this to you. You’re in, son. This is the best unit you could have possibly drawn duty in. I swear, the military, they keep you in the dark and don’t understand why you look confused when you don’t understand something nobody has told you. Sorry about that kid, here, let me explain.
“You’ve been selected for entrance into Unit 19, the most prestigious unit in my opinion. Unit 19 is an advanced scouting group. You guys will be dropped onto planets for scouting purposes, for snooping around, that kind of thing. You’ll catalog the animals, the plants, the natives. You’ll search for evidence of any of the seven hundred and seventy-seven jewels hidden throughout the galaxy, and you’ll probably have to battle it out with forces from the bastards that are in whatever unit the other side is sending out because you can be damn sure that Force B is building a Unit 19 of their own.”
“Force B, sir?”
“They haven’t told you anything, yet, have they?” Mr. Gathers shook his head.
“No. I’m confused.” Dale hated being lost, confused, and he especially hated looking stupid.
“Okay, let me get you up to speed real fast, here, kid. The House of Nagant represents two ruling factions from another universe. A different universe from ours. Yes, I know, it’s been a theory in the field of astrophysics and cosmology for decades. A brutal argument in many ways. A few careers ruined. In any case, the argument was settled for us from the outside. I won’t bore you with the details, but the gist is pretty simple. One faction, we call them Faction B, for bastards, they want to destroy all advanced life in this universe, you know, all those species that have evolved computing. Something about their worry that we’ll figure out how to cross the boundaries and introduce them to unknown viruses and bacteria or something like that. Basically they view humans as a potential threat. Not because were dangerous due to advanced technology, more like we could have rabies or fleas, like a stray dog. It’s insane, I know, but it’s not worth arguing about. The other side, we call them Faction A, for well…
“I don’t know why they are called Faction A. It doesn’t matter. They don’t want to destroy all of the intelligent life in our universe. Why? Nobody knows. Maybe they are just progressive people, or beings, I suppose. It’s nice not to be in an advanced species cross hairs, you know?”
Mr. Gathers didn’t wait for an answer. “I know it’s confusing. Just follow the basics. Two factions have different views, one wants us all wiped out, the other wants us left alone. The House of Nagant is, well, basically, ummmm, have you ever played in the Rhith World Enter the Galaxy Thieves?”
“Yeah, sure. I was a champion in that game. I mean, for the twelve and thirteen-year-old category. That’s kind of an old game.”
“Yes, yes. But that doesn’t matter. Do you remember how that game had moderators, the—the…”
“The Morgause.”
“Yes, yes. That’s the name. They acted like rule enforcers, moderators, arbitrators. Their in-game decisions had power outside the game, too. In competitions and how prizes were awarded, outside the game I mean, the Morgause rulings had the same authority as if they were real.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Okay, so the Nagant monks, they’ve been tasked in the same type of role. They arbitrate the war, ensure the rules are followed, monitor the movement of gold, the use of resources, and so forth.”
“You’re saying the war is a game?”
“Well, yes. You’ve got to remember how advanced these societies are. I understand it took them about 20 earth years to survey the entire universe and catalog all the planets and life forms.”
“You’re joking.”
“No, it’s true. They’ve laid out the neutral zones, the potential planets for resources, finding jewels, the un-advanced societies that are outside the war per se, but will be dragged into it none-the-less. Anyway, these societies apparently respect the Nagant and have decided to let our world determine our fate under the watch of the monks. The Nagant War has been designed to determine whether our universe survives or not. If we win, we live. Life goes on. We evolve. If we lose, well, zap. The bastard faction destroys all trace of any humanoid species in this universe, including your lizard friend out there, and all humans.”
Dale was in shock. He disregarded everything and waited for the punch line. Then he fumbled with his fingers and moved about in his chair. Then he coughed.
“Hard to take, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I’m not sure I believe it. I keep waiting for someone to jump out from behind a curtain and say we’re on a stupid television show.”
“Well, I can assure you that it’s no joke. So, look, I’ve got stuff to do, I need you to accept an agreement.”
...........................
Agreement between Dale Brown &
Earth United Defense Army
Terms:
Dale Brown agrees to join Unit 19 [see EUDA Doc. # 184-5 for details and terms].
EUDA agrees to follow terms listed as per law.
Rank: Dale Brown will be promoted to Specialist. Pay rate per statute.
Additional ramifications: Agreement with Private Daniels, Brian will be auto-rescinded.
Accept Agreement: Y/N?
Request Additional consult: Y/N?
Please note, as per Emergency Order #34-835, all acceptances will be non-revokable.
Failure to abide by all laws
will result in the fullest possible prosecution
Per EUDA Doc. # 458-89
...........................
Dale requested an additional consult.
“Are you crazy, kid?” Mr. Gathers asked.
“It’s just, sir, I mean Mr. Gathers. I am…”
“Spit it out, boy. I really do have an appointment.”
“My buddy. My friend. I can’t… We had an agreement. He’ll hate me.”
“I see. Integrity and loyalty. Dangerous in war, sometimes. But worthwhile attributes, I suppose, if they don’t get you killed. So, you’ll reject this assignment and join your friend?”
“I’m afraid I have to. I agreed. I owe him my… I gave my word.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I will send hornets and drive out the Canaanites and the Hittites.
~ An ancient desert war god
God gave us Texas, driving out the heathen races. God bless Texas!
~ Sergeant Brass
...........................
Dale was transferred to the light infantry division that Brian had been assigned to. He went through another round of forms and a series of tests for his reaction times and spatial recognition ability.
“Where’ve you been?” Brian asked.
“Oh. Well. They made a mistake. I got sent to the wrong place. How’s it going?”
“Not bad. It’s weird. A war with rules.”
“What kind of rules?”
“For starters, we have limited weapons to start.”
“Like, what? Six shooters?”
“No, worse. Swords, knives, clubs, longbows…”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope. Wait and see.”
...........................
Quest
Basic Training Level 1
Location: Tollrando Forest Simulation 34.8uyj.3
Position: Light Infantry
Rank: Private
Skill Level: 1
Special Abilities: N/A
Weapons:
Fighting Knife 1-a
Throwing Knife x 4e 1-a
Short Sword 1-a
Shield, RD 1-a
Objectives:
Pass basic skill training and calibration
Follow Platoon leader into Tollrando Forest on scouting mission
Rewards:
No gold or skill upgrades available in tutorial mode
Rank upgrade for completion of training without death or major injury
Experience points available
Begin: Y/N?
...........................
Dale entered a private changing room by following glowing signs that were personalized. The first one read: This way recruit Dale Brown, followed by a bright red arrow. Once inside the room he changed into the gear provided. It consisted of leather pants, a shirt made of coarse wool-like cloth, a lightweight chainmail vest, a helmet, a round shield made of a metal that appeared to be bronze, a pair of black lace-up leather boots, and a pair of thin soft-leather gloves. Once dressed, he sheathed all the blades, the short sword, the fighting knife, and four throwing knives.
Everything fit perfectly, even the new boots were comfortable, as if he’d been weighed and measured, and everything had been broken-in for him.
“Now what?”
...........................
System Message
Proceed to Calibration and Usage: Y/N?
...........................
“Yes,” Dale said.
A soft female voice spoke. “You may also raise either hand, fingers spread, and a selection panel will appear. Move index finger to select items. Tap to choose or activate. Prior to voice commands being activated, you must pick a unique name to trigger voice command mode.”
...........................
Voice Command Settings
Would you like to set voice command features now: Y/N?
Nagant Wars: A LitRPG Novel (Nagant Wars Series Book 1) Page 7