Their Darkest Hour

by Christopher Nuttall

  He looked down at the map on the table, trying to force himself to remain optimistic. The situation was grim, but the reports from London made it clear that the aliens weren't gods. They seemed to have a slight shortage of force fields, directed energy weapons and all the other miracle technology that any self-respecting fictional alien race should possess. In fact, some of their technology looked to be inferior to human tech – although there was no way to be sure. The analysts had taken a look at the images of the alien landing shuttles and concluded that they shouldn't fly, at least with any technology known to mankind. Their best guess was that the aliens had some form of negating gravity. The shuttles actually seemed to be more fragile than human craft. They’d been hit with Stingers and blown out of the air.

  How long do we have? He asked himself. They’d been spoiled by modern technology. The fog of war, once banished by overhead reconnaissance and satellite imagery, was back with a vengeance. There was no way to know what the aliens were doing – at least until the scouts were in position to start reporting back. And the aliens could presumably track their radio transmissions and direct their aircraft to pick them off...

  The Prime Minister had looked as if he was on the verge of collapse. Gavin couldn't blame him; no one, in their worst nightmares, had imagined an alien invasion. He didn't want to think about what the civilian population was feeling, looking out into the darkening sky and wondering what would happen to them now that their country had been invaded. Britain had been a good place to live for many; now...now it might become a nightmarish alien-ruled land. Or perhaps the aliens would choose to work through human proxies.

  He shook his head. There was no way to know.

  Passing command of the bunker to one of his subordinates – who had been commanding a troop of tanks until Gavin had pulled him out to serve in the bunker – he headed for the ladder up to the surface. He could inspect the defence lines and chat with the soldiers, just to see how they were coping with the situation. And he could start laying the groundwork for underground resistance. The PM might swing towards coming to an accommodation with the aliens, but Gavin had other ideas. His country had been invaded.

  He wasn't going to let that pass without a fight.

  Chapter Nine

  London

  United Kingdom, Day 2

  Westminster looked like a war zone.

  No, Alan Beresford, Member of Parliament for Haltemprice, corrected himself. It was a war zone. Alan prided himself on his cynical approach to life – it had certainly served him well in politics – but even he felt a pang as he saw the damage the aliens had inflicted on the heart of the British Government. The Houses of Parliament were scorched – by the aliens or their human defenders – and Big Ben had collapsed inward on itself. There had been hundreds of dead bodies scattered about, but from what he’d heard the aliens were collecting them up and disposing of them. He didn't want to think about how.

  At thirty-five, Alan had been in politics for most of his life. His father had been a well-connected MP who had arranged for his son to receive employment within the office of another MP, who had in turn opened up a whole series of doors for his friend’s son. Alan knew little about the world outside politics and cared less. All he cared about was the chance to make money, increase his personal power base and pass his legacy on to his son. He’d dreaded the prospect of an effective Prime Minister in Ten Downing Street for a long time – the thought of someone like Thatcher taking a look at his hidden secrets was terrifying – and he’d done a great deal to keep the position in the hands of a pathetic non-entity. Alan no longer believed in Britain, but then – why should he? The great British population, blessed with the gift of democracy, freely chose to elect men with few real qualifications for government – and then blamed those men for what they did to the country. No one had ever really held Parliament to account for a very long time.

  But now...the world had changed overnight. Aliens had arrived, real aliens. Alan hadn’t seen any of the battle at first hand, not when he’d been cowering in his upmarket flat fearing that every second might be his last. He’d believed that it was more likely to be terrorists and the BBC’s increasingly absurd broadcasts just another sign of panic caused by the bastards. The news had only penetrated his skull when his political fixer had staggered in, bleeding from his shoulder, and raving about massive aliens. And then he’d heard their broadcast...

  His position as an elected MP was useless now, Alan knew. The British Government was on the run – no one had seen hide or hair of Burley and his ineffectual Cabinet since the aliens had landed. Alan knew better than to assume that Burley could turn the situation around, which meant that it was every man for himself. The aliens, on the other hand, wielded real power. He could make an alliance with them and offer his services in exchange for protection, wealth and more power than he’d ever dreamed possible. Who knew what sort of rewards a race that could cross the gulfs between stars could offer their faithful servants?

  He stopped dead as he saw the alien patrol turning towards him. Despite his belief that the aliens needed allies, it took all of his strength not to turn and flee. The massive brutes loomed over him, carrying weapons that seemed too large to be real. Alan had used shotguns and hunting rifles while staying at estates owned by his friends, but the alien weapons were very different. It struck him that the aliens had to be less socially developed than humanity – yet it hardly mattered. They’d crossed the gulf of space to reach Earth and impose their will upon humanity. It had taken them barely a day to crush most of humanity’s defences.

  Alan smiled and held up his hands, hoping that the aliens would understand the gesture. Their dark eyes showed no sign of human emotions; their faces seemed curiously immobile, almost as if they didn't have emotions at all. Or perhaps he was just looking in the wrong place. They might show their thoughts by how their hands moved when they spoke.

  “I come in peace,” he said. “Take me to your leader.”

  “Follow us,” the lead alien grated. The voice didn't seem to come from its mouth, but from a small device hanging down below its oversized chin. Alan wasn't too surprised that they could speak English. They were clearly advanced enough to monitor human broadcasts and decipher human languages. “Do not attempt to escape.”

  The area surrounding Ten Downing Street and Buckingham Palace had been devastated. Alien machines were moving through the rubble, pushing it aside and exposing the hidden network of tunnels under Whitehall. A set of alien-designed buildings had already been erected in Hyde Park, allowing them to come and go freely, rather than trying to fit into human buildings. They’d have problems using human vehicles and aircraft, Alan told himself, and smiled. Even he appreciated that the aliens were on the end of a very long logistics chain. They’d be delighted if he could convince thousands of humans to serve their new overlords.

  One of the aliens held up an oversized hand to stop him in his tracks, while a second waved what looked like a metal wand over his body. A security check, he realised, and allowed his mobile phone to be confiscated without demur. He hadn't been able to get a signal to call anyone – the landlines seemed to be badly damaged, or perhaps the staff just hadn’t reported in after the aliens had landed – and he made a mental note to suggest to the aliens that they restore mobile phone communications as soon as possible. It would go a long way towards allowing them to win hearts and minds.

  The interior of the alien building was oddly disappointing. It seemed more like a giant tent than anything else, with dozens of aliens working on small consoles and barking orders – or at least he assumed they were orders – at their subordinates. A massive image of Britain was displayed against one wall, covered with red and green markers that appeared to surround most of the larger cities. For the first time, Alan allowed himself to doubt the wisdom of his course of action. The aliens seemed to have won the war in the first day. Perhaps they wouldn't need him...

  His escorts opened a door in the side of the building and
pushed him into an oversized office. It was easy to believe that it was a power office, like the rooms favoured by CEOs he knew, but perhaps it was just normal for the aliens. They would need more living space than humans – a large human office might be uncomfortably cramped for them. A single alien was half-crouching in front of a desk, tapping away at what had to be a computer terminal. He – Alan decided to assume that it was a male, at least until it was proven otherwise – wore a simple black uniform, decorated with golden writing. Assuming the aliens prized gold as much as humanity, he was looking at a senior officer. He stepped forward and did his best to place an interested expression on his face. Who knew how the aliens would react to a man offering to help them?

  “I am Ju’tro Oheghizh,” the alien said. Alan assumed that Ju’tro was a title of some kind – General, perhaps, or Leader? It was unlikely that the supreme commander of a force invading the entire planet would be based in Britain. “You wished to talk with me?”

  “Yes, sir,” Alan said. Perhaps the alien wouldn't understand human respect, but there was no reason to take chances. “I am a high official in the government of this country. I wish to offer you my services.”

  There was a long moment as the alien’s unreadable eyes bored into Alan’s face. “We know who you are,” the alien said, finally. Alan’s mind raced; he hadn't seen them communicating, but who knew what they might be able to do? They might have communications implants in their skulls. “You will assist us in bringing humanity into the State.”

  “Of course,” Alan said, quickly. He allowed himself another smile. “I would be happy to serve.”

  ***

  “You know,” Sergeant Singh observed, “I was rather hoping that it would be a nightmare.”

  Robin nodded in agreement. They’d found their way to a police station, hidden most of the weapons in what he hoped was a secure hiding place, and then gone to sleep in the station’s dormitory. A handful of policemen with families had gone to their homes to check on their loved ones. No one had attempted to dissuade them. Robin had considered trying to slip out of the city and make it to his house – and his wife – but the aliens had blocked all of the roads out of London. He had kept trying the telephone, only to hear nothing, not even a dial tone.

  He pulled himself out of the bunk and checked the shower. The station's internal water supply was still working, thankfully, as was the internal generator. Most of London's power had been lost overnight, although there was no way to know if the aliens had done it deliberately or if humans had simply shut the power stations down before they fell into alien hands. London had seemed uneasily quiet after the events of the invasion, but Robin had no illusions. It wouldn't be long before the veneer of society fell away and what remained of social order collapsed into anarchy. And without the police on the streets, it was likely to spread rapidly. God alone knew what would happen then.

  “I managed to get some news from the BBC,” one of the constables reported after he entered the briefing room. Had it only been two days ago when he’d been on patrol, back when the world had made sense? “They were claiming that negotiations are in progress and it was all a terrible mistake.”

  Robin snorted. “That was no mistake,” he said, flatly. He couldn't see how a race that could cross light years could launch an attack on London by accident. The BBC had never impressed him as a policeman, if only because it tended to side against the police force whenever its honour, capability or competence was called into question. “The planet has been invaded and we’re at war. God help us.”

  He scowled over at the darkened terminal. Normally, it would have been glowing with updates from across the city, as well as items of interest, lists of suspects and all the other information that the modern policeman needed on a daily basis. Now, it was dark, suggesting that the police communications network was still down. Each of the police stations would have been cut off from the others...he shook his head, bitterly. What were they supposed to do now? Report in to the aliens and see what they had in mind for police officers?

  “I’ve got something,” one of the other constables said. “I heard a voice...”

  He fiddled with the radio again and the static faded away to a background hiss. “...Speaking for the Conquest Force,” a voice – unmistakably human – said. “I am the sole surviving member of the British Government. We have been defeated. The Eridian Conquest Fleet has destroyed our defences. We can no longer offer resistance to their invasion force. I am therefore ordering all remaining military units to surrender at once to the nearest Eridian force. Their leaders have assured me that they will be treated well, in accordance with their Rules of Law.”

  Robin swore. “Who the hell is that?”

  “That’s Beresford,” Sergeant Singh said. “I think he’s sold out to the aliens!”

  “We must accept the fact that human independence is over,” Beresford continued. “They have informed me that humans who are willing to serve will receive good treatment and a chance to climb within their ranks. Humans who refuse to serve them will be treated as criminals and rebels against the new lawful authority on Earth. I have been charged with making the process of human assimilation into their society as smooth as possible. There is no other hope for the survival of humanity. The aliens rule the skies. Long-term resistance will only result in the deaths of millions of humans.

  “Accordingly, I am ordering all civil servants and policemen to report for service at once,” he continued. “Those who do not report will be treated as deserters and will face the consequences when they are caught. Our priority must be the reestablishment of law and order within Britain. Those who do not submit to their rule will be punished.”

  There was a long pause. “We have grown used to human despots concealing their true motives behind fancy language,” he concluded. “The Eridians do not seem to share our attitudes. They wanted Earth; they took it. Their attitudes will not be swayed by pleas or protests. They believe that might makes right. Do not, for the sake of all humanity, seek to challenge them. They will respond with deadly force.”

  A moment passed, and then the message began to repeat itself. “Turn it off,” Robin snarled, savagely. He couldn't believe his ears. There was no way to doubt that Beresford had sold out to Earth’s new masters. They’d probably promised him wealth and power if he served them. “What the hell do we do now?”

  One of the constables put their choice into words. “They seem to want us to work for them,” he said. “If we do that...”

  “Collaboration,” someone else growled.

  “If we work with them,” the constable continued, “we would insulate the ordinary people – the people we swore to protect – from the aliens. If we refuse...we put our lives and those of our families in danger. We all know how the aliens react to challenges.”

  Robin nodded, bitterly. A group of louts – if he could be excused a moment of political incorrectness – had attacked an alien patrol with glass bottles and little else, apart from bad intentions. The aliens had opened fire and killed many of their attackers before the remainder fled for their lives. It hadn't been the only encounter between the aliens and humans who had tried to fight either. The aliens didn't seem to care that the humans were young, barely armed, and powerless...they’d seen a threat and dealt with it. They didn't have lawyers and politicians in uniform holding them back from handing out a good thrashing.

  “There’s another possibility,” Sergeant Singh suggested. “We join up – and prepare ourselves to turn on the aliens if necessary. They might have told us that they’ve crushed all resistance, but we know that that might not be true.”

  “I won’t push anyone into the decision,” Robin said. He’d made up his mind. “If anyone wants to leave, they can do so now – without fear. I will go and see if I can shield humans from them...”

  “Maybe,” Sergeant Singh said. “Or perhaps they’ll expect us to do as we’re told. And we might be told to do something truly awful.”

  ***


  Fatima rubbed her eyes as she pulled herself from the depths of sleep. She’d just run out of energy – after seeing so many patients she’d lost count, she’d ended up finding a quiet corner and just collapsing into an uneasy sleep. Never in her worst nightmares had she imagined having to help so many people – and watch others die though lacking the supplies to save them. Maybe it had been a dream...she shook her head, cursing her own weakness. It had been no dream. They were still in the makeshift hospital and she could hear patients moaning in pain.

  She pulled herself to her feet and headed towards the corridor. It was crammed with patients, lying on the floor; only the lucky ones had blankets to insulate themselves from the cold. The sight appalled her; the NHS hadn't been the best medical service in the world, but it wouldn't have allowed such conditions in a hospital. Now...now there was nothing they could do for their patients, but try to make them as comfortable as possible. They’d raided all the nearby chemists and supermarkets – and they were still short of supplies.