Guest (I found it kinda hard to imagine how a 50,000 men strong fort, manned by modern machine guns, mortars, artilleries, attack helicopters, anti-aircraft missiles, advanced radar system, and NVG took so much damage fighting a few thousand medieval soldiers and a squad of laser shooting mages. But apart from that it's a nice chapter, keep up the good work!): The way I figured Ithaca was set up is that Ithaca didn't have 50,000 people currently in it. That's just how many soldiers were based there, I still have multiple divisions in other parts of the region like Minerva, etc. But I still see where you are coming from, perhaps I should've toned the down the numbers a bit so it could be a little more believable. Again, I wanted the magic in this world to act as an effective counter for Earth technology, so it wouldn't be totally one-sided, I wanted to give the Iscariots a fair chance so that if they lose you can blame incompetence on their behalf. Anyway, thanks for the review, and I'll keep that tip in mind.

Howa Howa (Half Life 3 confirm? G-Man?): Fun fact, Half-Life 3 is probably confirmed IRL. Too bad I can't afford a Valve Index :(. I'd probably buy one just to play Alyx if I had the money, and knowing Gabe Newell they'll probably release HL3 for VR too, lol. As for the Mirrorface, he is going to-

Well, I don't want to spoil anything for you. Hehe.

Arms Dealer (Wanna see furry burn alive? White phosphorous and napalm is the answer): Can't do that to the animals, That's not nice! NATO probably doesn't care tbh, it's not Earth Afterall and a casualty to them is just a number. At least PETA cant object to the stuff going down in Mysterium, eh?

Actually Arms Dealer, I was playing a bit of Animal Crossing before I wrote that chapter. So while I was writing it, I kept imagining all of the Iscariot animals in a cartoonish Animal Crossing style, and I had to bear with seeing NATO ruthlessly mow down hundreds of animals. That was just depressing ):

Dalej0523 (Is that G-Man?): "Rise and Shine King Fredrick, Rise, and Shine… Not that I wish to imply you have been sleeping on… the job, no one is more deserving of a rest than you are. And all the effort in the world would've gone to waste until… well… let's just say your time has come again… The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world." You aren't the only one to point out the similarities between Mirrorface and the G-Man. Semsas, Howa Howa, and even I myself have pointed out that Mirrorface is indeed based on the G-man. With my twist on it of course.

Since that was the second time I was asked about the G-man similarities, I guess I'll explain Mirrorface a little bit without spoiling anything. The guy on the cover of this fic is what I imagine Mirrorface to actually look like. Almost a god-like entity. I envision 'it' to have more power than the goddesses of Falmart (I hated Hardy as a character), with the ability to manipulate reality and travel between the various different universes to bend things towards its own will and the will of its 'employers'. With that set agenda it is essentially the G-man, though less of a government spook with supernatural powers, and more of a celestial being.

And to Semsas, time and time again you've pointed out that I'm not entirely sure how NATO works. I get that. I don't. I decided to address this now because there is a scene that involves NATO. Just wanted to put that out there. I'm aware of the general stuff, but in terms of specifics, I fall short.

Also, I just want to say that if you are a veteran or are active military, I am so very sorry if I get things wrong. I am sure that I've pissed a lot of you guys off, I tried to do as best research as I could. For instance, I didn't use real division names and unit names for fear of getting called out for misusing it, so I just created brand new units. This story isn't focused on the military aspect of things like Tom Clancy novels are, but if I get something wrong let me know. You could find other authors on this fandom who do an absolutely fantastic job at this, and much better than I could. Sorry about that…

Anyway, here's chapter 20! Enjoy!

December 2020 on Earth. One month away from the new year.

President Carter sifted through the paperwork on his desk. Once again, a major battle had occurred in Mysterium. Once again, lives were lost. This time, it was right at the door of Ithaca. The press that was based in Ithaca was able to capture damn near every minute of it. And frankly, there was nothing that could've been done about it.

"Genocide!"

"Colonization!"

"Protests to end the war in Mysterium!"

"Bring our soldiers back home!"

"All is not what it seems on the Mysterium Front!"

Those were just a few of the lines Carter heard from the anti-war demonstrators. The Iscariots were much tougher than the Saderans that the JSDF fought against just twenty years earlier. They were smart, and surrender wasn't a word in their vocabulary. According to reports from the generals on the ground, they managed to cloak themselves. Slipping straight through Ithacan detection, and spring into a single concentrated assault. An entire section of the wall had been destroyed during the fighting, and numerous soldiers lost their lives. The siege was brutal for the NATO force.

Carter was genuinely upset both at himself and the enemy. How was it even possible that a modern force had taken such damage from a bunch of medieval wannabes? They were wearing chain armor for crying out loud! They had to charge with swords in order to close the range…

He knew the answer to that question. Repeatedly in each of the documents he read, two things kept coming up. Almost as if they were previously highlighted. 'Magic' and 'Dragons'. The dragons on their own were enough to keep most infantry pinned down, and demoralized. Their presence alone could win a battle. Carter heard that soldiers have emptied entire magazines into them and they still kept trucking on.

And then the magic. Magic in Mysterium was different than in Falmart. It wasn't just a bunch of secret words hidden in a book… It was something more powerful and yet well known. Practiced by anyone who could afford to do so. The Ekron stones contained magic within. The source of these stones was unknown, but Carter would definitely set up a task force to track where they were coming from. Either way, when the Ekron is weaponized, the destructive force that it could unleash was enough to bring a modern army to its knees. Carter realized that victory would be a blurry line in this war. What was the ultimate end-goal for his country and her allies? What was NATO trying to achieve? When Ithaca was first attacked, the general-staff contemplated establishing a puppet-democracy in a broken and defeated Empire as the Japanese did with Sadera. But it was clear that wasn't going to happen. He remembered the days when the portal first opened, how he fantasized about the possibilities that lie beyond.

He remembered himself thinking 'It would be impossible to fuck this up'.

But alas.

They done fucked up.

"Sir?" Carter looked up to find one of his generals at the door.

"What is it?"

"About the Seige in Ithaca, The Belgian Government wants to know if you'll attend the North Atlantic Council this week. The Military Committee has already convened and they've come up with a few strategies that will help us in the conflict."

Carter nodded. He mustn't forget that he had allies in this too, "Of course. When is it?"

"Tomorrow evening, sir."

"Tell them that I'll be there."

City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region

Population: 179,277 (All Human)

Allegiance: The Kingdom of Belgium

Type: Capital City

NATO Headquarters

30 seats, 30 nations, 30 members. One room. The NATO meeting place was a surprisingly large one once you stepped inside, despite what it may look like from pictures of it. A giant circular table with the seats of the 30 members along its circumference. The floor in the center of it all, a giant NATO compass rose. Bright lights filled the rooms and highlighted each member. A miniature flag of their corresponding nation on their desk.

"Thank you, everybody, for attending this emergency council," said the Secretary-General of the alliance after all the heads of state and representatives settled down, "I understand many of you have traveled extreme distances on last-minute notice, and we apologize for lack of forewarning. But, we are at an impasse in terms of our operations in Mysterium."

Carter, along with the other diplomats, looked on with attention and focus, "The war against the so-called 'Iscariot Royal Empire' has cost us dearly. Though we've been victorious in each battle, the loss of life in the world is simply unacceptable! We must have a change of tactics and policy, fast! SO we can end this war!"

"According to our soldiers on the ground," started a general, "The Monarch of the Iscariot Empire has indeed been captured by our forces during the last battle."

Numerous murmurs and generally pleased sounds came from the delegates, with them hushing down before the general delivered the next line, "King Fredrick, as he is proclaimed, is currently in our custody inside of the Citadel and is being investigated this very moment by a few of our soldiers."

"We believe that his capture will bring an end to Iscariot war efforts. Hopefully, we'll be able to sue for peace now that we have their King held captive. We do not expect that the Iscariots will want to continue fighting, especially after their largest defeat yet."

"They can't keep fighting, it is simply not possible!"

"The Iscariots must've exhausted all of their resources by now!"

"They don't have the manpower! Where are they getting soldiers from?"

"We have their King, they must surrender!"

Those were just a few of the exchanges od dialogue Carter overheard. He himself believed the hype too.

"We are one step closer to winning this war on our terms. But…"

The politicians cringed at that final word. 'But'. But what? What could possibly go wrong?

"Fredrick Jorgan, is your name correct?"

"Indeed it is."

"And you are the Monarch of the Iscariot Kingdom?"

"Indeed I was."

"Good, I'm sure I don't have to explain why you are here, Fredrick. But I will anyway because we have a no-holds-barred policy."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, you fucked up. And now there are no rules at all. We are going to do everything it takes to win! No more of the diplomatic nice shit, no more talking, no more-"

"Relax, Kovic. Look, we are from the CIA. That's the Central Intelligence Agency. My name is Trent, that over there is Kovic. I'm from Political Action, he's from Spec Ops."

"What in the hell does any of that mean?"

"Right now, that's not important. I promise you that all will be revealed when it is necessary. I understand you may be lost, confused-"

"Hopefully scared shitless."

"Kovic, you mind?"

"Keep talking, Trent."

"I understand you may be afraid. But we don't want to hurt you, we just want some facts. A few answers. Nothing else. Can you give that to us?"

"It depends on the question."

"Here we go…"

"Kovic, one more time, and I'm asking you to leave the room."

"For what? So you can fuck up the whole operation like you did in Baku, right? Botch the whole plan and get three men killed!"

"Baku was an accident, you know that! And you had an equal hand in the planning of the operation!"

"What a riot."

Trent sighed and turned back to Fredrick. They were in a small and quite claustrophobic room. A single window outside let in some sunlight, the only sounds coming from outside were those from the construction crews repairing the Fortress Walls and the occasional helicopter flying overhead. The only thing inside the room was a solitary lamp, a dry-erase board, a table, and three chairs. Kovic stood pacing the room, while Trent and Fredrick were seated on opposing sides.

"What we want to know Fredrick is this. You want to end the war, correct?"

"Correct," Fredrick's voice didn't fit his face. Of course, he was quite literally a bipedal fox and on Earth, such things didn't exist. But his voice was deep and brassy, not what either Trent or Kovic expected from a small red fox. It sounded quite weary, with hints of regret-filled inside.

"And we want to as well. Tell you what, we are recording this entire conversation right now. If you give us what we want, we'll let you go back home," Trent told him, motioning with his hands. He was much younger than Kovic, by about twenty years. Trent seemed to be thirty give or take, Kovic in his late fifties.

Fredrick seemed to debate whether or not he wanted to continue with the conversation. But seeing no other option, he nodded his head.

"Good. Look, we're gonna end this war. We've lost too many lives, and it is too expensive. What we propose is that you simply sign a treaty with us, saying that you surrender-"

"Tsk," Fredrick tutted, shaking his head, "We don't surrender, right? You've come from your world to ours, and in response, we've done what we could to defend our planet. And you want us to surrender?'

"Let me remind you that you are fighting a losing war!" Kovic told him, "You've lost three battles, well over twenty thousand men, and your country is in an economic crisis! We very well could keep fighting if we so wanted, but you are in no position to fight back."

"Even if I wanted to sign a treaty of surrender, I could not!"

"And why is that?" Trent asked.

"Because I'm a dead man walking…" Fredrick looked down at his paws, holding them out over the table. His eyes far away…

Trent and Kovic looked at each other for answers. Finding none, they looked back at the fox, "What does that mean?"

"Before I attacked this fortress, I made a promise to my people. If I failed, I wouldn't return," Fredrick shifted around in his chair, "As far as legality goes, I'm no longer King."

Trent's eyebrows lowered in confusion, "So… who's ruling now?"

"My wife, Nora. If you wanted to make a peace treaty, she'd be the one you talk to."

"I see…" Trent said leaning back into his chair, "Interesting turn of events. So you are powerless?"

Fredrick shrugged.

Kovic took a step towards Fredrick, menacingly, "Listen up, Foxy. You are under our control from here on out! You'll do everything we tell you to do because you have no other choice."

"Why don't you just kill me? Or throw me in prison?"

"We don't do that anymore. The best we could do is lock you up in Guantanamo, and give you time-out in some cold dark corner of a cell. But clearly we ain't doing that. You have no other option, you have no power, no prestige, nothing. Right now you are either with us or against us."

"Fuck you! Alright," Fredrick eyed the man. The two, kind of just staring each other down. Neither blinking nor moving.

"Gentlemen, we are civilized in this room. I don't expect us to descend into a bunch of apes fighting over bananas, Kovic for the love of God stand down!"

Kovic puffed, and sat down, looking away.

"Look. We've got your people, your country, your entire army, outnumbered, outgunned, and outsmarted. You can still end it. For your people! But we just need you to cooperate."

"Why would I help the people who wish to destroy my own?"

"Good question. You don't have a choice."

"Why are we here then?"

"I'm trying to help you. Because, erm," Trent pulled out a document from a briefcase. Clearing his throat he began speaking once again, "It says here; The United Nations mandate on the Iscariot Territory and greater Mysterium Continent. Fredrick Jorgan the First is wanted for numerous crimes against humanity."

"Again, what does any of that mean?"

"It means you are a wanted man," Kovic told him with his arms folded, "You might not think NATO is all that great, but let me tell you something buddy, the United Nations is not a beast you'd want to mess with. Once you get on their list, it's game over."

Fredrick turned to Trent for reassurance, but all Trent did was nod, "Indeed. The UN will prosecute you, they might kill you. Now it might not seem so bad right now, but I promise they will make you wish for death. Every waking minute of your life will be turned into a personal hell. Because you are a criminal."

"Rape, torture, mass genocide, slavery, extermination, these are all crimes that your empire is responsible for and that you've let happen when you presided. You are public enemy number one," Fredrick shook his head, but Kovic just doubled down, "Let me be perfectly clear, this is not a trial! You are Guilty! They'll hang your ass!"

"So again, working with us will spare you so much pain. So much hate. We can make it like the entire war, never happened. We can bring you back on your throne. We can make you king again! You'll be back with your wife, you'll be happy! Fighting back is not worth it, is not smart, and frankly is not even an option," Trent told him. Fredrick stared at Trent now, a look of disdain and disgust on his face.

"Look. Fuck both of you. Fuck your fancy technology. Fuck your flag. Fuck your country. Fuck this fortress, and the soldiers inside of it. Fuck your people, your culture, fuck your gods, fuck your planet. I think both of you are bastards…"

Fredrick leaned back, "But I'll accept."

"Finally. This ain't my first rodeo, I've dealt with worse!"

"You and me both. Alright King, what we want is for you to tell us right here and right now, that you'll abide by our rules and do what we tell you."

"Okay."

"No, no, no, I don't need an 'Okay' I need a 'Yes. I will.' Can you do that for me?"

Fredrick sighed, "Yes. I will."

"Good. We'll put you back on the throne if we can get in contact with your Wife. What is she like?"

"Nora? She has a heart of pure gold."

"Would she easily give up the title of Queen?" Kovic asked.

"For me? She'd do anything."

"Anything?"

"Anything. I'm not joking."

"So we approach Nora and ask her to give up the crown and place you back on the throne. What then?" Trent asked.

"We end the war," Fredrick answered.

"We end the war, and…?"

"You get whatever you want out of a peace deal. As long as you leave me, my family, and my people alone!"

Trent and Kovic turned to each other, "It's a done deal…"

NATO Civic Plan 11-A:

Subject Name: NATO Communications Site and Operations Control Center "Ithaca" (Other Aliases: Alfa-1, The Citadel, The HQ, etc)

Subject Location: Peak of Hill 278, Northern part of Serenity Bay, the mouth of the River Serenity

Subject Matter: City Planning, Management, and Defense

Created by the request of The United Nations (and its various subsidiaries), The Red Cross, World Health Organization, and NATO itself

Plan 11-A was written and enacted to follow UNESCO; WHO; Red Cross; and other Earthbound NGO guidelines, in order to create a secure, hygienic, efficient, and prosperous permanent settlement. As such, heavy restrictions have been placed on NATO military administrators and Earthbound Civic Advisors (City planners, architects, civil law enforcement, and sanitation staff) have been relocated to Ithaca in order to ensure compliance.

On the subject of Ithacan Infrastructure and internal development:

The Plan hopes to create a functional city laid in a grid formation around Fort Ithaca, not unlike Fort Alnus in JSDF occupied Special Region. The reasons for doing so are simple. Ensure continued support for military operations; scientific research; and discovery in Mysterium, as well, as to garner local support in a hearts-and-minds campaign. Ithaca will be constructed using the most modern city plans available, including access to running water, sewage disposal, and treatment, healthcare facilities, sanitation crews, interior heating, and properly constructed residences.

The Ithacan Grid Plan also ensures that a wing of the NATO military will be converted into full-time law enforcement running regular street patrols, and de-escalating conflict between the civilian populace. The wing will be known as the Ithacan Civil Overwatch. Willing local residents may be accepted into the Overwatch Auxillary Force, under the pretext, that they pass a mandatory fitness and psychological evaluation. The Auxillary Force may not be used in the context of Law Enforcement, and can only be deployed in the case of a dire emergency (Riot, Domestic Terrorism, Increased or heightened civil unrest, lack of manpower, natural disaster, or military invasion by hostile forces).

The Ithacan Grid Plan ensures that non-law enforcement emergency services are also provided. The Ithacan Civil Overwatch will handle the job of firefighting, first aid response, ambulance transport, long-term medical treatment, and hazardous waste cleanup. This will continue until there is enough manpower to facilitate the creation of entities suited to fulfill these roles on their own.

Electricity will not be extended to local residences until the Phase 4 level of Ithacan City development. The phases of development are this:

Phase 1- Transition from small camps; tents; and shelters, to permanent brick-and-mortar buildings. Dirt roads will be cleared for ease of transport. Basic civic services all handled by NATO ground forces. Farming and agriculture projects begin to feed the populace locally. Ports and Docks will be constructed to permit overseas trade and local fishing. Plumbing, sewage, and heating established.

Phase 2- Basic Civic services will be expanded, the Civil Overwatch will be implemented and the Auxillary Force established. Local recruitment, indoctrination, free compulsory education. Major and important roads will be paved. Private Enterprise will be permitted.

Phase 3- Introduction of a common government, softening nationalistic differences and tendencies within individual populations. Ithaca will become a fully-fledged Democratic-Republic, with government bodies and councils. Overwatch Ground Forces will be focused only on policing and law enforcement, as other agencies fulfill the various other roles of emergency management. Overwatch Forces will transition from military to the civilian establishment, with NATO soldiers focusing solely on exterior Ithacan and Citadel defense.

Phase 4- Modernization. Creation of a common culture, and language. Electrical Power plants will be founded to power street-lights and utilities within homes. Dirt roads will be paved over and marked. Local residents will be allowed to live life as if they were a normal Earth-denizen.

Challenges:

1A) The Local Population is mostly comprised of runaway slaves, escaped prisoners and felons, people seeking cultural refuge, diplomats, and those wanted for political speech or thought. As such, the populace is extremely volatile. NATO personnel has had over 20 reports of sexual assault, physical assault, and theft in the past two months. Despite measures being taken to prevent such actions, NATO simply does not have enough manpower to spare.

1B) The various cultural and ethnic divides have lead to tension between different peoples. Mostly based on race, religion, and nationality. The multiple sapient species in this world seem to have vendettas against those who they perceive to be a cultural enemy. Example: Iscariot citizens refuse to speak with those originating from the Falkish Isles and vice-versa. No conflict based on these premises has been detected yet, but measures are being put in place to ensure that they won't arise now or in the future.

1C) The issue of Gender is an extremely complicated topic when it comes to Mysterium natives. Gender roles differ wildly depending on the species, sometimes swapping, sometimes putting one gender higher in status than the other. Other times, Gender roles may be completely equal. These roles may even differ in groups from the same nation, such as the Falklands. This suggests a dynamic and unique history has taken place in Mysterium, that would prompt more research into that subject matter in order to understand. This also means it is difficult to tell which class of people are most at risk, as even the humans of the Mysterium continent, do not share the same virtues and vices Earthbound humans do.

2A)NATO lacks the manpower to facilitate a multitude of the implementations, as such, manpower must be imported from non-military sources and recruitment goals have been raised.

3A) Feeding the populace is already becoming an issue, food shortages have lead to Ithacan officials rationing food supplies. Logistical means must be formalized and made more efficient in order to feed a hungry populace. Some have plans to construct farms around Ithaca using imported crops. A few locals have set up their own farms, though they are small in size, and have yet to yield any produce edible to the locals.

3B) Mysterium residents also negatively react to foods such as pineapples, soy, bananas. Human-animal species (Which will be referred to as Demi-humans) react negatively to Earthbound meat from animals of a corresponding species. This suggests that these crops do not exist in this world and their bodies consider it to be toxic. Mysterium natives eat staple foods that do not exist in our world, a variety of fruits, fungi, and vegetables. Most of their meat comes from insects, dragons, and small invertebrates. These foods aren't always toxic to Earthbound humans, but a large many of them are. Food for Mysterium natives must be grown using Mysterium crops or Earth crops that do not harm Mysterium biological functioning

4A) The threat of cross-contamination is ever-present. Three natives have already died due to Influenza. Though easy to treat in Earthbound Humans, this disease is fatal to the local Mysterium populace. Steps must be taken to ensure that diseases such as The Flu, Zika, West Nile, H1N1, Measles, and others do not get brought over from Earth to Ithaca. All incoming admins, staff, and soldiers must be vaccinated, undergo a series of temperature checks, and be tested for any signs of contractable infection before coming to Mysterium. The Red Cross and UNICEF have volunteered to distribute vaccines amongst the Mysterian populace.

4B) There are multiple diseases present in Mysterium that are lethal to Earthbound bodies. Though they have yet to be classified, four soldiers working amongst the citizens of Ithaca were hospitalized due to an unknown virus. The biological danger is present betwixt the Mysterium species and Earth species. As such, all incoming personnel to Ithaca are banned from leaving Mysterium back to Earth until they undergo a series of medical examinations.

4C) Sexual intercourse between soldiers and human locals has been banned. Fears of spreading disease, and the ethical worries of engaging in such actions, has prompted NATO authorities to prosecute and court-martial any soldier found engaging in such affairs regardless of the consensuality of it. Rape will not be tolerated and will be punished to the full extent of the law as it not only endangers the two engaging in the act, but also the greater community as a whole.

4D) Magical Ekron Stones may hold properties that can cure disease, both from Earth and in Mysterium. Further research is needed to prove this, however.

In Conclusion:

There are many challenges that face us as we attempt to create a larger, functional, and democratic society. However, we are prepared for any and every possible emergency. United we stand strong. Our planners have envisioned a shining city upon a hill, free from the normal bounds of a typical Earth society, in which people of all species can come and live freely under a common government, language, and goal. Thank you.