The Five Year Struggle...

~Outside of St. Louis, Missouri~

In the rolling wheat hills of western Missouri, a F.O.B. was in the middle of Rush Hour. Soldier were moving from place to place, whether it be the Mess Hall or the Rec Area. Some were carrying reports to their superior officers while others simply carried large crates in team of two or three. In the main command tent, Colonel Samson Jenkins stood over the shoulder of a soldier who was monitoring the readings of the strange anomaly they were all here to investigate. Video monitors kept track of energy signatures and gave a live video feed of the anomaly.

"How's it looking Lieutenant?" Samson asked.

"So far, same as yesterday sir. No spikes in the energy readings or any change in its appearance."  replied the officer.

"Keep me informed of any changes." Samson ordered.

"Yes sir."

Standing up and turning away from the monitors, Samson proceeded to exit the tent. It was lunch time and he wanted to get something to eat. His stomach gave a roar as he walked out into the humid day. Samson was a late-thirties African-American man and held a striking resemblance to Jamie Fox. As he walked, lower officers and soldiers paused to step aside and salute him, as was protocol. Samson would give a lazy salute in return.Then they'd return to their duties with a quick return of their saluting hand. Upon entering the Mess Hall, Samson was assaulted with the smell of cooking meatloaf, the Head Cooks' specialty. Once again being saluted by others, Samson entered the lunch line with a tray and proceeded down the food line. A young man, in about his mid-twenties, smiled and gave a wave to Samson as he approached.

"Hi Colonel." The cook greeted.

"Hello Jeremy. What's on the menu for today?" Samson asked.

"Head Chefs' meatloaf." Jeremy said, then his eyes got shifty and he whispered. "If I were you, I wouldn't eat it. Didn't come out right today or something." He said. Samson chuckled and looked at the various food items behind the glass.

"I'll take a Caesar salad I guess." Samson said gesturing to one of the salads.

"Is Misses Jenkins making you watch your weight again, sir?" Jeremy asked chuckling as he grabbed the salad.

"Watch your mouth, or I'll have you scrubbing the latrines." Samson said with a joking smile. Jeremy smiled and laughed at the old threat higher officers would sometimes do. The cook handed Samson the salad and saluted.

"Good seeing you sir." Jeremy said. Samson gave an actual salute this time.

"Same to you Jeremy. Take care now." Samson said as he took his tray away and went to the Officer's Table. As he walked, he could hear an Apache attack helicopter fly over the Mess Hall. Samson listened to the air vehicle-- make that vehicles-- pass over was he sat down and grabbed his fork. He plunged the utensil into the green before him and took a decent bite. As he chewed, the sound of more helicopters was heard. The next minute later, M1 Abrams and M2A3 Bradley tanks were heard roaring past the Mess Hall.

"That isn't normal vehicle traffic for this time of day. There aren't any patrols switching out right now. What is going on...?" Samson asked himself as he looked out the tent to see a squad of about five, fully armed and armored, Infantry march past the window. He was about to get up when the Lieutenant from earlier came rushing in.

"Sir! Something is happening!" The Lieutenant said breathlessly.

"No shit, Lieutenant. I couldn't tell by the movement of combat vehicles and personnel. Now's what's happened?" Samson asked.

"I honestly have no clue sir. The monitors didn't pick up any readings, but the cameras sure caught the anomaly fluctuating, as if something was coming out of it." The Lieutenant said wiping some sweat off his forehead. "You're also required at the front lines ASAP. I've come to take you there, sir." The Lieutenant added.

Samson sighed. Guess he'd have to hold off hunger until dinner.

"Alright Lieutenant. Let's go." Samson said giving a wave of his hand.

"Yes sir. Follow me. We'll take the jeep." said the Lieutenant as he turned quickly and rushed to the Jeep waiting outside, Samson following close behind. The two entered the Jeep and the Lieutenant pulled away and drove off.

***

The front line was a buzz of activity. Even more than the F.O.B during Rush Hour. Tanks and tank crews were making sure things were all set and ammo was in order. Single troops ran from position to position. Radio men spoke quickly to the nearby Whiteman Air Force Base for additional support. The Jeep Samson was in screeched to a halt next to a Captain. Samson stepped out of the Jeep and it drove off back to the base.

"Sir!" The Captain said with a salute.

"At ease Captain. What's the situation?" Samson asked.

"About twenty minutes ago, one of the troops reported seeing something come out of the anomaly. Sure enough, five minutes later, another troop was attacked. He managed to kill the creature that attacked him." said the Captain with a professional tone.

"Any idea what it was?" Samson asked.

"Well sir, it looked equine; horse-like. But smaller and, well, kinda looked bug like also. Large green eyes and bug like wings. We didn't know what to make of it to be honest, sir." the Captain said scratching his cheek.

"Do you still have the body?" Samson asked.

"Yes sir. It's over with Medic Sanders." the Captain said pointing behind Samson. Samson looked and saw a young man hunched over the creature in question.

"Thank you Captain. That is all." Samson said as he approached the medic. The Medic looked up briefly and returned the specimen at hand.

"I'd salute you Colonel, but I'm busy at the moment." said the medic as his hands worked on prying a scale from the black creature.

"It's fine son. What can you tell me?" Samson asked.

"Well sir, I don't know where to begin! I've never seen anything like this creature before. It's definitely equine in nature, but the insect components are absolutely mind blowing! The wings are fragile, yet sturdy enough to lift a body like this. Its eyes are compact, like that of a fly, meaning it can see in every direction, but there is a definite pupil to the eye, meaning it has a double layer eyeball." The medic looked up, a goofy smile plastered to his face. "This is an amazing discovery. It's a shame it was killed. I would've loved to see this thing alive!"

Samson looked at the creature. Its canines were sharp, indicating carnivore. But it didn't quite match up with the equine body. Horses are plant eaters. However, this body was smaller than a horse. Newborn, maybe? Possibly a pony origin. Samson felt the skin and found it to have fur.

"This is sure an odd discovery isn't it?" Samson asked the medic. The medic was about to respond when a scream was heard, followed by gunshots.

"CONTACT! CONTACT! SHOOT IT!" Yelled a soldier as he fired his rifle. Samson looked over to see two more of the black creature attacking a young corporal in rapid succession. The Corporal didn't stand a chance as one of the creatures latched onto his neck and ripped out a chunk. Samson expected the creature to swallow it, but instead, it simply spat out the chunk of meat, give a disgusted look-- wait, did it just make a human expression?-- and returned to beating down the corporal. The next second later, the creature and its counterpart were mowed down by heavy machine gun fire and laid dead on the ground.

"Get a medic to that man, now!" Samson yelled. The medic behind him took off immediately, carrying a medkit with him. Samson stood there in slight shock as his mind replayed the event that had occurred. What struck him the most was the expression the creature had made when it spat out the chunk of meat. Suddenly, a voice called out.

"Contact! Right at the anomaly!"

Samson spun around to see the anomaly start to warp and change color. Going from a gentle blue to a sickening green in a matter of seconds. Samson stood there and watched as the anomaly opened up into a portal. After a few seconds, something began to emerge from the portal. Soldiers rushed to positions behind small walls, their weapons raised and pointed at the portal. Tanks had their barrels pointed right at it also. Tall and stealth black, with a long, dirty and stringy mane. A holed horn sat atop the head, and the legs were pilfered with holes ranging in sizes. The creatures wings folded to its sides and its eyes opened. The twin orbs revealed a pair of green, cat-like eyes that seemed to scream evil. The creatures' mouth opened and it spoke in a clear voice.

"I am Queen Chrysalis! Who is in command of this world?" She asked. Samson gulped. He was the only commanding presence at the moment, with the President being back in D.C. and all. Slowly, he raised a hand and cleared his throat.

"I am in command." He said, trying his best to not sound nervous. The creature smirked and raised a hoof to beacon him forward.

"Come to me. I wish to have a quick word with you." she said. Samson slowly began to walk forward, keeping his shoulders square and his chin up. The soldiers he passed tensed as they watched him approach the creature, ready for anything. Samson stopped in front of the creature, a face of calm and slight intimidation.

"Tell me, what is your name?" asked Chrysalis. Samson blinked.

"I am Colonel Samson Jenkins of the United States Army." he said professionally.

"Well Colonel Jenkins, you shall be the first to die in the wave of countless thousands." Chrysalis said darkly as he horn began to glow with a green glow. Samson felt his throat constrict as he began choke. He clawed at his throat to remove whatever it was that was strangling him, but he felt nothing. Blackness began to creep into his vision as he looked at Chrysalis' sneering face, then, with a snapping sound, his world went black and silent.

***

Colonel Samson Jenkins fell to the ground dead, his neck bent at an odd angle, obviously broken. The creature named Chrysalis chortled a malevolent cackle as her green eyes turned to the soldiers before her.

"OPEN FIRE!" called a soldier. The air between Chrysalis and the front line began alive with bullets, grenade blasts, rockets, and anti-personnel tank round. Suddenly, a green flash was seen and all ammunition ceased to fly. Chrysalis stood there, unharmed, her horn glowing once again. Something caused all the firepower directed at her to freeze in mid air and slowly turn back to their origins. Soldiers began to slowly stand and back away, keeping their rifles raised and ready.

"Foolish creatures." was all Chrysalis said as she sent all the bullets and rockets back at the soldiers. She laughed as explosion after explosion erupted. Soldiers fell dead to their own fire in droves. Tanks exploded and even imploded from the rockets and other explosives. Chrysalis turned her head to the portal.

"ATTACK MY CHILDREN!"