2/26/2017: This chapter has been edited to be better then before

Hopefully, I did a good job.

"Wakey Wakey!"

The voice's words failed to wake me from my sleep, my pointed ears having previously been shut after a long night. The sound made some headway though, as my ears shot up to scan for threats.

"Hey! Your oversleeping you know!"

Those words finally managed to wake me, my eyes slowly opening to the world, the sun's bright rays pouring into the room. The light was too much for my tired eyes as I turned around to face the wall, trying to gain the strength to get up from the warm confines of my bed.

"What do you call a protectorate apprentice that had too much last night?"

My sleep deprived mind failed to recognize the female voice as I listened to its words.

"LAAAAAAAAAATE!"

The sudden realization and sheer volume of the accusation made me shoot up from my bed, and slam my head into the roof of my bunk, leaving a dent in it. I fell back down to my bed with as I cradled my aching skull, pain leaving me dazed

I then heard the same voice let out a giggle at my self induced injury. I let out a groan of annoyance as I realized who I had to blame for this.

"I don't appreciate the wake up call, Avian."

It, or she as it preferred, giggled again. Before a blue hologram of a female avian appeared before me, lacking clothes and any sexual organs. On her face was the shit eating grin she always had after a prank.

"Oh c'mon on! It just too funny to pass up!" She said, her voice projected by the room's intercom.

I sighed as I got out of my bunk and onto my feet, clad in only my boxers

"Besides, if you didn't wake up soon, you actually will be late."

I looked over at the digital clock, and confirmed that I had about twenty minutes until the ceremony started. More than enough time to get ready. Apparently my roommates thought otherwise, as all the other bunks in the room were also empty.

"You could've just woken me up with everyone else." I grumbled as I passed Avian's hologram, heading towards the bathroom to freshen up.

"You had a lot last night, figured you could use the extra sleep." She said as I closed the bathroom door.

I couldn't help but smile at the response, despite her antics, she cared, and I always appreciate it.

A few minutes later I emerged from the bathroom with clean teeth and freshly combed fur. I made my way over to the lockers.

Reaching mine, I opened it to find my clothes and the uniform of the protectorate hanging inside. I got the pants on with little trouble, while the armored vest slipped over my body easily. The bright blue vest adorned with the symbol of the Terran Protectorate.

Grabbing everything else I owned from the locker, I closed the locker for the last time. Then moving in front of the full body mirror one of the roommates had installed. As a fox, I barely took up half of the mirror.

I took in my reflection, from my well kept crimson fur and tan underbelly, to my blue eyes. My bushy tail as clean as can be and claws freshly sharpened. While my black denim pants and dress shirt was surrounded by a protectorate uniform. An adult fox in a organization that enforced justice across the galaxy.

Mom would've been proud.

I looked around the dorm, to the place I had lived while I trained, studied, and learned to get where I am today.

This was the last time I would ever see it.

It was hard not to get attached to the place after so long. But it had to be left behind. I had a long life ahead of me. One in the Terran Protectorate.

So I said my silent goodbyes and walked out the door and into the main lobby, where all the other dorms of the building connected. The lobby had only had a single soul in it, a male human in some pajamas, sipping coffee near a window.

Taking notice of me, the human looked over and called out; "Bit of a late start, ay John?"

"I could say the same thing to you, Johnny." I shot back.

Jonathan, or Johnny, as he was often called, chuckled before responding. "You know me, I'm waiting until I actually need to be there."

"One wonders how you became valedictorian."

"Cause I'm a fuckin beast!." He jokingly said, while a hint of a smile arose on my muzzle at his words.

That's Johnny for you. He lives his life about as lazily as he can, but when it counts, he goes the extra mile and then some.

Looking at the time, I saw there was fifteen minutes until the graduation ceremony started.

"So, see you at the ceremony in fifteen?"

"Yup, see ya John."

"See ya."

Leaving Johnny behind to finish his coffee, I exited the lobby and found my way towards the skybridge that connected this building to the protectorate's HQ. As I came to the exit, I saw an female avian in a protectorate uniform fiddling around with a vending machine.

"Darn it." She mutterered.

"Having trouble?" I asked as I approached.

The avian turned around to look at me for a moment before she recognized me.

"Oh, hey John..." She greeted. "...And yeah, the vending machine just swallowed my pixels."

"Sucks."

"Yeah, A nice cold can of Oculemonade, just beyond my reach." She said, sighing as she did.

"First the coffee machine breaks, now this. Can this day get any worse?" She continued, her words causing me to frown. It was always a bad omen when the coffee machine breaks.

"I don't think so, only so much can happen in one day before fate gets tired of torturing you." I reassured, pushing my superstitious thoughts away.

The avian chuckled. "Yeah? Well lets hope it happens soon, could use some good news." She said, turning to me as she did.

"Speaking of, congratulations on graduating. You deserve it." She continued. "If you get assigned to some distant world, don't forget you'll always have friends here on Earth!"

She was one of the support staff for the Protectorate, doing all the things that protectors wouldn't do, like balancing the books and maintaining equipment. So she and others never traveled far from Earth.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." I said, before looking at the clock mounted on the wall. Ten minutes till I was late.

"Sorry to cut this short, but I need to get going." I said, making the avian check the time as well.

"It's fine, bye John." She said, understanding that I couldn't be late for this.

"See ya around." I responded as I walked out of the door and onto the skybridge. The structure that connected the Protectorate buildings together. From here, I got a view that never got old.

The view of the Manhattan skyline was a cluster of activity, from various ships flying to their destinations to the mass of cars on the ground. All around beautiful skyscrapers that had countless decorative plants on their sides, giving them a unique look that was pleasing to the eye.

Meanwhile, the sun was shining bright in the sky, and only a few clouds drifted about. The mid spring weather being just cool enough to keep everyone safe from the unrelenting heat of the sun. All while a gentle breeze flowed through my fur.

Perfect weather for such a important day.

The skybridge had its windowed walls retracted at the moment, allowing those traveling on them to enjoy said weather. Metal supports keeping the roof from caving in under the weight of soil and grass on the roof.

Walking forward, I eventually came to an area where the walls and ceiling ended, where there was nothing but the pathway before me. On a platform in the center, was the Tree of The Protectorate.

This tree had stood since the founding of the Terran Protectorate. Its large size and old age meant to symbolize the strength and dignity of of the Protectorate. Its roots extended from the platform here all the way back down to the ground, the tree growing as the Protectorate grew after its founding.

The tree itself was beautiful as well, pink petals growing on the branches fell to the ground in the gentle breeze while chimes played their songs from their hanging places. Meanwhile an array of bushes and flowers were planted around it, completing a beautiful garden that many could be captivated by.

"Weary. Every day, more petals to sweep." Said a robotic voice, interrupting my thoughts.

Turning to the source, I saw one of the janitors sweeping the pink petals off the platform, their forms slowly drifting down to Earth. The janitor was clearly a Glitch, from his robotic voice to his statement of mood before he spoke… And the fact that he had metal skin.

"Frustrated. They have me sweeping the bridge every hour like I'm a machine or something." He said, his voice sounding just masculine enough through the robotic filter to identify as male.

"Hang in there, just two days to retirement!" I called out.

The glitch looked over to me. "Eager. Yes… It can't come fast enough."

And it will be a good retirement, Protectorate pays everyone, including janitors, very well.

I moved on from the tree and it's tiring janitor towards the end of the skybridge. Where a open door was waiting along with one of the countless instructors from training. A human male that had been in charge of weapon training.

"Cutting it close Parker, you better get inside before the ceremony starts." He said when he noticed me. I only nodded as I passed him and entered the building.

Inside was a small crowd of beings in the same uniform I had, all tailored to their size and shape. On the wall were paintings of all the grand protectors that had ever served in history. There were twenty five paintings of the past members, while another five were those who were serving today.

Grand protectors are the highest rank anyone can ever achieve in the Protectorate, and there can only be five at any given time. Being one meant you were part of a council of five that commanded the entirety of the Protectorate, its resources, and its manpower. To say that the five in the council at the moment had a lot of power was putting it lightly.

Moving on, I passed through the crowd of twenty as I tried to make my way to the front of the group. Picking up on various conversations as I did.

"Nervous. Do my bolts look big in this?" One glitch asked a human.

"I came here early to make sure I didn't miss the ceremony." Mentioned one Hylotl, before continuing. "I've been waiting here for hours."

"Not many Florans become Protectorssss, Floran is proud to be chosen." One Floran proclaimed, slipping into her accent as she did. "Floran regretss drinking five Oculemonadess for breakfast… Floran hopess there will be time for a bathroom break."

After making my way to the front, I was confronted by the sight of Johnny standing next to some stairs. His face carrying a very punchable grin. He was also in his uniform and had managed to erase any indicator that he had wasted time in the lobby.

Sighing, I didn't question how he managed to get here before me. He has a strange habit of just appearing wherever he's needed at the last minute. Didn't stop me from being annoyed.

"Ay, John! Where you been? We've all been waiting for you." He called out, as if he wasn't just as close to late as I was.

"Taking in the sights one last time, you?" I responded, letting some of my annoyance slip into my voice.

"Took a shortcut here." He said, his grin only growing wider before he continued. "Just in time too, ceremony about to start."

Confirming his words was the bell that sounded from the building's intercom, alerting everyone that it was finally time for the ceremony. I gave Johnny a glare which he only chuckled at as we and our fellow graduates ascended the stairs towards the auditorium.

When we all reached the room where the ceremony was held, we all lined up just behind the doorway, with me at the front and Johnny behind me. While normally he would be at the front as valedictorian, my size required a specially proportioned matter manipulator, so I would go first to prevent something getting mixed up and getting one that was too big to use.

From my position at the front, I could see into the massive auditorium. In the front near the stage were the friends and family of my fellow graduates, while in the back were all the other protectors in the galaxy, this special day having brought them all here. Hanging on the walls were the flags of all the races in the galaxy, with banners carrying the symbol of the Terran Protectorate tieing them all together.

Suddenly, the lights in the room dimmed, as a middle aged human women walked up to a podium on stage and a spotlight shined on her. We knew her as grand protector Leda Portia. Clearing her throat and checking her mic, she determined that she was ready.

"My fellow protectors." She began. "Today we come together to watch the protectorate grow."

This was it.

"For over five hundred years we have stood proud here on Earth, drawing together races of all kinds in the name of peace."

This is what I have been working towards.

"Our task: To protect our fellow beings: to support, house, and educate those that seek out aid, and to foster accord between those that aspire to it."

I wish mom was here to see it.

"Today, in the name of peace, we welcome our newest compatriots, and present them each with our greatest tool…" She said, raising her hand.

"The Matter Manipulator."

The same moment she said that, the building shook. Confusing me and everyone else. This building was built to last, even a little shaking was cause for concern. I even heard metal fatigue in the roof above me.

Apparently Leda was also very confused.

"What was that?" She asked.

As sudden as the shaking had been, two massive forms burst out of the audience in the back. Throwing most of the protectors around the room. Before anyone could even react, more forms burst out of the ceiling, smashing their way through the reinforced metal like it was paper.

Before I could even react, I felt a pair of hands push me from behind. Sending me forward and onto the floor, just as I heard a crash from where I just was. Looking back, I saw the ceiling had collapsed, and debris blocked the doorway. Had someone not pushed me, I would have been crushed!

"You! Graduate!"

I no time to think about my near death as I turned towards Leda, who was gripped by a massive one that had appeared from under the podium.

"Take the manipulator and run! Get to safety!"

She then threw the matter manipulator to me, catching it as she was pulled into the floor.

As the civilians in the audience tried frantically to push each other out the exits. I just stood there. Stunned by the suddenness of everything.

"RUN! Try to get to the landing pads!" Avian called out, her voice echoing through the room.

Her voice breaking me out of my stupor, I put the manipulator in my vest holster, and ran towards the other stage exit. Leaving the screams of civilians behind. Making my way through the hall, it has the same decorations as the one I took to get in, but everything was torn and damaged like a hurricane had passed through.

I continued till I reached cave in, the metal of the ceiling having faltered under the assault and allowed soil and grass from the roof to block my way.

Avian spoke up again. "Dang, ceiling broke, good thing you have the manipulator now!"

I had to agree as I pulled out the device and pointed it towards the pile of dirt and pulled the trigger. A beam shot out as the matter visually warped under the device's effects until it shot out into the manipulator in a stream of dirt and grass,

After a minute of use, the path was clear. Putting the manipulator in my vest pocket once more, I continued on towards the landing pads.

Eventually I came to an closed blast door. Running up, I started inputting an emergency code into a nearby keypad to open it.

"Stop! The room ahead is flooded, use the roof access." Avian called out, halting my attempt to open the door.

Moving towards the roof access, blocked by a simple slide door. I inputted the same code into the keypad to open it, allowing me access to a ladder out onto the roof.

After a short climb, I stood up and looked around.

Then felt my jaw drop.

Massive forms that I finally identified as tentacles were wrapping themselves around the buildings. They had to be big enough to be buildings on their own!

"What is even going on?! Everything was peaceful just a few minutes ago!"

Exactly what I was thinking. How did things change so quickly?

Before I could move on, I noticed a body lying next to me, a human male with a protectorate uniform. Crouching down to check his pulse, I confirmed what I already knew. The deceased protector had a haunting face, his eyes and mouth wide open in a permanent scream from his final moments. Taking a moment, I closed the man's eyes and mouth to give him rest. While it was a sign of respect to do so, it was certainly not a sign of respect to loot his corpse.

I had no idea what to expect on my way to the hanger area, but I was not going without a weapon. After just under a minute of searching, I had found this guy was packing a standard issue pistol, and assault rifle with a grenade launcher attachment, along with enough ammo for both.

Stuffing everything I could into the various pockets of my vest, I soon found myself ready to take on most threats I could run into on my way to the hanger. Hopefully I can avoid it though, because these weapons were human sized, making them unwieldy for a fox like me to use. It was better than nothing though.

Now feeling ever so slightly safer, I continued on towards the hanger. As I did, the sound of a warzone started to spring up from the city as whatever armed forces that could be mobilized tried to fight those things.

I wasn't confident in their success, these things looked like something out of a horror movie.

After crawling through a vent, I got back inside the building, just behind the flooded room, and continued on.

I eventually came out onto another skybridge with only some light damage. However this was formerly a roofed one, which meant that a large pile of dirt and grass blocked me from crossing. Nothing my manipulator can't handle, but every second I spent digging my way to the landing pads was another second I could get killed by whatever those things were.

As I was digging, my ears picked up a siren sounding off all around the city. The siren for a standard invasion, but this was anything but standard. The siren added to the growing sounds of war in the city, and I even thought I heard the screams of fighter engines in the distance.

After I finished clearing the way, I moved forward into the next building. Here was where all the ships docked, so there was a lot of cargo laying around, all abandoned in the wake of this disaster. I felt a bit of relief at my arrival, if there was ever going to be a way off world, this was it.

I'm almost there.

Avian chimed in. "Good news! There is a deep scout ship docked up top. It's about to take off but they are willing to wait for us."

"Perfect, get yourself uploaded to the ship. I want to launch as soon I as get on board." I responded, giving a sigh of relief.

"Will do!"

Looking around the room, I saw that I was twenty floors below the room access. And since it probably is not a good idea to use the elevator, I would have to use the stairs.

I grimaced as I looked at the stairwell that led to my salvation, each step almost half my height. Ensuring that this would feel more like climbing a mountain then running up a hill. I groaned as I began my climb up.

Where's a grappling hook when you need it?

Eventually, I reached the top. Pushing the door open, I stumbled out onto the roof, out of breath and nearly collapsing.

"Hold your fire! He's protectorate!"

I looked up and saw a group of thirty USH soldiers lowering their weapons. Their body armour currently set to urban camouflage, while their helmets remained unsealed, with only the glass visor attached to provide the Heads Up Display for their equipment and ammo.

One of the soldiers moved from his cover and walked up to me, his height advantage becoming quite apparent as he did. From my observation, I also noticed his rank insignia, which identified him as a Sergeant Major.

"You John?"

Looking up at the towering human, I nodded.

"Your AI told us to wait for you. So get your ass on board. We're leaving."

I sighed in relief. "Don't need to tell me twice."

The human called out to everyone else. "Alright everyone. Pack your shit."

I and the rest of the humans made our way to the ship, whose ramp was down for us. The ship itself was fairly small, allowing it to sit on top of the building instead of docking on the side. Painted on the ship's hull was the flag of the USH, red and white stripes interrupted in the top left by the earth, painted white to contrast nicely with the dark blue that surrounded it.

Before we could get on however, one of the many tentacles of this disaster decided to join the party. Its massive form bringing itself up and wrapping around the ship, the titanium hull groaning at the pressure the creature was putting it through.

Before we could even react, the suckers started spitting out its own creatures. All of which would not look out of place in someone's nightmare. Many of the things that spawned looked to be nothing but an eye with insect wings attached, flying much like an insect would. Another variant was hidden inside a clam shell with a small red slab of meat poking out the back, it was stuck hoping towards us on the ground. While the most impossible creature levitated in mid air, that one had an eye sticking out of a shell with some blue tentacles waving around below it.

While they were certainly horrifying, none of these creatures seemed threatening. That assumption was proven false when one of the levitators fired a red laser out of its eye, and hitting one of the soldiers. The beam melted straight through his armour, traveling across his torso as the man yelled out in surprise and pain, falling to the ground after it had ended.

Seeing the threat, the sergeant yelled for everyone to take cover as we all dove for something sturdy. I ended up behind some portable cover someone had placed, along with the medic of this group.

"Return fire!" The sergeant yelled from his own cover. Not that he needed to give the order, as the soldiers popped up from their cover to fire at the horrors.

I did the same as I got up from my crouched position behind the barrier and brought my rifle up to fire. The human sized weapon was unwieldy for a fox like me to use, but it would have to do as I brought the but of the gun to my shoulder. Taking aim at one of the crimes against nature, I pulled the trigger, letting loose a three round burst of fire as the weapon recoiled into my shoulder. The bullets hit their mark as the flyer was turned into a red mist, only a few pieces remaining to fall to the ground.

Suddenly, agonizing screams of pain managed to break through the sounds of battle, along with cries for help.

Looking to the source, I saw the same soldier who got hit by the laser was lying where he fell, squirming in place as the melted armour burned his skin. Turning to the medic, I patted his shoulder to get his attention. He looked over at me as I pointed to the wounded man.

"Cover me." I said to him.

He nodded in response, as he got from his position to fire at the creatures, while I sprinted across the roof towards the wounded man's position. When reached him, I grabbed the guy by the shoulders and began dragging him towards the medic's position. A few of the beasts got close, but the medic's fire managed to kill them before they could do any harm. As I got him safely behind cover, the medic stopped firing and started removing the soldier's armor to render first aid, while I took over the medic's job of firing on the horror movie rejects.

"Focus fire on the big one!" The sergeant suddenly yelled, his voice just barely managing to be heard over the firefight.

With those new orders, some of the soldiers began firing on the said big one holding our ride out of here. The bullets tearing through flesh and muscle while missed shots impacted the ship's armour plating. One soldier even pulled a grenade launcher from its spot on his back, taking aim and firing a salvo with mechanical puffs.

The grenades impacted the creature with explosions as the orange flames spread out from their epicenters. After the flame and smoke cleared, chunks of missing flesh and hundreds of bullet holes allowed dark red blood to gush from within. Despite all of this, the tentacle hadn't even flinched from our assault, and gave no indication that it would let go.

As if to spite our attempts to bring it down, far more horrors began pouring from its remaining suckers, forcing us to put more focus on bringing them down instead of the one that spawned them.

As the firefight went on, I saw the other creatures prove their lethality. The flyers would ram into the soldiers, then pull away with a small chunk of their armour attached to them. While the hoppers would use their momentum to smash into the limbs of the men, biting down and tearing off limbs in the process.

The medic next to me would be forced to move from our spot to each soldier, trying in vain to save their lives as they cried in pain. All while we failed to kill the tentacle holding our only way out of here.

I was still behind the cover, ejecting a empty magazine and slamming a new one in when I heard a new siren take over the other one. This one having a far darker meaning.

"The city's Dark Energy Reactor is going critical!" Avian confirmed, sounding panicked over the roof's speaker system. "It's a wildcat destabilization! We have about five minutes until it blows!" She continued, managing to be heard over the firefight.

I frowned at the news. Dark Energy Reactors are not meant to ever be shut down, but when the black holes that power them evaporate, they explode with about three times the force of a tactical nuke. However, some kinds of destabilization can greatly increase the destructive yield, reaching the power of some smaller strategic nukes. This city was going to be a crater soon, and I had a pretty good idea of what caused it.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I pulled the lever back. My rifle pulled a round from the fresh magazine into the chamber, now ready to fire. Before I could pop out of cover and unleash said rounds upon the horrors, Avian had an update.

"There's a Transport VTOL on a crash course with the roof, stay clear of the highlighted area!" She called out, as a hologram appeared on the roof, detailing the ship's landing site. It also looked like it was going to be sliding, as the danger zone extended all the way to the end of the roof.

Looking back at the remaining soldiers that were up here with me, I saw the sergeant duck into cover, his finger pressed up against the side of his helmet. Getting some orders from the helmet comms that came standard issue in the military.

"Alright everyone!" He called out, getting everyone to keep an ear open while we fought. "Evac order April has been issued, so we need to get the hell out of here."

"John." He called out, pointing to me as he did. "When that VTOL crashes, I want you to search it for any ordinance. Everyone one else, I want you giving him covering fire!" He ordered.

While he had no authority over me, I gave a 'roger that' to signal my agreement with his plan.. The other soldiers gave their own 'yessir's and 'affirmative's as I kept myself in cover, waiting for the moment to sprint away.

Not a moment later, the VTOL Avian warned about crashed into the roof, crushing any creatures in the way and sliding towards the edge. One of its engines was on fire while the other tried desperately to keep it airborne. Said engine failed as it shut down and settled right at the edge of the roof, the fire continuing unabated.

"Here's our chance!" The sergeant yelled. "Go go go!"

Needing no order, I jumped out of cover as I ran towards the downed ship, while the soldiers kept any creatures from even getting close. Reaching the VTOL, I opened the side door to find a welcome sight in front of me.

Christmas has come early, and it gave me a minigun!

An old twenty-first century weapon, but still faithful to this day.

Getting behind the multi barreled powerhouse of a weapon, I stood in the seat for the operator. Both having been designed for human use, I was far too small to sit down and still reach the weapon with my paws.

Grabbing the handle, I tested the weapon by pressing the button to spin it up. The gun quickly spun up but did not fire, confirming that ship still had power.

Under normal circumstance that would be a bad thing, cause the ship was still on fire, but I needed this weapon. Pointing it towards my target, I made sure no one was in the kill zone before I pushed down on the main trigger.

Immediately, fire spit out of the rapid fire cannon, hitting the beast with over a hundred rounds per second. The tentacle reacted, finally giving up its grip of the ship, pointing its remaining suckers at me and the soldiers in an attempt to overrun us. The minigun quickly thwarted that plan as the hundreds of bullets tore through the suckers like a knife through butter.

The tentacle then did something completely different. It raised itself high above us all then smashed down onto the soldiers, crushing most of those who remained. It then swept itself across the roof, sending the few survivors flying down to earth. It then snaked its way to me, while I continued to pour fire into the damn thing.

Luckily, it couldn't reach me for whatever reason, and was forced to pull back. Deciding instead to just wave around, trying its hardest to avoid my bullets. It was surprisingly hard to hit for some tentacle monstrosity, as many of my rounds found themselves missing their intended target.

Eventually though, I managed to kill it, or at least damage it enough for it to retreat. As the tentacle suddenly retreated from the roof, moving away and ensuring the ship was safe. Taking my paws off the minigun's handle as the weapon fell silent, I took a breather as I waited for my ears to stop ringing.

"John!"

Avian's amplified voice echoing through the intercom startled me as I jumped in place from the sudden noise.

"Get on the ship! We need to go NOW!" She screamed, spurring me to action.

Moving from my position in the VTOL, I ran towards the ship, needing to get offworld before the reactor blew the city away. Already, I could see the thrusters on the ship warmed up, the black metal having turned red from the intense heat. No one was alive to follow me as I sprinted up the ramp and into the airlock. Said ramp retracting behind me and airlock door putting a wall of solid metal between me and the outside world.

"I already bypassed the pre flight check, we can go as soon as you get seated." Said Avian, her voice echoing through the ship's announcement system.

When the door in front of me opened, I sprinted towards the control room, disregarding anything else on the ship. Upon reaching said room, I dropped the assault rifle I had been carrying as I pulled myself up into the human sized chair. Strapping myself in, I sat in silence as I felt the ship pulling away from the building.

Soon the g-forces transferred to my back as the ship turned up to burn its thrusters out of the atmosphere. I could see from the corners of my view screen other ships doing the same thing, unlike me however, they got shot down by some unseen enemy, exploding in orange fireballs and falling back to the surface.

Fire flew off of the hull as the ship tore through the atmosphere and escape the planet's gravity. The big blue sky giving way to the black void of space, dotted with white stars. I felt the g-forces lessen as the ship pulled further and further away from Earth.

"Fuel reserves depleted." Went a automated system as the thrusters shut down.

"We still have to drift further out before it's safe to jump out of here." Avian alerted.

I could only nod, physically exhausted by what had happened. And unwilling to do anything more then watch what happened around me.

And I got quite a view, to my right, I could see a whole fleet of the US navy through the window. Leading the group were the large battleships and cruisers, flanking them were smaller ships like destroyers and frigates. While in the back of the group were carrier ships, disgorging squadrons of fighters and bombers.

Presumably, the fleet was charging towards whatever space worthy craft was capable of transporting the creatures on the surface, as I saw the cruisers fire their main gun at an unseen enemy.

I couldn't be sure though, as my ship was drifting somewhere else. And in my exhaustion, I couldn't really care right now. As my eyes grew heavy, I heard the FTL Drive spinning up in the back, indicating that I didn't have to worry.

As the drives reached full power and the ship prepared to jump, a single thought crossed my mind.

I guess Johnny was right last night.

Graduation day was a complete clusterfuck.

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