Prologue

LOCATION: L.Z. X-Ray, Unknown

TIMESCALE: October 2nd, 1996, 2100 hours

[Event Time Minus 2 Years, 2 Months


"I say again, Lambda, this is Bravo Five, anybody receiving me?"

Captain Dale Travis screamed into the bulky radio handset. All around him, the chaos of an unknown battle was unfolding. Everything had gone to shit. Travis looked across the wide plain in front of him, his men spread across it in little fire teams, firing futilely at unseen assailants. He stared into the face of his terrified radio operator, who was levelling his ancient M16A1 at the distance.

"I say again, is there anyone there, goddamnit!"

"Bravo Five, this is home base, what is your status, over?" The voice on the other end was unknown to Travis. More businesslike. It sounded more like that of a bank clerk than a scientist.

"Well it's about damn time, Lambda, I've been trying to raise you for the last ten damn minutes."

"Sorry about that, Bravo Five, we've had a little…difficulty our end."

"Difficulty?! I'll give you difficulty! You must have pissed off these badboys with whatever it was you just did, because they ate up the science time and pushed us right back to the EZ! I got no armour left, the helos just…just frickin' vanished, and I'm losing boys to things I can't fucking see!"

"Like I said Bravo Five, I'm sorry, but…"

"Never mind that shit now. I need immediate evac. Open up a portal on X-Ray now!"

"Once again, Captain, I'm afraid I must apologise but…there is a contaminatory risk."

"A what!?"

"We cannot take the chance that any unauthorised alien material will pass through the portals."

"Unauthorised alien material!? How the hell are we supposed to get home!"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line.

"Like I said, Captain, I'm sorry."

Travis threw the receiver aside angrily.

"God-damnit! Those treacherous sons-of-bitches!"

As he did so, there was commotion up ahead. A gigantic black alien had burst from underground and a squad of marines was fleeing from it terror. The beast opened its hands – at least, Travis thought they were hands – and set the men alight. They screamed in agony, collapsing onto the unforgiving alien soil and writhing in pain, until the beast stamped on them gleefully. Travis watched, impotent, silent.

"Jesus… We're all going to die here," he muttered

The remaining marines started to move towards his position. Their rifle fire did no damage to the beast, which persisted in setting them alight, running after them like an excited toddler running after a terrified cat. Travis felt a rush of wind behind him and turned slowly. A portal had opened up at last.

"Well, I'll be!" Travis waved at his men to follow and leapt thankfully into the light.


Back at the Lambda Labs, Dr Eric Rosenberg tapped out a few commands into the console and turned to the suited man standing behind him.

"It's done."

The suit removed his headset and placed on the console.

"Thank you…Dr Rosenberg. The administration thanks you for your…co-operation."

"More like coercion."

The suit smiled hollowly.

"If you wish to have a paycheck at the end of the month, Doctor, I would advise you…moderate your language."

Rosenberg spun away, sighing angrily. The suit continued talking.

"Out of int-erest, Doctor, I wonder where you sent our esteemed civil servants?"

"They spawned in the walls of the east ordnance depot. I doubt they'd feel a thing." Rosenberg felt the pit of his stomach churn as he thought about it.

"Ex-cellent, Doctor, ex-cellent! A worthy tomb for such…worthy men…"

Before Rosenberg could respond, the suit turned and walked out of the laboratory.