"WARNING! Aliens sighting underground!"
"WARNING! Aliens sighting underground!"
"WARNING! Aliens sighting underground!"
The lights flickered in the conference room as Major Reynolds stood in front of Strikeforce XII. His face was stern, his eyes scanning the room. Dante shifted nervously in his seat, his stomach in knots.
"Alright, listen up," Major Reynolds began. "We've detected an alien underground beneath New York City. Deep underground. We've never seen anything like it. Your mission is simple: go in, eliminate any threats, and gather information on them."
Dante's heart pounded harder with every word. An alien underground? Already? His hands started to tingle, and he clenched them into fists, trying to keep his powers under control.
Sofia Volkov leaned forward, her voice low but firm. "How big is this underground?"
"We're not sure," Major Reynolds admitted, "but it's big enough to be a threat. Information suggests it's growing. Fast."
Dante swallowed hard. What if I mess this up?
He glanced at Kara, who sat beside him, her eyes focused on the screen displaying the underground 's location. She looked so calm, so ready. But he was not.
Kara leaned over, whispering, "You'll be fine. Just follow the plan."
Dante forced a nod but didn't feel any better. His fingers twitched with nervous energy, a spark of electricity briefly flashing between them. He quickly hid his hands under the table, hoping no one noticed.
Akiro Nakamura spoke up from across the room. "And what about civilians? What's the status down there?"
Reynolds nodded. "Most of the area's been evacuated, but there could still be stragglers. Keep your eyes open. We don't need any unnecessary casualties."
"Great," Liam O'Connor muttered, crossing his arms. "So we're walking into an alien hive, in the middle of the city, with potential civilians. No pressure."
Isaac Evans, the team's strategist, leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. "We'll need to split into two teams. One for team will watch out for the civilians, one for the aliens."
"That's the plan," Major Reynolds confirmed. "Isaac, you'll lead the civilian team. Akiro, you take the combat unit."
Dante's stomach churned. Combat? Extraction? Where do I even fit into this? He wanted to ask, but his throat felt tight. Everyone seemed so confident, so sure of themselves. I can't be the one to screw this up.
Isaac glanced at the team, his voice calm as always. "Rajesh and Elena, you're with me. Amir, you'll handle drone support. Dante, you're with Akiro's team."
Dante's heart sank. With Akiro? In combat? He glanced at Akiro, who was sharpening his sword without a hint of emotion. The man was intense and focused. Dante didn't want to disappoint him or anybody.
Akiro's eyes met Dante's, and for a second, Dante thought he saw doubt. "Stay close," Akiro said in a flat tone. "Don't do anything reckless."
Kara gave Dante a small smile. "You'll be fine."
Sofia stood up, her arms crossed. "So, when do we move out?"
Reynolds looked at the clock on the wall. "Wheels up in one hour. Gear up, be ready for anything."
The room began to stir as the team rose to prepare. Dante stayed seated for a moment, staring at the map of New York City glowing on the screen. An alien underground. Real combat. What if I can't control my powers? What if I freeze up?
Kara nudged him with her elbow. "You need to get ready. Everybody here is as nervous as you are really. You just need to believe in yourself and try your best."
He forced a weak smile. "Yeah, easier said than done."
Kara's smile faded slightly, her eyes serious. "I guess you are right, but just try."
Dante nodded, though still hundred percent nervous, She believes in me, but I don't know if I believe in myself.
As they walked out of the conference room, Isaac caught up with them. "Dante, you're good, right? You've got control now?"
Dante hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I... I'm trying."
Isaac nodded, though his eyes were cautious. "Just stick to Akiro's side. We don't need any surprises out there."
Dante winced but nodded. He can't afford any mistakes.
An hour later, the team gathered at the airstrip. The massive plane loomed before them, its engines humming. Everyone was geared up, their faces a mix of determination and unease. Dante felt the weight of his gear pressing down on him, but it was nothing compared to the anxiety twisting in his gut.
Sofia checked her weapons, her expression unreadable. "First mission. Feels like it's been a long time coming."
"Too long," Amir muttered, adjusting the controls on one of his drones. "Let's hope it goes smoothly."
Dante stood off to the side, watching them all. They're all so calm. Why can't I be like that? His hands tingled again, and he shoved them into his pockets, trying to stop the feeling.
Akiro approached, his sword strapped to his back. He didn't say anything at first, just studied Dante for a moment. "You ready?"
Dante swallowed. "I... I think so."
Akiro's eyes narrowed slightly. "This isn't a game. You need to be sure. Out there, hesitation gets people killed."
"I know," Dante replied quickly, his voice cracked.
"Good," Akiro said, though there was a hint of doubt in his tone. They were still weary of him. All 11 members were professionals, but him, just a nerd.
Kara joined them, offering Dante a reassuring nod. "You've got this. Remember, stick to the plan."
Dante forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. The plan. Right.
***
Inside the plane, the atmosphere was tense. The hum of the engines filled the silence as the team strapped in. Dante sat across from Kara, his hands clenched into fists on his lap.
Isaac stood at the front of the cabin, his voice steady. "Alright, listen up. Once we landed, we fight and look out for any civilians close to the underground, and we gather information. Our goal is to get everything done on time, iin and out, no unnecessary risks."
Sofia checked her rifle, her face grim. "And if the underground is bigger than we think?"
"Then we improvise," Isaac replied, though his tone didn't suggest confidence. "But we stick to the objective. Eliminate the threat, gather information, and get out."
Dante's heart pounded. Improvise? What is that? Like run away? His chest felt like it was going to explode. He surely didn't belong here.
Akiro stood up, his voice cutting through the tension. "Remember your training. Stick together. Watch each other's backs."
Sofia grunted. "Yeah, because that'll be easy when we're crawling through an alien-infested sewer."
Liam chuckled, though it sounded forced. "Just another day at the office, right?"
The tension in the cabin was strong, yet day all laughed, except Dante.
They all knew what was waiting for them down there, and no one wanted to be the first to admit they were scared.
The plane jerked as it began to descend. Isaac's voice could be heard over the intercom. "Alright, team. This is it. Get ready."
Dante's heart raced as he looked out the window, the city lights of New York flickering below. They were about to drop into an alien underground , and all he could think about was how badly this could go wrong.
The cabin fell silent as the team prepared. Akiro tightened the straps on his gear, his face a mask of focus. Sofia loaded her rifle, her movements were precise. Kara gave Dante one last reassuring nod, but her nerves were starting to show.
Dante took a deep breath, his hands trembling.
The plane shuddered as it touched down, and the doors opened. The night air rushed in, cold and sharp.
Isaac stood at the door, his eyes scanning the darkness. "Mission 12: First Mission. Let's move soldiers."
With that, they stepped into the unknown.