This morning had been so calm, so peaceful.

I had no idea what kind of crisis would unfold.

"What going on over there?" asked my son Tanhì, who looked up from the field we were weeding. I turned my head over to the place he was referring to, and saw a large crowd of Mission Clansmen gathered around something at the entrance of the Mission's outer fence.

"Lets find out."

We reach the crowd, and leading Tanhì by the hand I push our way to the front. It is at this point that I see the cause of alarm, and understand the severity of the situation.

In front of us are more or less twenty seven Sky People warriors, and everything about their appearance told a story of desperation and flight; their uniforms are torn and stained to the point of being little more than bloody rags, their breaths were so ragged that one poor man had to pull his mask off for a moment to retch up his breakfast, and many of these survivors had wounds that were hastily mended with bandages.

I could see the fear in their faces, the panicked looks in the eyes of the younger ones and the bitterness in the eyes of the older ones.

No, this can't be happening! The Sky People are unstoppable, they couldn't have been defeated! They couldn't have!

But deep down in my heart, I know they were. Their looks say it all, and when Father Methidous and Corporal Christian arrive to assess the newcomers they confirm my dread suspicion.

"The blues and the beasts were working together, they overran us!" explained the apparent leader of these survivors. "It was a fucking massacre out there; they killed so many of us ..."

This caused nervous muttering from among the mission inhabitants gathered around: if The People were victorious in battle, then what could possibly stop them from coming for us?

Christian took control of the situation quickly, giving orders in a firm yet calm voice. "Ok, everybody follow me. We'll communicate with Hell's Gate and deal with things from there."

We waited in The Communication's Room in The Barracks, our despair mounting with each passing moment.

It started when Corporal Christian attempted to contact Hell's Gate. I distinctly remember who answered: it was a man named Parker Selfridge. Parker seemed to know Christian, calling him by name, but that was not enough to save us. The entirety of his message was to tell us that Hell's Gate has fallen to a mutiny of traitorous Sky People, and how our Mission would doubtlessly be targeted next.

It really is the end then ...

As we sat there wallowing in our hopelessness, Corporal Christian tried signalling any and every Sky People outpost he could. But it was all to no avail.

Outpost after outpost responded only with silence, clearly having already been overrun and massacred by The People. We were all filled with fear, and dealt with it differently.

Father Methodius and most others prayed, but the rest of us just sat down in shock. My son sat next to me and held my hand, the look in his beautiful brown eyes was crushing.

That is why I was afraid. I did not fear for my own life, but rather for that of my beloved son. He is the most precious person to me, and I know as soon as The People come to our home they will snuff his life out without hesitation.

Oh God, please protect my son. I don't care what happens to me, just please let my son survive ...

At that moment, almost in answer to my prayer, one of the outposts responded.

"Corporal Christian, this is Private Locke. We've received your distress signal."

The silence hung in the air, as every head turned towards Corporal Christian and the metal communication device he was speaking into. With shaking hand, Corporal Christian responded,

"Y-y-yes, this is Corporal Christian. I am signalling from The St. Thomas Mission."

"What seems to be the problem?"

"We need to retreat to a more secure location."

Seemingly oblivious to the situation, Private Locke reported on the security of his location. "I'm in command of Supply Depot 17 in Sector 16. There are only five of us, but the Depot was built into a cave system in the cliffs so we're pretty secure. Yep, once we close the metal gates there's nothing the Blues can do to get to us."

Everyone held their breaths, and for a moment the world stood still.

"Hello?"

This reminder shook Corporal Christian from his shock, and with urgency he answered. "Oh yes! Yes, I'm read you loud and clear. I'm heading over to your position with around 56 soldiers and 287 Native Allies."

With that, the communication was over.