1122 June 18th, 2020 CE

San Francisco

Two of the patrol vehicles that had made up the blockade were pushed aside. The third one was overturned. The monsters had pushed back the firing line but the withering fire that the officers put up kept them at bay.

While Andrew loaded another magazine into his AR, the radio on his shoulder crackled.

<<<“This is Lieutenant James Beckinridge, in command of the units in the Golden Gate Park. How’s the overall evacuation going? The monsters are swarming the park!!”

“There are about 20% complete.”

“How much longer is it going to take?”

A string of curses from a third person interrupted the radio conversation.

“Hold for a moment, Lieutenant Beckinridge. Who is this? Please keep this frequency reserved for important information. You can curse in your assigned frequency.”

“This is fucking important information. This is Sergeant Adam Zhang. The damn things have broken through at the intersection between Page Street and Divisadero Street. We are retreating. Fuck!”

Gunshots could be heard over the radio.

“Sergeant? Where are the units there retreating to?”

There was a moment of silence.

“Sergeant? Are you there? Sergeant?”

There was another moment of silence as Sergeant Zhang didn’t respond.

“Lieutenant Beckinrigde?”

“Yes, sir?”

“To everyone on this frequency, we are planning a fallback line. We will inform you of the location soon. Pass the word.”>>>

He had forgotten to switch the frequency to the one that he had been told when he arrived at this intersection. He was glad he forgot though. “Shit.”

Terry didn’t hear Andrew’s cursing but he did notice that Andrew had stopped shooting. Terry stopped firing and raised his voice over the sound of the gunfire around them. “What’s the matter? Need more ammo?”

“No.”

Terry shook his head. “What? Speak louder!”

“No! Someone reported over the command frequency that the monsters broke through at a point on Page Street. My children go to school near there.”

“Jesse told me that schools have been ordered to be evacuated to the evacuation points. I’m sure they are alright.”

Andrew patted on his phone in his pocket. “I’m gonna go make a call.”

“Jesse is on her way to pick up our children at the evacuation point. She can also pick up yours if you want her to.”

“Will she be staying there or evacuating? Most of Richmond District is overrun now so I don’t think going back home is a good idea anymore.”

“Most likely staying and waiting for us. If the situation gets worse, she will evacuate with the kids.”

“I will call my kids and tell them that Jesse is picking them up at the evacuation point then.”

“I think you should do it later when we don’t have fucking monsters a couple yards away from us.”

Andrew shook his head. “Family comes first. I gotta make sure my kiddos are fine. I think you guys can handle it if one guy leaves for a bit.”

“Then call Jesse for me and tell her about your kids. Also tell her I'm doing fine, alright.”

“Got it. Thanks, Terry”

With that Terry continued shooting.

As Andrew began walking away from the firing line, he looked up as he heard and then saw jets fly over them. Soon after, multiple explosions were heard.

<<<”This is Eagle One. The package has been dropped. We are Winchester and will RTB.”

“RTB is authorized. Have a safe trip back.”>>>

The two F-15Es banked to their sides so they could circle back.

>>

Flares and chaff popped out of the F-15s as they climbed upwards. Multiple projectiles sped past them straight into the sky.

<<<”This is Eagle One. I have been hit.”

“Copy. How bad is the damage? Are you able to return to base?”

“It hit my left wing. I’m unsure of the damage but the aircraft still seems capable of flying. I will try to make it back to base.”

“This is Eagle Two. I have a visual on the damage. Half of Eagle One’s left wing is gone.”>>>

Less than an hour later

Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

The F-15 that was missing half its left wing started its descent onto the runway. Eagle Two stayed in the air above making loops. The pilot sweated as she focused on keeping the aircraft in control. The landing gear came out and the F-15 started touching the ground.

The pilot and her weapon systems officer clambered out of the aircraft and took a look at it as the ground crew started running up to her. Half of the F-15’s left wing was sheared clean off.

Washington D.C.

“Mr. President. One of our F-15s that was conducting an airstrike over San Francisco was nearly shot down from an unidentified source. It has landed safely at its airbase. However, it brings up the fact that what we are facing could possibly have surface to air missiles.”

Ronell frowned. “Surface to air missiles? Are we facing a technologically comparable enemy?”

“We aren’t certain. From current information, a high speed projectile collided with an F-15 when it began its return trip from bombing the Lancefish, tore off its wing but did not explode.”

“Do we have a visual of their ships yet?”

“We have an RQ-4 Global Hawk from Beales Air Base approaching the area soon, sir.”

Fremont, California

Chattering filled the bus as Luke classmates looked through videos of the monsters invading the Bay Area. A few others around him were making phone calls like him. Luke felt relieved as his mom’s voice came on through the other side.

<<<“Hey mom. Have you heard what's happening?”

Her mom’s voice, tinged with worry, replied. “Are you alright? Where are you right now?”

“I’m fine, mom. I’m on a school bus. We have police escorts. The school told me that they are taking us to Levi’s Stadium and that our parents can pick us up there.”

“I know, the school informed me. I’m on my way. I’m glad you are okay. Your dad got off work and is also on his way. Stay there until we arrive alright?”

“Oka…”>>>

Luke couldn’t finish as he felt as if he was flying. In a snap, pain pierced through him.

>>

Hearing his mom’s voice, Luke opened his eyes and blinked. A group of blurry colors filled his vision. He heard gunshots and shouting as he got out of his pain filled daze. Realizing that he was lying on his side with something cold touching his face, he sat up to look around. The bus was flipped on its side. He was sitting on the windows which were thankfully laminated glass so it didn’t shatter into glass shards. He could hear groans from a few others on the bus. Looking around, a few were sitting up like him but some were still lying down. Hayden was lying beside him with his eyes closed. Luke started shaking Hayden. “Hayden. You alright?”

Hayden responded with coughing.

>>

Luke looked around for where the voice came from and found his phone. His smartphone survived thanks to the heavy duty case and screen protector he had put on it. The screen was cracked and his mom was getting hysterical though. Luke picked up his phone.

<<<”Mom, I’m alright, something hit our bus.”

“What? What hit your bus? Do you need me to pick you up? Are you hurt?”

“Woah. Woah. Slow down there Mom. I’m alright. I uh… I don’t know. Just uh… just give me a few minutes. I need to get out of the bus.” >>>

Luke looked towards Hayden who had opened his eyes but was staring off into space. “Hayden. You good? We need to get off the bus.”

1234 June 18th, 2020 CE

Washington D.C.

“We have just gotten a visual of the ships that were approaching San Francisco. They seem to have landed and are concentrated on Ocean Beach. It will be on screen momentarily.”

The large screen that covered a side of the Situation Room soon displayed a beach with rolling waves. On the beach were multiple figures that all those in the room were staring at.

Ronell’s frown deepened. “What the hell are those?”