Location, Location, Location

“Dax! Did you repair the thrust on the tail end? Unit 05 is on perimeter check tonight!”

“Yes commander! I have done it Sir!”, saluted Dax.

The commander nodded in acknowledgement and left. Sighing Dax made his way towards the break room and collapsed on the nearest chair, resting his head on the table.

His eyes closed and his mind drifted, listening to the conversations around him distractedly, until one caught his attention.

“Cadet Andrews reporting for duty ma’am!”, a dull thump sounded indicating a salute.

“At ease cadet. Have a seat.”, a hoarse voice replied, as though the person had yelled a few times too many.

His boots thumped across the floor as he made his way towards the table.

“You need anything?”, a coin clattered into the vending machine, and something rolled out.

“No, Captain, uh ma’am”, stuttered Andrews.

“Alright. I hope they told you your task, cadet.” A hiss sounded as she opened a can.

“Yes ma’am. They told me they needed my help maintaining one of the APEX Units. But I don’t understand ma’am. I have no military training. What exactly do you need?”, his shoes tapping out a nervous beat.

“Automated Personnel Engagement System or better known as the APEX Units. This is all that stands between us and them. Do you know the story cadet?”

“I know what they taught us in the camps ma’am. About the treaty.”

A harsh laugh sounded, “Right. The treaty. What lies! It is a war boy!”, a clang sounded as the can hit the wall, almost startling Dax.

“Let me tell you the truth. It is people like us who clean up the mess left behind by the government. We lay our lives on the line so there is something left of our humanity tomorrow.”, she continued.

“How old are you?”

“23 ma’am.”

“You are young. Too young to know what happened. Let me tell you the story.”, the noise of a chair being pulled sounded as she sat down.

“Around 40 years ago, we received a radio signal, indicating a message from beyond our solar system. It was from Proxima B, Alpha Centauri. The closest Earth like planet. Obviously excited our Scientists initiated contact with them. But none of us could understand what they wanted from us.”, the captain became silent, as though lost in thought.

“What did they want Captain?”, asked Andrews quietly.

The captain laughed again; a hint of madness rung in it.

“What did they want? They arrived politely enough. They called themselves Altum Moraminis, the deep dwellers. Tall and pale. They looked like us but still so different. Their cheeks hollow, eyes sunk in, thin lips and sharp, sharp teeth. It was like looking into a distorted mirror. We signed treaties and agreements, stating to be cordial and united. Working for the betterment of the world they said. But no one knew what they were really doing.”, she replied.

“What happened next?”

“Few of the scientists became suspicious. We know nothing about them. Why would they come here? To sign papers? They never went out, never seemed interested in our civilization. Just watched us. So those scientists managed to obtain Altum technology, specifically their rovers, since ours could not reach to Proxima and return soon enough. The information they gathered, tipped everything over”, she whispered.

“What was it?”, the tapping of his shoes increased.

“The planet was drying out, ravaged by dust. They had no food, sparse water. A species evolves to adapt. They had no vegetation, they had to survive this. So, they evolved. They became purely carnivorous. But then even the animals died out. They evolved. They became cannibals. But now even they were dying. They had to evolve right? They didn’t just want our planet. They wanted us.”, her voice droned.

“Can we fight them?”, Andrew asked.

“They bleed, so we can kill them. But their technology is superior. The APEX Units help us hold our own for now, against their artillery units. That is why we need your code to reinforce the magnetic shields on them.”, she replied.

“I will do my very best ma’am! Humanity will not fail!”, the chair fell as he got up to salute.

“Alright soldier. I’ll take you up to the lab so that you can meet the First Engineer and begin your task immediately.”, the captain replied.

The sounds of their boots faded as they walked away.

Dax got up and stretched his shoulders, thinking over the conversation he just heard. Laughing he looked at the empty room and smiled.

“Time to meet my new apprentice. Hope he tastes better than the last one.”, he thought as he whistled merrily and walked away.