Tactical Annihilation: Commanding The Apocalypse

**Boris POV**

Under the orders of the commander my troop and I travelled towards the first of the identified unsafe zones, these zones are the home of higher ranking mutant beasts, and according to intelligence the beasts had even attained sentient intelligence enough to converse in the human tongue along with the other beasts.

So much so that Humanity as it stands right now is technically at peace with the 8th order beasts, since the end of what was called this worlds 2nd world war.

Not against Facism, but against the Mutant beasts themselves.

During these wars humanity suffered but the beasts suffered even more so, by the wars end, a truce was agreed upon where Humans and beasts of the 8th order would not interfere with each other, however this still left much of the world at war, humanity venturing out to slay beasts to aid in their cultivation and aquire materials used for creating new gear, while the beasts hunted humans as to them human meat was the most delicious food they could happen across.

If humanity was to attempt to purge a 7th order domain the 8th's would begin to move but the highest rank we'd need to deal with was 6th order and we were saving those for the end of this missions.

To start with we had 5th orders to deal with, this rank had just gained human intelligence so the expectations weren't exactly high or anything.

Luckily from our scouts report the 5th orders we were to meet formerly were herbivores so their temperament should be easier to deal with compared to carnivores who instinctively would view us as food.

Our first territory to visit was the habitat of the Red Deer Lord, like all mutant beasts these deer had increased in size, with the sighted Deel Lord being pretty close to 10m tall, the higher the beasts rank the bigger the beast itself, luckily this didn't happen with humans, but that just means keeping the beasts as livestock like the commander wants helps us if we allow them to maintain certain ranks meaning more food per animal.

Our convoy reached the forest serving as the home to the Deer Lord and his herd, since we couldn't continue on within our vehicles we quickly dismounted.

"Men Form up!"

At my command everyone formed ranks, each was just as trained as the last.

"CT-1245, and CT-1246 you'll remain behind to guard the vehicles, everyone else be on guard we're officially in enemy territory but remember do not fire unless attacked first! Commander's Orders!"

"For the Dominion!!"

You might be wondering about the men's names well, it's tough for the commander to give each of us name I mean afterall there are literally thousands of us at this point, a select few of us already have names when we are deployed but for the rest they can only hope the Commander grants them a name but in the meantime he openly suggested we just operate by a numbered system until such time as we develop a good nickname for ourselves.

He seemed to laugh a bit at this idea as it was a total rip of something else but nothing I knew, in the end new soldiers deployed were assigned a 'birth' number [Commander's Troop – [Batch #] – [Unit #]

I as a unique deployment didn't have a batch number like this but after asking for one the commander obliged, so I Boris became SS-01-0000 the first of my own line.

But later on the Commander mentioned about forming new ranks for a proper military formation taking shape.

As it stands now we have limited numbers of commanders, and well the Supreme Commander cannot oversee everything we need to become more independent.

CT's being the basic units, while CS for Sergeants, CL for Lieutenants, CC for Commanders. Next up were the more specialized ARF Advanced Recon Force, and ARC Advanced Recon Commando's, beyond even these were the RC's for Red Alert Commando's and well if we ever get there VT's and VC's for Volunteer troops and captains.

Our current small squad was comprised of members capable of promotion but to which designation we didn't yet know that part of the reason behind this mission, see how everyone reacts and thinks as a group and independently.

But for now we remain as a single unit, at my silent command those not staying behind set off into the forest heading into it's depths going towards the reported position of the Herds home.

This was reported by Lt. Zofia thanks to commands Radar function the grouping of beasts in the area show the center of this forest to most likely be their home, while other signals are scattered about within this forest.

Different from our memories this forest didn't have a normal ecosystem, this forest belonged to the deer and the deer alone.

While the beasts might keep subservient races under their sway, when it came to the deer they were solitary.

The closer we got the more on edge we became.

For the deeper into the tree we went the more it felt like we were walking into the lions mouth.

We'd spotted more than a few deer by this point, but they just stood there watching and we walked by, neither of us taking action against one another.

But this escalated when we reached closed to the base location.

Hundreds of deer formed lines to our sides, while others formed ranks directly in front preventing our further approach.

"We come in peace, our Commander wishes to negotiate with the Red Deer Lord."

Hearing my words, the many deer around glanced at one another.

So even if they cannot speak they already have intelligence enough to understand.

Just then one of the deer in the front line stepped forward.

"Brave of you to come so far just to speak little human."

"We mean no harm, so long as none comes to find us."

"We shall see, what deal do you speak of to offer us?"

"Our Commander offers the continued management in this forest in exchange for peace between our races, humans will no longer hunt you and your kin, however in turn we ask that the reverse be respected as well."

"Many have claimed the same only to come hunting us for our meat and gems before to long."

"Our commander has a solution to this, to save the pride of the Red Deer, we would offer to take in and raise the lowest tier of your species to be maintained as livestock to provide for the humans while the majority of you would remain free to roam as you please."

"Slavery and death that is what you offer my people?"

"Please, only a small handful need to offered, and with their ranks can you really call them your breathren?"

"Still… to willingly give up any of my own for a future to become nothing but food?"

"The first generation would only be used to breed new calfs, and they would be cared for well. In exchange our commander is willing to trade of equal value Gems, or food of your liking to provide better for your own who remain."

"You and this commander of yours are very strange little human. You… well it's as if you do not see us as beasts."

"Well you're not… at least not anylonger. Even humans at one point were beasts, but the ability to communicate, plan, plot, or even strategize shows you are more than you were before to our commander and all those under his command we see you as equals with the other sentient life of this planet, however like any should things become hostile we shall not be kind ourselves."

A visible shiver shook down the deer lords back as these words were spoken.

The man before him was clearly only 5th tier just as he was, but it was clear the man before him could wipe out his entire herd on his own, and along with him was a group of 4th rank humans.

This was a show of their force, if they really wanted to they could make the Red deer submit to their will but instead offer favorable terms even if it does come at the cost of some of their number, but only those still only seen even by the other Red Deer as beasts.

They'd get to keep the forest and in exchange they'd be provided things by the humans all in exchange for not attacking the humans…

This was a dream deal honestly, the Deer Lord was one of peace, even during the time of the last great war the Deer races were used as support or worse by the assembled beast hordes.

And after the peace, they simply stake a claim to territory before hiding away.

Dealing with humans who intruded, but not leaving the forests borders to retaliate by striking back.

"Very well, so long as you honor your terms we are willing to cooperate with your Commander."

"We thank you Honored Deer Lord. While we cannot speak for the other humans know that so long as this treaty is in place the Commander will honor it, even if it means punishing the other humans who deem to ignore it."

"Very well, you can setup a location for our transactions to occur. The forest will remain our home but we will meet with you should you appear."

"A trading post is it? We can do that, if you have any issues with humans please let us know there and we will make sure to report it to the commander and the army."

"Thank you, Human this Raleigh places his trust in you."

"As we place our own in you, I swear on my name Boris."

Having concluded our initial visit to the Red Deer we left in high spirits we'd secured our first treaty.

When we rejoined the vehicle team we relayed our success to Command, who instructed that a trading post would be added to the construction queue, and a new paddock for the incoming red deer livestock as well.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Well just about as we expected I guess, in the end 4 of the 6 5th tier beast lords agreed to our terms, but it seems our movements have become notices as the territories of the 6th tier are beginning to move about more than usual.

We secured treaties with the Red Deer Lord, Beaver Lord, Red Fox Lord, and Long-Eared Owl Lord.

Those who refused and as a result attacked to the point of losing their territory and only the survivors entering into the livestock pens, effectively become a slave race as the Red Deer put it.

These races were the Wildcat, and Golden Eagle.

However unshockingly aside from their primary hunting groups once the 5th and 4th tiers were dealt with the hundreds of others surrendered without much more of a fight.

However given the movement of the 6th tier, it's possible the Golden Eagles had spied on us when we wiped out the wildcat hierarchy, and informed the 4 6th tier lords, which made them make preparations for war against humanity not understanding the whole truth.

We couldn't go straight there, as the day had already passed by so after a nights rest we would head to the first 6th tier location to attempt negotiations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By the time morning had come the situation as reported by Command had become much worse.

It seems word did get out, and the 6th tiers weren't just getting ready for our arrival but had actually banded together or at least 3 of them had, the Barn Owl Lord was the only one staying put but had consolidated all of his kin, and subordinate races together for the best possible resistance if it came to that.

Those forming a coalition against us were the Newt, Adder (Snake), and White-Tailed Eagle.

Command asked us to visit the barn owl forces first to secure peace with them first before we reposition to the coalition where it's almost guaranteed we'll be walking into a fight and command was ready to deploy forces to reinforce our position just like they had done with the other insubordinate races.

As our small force arrived at the mountains taken to be the domain of the Barn Owl Lord, a formation of 5th ranks swooped down before landing before us.

"Human's why have you come, do we pose so much a threat to you?"

"Actually no… or rather we don't see you as a threat, no disrespect intended because we don't wish to fight with you."

"You say that, but we've seen what happened to the Wildcat Lord."

"Yes, but not how it came to that, Owls are known to humans as being wise so one cannot believe the first thing they hear without knowing the whole story."

"Hmm, you words while crafty due ring with the honesty of the truth, we shall allow your side of this story to come."

"We extended the offer of peace as he had to all other 5th tier lords, but instead we were attacked during the negotiations, as such me and my comrades her acted in self defense, afterwards our Commander acted to end the insurrection before the sentiment could spread potentially endangering the innocent and uninvolved in this quarrel, he even went as far as to not wipe out the entire clan, and while they've lost their domain they're race survive on, to be taken care as a subordinate race under those who agreed to our terms of peace."

"A peace with humans? Such thing is impossible, though it seems you lot are a different breed of human, since you did stop after eliminating the direct threat to you unlike the others."

"We don't deny the greed and lust for power humanity has is like a maddness, and it is also true that most under the commanders control only operate as he does, but there are still others who have been taught by the old generation to look down upon beasts, but we are endevouring to change public opinion."

"What terms do you offer for our continued ruling?"

"We would simply ask that conflict between Owl and Man cease, of course there will always be rogues in every society and our own laws will punish those who breach the treaty in their own way corresponding to the severity of their actions. In return milord I willing to open trade with your race as we have promised with the others, and in doing so we can offer up food and Soul gems, in return we'd like to request the right to create some mine into the mountain upon which you reside to dig out ores, and other articles humans need to create their dwellings and survive in this harsh world."

"Hmm, fair enough terms but what about the other request you've made to others?"

"Aside from asking for a seed population of some of your subordinate race we would have none, we don't ask this to turn them into feed, at least not for ourselves, we could breed them to become feed for the carnivorous wildcats, and Golden Eagles will require sustenance until we can find proper domains for them to lay claim under supervision against further hostile action, while our scientists could also use them as experimental subject against diseases that affect humans as was done in the distant past but we promise to do so in the most, humane way possible and not let any suffer or come to excessive harm."

"We see… please wait here while we hear the lords decree."

The Owl squadron took flight once more, and headed back to the mountain, as we promised our troop remained and setup for an early lunch out of our MRE packs provided to use from Command, we were told these particular one were custom made by the commander himself as an experiment so we happily chowed down.

The contents weren't quite as good as the MRE's produced by the Barracks, especially not the new ones coming from the newest ones but that didn't matter these were MRE's created using the food of this world but processed by the hands of the commander to create a new MRE instead.

Thanks to this world having lost the ability to properly farm with spices and the like recreating the Barrack MRE's but as a preserved food alternative that could be provided to the native of this land this was better than any of the dried jerkies I'd heard them to consume from the other elites in my troop.

As we were finishing up our meal the owl troop returned but on their landing they didn't relay their lords message but were eye-locked on the jerky I had in my hand.

Chuckling a bit as I move my hand back and forth a bit.

"You're free to have some if you want we have plenty, and we can always trade more if you're lord agrees to the peace."

"Uh. Huh, Errr… yes. Thank you human, we would appreciate getting to try that food you have their, and I'm sure we'd happily trade for more, as you said our Lord did agree to your terms, and we can provide the subordinate races as you requested in trade, the same for the mines but we would ask that these mines only run in the day as operating at night would interfere with out own livelihood."

"We can certainly abide by these terms, however as I'm sure you know… first we have to deal with the beast coalition forming due to a misunderstanding."

"Yes. We have sent an messenger to them revealing your true intentions but… well if they choose not to listen we only ask you offer the same conditions as you did to the others who fell."

"That can easily be guaranteed unless they make the decision themselves to fight to the bitter end we shant be the ones to give it to them."

"Our thanks, we look forward to the continued harmony between our various races."

"Thank you, and our regards to the Owl Lord."

Once more we achieve success but next time… well against the coalition we're most likely going to be starting another massacre, and against their numbers perhaps it's time to unleash my special attack.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We didn't need to wait before getting to the coalition gathering grounds, they came to us.

Except that the owl messenger obviously failed in it's duty to ward them off, their mob of mutant beasts had charged towards the Owl domain to face off against us.

Little did they know that they had actually set themselves up to be sandwich between our honestly meager force of 20, and the home guard army closing in behind them.

As we formed up a defensive wall as best we could with our vehicles we tried to send out a parlay, but the Golden Eagles only swooped down to attack the man who went forward unarmed.

Ending these assailants lives was the starting bell to our conflict.

Thousands against 20, if it wasn't for our absolute loyalty to the command I'm pretty sure we might just high-tail it out of here.

But with their descion to charge us I setup my AK, and activated the laser sight.

Moments later there was a roaring overhead as a MIG Fighter jet roared past, and in it's wake a trail of bombs were dropped, devastating the mutant beast lines.

Once the initial bombardment occurred, we 20 unleashed a hailfire of rounds upon the survivors.

While the 2 Flak troopers dealt with the flying Eagles who'd escaped the blast radius.

Any who surrendered were spared but attempts at retreat were not counted.

All said when the battle came to a close, and reinforcements from Command arrived, the mutant force was down to only a few hundred, while back in their domains only a few guards and the young remained.

With the fall of their 6th rank leaders thanks to my rifles power, our nation's future was secure at least internally for the season.

The survivors were collected by the reinforcements and shipped back to a camp where the medics could look at them, we on the other hand head for their old domains to round up the remaining survivors.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

**Commander POV**

The plan went off, but not 100% we managed to secure treaties with most of the 5th ranks, however we only came to terms with 1 of the 6th ranks.

If this plan can be held we can bring true peace back to the lands, while those insubordinate races will need to be housed like they were in zoo's until they learn like the native humans within the outposts the new way of the world under our rule.

Alexander was doing well as the ruler of our new nation, and while reports came in that there was some minor resistance from within the outposts most were just the lingering bad eggs that would get cleaned up under any system of law eventually.

And with my freetime back at base, I kinda off-handedly made a remark that my skill's ability to deploy Soldiers in batches was just like a certain clone army, and then my writings trying to remember the Republics method for dealing with the clones, was overseen by Zoe and the other commanders I'd deployed thanks to my Gacha skill, and before I knew it my simply hobby of remembering a favorite series of movies and tv shows led to the convention being used as a way of branding my otherwise seemingly endless wave of un-named soldiers and well, as much as I didn't want to admit I was ripping them off, it was certainly easier to just assign numbers and leave the naming up to the individual just like what happened during that war.

Sure some units would always be named as they were from the game, but as we progress having a proper chain of command would be necessary as well.

Oh the other commanders?

Well I drew German General Gunter Von Esling from the Allied RA1 side, on the other side Georgy Kukov both aided Zofia in the running of our Command Center alongside the support staff comprised of regular soldiers who were just trying their best to fill the roles we otherwise couldn't deploy using my skill.

Oh and the other good new's well we also got a new proper support staff, well I guess you could call her that, we just dubbed her new title to be Director of Propaganda, she was a nameless Character from the game who filled in as the Soviet News caster, but since I'd play the games to excess I'd known the actress who played her name so when she was deployed I gave her the same name as her actress.

Gabriella, using the Radio broadcast system she provided regular news broadcasts and updates to the entire nation, including the new rules regarding beasts, along with the fact that Alexander had signed treaty's with the various beast factions and effective immediately hunting season was over.

This of course only applied to the beasts that had made agreements and all others still we open game within reason but the backlash expected didn't come, the outposts actually rejoiced under this news, the constant threat to their lives was ended and with that came the belief that they could return to the days of agrarian living like their ancestors had done, rather than extreme Darwinism.