Invasion Earth

by David Tienter

  By two o’clock that afternoon, they straggled down the hill to the Preston football field. Soon they had a fire working in the cool air. The whistles came out and the shrill scream sounded. Within twenty minutes many of the citizens had joined them.

  Jake walked through the crowd greeting those he knew, then climbed up on the grandstand.

  “We are the North West Militia. We are here to help you eradicate the aliens that have infiltrated your town. We are raising a military force that will help others survive in this, the greatest fight mankind has ever faced.”

  A tall well-dressed man at the front of the milling crowd spoke loudly. “There are no aliens here. We want to know by whose authority you have the right to invade our town.”

  Sam’s coyote slipped through the people like a shadow and was on the man’s leg before he could be stopped. The man screamed as he tried to beat the animal back. In his attention to the coyote, his disguise faded and the crowd stood looking at their first Tonkian.

  George killed him with a single shot. The townspeople gathered around, looking at the dead alien.

  “We’re going to check the people here to see if there are any more embedded aliens among you.”

  The whistles sounded and the coyotes went quickly through the crowd, causing two more Tonkians to run. They were both killed by shotgun blasts.

  “That race, those aliens, is why your lights are out. That race is why you have missing people. That race is here to eradicate all human life. Do you understand now why we’re here? “

  Jake spoke loudly. “We want all of you with guns to join us in sweeping your town free of those green-skinned monstrosities. We will welcome any of you to join us here in the Militia. We mean to set the world free from its invaders. This can be accomplished by force only. The aliens mean to eradicate us. Join us and help wipe them from the face of our planet.”

  The militia spent the evening scouring the town for aliens. Having seen two of the hideous creatures lying dead on the football field, they realized the creatures had lived among them. The citizens were frightened.

  All the houses and stores were searched, then locked tight. The city park, the county fairgrounds, and even the trees lining the small creek that flowed through were searched. In all, the Militia and the citizens who had joined them killed fourteen Tonkians.

  One townsman had been severely wounded when he walked too close to one of the dying aliens. The Tonkian cut the man’s chest open with a sweep of its claw.

  The Militia set up at the fairgrounds that night and talked to the men about joining up with them. More than sixty men joined that night and returned home for weapons and supplies. By morning mess time, Jake’s force had swelled to a hundred troops.

  ‘North to Seattle and North for all Mankind’, became the battle cry as they formed up and began walking up highway 16, now that they were less than fifty miles from Seattle. They’d push the green-skinners right into the ocean.

  They began the walk as a mass of men, but Jake, Ted, and Dave strolled among them, talking to everyone and assigning each man to a squad. There were four squads now. Each had its own chain of command, with a sergeant and two acting corporals in each squad.

  The men walked with a confident pride. Their bearing was increasingly military. The older members related stories and information to the new volunteers. After all, they were the Militia, committed to a glorious mission. All of mankind was dependent on them and others like them.

  Sam had been watching the road ahead. Within a mile, they would pass the end of the open farmed land and move into the forest.

  Sam slipped back near Jake.

  “The trees close in next to the road ahead. You might want to send scouts out a mile or so ahead, to make sure we’re not walking into a trap.”

  Jake picked four local men to scout ahead. All knew this section of the road. They were happy to be given the honor of being the first scouts. As the company moved into the semi-shade provided by the trees, the men began to search the road-sides nervously. The locals informed the others that the road would be clear in another eight miles.

  Near noon, the scouts returned to the company, reporting directly to Jake that they had seen an unknown number of aliens ahead. They had seen six, but believed there were more in the group by the way the Tonkians were acting.

  “Good work, men,” said Jake. “Return to your squads and tell the men to load their weapons.“ He raised his voice so all could hear. “Fall out, men, ten minute break.

  “Sergeants, meet up with me.”

  When Sam, George, and the other two sergeants arrived, Jake told them of the possible ambush ahead. Keep your men alert. Try to act naturally as we march up there. We’re going to try to spring a little surprise on them. Now return to your squads.”

  He grabbed Sam and George’s arms as they walked past, indicating he wanted them to stay with him.

  “This road was cut through a rift in the valley. There is high ground on both sides. I want each of you to lead ten men from your squad up to set an ambush on the ambushers. Move out several hundred yards, then north to where you see alien movement near the road. Sam, take the left flank, George, the right. When the company gets within one hundred yards of you, open up. You should be firing down at them, so there will be no friendly fire, hopefully. “Can you do it?”

  Both nodded back to him.

  “Give us fifteen minutes to get there and settle in, Jake,” said George. “Oh, and Jake, has anyone ever told you look like a madman with that long scraggly beard blowing in the wind?”

  “Ah yes, they have laddie,” said Jake. “But the lassies love it so. Now off with you.”

  Sam and George moved quickly but steadily. They filed out of camp so casually that if Jake had not known their mission, he would not have seen them.

  He lit a cigar for the first time this morning and walked slowly back to the company. “Men of the North West Militia,” he said, “This will be our first battle.” He paused for a puff on his cigar. “And our first victory. Watch out for yourselves and your mates.” He took his position at the front of the company and walked toward the Tonks.

  The roadway before them rose upward gradually, with deep ditches on either side. Jake stayed the course, moving bravely into the shade where the trees overlaid the road. The ambush would happen any time now, he thought, seconds before the hillside to his left erupted with fire and Tonkians began running from the sides of the road, racing relentlessly at the Militia. Jake could see that many of the green-skinned aliens were falling from the hail of bullets rained down on them by Sam, George and their men.

  The men behind him were firing now. Arrows and rocks flew past him. The Tonkian leading the charge fell on the road less than ten feet before him. The whole melee lasted less than five minutes but seemed more like three hours to Jake. Six of his men had serious injuries, two had been killed, but they had broken the ambush and killed over twenty of the Tonkians.

  It seemed a victory, a good start for the Militia, but rumors began to pass among the men about George. Two of the Tonkians had attacked him. He had fought like he was possessed and killed both aliens with a knife. He’d shaken off their attack and led the ambushers as if his killing the aliens was of no matter. No man could be that tough. No man could be that fast. The men were looking at him strangely.

  Jake talked to him about the rumors after they’d had their evening meal.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” said George.

  He searched out one of the ambushers he’d taken with him, named Roger. He knew the man slightly, and sat down next to him. “Damn,” he said, “Roger, I’m still shaking. Must have triple load of adrenalin pumping through me. I swear, can’t remember what even happened when they jumped me. You got anything to drink? I could sure use a drink, I have to settle my nerves a little. Never had fear take over me like that. Did ya see what happened?”

  “I did see it, George, and you were great. You got lucky and got them both with your knife. Fastest thing I
ever did see. You’ve given hope to every man in the company. I’m proud to call you my friend.”

  George stood slowly. “We’ll always be friends. Just glad you had my back this afternoon. Without you there to distract them, they’d a got me.”

  By morning, George’s reputation was that of a tough, lucky fighter. He quickly became the most popular man in the Militia.

  The Militia moved through three more towns before they reached the outskirts of Seattle. Their numbers had grown to over 600 members. Everyone had known from the start that this would be the toughest place. The numbers against them could be insurmountable. There was no way to tell how many Tonkians had infiltrated the city.

  A new morning and new hopes were rising. They marched en masse with no resistance for the first half mile. Then, only fifty miles to go the Tonkians began to fight back. A force of them had stretched blocks across the road and had set up a barrier behind which they fired arrows and slung rocks. The Militia hunkered down and began to dig foxholes.

  The rocks began to take a toll. But the Militia battled on. Little of the Tonkians was visible to shoot at. Car doors were confiscated to use as covers for the soldier’s foxholes.

  Jake held a late night conference with Sam, George, Ted, and Dave. “We’re stuck here with nothing but bad options. They seem stretched out too far for us to flank them. A frontal assault will kill too many of our men, but staying with our current line will result in attrition, which means a slow death for all.”

  “We can’t retreat,” said George. “That would mean leaving a nest of Tonkians behind us to kill the people of Seattle. Besides, the Tonkians would run us down and kill us at will.”

  “I’ve gone down the Tonkian lines both ways,” said Sam, “and I think you’re right, we can’t flank them.”

  “Losses are bad,” said Ted, “But a part of war. I opt for a frontal assault. If we can break their line and kill them, we can move forward into the heart of Seattle. If nothing else, the people of Seattle may see us and come to help.”

  “Why do I feel like Pickett at Gettysburg?” said Jake.

  “I’m stuck,” said Sam. “Hate to lose good men in a charge, especially when we don’t know their numbers. If we retreat and try to recruit more men, it could be months before we get back. Hard choices, Jake. I’ m backing you whichever you choose.”

  Jake stood slowly and arched his back, trying to stretch taut muscles. “We’ll start moving forward at 0530. Sam, you take the left flank. George, you got the right. Godspeed men, and may God have mercy on us.”

  Early came the hour of the Militia’s start. Before 0500, the men were up and assembled. The darkness was filled with a silence that magnified every noise. Dawn broke on a wet, foggy morning. The men loaded their weapons with trembling hands. Jake had spread the word of the coming attack the night before. He knew there might be deserters, but he could not throw his men forward into such a dangerous maneuver without letting them make their own decision. He was proud that no one had chickened. The first tentative steps were taken into no-man’s land. Jake led the way. They walked slowly, using the fog to cover them as long as possible. Still thirty yards from the barricades, the Tonkians began firing arrows and rocks at the men.

  Whistles blew, shotguns roared and the men ran for the barricade. As they ran into the barrage of missiles, they began to fall. Those who carried shields became the front line as the mass of men moved forward. The line came to a stop less than twenty yards from the barricade, and the men burrowed behind the shields and fired at the enemy.

  Sam’s squad had a small amount of cover provided by three scrub trees growing in the fence row, and his men used the light depression and tiny trees for cover. Still twenty yards from the Tonkians lines, the men resisted leaving the trees to enter the killing field again.

  George’s men were making better progress on the right. With George’s shield and reputation, they had closed to within ten yards of the barricade. The screams of the wounded men mixed with the keening cry of the wounded aliens in a morning heavy with the smell of gunpowder.

  Jake had taken an arrow in his left leg early in the battle. He watched his men advance while trying to stem the flow of blood from his wound. His men were brave but they were outnumbered and in a precarious position.

  Checking his left flank, Sam saw that the Tonkians where circling the Militia. They were attacking his squad, hoping to fold the Militia inward. Sam‘s squad altered their field of fire and began cutting down some of the attackers. His men, fighting valiantly, tried to beat back the attacking horde, but as bravely as they fought, Sam could see the numbers of the Tonkians was too great and they would soon be overrun. He slowly drew a deep breath. Everything in his life and the lives of his men had come to this minute. Nothing mattered except this. Beat back the aliens.

  He had already lost half of his squad to the rocks and arrows, but the remaining men fired and reloaded as rapidly as possible. Heat from the guns and the smoke of their firing made it difficult to breathe.

  Suddenly, the Tonks veered to the south. Mere seconds before Sam’s squad would have been overrun by the aliens. Seeing the wave of battle turning in their favor, his squad kept the heat on the aliens, forcing them backward.

  Looking back at the barricade, Sam saw the Tonkians were crawling over the barricade to attack them instead of remaining behind their cover. The aliens were running at the Militia. The humans began to cut them down, but the speed of the aliens was incredible. They reached the militia and Jake gave up all hope for his men. But the aliens did not stop to fight, they ran past his forces and continued heading southward. His men turned and fired at the fleeing enemy.

  Men in uniform smashed down the barricade and met up with the Militia. “Cease fire! “cried Jake.

  The new army methodically moved from one Tonkian to another, shooting them where they lay on the field of battle. No prisoners, no wounded. They made sure every alien was dead. Jake talked to several members of the new army.

  “We are the Army of Canada. Our Leader, Major General Johnson, will be here soon. Seattle is clear. We’ve been driving them south, and we’re going to chase these green-skinners while we got them on the run.” The Canadian Army men moved south and out of view. The roar of battle became muffled.

  Jake gathered his company and began treating the wounded.

  Ten minutes later, the Headquarters Unit of the Canadian army came down the road.

  The man in the fancy uniform stepped forth. “I am Major General Johnson from Canada. I realize we are on United States soil without permission. I’m formally asking you as the first Military Force we’ve encountered for your permission to proceed.”

  “Of course, you’re welcome,” said Jake. “I am the leader of the North West Militia. You have my permission to remain on United States soil. This is a war to save earth from invaders. We are all brothers-in-arms fighting an alien force. Country borders don’t count when we need to save the earth for mankind.”

  “We’re going to push south. We’ve been told that the Texas National Guard was coming north. Maybe we can catch them between us and wipe them off the face of earth. We’ll try to kill them all. Killed about 20,000 in a battle on the shores of Lake Louise. Pushed them right out into the water and many drowned. Going to be fat fish in that lake next year.

  “They’re difficult foes to fight. One day you’re killing zombies, the next day it’s school kids. They have some kind of shape-shifting ability. Mostly, though, they’re huge green-skinned monstrosities.

  “We figure it’ll take at least a month to meet up with Texas. It’s time for us to keep moving. Trying to keep up with these younger troops can be hard. Hope you can join us later.”

  “General Johnson,” said Sam, “Where did you learn about the Texas National Guard?”

  “A young man named Ernie. He said it was a rumor that was being spread among the people in the United States.”

  Jake called his men together. “That was the Army of Canada. They had als
o been invaded by the aliens. Their general told me he drove over twenty thousand of them into Lake Louise, killing them all. He swept through Seattle and he says it’s clear. We have been welcomed to join him when we can move. Now, let’s get some breakfast cooked, get everyone patched up, and we’ll move south to help clear our world from the alien horde.

  “You were magnificent this morning, men. If I had it in my power, I would award each and every one of you medals of great honor. Thank you for your service.”

  After the Headquarters Unit moved south, the Canadian soldiers continued to move down the road as the stragglers tried to catch up. The Militia began its morning meal and many of the men stopped for a plate of food, or just picked up the freely offered sandwiches and continued south.

  George was bandaging a wound on one of his squad members when he saw a familiar face stop to eat breakfast.

  “Ernie, Ernie,” he called. Ernie turned to see him and the brothers ran to embrace each other.

  “Didn’t know if I’d ever see you again. You look great. Come over and say hello to everyone. I’ve got Sam, Jinjer, and Cheri here with me. The rest of the family is in Texas. We can all go south together.”

  Ernie held back. “Wait, I have to tell you, Mary is dead. The Tonks surrounded us and she was hit by an arrow. I tried to get her out of there, but she was already dead. Nothing I could do.

  “I managed to escape. When I got to Canada, I walked right into Johnson’s office and held him down until he listened to me. He’s a touch hard-headed. When he finally understood that Canada had been invaded and that its citizens were in dire danger, he mobilized his forces and moved east against the main body of Tonks.”

  GENERAL DAN WYATT

  “It’s risky,” said General Wyatt.

  “I agree totally,” replied Izzie. “There’s nothing in my books that says anything like this will work.”

  They were standing at the General’s desk looking at the diagrams Izzie had drawn out.