Manhattan
July 7, 2019
8:49 AM EST

The early morning sun glazes the never sleeping city its golden yellow light, as a small Belle helicopter zig-zags its way above the harbor after take-off. The words SkyTours New York glisten in the early morning light.

For Jim Heimdal, today is just any other day. He is already on his third tour of the day--a happy military couple on their honeymoon. They ask him the same question everyone does: why do you do it? He always replies cheekily, "' Cause I have a billion dollar view of the greatest city in the world!"

The small craft weaves its way over the large city seamlessly, and circles above the landmarks that the city is famous for. They circle above Times Square, then they go up and down Broadway. They taken in 30 Rock. The Garden. The craft circles around Central Park, and heads down Fifth Avenue. They pass by Trump Tower--the passengers shout some obscenities about its toupee wearing owner. They circle around the Empire State Building, and catch a glimpse of the Chrysler Building. The chopper then swings out towards the bay, passing by the Freedom Tower.

As it flies out toward the Statue of Liberty, the small helicopter is skirted by two F-18 Super Hornets.

"Shit!" Jim exclaims.

"Were those 'hornets?" The husband, John, asks.

"Yes they were," Jim replies calmly. "Hang on a minute while I report this."

He switches channels so that he can contact air traffic control at Newark International Airport.

"SkyTour-Three to Newark Tower. SkyTour-Three to Newark Tower. Pauli, ya there?"

"This is Newark Tower," Pauli responds. "We read ya SkyTour-Three. What's the matter Jim?"

"I just want to know why I got my sideburns cut off by two Hornets?"

"Yeah. I saw that on the screen. Their part of a war game taking place about ten miles out....so PMC doing a heightened awareness campaign or something."

"Thanks Pauli," he says switching back to talk to the passengers.

He tells them what he learned, but they are more interested in the sight of great statue swirling beneath them.

Their moment of tranquility is harshly interrupted when a loud boom almost knocks the small craft out of the sky.

"What the Hell is that?" James shouts concerningly.

He points toward something that has suddenly appeared in front of the helicopter. Jim follows his gaze. What he sees, he can't comprehend.

For a large bright hole has opened up in the middle of the sky, right above the Statue of Liberty. It is contained by a vibrating white ring. It produces an extremely loud, deafening booming noise.

But, that is not the worst part. For that would be the legions of heavily armed insect-like being pouring out of it, like a swarm of bees protecting their hive.

They begin attacking the tourists and defacing Lady Liberty.

Below the chopper, the insect-like soldiers are destroying the ferries and any small watercraft that is trying to escape.

"HANG ON!!" Jim shouts, as he pulls into a dive to avoid the on-coming swarm. He pulls up and swings the small craft around, so that they are heading back to the main land.

As they do so, they are reintroduced to those two Hornets. And they brought their cousin Raptor, and their grandnephew Lightning. Also, by the way they are firing their guns and sidewinders, they don't seem to be worried about the civilian casualties incurred by accidentally shooting down a helicopter full of tourists.

"SHIT!" Jim exclaims, performing another dive--this time to escape friendly fire.

The copter skirts dangerously close to the rooftops of the highrises of lower Manhattan. They swing south, toward New Jersey; a path of destruction follows in their wake.

They pass over the George Washington Bridge. The bridge is filled past capacity as small amount of NYPD officers institute an impromptu evacuation of the city. All lanes of traffic are at a standstill, except for a few people on motorcycles--expertly weaving in and out of the stopped cars. The pedestrians on the sidewalks and pathways have stepped up the pace from a leisurely walk to a massive mob hurriedly half-stumbling, half-shoving its way across the stateline.

The bridge strains under all this weight. To make matters worse, the bug-like creatures are not only attacking the people, but also dismantling the cables and suspension rivets. In a matter of seconds, the central span of the G.W. Bridge is consumed by Hudson River--taking all of them down with her. As it does, a subway train, running from Midtown to Newark, smashes its way through the deck and into the river below.

After entering the Garden State, Jim immediately tries to radio Newark Tower--frantically asking for an emergency landing site. But all hopes of ending the flight here are quickly extinguished when he catches sight of the airfield.

Planes are either overturned and/or burning. The first responders are being picked off one by one or large groups as they try to pull people from the wreckage. On the far end of the field, two 747s speed down the runway in a desperate attempt to flee. 

The two large aircraft race down the runway. The lead 747 takes off and climbs rapidly--dodging as many of the insectoids as possible. It reaches its cruising altitude of about 30,000 feet, and is in the clear. The second craft is not as lucky. For it takes the brunt of the alien assault, and it immediately explodes just after take off. Crashing back down into a crowded apartment block, as a giant ball of fire.

Jim looks back at his two passengers as he sees the tower get taken out. The once happy couple is now cowering in fear. Jim reassures them that they are going to make it out of this city alive. He flips a switch on the control panel that says 'Reserve Tank'.

"Hang on!!" he shouts at his passengers, as he performs another diving maneuver. This time they are only about twenty feet off the ground.

The small helicopter quickly picks up speed, as it snakes its way through congested maze of buildings and streets; all while avoiding contact with the hostile aliens.

After nearly half an hour, the small helicopter is well outside the city limits. Over the course of its long journey, the passengers got more than they bargained for. For below them, they see a gigantic scene of mass chaos, as the military and local authorities  trynot only to lead the civilians out of harm's way, but also fight off the alien invaders that are just trickling out the world's greatest city.

The small craft lands in a large field next to some Red Cross tents. They are now forty miles outside of the city limits, and they can still see the ensuing destruction that is ravaging the once fair city.

Upon powering down and exiting the helicopter, Jim is thanked heavily for his heroic actions. John asks him where he learned how to fly like that.

"About ten years ago, as a young man serving in the mountains of Afghanistan," Jim replies proudly. "And not once did ever lose a passenger. Not here, and definitely not over there. And, I wasn't going to start today anyway."

After being thanked one last time, Jim guides the happy couple over to the First Aid tent, as he looks for the command tent. He asks around for the man in charge. In response, he is greeted by a young corporal.

"I'm sorry, sir," the young officer replies in response to Jim's demands, "but I can not allow you to fly into an active and highly volatile combat zone."

"Please," Jim begs. "I'm not asking a crazed pilot. I'm asking you as one soldier to another. There are people trapped in there, and I am going to save them regardless of your approval. I'm just asking as courtesy. And...for some fuel for my bird."

To prove his point, Jim tosses a challenge coin on the table in front of them. The young officer inspects it. It is a special coin; only given to the bravest and most trustworthy of ground support pilots of the Global Privatized Marines, Air Corps.

"Damn," the young officer grunts. "You G-Mars always drive a hard bargain."

"Yeah," Jim replies with a smirk. "And we have the results to back it up."

"You have my permission," the officer complies. "But I need you to promise me that you will return them safely. Can you promise me that?"

"You have my word," Jim replies confidently. "As a Marine."

The young officer then dispatches fuel truck and a squad of Air Rangers--a medic unit--to accompany him on the trip back.

Over the course of the day, Jim saves every single person that he can. If he can't get to them, then he circles above them dropping a radar beacon to mark the location--reassuring them he will come back for them. He inspires a lot of hope that day. He even helps deploy troops to areas of the city that are cut off from the rest of the world. For the kids, he gives a ten cent tour of the city; what's left of it anyway.

But not all far the safe on this unfortunate day, especially for those stationed upstate.

Fort Condiga

July 7, 2017

0849 HRS ZULU

For General Franklin Rock, the day started off just a little more tense than usual. In response to his briefing with Mr. Graves, President Trump ordered that all bases and fleets are to be put on high alert and to report and strange activity.

If it is something strange they were looking for, well, it found them.

At nearly nearly ten minutes until the end of the hour, General Rock received scattered reports of a large alien army attacking the Eastern Seaboard. The General responds by launching as many aircraft as possible, and sends them to defend the Big Apple and the surrounding cities.

But just as the last fighter is being deployed, the unthinkable happens.

While talking with his officers council--detailing a plan to defend the base--, the sounding of several air raid sirens washes over the base, like the trumpets of heaven proclaiming the coming of the apocalypse.

Despite the warnings given by his fellow commanding officers, General Rock approaches the window and opens the blind. The sight that greats him causes his heart to spasm slightly. It is a scene of chaos. Insect-like creatures--Parademons, Mr. Graves had called them during the briefing--are laying waste to the base. The General knows that if they stay here, they will all die.

"Staff Sergeant!" Gen. Rock exclaims, breaking everyone out of their shock filled trances. "Give the order to evacuate the base!"

"Aye, Sir!" the lower officer replies, saluting the General.

"Tell the men to take what they can," Rock says solemnly. "You are now in command of the troops. Lead them well."

A series of tanks and planes explodes outside, sending up large plume of smoke and fire. The sirens continue to wail.

"What about you, Sir?" a young corporal asks. As the Staff Sergeant and his staff file out of the room.

"I will ensure that you all and the others get out safely," he says sincerely. "Gentlemen. It has been an honor."

The officers salute him. He returns the respectful gesture. For the last time.

After the officers leave, the General calls up his friend in the base's magazine. He tells him to perform the scorched earth protocols. As he hangs up the phone, a Parademon smashes through to window. Rock fires on it with his  .50-caliber pistol. He shoots it dead.  More of the hellish creatures break through the window. As he unloads his last clip into them, General Rock swears that he can see glimpses of his old unit from the Second Great War. His fellow fallen brothers calling him home. He joins them on that last great mission, when one of the Apokalyptan soldiers strikes him through with its pike like fists.

Just another day, Rock thinks, in Easy Company.

He smirks at this thought, as the building explodes. Consumed by the explosion that originated inside the base's magazine.

In the nearby town, as he marches the troops down Main Street and guides the civilian populace to safety. At the sound of a large explosion, he looks back at the hill behind him. Him and many of the soldiers and civilians stare in shock as they see the Fort being consumed in fury of fire.

It's been an honor, Sir, he part thinks, part whispers to himself, as he removes his ensigned helmet and bows his head respectfully.

He turns back to the troops and the heavy convoy. They appear to have stopped moving at the sight of the explosion.

"KEEP MOVING!!" The Staff Sergeant shouts angrily, as he replaces his helmet on his head.

The men quickly and without questions, return to the task of falling back to mountains. Once there, they will dig in and get to work.

If any of them were looking for an easy day...well...that day was yesterday. For that is how it is for every day...

...in Easy Company.

Author's Note: I'm sorry if the ending got a little too serious for anyone. For those that think that, I say: Hey, It's war! It is going to be that way. Anyway, for those of you who don't know what I am referencing when I mention General Rock, here's peak at the DC Comics Vault. Circa. 1945-ish.

The guy in the middle...that is Rock.

For those of you that want to see a sh!# ton of superheroes take down a sh!# ton of Parademaons, you're in luck...but are going to have to wait a little while. For sure, that will be the entirety of the next part. It'll take me a couple of weeks to get it ready, at the latest.

Until next time Comrades!

This is tjgrov157, loyal subject to the Comrade Superman of Earth-30

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