Wings of Home II: Wings of Change

Prologue

The message was honestly concerning.

Commander Sablan stood next to Commander Iverson when the message came through their systems, his first thought equating said message as some kind of prank by one of the garrison cadets. After all, the teens were selected for the garrison program for a reason, yet who else would send a message warning about alien invasion when aliens, in fact, did not exist.

"The message..." One of the communications officers removed their headphones, turning their heads so they might look at the two commanders in the eye. "It originates in deep space."

"We've made preparations for space travel, so why is this surprising?"

"It's coming from a place in deep space that is outside our current technological capabilities."

Sablan's mouth opened slightly, before clamping his mouth shut in irritation. "Couldn't a student fake the signal?"

He watched the two communications officers look at each other as Iverson cleared his throat. "I think you're overestimating their capabilities."

"Don't tell me you honestly believe something such as aliens exist?" Sablan expected some kind of answer form Iverson, yet the man remained silent. The older commander narrowed his eyes, his mind wondering what Iverson was hiding.

The message soon became brushed aside for other matters related to the garrison system and preparing for space travel and colonization of the moon and Mars. Even the news of a ship crashing in the desert didn't phase him, yet he insisted on investigating the crash himself; Iverson was nowhere in sight when the message came in.

His team approached the crash site, his mouth twisting slightly at the sight of a spaceship definitely beyond the garrison system's current capabilities, making him wonder which country broke from the UN treaty regarding space travel. He stepped forward, weapon in hand prepared to confront the foreign invader. The door of the ship opened, revealing the foreigner.

The foreigner was purple.