GATE: and so the Iron Pact Fought (a GATE: and thus the JSDF Fought fic)

[Aaron Fox]

Thanks for chapter.And do not worry,your RL is always more important then delivering here your stories/which are good/
You should think about yourself first.

Click to shrink...

Thanks, but reality is making it especially hard.

And it is good,that vassals in your story are not idiots - in Gate they should run,or made deal with japaneese,when they undarstandt that there is no roman forces there.
Here,they still could made such deal.....

Click to shrink...

Well, they're going to be forced to make a deal, so to speak, if you read the last part. However, they're going to get a better deal than Saldera, that's for sure, especially by the Iron Pact.

P.S when they undarstandt,that their enemies really are nt monsters,and treat prisoners well,they should just surrender to hurt their logistic - if they die,Earth forces just need to bury them,but as prisoners they must be feed.And need guards.

Click to shrink...

Well, people forget that our customs on prisoners are surprisingly recent in the grand scheme of human history. For most of human history, only those of noble birth got anything close to our standards of POWs.

 

[ATP]

Thanks, but reality is making it especially hard.

Well, they're going to be forced to make a deal, so to speak, if you read the last part. However, they're going to get a better deal than Saldera, that's for sure, especially by the Iron Pact.

Well, people forget that our customs on prisoners are surprisingly recent in the grand scheme of human history. For most of human history, only those of noble birth got anything close to our standards of POWs.

Click to shrink...

Of course.i read once many books about 100th war,and in one i found interesting case - some french town defended by knights and townspeople surrender to english,who promised that they would tret prisoners good.Then they executed townspeople who fought them,but french nobles was keep alive in decent conditions.
Nobody was suprised.Except dead french townspeople,probable.

 

[Aaron Fox]

So, to give you guys an idea of the life I've been having, Dennys started really short-changing hours for Service Assistants (i.e., dishwashers) -with one poor sap having only 4 hours for the entire week, with me having only 9.5 paid hours a week... with the most being 14.5 paid hours a week- so I decided to find another job, got a new job and told Denny's my last two days would be my final days, got seriously sick and ended up missing those two days, worked for an order restaurant for a few days as a dishwasher, got laid off (and one of the lead cooks absolutely didn't want me to be laid off) because I didn't jive with the pace (and would later find out that the person they replaced me with was far worse), got hired by Pamera Bread as a baker, worked there for a short while, then got fired because of no-call no-shows because they effectively locked the schedule behind an app that I can't access.

Yeah, so it's been a rollercoaster of a few months. Just my luck.

So, to keep you guys from thinking that the fic's dead, I'm giving you an insight into the Siege of Italica while I bang my head against a few problematic scenes.

---

Italica, Italica Province; October 18th, 2017 - 03:10 AM Local Time

"Well, this is a predicament," I said, surveying the situation. The princess wasn't an idiot, as the blazers were fueled by a chemical that would create a soft red light to preserve as much night-vision as possible. Still, with the severe manpower shortages brought upon by the Empire's stupidity, she and her troops -and the city's guard, the levies, who were effectively dead-weight in this situation as those who could be called hadn't raised a sword in combat in years- couldn't keep the city secured at this point. While the siege started at 3.5:1, a combination of losses by the city militia, which started at 2,000 strong and is now down to 1,200, and more bandits joining up has raised that ratio to 7.5:1, with the escorts for this trade mission barely moving the needle.

"It's more like a deadly headache," Pina diplomatically complained, "My scouts have reported that the number of standards has grown to at least 16 standards. Even with your assistance, it looks like we'll be overrun if they make a hard push." Pina wasn't wrong in her assessment. With the sheer number of enemies that we're facing, we don't have the ammunition to delay them for too long if they decide to press their advantage. "We've got reinforcements coming, but it'll be until around mid-day before they arrive." The situation did look sour, but not completely pear-shaped. Thankfully, the city's citizens who are unable to take up arms are escaping through the small network of evacuation tunnels the local noble family built, so we don't have to worry about civies getting caught in the crossfire. However, I have to admit calling upon the 189 Swiss Guard was a lot more painful than it should have been, like someone was jamming me. That is bad jojo, and the list of things able to pull that off can be counted on two hands.

"I've got contingencies for a possible breach, thankfully enough," I consoled, "What we need to do is prepare for the worst but hope for the best." That was when the team supporting the men at the city's east gate started shooting. "Jenkins, situation report." Sargent Jenkins nodded in acknowledgment as he listened in.

"Bravo team reports bandits, current count indicates 3,750 men," Jenkins answered, "The other gates are reporting similar numbers." I did a quick run of the math and frowned; we didn't have the ammunition to fight off that many at once. We'll need artillery, which is something we don't have on hand. Also, the number of reported bandits isn't adding up either. A besieging force always has a reserve, either to keep the rear from getting pummeled or to force a breakthrough on a weakened flank, yet they've split themselves evenly... and that meant there are more than 16 standards worth of bandits.

"Jenkins, prepare a Broken Arrow call," I ordered, "I don't want to need it, but we might have to." Jenkins nodded. "The moment it looks like they're going to breach the wall, make that call." I frowned as I looked through my binoculars. Italica is an old and oddly designed city. Now, as in all old cities, there are several layers of walls, each marking a time before a major expansion. Still, the outermost wall was purposely left with more room for internal expansion, space that Pina used to create a series of palisade walls. This is a surprisingly good call on Pina's part, as it'll delay the bandits a bit. The only real problem is that we're on the wrong end of a manpower imbalance... though we're lucky they don't have any real siege equipment beyond a handful of ladders. "If I remember correctly, the 1st Aerial Hussars are in our sector, and we're in range of firebases Dora 1 through 4." That is some good news, as they're armed with 10.5 and 17cm howitzers. Bad news is that they're at the limits of their range: the 10.5cm guns barely reach 23 kilometers, while the 17cm guns barely reach 51 kilometers, and that's with both using standard rounds. Accuracy is going to be shit given the distances involved, not to mention the flight times. We really can't use RAP rounds due to the inherent inaccuracy and the lack of time to make correction fires.

"I've got the Fourth Combat Team on call if things get too hairy," Itami stated over the radio in a very boring-but-practical tone, "We might not need them, but it's better to have them and not need them than need them and be without." Despite his otaku exterior, Itami can't be said to be stupid.
__________________________

Fort Portal Air Force Base, Ready Room 2; 04:50 AM Local Time

"Scramble! Scramble!"

Everyone in the ready room jumped to their feet as the scramble alert went out. All sorts of objects, ranging from food and controllers to boot-cleaning kits, were practically thrown aside amid the commotion. Some even pulled a 'running suit up' as the scramble alert sounded. Every second counted, and those in the ready rooms knew it.

"Broken Arrow declared. Scramble! Strike Package Dora authorized!"

That statement caused everyone to book it even harder.

As soon as the pilots arrived at the hangars and tarmac, aircraft -a mix of what those from the JSDF and US would call fixed-wing F-111s, 'teutonic' F-16s, and what appeared to be modified YA-9s- were being readied by flight crews with a precise quickness that could only be made by a combination of experience and deep institutional knowledge. Bombs, rockets, and missiles of various sizes were fitted onto the weapon pylons as final equipment checks were being carried out.

"Well, T-Bone, looks like we're going to have that excitement you always wanted," Johnathan 'Razor' Fredricks semi-joked as he climbed into the WO seat, "Though, given the unit that made the call, we're going to be up to our ears with problems."

"I was only joking about the lack of excitement, Razor," Alexander 'T-Bone' Hendricks commented as he climbed into the pilot's seat, "and I already figured that out the moment the AugReal briefing said it's Aaron's unit that's in trouble. I swear, all the rumors about him start to make sense with what has been happening here." The two pilots completed the final checks and adjusted their masks as they prepared for the complete FUBAR they (and the rest of the alert aircraft called in) were jumping into.

"You mean the attempt to stop a reality anchor test?" Razor commented, "If it wasn't for someone from Wolfenstein's A Section pulling an Uno reverse card, then we'll be stopped cold for a few months to get replacements." T-Bone shuddered as he remembered what happened in that incident. Fighting Class-B zombies wasn't fun, especially when liches led them with a penchant for flinging lightning everywhere.

"All alert squadrons, stack every 500 meters by flight between 2 and 12 thousand meters; standby deck is floored at 2 thousand. All conventional ordinance authorized."

"Oh boy," T-Bone frowned as he flew the aircraft to the flight's assigned altitude, "shit must be really gone pear-shaped if they're requiring at least 80 planes thrown at the problem and are willing to throw everything and the kitchen sink."

"You don't know the half of it," Razor explained, "Right now, Aaron's command platoon is reporting an enemy force numbering at least a force outnumbering the local defenders, his team, and the alternative Japanese-US force by a factor of 9.2, minimum. Apparently, they've got a few powerful magic users in the mix as well."

"That'll do it," T-Bone resigned as he focused on flying the A-9, "We'll be there in half an hour."

Italica East Wall; 05:05 Local Time

"Call for fire, Grid Dora Gulf Dora, subgrid 15, squares 8-55, Firecracker," the Iron Pact artillery spotter signaled as Itami and his platoon kept firing short, controlled bursts at the incoming horde.

"Call for fire received. Ten 10.5cm shells inbound. ToT thirty seconds."

"These guys are relentless," Shino complained as she fired her rifle, "It's like they want to die."

"It's something we've noticed since the start of the siege," one of Pina's knights remarked as he readied his crossbow, "... and this isn't what my men and I saw earlier."

"Given the magical shenanigans that we've been encountering," the artillery spotter noted as the seconds counted down, "I wouldn't be surprised that they had someone with the equivalent of a holographic camouflage generator screwing with your recon efforts." The knight raised an eyebrow at the comment, but couldn't get a word in edgewise when he heard the most horrific noise. The knight then saw an orgy of explosions as anti-personnel cluster munitions ripped sections of the enemy line into bloody carnage. "Zulu 4-9, good hit. Adjust by 0.1 East, implement annihilation fire. Be advised, bandits have some sort of wide-area shield spells in play."

"Zulu Four-Niner received intelligence and adjustment, annihilation fire on the way. ToT thirty seconds."

"How in Hardy's name are you able to do this?" the knight asked aloud in awe, "Is this what happened on the Holy Hills?" The knight couldn't believe what was happening in front of him, but he was getting more information than any of the Speculatore and first-hand accounts could ever give.

"Survive now, retrospection later," Itami slapped, getting the locals out of their stupor as he fired his rifle, "We've got at least 4 thousand at this gate alone..."

"... and the other gates are outside practical artillery range," the artillery spotter stated, "Impact." The land beyond the gate was rocked by explosions by the score as 48 shells dispensed their payloads over an area the size of a football field. "Well, damn, those shield spells are something else. Zulu 4-9, switch to HEEF. Enemy shield spells counteracting Firecracker."

"Zulu Four-Niner acknowledges, switching to HEEF. ToT forty-five seconds."

"Itami, in 45 seconds, things are going to get real messy," the artillery spotter explained, "We'll need to hide behind the ramparts so we don't get ripped apart by shrapnel in 40." Itami raised an eyebrow at the order, but quickly understood what the spotter was saying. Itami figured that HEEF must be some kind of enhanced high-explosive fragmentation round, and if it's designed to combat their body armor...

"Everyone, twenty-five seconds before we have to hide behind the ramparts!" Itami ordered via both the radio and his own voice, "Unless you want to be cleaned up with a mop, then do as I ordered!" Everyone heeded Itami's words without argument, be local or his own forces, given the display that had been shown just seconds before. Half of the bandits, emboldened by the rapidly diminishing firepower being poured upon them, began charging the walls, outpacing their protection.

It would be the final mistake of their lives.

The whistling of artillery shells was heard for the fourth time this morning, and impacts shook the wall itself with their power. 48 shells landed in the midst of the bandits, and each shell produced 2350 pieces of shrapnel, and those not under the protection of the shield spells were ripped apart as if they had been hit with a fusillade of powerful rifle rounds. The bandit forces started with over four thousand men; half of them, lost in their bloodlust, were ripped apart by the artillery shells, and the other half could only stand and watch the carnage. The shields, stressed to the breaking point, shattered.

"Zulu Four-Niner to Odin, we've got possible barrel cracking on two of the field guns. Possible paranormal in play. We can't do any support until full barrel replacement. Send any new tasking to Zulu Three-Niner."

"Thanks for the heads up, Zulu 4-9; last barrage was fantastic," 'Odin' replied, "will switch to Zulu 3-9 for future fire missions." Then the man looked at Itami. "The guns at Zulu 3-9 have a flight time of a minute, given the distance, and that's before the ranging we'll need. 17cm guns hitting your position is not something I want to experience." Itami understood the dangers, but also understood what was on the line.

"Just get things ready for when we need them," Itami suggested, "I would rather have those guns on hand and not need them than need them but not have them." 'Odin' nodded before he started on the math. "Well, that's it for our artillery for the moment, so make every shot count."

"Lieutenant, I'm getting reports that the bandits have minotaurs and ogres on hand in addition to their reserves," the Iron Pact attache raised, "the West and South gates indicate that this is going to be their big push, given the intelligence from the locals."

One acronym summed up what Itami was thinking at that moment: FUBAR. "Get the Panzerfausts together!" Itami ordered, "We'll need them to get rid of those ogres!"

Italica's West Gate (Pina's), about the same time

"Sir, I just got off from command, we've got ten minutes before the first wave of air support is on-station. We've got flights stacked every 500 meters from 2 to 12 thousand," Jenkins stated, "We'll need to start popping smoke to mark the lines." The situation was absolutely desperate; we're down to the last two bins of ammo for everyone (meaning that we've got, at best, twenty minutes of long-range fire before we're forced to use pistols), and the bandits have been getting closer and making actual attempts to storm the walls, and that was before adding ogres and minotaurs into the equation. Was this what General Moore felt when he had to make the call in Southeast Asia? Too bad I can't call upon him now, given that I'm now certain that someone is jamming me.

"It looks like they're doing their big push now," I stated, "Get everyone ready for the coming avalanche." Pina quickly understood what I meant and had one of her magical retainers send up the magical equivalent of a signal flare. "Jenkins, tell our air support that we're neck-deep and need that support as soon as physics allows."

"I've just been contacted by two flights of CAS with an OV each; they diverted from a COIN patrol and are coming in with a full load. ETA two minutes," Jenkins responded, "They don't have much, but they have heavy rockets and 250s, and the OVs are set up for AFAC operations." That was better news than what I was getting across the lines as I saw the yellow smoke rise from multiple sections of the wall. Jenkins then listened intently on his radio. "... and we've got another two flights coming in from the south, armed with autocannon, rockets, and 500s. They diverted from a logistics strike and will also be here in two minutes." Two minutes is a lot in a pitched battle, but it's time we can manage.

"Start cueing up targets," I ordered, "Focus on the minotaurs and ogres before anything else." Jenkins simply nodded as he started giving coordinates to the incoming air support.

 

[ATP]

Thanks for chapter,and i had 2 questions:
1.Why 105mm? howitzers in 2017 were 155mm, and mortars 120mm.I think,that only mountain troops still use 105mm.
2.What kind of logic do you use, Gate or Iron Pact? becouse in Gate earth politicians must be useless dicks, when in Iron Pact they could be useful.

 

[Aaron Fox]

Thanks for chapter,and i had 2 questions:
1.Why 105mm? howitzers in 2017 were 155mm, and mortars 120mm.I think,that only mountain troops still use 105mm.

Click to shrink...

Iron Pact has a variety of howitzers, and the 105mm is used due to its (relative) lightness and small size, making it easy to heli-transport en masse. Mountain and air-mobile troops use the 105 howitzer extensively as company and brigade-level assets. Their range outdoes the mortars by a significant margin, making them really useful for smaller firebases that'll litter the countryside. In addition, despite their power, they're not too powerful that they'll create too much collateral damage. Remember, with chemical-effect rounds, their power is more akin to quadratic than linear. Even three millimeters of added diameter makes a massive difference.

2.What kind of logic do you use, Gate or Iron Pact? becouse in Gate earth politicians must be useless dicks, when in Iron Pact they could be useful.

Click to shrink...

Well, I'm not abiding by the writer's ultranationalist mentality in this fic, so they're doing things like making sure nothing goes sour back at home... and those who would be considered 'useless' are already removed from the game, so to speak, since 2016. The big problem so far is that the Iron Pact and the Japanese-American alliance currently have no inroads into the Salderian imperial court, which will change in the aftermath of Italica with Pina (because, unlike much of the Imperial family, she's got a very good head on her shoulders).

 

[last admiral]

urrently have no inroads into the Salderian imperial court, which will change in the aftermath of Italica with Pina (because, unlike much of the Imperial family, she's got a very good head on her shoulders).

Click to shrink...

And somehow only Pina? Cause i swear people kept forgotting that she were 9th in line(and possibly only due to Molt's favouritism she were even that close enough), that theres other people beside the 3 Idiots(Pina, Zorzal and Diabo).

 

[Aaron Fox]

And somehow only Pina? Cause i swear people kept forgotting that she were 9th in line(and possibly only due to Molt's favouritism she were even that close enough), that theres other people beside the 3 Idiots(Pina, Zorzal and Diabo).

Click to shrink...

It's also noted that Pina has many friends in the Senate and nobility, which means many inroads for diplomatic measures. Remember, the politics of antiquity/the medieval period isn't about your policies, but who you know.

In addition, the 4th in line was killed by Molt because he was too competent (and thus, couldn't be controlled). That's why Zorzal is running around with a partial idiot ball. Diablo is, essentially, a Machiavello (an Italian term for a curviture of Machiavelli) and has few friends in the nobility and the Senate. All that we can infer with everyone, not Pina, Zorzal, and Diablo, is that they're either removed from the line of succession or dead because they're a threat to Molt's desire to rule behind the throne. Diablo and Pina are spares in this case. Dangerous spares, but spares none the less.

Once Molt's shenanigans that kick-started this fic get revealed to the Senate, all his plans to rule behind the throne would be for naught.