The Battle for Humanity (Part One)

Egaji bombs exploding nearby. I felt a cold sweat now. Up ahead was a big pit, an explosion crater. If we could get into it, we would have a good cover. The soldier and I both jumped at the same time. We landed badly inside the pit. I hit my elbow on a rock. Damn it! A smell of ash everywhere.

"Lieutenant..." The Commander’s voice shouted. "I looked up at the other end of the crater. Oh my God! Commander Troy had no legs. They’ve been blown out. His entire body was charred. The USB armor no doubt keeping him alive, but he wasn’t going to last long. Dark red blood ran down his waist, he tried holding himself upright as I crawled over to him. I got next to him as he took off his helmet.

"Get the weapon...to one of the other Elect." I took his bag.

"I’ll set it off Commander."

"No, Lieutenant..." He said his voice weaker with the seconds. "If you don’t want to annihilate our forces, we have to get into their center. And it’s too hot for you to go."

"Is it activated yet?"

"No. The countdown is one minute. Once you get it to one of the others, have them twist the top of the cylinder. Then it will count down and detonate." He coughed. "Remember, thirty miles unto the position it’s set on. Make sure to tell them, to have the triangle pointed to the Egaji Armada."

"I will Commander." I carried the Purity Device on my back. And shook the dying Elect’s hand.

"Say a prayer for all of us Lieutenant."

"I will sir." He lay down, back against the ground. His grip faded. He was dead now.

"What do we do now Lieutenant?" The soldier asked me. I stood up from the crater. I had a great view of the field from here. The retreat had commenced. I couldn’t see any other Elect though.

"Code Delta, Zulu, Plato..." I said into the communicator. "Any Elect on the Field?" I heard more static. "Come in! Elect!"

"Plato," a voice said. "This is Captain Fisher, we regret to inform you that seven of our Elect have died in Battle. The other two are unconfirmed. Possibly K.I.A."

"They’re all dead??" I yelled into the Communicator.

"We still have Commander Troy." I looked at the soldier, almost on the verge of tears. "Don’t we Lieutenant?"

"What are we going to do sir?" The soldier asked me. I touched the bag on my back. I could feel the cylinder.

"Prepare all for a massive retreat pass the dead zone now! Plato out!" I reloaded my MAT 56. "You get pass the Dead Zone son. You can’t come with me for this.

***

The soldier ran back. Up ahead of me, was a hover glider. Most likely the Blue-Stripes. It was mine now. I boarded it, energy full. I put the gunner on A.I.

I activated the Purity Device now. 60 seconds. I lifted some twenty feet in the air. I was off. All that was in front of me now was Egaji. Their tanks were blasting our men on the field now. 50 seconds. The aircraft also was concentrating on those retreating. They were too preoccupied to be focusing on a single hovercraft coming towards them. That was good for me. I felt raindrops now, or was it blood? I didn’t care anymore. 40 seconds. I looked at the Egaji underneath me, as some looked up and pointed at me. But I was going too fast. But not fast enough. A blast shook me from the air, fire all around me, I went crashing down in the middle of their fleet.