2020 Mexico City, Mexico.
News of the attack in the middle east, by nationalist forces, spread across the news. The EDF had defended their bases, but not without losses. The new law, the Defence act, ideally was meant to be a temporary measure by the United Nations to fight against alien attacks. But several nations, even the poorer ones such as Libya, Nigeria and Nepal had all agreed with the UN that the treaty needed to remain in case of another alien attack. And it wasn't hard to see why.
Everything about the alien fleet's weapons, soldiers and compliment suggested that this was a scouting force, not a true invasion. But that didn't matter to several nations who wanted the EDF gone, permanently. That included most of the middle east, several African nations and South America. Several American states also objected, but they were relegated to protests rather than outright warfare. But there were a few incidents, mostly from groups such as the KKK which stood no chance against the multinational force.
As for Latin America, there were two main reasons. The first one being that the people in power didn't want to surrender their armed forces. The other being that the drug cartels had the army in their pockets as well as their private security forces. Both of which caused problems for the EDF forces.
Before the war, the EDF were set up in several abandoned and new military bases. Once in, they established themselves as protectors and set up a recruitment campaign. The drug cartels tried to stop them, either through bribes or outright murder. But both of those backfired. This wasn't due to a lack of trying, but EDF soldiers were paid very well by the United Nations and were hand-picked by their government's forces for the best that they had to offer.
Then they had to spend 4 months of training with their new comrades and trained to put humanity's needs first before themselves. While there was the odd person who did accept bribes, the sicarios that did fight never came back in one piece. They had always been a thorn in the side of organised crime, but now? Now they were a threat.
Juan Andrés Vera, more commonly known as the Scorpion, what the tv with two guests. The first was dressed in a finely made expensive suit. But that didn't make him look any less dangerous. Antwan 'The Jackal' Greenough, didn't slouch as he watched the tv with concern.
"This is not going to be good for business," he said in a forced Italian-American accent. "The EDF have been cracking down on my arms and tech sales,"
"And my product sales," Juan nodded, holding his gold Desert Eagle that made looking at him uncomfortable.
The third member, a bribed EDF soldier by the name of Evens just shrugged. "All I can say is lay low and dismantle your forces. If the EDF don't see you as a military threat, they won't come for you,"
Juan just laughed. "And let the other Cartels take over? Forget it,"
Antwan was about to say something, but the anchorwoman caught his attention.
"According to sources, the EDF will be deploying both Rangers and the Special forces known as 'Death's legion' into South America to primarily deal with the drug cartel threat," she said.
"I've ne…" Juan said but Evens stood, his face betraying his panic.
"Death's Legion?" he asked before looking at the two bosses. "Forget that, you two are on your own,"
He turned to leave but two sicario guards stood at the door and aimed their weapons at him. Evens froze as the two crime bosses stood and turned to face him.
"Why are you acting like this?" Antwan asked. "You are normally very reserved,"
"Who are these Death Legion pendejos?" Juan asked.
All colour drained from Evens as he looked around. Panic, fear and hesitation written on his face. That made both criminal bosses look at each other with raised brows. They had seen this before. Whenever they tried to interrogate someone, about something or someone more terrifying than them, this is the kind of reaction they had. Nothing rational or logical. Just pure instinct, fear and emotion. And this was coming from a well-trained soldier from an elite military organisation.
Evens took one last look around before gulping. "Do you know the acceptance rate of EDF recruits into the Rangers?" he asked but the bosses shook their heads.
Before Evens could answer, one of the sicario guards spoke up. "The rate is about 10%, right?"
"Y… yeah…" Evens nodded. "For every 100 recruits, 10 qualify for the ranger badge. The rate for the Legion is 1%. For every 1000 rangers between 1 and 5 pass,"
Juan blinked, but it was Antawn who spoke up. "You said Rangers, not recruits. What's the difference?"
"Rangers are like the US rangers, Royal Marine Commandos or the French Foreign legion. Specialist forces. Not quite like special forces, but skilled and not someone you want to fight against. In order to be in the Legion, a Ranger badge is required. No exceptions. You can join the EDF as a recruit and then go on to Ranger training. You can only apply for Legion training by invitation only. And from what I have heard, it's the most gruelling punishing training regiment of all time," Evens explained sweat dripping from his face with every word. "Those that finish, you'd never know it,"
"Ok, I'm still not convinced of their fearlessness," Juan offered. "I am impressed with their training and selection,"
"The Korean North/ South war," Evens said. "That flared up during the war. The North Koreans were more prepared than anyone expected and moved in further than anyone expected," he gulped. "Yet it was stopped before they reached Seoul. Then pushed back while their dictator and his generals were killed. No one saw anyone. Not during the pushback, or when the dictator died. But the North Koreans lost thousands of troops. That was Deaths Legion. Not one Legionary was killed,"
"But how?" Juan asked. "How could they take on thousands of troopers with…" he paused doing some mental maths. "Just a few hundred soldiers?"
Even fell silent for a moment before speaking. "I don't know. That's all that's known about the Legion. They are ghosts, we aren't even aware what kind of equipment they have. But everything points to them being the best of the best,"
After a moment Juan laughed. "This is too hilarious," he said calming down. "Seriously who are they?"
Evens said nothing as he drew his pistol. The room tensed as the guards re-aimed their weapons at him.
"What I said is the truth," he said. "If you don't believe me, don't blame me when you get killed by them,"
He put the gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. The back of his head exploded outward partly covering the guards in grey matter and blood. His body stood for a moment before it collapsed to the floor.
"Great, now I've got to find someone to clean this mess up!" Juan moaned while Antawn looked thoughtfully at the body.
"What if he was telling the truth?" he asked and the Cartel leader looked at him.
"He was lying to save his own skin," he insisted.
"Is that why he blew his brains out?" the Jackal asked. "It's easy to assume one is lying, but when they do something like this… how true were they really being?"
Juan was about to say something when the door burst open and a guard entered. "Boss, we've been attacked," he said.
"So? Kill the intruders," he shot back but to his surprise, the messenger shook his head.
"It's not the Cartels, it's the EDF," the man said panting. "They've attacked several bases and compounds. Both ours and other Cartels. We've already sent word to our allies in the military but they have been ordered to stand down and surrender by the UN,"
"Then tell them to ignore those fools!" Juan yelled.
The man gulped. "They cannot as the EDF have taken over the bases,"
Juan was about to raise his gun, but the Mafia Don stopped him. "Why did we not get word of his earlier?"
"We don't know," the man confessed. "All we know is that the bases have had their electronics fried,"
"EMP," Antawn muttered. "A very localised one, probably taken from the alien ships,"
"Too bad for them," Juan said. "We have spent years avoiding the US and their high tech. It will be the same with…." He never got to finish as a helicopter began to circle the compound.
Both criminal bosses moved up to the window and looked out eyes widening at what they saw. It was hard to mistake EDF soldiers as they had armour that wasn't available to regular forces. They even spotted tanks they had never seen before and the Kuratus mechs that had become famous by the multi-national force. A man wearing an officer's hat and armour climbed up onto one of the tanks.
"This is the Earth Defence Force!" he said through a megaphone. "In accordance with the Defence act, you are ordered to surrender your weapons and troops to the command of the EDF. Failure to comply will be met with lethal force. We understand that you are not a national military or PMC. However, that does not allow you to maintain the forces at your disposal. Any criminal acts you and your forces have taken will be forgiven if you surrender now. This is a one-time offer and will not be offered again. You have 10 minutes to comply at which point the offer will be rescinded regardless if you surrender or not," he looked to his watch before speaking again. "It is 18:45 now, you have till 18:55. If any attack is made, we will assume that you refuse to comply and the offer will be rescinded. Choose now,"
"Fuck this Pendejo," Juan said as he looked around and grabbed a rifle.
Antawn tried to stop him. "Wait, think about this. If you do this there is no turning back,"
"These assholes come to my city, kill my people, and expect to give up everything I ever worked for! Fuck that!" he pushed past the mafia don and moved out on a platform that overlooked his compound.
"Fool's going to get himself, kill," Antawn muttered as he made his way out.
"Pendejos!" he called getting the attention of the EDF soldiers. "I've got a better offer. Leave Mexico and my Cartel and we might let you live,"
A cheer sounded in the compound, but the EDF didn't move. Instead, the commander brought up his megaphone.
"You have 5 minutes," he said. "This is not a negotiation. Surrender now,"
"Fuck off gringo!" Juan said as he fired a shot.
The round landed next to the commander who just looked at it in response. "Very well," he muttered before turning back with the megaphone. "In accordance with the Defence act, you are now in violation of UN charter EDF 56. All combatants not associated with the EDF will be arrested and charged. Lethal force has been authorised," as he spoke the point men brought up ballistic shields and readied themselves while the tank moved its cannon to face the gate. "Engage!"
The tank fired and the gate blew open. With that done, EDF soldiers moved in with speed despite their heavy arms and armour. The initial explosion allowed them to move in with speed and arrest several cartel members. But once the shock was over, it turned into a gunfight. Juan held up in his main room waiting for the EDF but someone pulled him out before the soldiers could get to him.
Within a year, the cartels and mafia stopped being a military threat to the EDF.
OOOOO Present day Imperial Palace, Sadera, Special region.
Two guards walked a tanned man down the corridors. He was heavily tattooed and wore a golden cross around his neck. Other than that, he wore EDF greens but that didn't change what he had. Soon he was led into the main chambers where Zorzal sat on his dead father's throne.
"You said you wanted to speak to me. So, make it quick before I kill you," he said.
"My King," the man bowed. "We share the same enemy, and I can show you to their weapons," his smile widened.
"Oh," he said slightly more interested. "Who are you?"
"They call me, the Scorpion," the man smiled.