The skyranger's engines quieted as we landed in the shadows of the sprawling wilderness, the night air cool and crisp. The ramp descended, revealing a landscape bathed in the ethereal glow of moonlight. A calm symphony of whispers could be heard in the otherwise dead night as the towering pines stood like silent sentinels, their branches moving in the soft breeze. The only thing separating us from the UFO is a lone deli shop beyond them.
I was the first to step onto the damp soil, the earthy scent of pine and damp leaves filling my nostrils. The ground beneath my boots was uneven, a mosaic of rocks, roots, and fallen foliage. I looked back, catching sight of my team silhouetted against the stark interior light of the Skyranger. One by one, they disembarked, their forms materializing from the darkness as they joined me.
"Strike-1, This is central. You are free to engage all hostiles in the AO. Don't take any chances"
"Hoorah. Alright team we pass through this shop, investigate the UFO and Go home. Quick and easy"
I moved first, taking up position on a sturdy brick wall that was home to welcoming glass panes for a closed business. I looked in the window and signaled for the team to approach. I break through the window rather carelessly and walk to the left of the cashier's table holding, listening for any movement, trigger at the ready.
The next person to move was "Titan." Despite his tank frame he entered the building with grace through the front door, moving to cover the right side door while I continued to survey the structure.
Bullseye and Medusa moved collective in formation. Medusa to the other end of the counter and Bullseye just ahead of me covering the double doors to the rear of the deli while I continued my search.
"Front is clear let's move to the back"
As we advanced, the haunting silence of the wilderness was punctuated by the distant howl of a lone wolf, a mournful lament to the still night. The quiet was unnerving, each rustle of leaves, each sound of crushed glass amplifying the tension that hung in the air.
"Steel your nerves, it's only a wolf"
"Only.." Medusa remarked
Bullseye responded, "We have Titan, what do we have to worry about?"
I let out a hearty chuckle. He was correct, but even with him, nerves are still nerves, so if doing this can help us relax, I'm all for it.
"All right all right focus up, prepare to breach the door. Bullseye you take point, Medusa your last man in.
"Roger"
We moved in formation, Bullseye taking the lead, his gaze focused and alert. His rifle was ready in his hands, a silent promise of protection. Titan followed, the heavy thud of his boots a steady rhythm in the otherwise silent night.
Bringing up the rear was Medusa, her blue eyes bright in the darkness. She was our lifeline, her medical kit slung over her shoulder a symbol of her vital role. She moved with a quiet grace, her gaze constantly scanning the area for potential threats.
As we passed through the rear door the alien ship was lying carelessly, partially buried in the ground, with its sharp edges piercing the sky. The alien craft loomed larger as we approached, its strange geometry a testament to its otherworldly origin. The air around it hummed with an odd vibration, a sense of energy that prickled the skin and raised the hairs on the back of my neck.
We halted at a fair distance away, our eyes taking in the scene before us. This was it. The first real encounter. The beginning of our fight.
With a signal to my team, we cautiously advanced, eyes scanning the treeline and the twisted wreckage for signs of movement.
Our formation was as fluid as it was practiced. Bullseye on point, his sniper rifle scanning for targets. Titan moved next to me, his heavy weapon poised and ready, with Medusa covering our rear.
"Good, a little closer and...."
Unexpectedly, a terrifying screech broke the stillness. The strange noise echoed off the woods and spread panic throughout our ranks. Shapes began to emerge from the ship's wrecked mouth. Figures that were unlike anything we had ever seen, with eyes that were blood-red and bodies that were blazing with an unsettling bioluminescent light.
"Get into cover!" I said through gritted teeth. "Engage on sight."
Here we go. There's no turning back now