The Decay

Chapter 1 - World War IV

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...102 years ago...

Three years ago, in 2065, a huge discovery was made: the cure for cancer. For the past decades, technological advances have been exponentially increasing. The impossible had become possible. Except for war. War is one thing that will always remain, for war is a basic human instinct. For as long as there will be humans there will be war. And war... war never changes.

3rd March 2068

Colonel Andrews of the U.S. Army had been informed of the immediate threat of a volley of missiles from Russia. Nuclear missiles. The Fourth World War. Few had expected it, but those who did knew that the world would never be the same after it ended.

He had enrolled into the army at age 20 after dropping out of law school, wanting to be a patriot  like so many others. Medium height, short black hair, with no remarkable features. He reloaded his laser rifle.  “Higgans, cover me. Two tangos ahead. GO!” “Roger that,” replied the nervous private. Andrews looked up from behind the remainder of the concrete wall in front of him. The two enemies broke out from cover and were running towards their wounded ally. Taking advantage, Andrews raised his laser rifle and pulled the trigger. A read beam of laser found one of the men in the chest and burned a hole straight through. As the second soldier raised his weapon at the colonel, Higgans took an early shot killing him. Higgans cast a look at the colonel who simply gave him an approving nod. Andrews, Higgans, and the remainder of the unit advanced deeper into enemy territory.

They had been at it for a good five days now, with just one day back at HQ before they were sent on this mission. 'Highly classified.' he had been told. 'The outcome of the war depends on this success' his captain told him before they headed out. The captain had died the day before. An ambush had drawn the unit into the open and a sniper took the shot.

Andrews took cover behind a destroyed car. “Raptor one and two, break through the right flank!” Whether they had understood the order he never knew, for the next thing he heard was a loud whistling sound followed by a crash, and then silence. Nothing but silence.