[ WP ] The Human Empire has been pushed back by the combined might of a galactic union . Only Earth , the Final and greatest world remains . It is the last stand of humanity .

**PART ONE** 
 
 “ Elderly and youths! Report manned stations, naval vessels and air ships ASAP! Adults, make your way to the surface now! Contact in approximately one hour and twenty minutes! ” 
 
 *The tannoy bellowed throughout the tunnel. This was definitely it. This wasn ’ t another training exercise, although Hitoshi wishes it was. He couldn ’ t shoot straight at all. He managed to hit everything else but the target during practice. His friends were the same; no-one knew how the work these ‘ guns ’. The empire had nearly entirely depleted their weapons, vehicles, aircraft and equipment throughout the war. They had now resorted to using centuries old machines and weapons. Only the army was allowed to use modern aged weapons. Everyone else was given or assigned different uses of technology. The infantry, what Hitoshi was put into, was to be primarily made up of the adults. The elderly and the youths were assigned to machines. Turrets, aircraft; both reconnaissance and offensive, and sea-based-craft. The empire was pulling out all the stops here. There was nowhere else to go for humanity. This was its final battle for sure. Hitoshi had accepted his fate long before he was given his… M4? He couldn ’ t even remember the name of this metal rifle. He began to feel cold. * 
 
 “ They couldn ’ t even give us better clothing? ” *Garret, his childhood friend, complained yet again. * 
 
 “ Christ, I bet you would even complain if you manage to kill a slug ” 
 
 “ How am I going to kill a slug with one of these? Hell, I couldn ’ t even kill a Genx with what we have. ” 
 
 “ You wouldn ’ t need to. Just use your hands if you ’ re that unhappy. ” 
 
 “ Ha bloody ha. You could probably make them laugh with your humor. ” 
 
 “ Wouldn ’ t need to. All I have to do is pull down your pants and they would laugh at your dick ” 
 
 *A bunch of men and women around them all laughed at Hitoshi ’ s joke. Garret shook his head as they continued walking up the tunnel. There must have been nearly forty – No, fifty thousand men ascending this tunnel. There was screaming up ahead. Three men with terrified expressions were trying to scramble away while bigger men held them down. * 
 
 “ They are going to eat us! There are going to fucking eat me! I saw them! I saw them! ” 
 
 *Everyone continued to walk forward. Hitoshi overheard people in the back talking about the enemy. * 
 
 “ Is that true? They eat people? ” *A man nervously said. A woman spoke back. * 
 
 “ It ’ s what the reports are saying. Just before they took Pluto, drones were transmitting footage of slugs eating people alive. ” 
 
 “ Holy shit. For real? ” 
 
 “ So I heard. ” 
 
 “ How many? ” *Another man chimed in the conversation. * 
 
 “ Don ’ t know. I all know is that they rounded up the captured and they fed the prisoners to their captains… leaders. Heck, whoever was in charge that day. ” 
 
 “ Even the women? ” *Another woman had entered in the almost panic stricken chat. * 
 
 “ Even the women. Children too. ” 
 
 *The group all feel silent for a moment until one of the men broke it. * 
 
 “ Fuck. ” 
 
 *The first woman then started talking again. * 
 
 “ Which is why… I am keeping this… ” *Hitoshi couldn ’ t help back look back at what she was talking about. She was holding a pulse grenade. Small and gleaming of silver, no one here had access to the weapons of today. How and where did she get one? * 
 
 “ It ’ s for close encounters. ” 
 
 *She smirked while holding it in display. Hitoshi glanced at Garret to see if he was fazed by what he was hearing. Garret kept staring ahead until something caught his eye. Hitoshi followed his eye. It was snow. He hadn ’ t realised they were close to the entrance of the tunnel. People began to pull their hoods over. Others put on hats, berets, helmets, even bandanas. One woman put on a hat that had two beers on either side. * 
 
 “ Hey! Let me have a sip! ” *A man opposite her had demanded* 
 
 “ Fuck no. I ain ’ t sharing! ” *Before the man could talk back to her; the tannoys screeched for another announcement. * 
 
 “ Repeat! Elderly and youths! Report manned stations, naval vessels and air ships ASAP! Adults, make your way to the surface now! Contact in approximately one hour and ten minutes! ” 
 
 *The tannoy screeched once more. Everyone began to pick up their pace. Nobody wanted to be in the tunnel once the battle started. * 
 
 “ You get a hold of your sister? ” *Garret said out of the blue. * 
 
 “ Huh? ” 
 
 “ Your sister? Noriko? She ’ s in Japan yeah? ” 
 
 “ Kyoto yeah. She ’ s defending with the rest of my family. ” 
 
 “ Why didn ’ t you go? ” 
 
 “ Because I ’ m in love damn it. ” 
 
 “ Hopefully not with me. ” 
 
 “ No, with your mother. ” 
 
 *No one walking was laughing this time. They reached the surface and it looked worse that what they saw on the monitors. The invaders orbital weaponry had completely demolished Times Square. Buildings were still smouldering from the invaders advanced firepower. Vehicles had charred remains in them and rubble covered the streets. Hitoshi didn ’ t know if it was snow or ash that was falling from the sky. Garret snapped him back to reality. * 
 
 “ Come on. Still have a while to go. ”
