It was 8 am; there was no light or sound in the room apart from the ticking of the clock and the light breathing of the young man who was sleeping in the bed. The young man was approximately 21; his hair was a light orange color, his eyes once a dark brown had lightened to a yellowy brown, his body though scrawny was quite muscular.
"Knock, knock, knock."
His eyes opened instantly. "Yeah?"
"Sir." Said the man outside the door. "They want you in the command center sir."
"Okay I'll be out in just a minute."
He rolled out of the bed and flicked the light switch by the door; the harsh florescent light came on immediately. The room contained two overhead florescent lights, his bunk, a large chest for his clothing and equipment, a side table with a clock on it and in the corner a sink where he could wash up. He quickly grabbed his uniform from the chest and walked over to the mirror, putting it on he could see it reflected in the mirror. Upon the right breast of his jacket was the S.R.P.A insignia; on his right shoulder was a red cross in a white circle (symbol of the medical core), and on his left shoulder was ∑ and his ranking bars, he is a captain.
Five minutes later he was on his way to the command center, walking briskly through the barracks and medical bay. Though it is only 8 in the morning there are lots of people moving about the dirty metal corridor, in the barracks soldiers were already lined up in the mess hall for breakfast. As he passed he could smell the delicious aroma of fried eggs and sausage, he lingered a moment to enjoy the smell. He continued on past one of the main barracks where 20-30 of the soldiers slept, and past the latrines where even now the men were probably showering and getting ready for the days duties.
Finally after many twists and turns he came to the medical bay, where the sick and injured were taken care of. Here the corridors were very clean (so much so that the walls were nearly white) and metallic, all the medical staff wore excessively clean white clothing. He hated coming into the medical bay but it was the fastest way to the command center. On his way down the halls he passed a couple of nurses who were helping an injured man to his room, his face and left arm were badly burnt.
"Hello captain." called the two nurses as he passed.
He didn't reply, he never did. As he made his way along the corridor he passed several recuperating rooms where people were resting and being administered medical treatment. A couple of doctors were conversing in the hall and as he passed he overheard what they were saying.
"Did you hear? They found Hale!" whispered one of the doctors to the other.
"Seriously?" replied the other in surprise.
After several more twists and turns he made it to the command center, men and women were traveling back and forth between machines relaying messages and plotting information. In the center of the room sat two tables, each was 15ft by 20ft. on one was a huge map of the united states and on the other was a map of the world. Around both these tables stood a dozen women placing and moving colored pins, which represented chimeran and human movements. At the far end of the table with the world map on it stood a tall man, his face hardened from years of fighting, his dirty blonde hair greased back under a cap, his uniform pressed and clear of any stray hair or lint. As the captain walked in the man looked up and waved him over.
"Hello, general Browne sir!" saluted the captain.
"At ease captain Paul." Nodded Browne.
"Thank you sir." Paul looked at the map. "What's going on sir?"
"If you are referring to why you are here." Browne took a deep breath and letting it out looked down at the map. "Were sending you home or to what's left of it."
"I don't understand sir, what do you mean?"
"Look here." Said Browne, pointing to a cluster of red pins in the middle of the Canadian prairies. "We believe that they may be attempting to excavate another tower in this location, and we want sigma squad to investigate."
One of the women walks over to the table, adds another red pin to the cluster, and quickly walks away.
"With your squads skill and your background knowledge of the area, yours is the best team for this mission." Stated Browne, placing a hand on the captains' shoulder.
"Okay sir." Agreed Paul with a nod. "What are the mission details?"
"Glad you asked." Smiled Browne. "Sigma squad will be flown into this area here…" Stated brown indicating an area in the center of Canada between Alberta and Saskatchewan. "By VTOL, you will then travel by foot to the site, and begin your reconnaissance."
"And if they are excavating a tower?" Paul asked without looking away from the map.
"If they are excavating a tower you are to sabotage it in any way you can, and call for reinforcements."
"Understood sir, but I will require more men for a mission like this." Said Paul
"Alright you can have any three men from the corps that you would like." Said Browne handing him a folder. "Have your equipment ready and be at the hanger by ten hundred hours tomorrow morning."
Captain Paul saluted the general, and walked away with the folder in hand. He would look over the files, choose his three men, brief the squad, get his equipment ready, and take a shower. But first lunch, it was nearly noon now