"My Captain is pizzed ad me because I help plan op-ration, not him, an didn't tell him, I was ordered not to, an didn't tell him anyway. So he gib me bick present, but I already haf one, iv you know whad I mean. I haf bad feel-ling 'bout dis mission."- Lieutenant Olga Kasparova, platoon leader Russian detachment of Echo Company, Colonial Rangers, New Hope Colony, Russian Republic"They want us to fly the Southport mission in bad weather but that means we'll probably get tossed around like a fishing boat in a hurricane only a bit higher up. Those guys back there better have their airsick bags ready. The last think I need is a whole platoon of Rangers puking all over my aircraft!"- Lieutenant Erin Quinn, recon shuttle pilot, mission lead pilot, Colonial Rangers, New Hope Colony, USJacks Company is regrouping from their battle with the aliens. Clearing up debris and dead alien bodies is a top priority. A broadcast from New Hope Town tells them about the battle for Winter Haven.

Soon after they get their first personal mail messages from their families who have no idea what they've been through or if they are even alive.General Jamison and Naomi MacCaffrey talk to a gathering of the families and friends of the missing students and staff members who were on the transport Cairo when it was attacked by the aliens on the first day of the invasion. The conclusion they had come to when it became clear that the alien force that had been wiped out at Castillo had already been badly damaged by someone. Every unit was accounted for and no one reported contact with the aliens before the brief fight at Castillo. That left only one possible answer, that Commander Cassidy and Gunnery Sergeant Pickford had trained the missing students and teachers to fight and that they had indeed fought and almost certainly badly beaten the aliens before what was left of their force went on to be annihilated soon after when they attacked the settlement. Naomi MacCaffrey and her 'Hot Tub Brain Trust' propose a new operation to General Jamison. This raid would be on the explosives bunkers and holding yard at the Southport landing field where there is a store of badly needed explosives and ammunition. The fall rains begin and the adverse weather provides an opportunity to expand the original mission to include an attack on any alien ships moored at Southport.

The Russian commander of Echo Company, Captain Boris Akulov, lobbies for his detachment of Russians to lead the raid and with the backing of the Russian government's representative he persuades the General to approve his request. This worries Lieutenant Olga Kasparova, one of his platoon leaders, who was one of the women living in Cassidy's residence who came up with the idea for the operation. The captain wants to prove that his Russians who have yet to face the aliens in battle are as good as any other detachment that has seen action against the alien invaders.Before the Southport mission can go forward two recon shuttles go in under the cover of a storm. They find over 30 aliens' ships moored at the marina. It will be the Swedish detachment that will carry out the attack on the alien ships while the Russians handle the holding yard at the landing field and the explosives bunkers nearby. The 1st night of the raid went off without any big problems and the explosives they need for the attack on the alien ships were right where they hoped they would be. On the 2nd night the Swedes launch boat teams to plant explosives on the alien ships while the Russians return to the holding yard to recover more badly needed material.

They find that an alien airship had arrived since the previous night. Akulov orders part of the team to destroy it. While they head off to carry out his order he takes 2 platoons into the terminal building to recover some equipment from there. They awaken a hornet's nest when they find the terminal is full of the giant aliens. The result is a disaster for the Russian detachment.