A/N: Yay! Chapter 3 is finally up! Enjoy! I'll be able to post more often for a month.

3: Artefacts 101

1745 SET, 2 July 2111. USSN Into the Night's Hangar Bay. Near previously undocumented type of asteroid, outer Oort cloud, Sol.

"Alright men, listen up!" Sgt. Johnson's voice boomed as if he were addressing 1000 assembled the troops in the bay, but the grand total was actually 9, excluding Johnson and Matthews, the latter giving the go-ahead to continue.

"We are here to investigate this weird type of asteroid that, according to Mr. Scientist Guy, shouldn't be here. Well I personally think we should just blast the goddamn thing to whatever kingdom-that-may-be, but the El-Tee thinks we should LAND there and INVESTIGATE this shit instead!"

Matthews winced as the Sarge's mention of blowing the potential scientific find of the millennium drew a round of applause from the crew.

"I agree, but if we show up on Mars with him as prisoner—or without him at all—we'd be in for big shit. So J. Brothers, suit up and haul ass to the airlock. Cpl. Jake Ponder, you're our mule this time, so get the Lieutenant's crap and follow him like Mary's lamb. Much as I hate it, he's coming along and I'm on bodyguard duty," Johnson bellowed and was promptly obeyed.

Matthews stormed up to the Sarge, who was wearing the biggest, smuggest smile in the history of mankind. That was, until then. Matthews brought his palm back and slapped Johnson so hard that he spun 180 degrees from the sheer force of the impact.

"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY JOHNSON?"

1800 SET. Surface of previously undocumented type of asteroid (designated Gamma-4256B), outer Oort cloud, Sol. Near the USSN Into the Night.

The five men touched down on the nearly kilometre wide lump of rock and powered down their nitrogen thruster packs. Their landing spot was specially chosen to be near the spot containing the mysterious source of heat. None of the landing party knew that however; only Johnson and Matthews did.

"Cormac, take point, set an example for your raw brother," Lt. Matthews' voice crackled through their comms. as they approached their target.

"Aye, sir," Corporal Cormac Jenkins of Alpha-3 responded as he moved forward. He stressed on the venom-laced sir.

Translation:"The only reasons I'm doing this are that there're no hostiles on this damn rock and I'll get court-martialled if I punch your piss-ass face until the visor cracks."

"Good boy, Cor. Now El-tee, I seem to recall you saying something about—OW—FUCKING HURTS THROUGH THIS SHITTY EXCUSE FOR AN ARMOURED VACSUIT!" Sgt. Johnson ended up screaming obscenities and doing ten-foot jumps around the spot where he certainly kicked the wrong thing—for ten full minutes. In the end, the inside of his visor was covered with spittle and he was panting like a mad dog.

Everyone—minus Johnson, who sat red-faced on the dusty ground rubbing his armoured foot—gathered around the strange bump in the surface of the ground. Matthews grabbed a weird gadget that looked like a sniper-optics/datapad hybrid and pressed a few buttons. He nodded satisfactorily and stowed the gadget.

"Gentlemen and lady, we have what we came for."

A/N: Well there we are. Chapter 3. We can all guess who Lt. Matthews is referring to when he said lady, right guys? (psst... it's Johnson)

Anyways I'll be popping by the Army Open House tomorrow. There'll be gunz. BOOYEAH BITCH!

Q282_