Guardian Angel (3 page)

“And when we recover the power cell, our people plan to send another series of satellites into orbit?” Alicia asked.

Nadia and her team gleaned at the Commander as he nodded his approval.

“It's alright, Alicia's team has level-five clearance.” Snelling said.

“We are not planning to launch another Guardian Angel, no. The power cell is for a ship.” Nadia replied.

“A ship?” Alicia asked, puzzled at passing on the chance to create a third safe haven for the human population.

“Our scientists have been working with the Germans in constructing a large space craft that will launch and go into direct combat with the Ancients' mother ship.” Commander Snelling replied.

Alicia and her team simply stood there, trying to soak up all of the information.

“We have three power cells at the moment, and this final cell will be enough to launch against them. If our ship is successful in destroying the Ancients' mother ship, their air superiority will be gone and the entire planet will become a safe zone. They will be reduced to fighting us in a conventional war campaign.” Nadia added.

“I see,” Alicia said. “And this ship?” she asked.

“The ship is approximately the size of six standard aircraft carriers, and is currently in the final stages of production deep inside of the Berlin safe zone,” Nadia replied. “Just help us get through the wastelands and retrieve the power cell, and I promise you that the Ancients will finally begin to regret the war they created. We will show them that the Human race is much more than the weak, mindless cattle they believe us to be.” she added.

“Get your team's needed supplies in order and then get some rest. First thing tomorrow we will be sending the convoy on its way.” Commander Snelling said, nodding to his team of elite soldiers with Alicia nodding back before leaving the meeting, both Calypso and G closely behind.

“Don't worry Nadia, my team will deliver. They always do.” Snelling added as he turned back to her group.

“I'm sure working together will lead to imminent success.” she replied with a grin, slowly gathering her group to exit into the streets of Washington City.

As she sat on the worn rooftop of a building close to the safe zone perimeter, Alicia looked across the landscape, her arms wrapped around her legs. The rooftop had long been her home, a shelter as well as many comforts around her. A glimmer waved across her dark hair as she began to look directly above, watching for several minutes the glowing lights which reflected above the city in unison.

Even during the day, Guardian Angel shielded them, though it was common knowledge that the Ancients very rarely traveled during the day. It had something to do with the gray pigment of their skin and the effects of a particular strain of ultraviolet light sent down by the sun's gleam. At least that's what she had always been told. Still, at times, the Ancients would travel during the day. Shifting their forces, but always heavily shielded when doing so.

Alicia's attention was quickly pulled from the defense system above as she began to follow an earth shattering screech, followed by a second. United States Navy planes, F-16 Fighting Falcons to be exact and hauling ass to say the least as they swept past the city with ease, more than likely to execute a tactical strike on a military target nearby.

The Human race was depleted, but not extinct. And those who had survived the initial strike on Invasion Day, had a score to settle. The Ancients sent their ships in behind a wave of Hydrogen bombs, a very advanced type that fed water into the tip of the missile moments before impact. It allowed the weapon to cause mass destruction, while leaving no traces of radiation behind.

Entire cities wiped out within minutes, the only memory of them implanted into those who survived to fight back. At first, the might of Earth's largest armies fought valiantly. Yet, after only weeks, they too had fallen for the most part. The United States and Germany remained. The fact that the United States had its army stationed all over the world made it hard to be tracked down. And though it remained, the greatest Human army to ever march was down to about ten percent in strength.

The Germans were also hovering around ten percent of their force prior to Invasion Day, possibly even less. The grit of the Russian Army held the Ancients back much longer than expected. Long enough for Japan, China and North Korea to arrive in full-force.

The War of Stalingrad lasted just over a month, millions of Human warriors falling and taking with them hundreds of thousands of Ancients. For the first time, the alien race had known the true loss of war, and it was that very loss that led to their first defeat in battle. Berlin.

The weakened race of star-born murderers went into Berlin expecting swift victory, but instead found themselves backing away just two weeks later. The Germans had held, at least what remained of them. And their scientists worked around the clock with the brightest minds of the United States in developing Guardian Angel.

It was a network of low orbiting satellites, each emitting a burst of EMP on a timer. Together, they formed Guardian Angel, and ensured that nothing of a digital manner could be used. Nothing technologically advanced, and that leveled the playing field for the Humans, at least inside of Guardian Angel, which sparkled in the night sky as though stars were randomly bursting.

Humans had become dependent on a more basic way of living. A society fueled by steam power, mixed with a thirst for revenge against the gray-skinned bastards who forced them into this life. And the Ancients continued to come, though it was limited to ground based fighting and the most simplistic weapons from their arsenal. In fact, they had developed their own weaponry for use inside of Guardian Angel.

The most commonly used loadout was a Puncher(fancy term for a semi-automatic rifle that was steam-fed and packed the punch of an American .50 Caliber rifle) and a man-chete. It had a toothed blade, was arm sized and machete-like. The Ancients had decided to call it the man-chete as if to mock the Human race, the blade killing countless men since it had been put into use.

Daylight was the biggest ally for Humans in this war of species, and what remained of the military-trained wasted none of it, wringing every second of every day in order to inflict as much damage as they possibly could to a race of beings who deserved nothing less.

“From Norfolk?” Nadia asked, approaching the seated vixen with caution. “I hope you don't mind. Snelling let me know where you were staying.”

“Yea. More than likely be hearing it all day.” Alicia replied in a calm voice, turning for a moment to acknowledge her face to face. “And no, I don't mind.”

Before Nadia could respond, a squadron of the older style F-14 Tomcats blazed overhead, locked and loaded as both women were able to catch a glimpse of the fighters and their inventory of attached missiles.

“So I see,” Nadia replied. “You guys are lucky to have such a military force still intact.” she added.

“Lucky?” Alicia asked, turning to stare into the area of several large boulders that lay between the horizon of the wastelands and the edge of Washington City.

“Less than a month ago, the Ancients made it to that exact spot, nearly taking the city.” she added.

“But your air power?” Nadia asked as she sat down.

“Power? Sure, they fly by in the morning ready to get into the fight,” Alicia said. “But by dusk, the few who are lucky enough to make it back are hauling ass with their tails tucked between their legs.” she added.

A silence fell across them both for several minutes, the sound of airships landing nearby as well as explosions in the far reaches of the landscape. A direct effect of the missiles seen only moments before.

“So. The Ancient?” Alicia asked with dedicated calm.

“Which one?” Nadia replied, bursting into laughter moments later as Alicia gave her a sarcastic, yet playful look.

“Certes came to us a little over two years ago.” Nadia added.

“Willingly? As in, to aid in our defense or willingly die?” Alicia asked.

“No. He showed up at the gates of the Berlin safe zone one rainy day, said he and a few others were against the innocent slaughter of any race. Provided us with a lot of important information. To be honest, none of us trusted them at first either. But, Certes has personally saved my life more than once.” Nadia replied.

“Them? You mean there are more of them?” Alicia asked, stunned at the idea.

“Yes. Close to two dozen of them live in Berlin and aid our military. Several more who are loyal to us remain in the ranks of the Ancients, supplying us with information. Trust me, once you see what they can do in a hand to hand fight, you'll understand why Certes escorted us here.” Nadia replied.

“I wish we had the same luxury here.” Alicia responded.

“It comes at a great price,” Nadia said. “The faction of Ancients who fight us for Berlin are a different monster. Your enemy at the gates wishes to enslave you, ours prefers the salty taste of Human flesh,” she added. “I've seen them do things. Terrible things,” Nadia said before pausing. “Watching the soldiers around me having their tendons pulled from the skeletal frame beneath during battle, only to watch them feed the hunger of the bastards who slay us...it's not something I signed up for.”

“I understand.” Alicia said, turning to Nadia for a moment as silence fell across the two.

There were no words to follow, only a gaze of exploration on the part of both women. Nadia reached out a bit, smoothing the bottom of Alicia's chin with her hand as they continued their stare of forbidden expression.

“I have not been introduced to beauty such as yours in a long time, if ever.” Nadia finally said softly, her lips seeming to command Alicia's every thought.

Alicia was attracted to everything about Nadia. Her gorgeous figure, pursed lips and even the thick of her accent. She could tell that Nadia was a woman of high standards when it came to physical attraction, her attention to detail the giveaway.

“And I've noticed your eyes on me. In me,” Nadia said. “Am I right?”

Rather than verbally reply, Alicia continued her stare, gently bringing her tongue across her lips, before leaning in a bit.

Less than a second after Nadia had leaned herself, ready to begin a kiss which would surely lead to much more, the concrete block directly to the right side of her head burst into compacted dust, the sound of an extremely loud gunshot hanging through the streets of their section in Washington City.

Alicia lunged to Nadia, knocking her to safety as they both lay on the rooftop, Alicia straddling Nadia in what quickly became an intense, yet awkward moment, lips nearly touching. Had the situation been any different, she would have taken advantage of the moment by feeling Nadia out with both her hands and lips. However, her insatiable lust would have to wait as they took fire.

Pulling her two combat pistols out, Alicia's arm was quickly grabbed by Nadia, who looked at her with embarrassment.

“It's Preacher.” she said as Alicia stood there speechless.

“Your own team shoots at you?” she asked in disbelief as Nadia walked to the ledge of the roof.

“What did I tell you about doing that!” Nadia yelled into the direction of Preacher as he stood with Calypso on the street below.

She too had longed for a kiss that nearly took place, cursing in her mind the grimy sniper who had shattered such a perfectly-sexual moment.

“I was just showing him what the...” Preacher replied, cut off in mid sentence.

“I don't give a damn, stop doing it!” Nadia yelled, turning to Alicia and making their way to the steps.

“Sometimes I feel like a broken record around these social rejects.” Nadia added in a much calmer voice.

“Again I ask,” Alicia said, her thoughts on the near kiss only moments before. “Your own team shoots at you?” Alicia added as both ladies made their way to the streets below.

“Damn man, I am impressed.” Calypso said, holding the Heaven-Six rifle for himself and admiring the beauty of the weapon.

Its huge size allowed the weapon to carry the kick of a bolt action rifle, while giving the range and semi-automatic capabilities of a less powerful weapon.

The defining trait of the gun, however, was its power source. The large stock of the rifle contained a small cell, which was an Ancient technology that was normally designated for their own weapons. The glowing yellow tube had all of the properties of a highly powerful battery, though the cell technology also contained a self-charging unit.

Because of the simplistic design of the weapon and its glowing power cell of concentrated steam, it could be used inside of Guardian Angel. And in the right set of hands, used well.

Preacher could either fire shots in succession, each burst doing a decent amount of damage. Or he could harness a majority of the cell's power to fire a single shot, and a crippling one at that. Doing so forced him to wait a short time for the cell to recharge by way of steam, but it gave the sniper one thing that every soldier needs. Options. And he was damn deadly with the weapon to say the least.

“I swear to God the next time you pull that stunt I will kill you dead myself!” Nadia yelled, her chrome Luger of German design in hand and pointed into the direction of the sniper.