Earth on Sight: Red Alert

Chapter X

Everything perishes sometime.

Down Stairs silo, Mars, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

(Zack Johnson)

Jacobs: this s**t still works, get in!

Rogers: quick, we must return as soon as possible!

Williams: core charged, let's go!

Zack: we must hurry.

Jacobs: here we go!

The engines purr and Jacobs accelerates to full throttle, then the little ship shoots out of the place into the eternal space, heading for Earth.

We could see the huge missiles surrounding us, dozens of them as we traveled.

Jacobs: *sighs* according to this we would arrive in 2 hours.

Williams: with those things behind us, that seems reasonable to me.

Zack: yep.

Rogers: we can't relax, not even here. Jacobs, take care of recharging Red's reactor.

Jacobs: okay.

Rogers: Williams, weapons and ammo. Things are going to be in the s**t when we get there.

Williams: ok, ladies I want your toys here for review. Line up let's go.

Rogers: Hetkil-90 assault rifle.

Williams: mmm, decent.

Zack: a Grapel-5 repeating cannon, and a reglamentary knife.

Williams: A G-5? Dude, what are you doing with that s**t?

Jacobs: reglamentary Grapel-2 repeating cannon.

Williams: You engineers were always fearless.

Jacobs: uh-huh.

Zack: How long will this take?

Jacobs: a few hours, maybe longer.

Zack: sounds good, I'd hate to miss the action.

Jacobs: Honestly, I'd be better off leaving the damn planet to them.

He connects a hose to my reactor and Red's power slowly begins to recharge.

Rogers: It would be the best.

Jacobs: see, even the captain understands me.

Rogers: that's what i would say if he was stupid.

Jacobs: ah-oh.

Rogers: we will not surrender, we will not sell out the planet to those bastards, we will fight to the end. No matter the cost, or what it takes to do it, we will fight, until the last drop of oil and blood falls from our machines and us.

Secret Hangar, Berlin, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

(Sumo Pentecost)

Zeta: Thermal Laser!

Zarkel: Fire Beam!

It was incredible to see these life forms shredding and attacking each other continuously, both beams of light collided with great force against each other, causing strange reactions at their point of collision.

Baxter: the exit is this way, follow me.

Pentecost: something is bothering me.

*Faraway metallic clash*.

Silas: what would that be, old friend?

Pentecost: what's in the other capsules?

Silas: I can't trust that information to anyone but Zeta.

Zeta: agh-ah!

Zarkel: I'm going to rip out your circuits!

Silas: only he knows when that moment will come.

(ZT-01)

Zeta: Alpha Swords!

Zarkel: Double Cutter!

My blades clashed against his twisted axes, as flames began to engulf the place.

I struggled to contain him and help the hostages escape, his strength was incredible and his reflexes were even more so.

I tried to give him a right sweep but he jumped and dodged it, then a punch to his face, his abdomen, his arm, all deflected. I had to find a pattern, and quickly.

Zarkel: you bore me machine.

Zeta: well, get used to it.

Zarkel: I'm going to kill you, and then I'll build you up to kill you again.

Zeta: try if you can, rah!

Zarkel: huh!?

I placed the tip of my swords on his wrists and ripped them off, and then successfully cut the central ligaments of his wrists and neutralized his ability to move.

Zarkel: what have you done, ah!

Jakali: master!... you will pay!

Zeta: Asterion Missile!

Jakali: Cornia Daggers!

With quick movements he threw hundreds of transparent daggers, which collided in a matter of seconds with the fast guided missiles.

Zeta: mmm.

*metallic clash*

He lands and his Reaper collides against the armor of my forearms with great force.

Jakali: you won't be able to hold us off forever.

Zeta: you know what the best thing about being a machine is? Being able to adapt faster to the environment than biological entities!

Jakali: *roar*.

Zeta: Steel... Cutters!

Jakali: *cry of pain*.

I manage to amputate part of his arms and make cuts on his abdomen and coated chest, seconds later his armor is stained with strands of blood coming from the wounds.

Zeta: Thermal Laser!

My visor begins to light up with great intensity, until the powerful and destructive laser comes out of it.

Jakali: no!

Zarkel: Jakali, no!

The laser goes completely through him, leaving a huge cylindrical hole in his torso.

Jakali: *inhales* eh-eh... ah... ah... ah... *chokes on his blood*.

The giant slowly falls to his knees and his glowing eyes eventually go out to reveal the lifeless black of his pupils.

Zeta: take that as a demonstration.

I reach over and push him slightly with my foot, to make him fall backwards so that his head is facing the shocked remaining titan.

Zarkel: how... how could you... how could you defeat them?

Zeta: none of your business, and now it's for you...

I deploy my retractable blaster over his head and prepared to fire.

Zeta: the time to die.

Zarkel: forgive me my lady...

*The blaster charges*

Zarkel: I have failed the empire.

*Heavy shot*

01: targets updated, weapons deactivated.

Zeta: is everyone all right?

(Sumo Pentecost)

Pentecost: yes, we gotta go!

He nods and retracts his blaster to come running towards us, I looked for a moment at those three desolated corpses. What for a whole army had been doom, for him, was nothing more than a controlled training. And this was visible in his immaculate paint finish, which only had burns and traces of dark blood from his deceased opponents.

Silas: with Zeta here, the world will be safer... ah?

Alarms suddenly began to sound and a voice began to speak.

AI: Hellfire missiles detected, 5 hours 43 minutes to impact. Total destruction.

Pentecost: Gerald... what have you done...

Zeta: let's not waste more time, Colonel. Take them to the quarters and I'll take care of the rest.

Pentecost: what's your plan?

Zeta: buy time for yourselves. Despite my incredible potential, I can't repel them so easily.

Pentecost: how can I help you?

Zeta: retreat your troops colonel, as many as you can. My creator will tell you where to relocate them.

Pentecost: alright.

He nods and takes off with great force to leave the hangar, followed by this, the capsules move along over some rails and disappear from the hangar, I couldn't tell where.

Nanders: if we don't hurry we'll be ashes, let's get moving.

Silas: y-yes, this way.

A passage opens and lights up in front of us and we all enter. Nanders and Baxter guard the path with their bayonets.

Silas: this will take us straight to a shelter, from there you can call your people.

Pentecost: I understand.

Baxter: I wanted to go to a bar today, you know, relax and stuff.

Nanders: yeah, but it wasn't possible.

Pentecost: mmm.

Silas: hey, and why did you change your name?

Pentecost: long story, and I don't want to tell it.

Silas: mmm, well. Whatever.

Checkpoint: Colonel Pentecost, this is a secure Russian Federation channel, please answer.

Pentecost: go ahead.

Checkpoint: it will not be possible to send a rescue team to your position, sorry. You will be given new orders, take your group to a nuclear shelter immediately.

Pentecost: I am aware of the bombardment, and therefore I will resume command.

Checkpoint: hold on a second.

Gerald: are you all right, what's wrong?

Pentecost: I need you to retreat the troops to these coordinates.

Gerald: an abandoned lab, are you sure?

Silas: there is no other option.

Pentecost: yes, and also evacuate the bridge people here. We will set up a base of operations.

Gerald: I trust you Charlie, I hope it's not suicide. Roger, out.

Pentecost: out.

Baxter: well?

Pentecost: we have to keep going.

Special Tactical Operations Headquarters, Russia, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

Gerald: well gentlemen, you heard the man. We've got to get our asses out of this place.

Adjutant: look out!

Gerald: huh!?

*multiple gunshots*

Guard: contact!

Soldier: Siege Beasts!

Gerald: abort, we're retreating!

Checkpoint: barrier, this is bridge. Protocol Oscar-Uniform-Tango 33.

Captain: Roger, out!

*Explosion*

Gerald: we have to go, this place is already lost.

Adjutant: Yes sir!

*Explosion*

Gerald: get out!

The beasts were sneaking through any opening in the barriers and improvised trenches that the remaining troops had set up.They were killing everything that moved and seemed firmly interested in the main building. Where Gerald was doing his best to send his subordinates into the escape tunnels.

If this continued, the S.T.O.HQ. would fall soon without anyone knowing it.

Ruins of the Orbital Network, Earth, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

(Zack Johnson)

Jacobs: woah... what happened here?

Rogers: slow down.

Jacobs: uh, yeah.

The ship stops and we can contemplate the destruction that the battle had caused.

Zack: Is it bad?

I remove the connector from my reactor and approach them, it was a scary scenario.

Williams: someone had a bad day...

Jacobs: yep.

Rogers: *sigh* let's concentrate on getting through this crap and into the atmosphere.

Jacobs: alright.

Zack: stop, do you get this?

Jacobs: that's... not possible.

Williams: who could still be alive here?

Rogers: hmm.

Zack: permission to investigate sir.

Rogers: granted.

VA-93, Earth, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

John: *shuddering breath*.

Orion: oxygen levels reaching critical levels.

John: *inhales* there's not much we can do...

Orion: energy at 3%, redirected to vital functions.

 All additional functions neutralized.

John: *inhales* in the end... I'll end up like the rest of my squadron... *inhales* dying... and alone...

Orion: it was an honor... commander.

*Visor flashes and goes off*

John: *inhales* uh-huh...

Main corridor, VA-93, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

(Zack Johnson)

*Heavy footsteps*

Red: the signal is getting closer, but it's very weak.

Zack: a booby trap?

Red: that would be possible.

Zack: mmm... oh-ah.

A door suddenly fell in front of me a few meters ahead, I panicked a little and took a few steps back.

Red: let's keep going.

Zack: wow, okay.

When I ran into the door, I had to move it out of the way.

Zack: Here we go.

Red: securing skeleton.

I grabbed the door from the middle and lifted it up a bit with force, then I was able to get both my hands in and lift the heavy obstacle completely.

*Slam*

Red: whoa...

Zack: mmm... *looks away*.

Bodies and armor strangled all over the place, like sitting there waiting for something. They could only hold that position and some had no visor, so you could make out the frightened faces of good soldiers.

Ogasaki, Daret, Rid, old friends from the first academy, now lay dead in front of me in horrible shapes.

Red: there are over 23 Mech-Armor models here, spread over 174 fallen subjects. Hold on, I've got something, it's moving.

Zack: I see it.

Something seemed to writhe among the rotting corpses, I can't see clearly what it is. I slowly advance to where it is and remove the bodies carefully.

Zack: c-commander... Arstent?

Tendo: *cough* hello boy...

Zack: what are you doing here?

Tendo: *cough* relocation orders... *inhales* outpost...

Zack: let me help you.

Tendo: *cough* too late... I won't get out of here in one piece, you'll see... why...

Zack: no...

Falcon: I did my best, but it's already too late.

Tendo: I ask you... one last favor... that my brother receives my Mech in person... as... a memory...

At that he takes my hand tightly and doesn't let me go.

Tendo: too bad I won't be able to see you in action... ever... again...

Zack: Commander?

Red: his pulse is unstable, and he seems to have collapsed. I fear for the consequences.

Falcon: automaton mode activated.

Falcon stands up as best he can and approaches me.

Zack: just lay on me, then I'll take you to the capsule.

Falcon: okay.

Zack: let's go.

We advanced slowly through the eternal corridor full of bodies towards the main deployment sector, the panorama was different only for being more spacious and having a huge hole in the hull that let us see more of the ruined ships and a flimsy part of the planet, otherwise, everything was still full of broken lifeless bodies.

Zack: Arstent was the life signal?

Red: no, the signal is still active. Along with Falcon's.

Zack: then who?

Red: let's keep moving.

Zack: wait here. Jacobs, see if you can get the ship closer, I'm almost done here.

Jacobs: roger that.

Red: wait, back up.

Zack: huh?

Red: turn around a little bit. There it is.

Zack: Liberty...

I run over to where he is and kneel down next to him almost slipping, his armor was destroyed and his visor cracked and stained. He looked like he had fought something fierce recently from the marks of a sword edge and minor scratches and dents.

Zack: vitals.

Red: minimal, and the armor is in critical efficiency mode.

Zack: we need to get him out of here and get him medical attention immediately.

Red: yes.

Zack: Williams, get the medical station ready, I've got injured.

Williams: copy that, out.

Zack: I need the ID of the automaton.

Red: analyzing, model YZ-20, sixth generation Variable-Warrior, nickname Orion.

Zack: roger that.

I start inspecting him with my eyes and touch, there didn't seem to be any major injuries, but his oxygen saw better days.

Zack: he needs an Atonium transfusion, fast.

Red: okay, connecting.

Zack: enough to interact with the automaton so it can walk.

Red: transferring energy, 5%, 7%, 11%.

Eventually, the visor regained its glow and the limbs seemed to tremble for an instant. Red disconnects and I carefully pick it up and rest it on my shoulder, for a light alloy, it's quite heavy.

Red: 25% energy, should be enough for a one way trip.

Zack: you can identify the tattoo, it doesn't look familiar.

Red: analyzing, this is an exclusive and limited mech-armor model of the royal guard. Pure British technology at its finest. This particular unit is called the "Royal Riders".

Zack: and still the enemy won...

Jacobs: well kid, it's risky to bring it any closer.

Zack: are you f*****g kidding?! How did I get there!

Jacobs: calm down, I'll drop anchors and open the solid light ramp.

Zack: okay then.

Jacobs does what he said a moment ago and the ramp unfolds in front of us in a bright turquoise color. Unfortunately, it's too steep from that angle to simply walk up to the ship.

Falcon: you won't be able to climb with all that weight on top of you, what are you going to try?

Red: heh, don't even bother. He's a tough one to convince.

Zack: throw a hook on the piston of the hatch, I'll climb up there any way I can. Falcon, take my hand.

Falcon: okay.

Red: target locked, launching.

The hook shoots out at high speed and wraps around the piston as planned, I make sure it doesn't come off by pulling a little and start retracting the cable to climb up while slowly advancing with short steps.

Zack: how's he doing?

Falcon: unconscious, I hope you can help him.

Zack: we'll do our best.

Falcon: thank you.

Jacobs: welcome aboard, we leave immediately.

Williams: I'll help you.

Zack: yes.

He helps me move him and we place him in a capsule, then I turn and explain to Falcon the situation.

Zack: You should go in too, it will keep Arstent for a little longer.

Falcon: I understand.He goes in and I seal his capsule, Williams offers to take care of them and I return to the cockpit.

Rogers: we got what we came for, let's get going, the planet won't hold out much longer.

Jacobs: All right.

Zack: we should open the encrypted channel, just in case.

Rogers: right.

Jacobs: slow, slow, and... we pass-.

*Explosion*

Jacobs: s**t!

Zack: what the f**k?!

Rogers: a fleet!

Jacobs: hold on!

Unknown Location, Germany, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

Nanders: I'll fire up the reactor.

Baxter: the bridge is that way.

Pentecost: what is all this?

Silas: we call it... The Bastion of the End of the World.

Pentecost: and it's a very irrelevant structure... the perfect strategy!

Silas: yes, and that's why I need your people here. Everything will be useful.

Baxter: let there be light!

AI: initiating systems, sequences completed.

Silas: perfect.

*Quake*

Baxter: they won't stop until they see the cities in ruins.

Silas: that's right.

Nanders: ah...

AI: Hellfire missiles detected. 27 minutes to impact. Total destruction.

Pentecost: mmm... huh?

Nanders: what the hell?

Something similar to a meteorite begins to light up the dark sky and descends at high speed.

Baxter: Scrap?

Silas: No, it's going too fast.

Pentecost: no... it's not possible, is it?... it can't be, a-are they still alive?

Both: who?

Pentecost: You'll see.

Silas: I will prepare the emergency unit.

Pentecost: I will help you.

Gerald: you don't have to do it alone, Charlie.

Pentecost: Gerald?

Gerald: I hope this dump is worth enough to neglect the front.

Pentecost: Good to see you.

*Handshake*

Gerald: whatever and wherever Charlie. All right, stand by everyone, I want this place operating one hundred percent, now.

All: yes sir!

Hamburg airspace, Germany, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

(Zack Johnson)

Jacobs: the fall will be hard!!!

Zack: try to straighten it out!

Rogers: the hull will split in two at this speed, it's too risky!!!

AI: danger, total height of 12,000 meters and falling, it is recommended to ascend immediately.

*Alarms*

Jacobs: hold on, rah!!!

Jacobs takes the control firmly and pulls upwards to slow down as much as possible.

Zack: It's not enough, we're still at 2670 km/h!

Rogers: Johnson is right!

Jacobs: I'll shut down the engines, the remaining thrust should leave us somewhere outside of Berlin!

Zack: Do it!

We saw everything passing by at high speed, almost without distinguishing our surroundings, cities, smoke, forests, everything was blurry and we could barely focus without losing sight of it.

Jacobs: 5000 meters! 4000 meters!

Rogers: keep going!

AI: danger, danger.

Jacobs: s**t, the controls melted!

Zack: cliff!

AI: danger, danger.

Rogers: jump!

*Presses a button*

AI: Ejecting med station.

Williams: what the hell do you think-?!

*Door closes*

Rogers: we're not going to make it in one piece, it's over.

AI: danger, hull cracked, structural integrity compromised.

Zack: Jay, come on.

Jacobs: ah-ah.

Zack: Jacobs!

Jacobs: ah, yeah!

*Shooting*

After that, Rogers kicks a section of the hull and creates an exit.

Rogers: jump, now!

Jacobs: I didn't want to die like this!!!!

Zack: yeehaw!!!

Red: adjusting parachute.

Fox: adjusting parachute.

Jericho: opening error.

Rogers: what?!

*Hits a rock*

Rogers: ouch... ahh!!!!

Zack: cancel!

Red: canceling.

I get into an aerodynamic position and try to get as close to him as possible, as the ground gets closer and closer.

Red: 1000 meters.

Zack: Come on Roy.

Red: adjusting parachute.

Zack: that's it, there.

I throw the triple hook and it catches Jericho's upper cannon, cutting his fall out as my parachute opens.

Zack: *laughs* facing death captain?

Rogers: *breathes shakily* that... will... go... to your... file... wha...

*Laughter*

*Distant explosion*

Jacobs: that was close.

Zack: too close.

Red: incoming transmission.

Williams: you sons of bitches, be thankful I'm still alive!

Zack: it's good to see you again Willy.

Williams: yeah yeah, whatever. Now come up with a plan to get us the f**k out of these woods!

Red: communication terminated.

Jacobs: he's seriously pissed, *laughs*.

Fox: incoming transmission.

Jacobs: c-Colonel Pentecost?

Pentecost: I'm so glad to see you, I knew you'd be back!

Zack: that's right sir, orders are orders. I'm sorry I failed you, though.

Pentecost: No problem private, now a team is searching for you, good luck.

Pilot: we found a section of the ship colonel, three individuals.

Pentecost: excellent, see ya.

Fox: communication terminated.

Zack: the surprises don't end!

Rogers: no, definitely not.

Zeta: if you don't hurry it's all over for you.

Jacobs: hey, who said that?

Zeta: cut the parachutes.

Zack: are you insane?!

Zeta: not at all.

*The rope is cut*

Zack: What the-?!

*Rope is cut*

Jacobs: Hey!

I can't see what it is, in fact, there's nothing. I can only feel something holding my arm firmly.

Zack: show yourself!

Zeta: not yet.

Whoever it is, he led us several kilometers into the forest, to a huge cliff with a waterfall in the middle. I didn't know what to think until I saw a medium-sized abandoned military complex.

Zack: what...?

Then I saw a concrete barrier full of moss and plants, and minutes after passing it, a dome with a transparent hexagonal design began to cover the area until it surrounded the entire territory of the complex.

Jacobs: technology of reflective fields by Atonium concentration... fascinating, I thought it was just a sketch of some lost genius.

Rogers: well it's not, I've read a little bit about it in my days as an archivist. But I also thought it was a myth.

Zeta: well, here we are.

He approaches to a platform and drops us a few feet off the ground, then disappears again.

Zack: mmm.

Pentecost: Delta-44, welcome!

Zack: colonel, it's a privilege.

Pentecost: same here, I thought they already killed you.

Rogers: it was a team operation sir, we all helped to accomplish this task.

Pentecost: yes, I wish we had more time to talk. Leave your mechs here and join me on the bridge.

All: yes sir.

Bridge of the Nirius, Imperial flagship, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

Callister: the terrans run away and hide like rats.

Rasin: mmm.

Callister: and they seem to have sent high impact explosives to their own planet, fools.

Rasin: they seek to kick the siege beasts out of their lands, but, they have made a very serious tactical error.

Callister: your words are pure, my lady.

Rasin: let them retreat, we can play the hunt later.

*Turns around*

Rasin: now... let them destroy themselves *laughs*.

*Goes away*

Callister: mmm, legions, come back here.

Duriel: your wish is my command Chancellor.

*The first missiles hit*.

The Bastion of the End of the World, Germany, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.

Adjutant: sir, the invaders retreat their forces through vortexes.

Meanwhile, footage of the situation was on the screen.

Pentecost: they want to avoid unnecessary casualties, and save their forces for the final strike... goddammit.

*Missiles hit*.

Gerald: hold on!

*Quake*

Pentecost: no!!!!

The entire forest was being destroyed by the shockwave of the explosions, and more missiles continued to fall in the areas adjacent to the base and even farther away.

AI: total destruction in, 3.... 2... 1.

The apocalypse was already here.

To be continued...____________________________________________Earth on Sight: Red Alert.

An original production by @AlphaBravoK7.Coming soon:

Earth on Sight: Rise of the Alliance.(May 2021).