Chapter 1

The memory three months ago of the attack by the Soviet Union on San Francisco still weighs heavily on my mind. It was a day that changed my life, as well as everyone else's in the city on that fateful morning. I had just finished up my workday. I was on my way to my car when I literally froze in place from the sight that I witnessed before me. Massive blimps filled the sky blocking out the sun that illuminated this peaceful city. All around people stopped what they were doing and stared at these huge spectacles.

At the time, I recall that I didn't think these objects posed any threat, although I was unsure what they were here for. Then my somewhat fearful attention turned to the coastline. I saw five ships, each sporting two huge missiles moving closer to the shore. A twinge of apprehension came over me. The ships moved closer and closer until they all stopped a few hundred yards away from the shore. The huge ships seamed to float in the water motionless. By now many people from the city had made their way to the shores to stare at what was before them. I had made my way down there as well, arriving at one of the many docks of this city along the bay. A few minutes later the ship's missiles slowly rose upward in a position that readied them for launch. People that had gathered out of curiosity started to back up slowly in disbelief, and for a brief movement time seemed to stand still and silence filled the air. About a minute later, and with a loud, abrupt sound, the missiles were launched airborne. They all flew over my head so fast my reflexes didn’t have time for me to duck. The missiles made a loud crash as they hit the defenseless buildings that stood along the coast. Glass and metal flew everywhere. The buildings were full of gaping holes when the smoke cleared.

Many people ran for their lives in fear and utter surprise. It was pandemonium. The entire city was being bombarded by missiles. All I could do was watch as the harsh reality unfolded before me. I was not in the army, but at that moment it felt like I should have done something. But what could I do? I had nothing to fight with. I couldn't run. All I could do was watch as the city fell to the soil. I can recall the feeling of total helplessness. From the sky above, the sound of planes captured my attention. I peered upwards and witnessed hundreds of paratroopers drop from planes above the outskirts of the city. They came down like raindrops of terror. It was then that a piece of debris found its way to me and pierced my vulnerable flesh, hitting me in the arm. That's when I got the message to run. I roared in agony as I ran through the chaos struck city with my blood stained clothes. I had to run until I knew it was safe. I was sure everyone else had that same thought in mind. I looked back at the carnage. I couldn’t help it. The horror had me locked in a trance. People were dying all around me, and whole buildings were consumed by flames. It finally dawned on me that I should be careful which way I was running, but it was too late. I was greeted by a paratrooper just about to touch down. I crashed into him and we both hit the ground. When my senses cleared, I saw that a gun was hanging on the bewildered soldier’s back. With fear of him getting it first, I grabbed for the weapon. He cursed at me in Russian and we rolled around exchanging punches. After a while the soldier became furious. It was as if he was embarrassed to know a mere civilian was matching an armed soldier. But I was fighting for my life! With rage he kicked me off. I flew and hit the hard street pavement. With a moan of pain I rolled and hit up against a car. When my dazed senses cleared, I noticed there was other civilian resistance. People were fighting. It felt good to know I wasn’t alone fighting an almost futile battle. 

For a brief moment I forgot about the soldier. That was my undoing. He gave me a left hook and I fell hard to the ground. The soldier then gave me a hard stern look as he held the gun in his hand. I was terrified and figured this was the end of the road for me. He cocked his weapon. He then took aim while giving me a mocking smile. I shut my eyes, not wanting to see the next event as it transpired. Then the sound of a gun shot consumed the space in my ears. Not ever being shot before, I waited for the pain of the bullet. I had no idea what to expect. I then realized I didn’t feel it. Confused, I opened my eyes to a bewildered face that belonged to the soldier. He lay dead just inches away from me. When the event finally processed in my brain, I turned my head the other way and saw an Allied soldier holding a smoking gun. I was too tired and shocked to get up. Behind him were many soldiers of the U.S. Army, by now in retaliation of this sudden and unprovoked attack by the Soviet army. I was relieved to see help had arrived. Many of the San Francisco police units lay dead. They had been the first to take up the fight with the Soviets, and our only line of defense till the army arrived and engaged what was now our enemies. Bullets and tanks roared past me. Soldiers nearly tripped as they jumped over me. A wandering bullet hit pavement close by. I dove behind a dumpster to protect myself. The battle had begun. Men of both civilian rank and fighting soldiers on both sides fell to the ground in this heated battleground.

The fighting raged on for several hours. By this time most of the civilians were either evacuated, or they died protecting themselves. Soviet tanks were released on shore by transports. The mere sight of the tanks was like getting shot in the heart. I realized then that the protection from the dumpster was useless now that tanks have arrived. I got out from behind it and ran away with the rest of the fleeing civilians. Up ahead I saw several helicopters land. At first I thought the helicopters belonged to the Soviets. Then I saw them being loaded with civilians. That was my chance. I ran toward them and boarded one of the helicopters already filled by several others fleeing the danger of the city. I climbed in and took a seat. Next to me was a man bleeding from the head. The other three people in the helicopter were not hurt. Although I am sure they were emotionally torn apart, just as I was. I peered out the window of the chopper and saw the battle before me. The helicopter took off and the view of the battlefield became further and further away. I left that place with great relief, I can tell you now. The helicopters took us to safety at a recently installed military base not far from San Francisco.

Now, three months later, the war between the Soviet Union and the United States of America carries on. I am an enlisted soldier in the U.S. Army, having joined the ranks of my fellow Americans soon after the attack on San Francisco. I'll never forget the unexpected onslaught that took the lives of over seven thousand civilians that fateful morning. It was a battle that the world had never seen before. It was fought in a highly populated city where people started out each day expecting their world to be normal, peaceful, and uneventful. But all that has changed now. Fortunately for me, I am now avenging San Francisco, by fighting the greatest threat the U.S.A. has ever known.

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