The government did well in hiding the movement of the 11th ACR and the 6th Infantry Regiment from the media by causing a political scandal (It was deemed worth it in exchange for a new energy source.) within the political parties. And so on 22nd day of October the 1st Special Exploration Division was ready to move out into the now-expanded sphere.
0156 Hours, Nevada desert.
"The fucking 2nd cav is probably drunk on their asses right now." A crewman of an M2 Bradley complained about the Oktoberfest that is starting at Germany.
The 6th Inf.Reg. and the 11th ACR has been mustered in preparation to cross through the sphere that was now wide-enough for three m1a1 Abrams to pass through out of the four that the 11th ACT have.
"Beats me, being stationed at California only has the opportunity to either die in the heat or gamble away all your money." Another crewman replied.
"Or suddenly get a fucking portal opened in a neighboring state eh? And get an infantry regiment to haul ass to Nevada all the way from Texas." A soldier chimed in. It was met by the laughs of both infantry and crewman, a testament to the camaraderie that is prevalent throughout the US military.
"Alright Crunchy we got the go ahead, we are moving in one minute!"
The infantry checked their weapons and equipment, and after a minute the IFV's engine roared to life and the interior started to vibrate.
"Allons Regulars!" The code phrase was heard throughout all of the officer's comms. The infantry cheered while the crewmen shouted their own battle cry as the 1st Special Exploration Division advanced into the sphere.
0200 Hours, 2nd Holy Army Camp, Around the sphere.
Company commander Ranae Larguire with his two hundred men patrolled the area of the portal. The High Lord's church has proclaimed the portal as a sign of the end time and that "vile creatures from hell" will come from it making the people shook by the declaration and many men flocked to the holy army to defend their homes.
Or so they thought.
It was actually a scheme developed by the high echelons of the church to expand their influence and military, until the mages, or so-called high priests, in the high tower can figure out what it is and/or close it, the church will use the new pool of recruits to expand the kingdom's border with the cassus belli of gaining more resources in the to fund the army and stop the the end times.
The 2nd Holy Army is one of the veteran armies that was left to guard the homelands while the new 'green' armies set out to gain experience and conquest.
The builders in the army were relived upon seeing that the portal had stopped expanding a few hours ago and permanent defenses were set up around it. Not even a small army would have an easy time breaking through this encirclement... or so they thought.
Suddenly Ranae could hear a distant rumbling, at first he thought it was just a storm brewing in the distance, but then it got louder, and louder.
"Alarm! there are rumbling noises coming from the portal!" He shouted as the bell boy of the camp started to raise the alarm and men from all around the camp woke up from their sleepiness and went immediately to their battle stations.
0200 Hours, 1st SE Division column, M1A1 "Emerald" at the forefront of the column.
The tank's engine roared to life as they led the way through the sphere.
"Allons Regulars!" Lieutenant Shane Erickson's comms relayed his XO's words. The combination of the motto and the nickname of the 11th ACR and the 6th Inf.Reg. respectively.
"Right shorty! Rev her up!" He radioed to his driver, Darwin Malone A.K.A shorty.
"Gotcha mirror-head!"
Of all the things that they could've named each other, the tank crew of the Emerald decided for the most glaringly obvious feature of their respective physique, thus the driver was named shorty, the loader as muscles, the gunner as black (it was met with frowns by the higher echelons but black consented) and the tank commander as mirror-head.
"Ya know, sometimes I regret the decision to name us all... accordingly." Shane radioed throughout the crew.
The gunner laughed and radioed back. "I have no regrets sir, calling you that is enough to make my day, and I get to call you that everyday!"
"Shut up black."
"All the love to you mirror-head."
The tank advanced forward to the sphere, leading the way just as expected of armor in modern warfare. The type of warfare their adversaries through the sphere aren't prepared to take on.
0201 Hours, 2nd Holy Army Camp, Around the sphere.
Ranae was preparing a javelin for whatever might come from the portal. A rider has already been dispatched bearing news to the capital about the possible conflict. He was frightened yes, aren't all men scared when they might be facing the abominations of hell? But he knew what he thought he was fighting for; The High-King, family and land. And so he held on to those like he holds the small l necklace made by his daughter he has around his neck.
But all of those thoughts faded away from his mind as a shimmering light came from the portal, he prepared his javelin to be hurled at whatever abomination that would come from hell. He expected some sort of monster with arms, legs or many many eyes or teeth, But what came from the portal stunned him.
Three beasts made out of metal, with a very long nose in-front of its head... it doesn't even have a proper face! cheeks and two eyes on top of its head all while being legless! Instead of legs there were many small wheels on its side seems to propel it, this was all other worldly for him and he was sure it was too for the rest of his comrades, but he dared not to release his javelin yet less he wants to be the main target of this abomination.
The metal beasts just stood there, seemingly scanning the army around it, it was all tense as men looked at what they thought was abominations and the crewmen looked on the encirclement from the safety of their tank.
"Kill these abominations! In the name of the Church and our High Lord, Attack!!!" A high-ranking officer shouted. And with that, hundreds of arrows, spears, javelins and even slinged rocks flew.