The Fall of Earth
Prologue
Washington DC
The sound of the phone ringing hammered in Henry Adams head as he struggled up to get it. What time was it even? He hadn't the faintest idea but he knew it was an hour he shouldn't be getting woken up at even if he was the President of the United States. He slowly picked up the receiver and held it to his ear.
"What is it?" he asked groggily.
"Mr. President, General Overbeck," answered the voice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"What is so important General that I need to be woken at this ungodly hour?" Adams demanded.
"Sir, we have a situation developing in New Mexico," the general answered.
"A situation General, what kind of situation?" asked Adams.
"Well sir, we've received a distress call from the Black Mesa Research Facility," he informed the President.
Black Mesa, Black Mesa Adams thought to himself. He couldn't seem to recall a Black Mesa anywhere.
As if reading his mind General Overbeck spoke up. "Black Mesa is our top R and D facility. They are working on teleportation technology and experimental weapons for the US army," he told the President.
"What's happening down there?" asked Adams.
"We don't know at this juncture sir. We haven't heard a peep from them and that's what worries me."
"Alright, assemble the staff, Situation room, twenty minutes, I'm on my way," ordered Adams.
"Right away Mr. President," replied the General before hanging up.
Twenty minutes later…
Adams barged into the room flanked by Secret Service and sat down at the head of the table while Secret Service shut the door behind them. Situated around him were the four chiefs of staff.
"Welcome Mr. President," said General Overbeck who was the representative of the Marine Corps.
"Now that we're all here we can begin in earnest," he said before turning his attention to the large plasma screen monitor at the head of the room. An image of a black plateau surrounded by a black circle flashed on the screen.
"This is Black Mesa, a major corporation that covers a wide range of research and applied science. They research a wide range of fields from radiation to rocketry to lasers, robotics, genetics, chemistry and theoretical physics. They have many government contracts for various projects such as the development of high-tech new weapons for our armed forces."
A second image flashed across the screen, it was a picture of a man with short, white hair and a white beard.
"This man is Doctor Wallace Breen; he is the current Administrator of the Black Mesa Research Facility. He knows about all the secret projects that Black Mesa has undertaken, he could give us some idea of how this all happened."
"What about this distress call you received? I wish to hear it to assess our logical next step," said General Bradley Sheffield, the representative of the US Army.
"Of course," replied Overbeck who proceeded to hit a button on the universal remote in his hand.
"Thi…this is Doctor Stanley Rosenberg. I am one of the senior scientists on Project X, we conducted an experiment and it went horribly wrong. We need help now; I repeat we need help now." The feed cut out a second later and Overbeck turned off the monitor.
"We need to act now, before the situation escalates," suggested Fleet Admiral Kevin Carmine, the chief of staff of the US Navy.
"Well what do you propose we do?" inquired Adams.
"Sir, I suggest that we send in a special marine unit that was trained for this sort of mission," proposed Overbeck.
"I started this unit myself to deal with situations like this. They are called the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit and their stationed at Santego, not far from the Black Mesa facility."
"Alright, do it if that's what it takes to keep this situation under control. I don't want this turning into a major international incident. If the media got hold of this and ran with it, which they obviously would, it could easily jeopardize my presidency. The public would lose faith in their own government and we would look like dumb hicks who can't control their own domestic problems on the international stage. It would simply be the most shameful embarrassment of American power since the War of Independence," Adams rubbed his forehead and leaned back in his chair.
"The worst part is that we still have no idea what's happening down there," commented Major General Maria Clements, the representative of the US Army Air Force.
One hour later…
"Mr. President, we have formulated a plan that we think you will approve," said General Overbeck. Adams leaned forward and placed his hands on the shiny oak table in front of him.
"Go on," he said.
"We have decided to send in the HECU to investigate what's going on. Once they arrive they will secure the surface with the full support of the Air Force. From there they will proceed into the complex and help the facility's personnel regain their footing. After that they will simply leave and no one will know that anything ever happened."
"Alright, I will back this plan. We need to increase our readiness level just in case this isn't as benign as you seem to think it is General," said Adams who then raised an eyebrow Overbeck's way.
"Yes sir, we are bringing our level to DEFCON 3," replied Overbeck.
Adams stood up from his chair and addressed the Joint Chiefs.
"You will need to be getting back to the Pentagon as you have lots to do. Not a word to anyone else, this conversation never, never leaves this room understood?"
"Yes Mr. President," replied the four officers.
Adams nodded then left the room with Secret Service close on his heels.
Santego Military Base, Arizona
"Rise and shine ladies, beauty sleep's over!" shouted private Mitchell Bennett's drill instructor as the lights flashed on and the crowded room was bathed in light from the fluorescent bulbs on the ceiling. In a matter of seconds each recruit was standing firmly at attention at the head of their cots.
"Alright maggots we have a special job to do today. I have been informed that we are to…" suddenly alarms began to sound and the intercom blared to life.
"This is General William Overbeck, attention all units stationed at the Santego Military Base we are now at DEFCON 3; all units mobilize for immediate deployment".
"You heard the General go, go, go!" yelled the drill instructor and all the men ran out of the barracks to get their equipment.