Chapter 4 MIT

David

July 20th, 2017

7:30 PM

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Wellington-Harrington

After half an hour of our mission's ETA, Lieutenant Lynch flew us from the Oregon all the way to the East Coast of Massachusetts. It was me, Cayce, Kristen, Flint, and Cage taking on the mission to the MIT's hostage crisis while the rest of Valor Team were out and sitting back on the Oregon. Our team's pilot herself had spent ten hours flying us to the institute on her UTH-66 Blackfoot helicopter and the ConDef raid on the institute itself had already been in motion. There was already a force of local Chrysalis units posted outside the MIT's frontal vicinity. Waiting for our arrival.

Lynch had been picking up news feeds about the situation as well as distress calls from inside the building. The news feeds were coming from the local, FOX, CNN, and every other news network live. Just like the Seattle and San Francisco attacks as well as every other ConDef activity flooding the media the in past two weeks.

"After weeks of conflict with ConDef, another precedented incident involving the British terrorist front has occurred in Cambridge, Massachusetts…

"…the death toll of the MIT raid marks at least one-hundred and thirty out of the four-thousand at the beginning of this major incident…"

"…at least two dozen are reported to be held hostage as dozens of other are reported kidnapped…"

"It's all over the news, ladies," said Lynch in her cockpit. "The MIT alright. At least two dozen Chrysalis men on blockade duty. Let's not keep them waiting. They must want us bad."

"I'm receiving an incoming transmission," said Lynch's co-pilot.

"Let's hear it," I said.

"Can anyone hear this?!" A voice cried on the transmission. "This is Suzy Nelson. Dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We need immediate assistance! ConDef is attacking the facility! They're after my students!"

"This is Commander Madsen of Fireteam Valor," I respond. "We have orders from Admiral Penske to arrive at the blockade on direct approach."

"I know. I can see the authorities outside the front courtyard."

"Any suggestions as to how we can get inside?"

"Unlikely. ConDef has blocked all the exits and are watching the windows too."

"Any alternatives?"

"There is an underground entrance that can take you to one of our generator rooms."

"Alright, we'll infiltrate from there with my team and a few other men."

"What's the plan here, Commander?" Cayce asked. "Or should I be asking the captain?"

"Cage, I think we know what to do," I said.

"Alright, Valor," said Cage. "Listen up. Before we go anywhere, we get down there to that blockade for a sitrep of the situation and then come up with the plan. Underground may always sound like a subtle approach until they expect that too. We have our orders. Infiltrate the institute, exfiltrate the hostages, discover ConDef's plot for their raid, and take it from them before they do. Understand?"

"Understood, Captain," said Kristine. "Let me know when you need a medic."

Lynch lands the helicopter in the courtyard near the blockade. Where Chrysalis troops, vehicles, and the press are standing by the front entrance. Waiting for our arrival. I'm in the mood for anyone but reporters in this war brought to Cambridge. May have to deal with a couple for a comment or two when I get off this chopper.

As soon as the chopper lands, Lynch wished us good luck and the five of us hop out to approach the blockade. One of our soldiers from the blockade see us hopping out and informs his unit of our arrival.

"Valor Team is on sight," he said on his comm. "I repeat, Valor Team is on sight."

We walk closer to the blockade past the blockades stands and yellow tape and there one reporter with a cameraman approaching us. Why am I not surprised? The cameraman shoots his camera on us as the journalist walks up to Cage with his microphone for a comment.

"Excuse me, sir," said the journalist. "Can you confirm the real situation involving the ConDef raid on the MIT?"

"I ain't confirming jack shit until we get in there," replied Cage. "Now beat it."

There were a couple of news vans parked by the military trucks meaning more reporters to dodge. Luckily, we were able to meet up with Captain Desean, the blockade unit's leader before meeting with anyone else as ordered by Penske.

"Captain Desean, Captain Cage. Fireteam Valor. We have orders from Admiral Penske to deal with crisis at the institute. Whadda we got here?"

"ConDef has tangos everywhere in the building," reported Desean. "Every entrance is covered with infantry. There's also snipers on the windows and rooftops too. They'll shoot down anyone setting foot inside the facility. They've taken over the place for at least five hours since."

"How 'bout the hostage situation?" I asked. "Anyone harmed?"

"At least a few hundred civilian casualties. A dozen or two hostages. No one's getting inside undetected with lookouts standing guard."

"We got transmission from the dean inside," said Cage. "She said there could be a sewer entrance below where we can enter from one of the breaker room if possible. Best case scenario, no one's watching from there. It could take time but it's subtle."

"If that's your idea, sir," said Desean. "Be our guest. You can bring some of my men inside if need be."

"No, too risky," I said. "It'll be safer if it's just the five of us inside. You can go on our signal when ready."

"Agreed, like you just said. No one's getting inside with those snipers afoot."

"Do what you think is best," said Desean. "All that matters is that those hostages are rescued and ConDef is out of the equation."

"Any idea as to why they're really here and why they're taking students and staff?" Cayce asked.

"None," replied Desean. "No one will until someone finds a way in. If you all got a plan, it's best you get going and finish this. We got no time to lose."

"Alright, Valor," said Cage. "You heard, Desean. Let's stick to the plan and infiltrate the institute. Above all, protect the hostage and find out ConDef's main objective. You all know what to do."

"Understood, Captain," said Cayce.

"Yes, sir," said Kristine.

"Aye, aye, Captain," said Flint.

"Then let's move out," said Cage. "Madsen, take point. We're counting on you here."

"With pleasure," I said.

Warren – Age 20 (POV)

Brooke – Age 21

July 20th, 2017

2:27 PM

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

5 hours earlier...

After a long two weeks into touring for the MIT orientation with Brooke, our last day was here. And on this last day of orientation with Brooke, we together got to sit down in the assembly room with other orientees and watch a presentation of a special project from one of the top technicians employed at this institute. Dr. Ethan Brainer, curator of the project and instructor for the Rare Earth Element class. A course Brooke and I thought about enrolling ourselves into that had yet to be determined for us.

The two of us find a seat somewhere above the room for the best seats in the house. After what we've seen at this institute, this place may just be better than the university in Denver.

"Best seats in the house," I said. "Am I right, Brooke?"

"So what is this rare earth element we're seeing again?" Brooke asked.

"Eternium, the rarest earth element yet. And what they're presenting is the reason I thought about joining MIT together."

"All this traveling from Denver to Cambridge for this? Why not just stay where we were first accepted?"

"Because Brooke, there's no other place such as MIT that can achieve this shit. None. I'm sure this presentation will exceed your expectations."

"I hope so. There are sure better things for us to do here for a private institution. I can certainly learn how to find better resources for the drones I build."

"You've been building drones your life even before Blackwell. It's not like you don't know all your resources by now."

"I do. But I may have more freedom to test drones in more areas than I did before. I just hope whatever this Eternium is, it's worth it."

The time had reach 2:30 and as soon as everyone was seated, the institute's dean came on stage to speak on the podium. Everyone gave the dean an applause before she spoke.

"Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," she said on the mic. "Welcome to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. My name is Suzy Nelson. Dean of the MIT. I am of proud service to be speaking to our future students who will be joining us at this institution. Before we can proceed with our final orientations, I would like to introduce to you all our top instructor of Rare Earth Elements at MIT and guest curator of MIT's special project. Please welcome, Dr. Ethan Brainer."

The crowd gave MIT's best instructor a round of applause as Dean Nelson left the podium and Dr. Brainer entered. Then Brainer spoke on the mic as everyone settled down.

"Thank you, thank you," he said. "I'm Dr. Ethan Brainer. Some of you may know me for my reputation here at MIT. For those who don't know well about me, that's what I'm here for. I have dedicated my life here at this institution studying the rarest of the Earth's elements beyond the periodic table as well as teaching my students above and beyond. As an example of my work, I'd like to present to you our utmost quintessential and one-of-a-kind project here at MIT yet. Involving our supremely unimaginable discovery of the rarest element introduced older than age of the dinosaurs. I give you all Eterni-"

Before Dr. Brainer could finish his sentence, noises were heard from outside the room. Sounds of screaming and gun shots heard from behind the exits. Everyone's heads were turning including mine. My heart was beginning to race. Is this for real? Is this what I think I was hearing?

People were standing up off their seats in a panic. The instructor on stage stood there petrified in fear. The last time I heard gun shots on a campus, Blackwell became a slaughterhouse and bloodbath of Chrysalis soldiers. I knew something was going down that wasn't going to end well for us.

"What the hell is that?" Brooke wondered.

Than bam! The doors to the room were kicked down by men with guns. Soldiers with guns unloading them on everyone in the room. Now everyone inside screamed in terror the second the first round of gun fire was shot by the soldier's rifles. And I think I knew who these people were.

Note: And that's the beginning of my next side plot for David's story folks. You knew this was coming and you knew how it would all go down. Happy Father's Day to every loving father and to all your loving fathers around the world! I'm having a barbeque with my family for Father's Day weekend and I hope you all have a nice Dad's Day weekend too.

Until next time, stay tuned and golden!

P.S. Looking forward to The Last of Us Part II anyone? The E3 gameplay trailer was phenomenal, through the roof, and brutal as fuck!