August 18th, San Jose, Occupied Zlocan territory. 20:30 PST.
In the dark night outside San Jose, the dim lights from the city can be seen. Likely due to the heavy attacks from the Zlocu, most of the city's remains have been left in ruins or reconstructed into prison centers, as the vigilance towers above them show. Outside downtown, there's a gigantic wall surrounding the city up from the north to the south and as well to the east and west side. The wall has a dark grey color in it with red neon grids stretching around the wall. It has 16 pillars in the top of each side, also having railguns placed at the top. In the ground, there's a door located in the center of each wall, a huge horizontal one which surprisingly no guards on sight. But still, it appears that there are no intruders passing by. Lastly, between the border of each side, there are the massive pillars that are heavily bulky in shape compared to the rest of the structure, with the center of it having a cubic red light.
Clearly, Zlocans have prepared much more than expected for Humanity.
Near the mountains of the east side, seven F-35s planes fly by. They're colored black with stripes between the two wings. They're flying in the classical V formation that most planes have. In front of them lies the city of San Jose surrounded by the wall.
An attempt at heroism it seems?
"This is Whiplash 1. San Jose is in our sights now." one of the pilots says, his plane set on sight to the city itself.
"Good. Getting any visual on the wall?" another voice replies, this time from the command base.
"Yes, sir. And as you said, carrying out the operation on nighttime will surely turn the tables for our liberation campaign. Their radar won't pick us up."
"Good. Make sure that once all the cannons are disabled, destroy the cores for each wall on the east side, that way we'll get through."
"Understood. Whiplash squadron, ready the maneuvers for the attack, we're gonna blast the Zlocan bastards up away to their homes!"
They accelerate slightly in accordance with the other, all while ready to deploy their payload while heading towards the railguns themselves.
"This is gonna be huge!" a wingman says.
"Wait, I'm getting readings from the cannons. What the hell?" another wingman replies in a shaky tone.
FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII~
A laser blast is fired from one of the cannons at high velocity, quickly shooting down two of the planes while being shattered into pieces. The laser is like a huge line fired across from the barrel in a reddish light.
"Whiplash 3 and 5 are down! All units, evasive maneuvers!" the leader yells as the plane disband the formation and spread out across the place. However, the other cannons start to fire as well, their blasts quickly shooting down the other two planes as well, leaving only three standing.
"Shit! Whiplash 4 and 7 are down too!" a wingman says.
"Damn it...these Zlocs are smarter than expected. Whiplash 2 and 6, let's head out towards-"
But then the flight lead alongside another wingman gets shot down by one of the lasers as well, unwillingly distracted from the range of the cannons.
"Oh god, oh man! Whiplash lead and 2 are down! Colonel, send back-up please!"
Alas, he too doesn't get the dignity to survive for so long, as he too meets his end at the hands of advanced security measures. With the debris itself falling to the ground in fiery flames.
"Whiplash 6? Whiplash 6, do you read me?! Come in! Whiplash 6!"
Silence is all that the Colonel hears out, the same one who gave out the orders to strike.
"Gentlemen...I'm afraid we'll have to delay the operation for the second time. Second airstrike attempt ineffective. Casualties...."
He then lets out a resigned sigh before answering what the men least expected to hear out.
"Seven brave men."
Unknown location, 21:09. PST
Meanwhile, two men enter a room which is dark, until they turn on the lights near the door, revealing a huge room which contains a large table with at least 50 chairs and a lamp illuminating every post the table has. Later, a computer screen turns on, revealing a logo with the UN version of Earth but surrounded by six stars. Later, an image of the world map is shown, with two visible colors, blue and red, each marked in certain territories around the world. The blue ones are the territories that are free from Zlocan control, while red shows countries under Zlocan control. Shockingly, the Zlocu controls most of Earth.
One man has grey-white hair with a mustache and glasses with brown eyes, shining as one man's determination for justice. He's Hans Kaufer, supreme commander of the UEF armies. The other man has slightly tan skin with brown eyes and a firm body build, a face with some sunken eyes, his composure it's still visible. His name is John M.B Walker, the main commanding officer of the UEF ground troops worldwide.
"You said something about an operation carried out overnight, right colonel?" Hans asks.
"Yes...an absolute failure like the previous one."
"Hmm..."
"I don't know sir. I mean, it's been two weeks already, they've taken many parts of the planet, thousands are pouring into the surviving nations and can't hold out for too long unless there's more territory. And even with our equipment back, the troops aren't in high spirits."
"And what about the victories you gained right when we gained the equipment back?"
"They're just small, an everyday thing that no one can bat an eye. I'd like to wish that-perhaps, people could feel hope from them...but they don't. They always something bigger."
"I'm not surprised. War doesn't surprise anyone, it never does. "
"But still, whatever it's from a god or aliens, we really appreciate such intervention."
"Yes, but still. Weapons alone are something that is not guaranteed to go for victory."
"Hmm, good point. Do we have to find something stronger than a gun to end this war? Appeasement and treaties are no longer options in this conflict."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"But remember the pen-"
"The pen is worth jack-shit now. The sword is what we need right now, and we need lots of men who need to wield it."
"Hm-hmm. First, off John, let's look at the past. Ever since the first war happened which who the hell cares what it was anyways, a new type of being was born, a warrior. Warriors are people who are willing to show off their skills, courage, loyalty, and mentality towards their allies and foes, the strongest type of person ever known to all beings for now. But there is one question that's always was with us and nobody answered. Who must have the title of "Warrior"?"
"What do you mean?"
"Think carefully, are soldiers really the only ones to be called warriors? There are people that can also fight with these traits too, but is that enough?"
"Certainly, a warrior is just a warrior just as you say, but how strong they are is what matters. You just simply can't send out some random farmer or dreamer around the nation and put them in the fight just because they want to be warriors and it's their first time. You know that's the best sign in becoming cannon fodder. But, if there's one thing I really don't like from them, it's that they just throw up in front of everything they fight for and die as martyrs that people aren't asking at the moment, because at this fu-"
And just before he could finish swearing, John is interrupted when a radio transmitter started to ring on Kaufer's seat. Kaufer presses the button, stopping the noise.
"What is it?"
"Commander Kaufer! We have good news for the benefit of mankind! British troops stationed in the occupied zones report that Zlocan presence near the border is starting to dwindle."
"Dwindle? How much is the damage?"
"According to the reports, Beale Air Force Base, which was occupied by the Zlocans is reported to have been destroyed under unknown circumstances. The thermal signals found on the debris retrieved suggests that the attack was carried out with heavy weaponry."
"How is that even possible?! Not even stolen weaponry scattered across the country could take down that base single handled!" John yells back.
"It may, however, the evidence is undeniable. But that's not all. A factory that is rumored to hold test subjects, likely handled by the Zlocans, has been reported to be completely deserted, meaning someone must have freed the subjects and exterminated the Zlocans in the area. It seems that there is a presence of an effective force, this is a great miracle for all of us. If we can find this group, then we can turn the tide of this war
"That's quite good to hear. One last thing, Sergeant Ortega, if there is anything new related this group, then contact me again."
"Understood."
"But what about the recent forest fire? Any report of the perpetrators? Could it involve such group?"
"Not sure, but seems likely. Over."
Kaufer then lets go of the button near the radio transmitter. John couldn't believe what he just heard, as his eyes widened as his body quickly tensed. He then proceeds to shake his hands after hearing what he just heard.
"What is it, Hans?"
"John, I'm assigning you to F.O.B Jefferson, I need you to make sure you find this new group of warriors. We are about to find something great, the spark that will light up people's spirits and ensure that the darkness of the invaders is put down for good in this world."
August 19th, 11:30. PST
In the forests of California, there's heavy rain, many drops of water fall on the ground, each one sounding more and wetter. Along the way, the Earth Warriors are walking around the rain, with a strong wind blowing while being covered by a rock umbrella made by Tany. Certainly, most of them are not amused as they cover themselves with anything they have.
"Are you sure this is the right path, Jackson? We must find a very secure place from this rain." Logan says.
"I know these paths more than my whole life, both normal and military Logan, you can trust me for sure, man."
"Yeah, but at least we can enjoy the beautiful sounds of the drops, right?" Malak says.
"I rather listen to a pop group than this stupid rain. It interrupts my mood!" Seiner retorted angrily.
"Please Seiner, we are at least not fighting, this rain and the wind is the most relaxing thing we can get on this journey," Amira said.
Seiner could grumble silently while still keeping his gaze on the road.
"It cood be relaxin', that is unless we are walking in this bloody and blistering rocky umbrella..." Lucy said.
"Ahhh, you complain a lot lot lot! This is best the umbrella I could think of you know! If it wasn't for this umbrella you could be soaked kittens now!" Tany replies while waving his staff around the group, nearly causing small pieces of dirt falling on them.
"Couldn't any prettier girl get anymore clumsier?" Andrei asks.
"Clumsy?! ME?!"
"Forget it, just my imagination..."
"Yeah we appreciate that little gal, but you must know that we'll be covered in dirt because of this dang rocks ye know!" Eddie complains.
"Well, allow me to sway them away," Amira says as she extends her hand outside, using it to throw most of the rocks backward with her power. It saved most of the annoyance but Eddie and Seiner could still be heard grunting in annoyance.
"Cranky bunnies! Why nobody likes my magic?! Alright, stand back dummies, I'm gonna stop this rain with the greatest spell I can summon!"
She then goes out of the rock umbrella while the others watch. Tany then makes some movements with her staff, then she lifts it upwards, sending a huge bolt of lightning towards the sky. Suddenly, the rain stopped.
"Jesus almighty! how did you manage to change the weather....girl? I mean, you could give the forecast men nightmares in their jobs" Andrei replied flabbergasted.
"Hahaha! Now you see that my magic is not ba-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" Tany says as she starts to be shocked by the same lightning she sent before. Everyone's shocked, except Seiner, who gave a rather disapproving look.
"Not even your lightning favors you Tany. In other words, you suck." Seiner says.
"Why~?!" Tany yells with a long sentence no man could think of when it comes to frustration.
"I'm still feeling the strong wind! What's the meaning of this?" Malak asks.
"The thing is, this wind is like a group of strong people working together, give them a strike will only make them lose one thing belonging them but it doesn't stop them that easily, they always have a second solution for a problem. It always existed ever since our beginnings, Malak." Logan remarks.
"Nice lecture boy, now I have one for you: we got rocks flying to our faces like people throwing garbage at us like in poor Woodstock!" Eddie replies.
"Yadda yadda yadda! I need to look nice tomorrow, I want to stay at the magical school girl, not the magical bum girl! And you Seiner man, you offend me again with your tramp and sloppy insults and I will spank you with a handmade palm out of ice!"
"WHY YOU..."
"No time to talk guys, we have to seek a place to hide now!" Amira says.
They ran away still with the rock umbrella above them while Tany summoned water splashes to wash from the lightning, unwillingly shocking herself sometimes.
They ran until they found an abandoned house near the river. They settle in there for a night. The reason is so they can rest because they are on a search of the UEF base Jackson said. His directions are a bit spotty, but he can make it through by some means.
10 hours later
Inside the house, most of the team was sleeping except for Logan and Seiner who were standing outside, Malak who was praying before going to bed and Tany who was taking a shower.
"Seiner...about yesterday..."
"Why are you insisting, Logan? You need to understand that people with great thoughts need to reserve themselves from such softness in this conflict, and I can't stand too much softness, especially Tany who is still sounding like a squeaky parrot. Not to mention Amira...for reason, she's part of something that I rather hold back."
"I understand that Seiner, but still, would it matter if you could think of how being cold to your allies who are with you, fight with you, feel about it?"
"I just recently met them, why treat them like if they were people you knew for a long time? You must be too rushed in hanging out with them you know."
"Is not being rushed Seiner, it's showing kindness and gratefulness, you should have these two traits, every good soul needs it!"
"But what purpose does these two have in moments like this? Slaughter, genocide, killings? Sometimes people need to push their moral limits in order to accomplish something, even if they aren't truly faithful to be part of these ideals. That's why you need to grow up from trusting too much, even Amira from now."
"I won't repeat myself, young man," Logan says in a sterner tone.
"Then let her prove it later."
"Ugh...You know, sometimes, these three actions are not necessary for us in this conflict, in fact, it never will be done by people like us, Seiner. You know that."
"That isn't what matters now Logan, what matters is that we have to keep ourselves stable and concentrated in this conflict, our actions are what important in this war, NOT our personalities OR ideals. Now if you excuse, it's time to sleep, there no need to further prolong this conversation like yesterday."
"Right... Well, good night Seiner."
"You too."
The men return inside the house, being ready to take a nap, because as they know, tomorrow it will be their test of integration towards a higher organization in the war.
"Good night boys," Malak says.
Even to this day, Seiner couldn't feel a softer stance towards trust.
Does it truly stem from what the Zlocans did?
Could it be personal upbringing?
Not many would like to answer such question.
Perhaps in war, questions should be best answered...when it's all over.