Chapter 1: Blackjack Threw Another Game Breaking Frag Grenade
It happened again. It fucking happened again. Why does god hate me so much.
I was laying in the grass, facing up towards a cloudy sky. Around me I heard the groans of the other people who were on the server who got brought with me here... where ever that is. Rolling over and pushing myself up, I did a check over of my self. I was still wearing the M81 woodland uniform I had set up for us, along with our web gear. So we aren’t totally fucked. We have kit at least. I just have to teach them how to use their rifles. Or maybe we were blessed with automatic knowledge.
"Alright, I want everyone on their feet. I know you’re all probably confused. So am I. So, I want the two squad leads to come over to me, as well as Hanz. I’ll sort things out from their. Everyone else, just stay here and talk amongst yourselves." I started to take charge.
"So it happened again, huh? Well, at least we’re not in the wasteland anymore, right?" Hanz asked as he came over to me. "Also, I saw we’re near a road, and we have three armed Humvees, all with M2’s, and a single truck we can use."
"At least we won’t be on foot for miles." I responded. Soon after, the Alpha and Bravo squad leads came over. The Alpha squad lead, who was named Atomizer, and the Bravo squad lead, who was named Johnson.
"Uhh Blackjack, were the fuck are we? Also what the fuck happened?" Atomizer inquired, confusion filling his voice.
"I want to know too." Johnson pitched in.
"All I know is that one of us threw a certain type of frag grenade that tends to break my server in a way that teleports everyone on it, as well as some AI, to an entirely different world. I know this because its happened to me before. Do you two at least know how to shoot a rifle?"
They both nodded.
"Great. After this meeting, quickly teach your guys how to operate their guns. So, I want both of you to program your long range radios to sixty five. Once you get your guys organized, we'll be taking the vics that Hanz found and we'll try to make contact with the locals. If we're lucky, they'll be friendly. Our RoE is going to be the standard don't fire unless fired upon. I'd say in about thirty minutes, we'll mount up and head out. Alpha will take two Humvees, I'll take the third with Hanz, and Bravo will get the truck. Any pressing questions?"
Neither of them spoke up. " Great. Then you have your orders. Get to it. Hanz, check the vics over."
"On it." Hanz responded as he ran off towards the vehicles by the dirt road.
We had landed in a large field with a lot of greenery. Small lines of trees lined some parts of the road side going in both directions. Judging by the lighting, I'd say it was before noon, so we should be good for travel for a good bit. The only issue I'll see for the near future is fuel and food, with ammunition being less so of an issue. Unless we come across any of the alien units that I had placed... which all have plasma weapons. And very powerful armor. Anyway, back to the task at hand. I switched my back pack long range radio over to channel sixty five. "Sixty five check."
"Good check."
"Reading you clear."
Radios work at least. Don't have to worry about sending runners now. Hanz soon ran back up. "Vics all have fuel, and the M2's have full boxes. We should be good to go. Also, each vic has a supply box in them, and while I only checked the one we'll be driving, it has spare magazines and MRE's. We have about a month's worth of food if all the vics have the same in their boxes."
"That's good to know at least. So now we only have to worry about fuel, and local relations."
A few gunshots rang out from behind me. Just checking to make sure, it was just the two squads learning their guns. Gesturing to Hanz; we both went down to the road and hopping in the vehicle. Alpha and Bravo squads came over rather quickly, and mounted up in their vehicles. My vehicle took the lead of the convoy, and we just started our drive north. I swear to god if we hit an IED I'm going to commit a murder.
The terrain was rather nice for once. It was actually green, and there wasn't any radiation in the air. Things might actually be peaceful for once and we'll just be an armed group roaming around in a hopefully peaceful land. But, things will be fine in the end. Hopefully. Maybe. Things will be fine. No they won't. We're going to suffer.
"So Hanz. What do you think the chances of me being turned into a pony again are? It didn't happen the first time, but it did the second time. Which only took me cause you were in the wasteland still. Anyway, answer the question."
"I... didn't know that happened to you. But, knowing your luck, it'll happen at some point here."
"More than likely. Anyway, I'm going to..."
"Where did you end up actually?"
"I got sent to somewhere... and I got drugged... I don't want to talk about it right now. It's still to fresh. I'm going to focus on driving now."
I flipped on the tape player that was installed in these things at some point, and the toon of Everybody Wants to Rule the World came out over the speakers. Hanz didn't say anything after, just sighing and getting on the gun. Memories of two past lives started to come back as we convoyed north up the road. Memories of the first other world came back. Memories of Scarlet and Anomaly coming to the front of my thoughts, of the first firefight I got thrown into. Made me feel lucky how peaceful my original life was. Still, I was lucky to not have died for real yet. Or maybe I have, since this isn't my body anymore. That's still in the wasteland in some building. The near constant downpour for a straight week also comes to mind.
I let out a sigh myself, bringing myself back to reality. Off in the distance were darker clouds. It must've been a storm. Seems familiar almost. Starting off with rain on my arrival. Just great. Alerting others over the radio, the general order was to button up the Humvees, and to keep a tight grip on the wheel just in case. Never know when things will get slippery.
Rolling hills and open plains were replaced with somewhat narrow passages between trees. Perfect places to ambush a convoy of mostly inexperienced guys. I really hope I can get them back home. None of this should've happened for a third time.
It was about late afternoon when a small town, maybe village, was spotted around a bend. It was hard to tell from this distance, but it looked like it had seen better days. Here's hoping that if anything is alive down there its friendly. Am I really about to gamble lives on a hope?
The rain was still going strong at this point as we rolled down the hill. My nerves started to run wild as I clenched the steering wheel in my hands, running different scenarios in my head over and over. Welcome to your life, there's no turning back... even while we sleep, we will find you acting on your best behavior... I pulled us to the side of the rode right outside the edge of the town, and I hopped out with Hanz. "Alright. I want both Alpha and Bravo squads to dismount and entrench yourselves around the vehicles. Don't shoot at anything unless it starts attacking you. I'll try and talk to anyone I can find."
Hanz and I walked down the street, his rifle slung; mine in a low ready position. All the buildings were badly damaged by something, probably explosions judging by a couple craters in the road. There was signs that people were here recently, though. The buildings were trying to be fixed at some point within the past day.
"HALT IN THE NAME OF THE REPUBLIC, STRANGE CREATURES!" Something shouted from my right. I quickly spun with my rifle raised at the source of the callout. It was a pony and a zebra in faded and worn OD uniforms. They both looked badly beat up and liked they hadn't had a good rest in weeks. The unicorn was levitating a bolt action, whilst the the zebra held an SMG in its hooves. Hanz had his rifle pointed at them by now as well.
"Easy trooper, we're friendly. We're not here to cause harm." I spoke to the unicorn. "As a sign of good faith, we'll lower our guns if you do the same. Sound good?"
The two equines looked at each other before nodding to me. Vert slowly, Hanz and I lowered our rifles. They follow right after. I slowly approached the pair, before squatting down a little bit in front of them.
"So what's going on here. It's evident you're both on edge here. Some kind of war?" I asked them, trying my best not to appear threatening to them.
"Well... kind of. These large avian like creatures invaded from beyond our world. They declared a war on all of us. We almost shot you... but we really don't need more enemies right now." The unicorn buck answered. "Uh, I'm Private First Class Sapphire, and this is Private Asinti. We're both part of the 9th Reserve, from the Republic of Eqqus. Who are you two?"
"Major Private Sergeant Blackjack of the 91st Infantry Division from the United States of America. Here is Specialist Hanz of the same unit. Something brought me and my platoon here from another world. But, we can help you if you wish. It'll probably be wise if we talked to your leaders first. Do you mind if we camp here for the night?"
"No, go ahead. It would be best probably for you to pull your platoon inside of the town to allow for better protection. We've been sporadically attacked every few days. We would really appreciate any help you can give us." Sapphire said in response.
"Alpha, Bravo, mount up the vics. I've made contact with the locals, and they're friendly, but very on edge. No sudden moves, and we don't want a war breaking out. We'll be camping here for the night, so I hope yall brought your sleeping bags."
