The Mission

"Ah, Mr. Rasczak, please take a seat," Captain Deladrier said as Lieutenant Gene Rasczak walked into the conference room. Deladrier was seated at the head of the table as befitting the skipper of the corvette Rodger Young. On her right was seated someone Rasczak didn't know. He wasn't military, that much was obvious as he was wearing civilian clothes. Rather he appeared to be some kind of business executive. What he was doing here Rasczak couldn't imagine, but he kept his thoughts to himself as sat to the left of the captain. Deladrier continued, "Good, now that we are all here, let us begin. Mr. Rasczak, in a short while we will be arriving at the planet designated LV-521 where you will deploy your Roughnecks. Another M.I unit, Law's Lancers, and a K-9 unit will accompany yours. They will be deployed from the Wyoming."

Rasczak asked, "What are my mission objectives?"

"A week ago, the Weyland Yantani Corporation lost contact with a research station located on that planet. It's probably a bug infestation hence why they requested SICON aid. Your task will be to find out what happened and rescue any survivors. If it is indeed a bug infestation, we will call in reinforcements and then determine our next course of action. Understood?"

"Yes, captain."

"Good. I will now give the floor to our guest, Mr. Nestor Coles, acting as the representative of the WYC. Mr. Coles?"

Coles cleared his throat and said, "Thank you Captain Deladrier. Mr. Rasczak, you are probably wondering why the WYC elected to set up a research station in such a remote place during a war. The reason is that a few months ago we discovered on that planet something of great interest. It was a chemical produced by an animal indigenous to the planet. Refined it is similar to toxin B-3."

Rasczak raised an eyebrow. That was of interest. Toxin B-3 was the ideal chemical weapon for the Bug War: it was harmless to humans yet lethal to the bugs. But, there was one drawback. It was only produced by a species of ice bug that lived in asteroid belts therefore the quantities of it was very limited. Finding an alternative would be worth the risk entailed. Coles continued, "We discovered it quite by accident actually, but I digress. We set up the research station a month and a half ago with the purpose of studying it and hopefully finding a way of mass producing the chemical. But now, we don't even know whether anyone there is still alive. I fear it's a repeat of LV-426."

LV-426. If ever there was a planet that was cursed, LV-426 was it. Sixty years ago, a WYC mining ship had visited it: only one survivor came back who was later declared insane. Ten years ago, the WYC had established a terraforming colony on the planet. Contact was lost with it. A contingent of colonial marines had been sent to investigate. None returned. Although no one ever really found what had happened, the loss of the colony was written off as just another bug attack.

Coles continued to speak, "Anyway, once again I digress. There is one unfortunate aspect to this chemical. Unrefined, it is deadly to both humans and bugs. If the bugs have attacked the facility, there is the possibility that the area has been contaminated with the chemical. So in order to minimize any infections, I've recommended that you and your fellow M.I. be inserted via HALO jump as there is a risk that transports could be contaminated by the chemical should they land on the planet. To be honest with you, we really don't know what this chemical is capable of. Just so you're warned."

Rasczak replied, "I appreciate the heads up. Anything else I should know?"

"Actually that's all I have to say right now. Besides if any questions pop up during the mission, you can just ask me after all I'm coming with you."

"Say again?"

Captain Deladrier explained, "Mr. Coles has insisted that he be allowed to accompany you and your troopers. SICON has given him their approval."

Coles smiled and said, "Not to worry, Mr. Rasczak. I may be a business executive but my expertise is field work. I have had extensive experience with the power suits and I've even done a drop in one. I may not be M.I. but I am confident I can manage."

Rasczak turned to Deladrier and asked her, "Anything else I should know?"

She answered, "Nothing really. You'll have the usual air-support but due to Mr. Coles warning, they will not do anything involving low altitudes until it has been determined the chemical is no longer a threat."

"Understood, but I do have one question concerning one of my troopers, Private Robert Higgins. As you know he is the Fednet correspondent."

"I see where you're going with this, Mr. Rasczak. I'm afraid the WYC has requested that there be no publicity regarding this incident. Therefore, Private Higgins will not be permitted to file any report with Fednet concerning the mission until further notice. But he will be free to document the mission as usual. His material will simply not be made public, for now at least."

"I understand and I will convey that to him."

"Good. The drop will be made at 0800 hours. Now if you'll excuse me, I have matters to attend as I'm sure is the same for the two of you. Good day, gentlemen," Deladrier said as she rose from her seat prompting the same action from Rasczak and Coles. After she had left, Rasczak pulled Coles aside and told him, "Mr. Coles, I have no problem with you accompanying us as long as you respect my command. Obey any orders I give and do not give me an attitude in front of my people. In return I will respect your advice and recommendations. Are we agreed?"

Coles replied, "Fair enough. I don't know how to fight bugs anyway. So when should I report to your unit?"

"At 0700 hours. Have a good day, Mr. Coles."