Dimensional Travels: World at War-Chapter 85: Boundary

Mithrael sat on his throne as he looked at the Generals arrayed around him. "Bring a board with the biggest map we have." He said calmly.

The room was silent, no one daring to speak as he observed the Empire soldier’s reactions to his presence. His eyes scanned the room, noting that some generals had sent representatives instead of appearing themselves.

"Representatives of the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th armies, come to the front of the room."

The men followed orders, their bodies trembled as they stood in front of the emperor. Every soldier in the room knew the truth behind Mithrael. Mithrael stood in front of them, observing them as if they were tools.

"You four will now lead your armies. Relieve the current Generals that failed to show up. Their confinement period will be one year, and they will serve in the mines. Do. Not. Kill. Them."

Mithrael sat back down as the map was brought over. "The current Generals of the 5th, 7th, 9th, and 12th armies are to be stripped of rank and discharged to the mines." He announced for the room to hear.

"If you are called to serve, you answer. Loyalty to the Empire will be rewarded. Effective immediately, all dwarves currently enslaved are to be released and brought here. They are to be put to work repairing the recently facilities that were desecrated by the otherworlders. Also, elves will no longer be used as sex slaves or breeding machines." His eyes narrowed in disgust as he read over the reports involving the slave camps.

"This Empire was not built to preside over the other races for mere pleasure. Starting from here on out, sexual crimes against any race will carry the death penalty if convicted."

After his decrees were noted, Mithrael turned to the map. "Generals Hemas, Greq, and Loath. Come here."

Hemas kneeled besides Mithrael. "My liege. You call, I serve."

Greq and Loath follow.

"Stand. I have need of your tactical knowledge."

The Generals all stood, and Mithrael began to trace a line around Esponia. "Prince Heith’s idea to surround the other worlders was sound. I think that we can amass a force large enough to do so, but I know it will take time. Speak freely, how long will it take to move out forces and capture these four junctions while amassing our troops from east to west?"

General Hoaz was the first to speak.

"My lord, their technology far surpasses our own. Even our rifles and Llrathels are no match. They can target us without us knowing they are there. We even tried using the cover of darkness, and still, they were able to outmanuever and out match us."

Mithrael paused as he scratched his chin.

"So what would you have us do, Hoaz?"

The man nodded. "May I be frank, your majesty?"

"Yes."

The General sighed. "Sire, the only ways to win are through diplomacy, sending millions of men at them at once, or starving them. We could also try to sabotage their infrastructure, but even that wouldn’t work. We tried and failed."

Mithrael sighed as he sat down. He looked out to the Generals lining the rows of seats in front of him. "Get it done, spread out. Deploy the mana suppression circles, but do not engage. If they sit there watching us for eons, so be it. I do not wish to lose soldiers simply because we fired the first shot. Do not clump together. Have each soldier spread at least ten feet apart. Hoaz, Greq, and Loath will oversee the matter."

His fists clench under the desk as he looked around, his breath even.

"Do not fail me."

He paused.

"Dismissed."

The day after the strike, Eric and Mia were heading to Jonny’s store. He grumbled while holding her hand. "Can I shoot him?"

She gave him a side glare.

"Let me hit him?"

She sighed and pressed against him. "I know he is annoying, but we need him, and he needs us. Just let it go. For me?"

He looked down and smiled. "I know. I just wanted to feel you against me."

Mia rolled her eyes but chuckled."You’re impossible."

He smirked. "You still chose me."

As they headed into the shop, the atmosphere changed. Victoria was manning the register as she looked up. Her eyes widened as she saw who entered.

"Jonny!" She squeaked as she looked at the couple. "Eric is here."

Jonny came into the room, his boots tapping against the tiled floor. "Well... well... well. If it isn’t my favorite couple." He said, a grin plastered over his face.

"I hope the baby is doing well. Do ya need diapers? Formula? You know Vargas clothing and sales is your one stop shop for everything." He laughed as he leaned over the counter top, taking his sunglasses off. "Or do ya need the more expensive stuff? You know Mr.Solves it all has it all."

Eric rubbed his hands on his face. "Cut the crap. We are here for official business."

Jonny smirked, sitting back in his desk and putting his boots on the table. "Ah, my biggest spender wants to spend big again. Why don’t ya come follow me. I got some new bells and whistles thanks to ya’ll putting in some extra work last time Catrtharic showed their ugly faces."

Eric and Mia followed the man after sharing a confused look. In the back...

A massive warehouse poked up from the ground. The couple stopped and stared, pausing in their tracks.

"Jonny, when did you build this?" Eric said as his eyebrows arched. One month ago, the structure wasn’t hear. And now, in Hood Hill’s backyard, a massive structure stood. It was taller than the trees.

"Well ya see, my friend... a good buddy of mine runs an equipment shop out there in good ole’ Austin. I told him I needed building materials for a large warehouse. He told me about some fellas out near 183 and Parmer. They had exactly what I needed. Twas a great haul."

Eric sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever."

Dealing with Jonny always grated Eric’s nerves. "Lets see what you got. I need tank rounds, as many mines as you can supply, and more ammunition."

Jonny grinned. "Always happy to satisfy my most rich customers." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Jonny raised the doors of the warehouse, and Eric’s jaw dropped. "What... the... fuck."

Even Mia arched her eyebrows.

"I see you have been working overtime, Jonny." Eric remarked.

Ammo crates stacked neatly on top of each other, with SABOT and HEAT rounds stacked behind them, from the floor to the ceiling. Explosive devices stood on the right side of the room, with M-4’s and machine guns of all types next to them in the back corner.

Then, Eric saw the tanks. He groaned as he touched the Llrathel. Each one was perfectly refitted and prepared. Eric rubbed his face again. "You know we have to take these from you, right Jonny?"

The merchant smirked. "Milano sold them to me. In exchange for everything you see back there."

He motioned towards the crates of Ammo and the tank rounds.

"I keep the Llrathels and some of the new world tech, and ya’ll can have the new tank rounds. Your boss should have told ya. Someone too busy under the covers to not check their phone?"

Eric’s fist clenched, and Jonny grinned. But then Eric released his fists. "I am not the same man from that bar fight Jonny. Don’t cross the line though." Eric checked his phone. He did indeed have around twenty missed calls. "Oops."

He called Milano.

"Took you long enough." Milano growled. "I assume you are at the Warehouse now?"

"Yes sir. I am standing in front of the Llrathels as we speak. May I ask why you sold the Llrathels to the merchant?"

Milano sighed. "That guy needed armed escorts. He said that the last time he headed to Austin he nearly got bisected by the T-rex. I sold him the Llrathels in exchange for purchasing the materials we needed for the war. He will hire people from Austin and Vegas to man the tanks, and we get the supplies we need."

Eric pinched the bridge of his nose, massaging his eyebrows. "Roger that."

After his soldiers got all the supplies loaded into LMTV’s and trailers, Eric stood with his arms around Mia. They kissed in front of the warehouse while he ran his hand along her face. The sun was setting over the horizon as they looked into each other’s eyes.

"Lets go home." He said gently, opening her door for her. "We have a family to feed."

At the house, chaos was the first thing Eric noticed. Once more, clothes were strung around the house. Liara was screaming at the top of her lungs, while Jessica and Liam tried to calm the baby down. Eric and Mia took one look at the teenagers tending to the baby, and chuckled before retreating out the door unnoticed.

"Wanna try out the new restaurant in town?"