This whole operation angered Hicks – it angered him tremendously because it was downright crazy! As if the objective to collect alien specimens wasn't bad enough; they were about to go down there practically without weapons, which was sheer lunacy! Granted, they wouldn't be completely defenseless - military protocols required them to always go down in full combat gear and that included weapons as it was standard procedure. But since this was nothing but a retrieval mission, Colonel Decker called the decision for every soldier to embark with a minimum amount of ammunition as possible. He made it clear that the mission objective exceeded all other priorities and since the probability was that they would encounter no resistance what so ever, weapons were superfluous. They were each allowed to bring their weapon of choice with one loaded clip each, but no more. The protests were loud, but short – and in the end futile. Decker's word was final. Hicks made sure to at least pack a small gun besides a pulse rifle. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Personal preparation with combat gear was something Hicks was more than used to as he had plenty of practice in his days with Sgt. Apone's unit and for him it was a fortunate circumstance. If he was to earn any kind of respect from the 'Rawhides', he had to make sure that he didn't show any weakness nor do something that would make him look like a fool in front of them. He didn't require any help from somebody else and that was good because he didn't want it. Once he finished snapping together his armor, he threw a quick check on the other troopers and their preparations. At first look, he couldn't tell any of the others apart. While Sgt. Apone had let the members of his unit decorate their outfits the way they liked, Colonel Decker would not allow such thing. The C.O. wanted everyone and everything to look the same for maximum military efficiency - any deviation could cause confusion out in the battlefield. Private Dagger was of course the one who finished last; his drugged behavior making him a slow dresser. Hicks wondered just how Colonel Decker saw him as an efficient asset. Any other combat unit would throw him out without honors.

Usually the troopers were ready for action after suiting up, but this mission demanded another precaution. Planet LV-426, also known as Acheron, was today in the beginning of a nuclear winter. The thermonuclear explosion of the atmosphere processing station had poisoned everything with both Gamma- and Ionizing radiation that had made the planet completely inhospitable - therefore they needed to put on a complete hazmat-protective suit against radiation over their armors as well. Once he finished dressing up, Hicks didn't go over to help any of his Rawhide-neighbors - instead he went over to Newt to give her a hand with the special-designed hazmat-protective suit that she had borrowed from Fixer. No other costume would fit her. The only one who didn't need any protective gear was Bishop: the thermo-armor he had been rebuilt inside was designed to withstand hazardous areas.

"Stick close to either Bishop or me at all time, honey," Hicks gently told the child as he helped her seal her suit. "Don't wander off anywhere without letting us know."

"Aye-firmative," the young girl acknowledged lowly, repeating it the way she had once heard Hudson say it. She even gave a little salute. Hicks knew that it was an attempt from her side to keep up a façade of bravery, but there was no doubt in his mind that she was extremely nervous considering where they were going. He gave her a smile anyway.

Soon all of them were wearing their protective suits, only the heads had been left bare. They would fold up the hoods once they reached the surface of Acheron.

"Ten-hut!" Hurst suddenly burst out. Everybody got in line and the drill sergeant looked them all over. "Bah, what a sad bunch of dirt-bags, and you call yourself marines? My grandmother looked sturdier than you lot! Well, since we got nothing else: MOVE OUT! Into the APC! Move it. Move it. Move it." Everybody rushed to the six-wheeled armored war-wagon. "C'MON!" Hurst barked. "Get your sorry asses in there!"

Newt recognized the design of the APC as she followed them inside. It was the same kind of vehicle Hicks's team had arrived with the first time. The difference was that instead of being painted military green, it was military gray all over. It was the same with the dropship that stood prepared for them; it was painted in the same gray color. Once inside, she saw Hicks pat his hand on the seat next to him, signaling her to sit there. He then buckled her firmly into place with the fold-down security-cage.

"This is going to be a tough ride, kid. But don't worry; just pretend that you're on an amusement park."

"I can't. I've never been on one."

"Then that's where I'll take you when we get back to Earth."

"If we get back to Earth, you mean." The meaning behind the words was clear: don't make promises you're not sure you'll be able to keep. Hicks had to remember that he needed to think twice about what he said to her – this child who was wise beyond her years would not be so easily fooled. She had heard several promises before, and only a select few had ever been kept.

The last one into the APC was none other than Colonel Decker, who closed the hatch and took an empty seat just opposite of Newt's.

"Morgan!" the colonel called down the aisle towards the driver compartment. "Everyone's inside, so get this heap of junk rolling! We got a schedule to keep."

"Aye, aye, Sir!" a voice called back, and the giant vehicle trembled as it got in motion. The driver named Morgan parked it with perfect skill on the waiting dropship's cargo-ramp. Once the ramp with the APC was retracted into the belly of the flyer, the take-off procedure took place. The dropship was lowered down into its giant airlock for the depressurizing cycle and then half a minute later, it plunged straight down towards the planet as it was released from the Hercules.

As always, this kind of drop caused everybody's stomachs to lurch. Hicks had been through these kinds of rides many times before - he usually took a nap during the flight down, but this time he couldn't relax to do so. This drop was like a disturbing Déjà' vu, since the last time he participated in one, he'd dropped down towards an awaiting death. He threw a glance at Newt, and became quickly concerned. Newt sat grimacing, clutching her chest.

"What's wrong?" he asked her.

"M-my chest… this is hurting…"

Hicks cursed for letting that factor slip his mind. The stresses to suddenly leave an artificial gravity like this was not merciful to a healing body; he actually felt some of it in his own wounds. But while Hicks had made an almost complete recovery thanks to the fact that the titanium-rods had replaced his shattered rib-bones, Newt's cleaved ribcage was far from healed. The bumpy ride could damage her further. He didn't know what to do, because there was no way to make it easier for her - not while the dropship shook and rattled like it did. Then he saw Decker, who displayed the clear expression that he felt no sympathy at all for the girl. Hicks felt the anger build up within him again.

"Damn it, Decker! I told you she wasn't fit to go on this mission!" Decker's expression didn't change. "Look at her, she's in pain! It will be on your responsibility if she'll be hospitalized again because of this!"

"Have you forgotten that you are not officially here, Corporal?" Decker said. Hicks clenched his jaw. He actually had forgotten that they were still declared dead. "I am not responsible at all for what happens to either of you. And don't blame me for her pain. It wasn't I who conducted an autopsy on her."

Hicks looked Decker into his cold eyes. The words hurt, because there was a disturbing truth in them. "Remember, Corporal, the wardens of 'Fury 16' were under orders not to touch your bodies. If Lieutenant Ripley had respected those orders, the girl wouldn't be in this condition now."

"Ripley had no idea we were still revivable…" Hicks objected.

"Maybe not, but it doesn't matter. Rules are made to be followed; otherwise… well, the girl is a good example of a conceivable consequence for disobeying given orders. You of all people should understand that, Corporal."

Hicks had no choice but to surrender to what Decker had said, because he was unfortunately right. As a soldier he knew that ignoring the rules could result in serious problems, and now Newt had to pay the price for Ripley's actions. He looked at her again, saw that her pain seemed to ease a bit as the dropship began to stabilize in its flight, but the damage was already done. He made a mental note to take her straight to medical when they got back aboard the Hercules. He noticed that no one else had taken any special interest in his argument with Decker. Hicks looked them all over, trying to remember whom each and one of them were. He only knew half of the people since his time with them so many years ago.

Private Dagger was no stranger, but Hicks wished not for the first time that he'd never known the fool. He felt the same way for Colonel Decker and Sgt. Hurst. Then there were the two smartgun operators: Crabbe and Dobermann. They reminded him of Drake and Vasquez; lived only to shoot something and they looked quite sour for not having anything they can kill in this mission. They might still have their wish coming true sooner or later.

Private Shawn was new to him. His ancestral roots came from Vietnam and he was the comtech in the team; he was also the youngest soldier. Hicks really didn't want to know any more than that of the youngster's history. If he somehow managed to fit in with this lot, you absolutely don't want him as a friend.

Corporal Dixon on the other hand has never had a friend - if you didn't count the ones he 'groomed' and then blew up. He was a professional with all kinds of explosives. There had been many occasions where he would be seen tinkering with explosives in ways that was a violation against every safety-regulation in the book, therefore it was a great mystery that he still had all his hands and fingers intact. Dixon always claimed that the bombs understand what he needs and they never disappoint him. Needless to say: Dixon was a psycho.

Private Cracken whom was of Afro-American heritage used to be a gambler who had gotten caught cheating in poker. Among the 'Rawhides' though, he was just another sucker with a gun. But in real life Cracken had enlisted into the army to escape his creditors who wanted to collect the debts he owed them. (He probably owed them more money than he could earn in his whole lifetime.) Hicks wondered how many of the guys here had finally discovered that Cracken still practiced his hobby when they were off duty.

Then there was PFC Simpson: another glory-hugger like Dagger. He wanted to be someone that was admired by all the ladies. Therefore he enlisted and went out into space to kill some troublemakers and was anticipating a great reward once he'd finished his ten years. He actually believed that he could have any lady he wanted after that. He would be in for a surprise if he lived that long.

Private Morgan in the driver's seat was a monster-truck race driver in his civilian life; therefore he had a natural talent to operate an APC. He wanted to organize races for a worldwide unification, therefore he needed cash. That was all Hicks had found out about him.

He didn't know that much more of the dropship's operating crew either. The pilot Corporal Riker's ancestors had all been stick-jockeys in the army ever since world war one. Riker simply wanted to keep up the tradition. His co-pilot PFC Samson on the other hand wanted to be a politician. He figured that if he knew firsthand of the life out there in the battle-field, then people would familiarize themselves with him and give Samson their votes. Boy, was he mistaken.

There were six people left behind aboard the Hercules; yet only four of them were working directly for the Company. Dr. Roman was a bio-physicist and the medtech boss. She was the only woman on this expedition. Arnolds was her assistant, and was almost ready to do practice on his own.

Dr. Peters, whom Hicks hadn't seen much of was a surgeon, and was second in charge after Roman. He also had an assistant: Phillips, whom Hicks hadn't seen at all. Phillips was one of the two who didn't work directly under the Company. From what Hicks had heard, he was by nature a pessimist, unsocialized and had alcoholic problems. Phillips was a nephew to Peters, which was the sole reason he had the job. It was up to Peters to straighten his nephew out after having made a promise to his sister.

The other one who didn't work for the Company was Morse, but then he didn't exactly work for anyone. As far as Hicks knew, the only reason Morse was aboard was because he had been paroled from prison in exchange for assisting Colonel Decker with the mission. Technically his part was already done and over, but Decker kept him around for penal-labor. Morse was assigned to scrub bulkheads, applying paint and mop the decks – a perfect job for a prisoner. There were many tasks to be done before the Hercules were shipshape in Colonel Decker's book and it was a good way for Morse to earn his share of food like everybody else.

Fixer was the last crewmember; he was lent out by the Company to rebuild Bishop so that the android could help revive those who were dead. Now as his part was done, he also helped to keep the big ship together by repairing some fused circuitry and similar maintenance tasks, and he did that just to make a living. That was why Hicks respected Fixer the most; as the midget mechanic wasn't out for glory - he only did what he could do to contribute since it was hard to gain respect when he was as short grown as he was.

All in all: the expedition crew consisted of ten blood lusted troopers and their sergeant (all of them presently disappointed and therefore potentially extra dangerous) led by a stone-cold colonel who prefers to remain in the field rather than sitting by a desk, with the addition of four medtechs, a prisoner and an ordinary mechanic. And finally there was he himself: a 'dead' man, traveling together with a 'dead' little girl and an unlicensed android on their way on a mission that the three of them had been shanghaied on to participate in through blackmail. Hicks was almost convinced that he was dead for real, and now he was on a one way trip down towards hell for a confrontation with the devil.

After a shaky flight through powerful winds and polluted atmosphere, the dropship finally touched down and the APC rolled out from the lowered ramp. The ride on the rocky surface was even more bumpy and uncomfortable than what the flight had been as they drove over a rough terrain. But soon Morgan halted the vehicle, way too sudden. Hadn't the people inside been secured into their seats, they would all be lying sprawled on the deck now. To Hicks and Newt, it earned them another jolt of pain in their wounds, worse to the child than the adult. The corporal wanted to strangle the driver.

"We're on target, Sir!" Morgan called behind him. "Wow, look at the size of that thing." Hicks couldn't imagine what Morgan meant by that. He had never seen the alien ship where the eggs were stored.

"We're not here for the view, Morgan," Colonel Decker called back as he unbuckled himself. "Everybody fold up their respective hoods, unless you want to be poisoned by radiation. You got five seconds before I open the door." Everybody quickly worked with their own suits except for Bishop who gave Newt a hand with her hood. Exactly on the fifth second, Decker pulled the door open. The sudden sound of a howling wind that filled the APC's interior was almost deafening.

"Everybody will now take an egg-claw each to carry with you," Decker shouted loudly in order to be heard. "I want a nice clean disembarkment. Move out!"

The wind was much stronger than what Hicks remembered from his last visit to the planet, and it seemed to be a lot dirtier now. They were all very near to be picked up and be carried away by the rushing air as they stepped out from the APC and set their feet onto scorched ground. Bishop took Newt's hand to secure her against the storm, and then they all saw it. Newt involuntarily took a step back. Hicks understood what Morgan had meant; the giant U-shaped ship was enormous and looking disturbingly abnormal with its clean lines. And by the looks of it, it was relatively unharmed. The reports had stated that the complex of Hadley's Hope originally had been built about twenty to twenty-five kilometers away from this high plateau. The blast radius of the nuclear explosion had been about thirty kilometers, equal with forty megatons of power and yet the damn thing was unharmed.

"No signs of any damage on the surface of the hull from the explosion," Hicks yelled to Bishop. The howling wind almost managed to drown out his voice. "What do you think it's made of?"

"I have no idea," Bishop yelled back. "But I'm hoping to collect a sample of it to study so that we can find out."

"Do you believe it might be resistant to the radiation?"

"I would be surprised if it weren't. I expect it to be quite clean inside."

"So there's definitely a high risk that the 'cargo' is in good shape?"

"The chances are absolute."

"Damn!"

"No more talk," Decker then interrupted. "The entrance should be at the belly between the 'arms'. Let's move!"

The troopers marched the rest of the way towards the ship, but it wasn't in a very good formation. There was a bit disorder in the line as they had to carry twelve claws with them; the spider-like devices wasn't designed to be carried comfortably. Newt followed last, holding Bishop's hand. The synthetic noticed that the girl was deathly quiet, which was understandable. The child was very reluctant to go inside the derelict – it was because of this ship that her life had been ruined. Bishop assumed she was right now re-employing the tricks she had used to survive back at her home. It was the only defense mechanism she could rely on, the only way to overcome her fears.

Soon they reached the base of the colossal vessel, and the three oval openings were right where it was said they would be. Colonel Decker didn't halt his men until they all had entered inside into the dark chamber through one of the gaps. Some of the men took out their flashlights and turned them on, waving them around to illuminate the darkness. Newt froze. The chamber looked like the inside of a human rib cage, the favorite design of the creatures. She had seen it before and had hoped that she would never see it again.

"It's quiet as a tomb in here," Cracken remarked.

"Got a problem with that?" Shawn scowled at the fellow private.

"I sure do," Simpson answered instead of Cracken. "There's nothing to kill in here."

"But shouldn't this be just like a tomb… you know… for real?" Morgan went on. "Those creatures supposedly brought some hosts here, right? But I sure don't see any corpses."

"That's because it wasn't here the colonists were brought when they were captured," Hicks corrected the monster-trucker. "If you read my report, the aliens set up a nest under the atmosphere processing station. Most likely it was too far a distance to drag the poor souls all the way over here. Besides, I suspect they liked the heat under there."

"Well, if there still happen to be any bodies in here, maybe they'll show up as ghosts. Then we can ask them."

"Give me a break, Cracken!" Shawn scolded again. "Don't tell me you believe in ghosts?"

"Stranger things have happened, you know," Cracken said in defense.

"Yeah, for example how an idiot like you ever could be so lucky to be born!"

"Why you little piece of yellow trash…"

"Got a problem with yellow, nigger?"

"SHUT UP!" Decker bellowed before Cracken could retaliate. "We're here on a mission, not a picnic! Anyone who wishes to say otherwise, speak up now and then I'll strand him on this worthless hunk of rock forever!"

No one spoke.

"Child! Come up here!"

Hicks could only stare at Colonel Decker. What did he want with Newt anyway? He didn't have time to ask as Bishop led the girl up to the front of the line.

"Lead the way," Decker said shortly.

"Where to?" Newt asked confused.

"To the eggs of course! And I will have no objections!"

"But I… I don't know where they are!"

"I'm warning you, you little brat. I'm not anyone to play games with. Lead the way to the eggs or I'll make you regret that you did not cooperate."

"You don't talk to her in that manner, Colonel!" Hicks immediately stepped forward with full intent to defend the girl.

"I'll talk to anyone as I please, Corporal! Get back in line!"

"Colonel, Corporal, please." Bishop stepped in between. "There's clearly some misunderstanding going on here."

"No, Robot, there's no misunderstanding. There's only refusal from the brat to cooperate."

"But I really don't know where they are…" Newt was close to panic. She didn't like to be in the center of an argument.

"Colonel," Bishop used his usual calm tone. "It is obvious that Newt can't lead you to the eggs because she has never been inside this ship before now."

"It was her family who found it…"

"We were left outside in the tractor, my brother and I! It was only my parents who went in!" Newt explained with a mix of sorrow and despair. Decker looked sharply at the girl.

Hicks shook his head in disbelief. "Colonel, you may be a full-fledged military-man with all knowledge of military protocols and everything… but you certainly know nothing of family-relations! What kind of parents do you think would take their kids for sightseeing inside an unknown never-before-encountered alien ship? From your perspective that would be like taking a lowly civilian with no clearance at all inside a top-secret military installation. Totally unthinkable, wouldn't you say?"

With the support from Hicks, Newt allowed her own anger to start flowing "Like I said: I was left outside in the tractor together with my brother where we were supposed to stay put while my Mom and Dad went inside by themselves. Later they came out with that horrible thing on my daddy's face. Do you believe my mommy took me inside here afterwards? Do you?" Newt trembled both with anger and from the dreadful memory. Decker on the other hand trembled with his own rage.

"I pulled you out from Fiorina because I wanted to save time by not having to search this whole ship!" Decker said slowly in a low tone that indicated an underlying threat.

"That's your problem!" Newt shouted with tears of anger streaming down her face under her hood. "I didn't ask to be pulled out!"

"This is ridiculous!" Hicks said just as angry as Newt. "You dragged her down here for that? Well, that's just…"

"Hicks!" Bishop suddenly raised his own voice. "I strongly suggest that you don't push this any further, it won't change anything but for the worse. I would advise that we focus on the mission with what other resources we have instead of wasting time with arguing for what we don't have available."

"The robot's actually got a point for once, Corporal," Decker said with an icy stare. But Hicks wasn't really ready to let the matter go. He shifted his annoyance to Bishop instead.

"You're really a big help, you know that?"

"I am. I only hope that you'll eventually recognize that as well." Hicks had been sarcastic, but Bishop was dead serious and that made the former even more annoyed. Reluctantly swallowing the remark he so much wanted to tell his two antagonists, he dropped the egg-claw he'd carried and instead picked up the upset child in his arms to take her away from there. Newt hadn't deserved any of this; therefore Hicks silently swore that Decker, and perhaps right now even the android somehow would pay for this insult to her. Bishop picked up the abandoned egg-claw and addressed Decker again:

"I suggest we move further into the middle of the ship. From there we can spread out. By widening the search we can save a little more time rather than…"

"Your suggestions are of no interest to me, Robot!" Decker cut him off. "I still think it's a waste of effort to keep you online. So until I'm proved otherwise, I suggest to you that you keep your suggestions to yourself and stay quiet!" If Bishop was offended by Decker's words, he didn't show it. But he did remain quiet.

"Move out!" Decker yelled to his troopers. "We're wasting time here, and I want those eggs found before eighteen hundred hours!"

"That only gives us twenty-five minutes," Corporal Dixon complained. "This ship is huge! We'll never find them before that." He was speaking to his comrades and not to his superiors. But Decker wouldn't let anything slip through unnoticed:

"Sgt. Hurst. Cpl. Dixon shall have two hours penalty duty for his whining, assign him for boot cleaning." Hurst put the note on his pad with pleasure.

The large party of men walked deeper into the ship and Bishop checked his instruments. He had been right; the alloy of the derelict did not let any radiation through its hull, it was clean within this area. They could even remove their hoods. Although the air outside was radioactive, it was still breathable thanks to the scattered atmosphere processors that had produced air for nearly twenty years since the first settlers arrived on Acheron. Therefore, all of them discarded the hazmat suits. Since they were vital to their survival outside in the radioactive atmosphere, they did not want to risk any tearing to the fabric. The protective equipment was stashed inside the corridor to be picked up when they were ready to leave. All of them were relived to be free of the hot suits; it would make their search much easier to conduct. And then they moved further inside.