Jeremy Marshall
New York City, New York
United States of America
2:16pm, June 19th, 2016
Jeremy slouched down in his Mercedes, watching online videos on YouTube. He was on his way to meet with his brother near Battery Park, and he had barely made it out of his apartment in the Upper East Side before running into a traffic jam.
"Damned New York traffic. Why the fuck did I move here?" he muttered to himself.
He continued watching videos, but it was interrupted when a phone call cut into the middle of his video. Sighing, he answered it. His secretary was on the other end of the line, and she sounded worried.
"Mr.Marshall? Are you there?" she asked anxiously.
"Becky, you know it's my day off." he answered, irritated. "What is it that couldn't wait until tomorrow?"
He sighed. He worked as a consultant for a publishing company based in the city, and the job proved to be, while a relatively easy job in his opinion, a pain when you weren't supposed to be working. As it was, the secretary informed him of the imminent arrival of a very prominent children's author (which he knew) and reminded him to show up early tomorrow (which he also, regrettably, knew).
Soon, he finally got her off the phone. When he did, traffic started to clear up, or at least for Manhattan standards. He sighed in relief, and drove south towards Battery Park.
About 20 minutes later, he stepped out of his car, and, spotting his brother, waved him over.
"Hey, Jack, how've you been?" he asked, smiling.
"Good." Jack looked at his car and grinned. "Still holding on to your car I see. Why don't you just scrap it and ride the subway? It'll be a hell of a lot easier in this town. Hell, how do you even park the damn thing?"
The two brothers chatted for a few minutes. They talked about the upcoming presidential election and Game 7 of the NBA Finals, as well as their personal lives.
Suddenly, thunder sparked loudly in the sky. Jack looked up, irritated. "Goddamn it, weatherman said it'd be good today."
Jeremy ignored him. He watched in fascination as the thunder flashed continuously, in one spot. What fascinated him, as well as other New Yorkers around him, was the fact that there was only one cloud holding the thunder, and it lowered itself over the Upper Bay.
"That's pretty weird." Jeremy commented. His brother mumbled, "Fuckin' bizarre.", and pulled out his iPhone and took video of the storm cloud. He looked at it closely.
As they watched, the cloud suddenly turned black. Immediately, observers were thrown into a horrified panic when, seemingly out of nowhere, huge swarms of creatures flew out of the cloud. They swarmed over the Bay, and started landing on Staten Island, Brooklyn, and the Jersey shore.
"Aw shit, we gotta get out of here!" Jack screamed. He and Jeremy broke into a run, absorbed into the crowd of other people fleeing the shore. All they heard as they ran was screams, police sirens, and the occasional gunfire as the city was thrown into a panic.
The Invasion started in these cities across the globe:
New York City, USA
Los Angeles, USA
Mexico City, Mexico
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Lima, Peru
Caracas, Venezuela
Cape Town, South Africa
Cairo, Egypt
Lagos, Nigeria
Madrid, Spain
London, UK
Munich, Germany
St. Petersburg, Russia
Beijing, China
Calcutta, India
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Istanbul, Turkey
Jakarta, Indonesia
Prime Minister David Cameron
London, England
United Kingdom
7:34 pm
The Prime Minister's motorcade sped up as it finally reached Heathrow Airport. The surprise invasion had struck at a time when the Prime Minister was on his way to advocate for staying in the European Union during the upcoming referendum, which gave the motorcade time to get to the airport before his government could be seized.
"Mr. Prime Minister, we have reports that Buckingham Palace is under siege by these creatures." his advisor, Mark Isles, informed him.
The Prime Minister nodded as he and his security detail stepped out of the car. He shook his head in disbelief. 'How in the hell could this happen so quickly, and without warning?" he asked himself.
There was a private jet sitting on the runway, waiting for him. He was rushed into the plane, as escort jets were on the ready to defend the jet at all costs.
Once they were buckled in, the jet took off. The Prime Minister looked behind him as he saw the swarm expand throughout London.
He turned to his advisor. "Where are we heading?" he asked.
Isles informed him that the jet was headed to a top secret base in the mountains of northern Scotland. The Prime MInister was then handed the phone, which Isles had answered. "Sir, the American President is on the line." he informed him.
"How are you doing?" President Barack Obama asked him. The Prime Minister affirmed his safety, and he asked the President what exactly was occurring.
"We're a little in the dark right now, seeing as the capital is in siege right now." he explained.
There was a pause on the other line. "Mr.President?" he asked. Finally, President Obama spoke up.
"David, these things are all over the globe. We're losing New York, and LA is getting close too. The Mexican President was just killed in a helicopter crash when Mexico City got hit, and we're just scrambling right now." he said mournfully.
"Damn." the Prime Minister mumbled. He thought for a moment, and then spoke up. "We're going to have one hell of a fight here, then."
Queen Chrysalis
New York City, New York
United States of America
6:38 pm
Queen Chrysalis looked up at the United Nations building in scorn. "Their little United Nations isn't going to help them now, now are they?" she gloated. She turned her head as a changeling captain walked up to her.
She smiled. "Report, Captain Neutra?" she asked him.
The captain spoke up. "Your Highness, this city is completely in our hands, as well as their Long Island. Our forces are in what the humans call Tarrytown, New York and Paterson, New Jersey. We expect to face mild resistance as their armed forces continue to register the shock, though we don't expect major resistance until we reach...." He looked at his map. "...Philadelphia and Boston. He confirmed.
The Queen scowled. "When can we use these captured airplanes under our control? We need to use their own equipment against them if we have a hope of success." she said.
The captain nodded. "Your highness, we've managed to acquire many forces from the Mexicans who have posed only mild resistance as their government is in shambles. We've also gained control of the major airports of various countries around the globe. Though, Your Highness, I do have a recommendation."
The Queen nodded. "Go on." she said, mildly curious.
The captain nodded. "If we keep the majority of forces on the United Kingdom, we will be able to acquire a stock of weapons that mankind fear more than any other. Nuclear weapons." he explained confidently.
Chrysalis scowled again. "What of this country? Does not the United States possess nuclear weapons? Or Russia? China? We hold territory in all these countries." she asked. She knew the answer to this question, but she wanted him to confirm it.
He did. "Your Highness, the nuclear weapons of the USA are far out West, which we cannot possess for about two years according to our models. The same with Russia in Siberia and China in the west of their country. With Britain, we can possess nuclear weapons within 6 months or less."
Queen Chrysalis grinned. "Let's get this world under our control. If we can take this planet, then Equestria will be worried very greatly." she announced confidently.
President Barack Obama
Washington, D.C.
United States of America
9:33 am, June 20th, 2016
The President sighed as he tidied up his desk. He was preparing for a very important meeting, one that would benefit the government during this time of war.
A knock came at the door. One of the President's Secret Service agents opened the door, from which Secretary of Defense Ash Carter walked into the room, holding papers.
"Mr. President, your briefings." the Secretary said. He set the papers down. "Ready, sir?" he asked.
The President nodded. "Yes, I am. I'm expecting some people soon, so I'll need to make this as quick as possible." he spoke up.
The Secretary looked through his papers. "Mr. President, we received a message from New York City, broadcast from the UN Headquarters. It appears that their queen, who introduced herself as Chrysalis, is demanding unconditional surrender."
"Which we won't accept." The President said, though not needing to say it. A shadow of a smile passed over Secretary Carter before he continued briefing the situation.
"The "changelings", as they are called, are reaching the capital city of Trenton in New Jersey. They've just taken Hartford, Connecticut, as well, Mr.President, and they're also at Kingston, New York, about 60 miles south of Albany."
"Out west, they have just gained control of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and they are moving south towards San Diego, possibly to link up with the rapidly expanding changeling center of control in Mexico, where they, unfortunately, are posing scant resistance. Ironically, we have reports that drug cartels are now working with the army to combat the main changeling thrust in the state of Durango."
"In South America and Africa, we are seeing much of the same, though Brazil has posed the best resistance, keeping changeling forces held towards Rio de Janeiro, though we expect the hold to not last long. South Africa also poses good resistance, and.."
The Secretary was interrupted by a knock at the door. The President motioned to the Secret Service agent stationed at the door, and he let the newcomers in. Secretary Carter looked shocked when he saw the two visitors walk into the room.
The President nodded cordially to the two visitors. "Secretary Carter, you already know Hillary Clinton."
Hillary Clinton shook hands with Carter. "Nice to see you again. Mr. Secretary." she smiled warmly. The other occupant of the room scowled under his breath. President Obama gestured to him. "Secretary Carter, meet the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump."
Trump shook hands with Secretary Carter, and sat down on the couch facing Hillary. He and the former Secretary of State nodded cordially to each other.
President Obama asked for Secretary Carter to leave the room. He did so, thinking, "Amazing how the President let Donald Trump into the Oval"
Meanwhile, the President looked at the two presumptive nominees. "Good morning Secretary Clinton, Mr. Trump." he managed to avoid cringing as he addressed Trump.
"Good morning, Mr. President." Clinton said. Trump echoed her and asked curiously, "So what do you want, and with both of us, anyways?"
The President sighed. "Today, we face one of the greatest catastrophes of our nation, of our world. We, along with our allies and even our enemies, have been invaded by another species from another world."
The two presidential nominees listened patiently as the President explained the situation in full. They had been given security clearance for some of the information not accessible by normal means, allowing them to gain full context of the situation. The President finished sharing information about the war in progress, and went on with what he had intended to call them in for.
"We need a guarantee of our nation's stability during our time in war, so I have to ask an important favor to the both of you, if you are willing." he asked them.
Clinton nodded. "Of course, sir." she said. Trump nodded. "Whatever will work best against these damn things." he commented.
The President gave a slight grin. "Mr. Trump, you're being unusually cooperative, seeing as I'm the worst President ever, as I hear from your Twitter accounts and rallies." he said amiably.
The Republican nominee shot back, "Well, of course I want to work with you! My damn kids were in Manhattan when these creatures struck!"
Clinton gasped. "Mr. Trump, I'm so sorry." she said.
He nodded. "Nothing we can do now, I guess." he spoke grimly.
The President nodded. "Actually, there is." he said. "I propose that the two of you comprise a unity ticket for the Presidency."
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump looked at each other before looking back to the President. Trump started to speak up, but was beaten out by Clinton. "Mr. President, you can't seriously be suggesting that Donald Trump be my Vice President, now are you?" she asked him, outraged.
Trump stood up. "Now wait just a minute! I'm not serving as a damn Vice President here, now!" he shouted at her angrily.
The two nominees argued with each other. President Obama looked on with both amusement and sorrow.
"Son of a bitch, why did this have to happen during an election year?" he thought to himself.
Dalton Jones
Aylesbury, England
United Kingdom
3:08pm
Dalton rushed into a nearby house, joining several of other soldiers in his platoon. He gasped as he took on a firing position at the window.
"Bloody creatures, they're shooting like there's no tomorrow." he spoke up as another soldier, Thomas Freeman, joined him at the broken window.
"Look at how they shoot! Straight directly from their horns, like a demented unicorn!" Thomas spoke up as he watched a group of changelings take aim. He took them down with his gun before they could do damage, but there were more changelings to take their place. He ducked down as they fired what looked like green lasers at him, and shuddered when he heard piercing screams from others that weren't so lucky.
The two soldiers had joined the British Armed Forces Regular Reserve two years before. They were called back into service by order of the Prime Minister, who was hidden away in a classified location directing forces against the changelings. They had already captured London and, from scattered reports, they were almost at Dover.
Now they were trying to stop the changeling offensive, and so, Aylesbury was where they ended up.
Dalton watched as Thomas fired off several rounds at a group of changelings, gunning them down.
"Yes! Got the bastards!" he shouted ecstatically.
Dalton suddenly noticed that the changelings were starting to falter. When they had reached Aylesbury, they were pouring as much as possible into taking the city, but now, it seemed the British were gaining the upper hand.
"We may even be able to keep Aylesbury out of their hands!" he noted out loud.
Thomas looked back at him. "We'd damn well better." he grinned, before turning back. He gasped in surprise.
Another group of changelings were walking out in the middle of the street. He looked in amazement as they carried out a white flag, signifying surrender. About a dozen others joined the group, hanging their heads in shame.
"Holy God, we got 'em!" Dalton exclaimed.
Several soldiers rushed to the group of changelings, Dalton among them. He looked hard at the creatures, this being the first time he had actually seen one up close.
It looked strange, certainly. It resembled a sort of dragon, something that could come off of Greek mythology (and from what he heard, it may have), the creatures also had horns, which he knew all too well to be their main weapon, though captured bombers made their way through the lines every so often.
"Well, would you look at that." he spoke up. One of the changelings, who appeared to be the leader of the group, knelt down before him. "I commend you for the spirit of your resistance, human." he spoke humbly.
Thomas nodded. "We better get them out of here." he said. Several soldiers took the changelings away, where they would be sent to a POW camp only God knew where it was.
Dalton grinned. "I think we may have a chance after all." he said.
Captain Lace
El Alamein, Matrouh Governate
Egypt
7:03 pm
The Captain watched as the soldiers in their platoon raided a store, the Zahran Market, near the center of town. They were collecting supplies while the changelings pushed into the Sinai. Despite reports that Egypt would be a tough fight, their leader had surrendered their country after the brief Battle of Cairo, allowing Egyptian forces to be placed under command of the changelings. As such, the historic town of El Alamein, which he had understood to be the site of two major battles in a World War, had been occupied within the hour.
He frowned as one of his soldiers flew in front of him. "Captain, the humans have been notified of their curfew. We expect to be able to acquire supplies for our push into their Libya and Israel." he said confidently.
"I'm not sure." the captain mused. "It seems too calm in this area, you understand?"
The soldier nodded. "Don't worry, sir, the humans prove to be unhappy, but not resistant." he said. "Perhaps, under our noble rule, they will learn to appreciate us."
Lace nodded. "Perhaps." he said.
He looked at the market, as soldiers hauled out foodstuffs and other supplies from the store. He watched as some civilians glared at the changelings in the store.
"This isn't making me comfortable." he spoke up, gesturing to the civilians. "Let's speak to them."
Two of his soldiers marched up to the glaring civilians, who appeared suddenly startled. He watched at the soldiers barked out an order to them, their horns glowing as their words were translated into their native language. The civilian moved on, though still glaring.
"Phew." The captain wiped his forehead in relief. "Maybe we can hold the peace in..."
His words were interrupted by the sound of a large explosion. He turned just in time to see the market burst into flames. Fire spread everywhere, to his horror, he realized that it appeared to be gunfire.
"Take aim! Take aim!" he bawled out desperately to his surviving soldiers. They ducked to cover, running to fire at the new resistance they were facing.
The captain turned his head to the soldiers in what appeared to be ski masks. It was his fatal mistake, and as his world turned to black, he heard the soldiers shout triumphantly at their brief victory.
