[ 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 .

***You are my sunshine... *** 
 
 `` Sing it again!'' 
 
 `` Jessie, you have to go to sleep now, it's a school night.'' 
 
 `` Please?'' 
 
 The man smiled as he gently stroked his daughter's head. `` All right. One more time.'' 
 
 ***... my only sunshine... *** 
 
 The father took one last look at the life he built for himself. He gazed upon it for the longest time, for now his world was about to be split in two. 
 
 Two pieces. 
 
 The life he built. 
 
 And the life he lost. 
 
 `` You promised me! You promised me you would n't go away again!'' protested his daughter. She pounded her little feeble fists against his chest, yet all he could do was stare at the woman standing at the doorway, crying. A woman who he deeply cared about. 
 
 `` Honey, I'm comin' back, okay? I'm gon na be right back here before you know it, to tuck you in...'' 
 
 He promised them a future. 
 
 ***... You make me happy... *** 
 
 The rancid stench of charred flesh lingered like morning fog in the demolished plaza. Red flashes assaulted his eyes, his battered hands caressing the concrete as he maneuvered around for the flank. 
 
 `` Contact, ground floor! Three X-Rays-'' called out the corporal next to him. 
 
 A chunk the size of a volleyball was promptly removed from the corporal's shoulder, his eyes in utter shock. Seconds later his head was gone. Just gone. 
 
 The soldier froze up, legs unwilling to move, watching the mechanical abominations fall from the heavens to deliver his men a grisly hell. 
 
 ***... when skies are gray... *** 
 
 Four caskets were sprawled out through the walkways, taking up precious space inside a church which still managed to find strength in the divine. The night was still, save for the constant shake of the ground from the nearby mortars. 
 
 `` Hi, this is Captain Coates, special forces... requesting a transmission to my wife, Annabelle Coates-'' 
 
 `` Sir... ( Static )... we are under heavy load- ( static ) - advisable that- ( Static ) -apologize. Please try again-'' 
 
 `` Look, I'll wait. As long as it takes. I just wan na hear from my family... my daughter... her name is Jessie, can you-'' 
 
 * ( Static ) * 
 
 The captain unleashed his rage, spewing curses that coated the walls in poison, his armored fists smashing a bench into smithereens. 
 
 Blood, sweat, tears, and rubble. 
 
 This was his world now. He had been in denial of it for so long, but there it was. Watching him as he gazed back. 
 
 ***... You'll never know dear... *** 
 
 The ships blotted out the sun's rays. 
 
 So humanity retreated into the ground, where the bodies were buried. 
 
 But the invaders were sly and cunning. 
 
 They burrowed into the dirt... to meet the shrieking masses. The tunnels became flooded, but not with water. Water does n't look like that. 
 
 One by one, the speckles of light began to flicker and fade across the lands, swallowed by the greedy maw of darkness. 
 
 ***... how much I love you... *** 
 
 The earth began to scream, but the rape would continue for decades. 
 
 For every victory, came three more insufferable massacres. 
 
 For every starship shot down, two more took its place. 
 
 But the man fought on, with renewed purpose formed from the ashes of the fallen. 
 
 The heads up display blared worrying readings, but he ignored them. His armor was slick with blood, both alien and human. Taking a fresh grip on his shotgun, he charged forth, meeting the angry red eyes of the enemy. 
 
 ***'' Please do n't take... my sunshine... away. *** 
 
 Loving father. 
 
 Faithful son. 
 
 Grieving widower. 
 
 A hardened commander. 
 
 Humanity's final hope. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

