James' squad sat in the back of the VTOL, The Sergeant stood, with one hand grasping a rail on the roof.
"Alright listen up boys, there's some trouble down at black mesa, Scientist bastards playing god again and now we gotta clean up. There's no confirmation of hostile forces yet, however there is extensive damage to the facility and our mission is to assist in evacuation of all black mesa personnel. Our objective is a lab called Anomalous materials in Sector C, all we have to do is go get the scientists and bring them topside."
The radio in the cockpit came to life.
"COMMAND! This is Ground Bravo Three Niner, we are experiencing hostile forces on the surface!"
"This is command, stick to your objectives, eliminate all hostile forces you encounter"
"THEY'RE FLANKING US! WE'RE PINNED DOWN, WE NEED REIN..." the voice was replaced with static. One by one other units began reporting in, also reporting hostile forces.
"Alright men," Said sarge, "Looks like there's gunna be some action..." he paused for a second, "Shoot anything that doesn't look human! Don't give em a chance to fight back!"
"What do you mean not human!?" asked Jackson.
The pilot interrupted. "Sir, We're coming up on the LZ! Get ready!"
"ROGER THAT! LOCK AND LOAD MEN!"
The VTOL began to slow down and descend, but before it could touch the ground there was an explosion on the hull.
"STARBOARD ENGINE OUT! WE'RE GOIN DOWN!"
The VTOL started to fall and was hit by another explosion which caused it to tumble mid air, the VTOL was now dropping nose first. The ground could be seen through the cokpit window getting closer and closer, the pilot hastily undid his seatbelt and tried desperately to climb out of the cockpit, but the VTOL hit the ground nose first, Crushing the pilot and Knocking James unconscious.
James came to with Private Jackson above him, shaking him by his shoulders.
"James, oh god James you're alive!"
James sat up, "How long was I out?"
"15 minutes...everyone else is dead James." James looked around him, he saw a crashed VTOL, and the bodies of his squad mates which Private Jackson must have pulled out.
"Shit," James grabbed his radio, "Command, this is Charlie Four Zero, we've lost five squad members, there's only two of us left, need evac immediately."
"Negative Charlie, proceed with your mission."
"Command! We need evac NOW!"
"Negative Charlie! You must continue with your mission!"
"DAMMIT!" shouted James. He sat there for a second and then grabbed his rifle from the ground next to him and stood up.
"Are you...are you sure they're dead?" Asked James.
"I'm sure sir."
"Alright then...we continue the mission."
"Sir, we don't know where this sector C is."
"Jesus, don't you pay attention? We studied maps of this place for training, There's a rail station just inside, it'll take us straight to Anomalous Materials."
"How is it that you can memorize every single map you've ever seen?"
"It's a gift."
James and Private Jackson we're walking down a hallway, there were cracks in the wall and ceiling, but so far no signs of life, or any corpses.
"I can't believe this," Said Jackson, "Whole damn squad, didn't even have a chance to fight back."
"We'll get who did this."
"I know but, shit, they were our friends, now they're dead, cuz of these damn scientists, and now we gotta go save them, I say they bought this on themselves, why should we save them?"
"Because that's our job."
"I didn't sign up for fighting damn aliens or mutants or whatever the hells trying to kill us."
The pair stepped out onto a station platform, there was a tram car already waiting there. James turned to face Private Jackson.
"If you really feel that strongly about this, you can stay here and wait for me to come back, I don't mind, but I'M going down there."
Jackson smiled, "You think I'm gunna let you go alone and get yourself killed? You cant be that stupid Bolton."
James smiled, "Let's go."