PROLOGUE
Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright are the first words in Joseph Mohr's famous Christmas carol. Sometimes there are nights like that. Countless stars scintillate amidst the sea of gleaming lights in the starry sky. Emeralds flow into rubies as rubies flow back unto emeralds in the heavenly curtain above. They flow like an endless river.
Aurora Borealis dazzles in the cold night sky of the snow-white lands of Alaska. Celestial lights reach us from the unreachable; turning the impossible to possible as they reveal only a portion of their deep hidden secrets. Who knows how many more lie hidden behind the invisible? All is calm in the silent night if not for the sharp rotor blades that violently cut through the air. A black military helicopter flies as an athletic man in his thirties with black slick hair watches the night in the back seat. It draws his gaze but only for a moment. The helicopter approaches a military base and something else, a click away in the distance. Something unnatural.
"What the hell?" the man blurts out as he looks out the window at the irregular gargantuan opaque shape of at least two kilometers in diameter covering the earth like a sphere. It is hard to notice but the form moves like jello on a plate. Slightly veering. The shape appears as something drawn out from a dream. The man rubs his eyes and looks again just to double-check that he isn't imagining it. He isn't. The unreal stares back at him as he stares into it. In the military base, four flares light up a landing platform as the helicopter descends.
The man with slick black hair steps out of the helicopter as an officer approaches with two armed guards.
"Captain Rayne, I am Sergeant Oakes. Welcome to the military base Odin," Sergeant Oakes introduces himself and energetically salutes the new arrival.
"Sergeant," Captain Rayne salutes the Sergeant back, "Mind telling me what that thing is?" he asks looking at the direction of the anomaly.
"You will be debriefed. Please follow me, General Wilson is waiting," Sergeant Oakes says. A gust of wind blows as Rayne raises his hand to cover his face. He feels something in the wind. Feels as if something is calling him as if it is whispering soft incomprehensible words into his ears. Soft like pillows. Incomprehensible like whims. He turns to look at the anomaly but there are no words only the whiff of cold wind. There is something there. What exactly? He does not know. But there is something there. His gut tells him so. And when you are in this line of work you learn to listen to your gut.
"Captain?" Sergeant Oakes says noticing the mesmerized man. Rayne shakes off the eerie feeling and follows.
They walk through the well-equipped and well-protected makeshift military base. Hundreds of men and women rush back and forth inside the orderly chaos. If he didn't know better he would think this was a real base with all the manpower and equipment. They approach a large green tent. Two guards stationed outside salute them as they enter. Inside the structure near a large screen are two people. An elderly man with a thick mustache, short grey hair, and countless decorations on his uniform, and a blonde-haired woman wearing a white coat with her hair neatly tied up in a ponytail.
"Captain Rayne reporting for duty," Captain Rayne loudly says as he salutes and stands at attention.
"At ease, Captain," General Wilson says, "Bring the others," he adds as he turns to Sergeant Oakes.
"Yes, General," Sergeant Oakes says as he leaves the tent.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Captain. I've heard great things about you. They speak quite highly of you," General Wilson says, eyeing the Captain.
"I'm only doing my job, General," Captain Rayne says.
"Yes." General Wilson says as he pauses for a moment, "I've heard about the incident in Croatia. It must have been difficult," he adds.
"It was... challenging," Captain Rayne says, slightly looking away. He remembers but only for a moment.
"I can imagine. There wasn't a lot that could have been done. Still, you performed amicably," General Wilson says.
Rayne nods as an image of two dead comrades flashes before his eyes.
Sergeant Oakes returns breaking the memory and bringing three soldiers with him.
At first glance, it is hard to discern that they are soldiers. They are out of uniform wearing "personable" clothes, their conduct is all over the place not orderly and tidy like a soldier should be. Too many things are out of place: a lit-up Cuban cigar, a tattoo on the face, and a sword on the waist.
"This is like a start of a joke." the white-skinned soldier with brown hair and the tattoo jokingly says as he looks at his comrades," A white soldier, a black soldier, and a yellow soldier walk into a bar," he says, proud of himself as he turns to his friends with a smiling face.
"You really need to know when to shut the hell up, Davenport," the tall bald ebony-skinned soldier with a thick beard and a lit Cuban cigar in his mouth says, puffing smoke.
"Come on, Big George, I'm just trying to make Akira laugh," Davenport says as he turns to their less than amused Japanese comrade with short tidy hair and an expressionless stare.
"You have to be funny for that," Big George says.
"Hey, I'm hilarious. Right, Akira?" Davenport adds as he turns to Akira who emotionlessly stares back at him.
"See? He agrees," Davenport adds as he turns to Big George.
"ATTENTION!" Captain Rayne yells, less than happy.
The three soldiers quickly recognize the voice as they stand in attention; Big George and Akira turn to Davenport and give him a quick but potent evil eye and a short but potent grunt.
"So, this is the famous Fang Two unit," General Wilson says as he approaches the three men. He quickly looks them over. He takes the Cuban cigar from Big George's mouth, throws it on the floor, and stomps it. The General shakes his head. Big George despondently glances at the ruined cigar. He walks over to Davenport who stiffly stands with an awkward grin.
"Let me guess, they probably call you Joker?" General Wilson asks.
"No, General." Davenport says, "They call me Davenport but I've been trying to get the nickname Joker or Comedian for some time now," he adds. Big George grins but quickly hides it. Captain Rayne shakes his head.
General Wilson walks to Akira; he notices a blade on his waist.
"Is that a katana, private?" General Wilson asks, shocked at the revelation.
"No, General," Akira responds.
"I'm looking right at it," General Wilson says, confused. HE IS directly staring at the blade.
"It is a wakizashi, " Akira explains.
The General turns away shaking his head in disbelief.
"Is this really the famous Fang Two unit?" General Wilson asks as he looks at Captain Rayne awaiting an explanation for what he just witnessed.
"They don't look like much but they get the job done," Captain Rayne confidently says.
"Oh Captain, that is so sweet..." Davenport says as Captain Rayne cuts him off with a swiftly raised index finger. General Wilson sighs.
"At ease, soldiers," the General says as he approaches the woman in the white coat, "Let me introduce you to Doctor Olivia Newton," he introduces her.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," Olivia says, "Please sit and I will fill you in," she adds, showing them to the chairs.
"Let's get physical, physical," Davenport whispers to Big George.
Big George grins as he takes out another Cuban cigar and lights it up.
The four members of Fang Two sit on nearby chairs in front of the screen as Olivia takes a remote.
She presses the remote as an image pops on the screen.
"On December 10, 2055, the temperature of Lake Makpik, a lake located amid the Alaskan territory, abruptly rose from -22° Celsius to +4° Celsius in a span of five hours..." Olivia explains as she gets cut off.
"What is Celsius?" Davenport asks.
"It is a unit for temperature, you hick," Akira explains.
"Why don't you just use American units?" Davenport asks, confused.
Captain Rayne turns to Davenport with a shut-up-or-else look.
"From -7,6 to 39,2 Fahrenheit." Olivia explains as she approaches Davenport and leans forward, "Better?" she asks standing very close to him.
"Very," Davenport says as he glances down and nods a couple of times in succession. Olivia shakes her head as she turns and presses the remote again. The screen image changes.
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"Due to this anomalous event, a research team was sent to investigate. Their findings were classified. One year later, the research station Odile was built in the middle of Lake Makpik and a small town Odette on its coast for the scientists and their families stationed there. On June 13, 2057, a bright flash of light emanated from the research station Odile. After the flash vanished, satellite imagery recorded an uneven opaque shifting shape encircling both the research station Odile and the town Odette. All attempts to contact the research station and the 1 071 people located inside have failed. The anomalous shape has been designated as The Entity. In response, the government formulated a contingency operation designated GUNGNIR," Olivia explains.
Various images of the Entity are shown on the screen.
"This is where you come in. Fang Two's primary mission is to proceed inside the Entity, reach the research station, and retrieve all the data from the main terminal. There is a small harbor with seafaring vehicles that you can use to get there. Your secondary objective is to extract any survivors you find but only if they do not compromise your primary objective. Since we could not achieve contact with the inside and no drones were able to enter our intel is severely limited. You will be going in blind. Make sure you complete your objective by any means necessary this mission is of highest priority. Any questions?" General Wilson asks.
“Excuse me, General, have you tried blasting the damn thing? You know with rockets and stuff,” Davenport asks.
“We are Americans, Private. What do you think?” the General responds.
"If no drones were able to enter how can we? Also, if we could enter by some means how do we know the conditions inside are hospitable to human life? And what about the rest of my squad? We are missing four members," Captain Rayne asks.
"We were able to deduce certain information during our short interaction with the Entity both with trial and error and pure coincidence. No drones were able to enter but people could. To be precise a soldier entered it by accident by simply walking inside. He stayed there for around ten minutes and left. His report indicated that he saw the town of Odette, desolate and ruined. There were no signs of life. He observed from the distance and then returned. The soldier received a full physical check-up and he got clean bill of health. Therefore we concluded that the conditions inside should be favorable for human life," General Wilson explains.
"Should be favorable. I feel safe already," Davenport whispers to Big George who shakes his head. Akira remains emotionless.
"No additional members will be joining you since only five people can enter at a time," Olivia adds. The members of Fang Two look at each other.
"Excuse me, only five people can enter?" Big George asks, puzzled.
"Yes. After five people enter the Entity it closes and does not allow anyone else inside unless someone from the inside leaves... or dies. The laws of the Entity are conflicting, to say the least. It is as if it has a will of its own as if it is alive. Therefore the designation the Entity," Olivia explains.
"A squad of five commandos was sent 7 days ago. The Entity closed off its doors and opened them just an hour ago. We presume the squad to be KIA," General Wilson adds.
"You said five, General? There are four of us," Captain Rayne asks.
"I will be accompanying you," Olivia says as she steps forth.
The Fang Two unit members look at each other, slightly confused.
"Suit up and get ready to move. You have your orders," General Wilson says.
The Fang Two members stand ready to move as the General stares at them with a puzzled look.
"Something the matter, General?" Captain Rayne asks.
"Nothing. Just that I was expecting some resistance in accepting such a mission," General Wilson adds, slightly puzzled.
"That is what Fang Two is for, General. We do what no one else will or can," Big George proudly says. Akira and Davenport confidently nod.
"Can't be worse than when we were in Croatia, in Dubrovnik," Davenport adds.
"I thought the incident was in the city of Osijek?" General Wilson asks, incorrectly pronouncing the name.
"I'm not talking about the incident, General. I'm talking about when we visited the city of Dubrovnik for our shore leave. The prices there were insane," Davenport explains. Akira nods.
"Agreed. After seeing that there is nothing else that can surprise us anymore," Big George adds.
General Wilson stares at them dumbfounded as the unit leaves.
“Oh and Doctor,” General Wilson calls her as he gives her a small black rectangle-shaped box, “You will need this,” he adds.
Fang Two and Doctor Olivia Newton enter the base armory. Without hesitation, the members of the unit remove their clothes as they change into black uniforms. Olivia turns away in a natural response. But an important mission lies ahead and this is no time for modesty; she undresses.
Davenport, without reluctance, smiles at her. They lock eyes but Davenport doesn't shy away.
"You know, Doctor, I have to say I am quite impressed with your qualities," Davenport says, nodding in her direction, "I can't believe how quickly you calculated Celsius to Fahrenheit," he adds.
"Is that what you are impressed with?" Olivia asks with her brassiere visible.
"Didn't you hear? Intelligence is the new sexy," Davenport adds.
"That sucks for you, Davenport," Big George adds. Akira grins but quickly hides it.
"HE GRINNED!" Davenport yells as he points to Akira who puts on his outfit with a stone-cold expression.
Rayne and Big George glimpse at Akira but shake their head not believing Davenport's statement.
"I swear to god he grinned," Davenport adds. Akira shrugs feigning ignorance.
"Enough chatter, grab your bang-bang's," Captain Rayne orders.
They put on the outfits, take essential equipment, backpacks, helmets with night vision goggles, flares, rations, a medical kit, three different grenades: one frag, one incendiary, and one flashbang. Davenport and Rayne take the A-10 Tempest riffle. A lean black rifle with two different magazines, one small with 5 bullets, one extended with 40 bullets. They take two extra magazines. The new state-of-the-art military weapon combines an assault rifle and a shotgun into one holding 40 5.56x45mm NATO rounds and 5 12-gauge shells. Big George takes the big A-100 Typhoon machine gun holding 200 7.62x51mm NATO rounds and another magazine as a reserve. Akira takes the Thunderbolt 7 sniper rifle armed with 10 .50 BMG rounds with a spare magazine. The overpriced, inaccessible, rare weapons make a new line of special prototype weapons designated as the STORM family. Made to kill and look good.
The STORM family uses a new type of synthesized alloy called Aerocarbyn which greatly reduces its weight. Currently, the unloaded A-10 Tempest weighs 3,4 kg which makes it 0,4 kg lighter than the old school AK-47 despite incorporating both an assault riffle and a shotgun. They each take the 9mm A-1 Wind pistol containing 10x 9mm Parabellum bullets in a magazine; and two additional magazines for it. Each one of them, except Akira, takes a fixed blade military combat knife made from coated S30V blade steel with a blade length of 11.43cm, blade thickness of 2.92mm and the overall length of 24cm in spear point style weighing 166.13g. The quality of the blade is apparent as is its intention, it is made to kill and last. Olivia finishes suiting up but apart from the outfit and the backpack, she does not take anything else. Captain Rayne takes an extra A-1 Wind pistol, extra two magazines and a combat knife as he approaches her.
"Here," Captain Rayne says offering her the armaments.
"I didn't realize there would be a need for me to carry a weapon," Olivia states, reluctant to take the weapon.
"We don't know what we will encounter in there and it is better to be safe than sorry," Rayne explains.
Olivia pauses for a moment but takes the pistol and ammo.
"You know how to use it?" Rayne asks.
"I'm from Texas, what do you think?" Olivia responds.
Sergeant Oakes picks up the Fang Two unit and Doctor Newton with an Oshkosh Support vehicle as they make their way towards the Entity.
The vehicle makes its way against the snow. Its four pairs of wheels steadily course through the icy terrain leaving a long trail in the white. And as they approach the unnatural shape grows bigger and bigger. No words are spoken as a momentary shiver of awe spreads over their bodies like a surge of electricity. The engine of the Oshkosh and the gust of wind intertwine in an opening overture to their mission.
Barely two minutes to their destination but, the five members who are about to enter the Entity, stare at their destination as they sit outside at the back of the vehicle; their gaze does not falter. It cannot. The vehicle stops as they jump outside on the snow. The Entity lies a few steps away.
"Good luck," Sergeant Oakes says as he salutes them one more time. Captain Rayne salutes him back. The vehicle drives away.
"Suddenly, I'm not so sure about this," Davenport adds as he stares at the Entity.
"BOO!" Akira yells. Davenport jumps back in surprise.
"MOTHER..." Davenport adds as an arm appears on his shoulder.
"It's not so big," Big George remarks. Akira, Big George, and Davenport look up. It is hard to say for sure but the Entity appears to stand at about 40 meters tall. The surface of the anomaly alters like waves on the sea; they try to look inside but they cannot. Captain Rayne stops and stares at the Entity. He hears the same soft whispers calling to him.
"Afraid, Captain?" Olivia asks, approaching the Captain.
"I would be a fool to not be," Captain Rayne adds.
"I thought you military types aren't afraid of nothing?" Olivia asks, slightly surprised by his answer.
"Fear helped me survive many times." Rayne says as he turns to her, "But there is a difference in using fear to your advantage and being used by it," he adds.
He approaches; standing close to the Entity. Rayne takes a deep sigh.
"FANG TWO, MOVE!" Captain Rayne orders.
"YES, SIR!" Akira, Big George, and Davenport yell in unison.
They enter. Olivia pauses for a moment but she follows behind them.
As they enter the Entity its shell hardens turning from a liquid-like state to a solid.
Operation GUNGNIR has begun.