June 10, 2010
Somewhere in Antarctica
Third Squad, 4th Reconnaissance Commando
A hour later
As Jan ran forward to take cover behind an outcropping of ice, he made sure to cover the crash wreckage. Despite coming to down to mother earth at a fair speed, Jan couldn't help but notice that it was still more or less intact. In or two places there were massive rents in the side, and what looked like a massive door in the side had been ripped off of its hinges. Making sure his men were ready to go, Jan cursed his NBC gear for the hundredth time since donning it little more than a hour ago. Was it possible to be freeze to death, and die from heat? Jan would probably find out as he contemplated his Recce team's entry.
It had taken Command awhile to decide what to do, but after finding out about the crash it had been decided that Third Squad should proceed as fast as possible and assess the situation at the crash site. And if necessary render aid to anything on the vessel that needed it. Jan still didn't feel comfortable entering what could be an alien ship without any support. He knew that both a Delta Force and SAS team were inbound, but he would have preferred having three or four of his fellow Recce teams offering cover fire and close support.
As it was, his team was already two members short, he had left Hanks and Buyer on a hillock to give them some sniper cover with the NTW-20. It was serious overkill, but anything could in that ship and Jan wasn't taking any chances. Pointing out their entry point as the massive door-less entrance, Steyn and Nel quickly ran forward and made sure it was secure to enter. The remaining troopers all stowed their R4 rifles and pulled silenced Heckler and Koch MP5s except for Beast. The massive man unslung his AA-12, and at a nod from Jan, he entered into the crashed craft.
Jan ran into the hole after tapping Nel on the shoulder, and ran straight into Harolds, Jan was about to swear at him, until he saw what had caught Harolds' and for that matter the rest of the team's attention. The crash had thrown about what looked like cargo pallets and various odds and ends, but lining the bay in massive cradles were the biggest machines Jan had ever seen. Jan couldn't decide what to make of the forms in front of them. Some were smaller and looked like massive prehistoric raptors, whilst others eerily resembled knights from a child's story book.
The sound of something falling had the entire team snap their attention back to the situation at hand. The team medic quickly lifted his Geiger-counter and chemical sniffer, "Sarge, atmosphere is clean, no radiation, and no chemicals that will hurt us too much."
"Keep the suits on lads, we don't know what ET might have up his sleeve" replied Jan. Each of men spread out to search the bay, always mindful to cover each other, always checking blind spots. Jan thought that not a single one of his men wanted to re-enact a scene from a Hollywood B-movie. As his men continued their sweep, Jan turned to look at the bay's contents again. Walking to the leg of one, he wiped away the grime and dust, and under it was an insignia. A four-pointed star, with the top and right points longer than the other two. A serpent coiled around the star. Looking up Jan couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by the behemoth towering above him. Jan realised with a start that Steyn was calling him.
"Sarge, we found something you need to see." the corporal beckoned him from a nearby crate. Walking over Steyn handed him a sheet of what looked like paper, on it was a list of components, and Jan realised he could read the sheet. On the list were items Jan had never heard of; the last however was unmistakable ; myomer strands, PPC focusing lenses, ammunition. Jan tucked the paper into his satchel and looked around. This was beginning to look more and more like a military vessel.
"Harolds and Jennings, secure this bay, rest of you follow me, standard room to room search. And don't shoot unless you're shot at first. I am sure none of us want to shwack ET before the world can say hello, especially now that we know ET speaks English." ordered Jan, none of his men laughed though. And neither did Jan, they were really out of their depth as they walked into what looked a passage.