2 months later
The California Common Wealth had been a strong ally to the Neutral Alliance and Ivy had always looked forward to her yearly visits there. They had treated her with the utmost respect and honoured the boundaries of every Neutral town and city in their state. It wasn't just the people that Ivy looked forward to seeing though, for she had loved those rare moments where she had been able to walk along one of the many beaches that ran along its coastline.
Now, standing with her horse in one of the many towns in the Commonwealth, Ivy couldn't believe what she was seeing. Plumes of smoke were visible all over the land, even far in the distance. Every now and then the sound of gun or canon fire rang out and Ivy couldn't help but leap every time those sounds rang out. She raised her binoculars up and watched in disbelief as masses of unknown troops made their way along the many roads.
Those residents who had managed to escape with their lives were now spilling over the boarder, heading into the Wastelands.
"When did this happen?". Ivy lowered her binoculars and turned to face one of the throng of people at her side.
"A month ago. They landed a month ago", an older man replied. "They killed everyone. They burnt", he paused and took a deep breath. "Everything. There's hardly anything left".
"Any idea who it is?". Ivy took a step forward and looked back at what remained of the Commonwealth.
"European. Well, at least we think they are", a woman replied.
"What do we do", the older man moved to stand beside Ivy. "Where do we go?". Ivy narrowed her gaze and clenched her jaw tightly. Where they would go, that was something that she couldn't answer. What they would do however, that was a completely different story. The country she called home was being invaded by outside forces and Ivy was not about to stand idly by while that happened.
"We fight back", Ivy hissed. "We fight and take back what is ours".
