New Frontiers (Rewrite)

"Feels weird being here." I said as I leaned over a railing. Below me was a rock wall the ocean waves crashed against.

The Florida Keys... Despite living in Florida for nearly five years before my enlistment, I've never gone farther south than Miami. Then again, knowing Florida, that's probably for the best.

"You're an adult now, I don't have to worry to much about you now." My dad said as he walk beside me. The side of his shorts bulged from the handgun he had on him. A clear indicator that he didn't feel safe here.

"You'd probably feel better if I also had a concealed carry." He didn't say anything, but I could feel his amused smirk.

"Not at all, but I did find us a good range to shoot at."

"Bullshit." He showed me his phone screen and it showed an indoor range.

"I even got a second holster so you can practice on the Glock." Of course he wouldn't let me practice on his SiG. Then again, I don't have the money or age for any kind of handgun.

"James and Nidia aren't going to like it much." My dad and I often bonded with things that my brother and stepmom didn't like.

"Yeah..." He leaned on the railing with me as we stared out to the ocean. "A whole year since you joined and since you came back home."

"If I didn't fail Airborne school I could've been deployed already." Fort Liberty, formally Fort Bragg, was deploying units overseas in response to the whole Israeli conflict. I personally didn't know much about it and there looks to be a lot of conflict stateside about deployment. I'm trying to stay out of the debates as much as possible since I don't know too much about this.

"You didn't even know what unit you were going to until you got to it, bud." He's not wrong. To be fair, I couldn't check regardless if I wanted to. Even if I called and asked, then I'd get extra duty because the civilian in charge of getting our orders would complain to the Black Hats. The hold over battalion was seriously messed up which how it did things.

"At least the change of command didn't affect my Holiday Block Leave." I slumped on the railing with a sigh. The whole issue with the rest of the brigade coming back from deployment. All the details did a number on my skinny body. "I needed this."

"Says the N6." Okay, that's fair.

"Shut up, Squid." Today was a good day.

...

Why do I hear engines?

"The fuck are those?" Dad asked as I looked at him. I looked in the direction he was looking at. For a split second, I saw tiny specks in the distance.

The figures zoomed over us at the speed of jets. Not like the F-15s or F-16, but the F-22s or the F-35s. Yet, they had the same shape as people. Much smaller than normal fix winged aircraft. A few of them even had moch cones around them. It was... Incredible, impossible, but I saw it.

Then my ears began to ring as I was thrown over the railing and onto the rocks. It wasn't a long fall, but the rocks definitely made it painful. Being the lucky son of a bitch I am, I managed to walk out with minor injuries. Seconds later after my recovery, the vague sound of rifle and pistol fire made me cover my ears to prevent further damage.

Eventually, it died down before another round of super sonic creatures flew overhead. I needed a sweep of the situation now. With were I am, I'm a sitting duck. Not to mention that I'm wearing clothes that make me a screaming beacon.

I jumped up and grabbed the concrete ledge; a portion crumbled to the rocks below me. I would have fell if my hand didn't grab the railing I was leaning on earlier. Of course I swept the area for any of those flying creatures. I saw a lot in the air right now.

With their speed, they could easily have air superiority until a military response can intercept them. Helicopters and drones would be a bad idea for sure as a means of attack. I need a way to get in contact with the local police and/or the National Guard. I've heard about a military water insertion exercise my mom saw when she was in the Keys, but I don't know how far the actual base is.

I got my answer as an F-18 and F-35 zoomed overhead. More planes zoomed overhead ranging from the F-15 to the aforementioned F-35.

...

Planes are cool.

However, I couldn't marvel at the dogfight above. I needed cover or concealment. I pulled myself just above the ledge to servay the area. Mangled bodies and craters littered the once peaceful location. Not to mention... Several police.

Don't get me wrong, what was happening was awful and I sight of the corpses made me want to puke, but there is a bright side to all of this. Mainly, a radio. Of course, most military radios are encrypted... But there is one frequency they leave open.

I checked the area before pulling myself over the railing and running to the closest cop. I grab his radio and weapon, an AR platform rifle, before heading to the closest building. Even if it's obvious, I had to have something. The frequencies I knew were set aside for military use.

How would I know? Because I made it my job to know.

"All units on this frequency, I'm currently on the ground south side of the island. I need a SITREP, how copy." I spoke as another wave of those flying creatures zoomed overhead. I fully expect to have to offset the frequencies or try another frequency, but...

"This is Gunnery Sergeant Malborne, who's talking, over." A gruff sounding voice said as the radio crackled to life. I silently prayed for continual luck as I scanned the area.

I was looking for three people in particular, but with how the bodies were; it was a pointless endeavor. I just had to hope my dad, brother, and stepmom survived. Even if I was just fooling myself, confidence and a goal can do wonders.

"This is PFC Herrero, US Army. I'm in the dark and at ground zero. Break." I scanned the area again to get an accurate count of the bodies but it was pointless without matching limbs with bodies. "There's mass civilian casualties at my location and law enforcement has been killed. What the hell is going on, over."

"The situation is unknown. We have Guard and reserved units in the area trying to shoot back, break." The transmission cut for a second. It was just to make sure the frequency could be left open for more urgent transmissions since you can't be talking on a frequency when it's in use. "50 Cal. is the only thing getting through their armor. Break." Another pause. He's probably getting more info on the situation. "We got special forces coming in. Helicopters are grounded and we have a battle group heading our way. Over."

"What about ground vehicles, over."

"Wait one."

I placed the radio on a table. I was going to use it as temporary concealment until I got a response. Anything is better than nothing. I doubt that any soldier would fire through smoke without an idea of where their enemy is and the same goes for solid objects.

It took about five minutes before a sound assaulted my ears. It was a US National Emergency Alert. As I opened my phone to read it, the radio came to life.

"Ground vehicles are disabled. We're waiting for the battle group, how copy." Despite hearing the best news since the start of the attack, I was more focused on my phone. "Private Herrero, how copy?"

"Break, break, break! National Alert, West Coast is under attack, South America is under attack, the Middle East is under attack, Europe is under attack, Africa is occupied, and DC is under attack! Break!" I waited a second before sending the next half of the message. "Radio signals are going down. All radio connections going outside of the Americas are down. Canada is mobilizing to aid the US, break!" I couldn't help but panic as more and more news came in. "Sergeant, they're hitting us everywhere! Everywhere in the world is under attack, over!"

"Focus, private. Get back to friendly lines and we'll get you ready, over!" I turned off my phone completely and I lifted my weapon with shaky hands. "Have you ever seen combat?" I looked at my radio. The informal transmission along with dropping radio etiquette made me relax for some reason.

"Negative, over." Honestly, I wish I made that deployment now. This sucks to be my first combat experience. Behind enemy lines and with no team, bad combination.

"Alright, keep low. Get whatever weapon you can and avoid using it as much as possible. And make it to the northern most part of Key West. Good luck. Out." He's probably going to keep radio silence to make sure I don't get caught. I'm in a very bad place for him to come in randomly and give me info.

The building vibrated as another wave flew over. It was followed by another as gunfire echoed. Then there was a crash. I pocketed the radio, turning the volume down just in case, and looked around the area to servay where the crash came from.

Three buildings down was a building with a massive hole on the second floor. Possibly one of those things crashing after getting shot down... That's valuable intel.

Keeping a low profile, I exited the building with my gun trained down the road. Occasionally I would look back to check my six since the road I was walking on was the road the waves flew over.

Finally, I made it to the building the downed fighter was in. That was a massive win and now it's time for me to make my move. My worn shoes carefully stepped on hard wood floors while avoiding as much glass as I could. Of course I would check my corners and avoid standing in the middle of the rooms, halls, and doorways. I needed to be slow and listen to what was behind the walls.

I didn't hear anything on the lower floors, but on the upper ones was a complete different story. I could hear bumps and the sounds of talking. One sounded calm while the other sounded weak. They were definitely speaking English, with what little I could hear, but it was so muffled that I couldn't tell what they were saying.

I walked up the stairs after ditching my shoes. The glass stuck in them would give me away. My anxiety rose with each step I took knowing that I could be close to whatever was on the top floor. Tunnel vision began to take over before I froze to calm myself. I needed to be at one hundred percent if I wanted my first encounter with these things to go well... Relatively. I really don't want to die from a stupid mistake.

It was easy to tell which room the voices were coming from if the massive hole in the ceiling was anything to go by. If that wasn't enough proof, only one room had a massive amount of natural light slipping beneath the door.

Bad news, the door opened outwards. I'll have to throw the door open towards me if I want to breach. Not to mention that the risk of getting hit is nearly guaranteed since I'll be both breacher and point man. I just have to be ready and minimize the amount of time I got opening the door.

With my hand on the pistol grip, I got my hand as close as I could to the handle without touching it. This will be my first official breach, but it could also be my last.

Do the risks out weigh the reward?

Shit. I'm this close, I can't back down now. Besides, I have the element of surprise.

"Three." I whispered my mind racing as my heart thumped in my chest. "Two." My hand got even closer and was even in the process of gripping the knob. "One." Fuck it. Time to send it!

I threw the door open and pointed at of the creatures.

"Hands up, hands up!" I yelled as the sun assaulted my vision for a split second. Luckily, my glasses were still transitioning from outdoor to indoor so I could still keep my eyes on them. Much to my shock, they did as they asked.

"What the hell? We thought the main force was already being delt with." One said as they saw me.

"They are, you're just unlucky that I was on this side." Even if it was a lie, an act can keep someone safe. Confidence speaks. "Kick your weapons over here." The one who talked kicked their weapon over to me. It was a fucking XM8. An old experimental rifle that was tested against the M16 to replace it at one point. It never did, but it's still considered one of my favorite guns. "Your friend's too."

"She can't... She's hurt." The one talking said before I stepped closer.

"I didn't say she had to. You do it." The one that apparently did all the talking shifted to the side of her friend before sliding her weapon to me. "Type of wound..."

"What?"

What type of wound does she have?"

"A bullet to the abdomen. If I treat her then-."

"Treat her. Tie her hands first." She did as I said. One is a good source and a second one is even better.

The talking one tired her friend's hands into the air. I know why she did, but it didn't help my anxiety. She began to treat her friend, but I did a through pat down first and got their hand guns.

"Why are you trying to keep her alive." The one talking asked.

"Information. If one of you doesn't talk, then I can kill one as an example." I responded as she continued to work on her friend. "Why doesn't normal rounds work?"

"Neither of us will answer. Changelings and Griffins won't give into intimidation." She didn't bother looking at me.

"I guess the same goes for killing civilians. Lack of fear and morals." That made her glare at him. She was about to confront him, but realized he had the gun.

"This is a military base." She countered.

"A base isn't just a fortified position. It's also a town inside. Men women and children live here and you were a bit off and missed the base." She looked as if she was in thought. Was there a mistake or mis informed. Considering how close it is, it could be either or. "Radios, hand them over."

"Radios? What are those?" I looked for any sign of lying. Nervousness, eyes looking anywhere but mine, or even a sign of anxiety... Nothing. That was big information.

I grabbed the radio and lifted it to my mouth. The action confused them, but they couldn't act anyway.

"Break, break, break. Enemy doesn't have radios, don't worry about them tapping the net, over." I reported into the radio.

"Solid copy, good find soldier, out." A different voice said other than Sergeant Malborne. Probably the RTO he took the radio from earlier.

"What can I do to get info out of you?" The only good one glared at me, but still kept her body language calm.

"You can't. We won't be swayed." She responded before I looked at her friend.

"Then we'll do this the hard way." I shot her in the right arm and she let out a grunt.

"What the fuck?! I didn't do anything!" She yelled before she saw my smile.

"Exactly. I know you won't leave your battle buddy, so I made sure you can't carry her." They're definitely more expressive than humans because her surprise was easy to read. "You were doing more dexterous work with your right hand, so it was easy to tell which one was your dominant."

I grabbed their rifles and handguns before lifting the wounded one to carry. I carried her in a way that my dominate hand was still ready. The method was taught to my in my AIT.

"Come on." I made sure she was in front of me. If she attacked, then I could easily respond.

It sounds like the waves stopped coming. No rattling of glass or objects nor the sounds of jets. I slipped on my shoes so I wouldn't get glass in my feet. Once in my life is more than enough.

"Anyone on the net, I'm moving towards friendly lines with two prisoners. Keep me updated on the shift of lines, over." Without a JBC, the placement of friendly units would have to be determined entirely by radio. I'll need a compass if I want to give accurate location information.

"Hold on, did you say prisoners, over." A new, younger voice said over the net.

"I did, one is wounded, but alive and the other has a bullet to the arm. Prep MEDEVAC for treatment, over."

"Are we sure this kid is Army and not a Devil Dog or for, god forbid, a Sea Bee, over." A much older voice said over the net. Probably an officer on a handheld.

"Credentials check out, he's an Army Boot. Half a year out of training, over." Sergeant Malborne said with a hint of amusement.

"MEDEVAC called and on standby. Get back here you lucky sonuvabitch, over." Another young voice said over the net.

As if on que, the sounds of gunfire off in the distance became more ferocious and frequent. I didn't need to see it to tell the whatever unit here is fighting even harder.

"What happened?" The, mostly, uninjured creature looked in the direction of the frontline.

"Motivation. Motivation happened." I said before I poked her in the back with her handgun. "Now move." She kept walking as did I. Keeping to alleys as much as possible. I'm now a massive target.