“Whisky Gamma zero-niner,” the comm said. “Hopkins, it’s time. Go shake that moneymaker.”
“Copy that,” I replied, nosediving into the canyon, a grin spreading across my face. “Let’s go fuck up E.T.”
This was the bit I loved, where adrenaline and training kicked in, asI dodged and jinked my fighter at incredible speeds in a space barely wider than the wingspan. Above me, the cruiser started laying down covering fire as I ran a few fast delta rolls and let loose with the cannon.
Sure enough, within a few seconds I had company, humming into view on my tail. Their planetary combat ships were elongated tubes with filaments at one end like olde-worlde broomsticks. Intel had given them the designation Hellcats.
“Total three hostiles,” I said, receiving two beeps from Command to confirm. “Engaging.”
I hit the brakes hard, dropping beneath them as they overshot me, their particle weapons firing into the space I’d just been occupying. Rising behind them like a kraken from the depths, I fired, breaching the shields of one immediately, and sending it spinning into an unforgiving stone wall, where it crumpled and fell.
I was slightly disappointed that there weren’t spectacular explosions like in the twentieth century movies we see on the Ents feeds… but we still don’t really understand the mechanics of how their technology works. I guess that’s why we’re still fighting to take what’s left of Earth back.
The others broke formation, scattering upwards and running directly into the aerial bombardment.
“Control,” I said, “I make that three for three, please confirm?”
“Roger that.”
We were back to voice comms, now that the immediate risk had passed.
“Shall I take another run?” I asked.
The lack of response stretched for a few moments too long, before alarms started screaming, and the onboard AI engaged the thrusters. G-forces pushed at me as fire began to spread across the sky.
“What… the… hell…” I managed to say, every word painful, as I tried not to black out.
“Imminent danger,” it responded in its characteristic flat tone. “Evacuation override protocol engaged.”
I saw the edge of the land drop away to what used to be the seabed, before all the water had boiled off the face of the planet, and felt us angle upwards. Within a few seconds, we were free of the atmosphere and in orbit, where finally the pressure eased up.
Staring down, I saw what was left of the cruiser breaking up and falling out of the sky under withering fire from a huge alien ship.
“Holy shit,” I whispered.
“Be aware,” the AI said, “that assistance is en-route.”
***
That was twelve hours ago.
Two full human battle fleets had appeared, mashing the alien dreadnought against the poor, scarred, face of the planet we used to call home. We’re about to send enough nukes down there to split the planet into a billion pieces before we set off to find a new home.
But first?
First, we’re going witch hunting.
