Planetfall

Calhoun city, the green jewel of Calhoun alpha is under attack from Confederate forces. Confederate troops firing at anyone they see. Their foes are nothing more than scared defenseless civillians.

The spaceport having been destroyed by a railgilun slug from orbit. Now replaced by a large crater.

A group of civillians take cover behind a wall but a hail of laser fire and bullets kill them with some blown to pieces, their blood and innards staining and littering the city streets.

Another group of civillians, a family of four among them runs for cover in a building when a large tank painted in black green, bursts through the building's wall crushing anyone in its way.

A little girl from the family is caught in the tanks rampage, crushing the girl under its threads. Blood splatter at her mother. The mother screams at the sight of her daughters brutal death only to explode. The tank firing its sponson mounted autocannon

"Commander! More filth at the left!" The driver shouts.

"Then what are you waiting for!?! Load spreadshot, turret traverse left!" The tank commander bellows his orders and his crew makes quick work. The turret turning at their target.

"FIRE!"

The commander orders to his gunner, the gun fires lifting dust. The shell spins midair and explodes midway to its target sending pieces of explosive pellets flying everywhere like a shotgun firing buckshots. People explode inside out one after another. Pellets penetrate in and out of their bodies, blood becoming vapor and guts flying everywhere.

The shell turns them into a mess of flesh and bone. The tank begins to move while opening fire on another direction leaving a blood trail and reaviling the crushed body of the girl earlier.

A confederate soldier radioes his superior showing a number of men, women and children with their backs on the wall. Majority having hair colors not natural for a human while others had animal parts like tails, fur and ears from cats, dogs and bears to his superior.

"I dont see civillians, all I see are filth plaguing and tainting humanity's purity. Cleanse them of their sin of existence."

The soldiers open fire at the civillians with their plasma weapons ignoring their cries of mercy. The wall behind them left with burn marks.

More Confederate dropships and landers touch down into the planet's dirt, the ramps and doors opening as they landed. The troops in crimson black armor and gas masks held within immediately disembarking.

Citizens try to make their way into the station the foundations of a skyscraper are blown apart The skyscraper falls into the station, forming a cloud of dust and smoke. A large mechanical digitigrade leg stomps the ground and another. A blue glow partially illuminating the dust cloud, a pair of red eyes looking at the ground. A war titan has landed on top of the station.

The titan takes aim at the civillians trying to run from the metal giant and fires it's plasma cannons, incinerating the people melting the concrete and asphalt with them. More titans dropping from giant transports. The titans detect the incoming formation of federation airships and gunships and all the titans fire missiles and super lasers at the formation. Annihilating the federation air forces supposed to defend the city and evacuate the citizens now at the mercy of the invaders.

•••

The Calhoun garrison navy fights furiously defending evacuating civillian spacecraft. Broadside guns nearly breaking down, automatic loading systems malfunctioning. The barrels of laser weapons overheating, some exploding and melting off.

Torpedoes from both sides either hit their foes damaging critical components or intercepted by PDC fire.

FSS 45 Genghis. One of the largest ships currently fighting in the planet's defense fire's torpedoes and missiles at an incoming frigate, destroying it. Its armaments is still not enough however. The Calhoun navy outgun the confederates but are outnumbered ten to one.

The Genghis Khan is the only ship of equal firepower. The rest of the Calhoun navy comprised of older cruisers and frigates.

"Admiral Ren, railguns and laser weapons are charged and ready to fire. Firing solution complete." A feminine digital voice informs the admiral commandeering the ship.

The Admiral sat in his command chair inside the ship's sealed CIC a holo table in front of him, The CIC filled with screens for the crew to see the status of the ships hull, components and systems.

He was old. His face looking like he has been in these kind of situations before. Like it is but a normal day for him.

"Focus laser battery fire on that carrier we should disrupt their landing operations for the moment. All railguns fire on the rest of the smaller vessels." The admiral calmly orders. The railguns fire at the ships, damaging and destroying the smaller transport ships and frigates shielding their flagship.

Laser batteries and broadside guns open fire on the carrier, piercing through the hull of the enemy ship taking away deck after deck. Chunk after chunk.

A shell hits the main reactor core. Exploding, and causing a chain reaction. Fire and plasma spreads across the decks and the carrier's ammunition room causing its broadside guns to burst into flames and moments later, the carrier itself exploding into pieces.

"Admiral! Enemy carrier destroyed!" A crewman reports.

"Yes we can see." the feminine voice replies and something glows in the holotable. A holographic figure in the shape of a woman. 1st Officer Elizabeth, her brain connected to the ship.

"Fifth frigate squadron reports more enemy transports and landers outside Calhoun City. I've directed another cruiser squadron to assist in the evacuation." Elizabeth says to Admiral Ren."Civillians are being evacuated as fast as possible."

Remembering that his ship has a very large hangar space for the civillian ships he gives his orders.

"Let us assist them. Helmsman set course for Fifth frigate squadron. Lets give the evacuees some space to land on."

"Aye Admiral. Heading now for the location the fifth frigate squadron".

•••

The railer arrives at the station and the passengers quickly disembark. Soldiers and medical units on site help the wounded. A mother pleads while holding her son, the glass shard still sticking out in his eye

Emily and her friends quickly head for Emily's village where their families are waiting. Forgot her bag and hoverboard.

Evacuation ships fly above them fly off into space with citizens on board amidst the barking of artillery and tanks echoing in the distance.

Reaching the village road, a convoy of tanks, armored vehicles and trucks carrying troops passes by heading straight to a nearby battle. Tracers flying in the air and explosions lighting up the night sky.

Crossing the road, Paxy stops in the middle and stares at the direction of the battle.

"Paxy. Paxy what's wrong!?!" Emily runs back to Paxy seeing her stop at the road. "Paxy we need to keep moving!"

"My home."

Emily's eyes widen. She looks at a direction post in the side of the road. The arrow points directly at the direction of the battle and the town, Arkhan. Paxy's hometown.

Recalling her father's words earlier about the village square being used as an evac site. She holds Paxys arms.

"Paxy, listen to me. This village is being used as an evac site. Its the only one there is." Emily explaines. "It's possible your family already left."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Now we gotta move alright?"

Processing what Emily said, Paxy nods and runs back to the two boys waiting for them.

"The village square, and a large bell tower where is that?" Arthur asks Emily.

"Its just on the other side of that hill." Emily answers as they make their way to safety.

•••

Bullets whizz in the air. Laser fire melting rock as Calhoun soldiers hold their ground. Tanks fire at enemy armor while armored utility vehicles fire into the infantry. Another tank equipped with a gatling cannon lay suppresing fire shredding its foes into ribbons, a friendly gunship drops bombs into the enemy lines. It's autocannons strafing enemy armored vehicles. But the more they kill, more enemy soldiers arrive.

"Captain we cant stay any longer were running low!" A sergeant shouts while firing his laser rifle.

A radio operator calls for an airstrike but his request is denied. He tries to call again only for the radio to be shot by a stray laser beam.

"Captain. More tanks! Big ones!" A private warned the captain, large tanks exiting the smoke.

"It just had to be Tiger Main Battle Tanks!" The sergeant yells.

Its threads and gears sqeak loudly. Stopping, it aims its gun and fires at them, destroying one of their tanks in the defesive positions. The turret popping of as it explodes

•••

"Guys just keep moving were almost there." Emily reminds her friends and herself that safety is near only for a Calhoun gunship to crash behind them. A soldier nearby urges the people to keep going.

"What do you mean they've broken through!?!" A nearby radio operator shouts as he talks to the soldiers on the defense line.

"They've broken through the lines and we're overrun! They're heading straight for the village!" Arthur hears the radio chatter while they are running and now tries to run faster to the top of the hill.

"Arthur wait!" Link calls out to Arthur but he keeps running.

Reaching the top he can see the battle raging nearby. The confederates and Calhoun forces are engaging in fiece close combat. Their large tanks crushing the utility vehicles and trucks used as makeshift cover and finally reaching the village entrance.

"Guys hurry up!" Arthur screams at them. Reaching the top they can see the evac site just down the other side.

The Confederates finally enter the village. The Calhoun soldiers try to stop the tanks but to no avail. The large metal behemoths plow through house after house.

One of the tiger tanks takes aim at the hill. Arthur still at the top doesnt notice as he helps an old man.

"Arthur c'mon!" Emily shouts to Arthur, not knowing the tank has its giant gun aiming at him.

The tank opens fire. The large shell the size of an oil barrel travels straight to Arthur, his eyes widening. The shell rips him in half. Hitting the dirt it explodes. Anyone near the explosion of the shell are torn apart and burnt to a crisp by the pressure wave and immense heat. Body parts, shrapnel amd rock flying everywhere.

Emily and Paxy are flung away by the blast, rolling down to the base of the hill, dirt raining down at them. Emily's ears rings again, blood on her face.But it isnt her's. There's no pain in her face. No shrapnel scratching or wounding her face.

Standing up she sees the hilltop blown off. The scent of burnt flesh in the air. Arthur, has just died right in front of her eyes. The image of his body being ripped apart now stuck on her mind.

"Link?"

Turning her head, Paxy lay on her knees, Link laying on his back, his head cracked open. His liquified brain spilling out, from a shrapnel flying through his head.

"Link. Link!" Paxy crawls to his dead body crying, begging the dead Link to come back to life. Emily couldnt move. The death of the two boys paralyzes her, her whole body shaking.

The screaming and rumbling however snaps her back to reality. Looking back at the hill top, people run as tracers fly and whizz over their heads. She needs to make a move if they are to survive.

"Paxy we have to keep moving. We have to go."

"No! What about Link!?! Arthur!?! We cant leave them!" Paxy yells at her not wanting to leave the two boys. Emily kneels and grabs hold of Paxy's head to only focus her eyes on to her.

"Paxy listen to me. Theres nothing we can do to help them! Okay!?! We have to go NOW!"

The rumbling gets louder. The tiger tank's sponsons open fire at the civillians from the hilltop. A soldier screams at the two telling them to run for it. Paxy nods at Emily and she grabs Paxy's hand and runs. She looks back as she leaves her two friends behind.

"The filth are running, dont let them escape!" A Confederate captain yells to his men, the confederate soldiers firing and charging at the people.

Bullets and shells whizz and fly above and beside Emily and Paxy. Calhoun soldiers and tanks outside the village square fire back to provide cover. A platoon of Calhoun soldiers, a heavy weapons squad and a tank equipped with twin link autocannons arrives to help and opens fire on the hill but the confederate forces continue advancing, not caring about the losses nor the wounds they receive.

Some confederate soldiers even continue to charge towards them even with their limbs blown off by laser fire.

Emily and Paxy finally arrive at the village square. The bell tower has been destroyed but the evacuation ships are still there, another about to take off.

"Paxy were here!" Emily tells Paxy. They both see people boarding the ships. But out of nowhere, Emily hears a roaring sound. Looking up, a squadron of Confederate jets dive down straight to the village square.

She hears her name being called by her mother, her father on her side and the families of her friends waiting inside the ships.

"Mom Dad NOOOO!"

"Get out there!"

Paxy and Emily yells to their parents.

The bombers release their payload. Anti-aircraft tanks fire at the bombs but miss. The bombs lands on the evacuation ships exploding on impact.

The soldiers defending the evac site are flabbergasted by the explosion. Rubble, a rain of blood and charred body parts falling into their positions. A large black cloud forming on top of them.

Emily again lay on the ground with her chest. Feeling pain all over her body. Her ears ringing again. She tries to get up but gasps as she sees the devastation around her. The village square on fire, the smoke surrounding the area. The bodies. Her eyes widen in shock. Dead bodies litterong the square, her parents among them torn apart by the explosions. The stench of burnt flesh filling the air.

"No. No no no."

Emily is paralyzed again, her friends die and now her parents and a whole crowd of scared innocents dead in a snap of a finger.

"Paxy. Paxy!" Emily looks beside her to see if Paxy is alright, only to see a hand. She looks everywhere, but the smoke makes it hard to see.

Emily? where are you?" Emily turns her head to the direction Paxy calls out to her, her voice dull and faint.

"Paxy?"

Emily tries to stand and walk to Paxy but feels pain in her right leg and falls to the ground screaming. The bones on her right leg has snapped, her tibia sticking out her flesh.

It hurt, her leg, her whole body is in agony from the shockwave and shrapnel. She doesnt care and tries to ignore the pain. She crawls to Paxy, her blood flowing out of her wounds. Getting closer, Paxy looks like her legs have been blown off from the bombs and crawls faster.

"Im here, Paxy im here" Emily says to her wounded friend, her voice clearly trembling from the pain. Finally, she reaches her.

"Paxy Im here. Im h-" Emily didnt finish her question seeingPaxy isnt just missing her legs, her whole lower body is gone. Her organs and blood everywhere.

"Emily h-help me. Emily I dont w-wanna die." Paxy beggs to Emily. Wishing for the pain to go away, but there is nothing she can do.

"Paxy stay with me a bit longer. Everything will be fine. Its what you would always say right?" Emily is on her knees trying to comfort her dying friend. Paxy clutching Emily's hand.

"Emily, I dont want to die...I dont...wanna...d-die" Her hold on Emily's hand loossens drops.

"Paxy? Paxy.Hey Paxy!" She notices her breathing has stopped. Paxy, has died, right in front of her. Her best friend. Gone.

"Paxy"

Emily cant do anything, all she can do is weep and mourn. Her sobs muted by the sounds of battle.

Out of the smoke, a confederate soldier arrives and sees Emily on her knees, mourning over Paxy. He walks right up to her with disgust on his face. Aiming his rifle at her head ready to kill her.

Emily slowly raise her head and looks straight into the soldiers face. The barrel of his weapon aiming at the center of her face.

"This is what happens when you love a filth like her." The soldier says to her.

Emily feels weak, she feels she is about to pass out, even if she tries to run it's pointless. He'll just shoot her.

She closes her eyes, waiting for the inevitable while holding onto Paxy's lifeless corpse.

It never comes. Instead, a bright yellow flash vaporizes the confederate soldier's head, his body falling to the stone bricks of the village square. She looks at where the flash came from but her vision is blurry and getting blurrier every second. Blobs of green move towads her shined by the flames. She tries to concentrate her vision but starts to feel her body becoming weaker.

She lays down on her side, no longer having the strength to stay on her knees. The green blobs get closer seeimg them clearly now. They were Calhoun soldiers.

"HEEEEEY! I got a live one here! Get a medic now!"

Her eyes gets heavier by the second. The soldiers try to keep her awake but she cant do it.

The soldiers treat her wounds to stop the bleeding all over her body, she holds Paxy again. Her hand laying on Paxy's necklace.

Eyes slowly close and her world turns dark quiet.

"Paxy. I...Im sorry."