I had just stepped outside the DURABLE office when the Gladiator skidded to a halt in front.

: that was fast

: you may have a speeding ticket or five

: did you hit anyone?

: please. With my reflexes and nanobot assistance?

Behind the Gladiator, sure enough, was a police car with lights flashing. Behind that was… I grinned. Three U.S. Army trucks.

As the cop got out of his car, doubtless to write me a ticket, Lieutenant Doyle and his platoon started offloading from the trucks.

I hurried over to the cop. “Officer, sorry for the speeding, that’s my vehicle…..”

The cop looked startled. “Who’re you?”

“Belessar.”

“Er… new armor?” the cop asked weakly.

I nodded vigorously. “My partner just brought the car and my gear.” I gestured at the Gladiator. “We’re leaving for England. Alien attack.”

LAWBREAKER SKILL ACTIVATED. ABOVE THE LAW TITLE ACTIVATED.

TANISPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WITNESSED YOU COMMITTING A CRIME, BUT WILL HELP TO COVER IT UP.

YOU KNOW YOU DID WRONG, THOUGH. -1 ETHICS.

“I guess we can let this pass,” sighed the cop, as Anne - in full Nanofibre Weave Combat Armor - got out of the vehicle.

“Thanks, officer,” I shook the man’s hand. “Appreciate it.”

“We interrupting something?” came Doyle’s dry voice.

I turned to the Lieutenant and smiled. “Lieutenant Doyle. Good to see you. Here?”

“We got word that you might be deploying,” Doyle replied gravely. “So we thought we’d come by and see what all the fuss is about.” He nodded in Anne’s direction. “Nanocloud. Good to see you. First deployment?”

“First alien action,” affirmed Nanocloud.

“She’s in support, though,” I told Doyle. “Not frontline.”

Doyle shrugged. “Fine with me. I doubt we’d be able to keep up with two of you.”

By this time, the other five ultras had also reached the front of the building. Lady Lumina walked over. “Officer. A pleasure to work with the U.S. military. Will you be coming with us?”

A shadow crossed Doyle’s eyes as he replied. “Of course. We stick close to Belessar.”

“They keep me out of trouble,” I joked. “Lady Lumina, Lieutenant Dolye.”

“Lieutenant,” replied Lady Lumina neutrally. “I’ve met some of your fellow officers in the past. Worked with General Westmoreland some time ago.”

Doyle’s smile was fixed. “Major-General Westmoreland is a fine commander, ma’am. I’m sure you were in good hands.”

Lumina smiled. “We’ll need to check if your equipment is within the weight limits for the Traveller, of course. How many soldiers do you have?”

“Forty-two, ma’am. And it won’t be a problem. We’ve already spoken to DURABLE.”

“Indeed they have,” came Director Lee’s voice from behind us. “The Traveler just arrived, he’s stepping out onto the pavement now. Belessar - will you be taking your whole vehicle?”

“It’ll be convenient,” replied Nanocloud, “since most of our gear is in there. Lieutenant Doyle, we can carry some of your stuff as well if there’s a weight limit.”

“We expected to deploy light,” said Doyle, “but there’s a bunch of munitions that could fit. Grenades, RPGs, the works.”

“Just pile it all in there.”

Lee coughed gently. “Gentlemen, may I introduce Driver Nine?”

A tall man in a white-and-grey suit stepped forward. “I’ll be marking a transportation circle for all of you. Whatever fits, goes through.” He turned to the cop. “You. Make yourself useful and block off traffic on this road.”

Director Lee stepped in smoothly. “We’d appreciate the help, Officer Berthold. We’re speaking to the Commissioner right now and we need the space to put in a teleportation circle to reach London. As you might know, there’s an alien attack underway.”

“We’ll do what we can to help, sir,” said the cop. “But if you could get the Commissioner's word….”

A DURABLE staffer ran up with a cellphone - the Commissioner was already on the line. Another police car pulled up, and cops started to cordon off the area, as Lieutenant Doyle approached the Traveller. “Can you handle our gear?”

“My weight limit is three hundred tons,” replied the Traveller, “so save yourself the trouble of repacking, Lieutenant. Just get your troops into the circle, and that … car … of Belessar’s too.”

The First Platoon rapidly took up positions within the circle, as did the other ultras. I turned to Anne. “Bots ready?”

“Ready. Any words of advice?”

“Don’t get close to any aliens.”

“I’ll just find them for you, you do the killing.”

Driver Nine had started to trigger the portal. Purple-black rifts began to appear in mid-air, as bystanders stood by gawking and the motley combination of soldiers, ultras and vehicles was surrounded.

As the portal began to close, I messaged Anne.

: hey, what did Paul say about your first battle?

: um

: now that you mention it

: i forgot to tell him

“WHAT?”

The portal closed over us.