The sun barely kissed the horizon, casting a faint glow over the desert landscape as Ace stood in formation with the 21st Fleet's Marines. The air was dry and heavy, the kind of heat that clung to you, even before the sun was fully up. Sweat rolled down his face, but he kept his gaze locked straight ahead, the weight of his gear bearing down on him.
Two weeks had passed since the attack in the capital. The Golden Eternal Kingdom was now in full-scale pursuit of the Sons of Liberation (SoL)-the terrorist group that had thrown the kingdom into turmoil. But Ace and his squad weren't about to go after a well-organized enemy army. No, the SoL had proven themselves to be something much harder to fight: a guerrilla force. And that made everything about this mission unpredictable.
"Private," Sergeant Rohen's gravelly voice cut through the air, jolting Ace back to the present. "You paying attention?"
Ace nodded quickly. "Yes, Sergeant."
"Good. We're moving into hostile territory. These bastards don't play by the rules. They'll hit us hard, and they'll hit us fast. Keep your wits about you."
Ace swallowed and glanced around. The squad had been through basic training, but this? This was different. There were no clear frontlines here-no neatly packed enemy formations. The Sons of Liberation would strike from the shadows, set traps, and disappear just as quickly as they came.
"You ready, Ace?" Corporal Becca asked from behind him, her voice low but steady. Becca had been with the squad longer than most. She was as tough as they came, always in control, always pushing forward.
"I don't have much choice, do I?" Ace replied, trying to mask his nerves with a thin grin.
"You'll be fine. Stick with me, stick with the squad. We'll get through this," Becca said, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the horizon.
The sound of distant explosions rumbled through the air, reminding Ace that this wasn't a drill. He didn't have much time to think about it before the squad was marching toward their transport-massive, heavily armored dropships ready to carry them into the heart of enemy territory.
---
Inside the dropship, the tension was palpable. The squad sat silently, the harsh hum of the engines vibrating through their bodies as they soared toward the designated landing zone. The cramped quarters reeked of sweat, oil, and the metallic scent of weapons.
Ace checked his plasma rifle again, as if doing so would somehow steady his shaking hands. Becca sat beside him, cleaning her weapon with practiced ease.
"This isn't going to be easy," she muttered under her breath, almost as if speaking to herself.
"Yeah, no kidding," Ace muttered back. The SoL were known for their hit-and-run tactics, ambushing convoys, taking over civilian infrastructure, and then vanishing into the shadows. They didn't want to fight in open combat; they preferred to make their presence known in brutal, sudden strikes and then disappear before the Kingdom's forces could retaliate.
The ship lurched as it began its descent toward the battlefield. The ground below was a mix of desolate terrain, scattered ruins, and what looked like makeshift fortifications. The SoL didn't need much-just the cover of night and the element of surprise.
"Get ready!" Sergeant Rohen barked. "Landing in thirty seconds!"
Ace's heart hammered in his chest as he looked out the window. The enemy could be anywhere. And the moment the ship's ramp dropped, they'd be on them.
---
The dropship slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave through Ace's body as the ramp hit the dust. The squad poured out onto the battlefield, weapons raised, eyes scanning for any sign of movement. But there was nothing. The silence was deafening.
"Stay sharp," Rohen commanded, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're out here. We just can't see them yet."
The squad moved cautiously, staying in tight formation as they advanced into the terrain. The occasional flash of light in the distance told them they weren't alone, but the SoL knew how to disappear.
Suddenly, the ground erupted. Explosions tore through the air, sending dust and debris flying. Plasma bolts sizzled through the air, missing their mark by inches. From behind the crumbling buildings and wrecked vehicles, gunfire raked across the squad. The Sons of Liberation were everywhere, and nowhere.
"Cover!" Sergeant Rohen shouted. "Scatter! Keep moving!"
Ace dropped to the ground, instinctively finding cover behind a low wall. His rifle was already at his shoulder, but the chaotic firefight made it nearly impossible to get a clear shot. The SoL used the environment to their advantage, striking from hidden positions before vanishing into the shadows once more.
"Stay with the squad!" Becca yelled, firing back at a distant sniper's position. "They won't fight fair!"
Ace pressed his back against the wall, feeling his pulse racing. He'd been trained for this, sure-but nothing could have prepared him for the brutal chaos of this guerrilla war. The SoL didn't care about honor or a fair fight. They fought with ferocity, and in ways that made it nearly impossible to track them.
There was no real battlefield here. No rules. No order. Just chaos.
---
The battle stretched on, each minute feeling like an eternity. The Sons of Liberation knew the terrain better than anyone, and their tactics were brutal. They used ambushes, traps, and distractions to break up the squad's cohesion, forcing them to fight on multiple fronts at once.
Ace's rifle was almost an extension of his body now. He fired from behind cover, his shots aimed at where he suspected enemies might be hiding. He was no longer thinking-he was reacting. His body moved on instinct, his training kicking in as his squad advanced deeper into the heart of the enemy stronghold.
But just as they thought they were making progress, another explosion tore through the night, followed by the unmistakable sound of a dozen more blasts from different parts of the city. It was a coordinated attack-one that would spread the Golden Eternal Kingdom's forces thin and force them to respond everywhere at once.
"We're being stretched too thin!" Sergeant Rohen yelled as he sprinted toward the next position. "We need to clear this area fast. If we don't-"
Another explosion cut him off, and this time the shockwave knocked Ace to the ground.
The fight raged on.
The Sons of Liberation weren't just fighting for their cause. They were fighting to show the Golden Eternal Kingdom that they could never be beaten.
And Ace? He was just trying to survive.
---
As dawn began to break, the smoke and dust started to settle. The battlefield was littered with the remains of destroyed vehicles, craters, and the bodies of the fallen-both theirs and the enemy's. The night had been long and brutal, but the SoL's guerrilla tactics had proven effective. They had forced the Kingdom's forces to react, stretch thin, and fight a battle they weren't entirely prepared for.
Ace's squad regrouped, though they were fewer now. The fight was far from over, and the true cost of this war was just beginning to reveal itself.
As Ace stood amidst the wreckage, looking out at the destruction, he realized one thing: the Sons of Liberation were only the beginning. This was a fight that would last long into the future, and no one would come out of it unscathed.
The battle for the Kingdom had just begun.
YOU ARE READING
Eternal.
Science Fiction"They stood with us, side by side, Fighting through battles as the nights got colder. Their blades once lit up the battlefield, And their voices were strong-but now, it's quiet. I can still remember the way they laughed, The way they'd charge into t...
