Origin: Eternity's End

by Uneeb Qureshi

  “T-Thank you ma’am.” The young girl replied with a crisp salute. To be recruited by another Commander meant that she had proved herself worthy for something beyond menial battle formations and grunt-work.

  “I’ll put in a good word. Sha’ra Stadig was it?” Daria checked her suit ID, “Good, now go.” She nodded the girl off back to the camp to investigate.

  She only hoped that the other officers who had any luck at their locations.

  Gorzow, Poland

  About the same time.

  Prox and his squadron began their low-approach over Europe. Sheppard had assigned them this theatre of war but it was far from challenging. Krontos was missing, choosing instead to remain in the North American theatre.

  European governments had mounted a swift organized counter-assault to the Eri invaders. The Immortal Legions had little work to do other than reclaim the war-torn streets of Europe. The Immortal citadel in Casino, Italy was their impenetrable stronghold.

  “I don’t understand why the Commander stationed us to lead the European theatre, there’s almost no work here that the grunts haven’t done already.” Prox said as he kicked a pebble into the Warta River. Just behind them nearly two-thousand Legion heavy troopers awaited deployment.

  European armies now worked side by side with their Legion soldiers to retake each city. Within hours nearly half the entire continent had already been reclaimed.

  “Commander Sheppard always has a purpose for things,” Mairwyn began, “Besides, it’s not as if we’re not busy.” On her heads-up display she was operating a robotic surgical arm, operating on an injured soldier nearly two countries away. Lispara sat behind her taking a break.

  Lispara and Mairwyn had both risen to the highest echelons of the Legion’s medical command. Their medical and surgical expertise was nearly unparalleled in this sector of the galaxy.

  “I just want to kick some Eri ass!” Prox said as Lispara threw him another container of pudding, “Not in the mood, I’d rather bathe in this stuff right now. Home-made.” He sniffed the container before sealing it again.

  “Kront is still in North America?” Lispara asked, rather dismayed.

  “The idiot wanted to stay, it’s a total mess right there and I hope he dies, seriously.” He tossed the container around. “To be honest…I wish he were here and us back over there. More Eri troops landed in North America than Europe. And Europe was more careful with its evacuation protocols.” Prox shook his wrist, “Why can’t I get civilian-risk combat! And who the hell would trust him, of all people, to be careful?”

  “Shush,” Lispara began, she was listening intently to a radio channel. “I think we have some very good news.”

  Chapter 18

  Legacy of the Reborn

  Hours later…

  Sheppard smirked, he knew his men had won several key battles. But the real test was far from over.

  He left his encampment to investigate the woods.

  All I ask God… is if anyone should die in the days to come, let it be me...

  He heard static radio chatter, it was a long-range transmission from orbit.

  “Rep…” Damn static, “Repeat…The Phoenix Legion has returned…” the static cut off the rest of the transmission.

  Lee and Ali. Against his best wishes, his subordinates had both returned to save their mother world.

  The space engagement was finally going to end with the arrival of this new fleet.

  As Lee and Ali’s ships circled the moon they caught their first glimpses of the battle. Debris and explosions continued to litter the battle worn space between the dark-side of the Earth and the Moon.

  “What in the…” Lee said as their two ships exited their orbit.

  Of the four sub-cruisers the Eternity housed and deployed in its defense of Earth only two remained functional at its mother ship’s side. Both the severely damaged ships were immobile, nearly dest-royed. They were rammed by the Eri fleet in a desperate move for cover, now they were caught in the middle of the crossfire.

  The remainder of the Eri fleet remained behind the debris of the Legion ships, using the survivors as human shields. The only other remaining sub-cruiser orbited against the Earth’s rotation to avoid the dangerous solar radiation ejected by the sun.

  The lone vessel above the Earth was deploying its personnel toward the Earth, fueling the ground conflict.

  Each ship in the Legion fleet had jagged scars on its surface. Metallic shears and molten metal debris floated about space. The debris that got caught in the magnetic formed a relatively useful shield, protecting against physical projectiles.

  Lee and Ali circled about the orbital battlefield, trying to find a weak spot to engage the cowardly Eri.

  “Launch starboard EMP.” Ali said.

  Before they fired the remaining Eri ships passed through the Legion ships, appearing behind them. They were enveloped in a dark energy that seemed to permeate through space. It seemed as if they were intangible. The dark cloud around them stretched around in a circular fashion, making them reappear just behind the Eternity.

  “How the hell did they do that?” Lee asked his crew. They were just was dumbfounded as he was

  “Amazing…” Ali replied as he saw almost no radiation or debris being expelled from their extremely short-range Jump.

  The Eri ships, now positioned between the legion vessels and the Earth, dashed toward Earth at full speed. The Eternity, and its sister vessels took time to about-face, engaging them just before they could breach the atmosphere. A volley of perfectly aimed projectiles and plasma bolts flew at the escaping vessels, destroying one of the ship’s thrusters in the process.

  The damaged ship was propelled forward with its momentum, veering at an awkward angle toward the Earth. The second legion salvo fast-approached. The other Eri vessels flew underneath its damaged flagship for cover. The damaged ship soon imploded from structural damage, allowing the other vessels to bypass unhindered.

  The entire chase took nearly a half hour. The Eri battle-cruiser approached its last obstacle, the Legion sub-cruiser above Earth’s orbit.

  The runaway Eri vessel fired its final salvo causing enormous damage to the unsuspecting Legion ship. The Legion vessel was thrown off its orbit. At the same moment the Eri ship launched all drop ships in a desperate attempt toward Earth.

  The Eri’s kamikaze maneuver was not finished however. In shock, Lee and Ali saw first-hand how the first half of their fleet perished. The Eri ship rammed into its target causing the insides of both ships to start lighting up. The Eri ship ultimately self-destructed in a bright flash of light. The shockwave flew through both vessels, causing irreversible damage.

  Emergency messages flooded all channels. Lee and Ali and the remaining Commanders in orbit could only stare in horror at what transpired. Threads of matter and energy flew out like ribbons from the centers of both ships. The shockwave nearly reached the Eternity before it was sucked back into the two exposed ship reactors where the exotic matter was highly concentrated.

  As the matter collapsed onto itself, chain reactions between the two exposed stellar drives ensued. Matter and energy violently clashed between forms, destroying everything in its vicinity.

  The Battle of Washington, D.C.

  With the orbital battle in chaos, Sheppard took the time to move his forces ahead of schedule. He had to regroup both his forces and the U.S. military if he was going to deal with the Eri reinforcements.

  His ship’s thruster engines whirred loudly as it streamed across the foggy morning skies of Washington D.C. As they breached the fog they could see several other vessels flying beside them through the skies. Radio chatter flooded the channels as his troops prepared to land and reclaim the mighty capital.

  “Alright Essuru, we have very little time to organize once we land. Colonel,” Sheppard said to the Marine Colonel ahead of him, “I need your battalion to secure the city’s center. Evacuate any and all civilians to safe-zones you establish and have your men hold down th
e lines until we receive heavy support from the orbital fleet.” He looked around briefly one last time, “I am going to sweep the underground for any more unwelcome guests. The President and most major political and military commanders have been extracted to a nearby Immortal Citadel. Our objective is to eliminate all combatants and secure the city from the ground up.”

  The ships touched down fast unloading its passengers instantly. His sable soldiers rushed off the vessels and initiated and linked their HUDs. The communications channels went immediately silent. Packs of immortals traversed the alleyways and discreetly climbed the fire escapes to the rooftops in order to survey the surroundings. Satellite imagery was constantly updated to their displays as they made their way to the city center.

  Their first order of this battle was to secure the White House and the Capitol Building, and to evacuate any remaining civilians.

  Hundreds of Eri zealots lined the streets and parks of the city’s interior creating temporary forward installations. Sheppard and his men stealthily rounded their central command outpost in preparation for attack.

  While his men secured the camp outside Sheppard took a select few commandos and continued onward to the White House. They meticulously worked across the lawn to the building’s main entrance. The exterior suffered slight damage from the earlier mortar blasts but remained relatively unscathed.

  Legion soldiers stormed each floor, finding no signs of life. They regrouped before investigating the basement but were immediately greeted by dozens of assault rifles and machine gun turrets in an elaborate barricade.

  Sheppard raised his fist, ordering a halt. The Legion soldiers stood their ground, unafraid. A highly decorated Commandant of the Marine Corps stepped forward and greeted them almost without hesitation. He was all too familiar with Immortal technology. His men lowered their weapons. This was the help they were waiting for.

  “Commander Artanis, I presume?” He let off a crisp salute.

  Sheppard removed his helmet in respect and returned a proper marine salute.

  “General Corona, it’s an honor to meet you sir, the President informed us that you might still be here.” He continued.

  “Hell, we’ve been waiting for the party to get started. Do we have a clear path to evacuate the wounded?”

  Sheppard nodded, “By now my men will have neutralized the enemy camp outside. Follow my troops out, they know a clear path back to forward base Echelon.”

  Sheppard put his helmet back on but added, “If you have any spare men ready to keep going we’d be honored to have the rest of the U.S. Marine Corps at our side.”

  “Marines never leave a good fight behind,” The Commandant smirked as he nodded.

  After walking outside the Marines and Sheppard’s contingent were met with a bloody conflict at the enemy’s camp. While his troops were on the winning side he did not feel like waiting for it to be over.

  “Shall we?” He said to his soldiers as they rounded the lawn to provide cover fire.

  Grenades blew chunks out of the ground, filling the air with dirt, gunpowder, and ash. Sheppard’s troops masterfully flanked the enemy reinforcements and routed them. The battle was over. A final push by the enemy was met with fierce resistance from all sides. The battle raged on with what momentum it had.

  Hours later the city was theirs.

  Sheppard’s troops took up posts at the Washington Monument, using it to scan the horizon for enemy movements.

  You’re here, I know it. There’s no way you would leave without seeing me…

  Sheppard felt lost in the amber sky. the sun was beginning to set leaving shades of dark orange hues seeping into the night sky.

  As he followed the trails of light to their resting place below the horizon he saw the Potomac River flow swiftly into the night.

  As he scanned the horizon he made out the sight of traffic billboards. Arlington National Cemetery was just beyond the river.

  His mind connected the dots. A cemetery, the end of life. That was where he was, that was where this was going to end.

  Sheppard decided to go alone. He broke radio contact and global positioning by disabling his communications module, against his AI’s best wishes.

  “Commander, I’m not sure if disabling communications currently is wise—”

  Sheppard nodded, “I don’t want the rest of my men to be exposed to any direct danger just yet. I’m going to scout ahead. But I’m not going in without a backup. He pulled out a pellet from his armor’s waist band and uploaded his position and projected path into the orb.

  Like Hansel and Gretel, he was leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for his men to locate him.

  Chapter 19

  Into the Shadows

  The Potomac River, Washington D.C.

  Sheppard scaled the cliffs and forests of the Potomac River valley, stopping just short of the abandoned parkways. Though he could see no one, he knew he was being watched. He became almost feral, eluding both his men and the enemy that scattered the woods.

  He reached the embankment of the river below and thought to himself, I made it here too easily. The fleets reported over two-million Eri soldiers had been dropped to Earth. Yet the camps he had ambushed contained little over hundreds.

  The trees that lined the embankment provided him ample cover. The majority of the creatures that inhabited the region scattered after the first bombardment of the city. Insects sang their nocturnal symphony as the encroaching moonlight cast shadows in the woods.

  The scene was all too peaceful and serene. A high-altitude EMP from orbit earlier had knocked out electrical grids across the world people could finally look to the sky and see the enormity that was the heavens. It was as antediluvian and wondrous as they imagined it to be, with the same mysterious and bright gateways that their ancestors once used to navigate the world.

  He hung his head low and sighed heavily. He missed the olden days, days where he had little care for the politics of men. The insects resumed a vociferous sonata.

  The grandeur of the forest reminded him how infinitesimally insignificant his life was. The pursuit of peace had caused him more trouble than good.

  He wished he could be as transient as the streams, or as fleeting as the winds. He wanted to see life unfold and perish naturally, and not by his misgivings.

  But he vowed to himself long ago that he would forever preserve the bloodlines of his ancestors, mortal or immortal. To protect the world that gave birth to all mankind.

  The few rays of moonlight that broke the pitch-black skies illuminated the ashen forests like rippling waves of water. Fires from the city gave the sky a luminous golden hue.

  He resumed his trek across the valley and dove into the river. His suit’s internal oxygen tank engaged just as he plunged beneath the surface.

  Enemy patrols would be unable to track him amidst the corpses and debris that scattered the river currents.

  What do you think will happen to us after death? A young girl’s voice asked him.

  “I don’t know but we’ll never die, I promise!” He said in his mind, his voice resonated like that of a child.

  How do you know that we won’t die? Many people died when you came to our village.

  “I don’t know about the rest of them, but we—”

  He scrambled forward, fighting the currents. The cold water and bodies floating by him caused nightmares to resurface in his mind. He jumped out of the water and onto dry land, finally coming to his senses.

  He kept to the river’s edge and continued into the night.

  He took a moment to rest. His thoughts were unusually lost at the moment. The nightmares from the river, he was remembering his past. Was this a sign? Were these to be the harbingers of his last moments of existence?

  “It’s beautiful isn’t it sir.” Soul interjected about the environment around him.

  “Yes it is,” Sheppard replied, “I only wish I could spend the rest of my life…well, without fighting anymore...”

  “Perhaps after thi
s war I could schedule some time off for you sir?”

  Sheppard shook his head. Though the AI could not see it he knew it was monitoring his vitals the whole time. “It will never end Soul. After this they will look to me to take the fight home. Back to the Eri home world.” He let out a sarcastic grin, “Besides I’m not desperate for free-time, just a little stressed.”

  “Sir?”

  “Don’t worry you’ll live to see much more than I ever will. You live in numbers and meta-physical existences that I still don’t even understand.”

  “I’m a self-learning and evolving entity that exists in circuitry designed to understand human thinking.” Sheppard mouthed the AI’s words and cupped his hands as if gesturing the AI’s words.

  “I know Soul,” he replied in a joking manner, “And for all that its worth I don’t think you or I will ever die… Even if I give up everything, I never feel death…” Soul wrote an electronic emote on his heads-up display.

  The winds blew through the crags behind him whistling loudly. Memories resurfaced again of his pre-immortal days in the deserts of Northern Africa. The wind had scared him back then, as if the Earth was trying to talk to him.

  “I don’t think I’ll be alive much longer Soul.” Sheppard added, “But it’s okay. This world doesn’t need another man like me…”

  The trees rustled quietly, maybe it was because of his sound-dampening helmet armor but he did not care. It lulled him to sleep. He closed his eyes for a moment to rest. The view from inside of his helmet was like looking through prison bars.

  Sheppard disengaged the panoramic cameras on his helmet and saw how trapped he truly was underneath all of his armor. The small slits of his helmet allowed him to see just a glimpse of the outside world.

  “Would you like me to set an alarm sir?”

  Sheppard shrugged, he exposed the roots of a tree behind him. He was lying inside of nature itself. “Wake me up in a half hour…I don’t think I’ll ever get to rest like this again…”