At least that's what she had always been told. Still, at times, the Ancients would travel during the day. Shifting their forces, but always heavily shielded when doing so.

Alicia's attention was quickly pulled from the defense system above as she began to follow an earth shattering screech, followed by a second. United States Navy planes, F-16 Fighting Falcons to be exact and hauling ass to say the least as they swept past the city with ease, more than likely to execute a tactical strike on a military target nearby.

The Human race was depleted, but not extinct. And those who had survived the initial strike on Invasion Day, had a score to settle. The Ancients sent their ships in behind a wave of Hydrogen bombs, a very advanced type that fed water into the tip of the missile moments before impact. It allowed the weapon to cause mass destruction, while leaving no traces of radiation behind.

Entire cities wiped out within minutes, the only memory of them implanted into those who survived to fight back. At first, the might of Earth's largest armies fought valiantly. Yet, after only weeks, they too had fallen for the most part. The United States and Germany remained. The fact that the United States had its army stationed all over the world made it hard to be tracked down. And though it remained, the greatest Human army to ever march was down to about ten percent in strength.

The Germans were also hovering around ten percent of their force prior to Invasion Day, possibly even less. The grit of the Russian Army held the Ancients back much longer than expected. Long enough for Japan, China and North Korea to arrive in full-force.

The War of Stalingrad lasted just over a month, millions of Human warriors falling and taking with them hundreds of thousands of Ancients. For the first time, the alien race had known the true loss of war, and it was that very loss that led to their first defeat in battle. Berlin.

The weakened race of star-born murderers went into Berlin expecting swift victory, but instead found themselves backing away just two weeks later. The Germans had held, at least what remained of them. And their scientists worked around the clock with the brightest minds of the United States in developing Guardian Angel.

It was a network of low orbiting satellites, each emitting a burst of EMP on a timer. Together, they formed Guardian Angel, and ensured that nothing of a digital manner could be used. Nothing technologically advanced, and that leveled the playing field for the Humans, at least inside of Guardian Angel, which sparkled in the night sky as though stars were randomly bursting.

Humans had become dependent on a more basic way of living. A society fueled by steam power, mixed with a thirst for revenge against the gray-skinned bastards who forced them into this life. And the Ancients continued to come, though it was limited to ground based fighting and the most simplistic weapons from their arsenal. In fact, they had developed their own weaponry for use inside of Guardian Angel.

The most commonly used loadout was a Puncher(fancy term for a semi-automatic rifle that was steam-fed and packed the punch of an American .50 Caliber rifle) and a man-chete. It had a toothed blade, was arm sized and machete-like. The Ancients had decided to call it the man-chete as if to mock the Human race, the blade killing countless men since it had been put into use.

Daylight was the biggest ally for Humans in this war of species, and what remained of the military-trained wasted none of it, wringing every second of every day in order to inflict as much damage as they possibly could to a race of beings who deserved nothing less.

 

“From Norfolk?” Nadia asked, approaching the seated vixen with caution. “I hope you don't mind. Snelling let me know where you were staying.”

“Yea. More than likely be hearing it all day.” Alicia replied in a calm voice, turning for a moment to acknowledge her face to face. “And no, I don't mind.”

Before Nadia could respond, a squadron of the older style F-14 Tomcats blazed overhead, locked and loaded as both women were able to catch a glimpse of the fighters and their inventory of attached missiles.

“So I see,” Nadia replied. “You guys are lucky to have such a military force still intact.” she added.

“Lucky?” Alicia asked, turning to stare into the area of several large boulders that lay between the horizon of the wastelands and the edge of Washington City.

“Less than a month ago, the Ancients made it to that exact spot, nearly taking the city.” she added.

“But your air power?” Nadia asked as she sat down.

“Power? Sure, they fly by in the morning ready to get into the fight,” Alicia said.