Free Sullivan Saga 3: Sullivan's Watch by Michael K. Rose Page B

humans inside but for one notable fact: they stood, on average, around seven feet tall.
    The weapons they carried seemed to be remarkably similar to the energy weapons humans had developed in terms of function, but their range and power was significantly greater. They had somehow been able to overcome the limitations that made solid projectile weapons still the better option for human foot troops. The increased range of the alien weapons meant that the soldiers who were armed with energy weapons had difficulty getting close enough for them to be effective.
    Now, however, the Army was running into a supply problem. All the energy weapons had been issued and, as the fighting escalated, the battery packs were being depleted more quickly than they could be recharged. Tanks and other vehicles with high-caliber weapons were being used where possible, but because the alien soldiers were infiltrating populated areas, expanding the use of these weapons would lead to civilian casualties.
    General Adams heard a commotion outside his office. A second later, a frantic knocking came at the door.
    “Come in!”
    His secretary threw open the door. “Sir, we have a problem.”
    As soon as she spoke, the reports began appearing on his monitor. Enemy soldiers had infiltrated the base. The Army had, of course, taken extensive steps to guard the perimeter, but it appeared the aliens had opened wormholes inside the base itself.
    General Adams began contacting his subordinates, trying to get a better idea of what was going on. He could see, from various cameras, that there was heavy fighting in three separate locations.
    One camera angle showed him the active wormhole. In under a minute, two dozen alien soldiers came through. As soon as they were clear, the wormhole disappeared. Adams tried contacting Colonel Jansen, who was in that area, but was unable to raise him.
    On another camera, he spotted the wormhole again. It was up against the side of the command center. The aliens made quick work of the guards outside and moved in.
    Adams shot up and grabbed the energy rifle he’d stowed in the closet. He clipped on a belt with extra energy packs and a couple of grenades then stepped into the outer office and began calming the men and women there. They worked desk jobs and had received little field training. “All of you, get inside my office,” he ordered.
    Adams left the outer office and made his way into the hallway. The MPs guarding the top floor of the command center glanced nervously back at him. Adams noted that they were armed with standard rifles. “The two of you, get in there and keep those people calm and quiet.”
    “Sir?”
    “I’m the only one with a weapon that can hurt these things. I’ll try to lead them away.”
    “Sir, I can’t allow that,” said one of the MPs.
    Adams glared at the man. “That’s an order.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The two men went into the office, and Adams closed the door behind them. He knew the automatic locks wouldn’t stand up to fire from an energy weapon, but he hoped he’d be able to keep the aliens from trying to gain access.
    General Adams walked over to the stairwell and opened the door with his access card. He put his head inside and heard the sound of someone—or something—coming up the stairs. The aliens couldn’t gain access to the elevators without a keycard and an eye scan, so it made sense that they’d blow the locks to the stairwell door and come up that way.
    Somewhere down below, men started yelling. The voices were quickly followed by the sound of rifles firing and the discharge of energy weapons.
    Adams felt for one of the grenades on his belt. The sounds of fighting died away, and the footsteps resumed. Based on the sound, the enemy soldiers were on the floor directly below him. Adams pulled the pin on the grenade and tossed it down before slamming the stairwell door shut.
    The explosion shook the floor and, after waiting for the cloud of smoke to be sucked out by the air