Chapter 8: War Forever?
Dark Invasion (Andrew)
I don't know the time anymore. I don't know where I am. Hakari and I are lost amongst the sounds of battle and destruction. Orange Star has been stepping up its attacks lately, driving deeper into Red Star. We may attack the cities soon. I don't want to see anymore people die. Wasn't the Great War enough to sate the world's bloodlust forever? What's happening at the top? Who's in charge? I need to know the truth here…
March 3, 2253; 0550 hours
OS Border City HQ; 80W, 50S
I sat in the shadows as Red Star troops ran around in their search for us. Red Star had infiltrated the HQ thirty minutes earlier. Fifty men took over 500 square feet of Orange Star land 1500 miles from the front lines. Absurd, impossible, and totally not happening.
Hakari shivered behind me, as David and Colonel Roberts tended to Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Bakers' leg wound. Nothing serious, but the LC would need some time to rest. I held a Class 3 Magnum, a powerful handgun issued to high-ranking officers. Like COs of the army. Hakari's lay on the ground in front of her, bullets and clips scattered everywhere after futile attempts to reload. Eight shots per clip, five clips per gun. I peeked around the corner and saw four RS men chat idly. In the distance, explosions and bright lights indicated the HQ was being attacked.
"Shit. Now what do we do? Red Star is gonna take out our main source of morale!" I groaned and sat back down. Colonel Roberts peeked out of the alley. He ducked back and whispered in my ear.
"Aim for the barrels near the food cart. One shot only. They'll get close or investigate the barrels, either way, shoot them. I'll cover you." He held up his handgun. "Now!"
I turned and shot the barrels, sending them toppling over. The soldiers turned towards the barrels with their guns ready. It took two seconds to kill all four.
"Easy. Get their guns, and let's move!" Roberts ducked behind the empty food carts and crates, swiping the fallen soldiers' guns, then led the five of us. Hakari and David helped the LC.
Now the HQ gates appeared in the dim sunlight. Sunrise was coming, and the battle still raged. Blood, glass, bullets, shrapnel, bodies lay everywhere. I had never seen so many faces that looked the same, but belonged to different nations. All their faces were obscured by the shadows. I never saw the pure horror on their faces.
Ten RS commandos were firing upon a pile of crates and a wall. They never knew what hit them. Roberts and I checked the bodies and went over to the crates and wall. Behind them lay four OS soldiers, and one medic. The medic was leaning over a body. He sadly shook his head and turned towards us, blood covering his face and fatigues, his eyes shining in the dark.
"General Ford…is dead."
March 3, 2253; 1100 hours
OS Capital, Liberty; 50W, 45S
General Gregory Ford was laid to rest today. His body descended into the ground and was covered by cold dirt. Orange Star had lost its finest commander. In retaliation, President Nell issued an order to the OS Army, giving the new commander, General Scott Marvins, full authority to expand the war to the west. This meant that the cities on the west coast of Red Star would face heavy casualties. General Ford deliberately left the western front open to avoid too many civilian losses. Now the war would never end…
Conspiracy (Hakari)
March 4, 2253; 600 hours
OS Capital, Liberty; 50W, 45S
Colonel Roberts and Andrew stood facing me behind the hangar. They had chased me this far, and wouldn't let me go. The truth that had to be told was too much. This is impossible. I want to scream, but I can't.
"Hakari, you have to believe us! I know it's outrageous, but Orange Star is no longer safe! We have to get out of here!" Andrew's face told me that the truth was difficult for him to embrace as well. "I don't know what to think but to leave now!"
"You've got no choice. These documents tell everything. That book, along with your dossiers from Ford, proves that this war is nothing but a hoax to create eternal conflict. It will devour this world sooner or later." Roberts' was serious. His aged face lined with anger and the truth, he spoke words that came from his heart. "If you cannot believe us, then we have no choice."
He pulled out his Class 3 and aimed it at my head. Andrew stood by, his gun ready as well.
"This involves the whole world! Someone wants eternal war. COs and people who have the ability to see the shadows are going to be exterminated! Hakari!" Roberts' pleading eyes were covered by the barrel of his gun. "I don't want to hurt you."
"What can I believe? All that you've told me? This doesn't—!"
"There they are! Kill them!" An Orange Star soldier pulled out his rifle, but Roberts ended his life before he could even shoulder it and aim.
"Shit. Hakari, get in your plane and go! Andrew, get in the back! One is enough! Just get to Haven, on the Seraph's Crossing! Go!" He pulled the dead soldier's rifle from his body and began to fire upon the advancing troops. David pulled us into the hangar and shoved us into my fighter jet.
"Get going! We'll hold—!" He slumped over, blood spewing from his back, and his body slid down the side of the nose. I pushed the throttle all the way, letting the angelic wings of the plane lift us to safety.
Conspiracy (Roberts)
My body felt tired. There were too many for me to stop. The white angel soared into the sky, and I surrendered. I had done all I could. I just wanted to rest…My fingers slid from the grenade, and the pin fell to the ground.
Conspiracy (Isaki Drake)
"President Nell contacted me about the traitors. I cannot send out any of my ships to find them, General Marvins. Send out someone else." I turned off the screen, reducing the distraught leader's face to a mere white blink. Roberts was right…
"All ships, prepare to leave port! Titan, Gryphon, Dragon, Hydra, Goblin, follow the Phoenix! We are leaving port!"
"Uh, are you sure we're allowed to…" The young officer beside me was silenced by the voices from the radio.
"We're with you, Admiral Drake!" The captain of the Titan chipped in, as the mighty battleship began to move into the open seas, followed by the Gryphon and Dragon. The Goblin was now ahead of them, but the Hydra was still stuck in port.
"This is the Hydra; we are under heavy ground fire! We're gonna dive now!" The submarine dived below the surface just before a tank shell exploded on the water's surface.
"Admiral, Orange Star planes behind us! We have no carrier jets!"
"Hydra, you get ready to surface in ten seconds! Everyone else, hang on! It's time they sampled a little natural disaster! Tsunami!"
Gigantic waves leapt from the sea and smashed the port and the airplanes. Hydra surfaced and began to fall into formation.
"Admiral Isaki, we will protect you with our lives." Cheers resonated from the crews of the ships. I was expecting to be alone in my quest for the truth. Now I had people I could trust to help me.
"Everyone…we are no longer citizens of any country in this world. The world is no longer safe for us. There is a force out there who wants to keep us from knowing the truth about this war and the Great War." I spoke to all the ships as we sailed south. "If you do not believe that I am right; that I am not trying to lead you astray; that I am the wrong hands in which to place your life, please, leave now. I do not wish for any more death than is necessary."
No one moved, and we sailed on. White paint would now decorate the sides of the ships, and angel wings will shine brightly to all who sighted us. Roberts was such a myth freak. But then again, the Seraphims were a group of angels said to bring truth and justice to the world.
Conspiracy (?)
"I'm well aware of the situation, my Lord." President Nell's face on the telescreen showed me that she was afraid. Afraid that a simple construct such as her could not comprehend the master plan I had created.
"Not to worry, Blue Moon will handle our little seraph. You should continue on with your war. Continue to blind the people with the excitement and energy that emanate from it. We are closer than we ever were, even 50 years ago." I smiled and turned off the screen. I flicked another switch to open the Blue Moon channel.
"Do you have the area covered?"
"Yes, my Lord." A fat man with a beard stared at me with cold eyes. "The AA emplacements are sure to see them and clip their little angel wings."
"Good. You may kill the man, but keep the female untouched. She is necessary to uncovering the ancient secrets."
"Yes, my Lord." The fat one bowed and his screen went black.
"Roberts…Roberts, Roberts. Did you really think that you could stop me?"
"You piece of—!" Roberts was held down by some of my strongest soldiers. He showed signs of severe beatings, and bled from several bullet wounds.
"I thought you would be more…thankful. I gave you your horrible life, and I can take it away." I sneered and kicked him in the stomach. "Kill him and get another ready. Our plan cannot fail this time."