MY FIRST "BATTLE"

The transport ship descends through the atmosphere of Proxima, and my breath catches in my throat. The planet is beautiful, a tapestry of lush forests, sparkling rivers, and rolling hills that stretch as far as the eye can see. The sky is a deep, serene blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds. Birds with iridescent feathers soar gracefully, and strange, colorful flowers blanket the ground below.

The ramp lowers, and we march into formation. General Khan stands before us, a giant man nearly seven feet tall, his right eye glows red from his scouting transplant, and he has a scar across his right eyebrow. “Listen closely soldiers, today we face an enemy unlike any other. These people are ruthless, and you must have your guard up,” says General Khan.

I tightened my grip on my weapon.

“Due to the nature of our enemy, we will be infiltrating their camp by unit. Alpha battery will go first, followed by bravo, and then charlie.”

A roar comes from the formation, I join along pumping my fist in the air, the veins in my neck bulge out, and my head gets hot. I love this feeling I think to myself.

“Settle down, there is much to be done,” said General Khan. The entire formation was quiet almost instantly. General Khan paces back and forth looking into the eyes of the soldiers, as he reaches the middle of the formation he stops. “We will march out at sundown do you understand?”

“Yes sir,” yelled the soldiers.

General Khan salutes. “Dismissed.”

All the soldiers scattered. One of the men from my unit walks up to me and extends his hand out. “Welcome to charlie, kid,” he says.

I shake his hand. “Thanks, it’s an honor,” I say with a smile.

“You’re damn right it is,” he says. “Now c’mon, we got a planet to save.”

***

Flames engulf the huts around me, painting the night sky with a grim glow. The air is thick with smoke and the cries of women and children yanked brutally from their huts. Men are herded together and forced onto their knees.

“Help…help.” The voices ring in my ear from my translator implant. I tap it, turning it off.

A soldier approaches, his heavy boots crunching on the ground. “Why are you just standing there?” he asks.

“I thought this was supposed to be a battle,” I say, barely above a whisper.

The soldier scoffs. “First timer.” He shakes his head and runs off.

I remain still, my eyes fixed on the horrors ahead. More men are dragged into line while the women and children are shoved next to them. Unable to bear the sight any longer, I turn away and walk back toward the transport ship. I spot a woman and her child hiding near it and tap my ear, activating the translator.

As I approach, the woman cowers away. “Don’t hurt us,” she pleads. She is beautiful, with red hair, tan skin, and bright purple eyes.

“I’m not here to hurt you, but they will if they find you,” I say, pointing at the soldiers. “You have to follow me.” I extend my hand.

“No,” her daughter replies.

“Is that all of them?” General Khan asks.

We all turn toward the general.

“Yes, sir,” says a soldier from a nearby hut.

“Very well, now kill them.” The general walks away. Soldiers raise their weapons and fire.

I flinch and look away, into the purple eyes of the red-haired woman. “Please, just follow me.”

The red-haired woman wipes a tear from her cheek. “Okay.” She grabs her daughter, and we head to the ship.

“Everyone, get in formation!” yells the general. The soldiers assemble in unison, ten to a row.

“Hide in there,” I point to an open room. The girls run in. My heart races and sweat pours from my forehead and palms. I poke my head around the corner of the entrance.

“Attention!” yells the general. The soldiers stop shuffling their feet, straighten their backs, and lock eyes with General Khan.

“Proxima is ours,” General Khan declares. A loud applause rises from the formation. Soldiers shake hands, wide smiles on their faces as the huts burn behind them.

My stomach churns as the smell of burning wood and flesh fills the air. I look up into the sky. General Khan's voice booms, “There is nothing to celebrate. This is only the beginning.” The stars fade, swallowed by thick black smoke.

The cries of the woman and child fill the ship. I glance back at their tear-streaked faces and then outside at the celebrating men. My fist clenches and trembles. I close the hatch and run to the girls.

The soldiers rush toward the ship; their shouts pierce through the metal. They bang on the hull, some even open fire.

“Follow me,” I tell the girls, leading them to the cockpit. “Sit here and put this on.” I grab the seatbelt and wrap it around the red-haired woman’s waist. She repeats the motion with her daughter.

“This is General Khan.” His voice echoes through the speakers. “What is the meaning of this?”

I run back to the cockpit and press the communications button. “You told us these people were the enemy. But I see now... the real

“This is treas...—”

I yank the communication cable from the console, then turn on the map function. A hologram of a planet springs to life, glowing softly in the cockpit.

“Shall we proceed to Planet Keplar?” asks the AI assistant.

“Yes,” I reply, breathless.

With a thunderous roar, we surge into space. Through the viewport, I see a distant spot of light piercing the vast blackness. I look back at the red-haired woman and her daughter; the light twinkles in their eyes.