The entrance to the Sewage Treatment Facility gave me a foretaste of what was waiting for me – a disgusting odor.

"Suck it up marine," I told myself and went in.

I had only gone a few more steps when an explosion ripped through the ceiling ahead of me, sending rubble down. The rubble filled up the hallway, impeding my progress.

Looking around, I found a grate I could remove. Looking through the grate, I could see filthy water far down.

"Ugh..."

But a quick glance around told me that there was no other way. I removed the grating and leapt down.

I plummeted into the water and went down. The stench and feel of the water thoroughly nauseated me, but when I got out of the water again, the surrounding stench didn't feel as bad anymore.

"I need a bath...a fucking clean bath!"

A stun blast exploded against the wall right next to me, making me dive for cover. I heard the loud, aggressive breathing of the Enforcer – a strange sound, metallic and synthesized through its breather.

I waited for him. I heard his footsteps as he came rushing for me and when the right moment came, I leapt out and blasted him up close with the twin barreled shotgun. Luckily, this weapon was designed to function even when wet and filthy and it barked satisfyingly enough. The blast ripped the Enforcer's armor vest apart, but the bastard had survived. I rolled aside as it sent a blast right over my head. Landing back on my feet, I fired up at it from my crouching position and the M.P. was thrown to the ground by the blast, its synthesized scream echoing throughout the filthy pipes and hallways.

The commotion had alerted others and they came charging in my direction, but using the large pipe tunnels to my advantage, I outmaneuvered and ultimately outgunned each individual.

I had to find the valve controls and seal off every valve or pipe in this facility.

But Fate had other plans for me.

As I trudged through the filth, my radio suddenly clicked on.

"...fuck outta there!"

It was the voice of General Blake, he sounded agitated.

"Come again Sir?" I asked into my helmet microphone.

"Ranger, it's a fucking trap – get the Hell outta that Sewage Treatment Plant, now goddammit, now, now, now!"

I knew the General well enough to know his judgment was sound, I turned and ran as fast as I could, looking for a way out of this filthy sewer.

I came into a large filtration room with a pool of filthy water and several large valves leading out. But as I watched, grates started to close off the valves one by one. I had to react quickly.

I dashed for a valve that was not even beginning to seal off, but gunfire suddenly opened up around me. The air started to rain with buckshot and stun blasts. I zigzagged my way over to the valve.

Grating started to slowly lower in front of the valve. I had to make it, but the valve seemed so far away.

Something slammed into the lower side of my back with a terrible force, causing me to wince in pain. I swayed, but managed to stay upright. It hurt like Hell and I knew that I had caught buckshot. Luckily, my armor had absorbed it, otherwise I could have been seriously wounded and I was lucky that it was quality combat armor and not a shitty low-duty vest.

I was getting close now, but the valve was also halfway sealed off now.

And then another sharp pang of pain. This time it felt hot and I heard a loud crackle.

Stun blast! Shit!

Already, I felt that I weighed twice as much as I did. My head felt heavy and my vision blurred.

Must...reach...it – move it you fucking lowlife piece of puke or you die!

I threw myself towards the valve in desperation. It was a clumsy leap, and I rolled onto the floor in a clumsy, chaotic fashion. Completely distanced, I felt the pain of my limbs hitting solid surfaces, but the pain didn't seem real, almost as if it didn't actually hurt. There was another pang of pain and yet another, but I didn't care. My will was all that kept me going now. I came to a standstill and the world stopped spinning madly around me.

When I looked up, I was inside the valve, effectively separated from my enemies by a solid wall of grating with small meshes.

I could hear them snarl in frustration.

I felt too weak to carry on, I had to rest. I realized that I had probably been hit by more than one stun blast, otherwise my recovery would have begun now. I couldn't think clearly anymore and I suddenly didn't care.

I barely registered that strong arms grabbed me, and started dragging me through the valve.