BATTLE FOR EARTH
Shockwave, Volume 1
Hammer Trollkin
Published by Shockwave Publishing Company, 2020.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
BATTLE FOR EARTH
Second edition. June 30, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Shockwave Publishing Company.
ASIN: B089587LJV
Written by Hammer Trollkin.
All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
BATTLE FOR EARTH (Shockwave, #1)
PROLOGUE. Journal One.
BEGINNINGS. | Chapter One.
INVASION. | Chapter Two.
COUNTERSTRIKE. | Chapter Three.
THE MARTIANS. | Chapter Four.
BY THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON. MOONSTRUCK. | Chapter Five.
BY THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON. THE BIG PICTURE. | Chapter Six.
BY THE DARKSIDE OF THE MOON. PUSH BACK. | Chapter Seven.
INTERLUDE. Between the Storms. Viz. Roll.
JOURNAL AID SECTION.
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS.
SHOCKWAVE TEAM EXTREME FORCE MULTIPLIERS (OUR CAPABILITIES). An early rendition.
OPERATION BUGBLAST. An AI synthesis composition project.
About the Author
To my grandchildren, who helped reignite the imagination of my youth. To my wife and children, for encouraging and tolerating an author’s frequent muse.
PROLOGUE. Journal One.
The world was in crisis even before the invasion. Humanity was polarized. Nations were crumbling, crushed by immense pressure. Pressure from within, pressure from without; civil wars and the clash of entire civilizations. Then the aliens invaded and changed everything.
As the new terror entered the world, their evil intentions brought at least one good outcome. We, the people of Earth, are united as never before. Goodness abounds, people helping people. Perhaps humanity has finally chosen the path of righteousness.
It is possible this dreadful time is the prelude to an epic war between good and evil. I think it is. If you pause for a moment, you can feel it the depth of your soul, like a breeze whispering through the trees. Growing in intensity. There can be no doubt that the force behind the invaders is evil. That is apparent from the actions of our enemy. They are ruthless, without mercy, filled with hate.
I find myself longing for a war that will not only set us free, but a war to shake the very powers of darkness throughout the heavens.
There can be no simple path forward. The force behind the invasion has overwhelming technological superiority. But we are an unusual people, practiced in the art of war. Humanity even holds a few technological advantages of our own.
One such advantage is a special forces team with the squad name, Shockwave. In destroying a DARPA laboratory, the enemy introduced an unintended consequence, a unique team with unusual capabilities. Call them what you will, gifts, abilities, capabilities. Some in the military use the term Shockwave Team Extreme Force Multipliers. Well, someone did use that term in an article at the MilitaryAtTimes site.
Join Shockwave in this call to action, to take up arms in the ancient conflict between good and evil.
We are Shockwave, an appropriate name for our team. Shockwave is what we are, more than that, it is what we must become. Our team will make a difference in the conflict. Perhaps you can too.
***
+ BEGIN TIMELINE DROP.
This is a journal. As Keeper of the Journal for Shockwave, I often come across information developed at a future date. The details can be dropped into the Journal where appropriate. In that way, the Journal is a living document.
END TIMELINE DROP. +
***
*COMMUNAL is a level 10 or higher Artificial Intelligence. They also write in the Journal from time to time. No one can stop them. Communal is still a bit of a mystery, with no certain classification. I think you will like them. I do, most of the time.
***
There is a Journal Aid Section in the back with definitions and a brief section on Shockwave capabilities.
BEGINNINGS.
Chapter One.
August 5th. Grandad invited me and some of my friends on a tour of the new science laboratory that just opened near Seattle. Journal Note: At the time I didn’t know Grandad worked with DARPA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. I just thought he was a brilliant scientist. Well, he is a brilliant scientist but the DARPA work was a secret. Almost no one knew of that. He has worked with other government agencies as well, usually within his area of expertise, Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Since last year, Grandad has been semi-retired. Now he works when he wants, still as a government contractor.
It’s not actually August 5th as I’m writing this. That’s the day we went to the lab and all this started. I’m writing this after the actual start of the invasion. We’ll get caught up soon, I promise. The government wants us to shelter in place, to stay at home. They’re dropping supplies curbside house to house, so we don’t have to go out. At least, that’s what’s happening here in my neighborhood. I hope it’s like that where you are. It’s not safe anywhere out there. Anyway, I have the time now to get this Journal going.
Hold on one minute. Where are my manners? Before we get into this, I should introduce the team.
***
INTRODUCTIONS
I’m Viz. Well, my given name is Elizabeth. They named me after Granmom, whom I loved dearly. Still do for that matter. Perhaps there is a kind of grace in her not living to see this terrible invasion. Everyone used to call me Liz. But now you may as well think of me as Viz. I’m seventeen, close to eighteen. And I can turn invisible, totally invisible across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Viz. Get it? Invisibility is my ... gift.
I am fond of all things related to science and technology, can’t get enough of it. I also like to write, at least as a hobby. We’ll see how this Journal thing turns out. My school guidance counselor has been pushing engineering. She thinks chemical engineering is a good fit. But I like the notion of journalism. Dad says engineering is the more likely path of the two occupations, to NOT end up living at home in the basement. Point taken.
So, I’ve been taking the classes that will help me with an engineering degree program. A lot of math. Still, I’m torn between journalism and engineering. My indecision is making the college situation a little
