Awkwardly, the group approached the entrance to the city.
Upon arrival, they observed the place totally empty, not very strange for such a planet.
The only thing visible was the customs guard, whom they soon approached.
A man already in the last days of his youth, with an experienced and confident demeanor.
"What is your business here?" he asked with a smile.
"A casual stroll, you know. Visiting nearby planets."
The guard raised an eyebrow and laughed wryly "Y'all don't look like you're out for a casual stroll at all, just look at your clothes. Y'all look like you're coming from a slaughterhouse, nevermind that such a stroll is in the middle of an invasion."
Jack sighed "So communications are reestablished? I guess that saves the time? I'm an ogch captain and...".
"So they care about us, even a little bit" interrupted the guard with distaste.
"Umm... Excuse me?" replied Jack confused "Isn't mars an important part of the care program? They should get constant attention."
"You've said it all..." The guard's face softened "So that's what they count.... If you weren't assigned, I guess you just drifted in."
After that, the security lock was opened "Come in, I want you to explain everything you know."
"Sure" Jack said, motioning for the others to follow him.
✠-✠
"Before we get on with business, I should introduce myself, my name is Terry" he said as he removed his cap.
"Jack" He replied as he took a seat.
"Kelly" She continued, taking the seat next to jack.
"Zeke" For his part, he leaned against the wall.
"Brendan" Looking for a seat.
"Ledia" Placing two seats together and pulling Brendan toward her.
"Now that we've introduced ourselves, I'd like you to explain what happened."
"About your hatred of the ogch...".
"I wouldn't call it hatred, more of a grudge. However, that can be deferred until you have explained the situation to me."
"Well..." Jack leaned back against the back of the chair "A confidential meeting was given on earth, the call was classified D+ so I don't know exactly how many high ranking people were involved in this.... However the important thing is that it was a sample about the new complatium engine."
Terry arched his back and clasped his hands together, squeezing hard ｢Did those bastards start the U.S.T.M. project!!! I want to punch the face of the head researcher!｣ ".... Proceed."
"It's too early to tell... But based on the information they provided and the fail, I'd say a gap opened up between two universes and the invasion is coming from that other universe.... Hard to believe, isn't it?" Jack accompanied his final question with a brief chuckle.
Terry sighed "I understand the situation.... I myself were part of the team investigating it. I got separated because of... Creative differences."
He relaxed his body and looked at the entire team "So you're coming to help?".
"Exactly" Kelly replied "Although I think you still owe us an explanation" she commented observing Jack.
"Certainly" He observed Jack "You wanted to know about the reason behind my grudge against the ogch?".
Jack nodded without saying anything.
"Firstly, I apologize for taking it out on someone of low rank..." Terry rearranged his hair with his right hand "I should have assumed they would lie.... You see, the colonies on Mars were forgotten in almost every way. Remember the endless orange desert?"
"I tasted it" Brendan commented, mimicking the tense position Terry had adopted.
Terry left his seat to part the curtains, revealing green fields interwoven by concrete paths "Without even devoting their effort, they'd be able to make the entire planet habitable in three months.... Yet they leave us confined to small cities, each one being an experiment."
Jack and the rest were perplexed, even zeke raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"Don't misunderstand me. An experiment is not necessarily something outrageous, in the case of this city they evaluate every year how an isolated civilization grows. Deprived of contact with the massive network.... Clearly we can leave, but most prefer to stay because it is their home."
"I see, you are bound to this place with invisible shackles and likewise feel incomplete due to an equally immaterial barrier.... I understand you perfectly" Jack closed his eyes, at the end, the line that differentiates them is no thicker than a sheet of paper.
Ledia said with a complicated expression "So all this is caused by the impossibility of concretely proving their deeds, Right?".
"Basically" Terry detached himself from the window "For now, we should go to the mayor's office.... I doubt those guests are going to enter cordially anyway."
After leaving the customs house and going inside the walls, they observed a rather neat city. The people around them looked at them strangely.
Zeke sighed "I guess we look like dusty scavengers to them."
"True. I hadn't given it any thought but, y'all covered in.... Monster blood? If I had to guess and well... Dirt..." Terry redirected his pace in a different direction "For the moment, we should go to Reiyis dal. There we will fix the appearance problem."
Jack curious about the name asked "Does it have any meaning? Or is it just a random name?".
"Just a random name, in fact the owner wants to change the name."
Without complaint the group headed for Reiyis dal, from which place they emerged bright and shiny, with a new outfit.
Jack's ensemble was simple but notable for the large trench coat covering most of his body. Somewhat less remarkable was Brendan's outfit, composed of baggy garments.
Zeke was the most dazzling, without exaggeration. For his white vest and pants overflowed with visibility.
Kelly opted for simplicity, a one-piece suit perfect for combat and finally Ledia chose the most common of the outfits.
Terry observed the outfit in full, they were too different to believe they had any relation "They look good? At least, I guess no one will say anything about this now."
"Won't we be dirty again if they attack?" asked Ledia.
Jack shook his head before saying "Wondering that is pointless, as we don't know when they will come. Let's just set our course for the city's governor's building."
Terry laughed inwardly "Try to be more casual, we're not in.... Wherever you need to talk like that."
Jack pondered a bit before saying "Fine, let's go to city hall."
"Better Don't you think?"
"I guess."
✠ - ✠
In front of them stood a dazzling structure, platinum-gray in color with a metallic sheen.
The style of architecture drank from the Roman, columns supported the roof leaving the sides exposed and a few meters away the wall is recognized.
From the roof extends a dome in the central structure and to the sides of this two other smaller structures, cubic in fullness.
Undoubtedly it was a peculiar spectacle for the time.
"Wait here" Terry walked into the building, leaving a few minutes of silence. After exiting, he was seen accompanied by a visibly aging woman.
"This is Mayor Alice" He introduced her with respect infused in his posture.
Alice smiled at the guests, asking in turn "Do you know what exactly are we dealing with?".
Jack sighed, at the same time shaking his head "We really don't know. Information is few and far between, they could arrive today, tomorrow, a month from now. No one knows, though we can say that only firearms take effect, rendering energy weapons unusable."
Following his statement, a roar filled the place, the shields of the walls began to tremble.
"Speak of the devil" Jack said disappointed.
Kelly said in a mocking tone "They might as well attack us this very moment."
Disappointment undoubtedly flooded Jack, however that didn't stop him at all "Boy are they annoying, however their timing is perfect, I give them an A+."
Ledia playing along asked "Do you think they teach me to be this good by arriving at the exact moment?".
"I don't think so... Unless you capture one, and make up a translator so you know what it says."
"I will."
"You will? Really?".
"Yep."
"Oh, no...".