“That means that within the next four hours, we and the Block will begin nuking our own territories where they have been infected by the aliens . . . and,” Eric said grimly, “everywhere has been infected by the Drasin.”

He brought both his hands up, palms forward to stall the screaming. The men and women he was commanding were not Special Forces, nor even active serving military for the most part. They were cops, former military, National Guardsmen, and even a few civilians too stubborn to run and hide when confronted with a nightmare. They took the news as he expected, angrily and with a great deal of worry for the people they’d left behind.

“Major cities are not on the current target list,” he said, “nor are the many refugee areas that have sprung up in the last few weeks. We have enough forces in those areas to hammer them back the old-fashioned way, but both sides have elected to begin dropping heavy ordnance on the enemy pretty much everywhere else. Warnings will be issued, evacuations ordered, but if there are still people there when the clock hits zero . . . too bad for them.”

Now there was less outrage, thankfully, but no less shock. He could understand that. He himself was still working through that stage of his reaction, if he were to be honest. Shock he could work with, shock he could turn into determination.

“So we have a job now,” he said. “Same mission, new tactics. The U.S. and Block military forces are launching the first, largest, and probably only joint tactical operation in our history. Our job is to get eyes on the ground and either hammer the enemy into dust, or call on tactical and strategic weapons to do it for us. The more we take out the old-fashioned way, the fewer mushroom clouds we’ll see blotting out the Sun.”

He looked around the group slowly. “We’re here to save the planet, and every living person in it . . . be it from the aliens, or from ourselves . . . Anyone here feel like saying no?”

There was a long silence as he waited for a response. With none coming, Eric nodded. “Alright. We’re splitting up the band. You’ll each get your marching orders in the next twenty. Grab some real grub ’cause you’ll be sucking suit slurpies for the next little while.”

The group broke up as Eric turned back and hopped off the box.

Ron came up to him, stone-faced. “Cap . . .”

“New York isn’t on the target list, Ron,” Eric answered, clapping a hand on his old friend’s shoulder. “She’s as safe as can be.”

Ron nodded slowly. “Thanks.”

“I didn’t do anything, didn’t have to.” Eric smiled a little soberly. “You all did. New York is in shambles, but it’s human controlled. You did that. You made her safer. Are you up to doing the same for some other people?”

“You know I am, Captain.”