Chapter One “How It All Began”

Machine gun fire rings out! Heavy mortar and grenade blasts deafen all around! Cannon shots rage across the war torn landscape of what was a former major United Sates city, Houston.

Skyscrapers, warehouses, homes all reduced to rubble from two years of intense warfare. With what structures that are still standing provide unsavory cover, for they are now the prime targets for bombardment.

The streets of a once great city lay littered with burning vehicles, scorched paper and materials, and crumpled military armaments. The rivers, bayous, and streams flow with blood of soldiers and even their lifeless bodies. This city, once of millions in the year 2012, currently stands as a village of a few hundred in 2014.

The people of Houston and America are not alone for everyone is experiencing this same fate. In every city, settlement, and colony no one is immune to these horrors. The world is engulfed in another total World War. Indeed the Earth is at war, however the battle for freedom, liberty, religion, happiness, and existence has been pushed beyond worldly.

This is the tale of man’s struggle to defend, live, and expand. These are the records of the epic battles man has engaged in against the extraterrestrial invaders who have come to claim Earth for their own and irradiate humanity.

But before I can share with you these stories, I must first tell you how it all came to be…

The day the aliens made their presence known to us was just like any other normal day on Earth. People woke up, went to work or school, or just stayed at home and did nothing at all. The animals grazed in their ranges or sat at their owner’s feet, waiting to be fed. The wind blew, oceans flowed, and dirt laid motionless on the Earth’s crust. Really much the same as it always has been.

It began when the NASA space telescope, Hubble, had detected the alien fleet one month earlier. The Hubble had spotted the fleet accidentally while it was conducting a survey of the Oort Cloud, it was looking for external solar bodies like planets, comets, and other possible hazards to Earth. Ironically, the Hubble’s mission was a success.

What the average person did not know, our governments surely did. They hid the truth from us much, again, much as they always have. The Americans, Russians, Chinese, the Brits and Frenchies, and so on; the usual players all knew about the aliens. No politician thought it necessary or important to tell us that we were no longer alone in the universe. To be fair, they did not know if the aliens intentions were friendly or hostile, but that does not excuse them for the blame. Our governments figured what would be the point of panicking the masses until they knew the extraterrestrial’s intent.

Although our governments, in which we blindly trusted, withheld this historical moment from us, they did do a few things right. To their credit they did mobilize military forces around the globe, and strange bonds began to form with long time rivals. The governments also shared the discovery with smaller nations incapable of viewing space. Top scientists and astronomers were also briefed on the situation, though they were all sworn to secrecy with the punishment of death should they talk to the press.

Fortunately, information was leaked to the press. The politicians denied everything, even when the press was backed by watch-dog observer groups whom had witnessed the mobilization of some of the world’s most top secret weapons and technology. Still, everything was denied.

Only threw the pressure of timing and being out of it, did our governments come forward and acknowledge what was leaked out. They gave us twenty-four hours notice. Twenty-four hours before the alien fleet would enter our atmosphere, they told us what was happening, not a lot of time for people to prepare.

Of course, not every citizen received the news. The previous few months had been one of the most heated and contested political seasons threw out the world, ever. So many were not near a television or radio to hear the breaking news story. Most of everyone was avoiding the media and politics, spending their precious time away from the hatred and vitriol of the two.

For the small portions of the Earth’s population who had heard the news their reaction was variably different. Some had spent the day readying for the extraterrestrial’s welcoming. Many pockets of the people went directly to their churches to pray for guidance and celebrate the coming of the aliens. Some smart ones bought guns and ammunition, fearing an attack. Many could not handle what they were hearing and decided to take their own lives. The words I write cannot truly express the chaos that came out of so many different reactions to the upcoming alien visitation.

When the time came for first contact a world wide teleconference of governing leaders was held. They had decided unanimously that no force was to used on the visitors until it was clear of their intentions. In other words, let them shoot first. The conference ended once word was received that the alien fleet was now separating from each other and entering Earth’s atmosphere. Little did anyone know this was the moment the attack was to begin.

As the vessels split off from the main group hundreds of other smaller vessels poured from the larger ones. The small vessels flew around their parent like a colony of ants protect their queen. These vessels were escorting their queen vessel to their targets. Each group of alien vessels scattered over and around the globe. One hour after breaking atmo our most populous and prominent cities become clouded by the alien groups, almost like a solar eclipse because they blocked out the sun with their numbers and size. Los Angeles, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Beijing, Tokyo, and Delhi with the first recipients to the extraterrestrials. More and more humans became fearful and chaotic by this act.

The fear became justified as Tokyo, Japan was the first city to be attacked. The escort vessels, the size of human fighter jets and bombers, split from the mother vessel as they closed in on the city. The vessels began precision attacks on railroads, military instillations, and industrial centers. The mother vessel also joined in the assault. Its large cannons randomly fired into the city killing hundreds of the people that came to welcome them and destroyed highways, bridges, and skyscrapers.

Their weaponry is so different from our own. It is obviously much more advanced than our own. It is plasma based, or intensely electrified gases. Also the orbs that resemble the rounds glows in blue and purple hues, it also sounds like electricity arching over bad fuses. When the plasma orbs come into contact with a target the object either burns to ashes, vaporizes, or melts into another close by object. A very horrifying and destructive weapon.

Five minutes after the first attack on Tokyo an attack on Beijing, China began. In much the same way as the predecessor, Beijing receives the same treatment. The peoples, government, and military are caught off guard by the event. Word could not get out from Tokyo to the events happening there because of the speed of the enemy.

This is a reoccurring theme from Delhi, to Moscow, to Rome. Even by the time the assault came to Paris and London word had still not gotten out to the world. Twenty-five minutes had gone by, meanwhile Tokyo was still under heavy alien attack and on the brink of being completely wiped out. The United States of America is next inline in the succession of attacks.

Admiral Larry R. Roshbow, U.S. Navy and commander of the Atlantic Carrier Group, sits twenty-five miles of the coast of Chesapeake Bay Maryland. He has been assigned the task of nothing. He was ordered by the president not to engage the aliens via the edict passed down by the world teleconference. The admiral was one of many military leaders who were weary of the visitors. The admiral expressed his opinion vehemently to the president, but was naturally rejected by the political class who believed in peace, understanding, and political correctness.

This, however, did not keep Adm. Roshbow from keeping close tabs on the unfolding events going on world wide. The admiral broke international law as his crew hacked into American and international spy satellites and government camera systems to watch what was going on. He had hacked into Russia’s systems at the time of Beijing’s attack. He was speechless at the carnage he was seeing, so were the sailors above his carrier.

Although Adm. Roshbow had suspected hostilities with the aliens he did not believe the carnage he was watching. It was a bigger surprise than the Trojan Horse of Troy. More deadly than the bombing of pearl Harbor in World War Two. Larger in scale than the D-Day invasion of France in Europe. Also, it was much more appalling and frightening than the September 11^th, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center of New York.

The admiral reacts swiftly, wasting little time. He immediately sends out orders for the carrier fleet to ready for battle and sounds general quarters. His orders go against what the president had given him. However, Adm. Roshbow does not give a damn and commits mutiny as he overrides the president’s orders. The fleet, well aware of what is happening stands with the admiral and prepares for war.

Destroyers, Cruisers, and Frigates began evasive maneuvers and head closer to the shore with Washington it’s destination. The captains of those ships ready their cannons, anti-aircraft guns, and cruise missiles. The submarines attached to Adm. Roshbow’s command follow suit. They come to launch depth and prepare their cruise missiles.

The admiral turns his air craft carrier around as well. But he does so to bring it into the wind so that his jet fighters, interceptors, and attackers can take off. The pilots of those war planes scramble to their cockpits and rapidly turn on the jets. Crews aboard the carrier prep the runway for take off and load weaponry onto the jets.

Next, the admiral sends word to all surrounding naval ships, air force bases, army and marine instillations of the attacks. Although he does not have the authority to issue orders to them he asks for their cooperation, and urges them to look over what he has seen. Then the White House is contacted and revealed to them the information the admiral has collected. He instructs them to tell the congress and people of the region to get as far away as possible. This is probably the first time in the history of the Untied States that the president was ordered by a military officer and the president did as told, and in this case it is understandable.

Finally, the Los Angeles military groups assigned to protecting them was informed of the situation. They too, mobilized and readied themselves for an impending attack. Also all other military commands across the nation and world were ordered to ready. N.O.R.A.D., Strategic Command, Coast Guards, and National Guards have been alerted, although none of them are fully prepared for what is coming.

Time has passed since the initial attack on Tokyo, about twenty minutes, it is now America’s turn in the alien’s succession. Thanks to the diligence of Admiral Roshbow the United States will not go down without a fight. Although not fully prepared, they have done as much as they can to fight as hard as possible.

Messages from the White House and Capital Building reach the bridge of the admiral’s carrier. They state that the president is aboard Air Force One and headed to N.O.R.A.D. in Colorado, the congress has also been evacuated to safer areas, and as many of the citizens as could be helped have left the city and the region. Militarily, hundreds of war jets scatter the sky around D.C. from every branch of service, including AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Thousands of army, marine, and National Guard soldiers have spread out over the area with anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-air missiles, and flak cannons.

More navy ships are on their way to the seen, though it is doubtful any will arrive in time to support the admiral’s ten ships. The Coast Guard was able to scramble five small to medium size ships to aide the naval fleet, but may prove to be ineffective in this fight because they lack the weaponry the Navy has. All in all, the admiral knows it is unlikely that they will win this fight, his goal is to fight until there is no fight left in them so that the people have a chance to escape the fates that so many other human cities have already suffered.

Twenty-five minutes since the first attack and the radar aboard the admiral’s carrier begins to show the first signs of the impending assault. Little blips on the radar screen begin to pop in and out. The radar signature is something that theses seasoned sailors have never seen. As the word is passed to Admiral Roshbow of the enigmas the alien mother vessel enters radar range. It is much larger than anyone has ever seen. Other naval radar technicians and land based techs signal that, they too, have picked up the signatures. The admiral sends out orders to engage the enemy upon physical sight.

A group of five F/A-18 Super Hornets are the first to spot and engage the alien armada. Ten alien vessels are I this group and also engage the humans. The first engagement of species is not pretty for humanity. The alien’s superior technology and weaponry make short work of the Super Hornets, destroying them all in under one minute. No one parachuted, no pilot or navigator survived.

This is much the same occurrence over the next half hour as the battle wages on. The Americans have held their ground, fighting back hard against the enemy. Though the humans are nearing a crushing defeat, they have managed to kill a few alien vessels proving that the enemy is not immortal. Giving the admiral’s original intent he is ready to sound a retreat to preserve the lives of the surviving warriors.

Before sounding retreat orders news from Los Angeles is handed to Admiral Roshbow. It is nearly identical to what is happening there in Washington. They have evacuated as many citizens as they could and, too, have dealt blows to the enemy aliens, but nearing defeat. They are now requesting permission to retreat and regroup. The admiral has already assumed command over the president for military control, but decides to confer with him before proceeding.

The president is awestruck and currently beside himself. None of his aides, or cabinets are able to get a sentence out of him at the moment. It is understandable, he is human, and no one could have imagined the things that are transpiring right now; that is, except for Adm. Roshbow. So the admiral takes it upon himself to continue to assume full command of the United States military forces. He sends the order out for a full retreat of all forces with added commands to them.

First, he sends all air craft that are in the air to head for airbases further inland. They are to refuel, reload, and regroup immediately. Also, orders are given to them to engage the aliens as soon as their next American target is discovered.

Second, he sends the army and marines further inland to protect the escaping American citizens at all cost. They are to give support to the local National Guards that are already protecting the civilians.

Finally, the admiral orders the Navy to retreat to safer waters. They are to dock in safe ports and harbors further up or down coast from Washington. All inbound naval ships are to divert towards New York or South Carolina.

By the end of the first day of the alien invasion humanity is already left in ruins as mankind crawls for safety. Cities like Cairo, Tel-Aviv, Tehran, Madrid, Mexico City, Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai, and Rio de Janeiro all meet the same fate as the originally attacked cities. More and more cities stand in line to suffer the same.

In one day man is closer to extinction than any other day in it’s history. This theme will continue over the next few years leading up to the Battle of Houston…