Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek, nor do I own any of the characters used in the story unless they are my creation. Paramount and CBS own all things Star Trek.

Author's note: Sorry it's been a while. Work, life, school, current events have kept me away. Hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 4 - Invasion

As the entire Alpha Quadrant descended into war, commercial ships and entities struggled to get out of the way of the approaching military armadas. The invading Romulan attack fleet disrupted commonly uncontested trade routes. Unfortunately, many civilian trade vessels were destroyed or crippled as they encountered the Romulans' superior firepower. As the fleet entered deeper into Federation space, Starfleet vessels continued to perform hit and run tactics against the attack of the encroaching vessels. Not all were successful, as the overwhelming numbers of Romulan ships continued to cripple any attempts to slow them down. Due to the immense number of vessels invading, the Romulans would have more than enough to make it to Vulcan.

Further into Federation space, Vulcan was making final preparations for the expected Romulan invasion. Since its Great Awakening in Earth's 22nd century, the planet Vulcan reduced most of its military capability due to the discovery of the Kir'Shara. It then relied heavily on the newly established Starfleet with its membership in the Federation.

On Vulcan, the deployment of the 1st Federation Army was moving along rapidly. Soldiers deployed ground defenses around the major cities, and especially Shikar, the capital. Emplacement of advanced anti-aircraft batteries was situated at strategic locations outside the cities. The Fed Army bolstered defensive capabilities along major transportation routes. Starfleet Corps of Engineers deployed portable shield generators within the cities should major power plants become disrupted. Partnering with the Vulcan ground forces, the Fed Army and Marines augmented all the major avenues of approach should the Romulans make it planetside.

Fortunately, Vulcan stood a reasonable chance of halting the Romulan invasion over the years and their strengthened ties with the Humans and the rest of the Federation. Should the orbital defense fail, the Fed Army soldiers' and Marines' added presence would continue the protection of the planet.

- The desert -

As the Romulan drop ships descended into the atmosphere, flanked by escort craft, initial resistance by Vulcan defense ships and Starfleet fighter interceptors slowed some of their approaches. Due to the immense number of enemy ships, several hundred troop drop ships made it to the ground and disgorged their legions of Romulan soldiers.

Equipped with their version of anti-phaser armor and headwear, the Romulan and Reman soldiers moved towards their objectives, hoping to take the major cities of Vulcan. Even the oppressive desert heat did nothing to deter their advance.

Moving in anti-grav armored vehicles, the Romulan commanders scanned the horizon for enemy positions. The Romulan drop ships had placed them about twenty romulan distance measurement from potentially identified life-form readings.

Leading his regiment, Sub-centurion Ristiv checked his scanner for the twentieth time, hoping to see any signs of Federation ground forces. Due to the effects of the highly ionized atmosphere of Vulcan, his scanners were having trouble identifying enemy positions. The main attack plan was to move en masse into the cities after landing and fight into the city. Knowing the expendability of their Reman soldiers, the Romulan leadership decided to 'steamroll,' as the humans would call it, over the Vulcan defenders.

He opened up his communicator, Lead scout parties, any signs of Federation soldiers?"* Romulan

As the replies came back with nothing, he opened the overhead hatch. Exposing his body to the atmosphere, he started sweating immediately as the heat attacked his unprepared body. Despite the vehicle's cooling systems, the heat still pounded on the Romulan mechanized vehicle crew members.

Using a handheld binocular lens, he brought it up to perform a visual search of the forward area looking for any indication…. "...nothing_

The last thought of SubCenturion Ristiv was never completed when the 12.7 x 99mm projectile went through his head. With the abrupt loss of his head, the subcenturion's body fell backward into the vehicle amongst his shocked crew. Others soon fell with the continued fire of rounds as their bodies became chunks of bloody green meat.

The continuous automatic fire impacted the forward elements of the subcenturion's advance regiment. Romulans and exposed Reman soldiers were ripped apart by the titanium-tipped rounds coming from the Federation defenders. Since the Romulans were unprepared for ballistic weaponry, their armor did hold up to the devastating fire of titanium-tipped projectiles. The so-called armored vehicles were ripped apart by follow on bombardment by photon artillery.

Without understanding what was happening, the attackers froze in place, looking for leadership. This confusion caused some Romulan soldiers to falter in their resolve and retreat. The higher-ranking officers, seeing this happening, shot their deserters in the back as they fled.

The Federation defenders inflicted massive amounts of death and carnage into the Romulan ranks. Due to the lack of experience with ballistic weapons, massive confusion ran rampant throughout their ranks. Not versed in Human ground tactics, they moved as huge static line formations towards the city of Shikar. They assumed that their particle weapons would suffice against any potential defenders on the ground.

Romulans, along with their Reman soldiers, moved in static lines towards Federation lines presenting themselves as easy targets. The mechanized vehicles continued to advance regardless of the number of losses suffered. From the Federation's perspective, it seemed that a million vehicles were stretched from horizon to horizon with no end in sight. Fortunately, any of the air fighters used by the Romulans were unable to establish any kind of air dominance due to the anti-air phase cannons and portable shield generators above the emplaced soldiers. Federation Starfleet fighters were quickly able to destroy most of the enemy attack aircraft. Still, they forced them to ignore most of the aerial troop dropships used by the Romulans.

As explosions ripped dirt and debris all around them and on top of the invaders, the direct hits by both the fighter craft and artillery instantly vaporized Romulan and Reman soldiers. As the explosions intensified, more and more enemy soldiers fell to the onslaught of the Federation phaser artillery.

After the first wave of Romulans was attacked, more enemy soldiers continued to advanced over, through, or around their dying or dead comrades. The mechanized vehicles plowed through the burning debris of that initial wave and continued to advance. After an initial barrage of weapons fire, the Romulans coming up from behind, somewhat protected by their fallen comrades, attempted to move to the right and try a sweeping movement in an attempt to attack from the side into the defender's ranks. Thinking they were safe from the reach of these strange ballistic weapons, they moved without much thought to cover and concealment. These troops continued to advance, stepping over the green pieces of meat that were once the bodies of their comrades.

The photon artillery impacted the ranks of the advancing Romulans combining their blood with the sand and rocks of the desert. Further, waves of Starfleet fighter craft performed close air support over any large mass of advancing enemy soldiers, vaporizing and exploding huge numbers of troops. The desert flowed green with the blood of thousands of Romulan and Reman soldiers. Chunks of bodies, here and there, littered what remained of the approaching soldiers.

Yet, more came...it seemed the Romulans had an endless supply of soldiers to throw at the Federation defenders.

- Federation lines -

Federation soldiers and Marines positioned around the city of Shikar had established fortified positions approximately 10 kilometers from the city perimeter. These soldiers became the initial defense against the Romulans as they moved within striking distance of the city. Supported by photon artillery batteries, the defenders had established a most formidable defense around this city and many others across the planet. Long understanding that the Romulans would initially strike the capital of Vulcan in hopes of quickly obtaining a land victory, the fighting was expected to heavy in this sector.

Deployed in a linear defensive line in the desert, the 1st Army constructed an almost trench network. Each platoon formed the initial lines supported by overlapping fields of fire. This basic linear defense was well suited to the open desert environment outside the city of Shikar. Platoons were supported by companies, which in turn had dedicated artillery units in each of their sectors. The main command post positioned itself just inside the city walls but close enough to the fight to maintain situational awareness of the battlefield.

As the continuous bombardment of photon shells impacted the approaching Romulans, the crew-served machine guns started to find targets of opportunity as they approached. Machine guns placed well-aimed fire along defilade avenues of fire, reducing any remaining soldiers not impacted by the aerial bombardment and photon artillery.

Private First Class Wellington continued to place well-aimed automatic fire with his advanced M-2 machine gun. A very old model of weapons, its history traced itself over three centuries back when humans fought in global world wars. In this century, the gun was constructed of modern metals, and alloys presented themselves as a formidable ground weapon to any type of enemy forces. As he continued to track any targets of opportunity, blasts of phaser fire started to come dangerously close to him and blow up bits of sand around his position. His assistant gunner, Private Sandra Ellis, tried to keep the enemy from attacking his flanks as she placed effective shots towards all advancing Romulans. Regardless of the number of rounds being placed downrange, it seemed that millions of enemy soldiers continued to advance on their position.

"Where in the hell are all these Roms coming from?" she asked as another phaser shot almost hit her from the side. Quickly moving her rifle to the enemy soldier firing from that direction, she put a quick round through its gargoyle-like head… "also, what's with these Nosferatu types? Are we in an old-time horror movie?"

Wellington replied, without looking, "...aye, lass. I don't know. I'm almost ready for a reload. These buggers just don't seem to quit."

Without responding, Ellis, getting a quick minute to move to the back of the fighting position, brought some more linked ammunition to him.

"Ok, stand-by," as he said...the final round clicked, and his weapon was through that belt. Without a word but honed by hours of repetitive training, Ellis quickly replaced the ammo and got Wellington back up and running.

"Thanks, luv…That'll keep these buggers moving about…I may need a new barrel soon...this one's getting really hot." As he started to initiate his firing again, an explosion occurred to his left. Both him and Ellis, "Oh shit, that was 1st platoon's area," looking over there and then back to his front as more Romulans advanced on their position. "Ellis! Contact front!" Not hearing anything, he yelled again, "Ellis!" He glanced over, and she had a gapping phaser hole in her chest. He looked back up, and the Romulans were getting closer as their fire became more accurate on his position. Damn it, he cursed, and he started pouring as much fire into their ranks before they overran him.

Not hearing his radio, a message came over the net, "...All positions, this is Wolf Six Actual. Enemy has breached Sector 4. Hold your positions! I repeat, hold your positions. Aerial bombardment is now danger close to all adjoining sectors."

Fuck me, thought Wellington, that includes me and what's left of Ellis. Seeing the explosions getting closer to his position, Fuck it, I'm going to take as many as I can with me. He pulled his bayonet from his sheath and stabbed the sandbag in front of him. He returned to his gun and continued to fire as long as he could as hundreds of Reman soldiers got to his position.

"This is for you, Ellis," as he continued to pour fire into the advancing enemy ranks. The phaser fire became more precise as it exploded the pieces of his fighting position around him. At the last moment, he saw a Romulan soldier putting some kind of rocket-like tube on his shoulder and aiming it at him. Oh, fuck, as he thought just before his position blew up with him and what remained of Ellis.

- Command Post - Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 1st Federation Army "Big Red One.

Captain Jenkins looked up from his tactical PADD and saw the break in lines from the 1st platoon area. He got on the comms to the battalion fire control batteries ignoring his FO (Forward Observer for artillery) officer right beside him, "Redleg control, this is Wolf Six Actual. I have a break in lines, sector 3. Request immediate fires in that area."

"Copy that Wolf Six Actual. Fires are commencing." the response came back.

Looking up from his fortified bunker/defensive position, Jenkins tried to look over the horizon in an attempt to see where the 1st platoon was or what remained of their positions. All he could see was massive explosions and a cacophony of sounds from phaser fire and the repetitive bangs of his ballistic weapons. As the photon artillery continued to pound his forward positions, all he could do was pray for the souls of his dead or dying Infantrymen.

He looked over to his FO officer, "Stead, gimme your sitrep."

Stead, without looking up, "Sir, all batteries are engaged in all sectors. Power levels for all batteries are getting dangerously low, and we can only manage another 10 to 20 minutes of effective fire. Once the power cells are depleted, it'll take another 5 minutes to get them back up."

Captain Jenkins knew all this but still wanted to hear it, "Understood." He looked over to his Starfleet LNO (Liaison Naval Officer), "Commander Roland, what's the fighter status look like?"

Roland, looking out of place in his combat armor and slung phaser rifle, replied, "Sir, fighters are making good work of the ground forces, but the volume of enemy soldiers is making it difficult to halt their advance. All fighters are operational, and thankfully none have been shot down, but crews are getting tired and need rest. Even with Augmented stamina, these fighter pilots are getting tired."

"Can the fighters cover for the artillery power cell exchange based on what Stead said?"

"I think so, sir."

"Good, coordinate with Stead and make it happen," Jenkins ordered. "If you guys don't want to fight with your bayonets, this had better work." He looked out at the lines again, "Gentlemen, get ready. It seems we have uninvited guests." He looked up and saw approaching Reman and Romulan soldiers coming his way.

Before Jenkins could say anything else, explosions started blossoming around the command post. The company first sergeant, Sergeant Tidwell, was coordinating the defense. He was moving soldiers and his one Starfleet commander into defensive positions to return fire.

The sound of phaser fire and the return rapport of automatic fire consumed the entire command post. As Federation and one Starfleet engaged in close combat, screams of the dying and dead mixed with the grunts of exertion as each side fought to kill each other. The Augmented Humans displayed unbelievable strength during the many hand-to-hand engagements. The Romulans, who had not yet fought these Humans as they are now, were quite surprised when they saw a Human soldier literally rip the arm off one of the Remans in one instance. Once the arm was off, the soldier used that arm to pound the face of the Reman into pulverized bone. The unfortunate Romulans that fell to the Humans never saw their attackers come when they got close enough. The only advantages the Romulans had were their disruptors and numbers. They had to overwhelm them and vaporize an Augmented Human to win a fight.

Fights like the Bravo Company CP became very common along the lines between the Federation and Romulans. The fight was just beginning…

TBC