To the Last
When it was all said and done, one of those super weapons had made it. Their impressive power had become their undoing. The capacity to inflict so much violence at once saw two of the war machines go down moments after breaking through the enemy lines. Humanity had salvaged what they could and pressed forwards. After all, humanity had one last trick up its sleeve.
Constructed hastily, this last bastion of defense bulged from the Earth like a blister. This hallowed ground had been picked for one reason and one reason alone. Beneath the grass and dirt lay an intricate cave system. One in which humanity could hide, possibly even survive.
The trench lines extended as far as the eye could see. There was no real way to man every inch of the defenses, but the hope was to simply slow the beasts. If they could just deny the beasts their number advantage, then maybe there was room left to hope. At least, until the bodies filled the voids.
Every city, every town, every village, had been left to burn in the wake of humanity’s retreat. Some of humanity had even torched themselves in efforts to slow the advancing tide. As the last human chosen to continue our survival entered the cave, the entrance was sealed. Darkness descended, upon the day and our species.
There was no sleep to be had that fateful evening. By now the reports had spread and those who remained above ground knew their daunting task. Millions marched upon them. Even though not all wished to be above ground, all would face their fate with bravery and selflessness. Fires would burn that night as humanity’s laughter and celebration would echo through the star filled sky.
The first rays of sun began to crack the ink black shell of the night. Perhaps, for the last time, humanity watched a ruby colored sun rise above the horizon. Many shook hands, many embraced, and silently they grabbed their weapons. A calm had settled over the soon to be field of slaughter. There was nothing left do, no homes to clean, no food to cook, there was only this fight. There was only survival.
Fog had rolled across the morning dew, the jet black sky had given way to dim purples, the sun cooling to an amber glow. From the hilltop stood the man known only as “General”. The last leader of humanity in this time, a man who knew that should they fail all would be lost. He could not, would not let that happen. While the cave below would serve humanity’s future, the bombs buried secretly above would see to their present. The only question to be answered was if they would be needed. He clung to hope they would not be.