Warning claxons rang through the building, as a red light filled Jessica’s room, waking her. “What?”

“All security personnel report to duty stations. All security personnel report to duty stations. All security personnel report to duty stations. Attack, attack, attack.” A horn blared through the same speakers in three short bursts, and Jessica could hear its echo down the hall and in other parts of the base. Realizing what was going on, Jessica practically jumped out of her bed, threw on her uniform, grabbed her side arm and made her way towards the officers armory on her basment level. The Quick Reaction Force will meet the threat first, Jessica reminded herself. Calming her nerves slightly. The other officers will head to their units, wake them, get them moving if they’re not ready, and then wait for orders for deployment. She thought, as she rounded a corner and found it packed with people. My job, is to get my gear from the armory, and meet up with command. Major Dawson, she corrected herself.

A powerful humming reverberated through the concrete and air, then as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Then picked back up again. “C Ram has engaged. Who the hell is shooting at us out here?” One of the other junior officers asked, still pulling on her boots as she ran. Other officers who had been off rotation were moving in the same direction she was. Heading towards the armory, still getting their clothes on as they went.

Jessica fastened her belt as she moved among the others. When they got to the armory, the vibrations from the C-RAM anti-artillery weapons were nearly constant. “I was in Kabul, and I never felt them rattle my teeth like this. What the hell is shooting at us?!” Someone else shouted over the nearly deafening din of the weapons above them.

“Stow it, lieutenant!” shouted a man who looked as rugged as he was old. Three scars laced down the side of his face and a Captain’s insignia graced his dress uniform. He clearly hadn’t had the opportunity to get into his own gear yet. The man handed out weapons and assignment data pads to each person as they walked up to the armory door, before running off to find their elements. “Get your shit and get down to your men! Make sure they’re up and ready to go. Move!”

Jessica watched as the six others who had been asleep with her got their gear and left. She stood at the back of the dwindling crowed, waiting to be issued her special weapons package. The Captain glared at her and looked like he was about to shout until he saw her Magic Corp patch. He stiffened, then nodded and turned back into the armory room. “One second Lieutenant.” He emerged half a couple of teeth rattling seconds later with a cloth bundle. “Here you go.” She grabbed it and ran.