The Siberian Expedition

[GBW]

Antarctica, Republic of Yamania - August 14, 2004 (+14 Days)

Colonel William Coleman of the Republic of Yamania National Guard frowned lightly down at the copy of the new Yamanian-Japanese Mutual Aid Agreement as he finished reading the last article, then closed the folder and rested it on his lap. A treaty with Imperial Japan, Coleman thought wryly, shaking his head. I hope Hannon knows what he's doing.

Everything had gone to hell two weeks ago when a distant flash of light on the northern horizon of the city of Antarctica, Yamania's major city and capitol, had heralded the transition of the entire continent of the Republic of Yamania to a new world where a wildly diverse array of new countries were trying to figure out what was going on with diplomatic exchanges over radio frequencies. Yamania, little more than a British-Australian protectorate in their old world, enjoyed the position of geographic isolation from the rest of the continents. The Yamanian Prime Minister Lyle Hannon, newly appointed only that year, had apparently decided to forego that advantage somewhat and instead had immediately established contact with their immediate surroundings in southern South America and Oceania. Attempts at contact with East Asia had come soon after and Japan had quickly pursued diplomatic relations.

Coleman sighed as he looked around the outer office in which Brigadier General Charles Huntley's adjutant worked and tapped a finger on the folder impatiently. While I wait here, work is piling up on my desk, he thought sourly. Newly discovered rich deposits of fish and even pods of whales along the coasts, assignments for military attaches to other countries, reports on foreign military movements... the list went on and on. And I could be working instead of reporting in to General Huntley about whatever this is. Coleman let out another resigned sigh and Huntley's adjutant spared a moment to glance at him from his computer before going back to typing industriously.

A few minutes later, the adjutant's phone beeped and he picked up his phone, listened a moment, then answered, "Yes sir," before turning to Coleman. "General Huntley will see you now, Colonel." Coleman nodded to the adjutant and stood up from his seat, tucking his folder under an arm and straightening his uniform jacket before striding to the door to Huntley's office. "Colonel, thank you for waiting. I hope I didn't keep you out there for too long," Huntley said from behind his desk as Coleman opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. "Not at all, General," Coleman lied blandly, stepping up to the chair in front of Huntley's desk and waiting for his brief wave toward it before sitting in it. "So, Colonel Coleman," Huntley said as he picked up a folder of his own and flipped through the pages, "I understand that have experience dealing with foreign militaries?"

Coleman carefully hid his surprise by shifting in his chair and clearing his throat. I guess this isn't the usual report after all. "Yes, General, I was involved with the annual Joint Arctic Exercises on the mainland with NATO forces back in the late eighties. I dealt specifically with the American and Canadian contingents." Huntley nodded as he flipped to a certain page in the folder, then eyed Coleman above the rim of his reading glasses and said, "It says here you were a military attache in Australia as well?" "That is correct, General," Coleman replied, wondering just where this was going.

Huntley nodded at Coleman's last answer and sighed as he set the folder down on his desk. "As you may have heard, Colonel Coleman, we have recently signed an agreement with the Empire of Japan." He waited for Coleman's nod before continuing, "As part of that agreement, you may have noted Article Five of the Mutual Aid Agreement that states... " He paused as he picked up another sheet of paper and read, "The governments of the Republic of Yamania and the Empire of Japan will assist each other in exploration expeditions." He set it back down and looked Coleman straight in the eyes. "Japan was apparently already considering sending an expedition of theirs to Siberia before we even made radio contact with them. When they learned just where we live and the technologies we've developed to deal with our climate, they felt that we could play an integral part in the successful completion of this expedition. This is where you come in."

"Ah, me, sir?," Coleman asked, now getting an idea of where this was going and not altogether sure he liked the idea. "Yes, Colonel. We've already started loading the equipment necessary for the expedition. Snowcrawlers, disassembled prefrabricated arctic research buildings, medicines, so on and so forth. YE* has also decided to send along some experts to survey the landscape for possible construction of power plants and other such infrastructure. All that is needed is the CO of the Yamanian portion of the expedition. Seeing as how you have experience working alongside foreign military and have field experience, I recomended you personally and you've been assigned the position. Congratulations, Colonel Coleman," Huntley said, extending a hand across his desk. In a daze, Coleman took the hand and shook it, saying, "Thank you, sir." Oh well, I guess I never really liked desk work anyway.

_____

*YE = Yamania Electric

[GBW]

Tokyo, Empire of Japan - August 21, 2004 (+21 Days)

Major John Ludvigsen strode across the lobby of the Asakusa View Hotel towards the entrance, smoothing down what he hoped weren't noticeable wrinkles in his dark blue uniform jacket. I don't even remember the last time I actually wore this outfit, Ludvigsen thought as he gave another tug at the bottom of his jacket. That's what I get for working for a living on the mainland. Walking alongside him, Major Boerge Pettersen's dress uniform was in annoyingly good shape. He even has creases, damn it.

Ludvigsen wiped the beginnings of a scowl from his face as he came within sight of Colonel William Coleman near the front doors, who was standing with some Japanese security personnel and someone from the Imperial court that had been attached to them to tell them of proper etiquette. The man from the Imperial court bowed to Ludvigsen and Pettersen as they approached and both returned it as he said, "Konnichiwa, Major Ludvigsen, Major Pettersen. The limousine should arrive soon to take us to the Imperial Palace." Ludvigsen nodded to the man, realizing that he didn't remember his name. I hope it isn't going to come up in conversation, he thought uneasily. Turning away from the Japanese man, Ludvigsen drew himself straight and saluted Coleman as Pettersen did the same beside him. Coleman returned their salute and said, "At ease, gentlemen. Are your rooms satisfactory?" "Yes sir," Pettersen replied a beat ahead of Ludvigsen who said, "Satisfactory enough, sir."

Coleman quirked an eyebrow at Ludvigsen as a limousine pulled up outside. "Ah, here it is. If you will follow me, gentlemen," the Imperial court man said, then pushed through the door. The three Yamanian National Guard officers followed him and said, "Thanks," as the chauffeur opened the limo's door for them. Once they were seated inside, the chauffeur closed the door, got back into the driver's seat and merged the limousine smoothly into traffic. Silence reigned for the next few minutes and Ludvigsen looked through the window towards the masses of Japanese walking alongside the Sumida River. Beyond them were a blend of old-fashioned Japanese shops, selling everything from ornaments to food, alongside modern high-rise office buildings gleaming in the setting sun. He spaced out for a bit as he stared out of the window, then started as he realized that he'd been spoken to. "Uh, sorry. What did you say?," Ludvigsen asked as he looked back at the Imperial court man. "I asked, have you been to Japan in your universe, Major?" "No, no. I've only been to Melbourne in Australia and New York City in the United States outside of Yamania in our native universe," he replied.

"Is that so?," Coleman said, turning to Ludvigsen. "I've been to Australia myself, but I've never gone to America. How was New York?" Ludvigsen shifted in his seat, uncertain at the seeming informality Colonel Coleman was showing, and answered, "Well, sir, I have to admit that all of those skyscrapers were quite a sight. Especially the Manhattan Building and the Global Commerce Tower. I can't really tell you too much more, Colonel, though the New Yorkers I met weren't the best of people." Coleman smiled and nodded, then looked at Pettersen and asked, "How about you, Major Pettersen? Where have you been to?" "I've never left Yamania, sir," Pettersen answered, his tone as clipped and precise as at an inspection. Ludvigsen found himself exchanging a glance with Coleman, both sharing an amused and slightly exasperated expression. Does this guy ever lighten up?, Ludvigsen wondered briefly as he eyed Pettersen, then shook his head slightly as he looked back out the window.

Some time later, the limousine pulled into the Koyo Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, and the chauffeur got out and opened their door. Coleman stepped out first, followed by the Japanese Imperial court man (whose name he still hadn't discovered), and then Pettersen with Ludvigsen taking up the rear. Ludvigsen blinked at a fusillade of camera flashes and the mixed sound of several reporters shouting questions in Japanese and English, then held up a hand to shield his eyes as he walked past the reporters and cameramen being held by back Imperial Japanese Army soldiers towards the Palace. He stopped a moment as he reached a stone bridge spanning a moat that surrounded the Palace and looked towards a gate set among some massive stone walls and the Japanese-style buildings set amongst trees beyond. Alright, John, don't screw this up, Ludvigsen thought to himself and, with a deep breath, began walking across the bridge.

_____

Colonel William Coleman bowed deeply before the Japanese Emperor Akihito, Majors Ludvigsen and Pettersen doing the same a couple steps behind him. The Emperor, a dignified looking Japanese man with gray streaked in his black hair, bowed his head respectfully to the Yamanian officers, the Empress doing the same at his side. Coleman, coming out of the bow, stepped aside and allowed the two Japanese officers of the SNLF, or Special Naval Landing Forces, step forward to also pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress. God, I hope I don't screw this up, he thought as he watched on, expression blank. Reijiro, the man the Imperial Household Agency had sent to them, had taught he and the Majors all of the proper etiquette on how to deal with the Imperial family as well as the table manners expected at the dinner. It's a good thing I know how to use chopsticks. Greetings completed, the three Yamanian National Guard officers and two Japanese SNLF officers, accompanied by the Prime Minister, Yoshii Kono, and a host of politicians from the House of Peers and House of Representatives, headed for the Rensui, or dining room.

As Coleman walked, one of the SNLF officers picked up his pace to walk alongside him and he took a moment to study him. Hmm... don't think I'd like to get this guy angry. The SNLF officer, a colonel as well by the markings on his uniform, was very nearly the same height as Coleman but with harder muscle and wore a half smile that gave him a dashing sort of air. "Colonel Coleman, I am Colonel Masao Ito. It is a pleasure to meet you," Ito said in faintly accented English, holding a hand out. Coleman, slightly surprised at the gesture, took the hand and shook it firmly. "Colonel Ito, a pleasure for me as well. It appears that we're going to be colleagues on this expedition." "Indeed. I was hoping that perhaps we could chat more once we are seated." Coleman nodded his agreement and Ito fell back to walk near the other shorter SNLF officer, this one a brigadier general. Must be the overall commander of the expedition, Coleman thought, and noted the slightly reproving look he shot Ito. Wonder what that's about.

Ahead, a Japanese servant in a black suit and white shirt with no tie and white gloves slid open a thick door made of beige fabric for the oncoming group. Following the Japanese politicians, Coleman stepped through and hesitated a moment in surprise. Expecting the dining room to be heavily decorated in an ornate Japanese style, he was shocked to discover that it was rather plain looking with beige fabric walls trimmed with red wood and only a few pictures of framed simple Japanese art. In the center of the room was a long table draped with a white linen tablecloth with a centerpiece of red and white flowers, regular china plates set before each of comfortable looking gray chairs with both regular utensils along with chopsticks set alongside. "Sir?," Ludvigsen asked politely as he stood there blocking the door and, coughing in embarassment, Coleman walked through and let another of the servants politely guide him to his seat.

Coleman stood next to the chair until the Emperor and Empress walked in and bowed along with everyone else as they did. Akihito and his wife strode to their seats in the middle of the table with their backs to the wall, official photographers from the Imperial Household Agency standing in a space on the other side of the table, and sat. With the Emperor and Empress seated, everyone else followed suit and servants began ferrying in the various dishes of the dinner. Coleman soon found himself with a steaming bowl of noodle soup with large noodles, diced scallions and a portion of hardboiled egg and picked up his spoon. Feeling the presence of the photographers behind him, he picked up the bowl of soup carefully and held it up towards his face, slurping the broth from his spoon at the same volume as those seated around him, and did the same with the noodles. A camera flashed behind him and Coleman restrained an annoyed sigh. How the Emperor and his family can stand this sort've thing all the time is beyond me, Coleman thought sourly as he continued eating his soup. Before long, he and everyone else was finished and servants took the bowls away. While waiting for the next dish, the people at the table took the oppurtunity to have some conversation.

"Colonel Coleman, I am Brigadier General Takeo Kawaguchi of the Special Naval Landing Forces," the higher-ranked officer from before said from across the table, "I am sure it is quite an honor to be appointed the commanding officer of your country's contingent to our joint Siberia Expedition." "Yes, General, it is. A high honor," Coleman replied. "I take it you have already met our Colonel Ito," Kawaguchi said with a brief gesture to the man seated next to him. "Yes, of course," Coleman replied as he and Ito nodded to each other. Then, catching his cue, Coleman turned partially to his left and said, "Allow me to introduce my own officers, Major John Ludvigsen and Major Boerge Pettersen. Both were recently stationed in the Yamanian interior and were assigned with assisting settlements and laboratories and were chosen specifically for this expedition." Kawaguchi and Ito, as well as several of the Japanese politicians within earshot, looked suitably impressed at the Majors' previous assignments, then all conversation was halted as the next dish, sashimi, was brought in. Coleman poured some soy sauce into the small plate provided along with the dish, then put a small dose of wasabi on a piece of the thinly sliced, raw tuna, dipped it into the sauce and popped it in his mouth. Good thing I listened regarding this wasabi, Coleman thought as he took a drink from his saki, then continued eating.

The sashimi finished and plates taken away, conversation resumed. "You were assigned to the interior of Antarctica? Excuse me, I mean Yamania. How did you deal with the cold?," Ito asked, then took a sip from his own saki. Ludvigsen glanced briefly towards Coleman before replying, "It's what we're used to, I guess. I come from the Yamana Peninsula myself but, yes, the interior can get quite cold. We have winter gear that was based at first on what the Russians wore but was refined over time by our experiences in the interior. We've brought along enough of our winter gear to equip all of the soldiers of the Japanese contingent and have spares besides." Ito smiled at that and Kawaguchi nodded somber approval. "That is good to hear. I do not wish for my men to come down with frostbite in that environment," Kawaguchi said. "Well, General," Coleman began, "we've also brought along some of our specialized medicines for just such an instance. For example--"

Coleman stopped as a soldier in IJA uniform ran up to the open door of the dining room, then stopped and composed himself before stepping in and striding briskly to General Kawaguchi's side. Kawaguchi frowned deeply at the interruption then, as the soldier whispered hurriedly in his ear, frowned so deeply it was very nearly a scowl. All conversation in the dining room had stopped by that point and everyone was looking towards Kawaguchi and the soldier, including the Emperor. Akihito asked something in Japanese too complex for Coleman's rudimentary understanding of the language. Kawaguchi replied in a flat tone and everyone at the table sat a moment in stunned silence before the room dissolved into conversation louder than the mild dinner sort that had gone before. "Pardon me, General, but what's wrong?," Coleman asked. Kawaguchi looked to visibly debate whether he should say anything, then seemingly reminded himself that the Yamanians were allies of a sort. "What has happened, Colonel Coleman, is that Colonel General Arkady Baskaev of the Soviet Union has announced his country's claim over all of Siberia. It appears, Colonel, that we shall have to accelerate our timetable."

[DuQuense]

well you can use my Airship's [ally] visit and pictures of Siberia to advance a counter claim. ]see my Asia post about Siberia]

[GBW]

Hokkyukoshi, Siberia (Site of Okhotsk) - August 25, 2004 (+25 Days)

Colonel William Coleman stood with Colonel Masao Ito and Brigadier General Takeo Kawaguchi, looking at the small settlement they had established. Yamanian prefrabricated arctic research buildings, put up with some haste when they had made landfall two days ago, made up the core of what was planned to be one of Japan's ports along the Siberian coast. The streets running between the buildings were wide enough for the future preplanned city but at the moment were only bare dirt churned into mud by the constant movement of Yamanian and Japanese soldiers, snowcrawlers and Japanese all-terrain vehicles, giving the newly founded settlement of Hokkyukoshi the curiously mixed look of modernity and of the raw frontier. Adding to the effect was the sight of Japanese and Yamanian engineers dragging logs with vehicles from further inland towards the settlement so that they could be used in the construction of some of the simpler structures to be built.

Coleman glanced over towards Kawaguchi and Ito to see their expressions at the view of Hokkyukoshi. Kawaguchi, while short and a bit stocky, exuded a sort of aura that left no question he was in charge of the operation. His expression seemed mixed between disapproval for the untidiness of the settlement and a somber approval that the operation was now well underway. Ito, on the other hand, was openly smiling. Through the time he had spent working with him ever since the dinner at the Imperial Palace, Coleman had come to the conclusion that Ito had a bit of the brashness that characterized the Americans he had worked with before the Event and, by his manner, seemed enthusiastic about being assigned to the expedition.

Coleman himself was as outwardly stoic as any Yamanian, more like Kawaguchi than Ito in that respect, but inwardly still was none too sure about being attached to the Siberia Expedition and the Imperial Japanese. I've spent too long behind a desk in Antarctica at the Guard compound, Coleman thought with an inward sigh. He glanced over at the enthusiastic Ito again. Or maybe it's just that Ito is making me feel old. Coleman shook his head. Colonel Masao Ito's apparently boundless energy contained within his solidly muscled frame was enough to overwhelm just about anyone.

"It is a good start, gentlemen. More equipment and supplies will be brought to Hokkyukoshi from the Home Islands and this will begin to look like a real port," said Kawaguchi, looking from the settlement out towards the Sea of Okhotsk. Hmm, I wonder if it'll still be called that here, Coleman wondered briefly. "How are the preparations for the expedition inland progressing?" "We're on schedule, General. All of the equipment and supplies necessary for the expedition and the establishment of another settlement are almost loaded onto the snowcrawlers and their trailers. We'll try to bring some of all-terrain vehicles along, but they may not be able to deal with the ruggedness of the mountains we'll have to cross to get inland," Coleman replied. "We have to keep in mind that there have never been any vehicles on this land and these aren't flat plains we're dealing with. It may be more than these vehicles can handle. Our crawlers were built to deal with the worst that the Yamanian interior could throw at them."

Kawaguchi frowned at what he saw as an insult against the Japanese-built vehicles, then frowned deeper when he saw Ito nodding along with Coleman's statement. Ito noticed Kawaguchi's expression and said, "I am afraid it is true, Brigadier General. This is the sort of reason we invited Yamania to join in the expedition. They have gear better suited towards the sort of terrain and weather we will encounter in Siberia." Kawaguchi looked thoughtful for a moment before replying, "That could be so," before turning to look back at the sea. Coleman inclined his head in thanks and Ito nodded back. That would've been good, inadvertantly insulting the overall commander of the expedition.

When Kawaguchi dismissed Coleman and Ito a short while later, the two of them walked back towards Hokkyukoshi together. "I wish we didn't have to rush things so much. I'm worried that we'll make some sort of mistake along the way." Ito looked over at Coleman's comment and nodded, replying, "Colonel General Baskaev has forced us to this, however. If we can establish ourselves first, we shall have a more solid claim than some announcement from Khabarovsk. It helps that China and Joeson Jeguk have already refused recognition of the claim. Their border skirmishes with the Soviets seem to be worsening every day." Coleman frowned and glanced south. "Do you think the Soviets are sending an expedition of their own north? I wouldn't like to get into any, ah, 'incidents' with Soviet military forces." "They could be, but it should not be a large one with the threats on their southern border. They can not spare many of their soldiers, especially the way they fight," Ito finished with contempt at the Soviet massed assaults that so characterized the fighting in the Second Russo-Japanese War.

Ito frowned lightly a moment later. Despite the way they fought, the Soviet Union had still ejected Japan from the Asian mainland in that war, causing the Empire to lose Manchukuo and Korea and forced them to withdraw from their war in China. Northern Karafuto was hardly reward enough for that embarassment even though it provided enough of a wake up call for Japan so that Emperor Hirohito appointed the great Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto as Shogun in the mid 40s. Shogun Yamamoto who then led the purge of Communist agitators and the Militarists in the government and Army and created the new constitution in 1952. Ito shrugged. I do not dwell in the past, he thought, then smiled. The present and immediate future are looking to be far more interesting.

"Have you received word back from Major Ludvigsen yet?" Coleman frowned at the question and glanced at his watch. "No, I haven't, and he and Major Mikami left to do a recon of the interior a while ago. They should've been back by now." A moment of silence stretched, then Ito said, "Even though they are using inferior Japanese vehicles?" Coleman, alarmed, looked quickly at Ito, then noticed his quirked eyebrow and mischievous smile. He started to frown, then chuckled despite himself, shaking his head. "You had me going there for a second." Ito grinned. "Ah, so you can relax. That is good to know." Shaking his head with a smile, Coleman continued on towards Hokkyukoshi with Ito.

_____

Major John Ludvigsen looked around at the trees of the heavily forested foothills he, Major Mikami and a few squads of Yamanian and Japanese soldiers were driving through, then towards the tree-lined mountains that drew up abruptly from them. Well, I'm definitely not in Yamania anymore, he thought. To someone used to the barren unending white and jagged peaks of the Yamanian interior, Siberia seemed extremely green and lush. He reached a hand out and plucked a handful of needles from a passing tree, inhaling the smell of the evergreens with a smile.

"We should have reported back to Hokkyukoshi over an hour ago." Major Mikami didn't seem to be enjoying the outing as much as Ludvigsen was and was looking at him in disapproval. Ludvigsen sighed. "I'm just trying to get us recon as far inland as possible before the expedition starts moving," he replied, partly the truth but not all of it. He wasn't willing to admit that he was actually enjoying himself.

As the all-terrain vehicles reached the summit of another hill, Ludvigsen tapped the shoulder of the Japanese driver and said, "Stop here," in passable Japanese. He was trying his best to learn the language of the people he was working with and, to his surprise, was catching on rather quickly. Mikami sent him another reproachful look as he got out of the vehicle, then got out of it himself without a word. "Don't stray too far from the vehicles and try to keep another soldier within your sight," Ludvigsen announced as he raised binoculars to his eyes and looked through the treetops towards the mountains. Mikami said basically the same thing beside him in Japanese, then stood next to Ludvigsen, hands on his assault rifle and eyes scanning the edge of the clearing.

"We will head back to Hokkyukoshi after we have written our report here." Mikami's voice was firm; he wasn't going to tolerate going on any more. Ludvigsen's mouth twisted in annoyance and disappointment, but he nodded to Mikami. "Alright, we'll go back. Let me make a few more observations of the mountains, then we'll call the men back together and--"

A scream tore through the clearing and cut Ludvigsen off in midsentence. He and Mikami's eyes snapped towards it, then both ran in that direction. Mikami had his rifle at the ready as Ludvigsen grabbed the radio from his belt and brought it to his mouth. "All troops, report in." A steady stream of reports from the Yamanian and Japanese soldiers flowed in, marred by silence from one Yamanian soldier. "Dunham, report." More silence stretched as Ludvigsen looked towards Mikami then let his eyes scan the trees and undergrowth around them. "Dunham, I said report." More silence. Ludvigsen swore under his breath, then brought the radio to his mouth again. "All troops report back to the vehicles in the clearing and stand at your guard." Acknowledgements rang in as Ludvigsen put the radio back at his belt and grabbed his own assault rifle where it hung from it's sling. "Come on, Mikami, let's head--" "Major Ludvigsen, come here quickly!"

Ludvigsen looked towards Mikami and trotted over. "What's... wrong...?" Ludvigsen trailed off as he saw the body wearing Yamanian arctic camouflage, rifle at its side. Its stomach was torn open and savaged, as was its head, and had dirty pawprints of some kind stamped onto its chest. "Shit." Ludvigsen and Mikami's rifles snapped to their ready position and both scanned their immediate surroundings.

"Mikami, let's head back to clearing slowly. We'll cover each other's backs." Mikami nodded sharply in agreement and both started back towards the clearing as Ludvigsen used one hand to grab his radio. "Dunham is dead, killed by some sort of animal. Major Mikami and I are headed back to the clearing. Provide us some covering fire if we need--" Ludvigsen heard the beginning of Mikami's warning shout and dropped the radio, starting to turn with his rifle as something solid bowled into his side and knocked him to the ground.

A horrible stench filled his nostrils as he turned his head and saw that his face was inches away from a gaping maw of blood-smeared sharp teeth dominated by two huge canines. Time seemed to stretch for Ludvigsen, though only a little over two seconds passed since he was knocked over. Unable to form a coherent thought, he got the feeling he was about to die when the roar of an assault rifle hit his ears and the mouth jerked away from his face, blood spattering into his eyes and blinding him a moment later. Most of the weight of the animal suddenly fell away from him and Ludvigsen laid there, stunned.

"Major Ludvigsen! Are you alright?" The sound of Mikami's voice brought him back to himself and he brought a sleeve up, wiping blood and gore from his eyes and the rest of his face. He cleared his eyes enough to raise his head and look down at the legs of the animal still draped across his. Mikami reached an arm down and Ludvigsen took it, letting Mikami help him to his feet. Unable to speak for the moment, he looked at the body of the animal that had attacked him. It was smaller than he had expected, a bit smaller than the lions he had seen in the Antarctica Zoo, but was much heavier than it looked. Though bullet holes scarred its side and had ruined the side of its head, he saw that it had reddish-brown fur and had surprisingly short legs and a short, bobbed tail. What remained of its face was dominated by two huge canines that actually looked to be serrated somewhat.

"Are you alright, Major Ludvigsen?" Shaking himself out of the feeling of numbness, Ludvigsen nodded to Mikami. He winced slightly at some pains in his upper chest and shoulders and glanced down. Claw holes marred his uniform at those spots, and he saw he was covered in a goodly amount of blood. "Well, mostly anyway." He looked back at the animal. "Christ, is that a saber-toothed tiger?" Mikami nodded, then his expression finally loosened to show his own shock at the encounter and just what it was they had encountered. He fell into a sentence of shocked Japanese too rapid for Ludvigsen to follow, but Ludvigsen couldn't blame him.

"Let's head back to the vehicles. I'll get myself patched up and we'll detail off some soldiers to recover Dunham's body. I guess we should get some pictures of this... thing." Mikami nodded agreement and grabbed his radio, brought it to his mouth to begin relaying the orders. Ludvigsen stared at the saber-toothed tiger a bit more, then sighed as he looked away from it. The enjoyment of the recon mission, maybe the whole expedition, had just disappeared for him.