The Winter War

Chapter 1

Denver, Colorado

 

      Won’t be long now, James thought as his breath puffed around him. His nose was beginning to drip and his lips weren’t forming his words as quickly as he wanted. There was no denying that Winter was coming.

      A little early for the last of September, or was it the first of October? He couldn’t remember what the actual day was but knew it was two weeks after what was being called the Battle of Frederick. Or more famously: the Defiant Stand of the 33rd. Personally James didn’t care for the last one as it made it sound like they were heroes instead of the terrified kids just trying to survive. Still, enlistments soared after the victory and the ranks of the 33rd Colorado Infantry swelled with new recruits. So much so that James now found himself a squad leader.

      He stepped over the body of a dead Druidth trooper sitting propped up on the ground and leaning against a shot out truck. Continuing down the street of half burnt apartment buildings, James, his squad, and Nick’s squad moved up the street in a ragged skirmish line watching for signs of enemy activity. His helmet was off and tied around a belt loop allowing him to look upwards without it affecting his view; the black skull cap still on his head.

      “Snake Eyes, this is Bravo Two November, is there anything on your end? Over.” The radio strapped around the radioman’s back chattered.

      James turned his head, half listening as his call sign wasn’t Snake Eyes. Still, it didn’t hurt to be aware of what was going on around him. “Bravo Two, Snake Eyes, negative. We haven’t come across anything since this morning. Over.”

      “Understood, Snake Eyes. Bravo Two out.”

      “It’s weird how they aren’t putting up a fight,” Sam Brody said, reaching up to turn the radio on his back down a little.

      “They’re pulling back. Strengthening their lines for the last big fight,” James replied as he adjusted the black breastplate taken from one of the Druidth dead at Frederick. They found that the knife with the heated blade could cut through the nanofiber mesh like butter and many troopers had taken the opportunity to collect pieces of armor that weren’t too damaged and ‘Cosmic Knives’ and the alien blades were being nicknamed. His was a little scuffed but otherwise perfect; the Druidth he took it from had a trench blasted through the top of his head, probably from one of the airplanes as they did a strafing run.

      They rounded a corner and came to a sudden stop as they saw three bodies in civilian clothing hanging from a traffic light. A white T for Traitor was spray painted on their chests and they gently swayed back on forth on the chilly breeze. These people, two men and a woman, collaborated with the Druidth during their occupation and aided them in some way or another and were rounded up by the militia when the aliens began pulling back. Faces bloated and swarming with flies James waved everyone down to the other end of the street so they wouldn’t get too close.

      “You think they deserved it?” He asked Nick after the skirmish line had reformed and they started making their way down the street once more. “Or did they just piss someone off who saw this as an easy way to get payback?”