Like Sergeant Myles said, the destination base was an hour’s flight to the east. Past the fields that stretched out towards the horizon. Over the forest and mountain that came after. And in a small mountain valley lay a military complex, one that looked a whole lot nicer than what they had back at Echo base.
“This is Private Barten from Echo Base. I have been sent on a supply run for equipment,” Barten said into the private channel he had been given.
“Alpha Base here, what is the mission code?”
“Um, just a sec, UMA2089.”
A moment later a different voice answered, “Confirmed please use the western landing zone. We’ll mark it for you.”
It didn’t take Barten long to figure out what they meant by marking. Out of all of the landing zones only one had blinking blue lights on the edges. He touched down a moment later. How much air traffic did they get if they needed to color code them like that?
When he stepped out on the pristine tarmac Barten was surprised. It looked like it had been laid last week. But given the scope of the base it would have taken years in order to build it all up. And the would have needed landing zones long before it finished. Several techs came running out of the nearby hangar and started fussing over the now idling chopper. “What the hell is this junk still around?” one of them asked.
“I think that it has some character to it. While being old and decommissioned, there’s still some life in the old girl,” said another.
There was a crunch on the gravel path and someone spoke, “Private Barten. I’m Head Engineer Meeks.” She was taller, taller than him, and looked like she was built out of muscle and engine oil. Wisps of hair escaped the bun that she had it tightly pulled into. “We’ll have you refueled, loaded up, and back in the air in about 30 minutes.”
He nodded. “Okay,” he said and then looked around to which she laughed.
“You probably have some questions, yes? Most people do.”
Barten shook his head. “Well, of course. Though I’m trying to hold back. The world has been in a strange place these last 24 hours.”
“Well, go ahead. As long as it isn’t something classified I’ll see what I can do.”
“Why the hell does this place look so well put together, when Echo base looks like it’s being held together by duct tape?”
She pursed her lips together before she answered. “Not what I was expecting. And well. Part of that is classified. But this is R and D. While Echo Base was only put together in the last year after the object, G-038, was located. Command wanted people on the ground nearby no matter what.”
“Would have been nice to have more time yeah? Get things built up a little more before bringing in the troops?”
She shook her head. “No one knew when the volcano was going to blow. Plenty of bases like yours had been brought to life in the time we have been waiting. It’s just that yours was one of the last.”
Another chopper came in then from the other direction that Barten had come. It landed on a pad that had red lights lit as a beacon. “More supplies for more troops,” she said. “It would have been nice to have had more time. But then again, someone was always bound to pick up the check. It just happened to be us.” Meeks waved and started off towards the newly landed chopper.
Barten had a thought to walk around the base, but quickly shelved it. Stepping on people's toes always went badly. More so when everything was probably classified. So he calmly waited for the supply.
***
After a long day of flying cargo Barten fell asleep that night without issue. Though he didn’t stay asleep for long. The knowledge that out there, scattered over the world, was a hostile threat did much to keep him awake.
When morning finally came he was glad. And as he groggily pulled himself out of bed there was a knock at the door. “Hey, Barten, pull your ass out of bed,” Conners said from outside.
Barten opened the door and said, “Huh, wassit?”
“Big news, both good and bad. Jamieson is back with us, less crazy and seemingly okay.”
Barten perked up at the news given. “Oh? That’s good to hear. How is he feeling?”
“That’s the ticket. Doesn’t remember a single thing. Otherwise he’s in a bit of pain from when he overexerted himself.”
They had a moment of silence then. Barten remembered how those in the past didn’t always make it out okay. Or at all really. “What’s the other news?”
“People at the gates. Seems like holdouts or others that didn’t want to get away when they were told. Command is trying to get an evac for them.”
“Wait, at the gates? Why don’t they just let them in already?”
Conners showed a wry smile. “Better to see for yourself,” he said and waited for Barten to get dressed. And then they were off towards the stairs to the roof. “I always wondered what being on the roof would be like in school. Something so out of reach for us as children. But now as an adult who has jumped out of planes it all seems to be so mundane.”
“So small from up high as well,” Barten said. At the edge of the roof were several others. Smith, Jamieson, Monroe, along with some soldiers that weren’t known to him.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
“Hey Jamieson,” Barten said and slapped him on the back. “Glad to have you back and not stuffed into some nut outfit.”
Jamieson smiled. “Yeah, I can’t help but imagine that myself. Going to bed one day, and then waking up with the crazies. Though from what I hear the world itself has gone crazy,” he said and then sighed. “We’ll need to let them find out, yeah?” His words brought a chorus of yeahs from the others.
When Barten turned his attention to where the others were looking his eyes widened. “Uh. Conners. You could've told me yeah? I thought that it was maybe a handful of people.”
“Nah. And it makes it better to see it, yeah?”
“There are hundreds! We may have a quarter of that number living on the base. What the hell did they think we were evac’ing them for?” Barten asked.
Smith shook his head. “There’s no helping some. Apparently they felt safe in their homes. Until one of the beetles chewed through the walls. Then they all got upset and came here at once. I heard that they are all some sort of social media group based around prepping.”
“There’s prepping, and then there’s not getting out of harms way come… whatever this is,” Monroe said. “My heart goes out to them. They’ve lost their homes and probably aren’t being told much. Hell, I’m surprised how much they’ve shared with us.”
“It would be nice if they let us do more,” Smith said. “I want to be on the ground there, at the front lines, fighting back against this invasion.”
Conners turned to Barten and spoke, “You went and got guns right?”
“Wait, guns?” Jamieson asked. The conversation got the attention of everyone on the roof.
“I think. But yeah, several runs to Alpha Base to the east. Seemed well put together and high tech compared to here,” Barten said and filled them in with what he had seen and learned.
“We got shafted,” Conners said. “Plain and simple.” He stepped back from the wall and kicked one of the ducts that was coming out of the roof before sitting down on it.
“Would you rather be somewhere safe like that?” Smith asked.
“I’d rather be somewhere properly equipped than sitting around here with no option other than to wait. While everything is destroyed. While people clamor at the gates.”
Smith smiled and looked out at the gathering mod. Several soldiers walked among them and were handing out MRE’s to those that wanted them. There were several tents that had popped up, and it seemed like they were setting in for the long haul.
“What is that?” Monroe asked. “There, coming up the road.”
“Damn it,” Smith said and stood up on the edge of the roof.
“Hey! Careful there!” Jamieson stepped forward and grabbed a hold of Smith’s pant leg. “Go on the mend for a day and everyone goes crazy. Come on down from there.”
“Looks like a beetle is coming down the road,” Smith said, then turned and hopped back onto the roof. “Those people will be shredded.” It only took one look for the ones gathered on the roof to move. “Barton, go and find the Commander and let her know. In the meantime we’ll go and look for the techs. Maybe we can get them to lend out some guns.”
“Alright,” Barten said. “If they manage to find some, maybe they’ll also get one the heli’s up and ready.” They shared a smile and then Barten peeled off and started running towards command. He ran into Sergeant Myles on the way after a single “Hostiles incoming.” there were two men who were running.
The door to the command room was open, and several people were milling around watching one screen or another. Commander Gale was sitting at a desk with her face in her hands. Myles approached her fist and snapped a quick salute. “Commander Gale, soldiers on the roof have reported one of the beetles is approaching the base along the road. With the civilians outside… None of the people here want to see what might happen.”
Commander Gale sighed. “Nor do I,” she said and picked up a radio. “Fred, break out the big guns that we just picked up and start handing them out. I’ll send Sergeant Myles over to lead the defense.” She turned to Myles and Barten. “Well. Go do what you do best.”
They both saluted and then took off again. Myles gathered up anyone and everyone that they passed by. Most of them were told to follow, while several others were given orders to gather those who might be in the mess hall or their rooms.
In the hanger Fred was handing out guns to several of the troops that had already arrived. Barten smiled at Smith and the others who were checking out their shiny new rifles. They hummed slightly and had blue glowing lines running the barrel and body.
“Just in time Myles,” Fred said. “We got enough to outfit half of the soldiers here. Just enough to piss off those who came late.” he handed Myles a pistol variant. “As I have been telling the others. There isn't much difference between this in a normal ballistic weapon. Cept that it’s not ballistic. And instead fires out some plasma or other. It’s super hot, super dangerous, and if fired at another human would violate several different conventions and organizations. So just keep it aimed at the aliens.”
“What? I thought that we weren’t using the A word?” Conners asked?
Fred shrugged. “Might as well call a spade a spade. Whatever they are, they aint from earth right?”
“While there’s still too much unknown about the hostiles at this point,” Myles said with a small smile. “Don't let the commander here you call them aliens. Upper brass hated the term for some reason.”
“Eh, whatever works on the ground works for me,” Fred said and continued handing out the new weapons. “Alright, that's the last one. Not much spare ammo, so make it count.”
Myles nodded to the tech and then turned to the soldiers that had already gathered. “Those of you without any weapons please stand by. If anyone gets injured, pull them out of combat.”
“And then take their guns right?” Someone in the back asked. Which caused a number of chuckles.
“Of course. Might as well empty the clips before we send them back. It wouldn't do to waste ammo by leaving it in the clip right?” The chuckles turned into laughs.
“Hey! They are a pain to reload right now,” Fred said with a grimace.
“Alright. Break into your squads. If you’re one of the lucky ones who got a gun you might have to give it up for now.” Myles said and then spoke again as no one moved, “Now please. Move it!” It only took a moment before everyone was lined up. Some of the squads had full guns, while others only had one or two.
“Alright, squads 2, 8, 4, and 5 have the most guns, so pass them over if your squad wasn’t called. There was some groaning and moaning but after a moment the 4 squads called were fully armed. “Squad 2, you’re on defense. Squad 8 go west along the road and check out anything that might be coming that way. Squad 4 go down the road and face off against the beetle that is coming. While Squad 5 takes the east. Remember, this is defense. Do not pursue and fall back if you encounter anything you can’t handle.”
Myles didn’t have to say anything a second time. And the 4 squads turned and started running. “Guess it’s good for those that got their Con. But try not to make the rest of us run too hard,” Conners said as he looked at his terminal.
“Oh? Are you still at 10? Smith asked.
Jamieson laughed. “Mine went up already. Though I don't know when.”
“What? Damn it,” Conners said with a grimace. “You jerks better not leave me behind.”