It is as they described it in journals, newspapers, articles, and tall tales. The Iperantosi Islands appeared quite exotic. Full of various foliage, coral reefs covering some beaches, palm trees forests, fruit trees, Beech trees, some Yew trees, Hydra palm trees or ettin coconut trees. Many of the houses were surrounded by the various trees, along with the growing vines full of fruits. Only the wild animals were out to greet them. Especially one type of island cat called an Ocelot. According to one of the Morgladr natives in his unit, these Ocelot Cats can be found roaming all over the Iperantosi Islands. Jaxa was certain they scared off many wild animals as well as the locals after their first landing, and first engagement. Jaxa was certain they would ambush them, but the locals appeared too eager to get them off their island to even think of strategy. For nearly an hour the Iperantosi threw themselves at the invading Vestrisians on Nokocour Cay. Their attempt cost them 1,388 lives, and 222 wounded or taken prisoner. In that first battle they lost 127 soldiers, and 351 wounded.
A full week went by with their forces securing two settlements. In the process of securing these two settlements they killed 2246 Iperantosi, Gantronese, warriors from Vorcadam, and Gora-Via. Vestrisian casualties in taking these two settlements rose to 359 killed, 800 wounded. Fortunately, they had no one missing. As for prisoners, a total of 2,718 Iperantosi, and 1,751 Gantronese collaborators. Any Gantronese among their collaborators took their own lives to avoid the shame of defeat and capture. Within the settlements they discovered 435 people dead from execution or suicide. Any locals that knew they were coming already fled. Jaxa wondered if these people would leave in masses. A whole population would likely leave or die once the rest of the Iperantosi Isles were taken. He knew his fellow Vestrisians were not ruthless brutes entirely. Some showed their true colors in various parts of the war. Others either lost it or just had enough and went the other way about it. Several days passed before they encountered any other resistance in the Iperantosi Islands of Nokocour Cay. During those days they found the inhabitants of the two settlements plus another one undefended. To their surprise every female between the ages of fifteen to thirty were pregnant.
This second combat engagement involved mostly Vorcadam warriors, Korivs, and the Gantronese Oni humanoids. None of the Iperantosi defenders survived the engagement of two and a half days. Calling it the battle of Gimnis Port they, the Vestrisians secured the last major port city on the eastern part of the island. Nokocour Cay's other island was taken with little casualties. Jaxa saw their commanders were attempting to take these Islands a few islands at a time. It seemed they were baiting the Gantronese to reclaim them. For a solid twenty-one days and nights they fought over control of Nokocour Cay Isles. To their surprise small bands of rebels came out to aid them. Forgetting how many they fought to seize Gimnis he presumed there had to be a brigade's worth of defenders. In this next stage of their invasion the Iperantosi showed they were divided or at least rising up for themselves. A small band of sixty-five rebels emerged from an abandoned settlement of shell shaped homes covered in overgrowth. They got to watch their home city become occupied by Vestrisian forces. Jaxa did not know what happened in other parts of their invasion except for a few bits. To the north, on another island a full battalion found a company of 279 rebels who managed to secure a small fishing village. In the far south he heard about Marines, Rangers, hired pirates, and their allies sending an expedition into unknown seas full of islands. According to one of their commanding officers, a big mouth Captain, their fellow soldiers in the south found different factions of aliens among ancient alien ruins. It was rumored these structures were made from metal and dotted almost every island south of Iperantosi.
While on patrol Jaxa and several others discovered a hovel of six shell shaped buildings. It was there Jaxa lost two of his fellow squad mates to a Gantronese sniper, and an Iperantosi fighter. Hidden between two of the buildings sat a Gantronese tank the invaders abandoned. A few of his own squad mates discovered it was still operational. One functional enemy tank proved to be useful. However, the enemy already moved back to other islands. In the wake of their withdrawal, they found thousands of dead Iperantosi, over 1,207 traps that took the lives of fifty-three Vestrisians, forty-nine Iperantosi, wounded approximately eight-hundred thirty-seven. Casualties did mount for both sides, however it was heavier for the Gantronese. A full week went by before they invaded the southern island next while allies and extra soldiers came into invade the central island. Their fleet blockaded the rest in an attempt to cut off the Iperantosi defenders. Their own allies joined the invasion of the Iperantosi Isles. An appealing sight for weary sore eyes of the invading forces.
Close to 2,887 Foreign volunteers from twenty-four different countries joined this invasion. A brigade of 4,244 Marines from Malvieth, and Lybris join their VUVR neighbors. A third brigade of 3,848 Evusian soldiers, elites, infantry, and marines are sent over to help invade the rest of the islands. From their own country a battalion of 697 VUVR grunts are sent over to aid their fellow Vestrisian-Skain. It was a great boost in reinforcements for them. Yet Jaxa couldn't keep the eerie feeling the Gantronese would send a massive wave after them. Another thirty days of fighting over one of the main islands ensued they began to hear rumors about other alien forces coming in from the south. Just the thought of more alien factions coming down from the skies gave him goose bumps. Yet something even more disturbing was discovered on the same island. More than a thousand villages on two of the islands were found abandoned. While on patrol for the third time that week of discovery Jaxa recalled the futile attempt the Iperantosi and Gantronese tried pulling against them. It cost the lives of hundreds of Vestrisians, and allies. It even cost the lives of some 2,857 or so Blow gunners, warrior monks, Rattan Wicker shields of Talus, Gora-Via, Talus, Vorcadam Ashigaru musketeers, Yimo Archers, Samurai, Koriv Thugees, Ronin outlaws, and outlaw monks who put up a fierce fight. Jaxa was certain they were not done in the Iperantosi Isles. While their main forces were in the Unknown Lands, they were invading the Iperantosi Isles, and a detachment or so fought in the platform seas to the south of their positions.
Jaxa's unit under the command of Captain Domongor and Lieutenant Tuzzarru came across a small enclave of a village. There they searched six shell shaped houses before getting caught in an ambush. Armed with a variety of weapons, three hundred fifty-five Iperantosi locals and natives emerged from various hiding places. From the earth they tried scaring the Vestrisians with polearm sickles, and polearm raven's beaks made from bones, or metals. Some had retractable metal staffs. Jaxa shot up one Iperantosi decorated in bones, tribal tattoos, and some resemblance of armor before he could finish off the poor sap he yanked down with the sickle in their foot. Everything happened so fast the time to process or comprehend what happened made the whole thing seem like a made-up tall tale. Forty-eight survivors among the Iperantosi threw down their weapons. He could not keep up with how many they lost as they had to move it quickly. Onto the next settlement Jaxa's battalion discovered it was completely abandoned. The only signs of life were animals both tamed, and wild prowling about. One of the Privates, and a Corporal discovered a mass grave behind the village. Seeing there was not much left the unit pressed on for three days of no action. Several villages were found void of life and hints of mass movements. In one of the abandoned villages the battalion came under attack by a band of 610 pirates who appeared native to Calorn. This attack did not last long however it did give the unit a bit of a startle. A score or so pirates were captured alive while the rest were killed in the quick fighting. Just the pace this attack went made it seem more like a blur. None of them wanted to keep track of who they lost. All they really wanted was to end this long-winded fight for the Iperantosi Isles.
Two days later the unit received word that half of the Islands fell to their hands, and more than a thousand Iperantosi rose up against their Gantronese overlords. Although Jaxa was of a lower rank he still caught a glimpse of how many Iperantosi became rebels. A good 1,205 or more ousted the Gantronese from their island. More than two thousand more joined the rebellion. That was one less island they had to deal with. Unless the Gantronese reclaimed it that island was free. Cooperation with the rebels became a little complicated. Having the same enemy hooked them together. It was not long before more Iperantosi took up arms against their Gantronese Masters. To the coalition it was a blessing and a nightmare. Some Commanders wanted to control when the Iperantosi attacked the Gantronese whom brought in more forces. This made the invasion go on for another week of fighting. While assisting a band of fifty-six rebels who assisted them another wave of Gantronese forces arrived to push them back. A battalion of 780 Gantronese hybrid spawn samurai, another battalion of 1,239 slave warriors, 200 devout warrior monks, 621 Gantron spawn, 133 Dark Elves, 10 female Oni Spawn Jaxa never seen, but heard about were sent after the VUVR Marines, and allies. Thirty days were already spent seizing Iperantosi Islands. Now they had to fight more forces. From the south fellow Vestrisians, and allies made their way to the southern portions with rumors of other aliens invading. According to them the Iperantois claimed ten islands with alien tower like structures that appeared to be homes, or laboratories of some sort. Thirty-eight days were spent fending off the newly arrived forces and extra Gantronese reinforcements.
One Division's worth of warriors, soldiers, musket men, rifles, archers, cavalry, vandals, outlaws, Gnolls, Troglodytes, raiders, plus killers launched a counterattack in the form of an assault. Over ten thousand attacked Vestrisian positions and Calorn allied positions. Forces of Alagen, Nahemine, Lybris, various allies lost thousands of personnel. Volunteers in their ranks were also among the casualties the Calornese Alliance suffered. Countless wounded or so it seemed, were dragged from the field. Across two of the main islands they engaged what rose to a force of 17,000 to 21,000 Gantronese. His guts said it was larger when he first heard of the counter offensive. Jaxa and his unit had to be on their guard at all times when they pressed to the frontlines.
Ferocious fighting for thirty-eight days became full of carnage During the first days of the attack they lost between 23,400-36000 personnel, allies, sailors, and volunteers. That was only an estimate. Several allies brought ships with them here to Iperantosi. A portion of this was lost in the fighting. Jaxa's unit alongside countrymen, allies, volunteers, and rebels faced more than twenty thousand Gantronese forces for a month's worth of fighting. Gantronese Forces sent two waves against the Calornese Alliance. Using what they had at their disposal the coalition managed to fend off these waves. Located in the center of the lines Jaxa's unit pressed the advance. Gunning down Gantronese invaders was what they expected. What they got for an opposing counter force made hearts sink. Ethnicity and race on Calorn started to become outdated thinking. After fighting aliens various peoples of Calorn grew closer as allies.
Among the Gantronese counter forces they found plenty of Calornese ethnic groups. First backed by a battalion of 1,590 Gantronese this wave consisted different groups from their own planet, Calorn. From the Vorcadam isles, and straights 204 Ashigarune Musket men, 300 Samurai, 130 archers, 400 Ronin mercenaries, 400 ninjas overwhelmed their allies before being put down. Gora-Vians, Tallusians were found in the mix. Some six-hundred Lancers from Hadoras were joined by 603 Hadoras Troops, 450 martial swordsmen, 130 Irregulars in Gantronese fatigues. They put up a melee fight while charging or running down enemies. Gora-Vians were found such as 180 blade gauntlets, 58 Mogwani ninja, 300 Naginata riders, 200 Mounted archers, 140 Naginata footmen. Plenty of Gora-Via Ronin could be seen among Korivans. Some 225 Iron troopers, 400 Mounted bowmen, 58 Iron Flails, 434 Meteor Hammers, 210 Pikemen of Koriv gave their allies a startle and a beating. These Gora-Vians, Hadorasians, Tallusians, Korivans were defeated alongside other groups that joined in. Jaxa could still recall the 165 pirates, 300 smugglers, and 250 arsonists who spent time, looting, and burning stuff. His countrymen had no problem gunning them down as they pushed the front against the first wave.
Other groups forming this first wave included 140 Dacoit from Mulzan, 160 Tiger Claw men armed with claw hand weapons. Mulzaneen showed its servitude to the Gantronese alongside others with 345 of their Skeshik horsemen, 150 gauntlet swords, 520 Drumi blades of Amhka, 230 Pandern anti-skirmishers. All of these were lost in the fighting. Lost forces of Mulzan included some 759 warriors. Their use of melee, projectiles, guns, and horses crippled certain formations in the Calornese formations. Until the Vestrisians rushed to the aid of their allies this wave showed the Gantronese expansive control over their world. About 144 Mulzaneen, 360 Ghudran swords, 300 steppe riders from Bolith-Hadoras, 210 Flame throwers from Talus, 540 Changdun crossbows nearly obliterated the Iperantosi Rebel lines. Each group gave them trouble for a few days. It nearly became a cat and mouse chase across the islands.
The Gantronese brought a number of hired hands to fight Calornese forces. Over 856 Outlaws, 120 mercenaries came over just to switch sides on the Gantronese. Having turncoats helped eliminate groups such as 156 Grunts, 153 Prowlers, 383 Grenadiers, and 582 Gantronese Spawn Arquebusiers. More turncoats were found as the battle dragged into its 30th day. Eight knights who killed some Ahool creature were aided by 240 ninjas from Talus Both groups were massacred after a fight with 571 Troglodytes, 952 Goblins, and 800 Black Robes from Gudran. Most of these died of wounds while the rest were eaten by crocs after massacring turncoats.
On both islands they found various aliens and monsters among the first wave. One unit of 110 Oni, armed with a variety of weapons wore their own unique armor. A battalion of 1,185 Gantronese Style samurai in Aploarium metal armor that appeared orange in color. More than 175 Yuanti-Lamia, 100 Gantron Spawn, 127 snake men, 350 Cellic Woadi, 1,176 Jackals, 102 Lizardmen in their own unique armor incited panic until tanks rolled in. Other aliens involved included a wild blade cyborg, Demon Head Hunter, five Dragon Men. Combining their forces with the Gantronese remnants they nearly pushed the Calornese back in the counteroffensive. However, they received aid from Morgadra. Coming to their aid a brigade of five thousand VUVR personnel, three hundred aircraft arrived to bolster Calornese forces. Jaxa and his unit faced some fearsome, and scary monsters at the front. A Toad Demon, Crocodile mutant, and a wolf bat the Gantronese managed to bring along with their forces. One squad mate was eaten, and two others were torn to pieces. Privates Ira Bradshaw, Toivaag Soreblade the half goblin, and Julius Eldon Hammer of Ezonel suffered those fates in the field.
Mounted on reptilian creatures a total of 282 Orcs stampeded through some lines already struck. Machine gunners, and rifle men did the trick. A Lieutenant and scores of others found themselves at death's door near by the Orc weapons. Some Soldiers were trampled, others beheaded, and some speared down. Several times Jaxa found himself locked in melee combat over some ground at the front. It became back and forth inside some jungle patches, settlements, or beach. He witnessed betrayal among the first wave's ranks. Somewhere on the front, 58 fox like humanoids called Kumihos, and eleven Goblinoid misshapen humanoids called Bakemono backstabbed the Gantronese. That only led to animal like beasts to be let loose on the battlefield. One Chimera was set loose on the field along with a pack of over one hundred twenty dire Demon-Dingo. Gantronese forces remaining on the islands urged the beasts to hunt down the survivors. Such accounts were given in pieces by turncoats they found among dead Dingo Beasts. The deaths of the hunting beasts only led to more creatures be unleashed. Lurker Apes, green furred primates armed with spears, clubs, tools for weapons formed a pack of ten. Manticores in a pack of seven, and a tiger humanoid called a Cindaku corned some of the traitors. The apes went amuck while hunting the traitors down. Jaxa's unit came across one manticore and did their best not to laugh at the apes as they went around aimlessly. Forced to kill the Manticore his unit found five of the traitors huddled against a tree at the edge of a marsh.
More creatures included twenty Wyrmlings with cybernetic limbs that disappeared into the Iperantosi Jungle. A half horse-humanoid called a Tikbalong was found cornering a wounded Kumiho. On the first island of the counter offensive the Gantronese unleashed an Ape Baboon monster with tendrils on its back called a Demogorgon. Along with its limbs, and tendrils it ripped one Kumiho's tails off before a Zhenrai cut it down. Jaxa only caught a glimpse of these Kumihos as they rounded up survivors. As for the Zhenrai, he saw them plenty of times. Known to have either Elder Elf blood, or ancient warrior race blood called a Forsythan, these Zhenrai could summon powers to make them stronger in battle or encounters. Among the hunting monsters they encountered a mix of humanoids, and beasts. One Frog Ghoul or two hopping around ate some beasts according to eyewitness accounts. While pressing the advance on the Gantronese some witnessed a gargoyle demon called a Nebasu abandon the whole hunt upon its release. To the misfortune of the Gantronese defenders these unleashed beasts and monsters were lost. Towards the end of the fighting, it came down to just 1,495 Gantronese, five Nazdar Wolf tanks, 353 fish humanoids called Sahaginn, a Mud Et Lamia in linked armor, and a half demon outlander. The half demon and Lamia betrayed the Gantronese for their own gains once cornered. A lone Iperantosi Priestess performed a strange ritual at dawn to summon something. Her spell did not get interrupted, but she was apprehended by remaining Zhenrai Knights who arrived on the islands. Awakening some Iron Giant in the beaches the summoning spelled doom for the invaders. Yet it was not the end of the Gantronese forces.
A second wave that totaled over thousand arrived in a rush. This second wave was sent for drawing forces away from the Gantronese remnants on the first head island. Fortune favored the Calornese forces. A band of seventy-five Zhenrai Knights already came to face the various monsters set loose. Jaxa only hear about their scary success while he and twelve thousand Calornese faced the second wave. Four ships worth of crewmates made themselves useful and available for combat. Adding a further 4,756 armed combatants to the Calornese forces. Not a single one acted as modern infantry would. Instead they formed lines and columns in the terrain that was clear of foliage. Despite no bootcamp training the sailors decimated the second wave next to Marines, Rangers, tanks and infantry. On the 37th and 38th days Jaxa got a look at these fighters that made up the second wave. His unit found various groups, and races from all over the Gantronese empire. About sixty Black Goblins, 245 Dark Warriors, 245 Death Knights, eight Gnolls were drug over to fight here. They came from regions such as Hadoras, Rhes Tarim, Retoriam according to their I.D. collar tags. An assortment in this second wave included 580 Dueling Knights who died at the hands of Zhenrai, and any skilled swordsman. Cove Goblins from the coasts numbered about 490. Attempts at piracy were short lived due to Calornese naval power. Each unit or battalion bore Gantronese flags, weapons, and donned standard uniforms. Other battalions included 1,076 Mad Ogres from Mulzan mountains. Tanks and heavy machine guns took them down. More than 1,450 Samurai/ninja mixtures, 300 Matchlock Monks, 434 Hadoras Spearmen, 400 Soldiers, 350 Water Naga with shock collars, 1,326 Barbarian mercenaries pressed their own advance. It seemed against the Gantronese wishes as they showed determination to cling to what ground they still held.
Entire companies forming the second wave included 230 assorted Knights from Galaia, a warband of 160 Chosen Warriors, 160 skirmishers, 160 Gladiators from city-states,100 Katana masked retainers, 150 or so Corsairs. None of these stood a chance against the prepared Calornese forces. Even though they were exhausted after spending a month fighting the VUVR and allies still managed to hold the line. The rest of this second wave revealed 64 Buccaneers hired out of desperation. Thirty-seven Ratmen brought over in haste were used for Gantronese attempts to bring a plague over. Some eighty Blade fanatics from Istroda, eighty-five Axe men of Novad were tricked into supporting their Gantronese Masters. Jaxa recalled their shocked faces as they went up against humanoids of the same world or realized their Masters cared nothing for them. Gantronese forces had other monstrous alien beasts. Some plant tentacled monster they let loose, one Jabberwock thought to be extinct, seventy-four Cave Imps that just flew off, a jungle creature, eight wolfmen, forty-eight cyborgs, five space trolls, and a reptilian creature called a Sithern came after Calornese lines. Among these aliens was a detachment of twenty-eight dark elves called Black Widow Drow. this unit turned the wolfmen, jungle creature, cyborgs, trolls, sithern against the Gantronese.
Seeing this as a direct insult to the Gantronese Vestrisians and allies fired on any hostiles that attacked them. During the last daylight hours of the last day their guns fell silent. The only noise filling the two islands were screams, shouts, roars, and gunfire from the Gantronese lines. Just kicking back in a way the Vestrisians rounded up all the prisoners they captured. Only 2,571 prisoners of war were rounded up then sent off to V.U.V.R. prisons in either Castaria or New Vattoram. Any wounded or turncoats had to be sent to Borvados for screening, and evaluation. Any trials for the prisoners of war would be held in the Tante Islands or Malvieth Islands.
