Once inside the HUMVEE I realized two things: One, I had no clue where I was, and two, I hadn’t been on Carson for at least three years before I died. So, I haven’t even seen the layout since 2011, kind of wishing I had a smart phone at this point, google-maps, or something.

Keying the radio I called up Bizkit, “I don’t know where I am. I haven’t been on this base in years, how do I get to the SF compound from here?”

The response back is almost immediate, “out of the lot take a left follow it till the end, right on Specker, right on Titus, left on Bad Toelz. You should be able to see emerald city from pretty far out.”

“Thanks man, I’m going to try and keep your line clear. Stay safe.” I’m going to feel shitty if he doesn’t survive this. With any luck, he’s one of the chosen though and he’ll end up in Valhalla.

“You too brother.”

Deciding that traffic laws are for normal people I drive like a man possessed. Going over curbs to pass slow moving vehicles. Once I have eyes on ‘emerald city’, which is basically a bunch of green roofed buildings, I cut cross country. Taking the vehicle down the dirt PT path at around forty mph, sliding around corners. We make it from the center of base to the SF facility in under five minutes.

We are stopped at the end of Bad Toelz by a couple of soldiers in ACU with full kit.

One sits with his rifle over the hood of their HUMVEE pointed at our cockpit, the other is off at the window.

“State your purpo- “surprise stops him a few words in, “I thought command was having a go at us. Having fun with a ready drill.” He chews over what is happening for a few seconds. “Guess this is real. Head down the road to the big building on the left, it’s got the mobile TOC out front you can’t miss it. SMADGE Poss will know who you are.”

I love SF types, straight to the point.

“Thanks Sergeant.” With nothing left to say, and a short timeline to keep we floor it and get straight to the command center, sliding to a stop twenty feet from the front door. I slam it in park and leave it half on the grass.

Me and Lena cause a small scene coming in. Sergeant Major Poss finds us quick, He’s younger than I thought he’d be for an SF command staffer. Mid-thirties, shaved head with a black beard streaked with gray. His eyes never stay in one place for very long, a dark brown color that takes in everything they see, processing threats in an instant. He is a bit on the shorter side, even for a human, standing over five and a half feet. He doesn’t look like what you’d assume an operator would, but I already knew that preconception was wrong.

“You’re him huh? You don’t look like much.” At least it’s not an outright insult.

“You wanna grab your step stool and get a closer look?” I can almost feel Lena tense as everyone in the room stops, and his eyes lock on to mine. For a few second’s I’m sure we’re going to have to fight our way out, until I see his eyes crinkle in a smile.

“Good. I’m a no-nonsense kind of guy gnome, I’m not going to put you in critical position to support anything on this base. I don’t know, or trust you. I’ll set you up attached to a reactionary team, not in control of, you’re with them. I don’t expect you to follow orders to the letter. I do expect to know what moves you’re going to make, and coordinate with the team you’re assigned to, any questions?” His short speech is concise, no missing the point.

“Sounds reasonable. I’m trained in small team tactics anyways. Lena here is a good shooter, she can put multiple rounds on target from a distance pretty quick. Reminds me, you guys have any .308 she used a few rounds getting us out of a position on the way here. If you have some M1A mags that would be best.”

He points at a guy in fatigues next to me, “He’s your attachment. Gear them up.” And turns away back to setting up his people.

“I’m Captain Miller, call me Mills. Are your weapons in the truck?” I can see the annoyance as he asks, any soldier worth the name would keep their weapon on them always. Miller is what you’d expect an operator to look like. He’s about as tall as me, chiseled face showing a few days’ stubble, and the same roaming eyes as Poss. He doesn’t look like a body builder, more like an athlete, the kind that can carry sixty pound packs for miles.

Pulling my M4 from my inventory I smile at his surprise, “Don’t get too jealous Mill, in about ten you’ll have access to the same ability. Along with quite a few others.” I make sure Lena has her gun out and wave him on.

Taking us out back he introduces us to a six-man team standing next to a line of four wheelers. Their all built about the same, somewhere around six-foot, the ones that aren’t wearing facemask’s have full beards. The air around the group is that feeling of quite competency you get around men who have authority and know how to wield it. Every wheeler has a pack strapped to it except for the last two, guess they were expecting us.

“Is that a girl Mill? What kind of operation are we going to be running here?” The guy talking is sitting on the third wheeler back, wearing full gear with a facemask on.

“Stow it Jack. Since you’re so talkative, how bout you point the lady to the ammo.” He sounds annoyed still, maybe that’s his regular tone of voice?

“Prove your point if you have to, but don’t hurt anyone Lena, these people aren’t as hardy as us.” Dipping her head in an affirmative nod she follows Jack to a table full of ammo. I’m half tempted to pull more ammo for myself, but I’m already sitting on way too many rounds.

“All right Gnome, this is my team. We’re going to be designated Honeybadger-3 for radio, anything that comes across as Cobra is you and your compatriot there.” I can see in his face that he’s thinking, “I wasn’t necessarily told not to trust you, but I’ve been informed we aren’t sure of your background. How about some help here, what are your capabilities?” I’m liking these guys more and more, no wasted words, everything straight to the point.

“I spent seven years as a scout back during OIF. Not that it matters now, but I was sniper tabbed, and had been training to go to selections after my deployment.” He didn’t look near as surprised as I thought he would at my confession.

“I’ve always believed in aliens, didn’t figure ya’ll would be hiding in the military though.” Still feel like he ruined my fun there.

“I’m not an alien, I used to be human. I ended up in another realm, transformed by what I’m assuming are aliens masquerading as gods. Honestly, I haven’t been doing this long. I got into it a few weeks ago, if we survive I’ll give you guys what info I can, but the next few days is going to be busy.”

A scuffle is going on over by the ammo table, within a fraction of a second the SF’s in the area have their guns trained on me. Except for one at the front of the wheelers pointing at Lena.

Looking over I see she’s got Jack in a standing arm bar. Pushing his head down, while twisting his arm up and locking it out.

“If you call me ‘dainty’ again I will remove this arm.” Fuck.

“Lena?” looking up she sees that all the SF’s have guns pointed at us, “Do what you need to do, I’ve got your back. If you break his arm were going to be pretty dead though.” I know she’s not actually going to hurt him, well, I hope she isn’t. In lore, her people are vicious.

Shrugging she bends down and starts to whisper in Jacks ear, I can’t hear it from here but I can see him nodding his head.

“Alright Cap, you can have your guys put their guns away. Were on your side, my friend is trying to prove a point. This is a new world were abou- “I’m interrupted by radio’s squawking from the wheelers.

Shit, “Mills, I don’t know where those are going to land. We need to get some distance, down into a culvert if we can.”

“You heard him, everyone mount up. Jack stop playing with your new friend and lead us to the culvert by the solar plant.” Turning to me he points at the last two, “Those are yours, their full of gas, just follow us.”

The next few moments have us blasting across open ground towards a field of high mounted solar panels. We’re a few hundred meters from the culvert when the first meteor in the sky lights off in the atmosphere. Blazing like a sun all of a sudden, a clear night has turned to bright mid-morning from the strength of the light.

The radio had came across as massive, but it couldn’t convey. The meteors are huge, the size of a two-story houses. It’s not just one either, their grouped in five to six in bunches. They’re going to pass over, but not by much.

Without realizing it we were at the culvert, Mills is screaming but can’t hear him over the air disturbance sounds of the meteor. Giving up he waves his hand in a big circle and points to small road leading to the divot.

Queuing up at the end of his people I wait my turn, last in line behind Lena.

As Lena puts her nose over the edge and starts to go down I hear the meteor impacts, the light flares and goes out. A few seconds before I get to the edge I see the mushroom cloud and the dust storm heading towards us.

Cursing how slow this was going I decide to chance it, I push the thumb accelerator down and aim off to the right of Lena. If I get caught in the blast up here I’m either dead, or wounded. Barring neither of those I’m separated.

As I hit the edge of the drop I scream out a warning and jump up off the wheeler not wanting to be on it if it hits and rolls.

The drop to the ground is about seven-feet, I hit the ground a few feet behind the wheeler as the blast from the meteor impact hits us.

The force pushes the wheeler back into me throwing me into the ravine wall. Slamming the back of my head against compacted dirt, and crushing my body between them. I can feel more than a few bones flex, nothing breaks though. I lose my fight to stay conscious a few seconds later.

“I don’t know, I heard him screaming and saw his wheeler come over the edge in this direction. If he’s built of the same stuff as the female he’s alive.” I don’t recognize the voice but they’re looking for me.

Opening my eyes, I can’t see very well, I think the dust in the air is obscuring vision heavily. There is only ten feet visible around me.

“Can you guys hear me?” my voice is croaky from swallowing dirt. It feels like someone fed me sand.

“I heard him! Over there, by the wall, is that a quadbike?” a couple of guys wearing mask’s come over and start trying to move the quad off me. I’d hit the wall so hard there’s a small impact crater behind me, and I’m pushed into the dirt a few inches. Had the wall not given I’d be dead.

“Fuck, what are you made of guy?” The first to come around and help me out of my hole is looking back and forth between me and the wall.

“The good stuff, apparently. Is it us? Did you guys run into anyone else?” I’m a bit worried about Lena, I’m sure she’s survived, but after the dust starts to coalesce things are going to get nasty. “we need to link up with your team, now, this dust is going to start pushing its way into the ground. After that creatures are going to start popping up. I’m not sure where they are going to come from, but their coming soon.” The first who helped me up nods and points to his right.

“They’re up that way, we should try your quad though. I’ve seen one stand up to a roll down the mountains in Afghanistan. Their built sturdy for us.” Walking over the second one has already checked it over and is trying to kick start it.

“What’s up Stovall?” the one with me asks

“Nothing’s broken, but the push start isn’t working,” He gives it a few kicks and it turns over. Hopping off he waves the same way as his friend, “Follow us, they aren’t far. “I hop on the quad and follow them up the ravine, they were right, but less so than I thought. The blast pushed me down the ravine about thirty-meters further than where I’d started.

It looked like it’d also destroyed our ramp, we were going to have to find another exit.

Pulling up to the group they’re all sitting on the quads in a circle.

“Glad to see you made it Gnome, we’re discussing what our plan is. I’ve got comms from honeybadger-main that we’re not hearing any chatter from Ironhorse, or any other command elements. We’re being tasked to push out to base command and get a SITREP.”

“So, we don’t know if the Command staff survived that?” goddamned it, I just found my friend. “Alright, let’s go then, General Baker is a friend of mine.” Without much extra prompting, Mills gets his men into a column formation and we start a slow move down the culvert towards the direction I’d crashed.

It’s slow moving with all the dust, we haven’t run into any creatures yet though. I don’t know how long after impact the dust is supposed to react though. It could be minutes, it could be hours.

The trip to the command building goes much slower than the trip to the SF compound. There are abandoned cars all over the streets. The outlines and shadows I can see for buildings look wrong, somehow off. It’s incredibly eerie. We can hear people moving around, and see shadows. We never actually encounter anyone directly until we pull into the command buildings parking lot. We can hear people yelling from a far distance off, screams of fear, and command.

Riding right up to the front we can see that a small meteor had struck the main building crashing through and landing in the smaller building next to it. Almost half of the main building was laying on the ground, with almost a quarter of what was left standing canted towards the ground, soon to follow. It was a testament to the design that as much stood as did considering the size of the crater next to it.

The SF’s, Lena and I jumped into action without having to be asked. Running up to the main building and pulling survivors staggering out further to safety. Me and Jacks ran inside despite the third floor being aflame. Charging from room to room checking for survivors, most of the people had self-evacuated by the time we made it to them.

It was at the second floor where things started to get bad. People were either unconscious or dead all over the place, this is the same floor Bakers office had been on, it was on the side that was gone now. I was trying not to think about losing one of my best friends that I had refound. Even if the friend part was taken away Baker would be an asset anywhere. He was smart, adapted well, and could get along well with almost anyone.

As I was trying to wake up a few people who’d been knocked out I heard Jack yell out that he’d found the general, but he couldn’t be moved. I grabbed the closest cognizant person, telling them to work on the soldiers. Sprinting across the building I was half excited, until I got there. He was half buried under a collapsed wall, blood leaking out from underneath, and some of the ropes of his intestines sitting next to him. Even if we had the ability to get him out his chances in the best of conditions on a regular day wouldn’t be great.

He was conscious and asking how his troops were doing. Trying to relay his orders to an attaché sitting next to him while Jack ran to grab the medic.

Looking over to me he waves the attaché away and crooks his finger.

“You’re here to take care of my people? You said this was a mission for you, the more good you do has to count towards something. Right?” I hadn’t told him exactly what was going on, but he had figured most of it out when I’d mentioned Valhalla and going back and forth. I think showing him my inventory might have put him hot on the trail of what was going on.

“Yes, pretty much. Wasn’t supposed to be this personal though. I was supposed to show up and help people. Save a few, kill a few monsters. Nobody I talked to mentioned what was happening on this scale. It leads me to wonder if they had to hold back or if this is another one of the ‘gods’ fucking with me.” That’s been on my mind since I ran into him earlier, saying it aloud doesn’t help like I thought it would.

“At least you haven’t gone full sociopath. I remember the shit you used to say,” he stops to take a breath he’s holding the pain well. His jaw is clenching, every breath pulls his face tight. “I know it’s not your job anymore, and I don’t know what you planned to do, but I need to you stay with these people. Everybody I talked to was going to start pushing towards the Cheyanne mountain complex. The facility is much more than most people know, a very large portion of that mountain has been hollowed out and reinforced. Everything technical I could get my hands on says its rated to withstand two nukes dropping on it at the same time.” He hisses when the dock shows up and sticks a morphine into his leg

“Sir, you’re going to have to stay still. Preferably no more talking, the more you do, the faster you bleed out.” Their medic seems to have genuine concern, I guess that’s normal for any medic though.

Baker swivels his head and looks right at him, “No disrespect son, but we both know I’m not getting out of this. Give me a time-limit here, how long can you keep me alive to coordinate before I expire?”

The medic closes his eyes doing some mental math, “If I use the consumable fluids in my kit I can keep you running for another twenty minutes. You’re only going to have about ten usable minutes out of that though. Between blood loss, and morphine you will be too out of it for your command decisions to be coherent.” It’s a no-nonsense assessment.

“I’m not going to waste any of those son, no point in wasting resources on a dead man.” Despite being given a morphine I can still hear the pain laced in his voice. There’s no missing the tears drawing tracks through the dirt and dust on his face. “I’ve told everything I can to that young soldier over there. Go get your commanding officer, tell him to bring his longwave.” The medic gives a nod and is off moving at a jog.

Me and Baker don’t say much until the medic comes back with Mills, trying to give him as much time as I can.

Mills walks up and looks at me, “The dust is thinning, nobody noticed because we are working. It’s getting faster, I can see enough to know that the city is burning and the side of the mountain is wrecked. Getting to the Cheyanne facility is going to suck.”

“It was going to suck either way Mills. Once that dust clears we’re going to be fighting creatures on a scale you’ve never dealt with before.” I motion at the general, “general Baker has something he wants to convey ,” I turn my head to Baker, “I’m going to take a look outside, I’ll be back in two minutes.” He nods his head and reaches for Mills radio.

I walk over to the room the soldier’s I was helping earlier were in, looking out the window. Sure, enough I can see well enough to tell the southern end of the city is a mess. It looks like that big one must have hit there and tracked over the north end of base. A large part of southeast Colorado spring is gone, if my guess about how bad the swath is. It probably goes from almost the center of town and arcs around through security-widefield, and stops below Fountain. That’s a guess from the fires I see burning though. I imagine by the time the fires are put out a very large portion of the city will be nothing but ash.

The meteor strike cuts off most of the exit gates to the north and east, South-gate as well. Doesn’t matter much. Cheyenne mountain is west of here. But doesn’t bode well for anyone that wasn’t on base. I take one last look and return to my friend.

I hear an argument as I walk up, “He’ll do it son, and he’ll do it on my order. That gray fuck owes me at least one, I’ll not waste resources too slowly slip away, and I sure as shit are not going to lay here in pain.” Mills and Baker are arguing over something, I’ve got a pretty good idea of what it is.

“That’s not the point sir, not only is what you’re asking unethical, it goes against everything we stand for.”

“I’m DEAD son, ask your medic. You think this is the first time I’ve seen a man in my state? I spent twelve months in the most dangerous part of the war in Iraq, I was on the front line of the push into Iran in 2018. Ask your medic, even if we had a working hospital I would have to spend the rest of my life on dialysis, living in a bubble because my immune system is gone. I’ll go out on my own terms.”

I put my hand on Mills shoulder, “I made a promise a long time ago mills. The only thing I have now is my word, you understand, right?”

“NO, I DON’T, it’s unethical. It’s wrong, I can’t allow it. We don’t leave men behind” He’s almost hysterical, the look he’s giving me is someone who wants to believe, but knows better.

“Listen Mills. Say your deep in Afghanistan, you take a bullet to the neck. You know you’re not going to survive, and that if your team has to drag you out it’s going to give them away. What would you do? You and I both know that’s not how things work. I would never ask a battle to carry my body out if it would risk his life, neither would you. We’re realist Mills, what would you do?” I hate talking him into this, but I made a promise. We all did back when we were fresh soldiers, promises made to a new battle-buddy, drunken demands that we never thought we’d have to follow through on.

I got a reputation as the guy to go to, if someone was at the end and they couldn’t do it themselves I’d get asked to take care of it. It’s not something I was proud of, and it’s not something I enjoyed, but it’s something I did. Anything for my friends, I can handle it. Anything for my friends.

“I don’t like it sir. I’m filing a complaint with command.” Even in his defeat he maintains bearing, he knows things like this happen.

Baker waves the attaché over, “Note Captain Millers complaint. Make it official, do you care Gnome?”

“No, note my complaint as well kid. Don’t look at me like that Bizkit. I’ll do it, but I’m not going to enjoy it.” I can hate myself later, in the dark when no one can see the scars.

The soldier writes things on his paper, looking up when he’s done.

“Captain Miller, look at me.” Baker is barely talking above a whisper, “I trust Gnome with everything. Tell Poss he’s on the level, he can be read in.”

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK From outside the sound of screaming and gunfire erupts

“Go to your men Mills, I’ll be out in a moment.” He looks me in the eyes, and without a word stands up saluting Baker and then walking out.

“You go to soldier, you’re going to see enough horrible things to haunt your dreams in the coming hours, you don’t want to see this.” Baker releases his attaché with a final order, closing his eyes once the kid is out of earshot.

“Don’t get lost Daniel. I know you think you are a sociopath, and I know you think your nothing but a shell, but you’re not. I’m not going to give that cliché better than the rest of us bullshit, but your one of our best. Get my men to that mountain, I’m ready.” His breathing is shallow

Standing up I pull my pistol from the holster, “You were one of the best Baker, I’ll miss you.” Taking a breath, I flip my safety off, aiming the pistol at the center of his forehead, “You know the words, say them.”

Taking a ragged breath, he wheezes “For those I love, I will sacrifice.”

“ready and forward.” I pull the trigger ending the life of one of my best friends, the greatest chance of survival most of the people on this base had. Standing a few seconds I use all the willpower I can muster to shove the emotions of committing yet another horror into the compartments I keep.

I holster my pistol walk to the stairs down out the front door.