Earthborn

The sun hung low as the last convoys entered. Soldiers descended from APCs with their weapons in tow as the perimeter was scouted. There was no knowing where the attack could come from. Knowing the attackers were avian, it meant they could arrive from the sky and we haven't had enough time to build a proper air force and only have a few makeshift anti-air guns. I stepped out of the town hall wearing ballistic armor and wielding a standard issue assault rifle.

The wind howled through the settlement as different fortifications were set up. An air of tension filled the camp and I could feel it. This could be a slaughter either way. And that wasn't my only concern. There was also the fact that Arthur was undoubtably behind the attack. While Scarlett could be safe, the rest of us wouldn't be as lucky if we lost.

A screech pierced the air before everything went dark. Shadows covered the settlement as Corvids blocked the sun. The anti-air guns fired up, managing to take out many of the aliens, but nowhere near all of them. Some of the Corvids, while falling to their death, aimed at the anti-air crew. Several alien bodies hit the ground, splattering myself and the soldiers with their blue blood. One soldier was even hit by one of the bodies, falling lifeless to the ground. However, for each Corvid that fell, another two took its place.

Suddenly, the darkened sky started glowing red. I looked up and gasped as I saw them carrying torches in their talons. "Aim for the torchbearers!" I shouted as I shot off a few rounds against some of the Corvids swooping with the torches. Most fell into the dirt or on the road, quickly extinguishing. However, one landed on the grass next to the town hall. I pointed at two soldiers and commanded, "You two, take out the fire before it spreads! And whatever you do, make sure the shelters do not burn down!" They nodded before running to the lake. I turned back to face the Corvids. It seemed that they were being smart by sticking to the air. Their primitive weapons couldn't hold a candle to our guns, and they knew that. Presumably, Arthur warned them about it. In lieu of superior technology, they were exploiting their superior numbers.

As the battle continued, a few more soldiers were knocked out by falling bodies. The medics were trying what they could, but it was clear that some would be fatalities. I walked over alien bodies, the weight pulled at my heart. These aliens had their home invaded and colonized by an alien species. And not only that, but they were infected with a deadly disease that is ravaging them. There were some parallels to the colonization of the Americas and the widespread devastation and destruction that the colonists brought. However, in the case of this world, this was humanity's last hope. As Earth fell into the flames, we must build a new future for ourselves. While I would've hoped that peace could prevail, it was clear that this war needed to be won. Men must prevail over the alien, though we will try to prevent them from going extinct.

I was brought back to the battle by the sound of another screech. Some Corvids landed in the middle of the settlement and pulled the spears off their backs with their wings, somehow. Already, gunfire sounded while the aliens charged at the soldiers. Bodies hit the ground, mostly alien but a few humans were also killed. I saw a spear sticking out of a young soldier's body. He looked like a young recruit, probably no older than twenty-two. His life was snuffed out, naught but a memory. I pulled out the spear as medics pulled him away. Looking at another charging Corvid, I tossed the spear, impaling it through the chest. I spun on my heel while pulling out my gun, shooting another in the head. Blue blood splashed against my face, but it was a secondary concern.

The smell of smoke clogged the air. As the last of the Corvid assault either fell dead or retreated, several soldiers were coughing and a dark cloud passed by. I ran to the walls and looked out. Suddenly, it was clear that it was us that was played for fools. Surrounding the settlement was a forest fire, doubtlessly set by the aliens. The assault on the colony was nothing but a distraction. As the sound of wood popping reached my ears, the two soldiers sent on firefighting duty ran up to me.

"Mayor Quentin!" one of them shouted, "We stopped the fires inside the settlement, but I don't think we can extinguish the wildfire!"

"Of course you can't!" I shouted back, panic filling my voice. "We haven't had time to do controlled burns and we don't have the equipment to battle this!" This was the breaking point. If nothing was done, this would all be for nothing. All we have built up would be a memory. I looked back at the soldiers. "Take the civilians, especially the children, to the bunker! Now! Should the fire burn the settlement, the underground bunker will be the only safe place!" The soldiers nodded before running off.

I slouched against the wall and pulled out the radio. After setting it to the frequency for New Washington, I pulled the receiver to my mouth and said, "This is Eastlake speaking! Our battle against the Corvid menace was going well and we maintained a casualty ratio of 1 to 20, but we then realized that the assault was a distraction! There's a forest fire surrounding the settlement and we need to evacuate quickly! That and we need to make sure other settlements prepare for the fire! Over!"

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A male voice picked up from the other side. "This is Lieutenant Reynolds, reporting! The 1st Rescue Wing is heading over immediately! Over!"

I walked down from the wall to avoid excess smoke inhalation while holding the radio. "Out!" I turned off the transmission before running to my home. Panicked families were running to the bunker while soldiers protected them. But that was background to me. I had to find the love of my life. Scarlett. If anything was to happen to her and our unborn child, I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

By the time I reached our house, the smoke had gotten thicker. The dark sky with its sickly red hue taunted me. But as I opened the door, I was greeted by Scarlett tossing a dead Corvid out of the house. She looked at me and said, "I just got finished doing my part in this battle. I couldn't let these aliens harm our neighbors who stayed in their houses!"

"But you're pregnant!" I shouted as I embraced her.

"I'm pregnant, not helpless!" she replied back as she hugged me. I felt tears hit my shoulder. "Thank you for coming back alive, Quentin!" She broke off the hug and said, "Now, let's get to the bunker and not die like idiots!"

I turned towards the crowd and nodded. "Agreed." With that, we ran to catch up to the crowd descending into the bunker.

As we waited in line, the heat got more intense as the flames licked the walls. As the smoke was getting thicker, a faint shadow of a passing plane came from overhead. I looked up and started to see more planes. Some were clearly firefighting planes, dousing the flames with water. Meanwhile, from another, several people jumped out of it. From what I could see through the smoke, they had no parachute, yet they were not falling to their deaths.

Scarlett squinted as she looked at them and said, "I think they are wearing some kind of power armor and are using jets on their boots to slow their descent." Sure enough, as the wind blew westward and cleared up much of the smoke, the view of the soldiers became clear. They were wearing full body armor and were wearing helmets that covered their full head with visors and connection to oxygen tanks. The armor was in a dark blue color as was the jets on their boots. As they landed, one of them pressed a button on a panel on his glove. "Lieutenant Reynolds speaking. We have touched down on Eastlake and are securing the settlement. All alien lifeforms are either dead, captured, or routed. Several humans and one mutant will need to be treated for smoke inhalation, but the medical center will be the first evacuated. Over!"

I looked at Lieutenant Reynolds and saluted him. "Thank you for arriving, sir!"

"At ease, civilian! Right now, the casualties are being loaded up on the plane as we speak. As for your two, you're coming with me." He motioned towards the ladder that was dropped to us.

I let out a wheezing cough, the smoke I inhaled almost choking me. Bearing through the pain, I grabbed the ladder and began to climb up. Scarlett grabbed the ladder afterwards and also began climbing. As we climbed up, Scarlett also let out a nasty cough, her ears pulling back at each cough. Thankfully, we were able to climb into the plane, being pulled up by the soldiers inside before being guided to the upper deck, where several seats were located.

Scarlett and I were seated in the center before we were handed oxygen masks. We quickly put them on, and I was already feeling relief from the smoke I inhaled. Lieutenant Reynolds met back up with us as more people were boarded onto the plane. He looked at me and said, "We have good news and bad news." After a brief pause, he continued, "The good news is that the fire is being contained and Eastlake is only a partial loss. The bad news is that you two are going to be staying at New Washington for a while."

"Why is that? Have we not earned the right to be where we want to be?" Scarlett asked, though the mask made it difficult, more so since it barely fit her face.

Lieutenant Reynolds sighed. "Unfortunately, you two are far too important to remain in a small settlement at the moment. Already, forces are moving in this world. The Corvids are only the first of our threats. Soon, we'll get into contact with less friendly colonies and we may be pushed to war. Also, the two of you are heroes. Quentin Alexander Smith and Scarlett Rose Campbell, the two who put a dent in the Qarri Empire and allowed humanity to escape Earth. For that, we need to make sure the two of you are safe and sound. There will be no more frontier settlement or cozy living until the alien threat is subdued."

I looked at Reynolds and wheezed, "The Corvids are only attacking us because of Arthur's lies and misunderstanding! We have to reach them to explain what is going on!" It was followed by a cough that wracked my lungs.

"Calm down, Quentin, or your injuries may become permanent!" He glared at me, making me calm down. "As I was saying, diplomacy is always a first choice, but it is choice they will not listen to reason. Therefore, we have to remain vigilant and guard any future colonies more securely. Along with that, we need to arrange a strike force to find and take out Arthur Campbell."

"You can't kill him! He's my brother!" Scarlett screamed before putting the mask back on.

"He may be your brother, but the moment he colluded with those aliens and arranged the attack on Eastlake, he became a traitor to humanity and a murderer. We cannot have him arranging attacks on us, risking our very existence. Perhaps, in time, you will learn to see past blood." With that, Lieutenant Reynolds walked towards the cockpit, the conversation over.

As the plane ascended higher and more planes approached Eastlake, it was clear that my dream of building a settlement now went up in flames. War was upon us and humanity would not know peace for a long time.