4-The New War

President Richards was tired. After the initial attack on Africa, they had gradually lost contact with every Echidna squad. No one knew what had happened. The Alliance was winning the war. The situation was getting desperate.

"Sir," said Commander John, bringing Richards back to reality, "Someone has demanded that you join a video chat with them."

"So?"

"Sir, he claims to be...what was the phrase he used?" He looked at a paper in his hand. "Chieftain of the Echidnas."

Richards looked over, raising an eyebrow. "Chieftain?"

"Chieftain."

Richards sighed, and got up. "Redirect it into here."

"Yessir."

John walked out, and, seconds later, an Echidna popped onto the screen. Richards stared. The Echidna had patterns of white dyed into his red hair, looking like tatoos. His quills, which were, in their ordinary state, pointing outward in all directions, were pulled back into dreadlocks. Somehow, he looked deadlier this way.

"Hello, Mister President," said the Echidna in a businesslike voice. "I am Libertor."

"Hello, Libertor," said Richards. "Would you care to explain why you and the other Echidnas disappeared for so long?"

"We became wiser," he said simply. "Now, listen to me and do not make this harder than it needs to be. The Echidnas no longer answer to you or to the United States."

Richards' reaction was predictable.

"NO LONGER...YOU...We made you, you ungrateful rodent!"

The Echidna raised his eyebrow. "You are correct. You did make us." Then he continued, "Three days from now, we will begin a journey through the USA. We will not harm anyone; we will just go through to take any non-human tired of a second-class status."

Richards took a deep breath. The species Homo animalia had indeed taken the place of the working class in the States, doing all the grunt work and making life better for everyone else. In the short months since its creation, the American economy had become dependent on them.

"You can't. You've given me warning, so I'll give you some. What military remains here will be set against you..."

Libertor chuckled. "You created us to be perfect soldiers...living weapons. We are far superior to you, now matter what weapons you use. Lastly," his voice returned to business, "you will arrest the leader of the Alliance and remove him from off-"

"WHAT?!?" This demand was downright insane. "You think I know who he is? You think I have the authority...?"

"Actually, you do."

Liberator looked upon Richards' confused face with a mix of impatience, expectation, and pity.

"Don't you know what the Alliance's government's true name is?"

"What's in a name?"

"In this case," said the Echidna, "rather a lot."

He held up a badge.

"I was in the first squad to arrive in Africa, and the first squad you lost contact with. I found this under the radiation suit of every Alliance soldier."

The badge said "GUA".

Richards looked into Libertor's eyes. He knew that he wasn't lying. He ran over to his desk and pressed the security intercom.

"Arrest Commander Johnathan Grey. Now."

He released the button. There would be time to explain later.

"Thank you. I'll...consider it."

"If you resist us, we'll consider it an act of war, and react accordingly."

Richards nodded, and the screen went blank. He returned to his desk and collapsed into his seat. If he did nothing, the economy would collapse. If he fought back, the country would collapse. There was no way out of it. No, there was a way.

"Someone trace the signal they sent!"

Something they couldn't fight against.