The twin sieges of the United Planets army were underway. Carter had journeyed to the desert world of Srian. He and his forces had labored for one month, trying to liberate the land from nemesis rule. They fought against the combined onslaught of the enemy and the unrelenting heat. Both threatened to exhaust their supplies as battles increasingly spread.

  In the respites of shade and water amongst the deserts, the natives gazed upward. Light danced across the sky in a wild performance! The two fleets clashed above the desert world! Lucas flew through the panic, leading a squadron to attack a Nemesis battleship in space! The battleship was one of many relentlessly bombarding the blockade the United Planets had constructed around Srian to stop the nemesis from transporting aid to their comrades.

  The nemesis on the ground was fighting against their depleting supplies like Carter. The siege had become a battle of attrition. The victor would be the side that could outlast the other through supplies or willpower!

  Lucas' communicator rang, and he answered."Yes, General Carter!" As he engaged in evasive action!

  "How's our blockade holding up, Captain Fortis?"

  "Pretty good, all things withstanding! Though the enemy is giving us more trouble than we prepared for!"

  "Keep it up, aerial captain! The last thing we need now is reinforcements landing!"

  "Yes, sir!"

  The Nemesis attack hastily intensified with a salvo so swift and numerous approaching the ship would court suicide! But as the other pilots scattered, Lucas swiftly dived toward the enemy!

  "I'm going in, guys! I'll try to get their primary cannons so you can start your attack run!"

  Lucas navigated through the salvo, squeezing into the narrow cracks in the wall of lasers! But as he neared the ship, an enemy squadron sped towards him! They gave chase, shooting at him, grazing his wing, making it flare up!

  Lucas gazed at his damaged wing, horrified, but glanced at one of the enemy's cannons, formulating an idea. "Please work!" As he dived toward the live weapon, daring death to catch him! He raced closer and closer to the device as the squadron bared down on him like a predator nearing its prey! But moments from its firing barrel, Lucas rocketed away, leaving it to obliterate the squadron instead!

  Hastily, Lucas flew over the Nemesis battleship, blasting its many cannons to bits!"Begin attack run immediately!" As the United Planets pilots swiftly returned, bombarding the nemesis battleship!

  On the ground, the purple sand rose from the dunes on command of a monstrous wind. It was like a third military faction, hostile to the United Planets and the nemesis. For the natives, who had evolved over the centuries to endure the harsh landscape, it was nothing. But for them, the heat and sand was an excruciating trial. It was like Srian despised the presence of offworlders so much it mercilessly assaulted the senses with continuous stinging and burning!

  But still, the United Planets forces weathered the attack, scrambling through their makeshift Headquarters! The home base was an encampment of numerous tents hidden behind the cliffs of a rocky canyon as natural guardians from attack. Clive hurried through the base to the tent in the center. Inside, he found the war room with Carter surrounded by a dozen subordinates, bombarding him with questions.

  Clive ran to Carter."Mission accomplished!"

  "You captured the enemy base at Zren already?"

  "Yep!"

  "Where's Captain Jacob?"

  "I left her in charge of the occupation, so I came here! You should get a progress report within the hour!"

  "Civilians?"

  "Some close calls, but the med guys told me everything's looking good!"

  "Great! Take five until I need you again!"

  "General Carter, I would like to request another mission! Let me take charge of the attack on the enemy's western supply line!"

  "I appreciate the initiative, but I already assigned someone-. Wait, did you call me General Carter?"

  "Yeah, so?"

  Carter looked at Clive, shocked! Clive would always refer to him by his name and never his rank. It was Clive’s humorous way of showing that he wouldn’t accept his friend lording over him. Such things would usually erode discipline and require Carter to reprimand. But as a small concession to his friend, Carter let it slide for as long as Clive did his job well. Furthermore, the act made him realize how cold, almost robotic, the usually lively Clive was during the siege.

  Knowing something was amiss, Carter swiftly pulled away from his other subordinates, grabbing Clive’s shoulder. He dragged Clive straight out of the tent to many surprised eyes!

  "Clive, what's wrong?"

  "We have several heavily fortified locations to hit, our forces are stretched thin, and I honestly don't know if our supplies will hold!"

  "That's the obvious stuff! I mean, what's wrong with you?"

  "Me? Nothing!"

  "Don't give me that! There's been something off with you since we started the siege. Is it about Ros?"

  "No," Clive said defensively.

  "Clive, as your friend and General, I need to know if there's anything wrong?"

  "No, Carter, I'm fine! Can we please focus on the job!"

  Carter released a deep sigh."If you say so!"

  Carter re-entered the tent, and Clive angrily followed behind. But as the two went in, an alarm flashed through the air!

  "I-I don't think I've heard that alarm before! What does it mean?" Clive asked.

  "I have like fifty people in here! Someone give the lieutenant and me an answer!"

  A soldier ran up to Carter. "It means the weather conditions are worsening, sir!"

  "What?"

  "A sandstorm is coming! If our projections are correct, a sea of sand will consume the area for a hundred miles!"

  Carter punched a table."Damn! Right before we attack the enemy capital!"

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  "Take it easy, Carter! Just delay the attack!"

  "You said it yourself about our supplies not holding! There's no telling how long the storm will last! Not to mention our blockade!"

  "Well, can't our instruments help?"

  "Perhaps a little, Lieutenant Rogers! But they'll likely malfunction in the extreme conditions!"

  "No choice! We have to attack now! Clive, you'll help me lead our forces!"

  Like lightning, another alarm flashed through the air.

  "Now, what?"

  Carter's answer came as a holographic image of Captain Rebecca, a redheaded, curvy human woman of twenty, appeared before him!

  "Captain Rebecca," Carter said.

  "Yes, sir! I come with an urgent message!"

  "What is it?"

  "Please send reinforcements to the enemy base at Zleu City immediately!"

  "But you reported you had them licked," Clive said.

  "We miscalculated, Lieutenant Rogers! The initial battle was to disable key defenses while the enemy mounted an attack from the rear!"

  "A kamikaze?"

  Rebecca nodded yes.

  Carter clutched his forehead, nursing a migraine."I'm sorry, but we can't, Rebecca!"

  "What? Why not?"

  "It's a long story, but the gist is that we need our remaining troops for the attack on Zkin! It's the most valuable piece on the board!"

  "I-I understand!" Rebecca shed tears, trembling in fear of her death.

  "Hang tough, Rebecca! I'm sure you and your people can hold the location," Clive said.

  "Maybe!"

  A Great War of ideals arose within Carter, looking at Rebecca, seeing the abject fear across her face. The wisdom of a military leader and human compassion in bitter conflict! He tried to open his mouth to approve her request, but it gained a life of its own, keeping shut as it resisted his command! He knew she and her soldiers would likely die without reinforcements. But he would have to delay the attack on Zkin if he sent them. Without the city, they would need additional time, a few weeks, perhaps months, to liberate Srian. Time they didn’t have. The blockade or their supplies would surely falter before then!

  Carter grabbed the handle of his sword, shaking it vigorously in frustration. But as he looked at it, he stopped, formulating an idea."That's it!"

  "What's it?"

  "We're sending the troops to Rebecca!"

  "General Carter, thank you so much!" Rebecca burst into tears.

  "Wait a minute! Carter, I want to help them, but do we have enough guys?"

  "We do! I have a plan!"

  A few hours later, the United Planets raced across the desert as the sandstorm intensified. Faster and faster visibility faded as the number of sand particles increased. But still, the battalion valiantly dashed across the desert. The United Planets scrambled to Zkin in their armored hover transports and tanks!

  Inside one of the hover transports, Carter stood before his soldiers.

  "Okay, people, I want to run down the plan one last time! We need to be perfect!"

  "Carter, I just can't shake the feeling this is a bad idea! It's still not too late to turn back!"

  "Thank you for the concern, Lieutenant Rogers, but it'll work!” Carter exhaled heavily, stressed. “It has to work!"

  "Man, just delay the attack!"

  "Our blockade won't hold forever. And the only way to defend against enemy reinforcements is to secure the planet now!"

  Sarah raised her hand for a question, and Carter signaled her to talk.

  "But, General Carter, we're not at full battle strength! The original plan was to overwhelm the enemy's defenses with multiple concurrent attacks!"

  "Well, now we'll use the sandstorm as a cover to get close! And once we blast past their walls, it should be easy to take the city!"

  "How? The storm will mess with our instruments!"

  "We just need to get close enough, and I'll take it from there!"

  An alarm flashed through the air.

  "Show time, people! Lieutenant Rodgers, get everyone to their battle stations!"

  "Sir, yes, sir!"

  The United Planets neared their destination, the massive city of Zkin! But on their path, a titanic guardian hurried across the desert to impede their journey. A wall of sand particles so thick and large its vast stature surpassed the defenses of Zkin, swallowing the area for hundreds of miles, leaving no respites from its wrath! But still, they soldiered forward, undeterred by the incoming fury! Swiftly allowing it to consume them, witnessing the day become as dark as night within the wild haze of its stomach!

  "Visibility officially zero! Everyone, switch to instruments," Clive said.

  The United Planets soldiered forward through the sandstorm, heeding Clive’s orders.

  "Driver, how are our systems looking? And how far to the target?"

  "Good so far, General Carter! And about five hundred meters to the destination!"

  "Great! I want-"

  Without warning, an explosion shook the transport!

  "What was that? Is the enemy attacking?"

  "No, sir! Miner malfunction, but we're still going!"

  "How far are we now?"

  "Four hundred and ninety meters and counting!"

  "No matter what, everyone holds course to the target!"

  The United Planets pushed through the sandstorm. But little by little, their vehicles flared up with more malfunctions! And among them, an explosion, far greater than the last, shook Carter's hover transport!

  "General Carter, major malfunction this time! Our sensors are losing power!"

  "Are our engines still working, and can you tell how far the target is?"

  "Yes, and about two hundred and fifty meters, but-"

  "Then keep going! We need to hang tough a bit longer!"

  "Y-yes, sir!"

  Again, the United Planets soldiered forward. But the price for every meter conquered grew costlier and costlier. Explosions swiftly spread through the battalion like a contagion! And the biggest one came from Carter's hover transport!

  "General Carter, critical system failure! Our engines are damaged! We must retreat and make repairs!"

  "Hold this course!"

  "Carter!" Clive grabbed Carter’s collar, angrily shaking him to make him see reason.

  "I know what I'm doing, Lieutenant Rogers! Driver, can you tell how far we are now?"

  "H-hundred meters and counting, sir!"

  Carter groaned."Good enough! Lieutenant Rogers, make sure all the drivers stay on course no matter what!"

  "Carter!"

  "Clive, my friend, please trust me!"

  With a deep sigh, Clive reluctantly nodded yes. And Carter hurried away to complete his task.

  Carter exited the transport, jumping on top of its roof. The sand hit his eyes with relentless fury as he looked forward. But through the stinging and burning, Carter deciphered the shape of Zkin’s wall! He swiftly drew his sword, winding it backward."This better work!" As light as bright as the sun burst from the blade, illuminating the belly of the sandstorm!

  Carter swung his sword, putting all his back into it! A jet of crimson sprung from it, flying toward the enemy's towering wall, cutting through the sandstorm like paper! It cleaved the enemy's wall, sending miles crumbling to ruin!

  "Thanks, doc!"

  Carter pointed his sword at the massive opening."Attack!" And the battalion charged toward it at double speed!

  The United Planets met the Nemesis inside with a furious advance! The enemy raced down the street with the power of a flood! The United Planets snipers fired their guns at the enemies from afar, and their infantry rammed into them with all their remaining resolve. Together, they pushed the tide back with a wall of soldiers and plasma bolts! But the armies swiftly stalemated in the middle of the street. Equal in strength and resolve, they couldn't make the other falter! However, as Carter walked through his forces, he swung his sword, sending a jet of crimson cutting through the enemy ranks!

  "You all worked hard, but I'll need way more! We take this city today, and we're closer to Mavor. Closer to giving what the purple son of a bitch deserves! For our families and friends, no mercy to anyone but civilians!"

  As the United Planets heard Carter, they took on a continuous boiling roll like the inside of a mighty thunderstorm. They raised their weapons, shouting in approval, charging toward the Nemesis. With their resolve replenished, they rammed into them, breaking the stalemate and charging forward!

  Clive ran to Carter."Good speech!"

  "I've learned from the best!" Carter chuckled, thinking of Daisy.

  Clive glanced upwards."Carter, dodge!" pushing Carter aside as a salvo rained from above. The two dodged the attack, seeing a squadron of five cyber troopers fly by and hurriedly turning back for another attack!

  "Nothing like a moving target," Clive said.

  "Just like basic training!"

  The squadron shot at Carter and Clive, but they dodged the attack as it hit a building!

  "You and I remember basic training very differently!"

  The squadron continued their bombardment on the men. But Carter again swung his sword, unleashing a jet of crimson as Clive tossed his mace. Their attacks found their targets as Carter turned one to dust, and Clive sent the other crashing down! The squadron finally retreated, flying away. However, as the enemies fleed, Carter spotted a new peril, a giant Nemesis tank rushing down the street!

  The tank's barrel fired a plasma ball, sending the United Planets running for cover. Carter grabbed Clive, pulling him out of harm's way as the ball disintegrated a skyscraper! "Enough!" Dashing toward the tank!

  The tank’s guns unloaded a salvo at Carter. He deflected each shot with his sword, continuing undeterred. The tank retaliated, firing its plasma ball, but he batted it into the sky with his sword. And as Carter reached it, cutting through its treads and weapons, he readied the finishing blow. But the squadron returned, shooting him in the body twice!

  Clive saw Carter injured with the squadron flying in for the kill."Carter!" He remembered their unconscious comrade on the ground, grabbing him by the head, tossing him at the squadron! He hit them, causing them to crash toward the tank. And Carter, using the last of his strength, jumped away as they made contact, exploding!

  Clive ran to Carter."Are you okay?"

  "Thanks to you, bud!" Carter set up a fist bump.

  Clive happily accepted the fist bump.