There was only silence in the troop hold of the transport helicopter as it flew through the inky black night. Nobody looked at each other, and nobody spoke. News of the alien leaders escape had found its way around the world, and the EDF was in shambles. Apparently after it's escape, it had gone on a rampage finding groups and settlements of humans and utterly destroying them, along with most of the EDFs last surviving bases. Including the one Miki had been at. She was an intelligence officer for the EDF, posted at an underground base near the outskirts of Atlanta. She never even saw the beast. It happened so quickly. All she remembered seeing were pink flashes of light and explosions. She remembered hearing gunfire, and screaming as she was ushered out the exit and to a helicopter. Everything happened so quick, she hadn't actually got a moment to sit and think. Now that's all she could do. In truth, she was a worried wreck. This could very well be the end of humanity. She reached up and gripped the necklace around her neck. The feeling of the cool steel in her palm centered her, and she took a deep breath. She brought the necklace up and studied it. It was two birds spiraling around each other upwards, one a hawk, the other an eagle. She let the necklace hang and she leaned her head back. She was of course worried about her little birds on the other side of the world, but she knew they had each other.
The EDF had called a worldwide retreat shortly after they had taken off from the base. Miki had no idea where they were retreating to. Almost all channels on the radio were silent, they were flying blind. "Gonna try to make it to the coast. Call for pickup there. We're almost out of fuel." The pilots voice flowed through Miki's headset. The voice breaking the silence seemed to stir the hold a bit. Ben, one of her fellow intelligence officers, was seemingly jolted awake by the voice, almost falling from his seat. He pushed up his glasses that had slipped down his small nose, straightening his slender frame and giving a quick glance around, checking if anyone saw. His eyes met Mikis and she gave a slight grin. He sheepishly grinned back and looked to the ground. There was a woman across from her that she didn't recognize. She had long red hair and brilliantly blue eyes. They seemed to be locked on a framed picture. A tear streamed down her face. Near the back of the hold was the Ranger squad that had got them out of the base. There were four of them now. There had been five. The young man had been ripped from the troop hold by a giant spider right before they took off. Miki could still see the webs wrapping around his face, melting and slicing as they pulled. The screams had been horrendous.
One of the Rangers was staring at Miki. He had a balding head of scraggly, thin hair, and a small goatee. His skin was dirty with mud and grime. His mouth was almost snarled and his brows were furrowed. He gave her a look up and down, his eyes resting on her chest. Miki crossed her arms. "what do you want?" She asked with an annoyed tone. The man's mouth curled to a crooked grin and his eyes came up to meet hers. "Ah nothin. Nothin at all." He leaned back looking away. Not five minutes later he was staring again. He spoke in a low menacing tone. "You know, you should say thank you when someone does something for you like we did." Miki looked at the man, annoyed. "Thank you." She said almost sarcastically, and looked back away. "Nah nah no that's not enough for me you see-" One of the other Rangers punched him in the arm. "Knock it off Murphy." He said. "I won't knock it off. We lost Frankie back at the base for these three? Bullshit. The way I see it, there's only two ways to pay us back." He looked at Miki, then to the redheaded woman across from her with hungry eyes and a sideways smile. She was looking up from the picture now and looked on edge after the man's comment. A loud crack came from the back of the hold as the same man that punched Murphy smashed his rifle butt across his face. He went limp. "Sorry about him, he's a bit of an ass." Said the guy that hit him. "Frankie wasn't on the team for long but… he was still our brother." He continued, dipping his head as he said it. There were nods from the other two men. "The name is Stephen. Across from me is Jacob and Sean." The two men gave nods. "And you've already met Murphy. He's a real bastard. We're Ranger squad Jaguar" Miki nodded back and introduced herself. "My name is Miki, intelligence division. I'm sorry about your man at the base. I feel terrible." She slumped a bit. "That's the job ma'am." Is all Stephen said. She nodded and looked away.
"The coast is coming into view now. I'm gonna put her down on the sand. We are effectively out of fuel." Came the pilots voice again. Miki felt the slight rumble as the helicopters landing gear touched the sand. The ramp opened and the Rangers started to spill out. Sean stopped and slapped Murphys unconscious face. "Get up asshole we're moving." The man jerked awake flailing his arms. Sean laughed and left the hold. Murphy gave Miki a glare and then followed. She inched towards the opening, peering out with caution. Ranger squad Jaguar had fanned out, setting up a small perimeter around the helicopter, weapons searching the darkness. Light from the full moon illuminated the beach, giving it a slight blue hue, and Miki had a clear line of sight down either side of the beach. It would have been beautiful under different circumstances. She heard the muffled voice of the helicopter pilot. She couldn't make out words but she knew he was trying to radio some sort of pickup. Ben made his way over and joined her at the opening. "Wow it's beautiful!" He exclaimed. Miki smiled a bit. Ben was always the optimistic type, always able to see the beauty in the world. No matter the circumstances. It's why she requested he be on her team. The redheaded woman had shuffled over as well. "It really is." She said quietly. The three of them stepped out onto the sand and gave a look around. The beach was fairly clear, just some old fire pits here and there. There was a long dock spearing out and over the ocean surface, with a tiny wooden shack at the start of it. At the edge of the beach about two hundred feet away was a thick layer of trees, blocking their view inland. A sudden screech from beyond the trees stopped Miki in her tracks. It sounded far away, but she couldn't be sure. "Sounds like a queen." Ben said stepping beside her. She nodded and went to investigate a nearby old fire pit. There were old crushed beer and soda cans thrown in the pit.
She closed her eyes and envisioned what the scene would have looked like. Friends meeting each other at the beach to have a good time. Sitting on the tailgate of a truck watching the fire burn with a stereo playing softly in the background. "Paradise," she thought. The image was taken over by her own memories with her family and friends. She longed to see her daughters again, and she missed her late husband now more than ever. She felt tears welling as she let the memories flow. A hand rested on her shoulder and she slightly recoiled. She whirled to face the redheaded woman. "Oh my goodness I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you! I was just seeing if you're okay" she said. Miki wiped a tear, grinned and replied, "it's okay. I was lost in memories of the past. You brought me back." She reached a hand out. "I'm Miki." The woman took her hand and shook it. "Emily," she said as they shook hands.
They stood quietly for a few minutes, the only sound being the muffled crackle of a radio as the chopper pilot continued to search the channels. Ben had managed to keep himself busy by kicking an old can around. Ranger team Jaguar had set up a loose perimeter and seemed to be a bit more relaxed now. Miki caught Murphy staring at her again, and he looked away when they made eye contact. "Pig" she thought. She looked back down at the old fire pit just as she heard yelling from the chopper. "I got someone! Colossus is en route!" The pilot shouted excitedly. Colossus. One of humanity's best weapons against the aliens. The submarine was built and finished near the middle of the invasion. And as it's name infers, it was massive. Clocking in at almost half a mile long, the gigantic sub was the pride of the EDF fleet. Given that the fleet was gone except for Colossus. It had enough ordinance to level a small country, and had the capability of acting as an aircraft carrier. Jets and helicopters alike could take off and land on the massive flight deck. Gigantic shutters close over the flight deck with a water tight seal when it goes under. The captain had been given the title "Saviour of the Atlantic." During the war, the Colossus had cruised the Atlantic Ocean, striking at key points on the North and South American coastlines, and helped defend many cities and settlements along the European and African coastlines. It had the ability to strike with missiles and artillery from miles out, and retreat back under the water before the aliens knew what hit them. It had enough firepower to take down one of the aliens mobile outposts. It had survived for so long because of its ability to strike and hide. "And probably because the aliens had nothing to conquer in the ocean," Miki mused.
Another screech came from the trees, and this time it was closer. Birds flew from the canopy, filling the night sky. "The Colossus has arrived and has sent a patrol boat." The pilot said. "I recommend we head down that dock and meet them. The less time we spend out here the better." Stephen said while scanning the tree line. "It'll give us a better defensive position as well. Those things can't swim." Jacob chimed in. "Right. Officers and civies up front down the dock. Pilot-" Stephen turned to the man. "What's your name?" The pilot stepped from the choppers hold and said, "Cunningham sir." Stephen continued, "Cunningham, behind them. Rest of you, formation." The group made their way to the dock, leaving the screeching trees behind them. As they approached the dock, Miki could make out thick ropes tied to and across the long platform in the moonlight. Probably remnants from when it was actually used. As they passed the tiny shack, Miki peered through a small window in the side. She could make out the legs of a skeleton in the small space. She looked away. She continued forwards and onto the docks, being careful not to trip on the thick ropes. About halfway down the dock, Miki could make out spotlights on the ocean, coming towards them. Ben was beside her now, with Cunningham and Emily close behind. Murphy was behind her, his gaze downwards as she walked down the dock. He tripped over one of the ropes, falling flat on his face. Emily turned as she passed Miki, smirking at Murphy as she walked backwards. A soft chuckle escaped Mikis lips as well. Murphy shot them a glare as he stood. She was almost certain she heard him mutter, "Bitch." Sean smacked him as he passed. That prompted another smile from Miki. A slight ripple in the water underneath the dock caught her attention. She looked over the edge and saw where the thick ropes penetrated the waters surface. The rope must have moved when Murphy tripped over it. She looked back up. Behind Murphy was a massive silhouette of a spider rearing into the air, it's front four legs spreading outwards and up. Miki could make out the thick bristles of hair on its legs shaking and trembling, feeling the air. The monsters abdomen shook violently as it reared. She caught a glimpse of its arm length fangs rattling as they barred, all eight of its otherworldly eyes fixed on its prey.
The spiders front legs snapped downwards, slamming Murphy to the floor and dragging him backwards towards the edge of the dock. A frenzied and maniacal scream came from the man as he was scraped across the wooden surface. He clawed and flailed as the spider pulled him over the edge. He held the ledge of the dock for a second, screaming like a dying animal. The next second he was gone, taken beneath the water. A scream came from behind Miki, but was suddenly cut short with a loud squelch. She turned to see another spider, with one of its front legs speared through Emily's back, exiting out her stomach. She held the wound, blood gushing. Gore suddenly burst from the spiders face as the remaining three Rangers and Cunningham opened fire. It screeched and retreated backwards, Emily still skewered to its leg. An inhuman scream of pain and terror escaped her lungs as the beast fell into the water with a splash, retreating downwards with its prey. "What the fuck was that!?" Cunningham Screeched. "Another variation of the monsters." Miki said coldly. She looked down and studied the ropes. Realization smacked her like a truck. They were strands of spider silk, running down into the water. This was a feeding ground. "Hold your god damn positions!" Stephen shouted. The Rangers and Cunningham spread around Ben and Miki, forming a loose circle. "Don't touch the ropes!" Miki called out.
The group sat still for another five minutes as the patrol boat approached. A spotlight swung their direction and Stephen waved. As the boat advanced, Miki looked down at the ripples from the boat passing under the dock and around the thick strands of silk. "Oh shit" she thought. The night lit up with gunfire as a high caliber machine gun on the patrol boat belched out rounds that lanced into targets underneath the team on the dock. Screeches pierced the night as the spiders were shredded. A glance down the dock showed four more skittering towards them, their claws scraping with every step. Jaguar opened up, dropping them in a hail of automatic gunfire. The boat pulled alongside and Stephen shouted, "Go go go!" Ben clambered over the railing and into the boat, Miki was close behind. Cunningham and Sean jumped in next and Jacob vaulted in right after. Stephen made it up and in just as a beast penetrated the water and grabbed at his legs. It missed and he was in. The patrol boat shot away, firing rounds into the dock as it sped away. It crumbled into the water. Miki sat back and put her head in her hands. There were new variations of the monsters even in this stage of invasion. If there's new variations now, there's for sure to be more. Miki closed her eyes and let the sleep grabbing at her consciousness take hold. She dreamt of her family.