Drakonis

Genocide

3 years later

"Commander, come in!" the low voice crackled over the comm unit.

"Commander!" it shouted again, louder this time.

"I hear you, Eli," came the grumpy response, filled with static as the young man chuckled.

"Well, maybe you should answer when I call, brother," Eli teased, his voice dripping with mock irritation as the machine emitted a series of beeps and whirrs.

"What are your coordinates?" Uhroh's voice demanded, barely masking his frustration as he struggled with the interference.

Eli glanced around the dense forest, his eyes scanning the dimly lit treetops. "Five yards from the base... everything's set up."

"Good," Uhroh replied. "Initiating the countdown. Prepare for the fireworks."

"Copy that," Eli said with a grin, his gaze fixed on the fortified human army base in the distance. The base was buzzing with activity, unaware of the impending chaos.

"Three... two... one..."

The forest erupted into action as Eli activated the remote detonator. With a bright flash and an enormous boom, the base exploded into a spectacular display of lights and debris. The shockwave rippled through the trees, sending Eli's hair flying and making him laugh uncontrollably.

"Uhroh, that was impressive!" Eli shouted into the comm, barely able to contain his excitement.

"I told you to make it spectacular, not to give me a headache," Uhroh's voice came through, a mix of annoyance and amusement.

"Well, I think I managed to do both!" Eli quipped, watching as the remnants of the base smoldered and flickered in the night.

"Next time, try to keep the explosion from rattling my teeth," Uhroh replied, a hint of a smile in his voice.

Eli gave a mock salute to the now-obliterated base. "Roger that. Heading back to base. And, you owe me a drink for this."

"Only if you promise not to blow up the mess hall," Uhroh chuckled. "See you soon, Eli."

Eli and his team darted through the dense trees, moving with such speed and precision that they seemed like shadows among the foliage. The forest was alive with the sounds of war—distant explosions, the hum of blaster fire, and the occasional wail of a wounded soldier.

"Stay in the air, men!" Eli barked over the comms, his voice sharp with urgency. "They leave traps on the ground!"

The team, equipped with advanced thrusters, floated above the treetops as they navigated their way back to the secret base. The forest floor was littered with traps and remnants of the bloody conflict that had scarred their land.

It had been two years since the first ship descended from the stars, their metal hulls slicing through the atmosphere like a harbinger of doom. The Kratens, once confident in their superiority, had been taken by surprise. They had assumed the humans would be an easy target, a mere stepping stone in their quest for conquest. But this time was different.

They had arrived with a relentless barrage of technology and firepower. Each full moon, more ships descended, disgorging thousands of soldiers and monstrous war machines. The once-peaceful clans of the southern region had been caught in a brutal siege. Their sacred lands had become battlefields, their ancient forests now hiding places for ambushes and traps.

As Eli and his team neared the base, their breathing synchronized with their strides. The towering walls of large trees base loomed ahead, an oasis of safety amidst the chaos. The base was a fortress, hidden inside a deep waterfall. Its defenses were a beacon of hope, a symbol of resistance against the oppressive onslaught.