Chicago…No Man’s Land. We finally made it and it doesn’t disappoint.

The ruins of the city was a rubbled heap from years of bombings, but where building once stood were mounds of concentrated material, crawling with Helix and maggots coming forth from a network of tunnels. Mindless hosts, once dedicated to planet Earth-now dedicated to the aliens, roamed, mindlessly over the up-heaved concrete. The American forces created barricades of abandoned and charred humvees and tanks at the entrances of the city’s highways in hope to ward off anyone looking to enter the city. A derelict for humans-an infestation for the Helix.

The final remnants of daylight transformed into nightfall as the two SMC’s reached the makeshift mechanical walls of the grim city. With them followed rolling thunderstorms. Crackling, haunting lightning gave them their only light save for their headlights. The distant sounds of clattering and humming carried off the wind.

Mark’s voice broke through the eerie calmness of Scout 2.“Proceed with caution, Collins.”

“Roger that, Sergeant,” responded the private. His voice shaky, trying to find courage as they entered the gates of Hell. “I wish Spears was here. He’d have some pearls of wisdom to get us through this.”

“I wish he was here too, mano,” said Flores.

The SMCs’ engines growled as they climbed over the barricade and entered lugging slowly through the streets. The mindless zombies parted ways around the vehicles, never paying much attention to the drivers inside.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff-they comfort me,” Miranda recited. She tried to hold a stoic bravery as she watched the eerie, glowing eyes pass by.

“I didn’t take you for the religious type, Doc,” Collins said, turning his head enough to catch a glimpse of his passenger.

I used to be. Before the war. Before God abandoned us…me.

“I’m not,” she said quietly, “Just thought anything might help us tonight. Divine or practical.” She wrung her hands until the her wrist grew sore.

Maybe He’s still there. Watching over me. Waiting to show himself. Maybe I just need to trust Him, like I once did. We could all use some hope in this world…it’s all we have left.

The pavement gradually became a soft mush, like snow but a grainy, mustard-yellow. The road gradually declined into a giant tunnel, of which webbed cocoons dangled from the roof of the mouth. Electricity pulsed within a thin layer covered the wall, all leading further down the tunnel.

“Tell the Sergeant that I have my suspicions that this will lead to the queen,” Miranda dictated to Collins.

“You have your suspicions? Have we any idea that the Helix even have a queen?” asked Marks.

Miranda bit her lip.

We actually have never seen a hierarchy or organization of the Helix. My superiors have only had a hypothesis that if the Helix were anything like our Vespidae then they would also have a queen and possibly a centralized hive. What brought me to Chicago in the first place because it was ground zero of this entire invasion. They thrived when we dropped a nuke on them, but we could never get further into the city to discover anything greater than what we had already discovered. This docile nature that the Helix seem to be in at the moment may be our only chance of finding a queen.

“They must have a queen, Sergeant. It’s the only chance we have to knowing how to disable the Helix once and for all.”

“Alright, Chavez. We press on,” Marks ordered.

They followed the main tunnel, as smaller ones splintered off into the unknown fathoms. The electric currents glowed stronger until the tunnel opened into a massive cavern. Hundreds of Helix carcasses were piled against the walls, as well as host lain strewn about. Larvae squirmed about on the ceilings. The wave of energy that the Dead Man Division were following lead to a gargantuan insect at the center of the chasm. Its shell was dark red and black. Wings stirred partially from its back. Its antennas twitched in circles, as it feasted on heap of Helix and hosts. In intervals the creature expelled a charge of electricity that passed through the walls of the hive.

The queen. She exists. She really exists!

“Is that what I think it is, Chavez?” asked a stupefied Flores.

“I believe it is. I think the power we see flowing through the hive is a signal to have the Helix come to her, so she can feed on her brood.” Miranda’s words blurted out in excitement. She could hardly conduct herself, “It must be how she sustains her size and egg laying capacity. Though I don’t know how long or when this process will happen again.”

“Orders, Sergeant?” asked Collins.

“Light it up!” commanded Marks.

“Light it up?” This is the discovery of the century! He can’t be serious?

“Wait! There’s so much more we can learn from her!” pleaded Miranda, “We are here to observe not destroy!”

“We came all this way to find out what can kill these fuckers and you want to save their lives? Snarled Marks, “Who’s side are you on, Chavez?”

Collins flipped open the latches of the machine gun triggers, “Are we really doing this, Sarge?”

“Listen to reason, Marks.” Miranda lowered her voice to a calmness, knowing the situation needed to be tread on delicately. “We are on the precipice of victory, and if you go in guns blazing, this could come out completely fubar.”

“Nice usage of our word, Doc.” Collins smiled.

“Shut up, Private!” Marks paused between his words. “What do you suggest, Chavez?”

“Leave. Now. Report our findings to command, let the higher ups take it over from here. They can study further and make an educated decision.”

The pulsating energy grew quiet. Clicking from Helix clamored behind the vehicles as the queen turned to stare into the fearful eyes of the soldiers.

“She sees us,” Miranda gulped, “We have to move-now!”

The bug-like Helix dropped from the ceiling, landing with a thud onto the the driving shields of the SMC’s. Their acid saliva dripped into puddles onto the bullet proof glass.

“Go! Go! Go!” shouted Marks.

Both vehicles whipped into a three-sixty and boosted away. Bullet casings bounced on the ground as the machine gun’s rattled with a ratta-tat-tat blaring ahead.

More and more Helix came down the tunnels, diving headlong like winged missiles into the armored vehicles. Streams of fiery liquid spewed from their mandibles as the carriers weaved from side to side.

“Watch that napalm!” Marks called out.

“They’re aiming for our tires!” cried Flores.

This isn’t what I signed up for! This isn’t what I signed up for! This is what I signed up for. Damn it!

“I see the exit! We’re going to make it!” yelped Collins.

The SMC’s thrust faster, ramping over a large amount of of Helix and coming down in a crunch on top of a group of unlucky hosts. Flesh ripped into a flaying mess as blood sprayed from turning wheels climbing body over body. The speed at which they bolted peeled away the Helix failing to hold onto the vehicles. The soldiers were free as they breached the barricade and escaped the city.

“Everyone alright?” asked Marks.

“Wouldn’t mind a vacation, Sarge!” chuckled Collins, nervously, “Is it possible we can get the weekend off?”

“And to think I left being a cook for this. Mierda, I’m an idiot!” sighed Flores.

“You boys did good. Job well done. Let’s go home.

August 13th 2070

Day 4 with the Dead Man Division

We survived No Man’s Land. I think it’s just past midnight as we head back to base. I can tell Marks did something against his gut, something he’s never done before. Maybe he’ll respect me a bit less for that. But he’ll tank me in the long run. We’ve done it, we found out how to turn around this war. America fell in fifteen years; now, after today, America will get back up.

Collins is playing a band called R.E.M.

It’s the end of the world…and I feel fine.