Chapter 1: A Summer Day

Lieutenant Jones walk away from the library down the high street of the town in the direction of the park. He didn't have to force his way along the street people eagerly moved out the way of an officer. Especially one that was armed, he had no need to rush but he preferred to be early at appointments. He was a young man, his features showed him to be little more that out of his teenage years he was Eighteen, he had done sixth form but had gone straight into the army. His parents couldn't afford to send him to University; by that meaning the money his parents had left him couldn't get him that far. He was an orphan but to rich parents so his Uncle who had looked after him had helped him manage his money, now he'd used what little he'd had left to buy his place into the army as an officer. He'd completed his training and was now stationed at a barracks in the city. He had been assigned to a reconnaissance platoon and would no doubt be shipped out to somewhere in the empire soon but for now he had his free time to enjoy life.

He moved down a side street in the direction of the park next to the Cathedral. It was such a pleasant day he couldn't help but smile. As he passed some children in the street they laughed as one of the saluted him. He quickly returned the salute laughing and continued on his way. He passed a TV shop on his way and the pictures portrayed the news. If he'd been bothered to stop he might have been alarmed at what he'd seen. There were reports of traces of green gas seen coming from the planet known as Mars. He's always found it funny, what and apt name for the planet considering it had only brought their planet war.

Ever since the first war of the worlds, scientists had kept a close eye on the planet and every so often green mist would apparently be seen but nothing much ever came of it. The conclusion was the Martians were merely testing some experiment or they were engaging in a civil war. Whatever the reason no cylinders landed on earth.

He reached the end of the street and crossed the road as car trundled past and he entered the park. He glanced down at his wristwatch he was over ten minutes early for his meeting. He found a bench in a spot of sun and sat down. There were some children playing football on one of the grassy areas. A family sat and enjoyed some ice creams opposite him.

He glanced down at the book, "The Divine Comedy", he had always been interested by poetry and this was regarded as a classic so he decided to get himself a copy to read.

He turned into the pages and began to read in the midday sun. He had just reached the tenth page when someone stepped into his sunlight. He glanced up. There stood a girl the same age as him and she was dressed in blouse and a short summer skirt and wore high heel shoes. Her hair was quite short for her gender and she smiled sweetly down at him.

"Miss Thawton" Jones exclaimed as he shut his book with excitement and stood up. His voice showing him to be well spoken and he could easily pass for a member of aristocracy

"Hello Ben, I've told you to call me Rose" her voice equally well spoken. She was the daughter of a factory owner in the city and her and Lieutenant Jones were close friends, they'd gone to the same school together and had known each other all their lives.

"But in public Miss Thawton I miss insist…" he replied

"Very well" she rolled her eyes still smiling. "Look at your new uniform you look so old now." She said taking a step back to look him up and down.

He smiled and looked down at himself, he couldn't believe it either he'd never been the army type before.

"To think cry baby Ben is now a Lieutenant in the army" she said shaking her head. He'd developed the nickname at school he'd not been very good at talking the usual verbal abuse that school children pass to each other.

He smiled slightly embarrassed by the dragging up of his old nickname. He placed a hand behind his head and scratched it.

"I'm Glad you approve" he replied eventually.

"Oh I do…I do indeed" she said, she leaned in and kissed him on the check. He was slightly shocked by the gesture but they had been friends for years.

"Right come on then Lieutenant Jones. We've got this day to ourselves let's enjoy it." She grabbed his free hand and pulled him away from the park towards and Ice cream vendor who had stationed himself not to far away from himself.

X

A few hours later they had settled by the small lake in the park and were sat down and were eating yet more ice cream their third helping of the afternoon.

Rose sat next to Ben and looked out at the ducks in their lake.

Ben had decided to take of his jacket and it lay next to him with the revolver sat on top. So he could keep and eye on it. Rose licked happily and the Ice cream as it melted.

"Tell me Ben…What do you think life is going to throw your way?" She asked in-between licks.

Ben looked at her and smiled, "I've no idea."

She laughed, "Come on, honour, glory, to see combat…adventure…to see the world…perhaps a wife?" she slowed down as she listed of the different possibilities. He looked at her again, "To tell the truth Miss. Thawton I hadn't really thought about it, I guess I'll do the usual…see the world…do my duty…find myself a wife and raise a family"

Rose smiled at him from behind her ice cream. "Where do I fit into this scheme of yours? If you're sent across the world to India to serve?"

Ben placed his ice cream aside. "I'll write to you." He said a little sad, the phone was something that was very expensive and very few households actually had one. Overseas communication was difficult for the average person and being in the army writing would be difficult to do.

Rose smiled, a weak one but still she smiled none the less.

"Write?" she asked weakly.

"Yes I'll write to you everyday if you'd like me to, I mean I don't even know where I'll be posted yet. I might even be here as a home guard un-"

Her leaning over and kissing him on the lips softly interrupted his rapid speech. He sank into the kiss; he couldn't deny he'd wished her to do that. It certainly made what he was trying to say irrelevant.

Eventually the long kiss was over.

"No matter where you go in the Empire Ben I'll wait for you to come home." She smiled holding onto him their ice creams now lay ruined on the floor.

"I-" he was about to talk again but he was interrupted for a second time. There was a huge bag and a crack not too far away from them. There was a sudden gush of wind and people cried out all around them. The wind was like a tidal wave of dirt and it blew over them Ben huddled over Rose and protected her from the sudden gush.

The wind went as quickly as it came.

"What in the lord's name was that?" Rose gasped from by his chest.

Ben stood up, "No idea" he replied looking around. There was a huge amount of smoke from the sudden sound.

A man ran past them away from the direction of the Cathedral. There was another bang from the other side of the city it seemed.

"You sir!" Ben shouted at the man. The man stopped and looked back at him. "What just happened?" he asked out of utter confusion.

"A cylinder just hit the Cathedral." The man shouted hurriedly and ran off in the other direction.

Ben glanced at Rose with a look of horror as there were several more cracks from all around them. The second invasion had begun.