Time: 8:30

Location: Barrack 11

"Alright Phantom Force, we have another war to win," our mission leader, and my brother Adam, declared to us. Adam has a burly build, a short beard, and precisely cut brown hair. We had won multiple skirmishings and had only lost one teammate, who was replaced by Smith. Last year, 2200, we took out the other team in less than an hour. That skirmishing still holds the record for the fastest run.

"With whom?" Taylor asked inquisitively. Taylor and her twin brother Jacob are our light troopers. Jacob is sprawled out disrespectfully on his thin mattress, feigning indifference to our briefing. His jet-black hair is a stark contrast to his sister's blond shoulder-length locks.

"The British, duh," Eddy Robertson answered "Don't you guys watch the news? The president declared war on Britain yesterday."

"Quiet!" Smith interrupted. "I want to hear what Adam has to say."

"Thank you, Smith. As I was saying, we are going to be deployed tomorrow morning. I want all of you geared up and battle-ready at 0600 hours. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" everybody, except Jacob, of course, responded in unison.

"Good. Now, go do whatever you want. Go to the base restaurant, practice shooting, just enjoy yourselves. These could be our last moments alive," Adam said soberly. Adam left the barrack.

I was the first one to break the grim silence. "I'm going to the base range. Anyone coming?"

"I'll go, Jason," Eddy answered. As our heavy trooper, Eddy is always up for target practice. When we got to the base shooting range, it was packed full.

"What's going on?" Eddy asked. "It looks like everybody in the base is shooting today."

"I heard a rumor that we got a new shipment of weapons," I told Eddy. "They're supposed to be the ones we use."

"But I like my gun," Eddy complained. Eddy has a 50-cal. chain-gun that can shoot 150 rounds per second. If he were a smaller man, the gun would kick him back through the wall. it is quite the gun.

"I guess it's time for an upgrade," I told him. "We'd better get in line." Eddy and I looked at the line. It was about 80 people long.

"Looks like we got our whole day booked," Eddy grumbled.

"Yep."