All around the base groups of frantic Hunters were scrambling to get positioned around the walls to defend if need be. Only a handful of people ducked into a small building on the side, including myself, for a briefing as the first force to deal with any situation. We all settled down quickly as the commander walked in holding a small communication radio the size of his hand. His presence was a demanding one and even with his age, his expression could be intimidating. He was still an Officer like most of the base, just a few steps higher in the ranking.

“We will have the briefing shortly everyone. The scouts are still in route to the specified locations.” A quiet settled around us as the radio occasionally sent in a few patches of static noise.

“Alpha reporting in! We have visual of contacts estimating two hundred yards from our position.”

We all tensed up when we finally heard the first scout squad report in. Even though the audio was traveling by aura it still seemed to be interfered by the permanent storm above that caused it to cackle.

“They all seemed to be… wait that can’t be right. Hey, one of you go do a second count that can't be right.” A pause. A panicked voice comes back. “Fifty-one Fire Demons. I repeat fifty-one Fire Demons. They look to be low to mid-ranking soldiers and the one in the back. No, I don’t think I've seen that many medals on a female one before. Hey, what rank does that symbol on her shoulder mean?”

A few of my colleagues go white when they hear how many Kraeka there were, which is the proper term for their kind. It’s not just any Kraeka either, as they were the very powerful Fire Kraeka. They were currently known as the strongest out of all the known kinds and is the current political powerhouse in their council. My spine grows cold thinking on how this isn't a simple skirmish. They had sent a small invasion force. The radio came back to life with some static bringing us to attention.

“Hey don't joke around it’s impossible that she saw us. We're two hundred yards out and in shrubbery there's… wait it does kind of look like she's staring at…” A few of us in the room gasp at the same time as the scout speaking. “Disengage. I say disengage, dammit, move! Fuck! Why is the ground so hoaaaAAHHH!!”

First, a large sound of wind followed by a short cut off booming noise. Not long afterward a distant explosion shook the walls of the building and rattled my thoughts. The rain kept pattering as the room’s silence was broken again by the radio.

“Scout group Beta reporting in. We saw an explosion one hundred yards away we are disengaging from the area and returning to base. We believe alpha is dead, as that was their last known location. We are sixty-five, North East from the base. Last known location of adversaries from Alphas scouting is fifty-five, North East. I repeat we are disengaging from the area!” We hang our heads in silent respect. The situation was worsening quickly and creating a small panic in the room.

“We’re so dead.” A lady had actually curled up in her chair to my right. “Fifty-one Fire Demons. It usually takes five Hunters to fight one of them! How are we going to fight that?” Her words bring an emotion that ripples to the others in the room.

“Pull yourself together woman or you're going to die with those being your last words.” The Commander finally spoke up. His voice brought their attention, though none of the others would look him in the eye. “Based on the limited information gathered, here is your briefing. There are fifty-one Fire Kraeka out there at approximately one kilometer out, if even that far, and closing in at a fairly paced speed. There is at least one high ranking soldier with the group.” He waits patiently for this to reach everyone’s thoughts. “The force sent is more than just a simple skirmish force to test our manpower. No, this force wants to blow the place up and we're not going to let them. Is that clear?”

“So you want us to end up like alpha?” A Male this time speaks up from the back, causing our commander to squint his eyes towards us.

“What did I do to deserve potbellied babies like you lot? Too selfish to fight for your own land?” They continue to avoid his eyes. These were some of the people thought to be the best of our force and yet they’ve all gotten too comfortable not actually fighting!

“I'll go, sir!” I shot up from my seat with fire on my words. If no one else was willing to do their job then the necessity called to me. A few people chuckled when I rose but were quickly silenced by the stare of our Commander.

“Finally a spine.” He looked me over before continuing. “A shaken spine, but still a spine nonetheless. Those who laughed are demoted a rank starting today and must perform janitor duties for a year. If we survive thanks to your incompetence.” He beams a welcome gaze in my direction. “It would seem you are to be alone for this as the first reaction squad. Not to be rude but while you're out there I'll be preparing a base evacuation in the event you fail. Do you understand your orders soldier?”

I salute him with a shaky hand from both enhanced fear and swelling anger.

“You can count on me! SIR!”

“Atta girl. The brief is over! Those heading out to fight may leave. May the Chaos favor your life in death. The rest of you are to stay. Right. Here.” I take my motion to leave as fast as I possibly could out of that room and rush towards the gates to avoid the point of his anger.