<< Agelaos. two Jets are taking off from the station >> Kat said and distracted Agelaos from the battle, << Life signals confirmed, its them >> she said and he immediately gave the order to open the two lower entrances to the ship for them. Kat was bursting with happiness and ran straight out of the room towards the hangars to welcome Alcatraz back. << Kat wait, we need you in the battle! >> Agelaos shouted but she had already gone too far for her to hear him, anyway she didn't care at all, she needed to see him again and she needed it so bad.
She had gone through the whole ship in less than ten minutes and the Jets were landing the moment she entered the Hangars. The ramps were lowered and almost two hundreds of people came down: in the middle of that crowd one mad stood out and she knew who he was. << Alcatraz!! >> she shouted and the whole hangar heard her. He turned his head towards her and without talking to anyone he ran straight to her. Raxima and the others came right behind Kat to greet Alcatraz warmly, << Hey kid >> Raxima said as he was walking up the stairs and gave a large hug to everyone. << Oh god we missed you! >> Buck said and punched (friendly) Alcatraz in the stomach as he knew that it wouldn't hurt him.
When he had greeted them all he turned to Kat and looked at her in the eyes, << Yeah, we should be going...... >> Raxima said and grabbed Raiden from the hair to leave them alone.
<< Hey, how are you? >> he asked with a stupid smile on his face. "How are you? really that is the first thing he says?" Kat thought to her self and without being able to hold it any more she burst in tears and wrapped her hands around him. << I guess i missed you? >> he said and followed suit.
Kat went on to speak but the moment she rose her head and opened her mouth to speak, he kissed her making every thought of her's vanish from her head. "Wow he is a good kisser!" she realized when they stopped kissing. << You don't need to say anything, lets go. Agelaos will need us >> he said and took her by the hand, walking slowly in the hallways back to the cockpit where Agelaos was commanding his army.
While walking towards the cockpit Kat noticed something on Alcatraz: he had a new air of confidence. Who knows what he had seen back in that station.
<< Alcatraz! I knew you were ok>> Agelaos said and hugged Alcatraz, something that surprised him because the King wasn't the friendly kind.
<< Relax! I am fine, there was no need to worry >> Alcatraz said and sat on a chair to watch the battle happening outside. Kat returned to assisting Agelaos at commanding the fleet. She had become a true army woman.
<< It seems to be turning out the way you wanted it you militaristic son of a bitch! >> Alcatraz said, causing poor Agelaos to back off in amazement. << Wow Alcatraz, i didn't know you were that kind of man >> Agelaos said.
<< Being in hell changes you >> Alcatraz said. Agelaos was now weird to know what had happened in that station too. Although he wanted to ask he had to focus on winning the battle which was still far from over. << Sir, another ship has entered our radar! >> The pilot said and maximized the map so Agelaos could see it. It was not a ship, It was a whole new fleet!
<< Can they be identified? >>he asked and Alcatraz joined him at the cockpit from which the new fleet could now be seen. << Shit. They are an Alien race allied to the Stygians. We still haven't found a name for them yet >> Alcatraz said. << What are their intentions? >> Agelaos asked nervously. << Well, they are allied to those assholes so they probably want to kill us >> Alcatraz replied .
<< We don't stand a chance against two fleets! >> Kat said and Agelaos agreed silently. They were truly doomed: even though they had the advantage of agility to escape through the asteroid field they could never defeat the concentrated force of those two. They already knew the power of the Stygian army and Alcatraz could guess the other one's strength. << What do we do? >> The pilot said and everyone in the room looked at the King. << We go to war >> Agelaos said and stood up from his throne. << Arm every last weapon we have and release all the fighters we have >> He said and his men started running all around the room to follow his orders. << We ain't going down without a fight >> Alcatraz said and went on Agelaos's side.
<< I am going to fight. You will leave with an escape pod and head for the safest place you humans have >> Agelaos said, confusing Alcatraz. << No way i am leaving you! >> He shouted and placed his hand on Agelaos's shoulder. << I have just been updated for them. They are the true Stygians >> he said and a dark expression covered his face. << What do you mean? >> Kat asked furiously and came towards them too. << I mean that all this time we have been fighting the recruits, the convicted who were forced to fight. Now we are looking at the elite army, the true Stygian power >> He said and pointed at the second fleet that had now released a ton of fighters that were heading towards Agelaos's.
He was true, they were witnessing the true Stygian power: the enemy fighter only had to fire once to bring down twenty of the Corinthian one's. Their shields were impenetrable and their weaponry was so advanced that humans wouldn't be able to even examine them, but that wasn't the worse. The endgame was their numbers: The fighters were so many they had created a cloud that had covered the sun, leaving the dying Corinthian fleet in the darkness.
<< You believe me now? >> Agelaos said to the two Shocked humans. << You need to leave >> he continued but he still didn't get a response. << Why us? We are just soldiers! >> Alcatraz replied furiously after a while. << Before i came here i had a vision and please don't ask why. I saw everything and everyone dead, both our armies shattered and the civilians begging for the mercy that would never come >> he said and tears came out of his eyes. << What does this have to do with me? >> Alcatraz asked, shouting and shacked Agelaos back and forth for answers. << Remember that "dream" you had seen? >> He replied and a flashback came on Alcatraz's head.
The dream he had seen back at the "Tranquility". He had seen him and the crew stuck in a post-invaded earth. << You believe that i can survive? >> He asked after a while. << We don't have much to go with but from what Raxima has told me you don't want to die >> he said and face the destruction of his army that was happening outside. << We will go and i promise that i will do anything in my power to save as much as i can >> Alcatraz said and hit his fist on his chest to show his promise. Agelaos copied the move and then Kat and him left the room running to return back to earth.
<< Get your stuff and as many supplies as you can carry. Meet me at the hangar in two minutes >> Alcatraz said, bursting in the room where the crew was stationed and then he disappeared at the same speed he had entered. << Where are we going? >> Kat asked when they had reached their ship in the hangar and they were waiting for the others. << We are heading for earth, to the "Tranquility" >> he said while loading the supplies on the small escape ship. << Won't we warn the Fleet? >> she asked nervously. << I have a plan that is useless, but at least we won't hide like cowards >> he said and the others boarded the ship.
<< We are leaving! >> he said and closed the ramp. << And what are we going to do? >> Raxima asked furiously. << We will warn the Navy and help them defend Earth till the last bullet. But don't expect a thing to come out of it >> he said as he flew out of the Corinthian flagship, only to reveal the true damage the Stygians had done to them. Five carriers had already been destroyed and the sixth was already was under attack, while all the fighters had vanished from the face of the earth. Everybody was looking outside the window and they couldn't get their eyes from it. Sorrow had taken over them and desperation was crawling quickly towards their hearts. They had destroyed the Mighty Corinthian fleet in less than half-an-hour without losing a single ship! None of them spoke but they all shared the same question in their thoughts: was there a god to save them?
For the hours that passed they were all silent, lurking in different corners of the ship with nothing to cheer them up. There was actually nothing that could change how they felt that moment: doomed and empty. The Flagship had been destroyed only twenty minutes after they had left it, with Agelaos and the last hopes of the Corinthians with him. Alcatraz was the only one that sorrow couldn't be seen on his face, he seemed like he was the only one that was still intact from the situation. The truth was way different than that: he was the one most affected as he would be the who would have to lead the others into another hell. << Are you alright? >> Raiden asked him and sat on the deactivated console near him. << I am like shit >> Alcatraz admitted and hit his head on the metal wall, << What are we going to do even if we managed to warn them in time? The human fleet stands no chance in front of that power! >> he shouted without caring for waking up the others who were resting.
<< I don't know man, we are all devastated by this. I guess every one else will be when they find out about it >> Raiden said and looked outside, towards the stars. << The Corinthians have already lost and the humans are bound to follow >> Alcatraz said and took out a cigar from Raxima's coat that was accidentally left on the chair. << I didn't know you were smoking >> Raiden said, trying to sound amazed but he just couldn't. << If i have a whole army on my back i don't give two shits or a biscuit if cigars kill me >> he said and lit it up, just to feel the heat of it. They were left there, watching silently the empty space and wandering where these things came from.
Six hours later after the Stygian Onslaught
<< Wake up guys, we are there >> Alcatraz said and turned on the lights of the small bedroom. Raxima was the first one to be awake. None of them spoke as they stood up and dressed hastily in order to see if they had made it in time. << Hurry up! >> Kat shouted at Raiden who hadn't put on his shirt.
They rushed towards the cockpit with all their hope set on the possibility of having made it in time. The door of the cockpit opened, revealing the earth. << They beat us >> Raiden said and fell on his knees, crying. << We are going in there >> Alcatraz said and activated full speed. Buck was lying on Raxima's chest, crying like Raiden as he sought for pep talk. << What do you mean, this would lead to suicide! >> Kat shouted and grabbed his had. << We need the "Tranquility" to escape permanently >> he said and went to ready their equipment. << He has changed too soon >> Raxima said and Kat agreed with her silently.
When the auto pilot announce their entrance into their atmosphere they all went back to buckle up. << Won't they shoot us down? >> Raxima asked when she found Alcatraz at the cockpit,waiting impatiently. << They couldn't have established Anti-Aircraft weapons so fast >> he said, making a logical assumption that sounded more like a wish than a fact. << Where are we landing? >> Vaila asked and came in the room along with the others. << York city, England >> Alcatraz said and the others sat down and buckled up. << Hasn't it been destroyed? >> Buck asked as he loaded his gun. << This is the tricky part. It is being attacked this instant so the moment we attack we will be in the crossfire >> He said and their faces toughened, they all knew what that meant.
An explosion made the ship shake and unbalance for a second. << You said they didn't have AAs! >> Raxima growled when the shaking stopped. << They blew up the strongest army up in only an hour, i am sure they can tear us up in only a minute! >> he replied and another explosion hit the ship, this time right on the left engine. Red lights turned on and the auto pilot started warning them to abandon the ship. << We better listen to her! >> Vaila said and put off her seat belt. << We don't have parachutes!! >> Raiden screamed and the auto pilot announce that they had thirty seconds to impact. << Listen to me! We will wait for the last moment before the crash. Then we will jump out when the altitude is minimum >> Alcatraz said and the voice announce the twenty seconds left. << We have no other choice, Hold on!! >> Raxima said and opened the boarding ramp. << We are gonna die!!! >> Raiden screamed as they saw the ground coming closer. Ten seconds until impact.
Five...four....three....two.... << NOW!! >> Alcatraz shouted and they all jumped from the ship, landing on the cement roof of a building. The ship fell on the building behind them, tearing it down completely and setting it on fire. Although they had landed "safely", rolling on raw cement hurt them badly. The fall made Alcatraz lose his consciousness and close his eyes.
A loud explosion woke him up to see the others, lying on the floor unconscious as well. << Wake up, we need to go >> he tried to say but his voice faded away. "Its not time to stall!" he though as he tried to stand on his feet. << I'm up >> Raxima's voice was heard and with her all the others started to get on their feet cowardly. << Is everyone alright? >> he asked and they nodded. << Grab your guns and follow me, we need to get outside the city where the "Tranquility" is >> he said and Raxima confirmed his words by showing them the paper that she had been given by the Navy about the location of the ship.
They brought the door down and followed the stairs towards the first floor which lead back to the road. Screams, gunfire and explosions could be heard from outside << it sound like a battlefield out there! >> Raiden said and Buck agreed with a small growl. << Lets hope that the army is still putting up a fight >> Vaila said when another burst of gunfire paused. These were their last words for a while, none of them was sure that there was no Stygian in the building so they kept it as low as they could. Only when they had made it to street level could they see the situation: The Stygian formation was constantly firing at the human barricade that had been built hastily while the attack, unfortunately they were behind the enemy formation.
<< What do we do now? We can't reach them >> Raiden said and Raxima gave him a slap in the head for talking loudly. << What do you think Alcatraz? >> she then said, turning to him. He looked closely the fight to see what they could do. After a moment he realized that the formation of theirs was too tight and with absolutely no mistakes in it! << There is only one way to get past them: passing through them >> he said and Raxima shook her head in disappointment. << Guess i am gonna die young! >> she said and raised her gun with a blood thirsty look on her face << What are we waiting for then? >>. Alcatraz released a wordless scream, making some of the Stygians turn around and get shot in the face. << EAT LED YOU F--- >> Vaila shouted but gunfire covered her voice. They were mowing the Stygians down and along with the now renewed human firepower they were going down twice as fast.
Although their "surprise attack" worked it barely thinned the numbers of the Stygian formation and the only advantage that it gave them was passage through it and nothing else: it was a waste of bullets. When they made it through the confused crowd of Stygian soldiers they quickly stopped firing and jumped right in the human lines that closed back immediately after they had entered. << You are damn crazy soldier!!! >> The man that had opened the barricade for them said. << Likewise >> Alcatraz replied and a small smile appeared on the muddy face of the man, << Are you the reinforcements? >> He then asked. << We came from outside earth and we got bad news for you: every colony has fallen and the rest of earth is going down this instant, there are no reinforcements >> Raxima said and shock appeared on the man's face, fear and then terror followed it along with a burst of tears that he couldn't drown under that military dog tag.
<< Who is in command? >> Alcatraz asked but the man couldn't respond. He looked at the soldiers dog tag: Petty Officer "Laurence Elfman". << Officer Elfman you need to tell your superior that we won't be staying, we are heading outside town towards the last military ship remaining the "Tranquility" >> Raxima said and Elfman looked at them, << Can we come with you? >> he asked. They looked at each other with uncertainty. << We are only forty men, an S class ship like this can carry a thousand! >> he said, finally convincing Raxima to take the battalion with them. << Go tell your men to execute organized retreat. Also tell them not to dissolve the barricade >> She said and Elfman nodded affirmatively.
They finished faster than Alcatraz had expected, << They want to leave as much as you do >> Raxima said when he spoke to her about the eagerness of the men. << Alright everyone, we will move towards the base of the mountain right outside the city. There a ship will be waiting for us >> He said and the men shouted loudly with one voice: << HUHA!! >>. << I missed the army >> he said when they finally hit the road.
They marched through the highway and the underground to reach the outer neighborhoods of the city. Throughout the whole duration of that walk they faced many Stygian patrols which put up a damn serious fight and wounded many of the men. Vaila had insisted on taking their armor and weapons for analyzing while on the "Tranquility" in order to understand them better. She was the only mechanic among them so they all listened to her without objections and obeyed her while she was instructing them to load the weapons on some trucks they had found. << You think we might be able to use them? >> Alcatraz asked her when they had finished with it and they had hidden themselves in some alleys to rest. << I don't know, but if they do.... it could turn out to be helpful >> she said and hopped on the driver's seat. << We're leaving! >> She shouted and they started packing up again. They were well trained and very well trained.
Raxima did some research on them and found out they were special forces the had been deployed right after the first contact. They said that their base was the Royal Marines Hamworthy Camp and when they asked about it they just said that it was disbanded and was "now" a museum. << It remains the place we spent five years of our lives >> a soldier with the code name :"Rocky" said.
During the rest of the march through the city they realized the true extent of the Stygian power and brutality: they had tortured alive innocent civilians in their own houses and burned everything to a crisp. There were too few building still standing and they either were temporary stations or raid parties that had taken their time pillaging, either way they had to fight more than five. Alcatraz had calculated that with that pace they wouldn't have enough men to even make to the ship. Every time they met a squad of five Stygians they lost at least one and three were injured. << We are losing men too fast >> He said and Raxima turned around, << I know, but we can't go faster >> she said.
They had camped again, now at a well hidden park that hadn't yet been raided by any Stygian. Alcatraz took time to walk around the men and inspect the situation even better: he was right, things were bad. Thirteen were dead and ten had died during the conflicts. This left them with SEVENTEEN men only!! << This can't be! We have more injured than combat ready! >> He said to himself.
He found Raiden in a corner, puking from the smell of the smell of rotten guts and the intense smell of blood. << I know how you feel man, but right now we can't be weak. We are some of the last men standing: If you can't do it for you, then do it for them! >> he said and raised Raiden to his feet and showed him the struggling men. The boy looked at him in the eyes and it was then Alcatraz realized that Raiden was the only one acceptable to such response: He was only eighteen years old! He was just a kid that was thrown into a massacre. << When you have calmed down come meet me down, then we will leave >> He said and left the boy alone to think his words. Alcatraz himself had a lot to think about.
He found a little dark corner and sat down to think. He closed his eyes and listened to his surroundings. Things were even worse than before: the injured were slowly dying and those whi weren't had found a place to take pity on themselves. Alcatraz couldn't blame them, this whole story was crazy. Without being able to hold himself he bursted into tears and looked up to the sky, just to watch more ships invade the home planet of all humanity. Their time had just become shorter, but he couldn't force the wounded to either move or fight.
<< Marko and Illaori died just now and more are bound ti follow. What do we do? >> Raxima said with a pityful look on her face. Alcatraz didn't answer, he only kept looking at the sky.