CHAPTER ONE: "Sounds in the Fog"

03:27 HOURS 15-MAY-2527 (MILITARY CALENDAR)
ALPHA COMPANY ENROUTE TO DROP ZONE

Making a jump was always exhilarating but getting there was a bummer. This was the thought that most Marines had, especially on some of the current missions. The Innies were getting better at their attacks and their aim was improving, particularly in the art of shooting birds out of the sky. There was silence onboard the aircraft as everyone was holding their breaths not to be shot down.

"We will be at the jump zone in three minutes." The pelican pilot said over the marines' helmet speakers, "There is a bit of cloud cover that should give us time to surprise the Innies and get you all to the ground."

"Ok, listen up Marines!" Captain Bergruf yelled over the engines, "This is supposed to be an easy jump and secure mission. We are to jump to the outskirts of the town and meet Beta Company at the rally point at 04:30 hours. Then we are to go secure underground bunker and be out of here by breakfast. Got it marines!" "Sir, yes sir!" everyone shouted back.

"Here we are marines. Good luck!" the pilot said. Then the hatched opened into the cool morning air.

Corporal Tim Jansen was the first to jump. The breeze was cool and refreshing on his tan face. The pilot was right, there was quite a bit of cloud cover and some fog on the ground. After what seemed forever Jansen hit the ground, landing next to him was Sergeant Dean Shan. "Well this fog is going to give us a bit of a hard time, Jansen" the Sergeant said as he approached Jansen.

"Yeah, I can't see more than probably a meter ahead." He replied. "Where to first, Sergeant?"

"Well we should head to the tree line before town and pick up anyone before we enter town." Jansen looked at his HUD to try to get his bearings. They were half a kilometer to the south of the tree line.

On their way to the tree line they ran into two Privates. At the tree line the Captain was there with a Staff Sergeant and another Corporal. "Ok, everyone present?" The Captain asked, "Good, ok time to move in. Jed, you and Spiers take to the left. Head up to the west ally and follow that road in. Shan, you 

take Jansen and Roberts and head up the main road. I'll take Gin and we'll head up the east road. Everyone got it?" "Oh-Rah!" They all replied.

04:10 HOURS 15-MAY-2527 (MILITARY CALENDAR)
ALPHA COMPANY--

"Why is it that we are always the ones to walk in the middle and out in the open where it's obvious?" Private Roberts complained. "Roberts did have a point." Jansen thought to himself, "Almost every mission he has been on he and his group have been front and center."

"Maybe they just don't like you Roberts, ever think of that." Shan said with sarcasm, "Now be quite so it's not so obvious."

"Status" Jansen heard over his COM. "Clear Sir" The Shan replied "Good, no COM from this point." The Captain said "Roger Sir"

"Yeah, it is pretty empty isn't it Sergeant." Jansen said "I know it's early but I don't think I've ever seen any place so empty. The Innies must know we're here." Shan replied. "Shh…did you guys hear that?" Roberts whispered stopping. "What, hear what?" Shan said also stopping. "Nothing must have been the wind." Roberts answered.

But to Roberts it didn't sound like the wind. It sounded a little bit like laughing. Not the usual giggle though, kind of alien, more like a Wort, wort, wort. They continued walking down the street. The wind blew, shifting the fog slightly. Roberts again heard the eerie laugh. Then just in front of the Sergeant and the Corporal there was a blur in the fog. Roberts shook his head. "It's just fog." Roberts thought to himself, "Nothing else." Suddenly he felt warm, like he walked into a hot summer's day. It made no sense, it was cold out. "Wort, wort, wort." "Dam there's that noise again!" Roberts yelled out loud. "What noise!" the Corporal yelled back. Suddenly the warm got searing hot. Roberts looked down to see a reddened shape protruding from his gut. Roberts screamed s loud as he could, falling to the ground clutching his belly. He could smell the burning flesh as everything faded to darkness.