Project Gaia : The arrival of humanity

Chapter 25 : Confrontation

"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."

- Ernest Hemingway

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Gaia, Southwestern "New Pangaea" Continent. July 1st 2038. 1200 Hours.

The forest was alive with chaos as First Sergeant Karliana Mauser stepped out of the Humvee, her boots crunching against the dirt and scattered leaves. The distinct crack of gunfire echoed through the trees, mingling with the sharp shouts of commands. The sun filtered through the canopy above, its light playing against the smoke rising from their convoy's halted vehicles. The familiar weight of her rifle rested against her shoulder as she surveyed the battlefield.

Ahead, 25 meters away, Alex Hill and his team were hunkered down, their Humvee partially shielded by underbrush and tree trunks. Muzzles flashed as they fired relentlessly at an otherworldly sight-a shimmering, transparent purple sphere that seemed to pulse like a living thing. It shimmered under the sun's rays, with shifting hues of lavender and violet rippling across its surface. Strange, Hexagon-like patterns danced faintly within the sphere, as if etched into the anomaly itself.

"Corporal Ngozi, Colonel Murray," Karliana barked, her voice cutting through the din, "stay with the vehicle. Man the .50 cal and keep the perimeter secure. If anything moves that isn't us, light it up."

"Yes, ma'am!" Murray called back, already climbing into position, his hands steady on the heavy weapon. Nuñez nodded, his face pale but determined.

"Private Nuñez, Sergeant Anagal," Karliana continued, gesturing sharply, "you're with me. Let's move."

The trio advanced carefully, rifles at the ready, their footsteps barely audible against the cacophony of distant shots. Karliana's eyes remained locked on Alex's position. His team was engaged in a furious firefight, their bullets ricocheting off the strange barrier with dull, muted thuds. Each impact sent ripples across the sphere's surface, like stones skipped across water. Despite their efforts, the barrier held firm, its resilience a chilling testament to the aliens' capabilities.

As they drew closer, the gunfire stopped.

Karliana froze mid-step, raising her fist to signal a halt. The sudden silence was deafening, the abrupt absence of noise amplifying the tension. Ahead, Alex and his team stood stock-still, their rifles hanging limply in their hands. Their postures were unnaturally stiff, their eyes wide and unblinking. It was as if they'd been petrified.

"What the hell...?" Nuñez muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Before Karliana could respond, movement caught her eye. One of the aliens stepped forward, a small, purple figure with an unmistakable horn jutting from its forehead. The creature radiated an aura of otherworldly energy, its fur shimmering faintly in the sunlight. It raised its front hooves in what appeared to be a hesitant gesture of peace, its large, expressive eyes darting nervously between the soldiers.

"What is it doing?" Anagal hissed, his finger tightening on the trigger of his rifle.

"Hold fire," Karliana ordered firmly, though her own instincts screamed at her to prepare for the worst.

The alien's horn began to glow, a soft, radiant light that shifted between shades of pink and violet. The glow intensified as it conjured an invisible force, an aura that seemed to distort the air around it. Slowly, with deliberate precision, the alien levitated a stick from the ground. The movement was fluid and strangely graceful, as if guided by an unseen hand.