Across the country more rumors spread of the National Guard and the Reserve being mobilized as martial law was declared in the cities now dealing with strife. Military bases were placed on alert and companies of soldiers and Marines left in convoys heading toward major cities to restore order. Many of these convoys made it to the cities while others simply vanished.
-
At specific armories across the country National Guard and Reserve units reported in and were surprised to be told they would receive additional weapons, ammunition, and supplies. They were told to evacuate their families and trusted friends to locations outside the cities. The soldiers were not given a reason as to why but many suspected it must involve the Trellixians. The soldiers looked at each other knowingly as they got in line to receive their additional equipment. Most grew worried about what was coming when they saw the weapons and ammo available to them. It was evident the government expected hostilities to break out very soon.
Conversations broke out as many made plans to meet in the countryside at farms or even in the mountains. Entire squads decided to stick together as they figured there was more safety in numbers plus the increased firepower it would provide. Boxes of MREs, extra uniforms, and even communications equipment were also available for those who wanted them. Almost all of them loaded up several cartons of MREs since they knew how important food would become in the following weeks. Several backed up pickups and were surprised when the officers helped load them. The men and women in the units were told to finish loading up the supplies and be out of the cities before the sun rose. The soldiers hurriedly filled their vehicles with what they thought they would need. Nearly all of them would stop at gas stations and fill up before heading home to pick up their families.
Cell phone calls were made even as they finished loading their vehicles. Most returned to their homes and quickly loaded up vehicles with additional food, water, and other supplies that might be needed. They had been furnished with lists of items to take with them by their military commanders. In many cities—and particularly in small towns—a vast exodus of people began in the middle of the night. Many headed to farms of people they knew; others headed for the mountains in small convoys.
-
It was nearing morning and in the White House President Drummond sat at his desk with his head bowed. He had slept very little during the night, knowing what was to come. Several TV screens showed the rioting in the cities with newscasters calling for order and immediate investigations of the police and government institutions. The reporters were also demanding to know where the National Guard and the Reserve units were. They all knew the two had been activated but so far there had been no response, with most units stopping just outside the cities or not arriving at all.
Raising his head, Drummond looked at General Mason. “What have I done? People are dying out there all over a pack of lies we disseminated.”
General Mason gazed at the president for a long moment and then replied. “Those people were doomed anyway. What we’re doing is giving our National Guard and the Reserve units time to make it into the countryside. We’ve also managed to move tens of thousands of soldiers out of harm’s way. Fourteen hours of time is what these actions have bought us. Those Reserve and Guard units will be essential for future operations against the Trellixians. It means wherever the enemy goes they’ll meet armed resistance. We’ve also evacuated hundreds of thousands of civilians to safety since the riots began.”
“How soon before the Trellixians figure out what we’re up to?” Drummond had been expecting an armed response from the aliens at any time. They had to suspect something was going on, particularly when so many military units began to move.
“Any hour now,” replied General Mason, glancing at his watch. “It won’t take them long to figure out the soldiers aren’t showing up where they’re supposed to. I’m sure they’re watching and are aware many of our military units are fleeing the cities and evacuating their bases.”
“Should we launch the F-35s and the B-21s?” A dangerous plan had been put forth to attack all thirty-three of the Trellixian battlecruisers hovering over the world’s major cities. It would result in a massive loss of human life, but it might also cripple the enemy.
“I’m afraid if we wait any longer we’ll lose the element of surprise. In the last two hours most of the Trellixian shuttles scanning the surface have flown back to their battlecruisers. We’ve also detected an increase in communication between the enemy ships. Other countries are also moving troops out of harm’s way as well as part of their civilian populations. The Trellixians have to suspect something is going on.”
“Then let’s do it. Maybe we’ll get lucky and take out a few of their ships.” President Drummond knew once they launched this attack there would be no turning back.
General Mason nodded at a military officer standing in the back of the room. He stepped forward, carrying a shiny metal case. The officer placed it on the desk in front of President Drummond and opened it. The box contained a special computer used to order an immediate nuclear strike. General Mitchell had an identical case as it was deemed prudent he also have the ability to launch a nuclear attack if necessary.
President Drummond had thought about this moment often in the past few weeks, praying it would never arrive. Leaning forward, he placed his right eye near a slot which read his retina pattern. With a low humming noise the computer activated. A list of codes appeared on the screen, each one representing a specific nuclear option. All the current codes involved the Trellixians.
Taking a deep breath, Drummond reached his right hand forward and touched the icon representing the strike option General Mitchell and others on the president’s staff had previously suggested for maximum impact against the Trellixians. Once his finger touched the option all the others disappeared and two words popped up: Confirm and Cancel.
With a shaking hand Drummond reached forward and pressed Confirm. The screen instantly went blank and a large counter appeared. Sixty minutes from now the United States would launch a full-scale nuclear assault against the four Trellixian battlecruisers over its cities. Other countries across the world would do the same.
At the bottom of the screen were two more words: Hold and Cancel. Drummond could press either up until the last minute. During the last sixty seconds the attack couldn’t be called off. Drummond knew he would not be touching either of those icons. He had just started the world on a path to destruction. Leaning back, he closed his eyes. He had just sentenced billions to die.
General Mason opened up a briefcase he carried and checked a small laptop-size computer inside. “Orders have been confirmed and all stations are now at DEFCON 1. All military installations are preparing for a nuclear attack. Our allies have also been informed. They are setting their own attacks in motion.”
Drummond shook his head. Never had any president of the United States ever ordered the military to this highest alert level. He sat up and opened his eyes. “Should we order the evacuation of our major cities?”
General Mason shook his head. “The panic caused by such an announcement would tie up all the interstates and city streets. An evacuation of this magnitude won’t work. Besides, where would the people go?”
Drummond could feel his pulse racing. He knew General Mason was right. By this time tomorrow it was distinctly possible the majority of the people of Earth would be dead. Drummond wondered how history would remember him, if at all. Perhaps as a monster who had set the world on a path of destruction.
“Mr. President, we should go to the underground Command and Control Center. We have a Trellixian battlecruiser overhead and you’re a prime target. We could be hit at any moment once they realize what’s going on.”
President Drummond stood and then, turning, walked to the center of the three windows looking out over the White House grounds. His eyes were drawn to the roses in all of their glorious colors of red, yellow, white, and other shades. It had taken years to cultivate the rose gardens to wha
t they were today. Drummond, a tear running down his cheek, knew what he had just ordered destroyed.
Turning around, he nodded at General Mason. “Let’s go.”
-
Across the United States at each of four airfields a pair of B-21 bombers were rolled out of their secure hangers. For several minutes the large stealth bombers sat on the runways and then, one by one, took off toward their targets. Each bomber was escorted by two F-35 Lightnings. As soon as the planes were in the air they activated their stealth systems. The only chance the planes had of success was to approach the Trellixian battlecruisers undetected. All the pilots and crews knew the odds of making it back to their bases were practically zero.
-
In Washington President Drummond, General Mason, and other essential personnel were inside the large underground Command and Control Center. Drummond was escorted to a small office to one side of the Situation Room.
“How long?” he asked General Mason. He had just ordered the first nuclear strike since bombs were dropped on Japan in World War Two.
“Bombers and fighters are in the air. As soon as the nuclear strikes go in, our other fighters will launch and try to take out any Trellixian shuttles which haven’t made it back to their ships. After that our fighters will be dispersed to out-of-the-way locations.”
“There is one more thing,” Dwight Meadows said with a grim look on his face. “The fleet around Neptune is on the move. It will be arriving at Earth sometime in the next few hours. That could be what the Trellixians are waiting for.”
“Then we launched our attack at the appropriate time.”
“It seems that way,” replied General Mason. “General Mitchell is ordering all special units to go quiet. Regular Army units will be used to move what civilian populations we can to designated areas where emergency supplies have been stored.”
Drummond knew these were cave systems in mountainous regions and even a few underground facilities. However, he also knew they could only save a fraction of the country’s population.
-
Battle Commander Balforr studied the latest reports coming in. Numerous riots had broken out in a number of cities in the United States. The president had mobilized the military to restore order and large numbers of military units were on the move.
“I don’t like this,” Balforr said as he gazed at one viewscreen showing a convoy of over sixty military vehicles traveling down a paved road toward one of the cities. “Looking back, everything seems to have been orchestrated by the Humans to delay our attack. They’ve drawn out our negotiations, hidden the facts about the Jelnoid scout ship, secreted away some military units, and now this.”
“What could they be up to?” asked Second Officer Jaltor, confused. “Surely they wouldn’t set fire to their own cities?”
Balforr shifted his gaze to a viewscreen of a city with several large buildings burning. “Wouldn’t they? How much longer until the invasion fleet reaches the planet?”
“Less than two hours,” answered Jaltor.
Balforr considered his options. “As soon as it goes into orbit, we will launch our attack. Is there any indication the Humans have detected our incoming fleet?”
“No, nothing in the communications we have with their space agency. All communications this morning have been normal.”
Balforr’s eyes narrowed sharply. “If they have access to Jelnoid technology they should have detected the fleet by now. This is just another indication they haven’t been truthful with us and are hiding something. These Humans are very devious and possibly more dangerous than the High Command projected.”
“There are reports of Human military movements in almost every country. Even those without any civil unrest,” added Jaltor.
Balforr took a deep breath, baring his teeth. “It could be a precautionary measure to prevent what’s occurring here in the United States and a few other countries.”
“Or this could all be a ruse to get some of their military units to safety,” suggested Jaltor. “We should strike now before they go into hiding.”
“Battle Commander Traven will be here shortly,” Balforr said as he considered Jaltor’s words, coming to believe the same thing. “Once he arrives, none of this will matter.” He needed Battle Commander Traven’s battlecruisers to launch the attack against the Humans. It was essential they hit all targets containing nuclear weapons at the same time and many of those locations were spread across this world.
Balforr gazed at the burning city on the viewscreen, wondering if this was some ruse. However, it wasn’t just this city; it was a number of others as well. In past attacks on other inhabited planets where they had made contact with the inhabitants before cleansing the planet there had been similar instances where the population had panicked. Perhaps this was what was occurring here. Balforr still felt uneasy as if he suddenly was no longer in control of the situation.
“I don’t trust these Humans,” Balforr finally said. “Place all our ships on a heightened alert level.”
“Should we go back into orbit?”
Balforr considered that for a moment and then shook his head. “No, they won’t dare launch an attack against our ships as long as we’re above their cities. Once the invasion fleet arrives we’ll join them in orbit and begin our attack. Until then, we will remain in our present positions so as not to worry the Humans.” Balforr’s gaze returned to the viewscreens where several cities were on fire and massive riots were taking place in the streets. Humans shouted, carried signs, and threw projectiles at the Human police forces trying to restore order. It was total chaos.
Balforr wondered just what type of world they had come to.
-
Lieutenant Adam Scott waited tensely as his F-35 Lightning rapidly neared its target. He glanced out of the cockpit at the two B-21 bombers his flight of four F-35s protected. They were closing at over 620 miles per hour on their target, Los Angeles, at an altitude of twelve thousand feet.
The bombers suddenly climbed and the four F-35s followed suit. They maintained radio silence to decrease the chance of detection. In the distance, Adam could see their target. The Trellixian battlecruiser was two thousand meters long and cylindrical in shape. The outside of the huge vessel was dotted with antennae, communication dishes, and offensive and defensive weaponry designed for war. Adam wondered how many other worlds this deadly ship had helped to conquer in the past.
It was early dawn with the sun just beginning to peek over the distant horizon. Much of the countryside was still shrouded in darkness. Ahead he could see the city lights of Los Angeles which seemed to stretch on for miles. It didn’t take long and soon all six aircraft were at fifty thousand feet. With every passing second the likelihood of detection grew. Scott searched the air around their target, looking for any shuttles. None were visible.
Suddenly the bay doors on the two bombers opened and moments later a single LRSO, Long-Range Standoff cruise missile, dropped from each and then their engines ignited. On the front of each missile was a W80-4 nuclear warhead set for a nuclear blast of sixty kilotons.
Immediately the two bombers initiated sharp turns and dove toward the ground. Lieutenant Scott felt the sudden increase in g-forces as he followed them. He knew not to look in the direction of the blast as his fighter followed the rapidly descending bombers. Mentally he counted the eighteen seconds for the missiles to reach their targets.
-
The two cruise missiles closed on the battlecruiser even as alarms sounded inside the Command Center of the Trellixian vessel. Before the enemy battlecruiser could raise its energy shield, the two missiles slammed into the hull, detonating. In two massive blasts of nuclear fire, the bow and stern of the huge ship were obliterated. Secondary explosions tore apart the rest of the ship, raining burning debris on the city below.
The twin nuclear blasts struck the city too. Each explosion was nearly three times more powerful than the bomb that fell on Hiroshima. Buildings crumbled as a firestorm engulfed the center of
Los Angeles. Two hundred thousand people died instantly from the heat of the blast. The twin blast waves traveled outward as hurricane-force winds toppled buildings and threw cars and buses into the air. With every passing moment tens of thousands died from the fury of the nuclear explosions.
-
Lieutenant Scott felt his fighter shake severely in the turbulence caused by the blasts. In anguish he saw one of the bombers and one of the fighters plummet downward out of control. Both slammed into the ground and blew apart in bright fireballs.
“Target one is down, I repeat, target one is down,” came the voice of the commanding officer in the remaining bomber as he transmitted a short message to command.
The surviving bomber and three fighters leveled out at two thousand feet and darted away from the spreading carnage behind them. No one wanted to think about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who had just died.
Taking a deep breath Lieutenant Scott dared to look behind. He felt dizziness sweep over him at the sight of the mushroom cloud rising over Los Angeles. While the enemy ship had been destroyed they had just killed a lot of innocent Americans. Many had still been sleeping.
-
Battle Commander Balforr was in his quarters when the ship shook violently, nearly throwing him to the deck. Klaxons sounded and he felt the ship’s engines suddenly increase in power. Going to his large metal desk he pressed the Comm button. “What’s going on?” he demanded. “What struck the ship and why has the power to the engines been increased?”
“A nuclear missile struck our energy shield,” replied Second Officer Jaltor. “We managed to shoot a second one down. We barely got our shield up in time. A number of our other ships weren’t so fortunate.”
Earth Fall: Invasion : (Book One) Page 5