Line #36 FanFic/ManifestDestiny


1	->''Rangers led the way. That was the motto of the unit a 2nd Lieutenant Kristian "JK" Emerson had taken to heart as a part of its ranks, though when a gateway from one world to Earth opens up a mere few hundred feet away from him during a nice day in August, he will have to be not only a man leading soldiers into foreign lands, but also have to lead himself as the moral anchor in a world decades removed from Generation Kill''
2	-->--'''Summary of Manifest Destiny'''
3
4	''Manifest Destiny'' by [=BlueWay=], was a AlternateUniverse / FixFic of the web novel, ''[[Literature/{{Gate}} Gate - Thus the JSDF Fought There]]''.
5
6	The year is 2028 and the War on Terror has finally ended; a detachment of the American 75th Ranger Regiment is on deployment in Japan to keep the peace against a more and more desperate China. Of those Rangers is a newly minted 2nd Lieutenant Kristian Emerson from the Bronx. As he accompanies two of his Rangers during off time in Tokyo they find themselves at the ground zero of the Ginza Incident; a Gate to another world having opened in the middle of one of Toyko's most popular districts during a full blown doujin and manga convention. From that Gate outpoured legions of knights, cavalry, and mystical creatures from fantasy stories, their intent: conquest. In an attempt to save himself and his friends, he alongside his close friend Sergeant Cameron Masterson link up with a peculiar offduty JSDF officer named Youji Itami and coordinate the civilian evacuation of Ginza. After the arrival of JSDF and U.S. Marine personnel, the Gate, callsign "Alpha Point" is secured.
7
8	The "Ginza Incident", as the event would be known, results in the the death of over seven hundred Japanese and twelve American civilian deaths. Seeking justice, the United States sends an expeditionary force that would act in an advising role alongside the JSDF as they spearhead through the Gate to find the unknown enemy and bring them to justice. In this American expeditionary force made up of the 7th Marine Expeditionary Force of the U.S. Marines, a smaller platoon-sized Ranger unit, designated "Hitman", with Emerson in command is attached to assist their efforts into the new world.
9
10	''Manifest Destiny'' is written as a AlternateUniverse of the events in Gate by adding the United States into the forces invading the Special Region, with the point of view coming from special forces, specifically the United States Army Rangers. The story follows the canon events by the manga and anime as close as possible with the Americans attached to Itami and Third Recon Team. The fic also takes a darker edge on the original story of Gate by exploring atrocities done by both sides in the war, alongside the war-torn Earth 2028 from years of warfare and disasters that led to many morally questionable actions by the international community.
11
12	On December 9th, 2019, the fic underwent a reboot titled ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13448445/1/Manifest-Destiny-An-Empire-of-Dirt Manifest Destiny: An Empire of Dirt]]'', and the original version was subsequently deleted shortly after.
13
14	If you're looking for the Useful Notes: '''Manifest Destiny'''. click [[{{UsefulNotes/ManifestDestiny}} here]]
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16	----
17	!!This fanfiction provides examples of:
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19	%%* AdaptationalBadass: Third Recon Team as a whole.
20	* AKA47:
21	** The "MCR rifles" in the story are the equivalent of the Robinson XCR rifle, according to WordOfGod.
22	** The M25 airburst launcher are renamed [=XM25=] launchers, signifying that the prototype grenade launchers got adopted into military service.
23	* AllForNothing: The hunt for the Flame Dragon. [[spoiler:It results in the rest of Yao's tribe wiped out to the last man when they ambush the team and the latter retaliate in self-defense without knowing who/what they were shooting at until it's too late, and then finding out that the flame dragon had been dead for months, making the wipeout all the more meaningless.]]
24	* AmericaSavesTheDay: The Battle of Italica, while responded by the JSDF, is majorly made up of Marine units, up to 550 personnel compared to the JSDF's 80. This has been brought up by the Diet as evidence of America's aggression into Japan's policy.
25	* AndThisIsFor: Emerson and Masterson dedicate their efforts in the Special Region to avenging their comrade Tracey, the third Ranger in Ginza that day. Although he survived the Incident his family was not so lucky.
26	* ArtisticLicenseMilitary: The American expedition team, made up of a Marine Expeditionary Unit, really has no business having Army Rangers tote around with them. In terms of forces, it would make more sense if MARSOC came along as they are a Marine special operation force. The author [[HandWave handwaves]] this by saying that the Rangers were already engaged with the Empire during the Ginza Incident. This alongside the fact the root of the Rangers from Colonial America could be tapped into by the Rangers in the Special Region. Fixed in ''FanFic/HereWeGoAgain'', where Emerson and friends [[CrossOver accompany the 3rd MEU]] as MARSOC Raiders.
27	* AuthorAvatar: Lt. Colonel Matthew Noelle in Section 1-12, who has the nickname "[=BlueWay=]".
28	* AuthorTract: Although the story was meant as a FixFic, it falls into entire pages of the author reminiscent his personal beliefs and views.
29	* AwakeningTheSleepingGiant: Constantly mentioned in-story. Emerson notes that if one of the JSDF or Marines die during their deployment in the Special Region, who knows just how many more troops Japan or America will put into the world.
30	* AxCrazy: Sgt. Kuribayashi has an episode of this during her assault on Zorzal's guards, [[spoiler:where she begins to gleefully torture her targets, including pinning one injured guard down while ''forcefully removing his teeth with her bayonet'',]] an event that mirrors the atrocities of some US Marines during their WWII Pacific campaign.
31	* BattleCouple: Masterson and Bannon definitely counts.
32	* BattleTrophy: Emerson's Winchester rifle's broken stock was replaced by a kind made up of [[spoiler:General Foulke's spinal cord and sternum]].
33	* BigDamnHeroes: The JSDF and MEU when they arrive to save Third Recon Team at Italica.
34	* BloodKnight:
35	** Rory, as per her original self.
36	** Shino Kuribayashi has been imbued with this trope and has no hesitation of killing.
37	* CatapultNightmare: Bozes started to get these after witnessing the effect of atomic weaponry.
38	* CarFu: Tank Fu more like it. Super Sergeant Alton Wilbur and his tank platoon resorted to using their tracks to crush the bandits in order to save ammunition.
39	* ChekhovsGun: Many of the guns acquired during the Hakone incident end up being used in the Special Region. Emerson acquires a Winchester lever-action rifle, Masterson gets a pair of Colt Single-Action Army revolvers, and Doc picks up a Luger [=P08=] pistol, which later winds up in Pina's possession before their return through the gate. [[spoiler:Pina ends up killing Hamilton with the Luger, and leads to the execution of all the Rose Knights present, save for herself, during that event.]]
40	* {{Cowboy}}: Staff Sergeant Cameron Masterson is this, courtesy of the fact he was born and raised in Texas; a runaway who found work as a ranch hand. Subsequently he is also a Gunslinger, having experience with cowboy action shooting, leading him to be one of the best shots in the Special Task Force.
41	* CombatBreakdown: Third Recon Team at Italica. Starting with their top of the line weaponry, then gradually wears down as ammo and supplies run low, personnel become injured and incapacitated, and as the bandits began to overrun their positions. Emerson was down to his M45 pistol before [[BigDamnHeroes they were saved by the Marines and JSDF forces]].
42	* CombatPragmatist: In Section 2-1, Emerson tries to train this mindset into the Rose Knights during training, saying that "honor" is simply a liability.
43	* CommonTongue:
44	** Mentioned as "Lingua Franca".
45	** The common language made among the military allies in the Special Region is to be Japanese.
46	* {{Conscription}}: In 2022, NATO enacts a draft of men and women in order to participate in Operation: Open Wind, the invasion of Iran.
47	* CoolPlane: Marine Harriers arrive at Italica in time to save Third Recon Team from annihilation.
48	* TheCorrupter: The Imperial senate accuses Emerson of this by the effect he's done to Akusho and Pina's personality.
49	* CrapsackWorld: 2028 Earth's history is seen as this. The United States has invaded the middle east at ''least'' five times, Iran being invaded in 2021, a 2nd Korean War happened after Kim Jong Un died, etc.
50	* CrossOver:
51	** A small one with ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' by bringing in Captain Walker, who has since been promoted to Major before the start of the fic. However, the game's story has no influence to the story aside from the character. He plays a role as the DrillSergeantNasty during Emerson's Ranger training.
52	** There is one with the fic ''[[{{FanFic/HereWeGoAgain}} Here We Go Again]]'', due to the close cooperation between the two authors. The characters from that story (Jasper and Elton) have been imported into the crew of Warlord 1-2.
53	* CrucifiedHeroShot: [[spoiler:Pina and her Rose Order of Knights for dealing with the enemy.]]
54	* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to the original series. This fic does not shy away from the atrocities America and Japan has done in the past and in the present.
55	* DeadlyGas: Leilei manages to mix up a few solutions to create [[spoiler:hydrogen cyanide, soman, and mustard gas]] during the Battle of Italica. This presents a very damning evidence that there the Special Region could produce [=WMD's=] and is exploited by the international community.
56	* DeathByAdaptation: Poor [[spoiler:Hamilton]]...
57	* DeathSeeker: Alton Wilbur, due to his guilt as an oilman that played a part in destroying lives. Although, it may just be the alcohol talking.
58	* {{Deuteragonist}}: Super Sergeant Alton Wilbur is the second most focused character in the series (third if one includes Itami). He commands Warlord 1-3 ''Kingdom Come'', a [=M1A1=] Abrams tank.
59	* DoubleTake: Emerson has to back a moment to realize that he just saw a dragon heading straight to their column.
60	* TheDreaded:
61	** Emerson becomes this in the Imperial Capital as the "Father of Sins" or "Demon Lord" after his feats in the gladiator pits.
62	** Major Walker is this to Emerson, Masterson, and Bannon, due to the training he gave them in the Ranger Course.
63	* DrillSergeantNasty: Major Walker was this to Emerson during Ranger training.
64	* {{Eagleland}}: The author has mixed the two types and depicted America as a grand and powerful influence, but fully acknowledges the mistakes that they have done in the past and the present.
65	* ElitesAreMoreGlamorous: The fic follows the exploit of 2nd Lieutenant Kristian Emerson, an officer in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
66	* EmbarrassingNickname: Kristian Emerson has the nickname "JK" after an incident where he yelled "Jesus Christ" in front of a [=DI=] and the [=DI=] follows up with a "JC". Take the first letter from the main character's name and... voilà.
67	* ExplainExplainOhCrap: Emerson has one regarding a dragon.
68	-->'''Emerson:''' Had my aviators though, able to look up right at the same old sun with the dragon silhouetted against it.\
69	(''{{Beat}}'')\
70	'''Emerson:''' [[FlatWhat What]].
71	* EyePatchOfPower: Bannon earns one after sustaining an injury to her left eye during the Battle of Italica.
72	* EyeScream:
73	** In the first chapter, Emerson and Masterson [[spoiler: attack a dragon's eye with their ''bare hands''!]] Not what you'd call tactical, but they didn't have a whole lot of options at the time. [[spoiler: Dragon Eyeball]] apparently feels like jello and eggs... ewww.
74	** [[spoiler:Shino Kuribayashi takes out the flame dragon's remaining eye with grenades.]]
75	** The Battle of Italica had pieces of stone fragments hit Bannon in her left eye. Her vision out of that eye deteriorates and is forced to wear an eyepatch.
76	* FateWorseThanDeath:
77	** An ArcWord Emerson lives by, when commenting on just how messy the world can be to certain individuals.
78	** After the Flame dragon experienced a loss of limb [[spoiler:and it's other eye]] as it escapes, Emerson noted that it's life must be hell from then on, naming the trope.
79	** Hitman captures Bessa after his attack on the Special Tactical Force and interrogates him for answers. What they did last from night and morning and even the interrogators were horrified at what they've done once they were finished.
80	* FieldPromotion: Emerson gets promoted to Captain during the trip to Japan.
81	* FlatWhat: Emerson has one when he realizes that he is looking at a dragon heading to their column.
82	* FromBadToWorse: In true spirit of war, it started dark and gradually grow darker. It's telling when the WordOfGod describes the story as "a snail moving itself towards and over a razor's edge" when asked about it.
83	* GrenadeLauncher: During the fight against the Flame Dragon, Kurokawa grabs a M25 airburst grenade launcher from the Ranger's case to disable the dragon.
84	* GratuitousJapanese:
85	** As the main point of view is American, the story's main language perspective is English, thus there are times the Japanese personnel switch from English into Japanese.
86	** Notably, Itami slips back to his native language after Emerson shouts complex order to him during the battle against the Flame Dragon.
87	-->'''Itami:''' Nani?! (''What?!'')
88	* HeroicBSOD: During the Battle of Italica and Third Recon's CombatBreakdown, several members have gone mad by the sheer number of people they are killing.
89	* HeroOfAnotherStory:
90	** Jasper Kincaid, Parker Elton, and the rest of Warlord 1-2 are exports from a similar fan fic [[{{FanFic/HereWeGoAgain}} "Here We Go Again"]] (with the author, [=Faust1812's=] permission).
91	** Major Martin Walker has his own in [[VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine Dubai]] in another media platform. Whether he is a "hero" in that story is still unclear.
92	* HistoryRepeats: One of the major concerns expressed by the American characters is the possibility of the JSDF returning to the ways of the old [[UsefulNotes/KatanasOfTheRisingSun Imperial Japanese Army]], which is evident at several points where JSDF soldiers begin to revel performing atrocities as their ancestors once did.
93	* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: Every "Section" (or otherwise chapter) is named for a spoken word or line in that section.
94	* InfoDump: '''Hooo boy'''..... Be prepared for entire paragraphs explaining the entire premise and the philosophical viewpoints of the author imposed onto the characters just after ''one'' significant event.
95	* InSeriesNickname:
96	** Kristian Emerson has "JK" from the incident mentioned in EmbarrassingNickname. The only ones who call him that are his close team mates. Others also call him "Kay". [[spoiler:He later earns the name "Father of Sins", or "Demon Lord", among the imperials from his feat in the gladiator pits.]]
97	** Shino earned one from the Rangers as "Burger King"[[note]]Burger King = BK = Born killer[[/note]], as a nod to the [[Series/GenerationKill fic's inspiration]].
98	** Wilbur calls Yanagida "Kiss ass", which Yanagida gets back by calling Wilbur "Oil man".
99	* {{Knighting}}: Myui knighted the commanders of Warlord, the platoon of Abrams tanks, granting them a sword and a cape for their actions during Italica's defense.
100	* LampshadeHanging:
101	** In Section 1-3, Masterson noted that Alnus' fortress shape resembles the Star of David.
102	--->'''Masterson:''' God damn the Marines work fast...and are Jews apparently.
103	** At one point during their time in Japan, Emerson ponders just how the whole event would be if America wasn't involved at all.
104	* MindScrew: Chapter 17 has the author appearing in the story [[BreakingTheFourthWall to explain to the viewers]] as part of his author's notes.
105	* MistakenForAliens: Emerson's [[ScaryBlackMan dark skin tone]] causes many of the Special Region locals to think he is a dark elf. They all calm down once he shows that he has normal human ears. He later exploits this with fake pointed ears to blend in the Imperial population.
106	* MrExposition: Donald Nutt from Emerson's team is this as he explains most of Earth's human history to Pina and Bozes. It helps that he has a degree in teaching.
107	* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: During the Ginza Incident, Emerson and Masterson runs back into the invaded areas of Ginza to save Tracey.
108	* OhCrap: Third Recon when they realize just how big of a bandit force they are about to face in Italica.
109	* OperationBlank: The invasion through the gate to the Special Region is named "Operation: Odyssey Ultimatum" by the Americans.
110	* PoweredArmor: The muscle suits the Rangers don in the Battle of Italica serve as such.
111	* PublicExecution:
112	** In the corridor, as per the way of life in the Special Region, has this done to criminals personally by [[spoiler:Rory]].
113	** [[spoiler:Pina's Rose Order of Knights present at the senate hearing are sentenced to this after as punishment for dealing with the enemy and also killing Hamilton]].
114	* RevolversAreJustBetter:
115	** Masterson acquires two [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Single_Action_Army SAA Peacemaker]] revolvers from the Hakone incident and uses it with effect in the Special Region.
116	** [[spoiler:Rory]] manages to obtain a Nambu Model 60 revolver that she uses to execute condemned criminals.
117	* ScaryBlackMan: Subverted. Emerson is scary to the locals not because he's black, but because they [[MistakenForAliens thought he was a dark elf]].
118	* SemperFi: The United States Marine Corps make an appearance as the US military's main strike force, especially during the Italica raid where they bring in ''everything'' at their disposal.
119	* ShaggyDogStory:
120	** Earth gets the blunt of it. Just about every crisis has gotten worse. The United States has yet again intervene in the Middle East. Puerto Rico's economy has gotten so bad that it became an actual state in the Union to recoup it's debt. New York City faced race riots and martial law in 2019. The US and China got into a Space Race, leading to the US creating and using KillSat, which in turn has the US hit by economic sanctions. Russia is in turmoil with Putin's passing and China is in precariously similar situation. Most of the Middle East is buried under sandstorms. Iran has gone off the deep end and was invaded for its nuclear weapons test. Afghanistan is yet again in civil war. The Ukrainian Civil War ends with Loyalist Victory. Korea is united under the South after a short and brutal war involving China, preceded by an avian influenza epidemic that affected East Asia and is now currently dealing with a refugee crisis. The Drug Wars further escalates economic and environmental destruction in Latin America, the worst hit is a now collapsing Mexico. Further migration into the EU in response to the growing Sahara Desert. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking And Scotland seceded from the UK]] in protest and the victim of alienation by London's political actions.
121	** The hunt for the Flame Dragon in the Dark Elves' territory. [[spoiler:It already started going wrong the team's first contact with the rest of Yao's tribe, who ambush the team for being an unknown, leading to their deaths when the team retaliate in self-defense, not knowing who they were until the shooting has stopped. When they finally get into the Dragon's lair, they find the dragon dead, and upon closer examination, it was damage sustained during its first encounter with [=RCT3=] that did it in shortly after it landed, as the creature had been dead for MONTHS.]]
122	* ShipTease:
123	** There is one between Emerson and Pina. [[spoiler:Although, the slave incident at the palace may have put a wrench into this.]]
124	** Itami and Emerson in their physical interactions, most namely an assuring hug from Emerson given to Itami after the Battle of Italica.
125	* ShellShockedVeteran:
126	** Sgt. George Ramirez, a veteran who's been through the 2nd Korean War and Operation Open Wind, has seen things that makes everyone's experiences look like a walk in the park.
127	** Emerson also, after all the killing that's happened in the Special Region, he starts getting nightmares as well.
128	* ShowDontTell: Emerson, while having reservations about it, decides to show Princess Pina and Bozes the effect of the atomic bomb with a Virtual-Reality system rather than tell them about it. [[WhatTheHellHero They were not pleased with the results]].
129	* ShotgunsAreJustBetter:
130	** Marines stationed around the refugees are equipped with automatic magazine-loaded AA-12 shotguns because of Rory.
131	** During the Battle of Italica, Bannon makes great use of the AA-12 shotgun against the invading bandits. At one point switching to [[MadeOfExplodium explosive rounds]] to cause more destruction.
132	** Masterson acquires himself a simple double-action shotgun after the Hakone incident. He later saws it down in Section 2-10.
133	* ShoutOut:
134	** As the story draws inspiration from ''Series/GenerationKill'', there are many nods to that work.
135	*** Shino earning the nickname "Burger King" like how Trombley earned his nickname "Whopper Jr."
136	*** Black and Bannon in Section 2-10 go out for a run with rocks filled in their pockets.
137	** The music pieces the author adds for use by the characters.
138	** To ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartII'' when Emerson lists out some of their technological achievements in 2028.
139	--->'''Emerson:''' Self tying shoes. That's a thing. [...] Our standard issue jackets have multipurpose climate control. [...]
140	** Emerson's gladiator fight in Section 2-2 is reminiscent of the climatic battle from [[{{Film/Gladiator}} Ridley Scott's movie]].
141	** A possible one to [[{{Series/ThePacific}} The Pacific]] with Emerson's...unique birthday card.
142	** Masterson, wearing a balcalva and goggle that has blood stained all over except the area where his eyes are, remarked that he was "ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}".
143	** The close cooperation between [=BlueWay=] and [[{{FanFic/HereWeGoAgain}} Faust]] has them lend each other's characters into the other's stories.
144	*** ''Here We Go Again'' crew are imported as the crew of Warlord 1-2 ''Rolling Stone''.
145	*** Emerson once mused on how it would be like if he was part of MARSOC instead of the Rangers.
146	* SkewedPriorities: Itami during the Ginza Incident, as per his original self.
147	-->'''Emerson:''' You trying to save these people or you trying to save your comic book convention?
148	* TankGoodness: The marines brought the [=M1A1=] Abrams to assist the invasion, while the Japanese brought their Type 74s.
149	* TitleDrop: At least once every chapter, typically near the end, there will be a quote attributed to the definition of the term Manifest Destiny.
150	* TheseHandsHaveKilled: The Battle of Italica has Tuka rapidly mow down bandits with her bow. It's not until after it that she realizes the gravity of her actions.
151	* TheStationsOfTheCanon: The story has a strict adherence to canon events despite the differences. The author appears almost too afraid to step beyond the canon event lines, thus in order to maintain thematic consistency the author seems almost forced to create sub-scenarios and alter minor details within established events. However, this seems no longer the case as of the Flame Dragon arc, where changes, both subtle and overt, start driving the story in a different direction.
152	* TrackingDevice: Civilians and contractors allowed across the gate have to wear collars with tracking devices so the military can keep tab on their activities.
153	* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture: Set in the 2028, society has fancy new gadgets and technology like solar-and-motion-powered video cameras, iPhone 20s, Avatar 3, and several exoskeletons and musclesuits among other things.
154	* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: During the fight with the flame dragon, Leilei's and Cato's magic-infused cart was seen zooming past Third Recon Team, whom reacted nonchalantly in the situation.
155	* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: [[TheCameo Kincaid]], unknown how sensitive the information is, tells Yao that Itami would probably do something if Tuka went overboard.
156	* UrbanWarfare: The Marines and JSDF enters this as they clear Italica of any stray bandits in the town area.
157	* WeUsedToBeFriends: This attitude has seem to set in between [[spoiler:Emerson and Pina]] after [[spoiler:slaves from Earth were discovered in the Imperial palace. The problem was that Pina told Emerson that there weren't any]].
158	%%* WhamEpisode: Section 2-10.
159	* WhatTheHellHero
160	** Third Recon Team has a brief moment when Shino [[spoiler:non-hesitantly shoots Rory's arm off to free her from her bindings. While they acknowledge that she is in fact immortal, it doesn't change the fact that Shino just shot a person that looks like a ''kid'']].
161	** The JSDF commits a few atrocities in the Special Region with the inhabitants, to the disgust of the Marines stationed there.

Context FanFic / ManifestDestiny