Invasion

Prologue

18th May 2071

"This is Hercules heading past Mars, do you copy?"

"Mars Infinity Communicator Anderson, copy. How is it up there?"

"View is clear and all is good so far Anderson, we're just gonna enjoy the view, possibly take a few photos"

"Very funny Mitchell. Stay focused when you are approaching a planet, you should remember that from your training"

"Eh, I have bad memory"

"I'll leave you to it, lieutenant. See you soon"

"Okay Anderson, have fun. Bye"

"Ha, bye"

***

"Mars Infinity Communicator Anderson. Hercules do you copy?"

"Affirmative"

"I'm detecting a large beam of solar energy coming from around Jupiter, in your direction"

"I don't see anything ahead. Is it radiation?"

"No. It has similar properties to a star, but in a beam-like structure, and it seems like it's going near light speed"

"Well, never heard or seen something like that ever before. Maybe it's... Artificial?"

"Really Mitchell? You and your extraterrestrials. I doubt it's from an 'unknown origin'"

"You believe that Anderson, how long till it will get near us?"

"Approximately 20 minutes. I wouldn't worry about it lieutenant"

***

"Anderson"

"Yes Mitchell"

"We're not alone"

"What?"

"We've just received a signal from an unknown intelligence, and it came from the same direction as the solar beam"

"Don't play jokes on me Mitchell"

"I'm serious"

"Sent it me then"

"Okay"

Audio Message sent from Hercules, would you like to play?

"Yes"

Audio Message playing...

"Ohhh my-"

"Don't panic Anderson, I knew one day this event will occur. We just need to stay calm and pray to God that they want peace. Anderson? Anderson!"

"Yes..."

"Stay calm. Now tell me how far that solar beam is away"

"How did they send it to us?!"

"Anderson, please be calm. Now tell me how far the solar beam is away"

"Approximately... 5,000,000 kilometres away"

...

"...Mitchell? ...you there? There's no need to worry, I'm sure it's nothing, maybe it's they're sign of greeting-"

"I can see it! Anderson it's an invasion they're hostile! Help us! HELP! HELP!!!"

"What the hell?! Mitchell! I'm sending fighters now! Hang on! Mitchell do you copy?! MITCHELL?!?!"

...

"Oh my God. Kowalski!"

"What is it Anderson?"

"Get the emergency team up! Hercules has been shot down!"

"By what?"

"That's not important! Kowalski what's the hold up?!"

"I see Hercules"

"Well, what's its status?!"

"It's been obliterated. Debris is entering the atmosphere"

"Oh my God"

"Anderson, whoever they are, they're coming; and I don't think they want peace"