0: The Ready Line

terminal 0

unfinished

Mecha-Augmented Planetary Strikeforce Division 16 Mission Briefing

Now that we've reached T -5 minutes, I'm cleared to explain your mission background. Standard disclosure penalties apply, of course. As I'm sure you know, the bugs like to colonize things, and there are plenty of outposts this close to their homeworld. This one's called "Khe-n'ga'tr". Beats me what it means. It looks like a standard military model: air/orbital missile defense, full garrison, heavy armor division, yada yada yada. The following info is classified Above Top Secret. The penalty for disclosure is immediate termination with buffer clear. One week ago, the UESC Robert Blake recieved a radio transmission on a frequency we haven't used in years. The transmission was very weak, but one of our recon vessels amplified it and got a partial transcript. The message text was as follows: [garbled] unsuccessful. Knew of my approach, had [garbled]eady. No automat[garbled], cannot contact transport. Location: [latitude, longitude, orbital insertion data]. Transmit window closing, next attempt at 238.547.[garbled]. We listened for seven hours, but the message was not repeated. Intelligence can't make heads or tails of it, or tell us why a Pfhor garrison is broadcasting a UESC distress call. So we've given it to you boys. We're dropping you in a semicircle around the coordinates given, to maximize our chances of penetration. Mission Objectives: 1. Determine source of transmitted UESC distress call. 2. Disable any enemy machinery, weapons, and miscellaneous installations encountered. 3. Terminate with extreme prejudice any enemy personnel encountered. The panel behind this terminal will open the rear hatch. Then use the drop-launch shaft behind that to neutralize your on-board velocity. Suit up and move out, marine.

Mobile Infantry Unit #16