Wheelchair Wars: Luke’s Story Section E Part 7

Muddy battlefield with abandoned World War I weapons, helmets, and a tattered flag.

Their dead bodies had almost reached the ceiling. Still, they continued onwards, slithering through the gaps. Luke tried to put the thought of the guns jamming again out of his mind.

A few minutes later, Lisa shouted out, “Stop firing!”

Luke took in a deep breath. Then rhey listened. There was no sound.

The attack is over.

“They sat.”

“What now?” Lisa asked.

“I spoke to Timothy before the battle. Due to the use of nuclear weapons, he will be leaving the planet whatever the result of the battle. There is a tracker on his, and myself and John are to meet him at a rendezvous point, when he leaves the command center. I’d love for you to join us.”

War of the Worlds: A Stellar Sci-Fi Series Review

Large alien spacecraft firing energy beams over a city with buildings engulfed in flames and smoke

My dear readers, it has been some time since I last did a review. I’ve been working away on Wheelchair Wars, which I hope to finish this year.

In the meantime, I recently started streaming War of the Worlds. (TV Series). It stands tall as a smart, haunting, and emotionally resonant reimagining of H.G. Wells’ classic. This multi-season international co-production (originally airing on Canal+ in Europe and Epix in the US) shifts the action to contemporary Europe and delivers a slow-burn apocalypse that prioritizes human drama, mystery, and creeping dread over nonstop action. Anchored by a stellar cast led by Gabriel Byrne, it’s a compelling genre series.

Gabriel Byrne, in a stellar performance, brings gravitas and weary intensity to Bill Ward, a brilliant but flawed astrophysicist/neuroscientist whose personal demons and scientific curiosity drive much of the narrative. His grouchy, world-weary performance grounds the chaos, making Bill a relatable everyman hero who’s equal parts determined and haunted. Byrne’s chemistry with the ensemble elevates every scene.

What sets this War of the Worlds apart is its eerie, understated tone. The invasion begins not with fireworks but with a mysterious signal from space, building anticipation before unleashing silent, efficient horror. Alien “Mechanicals” (killer machines) and ships create a sense of overwhelming technological superiority without constant spectacle. The quiet desolation of emptied cities, abandoned streets, and pockets of desperate survivors is palpably unsettling—think The Walking Dead meets thoughtful hard sci-fi.

The production values are top-tier across its three seasons. Pan-European filming locations give it a grounded, international scope that feels authentic. The visual effects are impressive yet restrained, emphasizing scale and otherworldliness. A haunting soundtrack amplifies the tension, blending electronic dread with moments of fragile hope.

This isn’t a straightforward retelling—it’s a loose, modern adaptation that explores colonialism, human nature under pressure, survival ethics, and even time travel in later seasons. The mystery of the invaders’ motives unfolds gradually, keeping viewers hooked with revelations that tie into bigger philosophical questions. Season arcs build cleverly: Season 1 focuses on the immediate aftermath and survival; later seasons expand into resistance, conspiracy, and high-stakes temporal elements that pay off in satisfying (if bold) ways.

Gabriel Byrne’s commanding presence makes this series essential viewing. If you crave intelligent sci-fi with heart, mystery, and emotional depth— then this is for you.

Five stars out of five from me.

Wheelchair Wars: Luke’s Story Section E Part 6

Soldiers taking cover behind sandbags during intense battle explosions with fire and smoke

They hurried behind the sandpacks and readied their weapons. The thunderous noise made it apparent in what direction they were coming. Still, he told John to keep an eye on the rear. In an urban warzone like this, you need to think three-dimensionally.

This time, there was no subtlety to their assault. It was full frontal and continuous.

The plan worked perfectly. They went into the line of fire. Each one cut down, one after the other.

Luke’s machine grew hot. It needed to cool. Then it stopped. From his training, before becoming a Trooper, he knew that it would take at least thirty seconds. John’s gun fell quite. The heavy machine gun kept firing, but now the horde grew close.

John and Luke took the grenades they had in their pockets and threw them into the oncoming mass.

The explosions rocked them from their feet. All except for Lisa, who kept the heavy gun firing at its targets.

What a woman.

The rest get back to their feet. The grenades had the desired effect, pushing them back.

Luke felt his machine gun. It felt more temperate now. He once more opened fire, with John following suit. The Alachins were struggling now to climb over their dead.

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section E Part 5

Desolate battlefield with fallen robotic warriors, smoke, and fires under a darkening sky with two moons.

Lisa turned to her dead friend.  “We did it, Yvonne.”

The stench of dead Alachin bodies filled the air. Luke tried to wipe some green blood from his arm. “We should clear the bodies away from the fortification and instead put them to the sides to ensure we have a clear line of fire. A perfect kill zone”

John set to work. “Good thinking, Luke. It won’t be long till more arrive.” The others joined in.

“So, how is the overall battle going?” Lisa asked as she pulled an Alachin carcass by its legs.

“It’s very difficult to tell but I thought we were getting the upper hand. The nukes did a lot of damage.”

Lisa dropped the legs and faced him. “I thought the nukes were not to be used.”

John smirked. “That’s true, but Timothy ignored them.”

“The planet will be desolate,” Lisa replied.

“I think Timothy’s thoughts are they fixed it once, they can do it again,” Luke added.

She picked up the legs again. “He’s not going to be too popular afterwards, even if they win.”

Nobody argued with her.

For the next thirty minutes, they toiled away, sweat dripping from their brows.

Then the floor rumbled. Luke shouted out, “Take your positions!”

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section E Part 4

Insectoid robotic aliens running through a futuristic spaceship corridor with sparks and damage

Lisa lifted up Yvonne’s blood-soaked head and cried. John’s eyes welled up. Luke’s hands covered his face.

She didn’t deserve this.

An Alachin shriek brought Luke back to the present. It was standing on the bodies of its fallen brethren, a large monster even by Alachin standards. More appeared behind it.

Lisa put Yvonne’s head back down and turned to face the enemy, her facial muscles tensed. “We must not let them pass, if they reach the fusion reactor they could jeopardize the orbital defense. Yvonne died defending it, her death will not be in vain.”

Nobody argued with her.

The Alachin charged as the machine guns opened up. Bullets ripped through its torso, still it propelled forwards.

Luke stopped firing and aimed in between its eyes, before opening up again

The creature crashed to the floor.

Smaller ones sprinted over its body. They were close. An Alachin lurched forwards, grabbing the feet of one of the Troopers, pulling her away, screaming.

Luke heart throbbed as he continued to fire. There could be no retreat, as they would be cut to pieces once they turned to run.

He exhaled as the last one fell.

An eerie silence.

What next?

“Where are the rest?” John whispered.

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section E Part 3

Shadowy monstrous figure with multiple limbs breaking through debris in a dark hallway covered in graffiti

They ran down one corridor, then another hurtling towards the action, before coming to an abrupt halt. An Alachin in a crouched position lay between them and the Troopers. It hadn’t noticed them, focused on the fortified position in front of them.

Luke nodded at John, taking a few steps to the left to put some distance between them. They lifted up their machine guns and opened fire, splaying green blood onto the floor,

The creature flayed back and forth, then turned to the direction of fire. Its feet trembled, then buckled and collapsed.

Adrenaline flowed through their bodies. They walked past the carcass.

Luke raised his hands. “Lisa, Yvonne are you there?”

Lisa’s voice echoed back. “Yes, we’re here. Come quickly!”

John and Luke looked at each other, then broke into a run.

They climbed over dead bodies and other obstacles into beside the heavy machine gun. Yvonne lay on the ground, blood gurgling from her mouth. Lisa, her eyes closed, held her hand.

“What happened?” John asked in a hushed tone.

“There were so many of them.” Lisa sobbed.

Luke placed his hand on Lisa’s shoulder. Three other shell shocked female Troopers were also present.

Yvonne coughed, then spluttered before falling quiet.

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section E Part 2

Two tactical officers in black gear with rifles moving through a rusty industrial corridor with pipes and control panels.

They sneaked out when everyone in the room was focused on a megaton nuclear strike. Luke had to fight a strong urge to wait and see its effectiveness.

Outside, the sound of screams and machine gun fire echoed through the narrow corridor. They rushed forwards.

Every second matters.

The reached the militia position that Luke had passed earlier. Slain soldiers were drooped over the machine gun. Luke held his breath as an Alachin passed in front of him, oblivious to his existence.

When he was sure it was safe, they continued over to the lifts, banging the button and willing it to open. With a customary beep, one of the lift doors opened and they rushed in now willing the door to close.

“What layer are they on?” Luke whispeted.

“45,” John replied as he rested against the lift interior.

Luke entered their destination on the keypad.

They prepared their guns to fire. The lift doors opened to utter devastation. Bodies of humans and Alachins strewn across the floors.

“Hear that?” John asked as they stepped over the closest of bodies.

“What?” Luke stopped and looked at him.

He smiled. “It’s the sound of gunfire. Those women are not finished yet, I tell ya!”

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section E Part 1

Crew observing holographic galaxy map in spaceship control room

The floor shook as Luke watched the holographic display.  Fighting across the planet was intense. Most of the time though, he concentrated on viewing positions in and around the huge city he was in.

The Alachins had breached the outer two defensive lines leading to some of their forces reaching the soft underbelly of the metropolis, huge residential areas where humans were forced to fight with their hands, feet and teeth. A spectacle too gruesome to watch, he had to flick through them.

“Stop!” John exclaimed. It was an image of five active Troopers shooting a heavy machine gun down a corridor against an oncoming horde of Alachins who were forced to climb over their dead. Three Troopers lay motionless on the ground, a red pool between them,

“What?” Luke asked, his eyebrows raised.

“That is where Yvonne and Lisa are located.”

Luke zoomed out of the location. “They are holding the position for now. They are at a junction of corridors. Another Alachin horde will attack from this corridor shortly overwhelming them.” He pointed to one of the side corridors.

John looked at him. “We must do something. They would for us.”

“Come on, lets go.” Luke said with resolve.

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section D Part 6

A soldier in a green jacket crouching behind sandbags and debris in a war-torn urban area with ruined buildings and smoke in the background

One of the last lines of defense.

Luke hurried to the other side of the hall and down a small tunnel before he reached a metallic door that swung open after the security device scanned his retina.

A cacophony of sound. The centre was buzzing with people running back and forth. He saw John, who appeared to be admonishing those around him, and made his way over to the squadron.

There was only one question on his mind. “Where is Timothy?”

John was shaking. “It’s okay, he should be here shortly.”

“What’s wrong, John?”

“They are coming again, Luke. I just can’t. We’re all going to die.”

“You’ll be fine. I have a drop of whiskey hidden away at the back. It will do you some good.”

John nodded in agreement as Luke led him to the back of the cavernous room and took out.a bottle of whiskey from behind a workstation. “I knew it would come in handy at some point.”

Wheelchair Wars Luke’s Story Section D Part 5

People standing on escalator in London Underground station heading to Piccadilly line platforms

They put their clothes back on in a frenzy, knowing that every second could prove critical.

“I have to go back to my apartment and get something. I hope to see you after the battle.” She kissed him on the lips and walked out the door.

Please survive.

Luke looked at himself in a mirror and waved some of his hair over to the left.

That will have to do. I have to get to Timothy in the command centre.

He rushes out of the room and keeps a jogging pace as he makes his way to one of the main thoroughfares.

The men and women he passed were wearing a kaleidoscope of colors, denoting the various militia and citizen defense networks to which they belonged. All were frantic, some fidgeting with their weapon. No sign of any children or people going about their daily business.

Luke got into a crammed escalator. It took a few minutes to reach the layer of the command centre. Sweat dripped from his brow.

He stepped out into a large hallway. A militia was mounting a heavy machine gun at its centre. These soldiers, all kitted out in heavy armor, were smiling and laughing. Luke recognized them as part of the elite Central Defense Unit.