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Chapter 1: Rude Awakening

"Wake up, soldiers," my commanding officer screamed. I thought it was in my dream. "Sir," I said in my dream.

"I am awake."

"Wake up," he shouted again. This time, I knew it wasn't a dream. I woke myself up and stood at attention next to my rack. "Sergeant Sandoza," the rushed Breyer horse yelled.

"Yes, sir," I replied.

"Solvies are attacking this base! Get your squad in gear!"

"Yes, sir," I replied. Earth had been at war with the Solvitians, a race of hostile, insect-like aliens, for four years now. Everyone in my squad wondered when it would end; wondered when we could go home. "Private," I yelled to Pvt. Cholcort, a young tiger, about 18 years of age. "Armor up and stand post at the tent door, ASAP!"

"Got it, sarge," he replied. He quickly but efficiently donned his combat armor, grabbed his H43 Tomahawk assault rifle, and began guarding the entrance.

"Alright," squad," I said to the other soldiers. "Get in gear! We need to protect Shadow Base! Am I clear?"

"Yes, sergeant," everyone replied. Everyone, including myself, put on our Model III combat armor, grabbed our rifles, and crowded around the door.

"Alright," I ordered. "Move out!"

The desert wind blew sand in my eyes. This was going to be fun. I was upset when I was told I was stationed at Shadow Base on the desert planet Jettison IX. "Goggles down," I yelled to my squad. We removed the covers from the goggles on our helmets, pulled the goggles down, and covered our eyes from the sand. I jogged to the CO's tent with my squad behind me. "Lieutenant Grids, sir," I called. "Phantom Squad is ready to roll, sir!"

"Then," he said. "Cover Shadow Base the best you can."

"Yes, sir," I replied. "Take positions around the base," I ordered Phantom Squad. Without further words, I took off to find Cholcort. He was fumbling with his goggle cover. It didn't take me long to realize it was stuck. "Hold still, private," I said.

"Yes, sergeant," he replied and stood at attention. I struggled to see through the sand blowing in my face; I wondered how the hell Cholcort's eyes weren't burning, or, if they were, how he kept it suppressed. I managed to get the goggles loose and pulled them over Cholcort's eyes.

"There you go, Cholcort," I said. "Thanks, sarge," he replied.

I pulled my Tomahawk rifle off my back and faced the sound of gunshots. I began to jog in that direction. I heard the sounds of Solvitian bastards dying. I also heard the cries of my own soldiers. "Goddammit," I said to myself. "I need to get to the rest of my squad." As I peaked the sand dune that separated me from the combat, I saw things were not as bad as I imagined. A few soldiers had wounds in their legs. Most were still standing, though; still fighting. I saw a Solvitian about to put a round of lead in one of the downed soldier's skulls. I took to a crouching position, leveled the rifle to the bastard's head, and put a bullet in his brain. I moved to my squad's position as stealthily as I could. I managed to make it without a scratch.

"About damn time," Pvt. Sandzen, a 19 year old mongoose, remarked.

"Stow it, private," I ordered. "Just fight." Without further words, Pvt. Sandzen looked down the sight of his Tomahawk and began to fire. I did the same. Fifteen minutes passed, then thirty, then forty five. Still rounds rang through the air.

"They just keep coming, sarge," Pvt. Jeldine, an 18 year old marine otter, yelled.

"Don't even think about it, soldier," I said. "Pvt. Sandzen: call for an air strike! Danger close!"

"Got it, sarge," he replied. The next thing I heard was an "affirmative" and a click. Soon, a squadron of F-19 Phoenixes flew overhead and dropped a payload of bombs.

"Sergeant," Pvt. Jeldine said when the smoke and sand cleared. "Enemies neutralized."

"Good work," I said. "Regroup." I jogged the squad back to the CO's tent. As we approached the tent, the sand settled down. I saw a body lying in the sand. It was Cholcort. His blood stained the sand around him red. My mind returned to Lt. Grids. I rushed into his tent to see a Solvitian holding the lieutenant hostage with a knife. "Drop it," motherfucker," I shouted.

"Make any movement," the bastard said. "I slit his throat." I pondered.

"Stand down," I told Phantom Squad.

"But, sarge," Jeldine protested.

"I said stand down." We all placed our weapons in the sand.

"Now," the Solvitian said. "What are the codes to redirect and launch the nuclear missiles on this base?"

Without warning, Lt. Grids said, "Kill this fuck off," then threw his throat into the knife, making him choke on his own blood. I didn't even say a word. I charged the bastard, tackled him, drew my knife, and stabbed his throat. Only after he died did my attention turn to our CO. "Get the lieutenant's body out of here," I ordered. "Get it to the infirmary tent."

"Understood, sergeant," a private said as he got Lt. Grids' body in a fireman carry. I began to drag the Solvie's body outside the tent.

When I dragged it far enough from any tent for any to catch fire, I ran to the motor pool, grabbed a gas can, returned to the body, doused it with fuel, and lit it on fire. I then walked to my squad's quarters. "He'll be sent back to Earth ASAP," Pvt. Sandzen told me. "Along with Cholcort."

"Understood, Sandzen ," I replied. I looked at the clock dangling by a piece of string from the tent ceiling. It read 11:00. Great. We were exhausted, and we still had the whole day ahead of us.

"I'm going to check on the soldiers in the infirmary who were WIA, sergeant," said Cpl. Hines, a young sea otter about 23 years of age.

"Understood, corporal," I replied. As Hines left the tent, I turned the rest of Phantom Squad. "Squad," I ordered. "Get some rest. You've earned it."