For the first time since receiving this posting, Commander Oberon Stone went to bed with a satisfied smile. While his men still hadn't located the alien that killed one of his pilots, he knew it was only a matter of time. One alien against all of his soldiers? It was inevitable.

Though, considering the reports he received from his pilots, he expected they would take a few losses. But that was the nature of war, even if fighting a single alien couldn't really be consider a 'war'.

He knew it wasn't the first time his people had dealt with aliens. Their first, and up until now only, encounter with aliens being when a damaged ship crashed on their planet decades ago. While it was a well guarded secret, his clearance was more than high enough to have read the files.

A handful of weak aliens crashed their ship and, after cleaning up the survivors, the wreckage proved its value. Their level of technology had leapt forward by decades just from studying the remnants, few that they were. In truth, that windfall led directly to their developing their first planes- and subsequently winning the war. If not for those first alien, this command likely wouldn't even exist.

And better yet... He had ordered his men to take this new alien alive. He could only imagine the wealth of information to be gained from a living alien. Their leadership had more than once lamented not questioning the aliens before. Now they would have that chance... though, based on his pilot's description, this alien looked nothing like the others. Perhaps it was a different type of alien? One with different technologies?

Commander Stone could only imagine the gains... and his future promotion for being the man to bring the alien in...

Having his rather pleasant dreams shattered by the boom of an explosion was not the way he wanted to wake up.

Having leapt out of bed to quickly dress, it took a moment for his mind to process one very important fact: he could see, if just barely. Without having turned on a single light. Given that his rooms were located at the far back of the cavern, very little natural light reached his windows even in the middle of the day...

Turning to the pair of small windows that normally allowed him to survey his domain, he could see an orange glow off to his left and near the entrance to the cave. Past the runway, but not quite to the cave wall... He could just see one of his planes, outlined by the fire that raged all around it- and, beyond it, the shattered remains of another. Likely the source of the explosion, as he could easily imagine its fuel tanks rupturing under such a conflagration.

Worse yet... the fire was rapidly spreading. In nearly a straight line to the next plane

The light through his windows grew brighter as he hurriedly dressed. Just as he finished strapping on his armor, a second explosion tore through the night. Throwing open his door, Commander Stone stormed out of his room... and straight into chaos.

The base alarm began to blare out as his assistants rushed about, rapidly sending out orders to turn out the men to combat the fire and demanding reports on what had happened... As well as the how, why, and most importantly... Who.

“Cindus! Report!” Stone bellowed. In an instant, a touch of order imposed itself on his command.

Stone had several assistants, but none quite as reliable as Indara Cindus. Despite being the smallest member of his staff- and the only female- she was easily one of the fiercest warriors he had ever served with. And one of the smartest. While some of the others were clearly panicking at the sound of explosions and the reports of a spreading fire, Cindus' gaze held nothing but calm and calculated focus.

“Sir!” Cindus snapped to attention at his entrance. “I believe we are under attack. By the alien, that is. Sir.”

Stone's eyes narrowed, and he threw a scornful glance at those of his staff that gasped in alarm at the report. He didn't doubt her statement, as the alien was the only creature within miles that could possibly be attacking them... Though there was still a hint of doubt: was it really an attack? Or was the fire an accident.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Why do you say that this is an attack? Is it possible that one of the mechanics fucked something up?”

Before he could even finish the question, Cindus shook her head in denial. “I woke up early to finish processing the reports from yesterday, sir. Just before the explosion... I heard gun fire. I haven't gotten any reports from the security teams yet, but they wouldn't be shooting without a reason. And the most likely reason is the alien.”

“I already sent orders to turn out the men. The majority will be sent to fight the fire, while a hundred of them are to assist the security teams in dealing with the alien. We-”

Her words were cut off by another explosion echoing through the cavern. Before she could continue, another of the assistants rushed into the room, panic written clearly on his face. “Sir! There's a problem at the barracks!”

Suppressing a a furious growl, Stone waved for the man to explain. Why the hell didn't this idiot just spit it out? He had already interrupted them, so why hesitate?

“Sir! The men... Ah... the men are trapped. They can't get out of the barracks!”

“Which barracks specifically?” Stone growled, frustrated at more problems being heaped on the pile.

The assistant flinched at the menacing growl. “Ah... Barracks one, two, and three... Sir.”

Just before Commander Stone could even formulate a curse suitable to this news, the assistant cleared his throat and spoke rapidly, as though forcing out the words. “And Barracks four, one of the staff reported that... that...”

“Spit it out, damn it!” Stone roared in the man's face.

Eyes closed, the assistant stood as if waiting for a death sentence and finally gritted out, “All of the pilots are dead, sir! Their throats were slit as they slept in their bunks!”

Stone's breath hitched in his throat. Forty-eight pilots... dead? And no one even noticed? Where the hell were the patrols? How did the damned alien get past his men? What-

'No, focus on what you have to work with. Not on what you've lost. You still have to deal with this shit...' Stone reminded himself coldly.

“How are the men trapped in the other barracks?”

Surprised at the calm response, the assistant blinked dumbly for a moment before he answered. “They aren't entirely sure, sir. They said that the doors are covered over by metal. They are searching for ways to remove it, but are not having much luck. The metal seems to be held in place quite firmly...”

Waving the assistant off, Stone turned back to Cindus. “We need to get someone over to the barracks to figure out how to release the men. And we need a report from-”

Another explosion, followed by a burst of gun fire, interrupted what he was about to say... Gun fire that was much closer than it should have been...

Then one of his soldiers staggered through the door. Burns marred his arms, his armor slightly charred, and he bled from several places... The most alarming of which was the bullet hole in his side.

“Sir! The alien is here!”

Nearly all of the staff stared in shock at the proclamation, even as Stone and Cindus both exclaimed simultaneously. “Where is it?”

As if waiting for the question, a pair of gunshots rang out, one after the other. Jerking in place under the impacts, the soldier slowly crumpled to the floor...

And the alien strode in, aiming his gun at the gathering of officers.

“Right fucking here!” The alien barked at them, a manic gleam in its eyes. “Now drop your weapons and line up against the wall!”

“And if anyone tries anything stupid... Maybe I'll kill you. Maybe I'll just cripple you and leave you to suffer.”

“Or maybe I'll kill the people beside you and leave you to mourn your own stupidity.”

The alien swept its gaze across the command staff, a wide smile on its face... as if it was eager to hurt them.

And Stone could hear the edge of madness in its voice.