Mankind. Human. Mortal.

  The words zero down to one thing. 

  We are from Earth. A big lump of dirt and water that has now been refined with the newly discovered minerals, but home. 

  A home that I have chosen to protect.

  The feeling of cold metal in the palm of my hand has become the order of the day as of now. An assault rifle had become the one thing I hold more dear than almost everything else.

  Four years in the job now. Twelve operations and twenty four confirmed kills on. 

  Personally shot down the leader of the last attackers with the last bullet in the magazine of my sniper which is currently placed in a display case that hangs on the wall of my room.

  My name is Jacob Conet. "Sure shot" by my peers after my last achievement. And currently I was in the elevator of my new military station. The Japan Base X.

  My eyes were fixed at the window the elevator provided and I looked down at the place. About twelve football fields in width and length and armed enough to wipe out an alien fleet in an instant.

  State of the art security system and the latest flight models that allows you to break the atmosphere in one minute.

  A smile crept on my face as I recalled the ride here in that airship. 

  They had a cafeteria on board and that's hard to come by on earth were the airship had only one necessary thing. Amory.

  The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. I stepped into the room and met the eyes of the man who has saved my life multiple times like I have his. He was also my best friend.

  "Connet." Leo grinned as I descended the steps, "Looks like you're enjoying the new base, huh? What's not to like?" 

  I placed down my weapon on the table that stood in the middle of the room as well as my helmet that linked me up with the computers in the place.

  "Leo," I started as I stared at him, his new hairstyle seemed to fit him but that wasn't where I was going to. "It's time for work, not to admire the architecture."

  Leo sighed, "It's also time for you to take a breather, Connet. I can spot gray stripes in your hair lately."

  I ignored the comment and pulled the tablet that laid on the table so I loomed over it. "This isn't a vacation, Leo. To be quite honest, I heard we'll be jumping into hyperspace so we can take out the Zeptiz on Mars and get the other tribes on our side." 

  Leo frowned at the news, "Seriously? No tour of the facility? No massage?" 

  I walked over and patted him on the cheek subtly. "Like I said earlier, mission, not vacation." I grabbed my helmet and my rifle then opened a door, "Although, they are going to show us around before we meet the admiral at the head station. So cheer up."

  Leo followed closely behind me but I could tell by the way he inspected the place he was certainly daydreaming.  

  I wouldn't blame him though. We weren't treated much back in the States. If I hadn't made that shot that day we'll still be on clean up duty in bunker eight.

  I typed in the code that the door demanded to allow us enter then as it slid open my eyes fell on a woman who's hair was as dark as ink as well as her gaze. 

  Her eyes lowered until she was looking down at my badge. "Connet, huh?" She met my eyes once more, "Sure shot Connet? The man that saved us from the complete destruction of the west coast of America..." she chuckled lightly, "Thought you'd be taller."

  Leo held back a laugh and I on the other hand felt rather insulted.

  "6"2 isn't a bad height." I muttered, "And who are you?" 

  The woman smiled, "Your guide through Base X. Also newly assigned to your team."

  Leo smirked. "Well, welcome to the team...what's your name?"

  "July." She answered, "We're going to take the platform to get around, then we'll go to see the admiral for briefing. Come on, Sure shot."

  She brushed my shoulder with hers and began walking down the hall we were previously in. 

  When she reached a distance Leo whispered. "Bro, she's totally into you."

  I elbowed him hard enough for him to catch his breath. "Shut it."

  We followed July through the station and listened carefully as she either explained or referred to the things that are placed around the base.

  "We're currently about to release our latest Space carrier into orbit ETA twenty hours."

  "Is it bigger than The Rushmore that's currently at the Mars' area?" Leo asked.

  "Trust me," July told him, "Raijin is definitely the most dangerous space ship in the industry." She tapped a window that was currently covered with a shutter but slipped away once she stated her name.

  The Raijin was in the hangar, and it was by far the biggest work of metal work I had ever seen."

  "That has to be at least seven football fields." Leo estimated because he and I could not spot the beginning of the massive war machine. 

 "How long they been at it?" I asked.

  "For about twelve years." July replied, having a little pride in her voice as she spoke. "Armed with every bit of weaponry that allows it to operate either offline or online without a problem. The thrusters there release enough energy to power the whole of West Africa for years in order to jump into hyperspace in one go." 

  Hearing that I didn't need to guess that was too much power. 

  "Exactly what energy source is that?" 

  July shrugged. "No information given on that."

  The shutters closed and July pointed out. "Alright. Let's head forward. I think that's enough for today."

  We headed up towards the head station and entered the main office where the admiral was prancing around. 

  He turned to us with the one good eye he had and stared directly at me. "Connet..." He said in a hoarse voice, his fingers played with the white beard he had, "Seems like I get to meet you in person after all."

  I smiled slightly. "It's an honor to stand in your office alone, sir."

  The admiral shook his head. "No boy, call me Zhang. My mother gave me that name on her death bed so I'll carry it." 

  I could tell that Leo had comment but my eyes gave him a sturdy glare and he kept shut.

  Zhang pulled out his chair and sat on it before telling the others and I to sit down as well.

  "You see the Raijin yet?" He asked me suddenly and I quickly nodded. "It's really something."

  "Was there the day they began it."Zhang said, "And I won't leave until I see it hyperspace gracefully."

  July smiled. "You will, sir. But currently, you're meant to inform these two their duties."

  The old man smiled, "Oh yes, you two would now be stationed here. Missions will come up shortly and July will be with you in all. Apart from that, enjoy the base. We have a game room set up by the engineers to allow one to develop on their skills. Dismissed."

  Leo and I nodded and left the room along with July who pointed us to our quarters. 

  "Your room is over there." She directed Leo to a door that stood at the far corner of hall. Sure shot gets his stuff special." 

  Leo patted my shoulder. "See your grumpy ass later." He walked off and I was taking to my own room which was on a higher floor than that of Leo's and allowed me to view the base much better. 

  The metal door slid open to allow me into a bunker. A comfortable one due to its good furniture as well as the constant scent of roses in the air. 

  "Get some rest." July adviced as she began to walk away from the room. "You can never be sure what tomorrow brings on this Earth."

  I nodded and locked down the room before planting myself in the couch.

  Now that I was here, I could continue the search for my brother who disappeared from my life seventeen years ago in the fires of a burning building. 

  Because this was definitely the base he had on his shirt before I witnessed him explode at the age of five...