It was an average day in City 17, new citizens were being brought in by train, and the Civil Protection teams throughout the city a bit fewer than usual incidents with the citizens.

That was, until a scanner-drone noticed something peculiar in the city's central plaza. The air started shimmering, like a mirage. Although this 'mirage' was restricted to a vague square shape. Soon enough Civil Protection teams were alerted to the phenomena and started cordoning off the plaza ordering the gawking citizens away, while the order was given for the local Overwatch garrison to be in a state of high alert.

Then, in an instance, a structure not unlike an ancient roman or greek temple materialised where the mirage was mere seconds ago. Not soon after a creature flew out of the structure, attacking the dumbstruck CP teams, moments after soldiers not unlike ancient imperial roman legionaires marched out of the structure, the only difference being, that instead of the eagle wings on their shields, they had dragon wings, gawking at the height of the Citadel, and the sophisticated Combine walls, seperating the city's blocks. They weren't the only ones, creatures that could only be called ogres and orcs, armed with gigantic clubs and hammers from fantasy novels came with them. Their amusement at the city lasted only for a moment, as one of them blew into his horn, signalling an attack.

This made the city's CP headquarters into a flurry of activity, like an anthill that was stepped on.

Attention residents, miscount detected in your block, assemble in your designated inspection positions

Attention, ground units anticitizen activity reported in Sector-C1; Code: BLOCK CAUTERIZE STABILISE

::Officer needs assistance I'm 11-99::

::Officer down, I'm 10-99, repeat I'm 10-99::

::Viscerator away::

Airwatch patrol dispatched

::Sector is not secure, repeat sector is not secure!::

The invaders caught Civil Protection completely off-guard. Their weapons, while ages more advanced than their enemies' were not enough to stem the tide, and were slain by the attackers, riot teams' shield walls were swept aside by cavalry charges, every unit which did not fall back in time, was annihilated.

After dealing with their enemies in the vicinity, they turned towards the Citadel and began their advance. The barricades in their way were smashed in by their ogres and orcs, while ballistas sent stones and bolts towards the retreating CP teams.

The situation was becoming more and more grim by the minute.

Citadel, Consul's office

The Consul was basically the head of the Transhuman Overwatch on Earth. He directed every military operation on the planet. Unlike what you'd expect he was a normal human being, just like Breen. Needless to say, it was a stressful job for an unaugmented human.

At the moment he was sitting in his chair, reading the report about the latest raid on a major rebel base. It was a resounding success, just like the majority of Overwatch Operations.

"These rebels are persistent, you have to give them that" he mused. "No matter, they will be dealt with in time, the loss of that base is sure to be a crippling blow to them."

Suddenly a call came from the large blue-screened Combine computer behind him. He quickly picked it up, albeit he was a bit annoyed that his moment of calm came to an abrupt halt because of it.

"This is the Consul, what is it?"

"Sir, this OT-55367/17, we have reports of anticitizen activity in multiple sectors, malcontents appear to be primitively armed and are avcancing towards the Citadel"

What? Is this the garrison commander pulling a prank on me? thought the Consul.

"May I remind you, commander that joking with your superior officer in this manner is ground for Offworld-assignment?!"

"Sir, contact is lost with all CP units in Sector-C1, and we are receiving requests for reinforcements from neighboring sectors as we speak."

This better be serious.

He thought as he checked the camera feeds from Sector-C1, not all cameras were operating, but the ones that did showed him images that made his blood freeze.

Blood, gore and dead CP officers and civilians everywhere he could see a crushed APC as well, some of the dead were hanged on lampposts, roman-esque soldiers and strange beasts marching along the streets, distant reports of MP-7 submachine guns, the sirens of Civil Protection APCs could be heard over the audio and...

Is that latin chanting?! This is definitely not the work of the rebels.

"Mobilize every available Overwatch unit in the city, commander! Orders are to terminate all malcontents with extreme prejudice!"

Citadel, Breen's office

The Administrator of Earth was looking out his office's window to the city below. He was deep in thought. The Union saw Earth and the human species as nothing but raw materials and slaves and soldiers to be converted to their needs, not as a member of their empire.

He had to change that, he had to prove that Humanity was a useful part of the Universal Union. He had to show the Benefactors that keeping the current status quo on Earth was not a waste of time and resources for them.

But how?

His thoughts came to a halt as he saw plumes of smoke rising from the City.

What's going on down there? A rebel attack?

Last he heard they suffered major defeat after major defeat, how could they have the strength to attack the center of Combine Administration on Earth?

He heard a call on his computer. It was the Consul.

Maybe he has an answer

"Yes Consul, what do you wish to speak of?"

"Dr. the City is under attack by unknown forces, Sector-C1 is overrun, and their main force is currently heading towards us, sir. Their weaponry is primitive, ancient roman-level. How they managed to attack us, and their origins are unknown."

"I trust that you already have started organising our defences."

"Yes, Dr. every available Overwatch unit in the city is en-route towards the attackers, and assets within the Citadel are mobilising."

At this point alarms started blaring and the order to prepare for combat is relayed by the Citadel's loudspeakers.

"Very well, Consul. I'm authorizing the use of Offworld reinforcements against this threat. Defend the city, good luck."

City 17 airspace

Three Airwatch helicopters, callsign Hunter Flight are racing through the air above the city, with orders to assist Civil Protection units against anticitizen activity in Sector-C1. They are among the first air units dispatched.

::Hunter-1 I'm detecting airborne biotics in the AO, are you detecting this too?:: asked Hunter-2

::Affirmive. Overwatch, we've detected airborne biotics within the AO, advise.::

::Malcompliance confirmed with anticitizen activity. Cleared to engage.::

::Copy, all units engage::

The choppers approached the flight of wyverns, charging their machine guns up. Their riders eager, for fight and glory flew straight towards them. A fatal mistake. The helicopters opened fire, a torrent of pulse shells sent the wyverns' way. Within seconds the entire flight dropped like flies, ridden with holes like Swiss cheese.

::Enemy air deserviced::

::Hunter-1 we have incoming from our nine-o' clock::

Another flight of wyverns, taking advantage of their comrades' sacrifice managed to outflank the helicopters. The choppers turned, and fired, but thanks to the distance being much shorter one of them managed to close the distance and grabbed Hunter-3, attempting to crash it into the ground. The pilot tried to regain control of his craft but it was a losing battle. Hunter-1 then turned his helicopter around and sent short bursts of fire towards the creature carefully, trying not to bring Hunter-3 down in the process.

This fight gained the attention of more wyvern riders and were now approaching the choppers in a pincer movement.

::Hostile reinforcements inbound, Hunter-2 turning to engage!::

That's when a pair of Combine gunships arrived, half-mechanical, half-biological, they were essentially living weapons, with the capacity to think and maneuver faster than a conventional aircraft, much like a living organism would. With their accurate fire, the choppers and gunships managed to overcome the enemy.

The skies were clear.

Somewhere within City 17

Barney Calhoun was not having a great day. It all started with reports of anamolous activity within Sector-C1. Next thing he knew, they were under attack by the fantasy equivalent of the Roman Empire.

After a brief firefight, his patrol unit came to the conclusion that they were not enough to deal with this threat and executed a fighting retreat, escorting a group of citizens they saved during their retreat. After close run-ins with enemy horsemen ambushing them, they reached a barricade where CP units were consolidating for an organised defense. By the time they arrived there, half of his unit was gone.

There were approximately 5 units' worth of officers beyond the barricade, his half-strength unit included. The odds were stacked against them, a few dozen men against what could possibly be a whole legion coming after them.

::Fuck this, I'm getting out of here!:: exclaimed one of the officers, some seemed to agree

::The hell you are Dave, I'm not going to die out there 'cause you were a pussy!::

::NEWSFLASH ASSHOLE, We're outnumbered and we only have 9mm pistols, what're we going to do when they come knocking, bleed on them?!::

::For crying out loud Dave, we couldn't even ask for a more defensible place, you dick, and our guys are on their way, we just have to hold out::

Barney couldn't let this go on, otherwise the enemy will catch them bickering among themselves, instead of finding a prepared position, that they couldn't take.

::BOTH OF YOU JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP, we're not going to solve anything by screaming at each-other, what we need is a plan, and our best plan is staying here, if we leave their horsemen will catch us in the open streets, why do you think my unit is at half-strength right now?!::

That's when they heard rumbling from behind them, their initial panic turned to relief when they saw a pair of their APCs rolling into the square.

::Heard you guys needed some extra firepower. We've got MP7s in the back, grab 'em and stock up on ammo, Airwatch reports an enemy contingent heading our way.:: said the Officer climbing out of the vehicle.

Those opting for a retreat immediately changed their minds, seeing their comrades disembarking the dark-blue vehicles.

::Thank God, I'm buying ya a beer once this is over, but sir, we need a plan.:: said Barney.

::Any ideas?::

::We bring 2 units and the APCs outside the barricade while the rest of us man the barricade, supporting the guys in the front.::

::Good idea, we have an emplacement machine gun in that APC, there.::

And so, the officers agreed to the plan, and began preparations swiftly. Just as the last one got in cover in behind one of the APCs, they noticed the sound of feet marching.

::Come on, you bastards, we're taking you down so hard..::

::Don't get too cocky, save your ammo, you're going to need it::

After minutes of agonising waiting, which felt like years, they finally saw the enemy rounding the corner, almost immediately they charged, with a thunderous warcry. The APCs and the machine gun began firing, the enemy's tight formation making the gunners' jobs much easier, but there were thousands of them charging. They got halfway up the street, paying with blood for every inch, but their morale broke, and soon fled. Some foolhardy horsemen tried to do what the infantry couldn't but they barely made more progress than the infantry.

After that the enemy changed tactics, bringing up their siege weapons in vain, as the APCs' rockets turned them into fireballs, the wood splinter acting like shrapnel, killing many finally seemed to be enough as the enemy turned to retreat.

::That's right you bastards, run, you've picked the wrong people to fuck with!::

::That was liberating.::

::Great job people:: sighed Barney, it looks like they would live for another day.

Main avenue leading to the Citadel

The once peaceful street was now a warzone between the Overwatch and the invaders, who charged into their fire time and again, with the same results every time. Sniper teams targeted the officers, throwing the enemy into disarray, while hastily set up machine gun nests spew death almost constantly. The invaders' archers tried to return fire, but they were cut down by precise pulse rifle fire, though ammo was starting to run low, and the enemy was starting to gain ground.

Deploy, Reinforce, Intercept in Sector-B4 Code: PRESSURE SWORD STERILIZE

::Overwatch, Hardpoint Nomad requesting Ghostdrop, Hardpoint is close to being overrun::

::Overwatch confirm double boomers dispatched inbound, prepare for Skyshield heavy suppression and wrap up.::

At this point, Combine Annihilation Mortars were brought online, sending beams of energy to satellites above the city, which acted like mirrors, reflecting it back towards the Earth, causing devestating losses for the enemy. Gunships arrived and fired their bellycannons onto the enemy below them, while doing strafing runs, helicopters doing the same but with their bombs. Dropships added to the steel rain on the enemy while their 'cargo' disembarked and joined the fray. Next to arrive were the Striders, whose mere presence seemed to finally push the enemy beyond their breaking point, fleeing in terror.

Throughout the city, similar events played out, the invaders falling apart in the face of the brutal efficiency of the Combine, the last of the invading forces were making a desperate last stand around the plazas, buying time for their comrades to retreat, but they were swept aside and with the arrival of Crab and Mortar synths from the Citadel as well as elite Overwatch Soldiers, the last of the enemy fled back in terror, into the structure from which they came.

Just as quickly as the attack had begun, it ended.

Author's notes: Whew, it may not seem much, but this took me a while to make, granted this was done in an afternoon, so it probably seems rushed, but I wanted to get it done today. Reviews are appreciated, take care, bye.