The Colonel was dead.
I was the highest ranking officer, so I took charge.
The Arvians and their Mother ship were decimating our team, our battleships were a blaze. I had time to rescue Lieutenant Ashley Whitton, my girlfriend. That decision cost the Colonel his life.

I stood by our flag and watched the battle before me, issuing commands to my troops, “Lasers to the Right, aim for the Mother ship.â€?
The Russians were retreating, their leader, General Uri Borisplovovich saw me and apologized, “Our troops, my comrade, they are out numbered, it is hopeless, we must leave Mars at once by order of the Prime Minister.â€?
So we were in this alone. The battle raged on for hours after the Russians left us. I radioed for backup. Admiral Starking, I learned, had been wounded in an attack on our base.
The Arvians were winning. All seemed hopeless.
“Captain Andrews, â€? someone yelled.
I turned and saw my old friend Faulkner Reynolds, now a Corporal. “Sir,â€? he said, “I bring good news from the front.â€?