Alon followed his gaze. Several objects were on approach, descending swiftly. He guessed they’d land in the fields out near the closer farms. Why bother to land after what they’ve done? He rushed inside, taking a hard left into the armory. Normally, they kept the door locked, but he found it wide open.
Snatching a rifle, he groped for some grenades in the drawer. They were all gone… well over a dozen. He hurried outside to the others. Krinden stood behind some temporary cover, a metal wall erected for protection. Each of them aimed their weapons down the street in the direction of the incoming vehicles.
Four of them standing alone.
“Where is everyone else?” Alon asked. “We can’t be the only ones.”
“No one else has checked in.” Krinden shrugged. “Comms are down. They’re trying to get things working inside. Lucky for us, they sent a distress call as soon as these weirdos showed up. Before they jammed everything.”
“So we’ve got some help coming,” Alon said. “That’s great!” He swallowed hard. “Why… why are we staying right here? This is the most obvious place for them to come. Shouldn’t we get to the bunker? Or even leave? Those farms… the people… we could get out there and help them.”
“This is the rally point,” Krinden replied. “It’s where anyone who is still alive will come.” He paused. “Listen. I haven’t heard an explosion in almost a minute.”
Alon hadn’t noticed, but once it was pointed out it became obvious. After softening the target, the enemy had stopped so they could send an invasion force. He couldn’t make out the vehicles themselves other than the fact they were dark blots against the sky. They landed out of sight, blocked off by the smoldering buildings that remained standing.
“Who are they, Krinden?” Hiller asked the question. Alon hadn’t recognized him. He’d been hurt somehow, some of his hair was missing, and he was covered in blood and filth. “Do you have any idea?”
“Afraid not.”
The answer scared Alon more than the invaders. Krinden had worked for the military before joining the colony as his retirement. At forty years old, he’d seen a lot of action in his time. If he didn’t know who they were facing, it meant they were about to encounter a new threat… a burgeoning faction of criminals.
Who don’t know they shouldn’t waste time with fledgling colonies! Alon felt like they needed to get moving. Those who worked outside the confines of the colonial walls had no protection; no means to defend themselves. They needed to be evacuated and brought somewhere safe. I can get them to the bunker.
Much as he wanted to go inside himself and lock the doors.
“I’m going to help,” Alon said. “I’m heading out south to bring back civilians.”
“We need you here,” Krinden replied. “We need every gun we can to defend the command center.”
“I counted eight of those things coming down. Even if they only have four guys each, we’re outnumbered dramatically. Hiding behind this temporary thing won’t do shit.” Alon shook his head. “No, if we’re going to survive this, we need to be mobile. Nimble. Even if all of us were here and available…”
“He’s right.” Krinden nodded. “Move out, guys. We’ll hit them from the sides as they enter the colony when we loop around.”
Thank God.
Alon had figured they wouldn’t listen and that he’d be on his own. They moved out, heading away from the enemy’s landing zone and into the open field behind the command center.
The planet had been deemed safe. Surveys showed there weren’t even any particularly dangerous predators living there. The wall should’ve been completed years earlier but no one had bothered. Having it open in the back allowed the farmers an easier way to get their goods into the marketplace.
And the guards liked not having to travel the entire perimeter to get to command.
A pillar of smoke rose in the distance… the farmhouse Alon had planned on visiting. He turned to the others. Krinden scowled, and he directed them to follow him, leading the crew around the buildings on the outside. They double-timed it, hustling until they had line of sight on the invaders’ landing zone.
They had set up the colony in the grasslands. Rivers provided plenty of water for the different farms but their hub sat in the middle of an open plain. The enemy ships touched down in a perimeter centered around a burnt-out home. Humanoid figures disembarked, forming a perimeter around their vessels.
They wore black armor that glistened in the sun. They carried strange weapons that ended in points, like spears. Alon wondered if they might be melee only until one pointed it at the house. A red beam struck the side, igniting the wood in an instant. A distant scream rang out over the plain… a woman charged out with her hands up.
The invaders blasted her at least half a dozen times. Alon’s face went numb as the blood rushed from his cheeks. He watched parts of her melt as she collapsed in the dirt. Had he been any closer, he imagined the details would’ve been that much more horrifying. All eyes turned to Krinden.
“Did I just see that?” Hiller asked. “What the hell was that thing? Have you guys ever encountered a weapon like that? Was it a laser?”
“Impossible,” Krinden said. “No one has that kind of technology. No one!” He took aim with his rifle. “We’re too far away out here. I’m counting… twelve of them milling about. We have a chance. We’ll have to take it. Keep them pinned down while the civilians get to safety. Even if that means running away.”
“There are more,” Alon pointed, “look over there.” On the other side of the farm, another ten of the invaders moved about, checking the area as they did. “What’re we going to do? Attacking seems fruitless. Perhaps we
