On the other side of the world, specifically at the Manchu-Hanese borders. Two Ruthenian Soldiers were overlooking swathes of people down below from their guard tower.
Every day, over ten thousand Hanese citizens are rushing to the border for whatever reason. Yet one can deduce that they'd like to immigrate and become a citizen of Ruthenia in search of a better life.
But the daily influx of people trying to get in is becoming a headache to the region, as such, the mayor of Manchuria has asked for military help to maintain peace and order.
"Get back on the line! Get back on the line!" one of the Ruthenian soldiers shouted through his megaphone as a group of Chinese citizens is trying to cross the border by climbing up the fence.
They are all waving their identification certificates for a smooth process. They learned that the Ruthenians are not going to let anyone in without proper documentation.
"I said get back!" the Ruthenian soldier trained his battle rifle at the group of Hanese people, they jolted up in fear and started retreating from the fence.
"Geez, this Hanese, giving us a headache every day. Why can't they stay in their own country?" his partner asked. He was mounting a twin M2HB machine gun.
"There's a rumor that they are original Manchurian citizens before the annexation of the region. They feel like they should have been here instead of their homeland."
"And they have proof huh?"
"No, most of the Hanese citizens can't read and write, so those lining up at the gates are from the middle class. Even still, it didn't stop them from flooding the gates and trying to get in."
"Stay in your country! Stay in your country!"
Chanted the people from the other side of the gate. The two Ruthenian soldiers turned around to have a look and saw Ruthenians and Manchus alike waving their placards with the written text "Stay in your country!"
"This is an interesting sight, even their brothers are rejecting their kind," his partner chuckled at the situation.
"Well, they know what's going to happen to them if thousands of immigrants are to enter Manchuria," he replied.
"I know, it's going to be a shit show as they'll have to be more competitive to get jobs and citizenship," his partner commented.
"HQ to Bravo, I repeat, H to Bravo, how things are going there?"
"This is Bravo, everything is good, why?"
"Be advised, there are five unknown vehicles inbound to the border about 0.5 klicks from the west, I want you to confirm the report."
"Copy HQ, standby," he returned to his original position and beckoned his partner. "Brother, can you hand me those binoculars over there?"
"What seems to be the problem?" his partner asked as he handed the binoculars to him.
"HQ said they saw five vehicles coming into our location and they want us to confirm," he replied after grabbing the binoculars from his hand.
He then peered through the holes of the binoculars, focusing his sights on the vehicles approaching the western perimeter. In the distance, he saw five vehicles that appeared to be military vehicles but the origin was unknown.
He looked closer to identify it. As active soldiers, during their arduous and rigorous training, they were given a task to memorize friendly and enemy vehicles so that they can identify if it is a friend or a foe.
The vehicle didn't resemble any of the Ruthenian Vehicles, it is more like a Britannian one, Vickers Crossley Armored Car to be exact.
He quickly took a grip of his radio and reported everything he was seeing on the ground.
"HQ be advised, I have sighted five Vickers Crossley Armored Car closing in about 100 meters. It is most likely a Hanese military vehicle."
"Copy that Bravo, continue your observation, HQ out."
The Hanese people on the ground slowly turned their heads around as the grumbling sound of the engines got their attention. The two protruding turrets of Vickers Machine gun are menacingly swiveling as if scanning the surroundings.
They reflexively took a step back, gasping in fear and shock. Its presence threateningly intimidates all of them.
Seconds later, all five Vickers Crossley Armored Vehicles opened fire, unleashing a rain of bullets on the civilians.
Horror enveloped the scene, their faces aghast. Without processing what's going on clearly, the civilians run amok from every direction while some rush to the gates for protection.
"Oh, Shit! Did you see that?" the Ruthenian soldier cursed, his eyes widening as he grabbed his radio to contact the HQ. "HQ, we got a militia shooting unarmed civilians down at the gates. Requesting permission to engage."
The radio clicked and the chaos continued. His partner aimed the Twin M2HB at the armored vehicles of the militia that is mowing down civilians. Their lifeless bodies pile up on the road.
Meanwhile, inside one of the armored vehicles.
"Shoot all those treasonous Christians swine, they are not our people anymore but don't shoot the Ruthenians."
"Yes sir,"
The gunner's fingers are still pressed on the trigger until their bullets are exhausted. So far, they have killed over six hundred people.
The Hanese citizens are forcing themselves into the gates, and the soldiers on the ground that is on another side of the gate are trying their hardest to not let the gates be breached.
"Bravo, are you taking fire? Over."
"Negative. They are only shooting down Hanese people."
"Then the request was denied. We cannot intervene in the Hanese internal affairs."
"What?!" He can't believe what the HQ is going through. "There is a massacre going on and you want us to stand down?!"
"That's the protocol and you have to follow it. But should you believe they bring harm to the Ruthenians' citizens and property, then that's the shooter's discretion."
"Copy that, HQ."
'What are they saying now?" his partner asked, his fingers itching to press the trigger and bring hell to those armored vehicles.
"They are ordering us to stand down," he said, gritting his teeth as he continue to witness civilians getting killed.
"What?! Are they serious? There is literally a sea of dead bodies in front of us and they are ordering us to stand down? That's fucking ridiculous!" his partner scoffed angrily.
As every second passes, more and more bodies are dropping on the ground, their blood staining the earth red. Men, women, and children are crying out in desperation as they cling to the hope of entering the gate. The Ruthenian soldier seeing this can't help but falter on his feet.
"This is madness," his body trembled. As much as he'd like to help them right now by returning fire at the militias, he just can't override the orders of his superiors.
"HQ, should we let them pass the gates? If we keep them from the other side they'll be killed. There are women and children here!" "Standby, we are bringing it up to the Central Command now."
