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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 5189708" data-attributes="member: 143">Double update today.* * * * * Interlude: Briefing (September 20, 2008)The mood was grim as Garret called the team together in Briefing Room 1.  Doctor Wagner had schematics and a world map called up on the big monitor screen.  Special Agent Drake was not present. "The alien base is located in Antarctica," Garret said, once all of the Alphas were present and the door secured.  "It's a major resupply base for their ships, which apparently have a more limited range than we thought." He nodded to Wagner, who brought up different images on the screen; even those without medical experience recognized the twisting helices and biological data.  "Doctor White is completing his test models,” Garret continued.  “What we’re about to tell you does not leave this room.”After a slight pause, he said, “What he's been working on is a nerve gas targeted at alien physiology.  If all goes as plan, it will have catastrophic impact on the aliens' unique biology, without significant effect on human beings.  Lab tests have been promising, but don't tell us enough about how it will work in the field.  We've been looking at a way to test it without endangering Earth; this Antarctic base may be just the thing." "If it works the way we project, it just might turn the tide of the war," Wagner said. "Our prisoners, especially the snakeman leader, have been very helpful in explaining more about the alien civilization," Garret continued.  "Everything we learn makes our situation appear more grim." Wagner brought up another report on the big screen. "We hope to gain more insight once we finish work on this new alien, the 'ethereal',” she said.  “Thus far it has resisted interrogation, but we intend to keep working on it until we learn what we have to know." "Preparations for the base attack are being made as we speak," Garret continued.  "The new Lightning craft will arrive tomorrow, and we've already been preparing a module to accept the gas that will be deployed from Firestorm-1.  Our captives have revealed that the bases are heavily defended, but we've learned a lot about the aliens and their systems, and it's time to give them a surprise or two for once.  In addition to deploying the gas, Firestorm-1 will take out their communications and sensor array.  And the biggest surprise for them will be when their battleship lands to resupply." He paused for a moment to let that sink in.  "That's right.  We can't shoot it down, but once it's docked for supplies, we're going to have a little surprise waiting for that damned ship.  That last navigator you captured spilled the protocols for their ship refueling missions, so the Lightning is going to pretend to be their comm array, and send an all-clear signal once you've taken the base and have set up the ambush." "I know you've all been watching the news reports.  The entire human race has taken a hit, and there's damned little that the nations of the world can do about it.  So it's up to us.  Don't let us down." * * * Interlude: Briefing (September 20, 2008)Alpha Team was in the middle of a drill in preparation for the base assault mission when the call came down over the base intercom. "Prep for incoming casualties!" The Alphas joined the medical teams as they rushed to Hangar 2.  Skyranger 2 looked like it had been in a war zone, with ugly black streaks covering its hull; black smoke trailed from one engine housing. The medics boarded the ship even before it settles fully to a halt.  Perez was brought out first, a pad sodden in red blood pressed into the socket where his right arm used to be.  Ama Ngunyi was brought out on a stretcher, her entire body wrapped in a translucent stasis sheath that could not hide the blackened wreck of her chest.  Jürgen Ritter looked dazed, his face streaked with soot.  A medic escorted him gently to the medical bay. An hour later, Alyssa Sanders recounted what happened in the briefing room. The members of Alpha Team lingered in the background during the debrief. "We didn't get a lot from the Ranger 2 combat recorders; the ship's computer was fried by one of those plasma bolts," Grace said, as she worked the controls on the command console in the briefing room.  Garret prodded Alyssa to fill in the gaps. "They attacked us just a few moments after we were all out of the ship," Alyssa said.  "Ama took a hit in the chest that went through her Personal Armor like tissue; Jürgen was able to drag her back into the ship while we set up a perimeter." "They were big, green... bright green all over, their skin, or a suit of some sort.  Our lasers and bullets did nothing, at least, I didn't see any of them bleeding.  If they even have blood.  Purple faces, I remember, like masks, like Halloween masks..." She trailed off.  Beauvois shook her head, but Garret prodded her gently again to resume her narrative.  "They would have gotten us all, but for Svienn.  He charged them... he poured a full belt from that cannon of his into one, but it didn't even flinch...  He attacked it in close combat, yelling for us to get out...  They fell on him, all of them...  They took him in their hands...  They tore his arms off, and then the one he'd shot grabbed his head..." The woman's eyes were haunted as she looks up.  "There were only three of them.  Three..." Garret made a quiet gesture, and one of the medtechs took the woman off to the medical bay.</blockquote>

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