Cadet Steven Chen fidgeted with his multifunction tool, he'd bought it for his electrical engineering class but it might serve a new purpose now. On the surface, it was a standard piece of equipment - a multimeter, oscilloscope, and DDS generator all in one. But Chen had modified it, adding a home-brewed antenna design that promised to detect the enemy's territorial markers. If his calculations were correct, this little gadget would give his team crucial advance warning.

The auditorium at Alabama University of Fort Payne buzzed with nervous energy. Rows of ROTC cadets sat ramrod straight, their eyes fixed on the stage where their senior instructor stood. Master Sergeant Jeffords, a man whose very presence demanded attention and silence, surveyed the room from behind the podium.

"All right, eyes front, cadets," MSG Jeffords barked, his voice echoing off the wood-paneled walls. "Join me in welcoming Sergeant Lister, from the Alabama National Guard."

Sergeant Lister strode to the podium, his steps purposeful and measured. He cut a distinctive figure in his tropical winter Battle Dress Uniform, a concession to Alabama's mild February weather. The temperature outside hovered in the low 60s, prompting Lister to don the standard-issue Army fleece jacket. His name tape, boldly embroidered "LISTER," stood out against the muted tones of the uniform.

As Lister approached the podium, Cadet Kiara Mendez leaned toward Chen, her whisper barely audible. "You think we're getting called up?"

Chen shot her a warning glance, quickly shoving his modified tool back into his pack. "Shh," he hissed, his eyes darting back to the front of the room.

The fleece added bulk to Lister's already imposing frame, giving him a bear-like appearance as he took his place at the podium. His face was weathered, telling tales of long hours under unforgiving suns and through bitter nights. Sharp eyes scanned the audience, seeming to assess each cadet individually.

Chen's hand instinctively tightened around the strap of his pack, acutely aware of the device hidden within.

"Thank you," Lister said, his voice gravelly from years of shouting orders. "I'd like to thank Sergeant Jeffords and every one of you for the warm welcome you've shown me." He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the assembled cadets. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it. You are in the middle of it. We've got Chattanooga to the north, Atlanta to the east, and Montgomery and Birmingham here in Alabama."

The cadets shifted in their seats, the reality of their situation sinking in.

Lister continued, his voice hard. "Now, because we are spread so thin, the enemy has made more of an advance than we anticipated. That's why we thank you for volunteering. We need you in all four cities, but Birmingham is the closest, in terms of travel time so that's where you'll be going."

He let that sink in before pressing on. "You'll be relieving our soldiers on the ground from the evacuation and transportation duties. This will free up an entire company and get them back on the front lines."

Chen heard Mendez sigh next to him. He could understand her frustration. Evacuating civilians. Well, the ROTC were civilians themselves, but they had been preparing four-plus years to serve, to lead, hadn't they? He tried to shake off that line of thought. It wasn't helpful.

Chen watched with rapt attention as a university employee wheeled in a clunky television monitor. The hum of the old machine contrasted sharply with the hushed tension in the room. Lister, a seasoned soldier with a weathered face that spoke of countless deployments under unforgiving suns, connected his laptop, the mirrored image flickering to life on the screen.

Gone were the days of glossy magazine spreads showcasing the latest military hardware. This briefing was a far cry from the sanitized training videos Chen and Mendez had endured in ROTC. The cover page displayed stark, black text against a white background: "US ARMY UNKNOWN COMBATANT REFERENCE."

"Alright, listen up cadets," Lister's voice boomed, silencing any lingering murmurs. "Before Uncle Sam lets a bunch of wide-eyed ROTC hopefuls loose anywhere near the front lines, even in a support capacity, you're going to need a crash course in your new reality." A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes, quickly replaced by a steely seriousness.

"You've all heard the whispers, the rumors about the enemy and their machines," he continued. "But with the internet and television a casualty of this war, chances are you haven't actually seen them."

A collective gasp rippled through the room. The enormity of the situation hit them – they were about to face an unknown enemy, a chilling prospect even for these eager cadets.

Lister tapped his finger against the laptop screen, the image transitioning from the stark text to a crude sketch, likely captured from a shaky drone video. It depicted a sleek, three-legged machine vaguely humanoid in form. A pointed head and long, spindly limbs gave it an unsettlingly predatory appearance.

"These here are the Skirmishers," Lister explained, his voice taking on a lecturing tone. "The grunts of the enemy force, these fast devils move like ostriches on high-octane fuel. They're the most common unit you'll encounter. Remember, speed is their advantage, but their armor's thin. A well-placed shot can take them down. The real danger comes from those razor-sharp legs." He tapped the screen, highlighting the clawed limbs. "They can tear you to shreds if they get close enough."

A wave of unease rippled through the room. Chen exchanged a worried glance with Mendez. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in.

Lister, sensing their trepidation, cleared his throat. "Now, listen up," he said, his voice regaining its authoritative edge. "Remember, these machines might be fast and deadly, but they're not invincible. You're here to help civilians, and that means staying vigilant. If you see a Skirmisher during an evacuation, don't run. They can't hear, but they can detect a moving target. The best course of action? Call out for help immediately. There will be soldiers nearby to deal with the threat."

Lister changed the screen again. This new slide simply said 'HEAVY'.

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"Here we go," Mendez whispered in anticipation.

"Now, the Skirmishers might be the most common nuisance you'll face, but they're not the only ones out there. Let's take a look at the heavy hitters, or as some of the grunts like to call them - the Rhinos."

The image on the monitor flickered, transitioning to a hulking quadrupedal machine with thick metal plating. It resembled a monstrous mechanical bull, its four legs churning with hidden power.

"These bad boys are less common than the Skirmishers," Lister explained, his voice dropping to a low growl. "Think of them as walking tanks. They provide heavy cover fire and can take a serious beating. But here's the good news - they're slow and cumbersome. You'll likely see them coming from a mile away. The real challenge is getting through those shields."

Lister switched to the next slide, highlighting the massive armored plates covering the Rhino's front. "Their main defense takes time to deploy. They gotta unfold these shields before they're truly protected. Now, it's unlikely you'll encounter these beasts during your evacuation duties. The army prioritizes taking them out first. But knowledge is power, right?" A wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

The image shifted again, the title card read 'AERIAL'.

Chen leaned forward, he hadn't heard of an enemy air unit.

Lister pointed to the image of an insectoid drone with four rapidly buzzing wings. Its entire body seemed thrumming with a hidden energy.

"Finally, we have the aerial terrors – the Drones, or as some like to call them - the Wasps." Lister's voice laced with a hint of disgust as he spoke. "Think of them as mechanical wasps with a nasty habit of stinging you with high-velocity projectiles. They're fast, maneuverable, and can be a real pain if you don't see them coming. But again, these are rare birds. The army prioritizes taking out aerial threats, so it's unlikely you'll run into one during your mission."

He paused, letting the information sink in. "Look, cadets," he said, his voice regaining its authoritative edge. "The chances of you encountering a Rhino or a Drone during the evacuation are slim. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared. Knowledge is your best weapon in this war. Stay vigilant, stay alert, and most importantly, stay safe out there."

As Lister paused to take a sip of water, Mendez leaned closer to Chen, her voice low but excited. "So if the heavy is a Rhino and the air unit is a Wasp, what do we call the Skirmishers?"

Chen furrowed his brow, mulling over the images and Lister's description of how the three-legged machines fought. A memory flashed in his mind – a movie night from what felt like a lifetime ago.

"How about Raptors?" he whispered back, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "You know, like in Jurassic Park."

Mendez's eyes lit up with recognition. "Fast, deadly, hunt in packs... yeah, that fits," she nodded approvingly. "Raptors it is."

Their exchange was cut short as Lister cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the front of the room. Chen couldn't help but notice a few other cadets nearby nodding slightly – apparently, they weren't the only ones who'd overheard the impromptu naming session.

"Alright, cadets," Lister's gravelly voice rang out, "any questions about these hostiles before we move on to your specific assignments?"

Chen hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand. When Lister nodded in his direction, he stood, feeling the eyes of his fellow cadets on him.

"Sergeant," Chen began, his voice steadier than he felt, "you mentioned that these... Skirmishers move fast and have thin armor. Are there any weak points we should be aware of? You know, just in case."

Lister's expression was unreadable for a moment before he answered. "Good question, cadet. While your primary job is evacuation, it's smart to be prepared." He turned back to the screen, pulling up the image of the Skirmisher. "Their joints, particularly where the legs connect to the body, are vulnerable. But I want to be clear, you will not be issued weapons for this mission."

The room fell silent as the cadets absorbed the information. Lister's eyes scanned the room, sensing the mix of emotions - disappointment, relief, and nervous anticipation.

"I can see the wheels turning in your heads," Lister said, his voice softening slightly but maintaining its authoritative edge. "So let me be crystal clear about something. Your primary assignment - your only assignment - is the safety of civilians. And that includes yourselves."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "You are not cannon fodder. You are not expendable assets. Each one of you is a valuable resource, and more importantly, you're still civilians yourselves. Your safety is just as crucial as the safety of those you'll be evacuating."

Lister's gaze swept across the room, making eye contact with as many cadets as possible. "If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, your first priority is to get yourself and any civilians with you to safety. No heroics. No last stands. You call for help, and you evacuate. Is that understood?"

A chorus of "Yes, sir!" echoed through the auditorium.

"Good," Lister nodded, his expression stern but not unkind. "Remember, every one of you who comes back safe is one more future officer who can lead in this fight. Your time will come, but for now, your job is to learn, to help, and to survive."

Chen felt a weight lift from his shoulders. The responsibility was still enormous, but knowing that they weren't expected to be impromptu soldiers made it feel more manageable. He glanced at Mendez, seeing a similar look of relief on her face.

Lister cleared his throat. "Now, unless there are any more questions, let's move on to team assignments."

The room buzzed with nervous energy as the cadets prepared to learn who they'd be working with. Chen's hand instinctively moved to his pack again, feeling the reassuring shape of his modified tool. Whatever team he ended up on, he was determined to make a difference.

"When I call your name," Lister announced, "please stand. Team Alpha: Chen, Mendez, and Reynolds"

Chen stood, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through him. As he looked around, he saw Mendez rising next to him, a small smile playing on her lips. Across the aisle, John Reynolds, known for his cool head under pressure, stood up. Chen gave him a wave, motioning that he should join Mendez and himself.

Lister handed a bundle to another Reserve soldier. "These are your armbands. Secure them on the outside of the left sleeve of your BDU. Help your teammate if they are having trouble."

Chen looked at the armband. It was a simple band of fabric with the letters 'ROTC' printed on it.

"I'll do yours, you do mine?" Mendez said, holding out her left arm.

He met Mendez's gaze, a flicker of nervous energy in her eyes.

"Sure," he said, a hesitant smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He reached out and fumbled slightly with the unfamiliar clasp of the armband before finally securing it on her BDU sleeve. "There you go, Cadet Mendez."

"Thanks, Cadet Chen," she replied, returning the smile. She took the armband from him and with practiced ease, secured it to his uniform. "Looks like we're a team now."

The weight of those words settled on Chen. Team. It wasn't the same as the fireteam exercises they'd done in ROTC, but it felt significant nonetheless. He looked around the room, his eyes meeting Reynolds' for a moment. A silent acknowledgement passed between them, a shared understanding of the responsibility they now bore.

Reynolds held out his own arm. "How's this?" he asked.

Chen reassessed his opinion of Reynolds. Gone was the aloof facade he usually wore in ROTC. Here, the veneer cracked, replaced by a quiet focus that demanded respect. "You did it yourself," Chen said with a nod, "looks fine."

"Yeah, you just gotta fold this edge over and then—" Reynolds demonstrated with his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, "it clips on. Easy once you know the trick."

A low murmur rippled through the room as the clatter of armbands being secured replaced the hush that had fallen during Lister's briefing. Chen watched as the other trios came together and repeated their own version of the armband ritual he had shared with Mendez.

"How long will we be at this?," Mendez wondered.

"No idea. Where are we being sent?" Reynolds added.

Before Chen could respond, a hush fell over the room once more. Sergeant Lister had cleared his throat, his voice booming through the auditorium. All eyes turned towards the front as a large map unfolded on the screen behind him, a red circle pulsing ominously on a city nestled between rolling green hills. Birmingham.

"Let's get started," Lister began.