For an entire year, training occurred for the three new super soldiers. They had learned all the techniques and strategies from the SEALS. Now it was time for their first mission to begin.
The three stepped before Dr. Hughes. "Congratulations to you three. I had high expectations for you, and you have surpassed them exceptionally. Your skills and teamwork have become a force to be reckoned with. I am happy to say that the UNE has given me the orders to put you three into active duty." Anna, Noah, and Marcus all looked at each other.
"Your first assignment will be a search and rescue, something you have easily mastered through the simulation. You are to travel into the enemy's heart." Marcus thought, "We're going to Mars."
"You will be taking a shuttle to a colony named Vetes IV. The UNE has been trying to gain control of the colony, but the federation has been successful at repelling the attacks. Within this colony is a UNE-captured scientist by the name of Yuri Sokolov. His research is invaluable and must be recovered. Upon recovery, destroy the colony and return to Titan." The three clicked their heels, acknowledging their mission and the fact they were to depart immediately.
After a couple of hours, a space shuttle that was given to them reached the atmosphere of Mars. They checked themselves and their equipment before they deployed. Each one of them had their standard issue rifle, a knife, and a pistol. Noah and Marcus also carried a sniper rifle. The three were dressed in dark grey tactical gear, with helmets that covered their faces.
"Alright, let's do this," Noah said, his voice sounding determined. As the shuttle opened its doors, the decompressed air flew out. They then prepared for a halo jump. They were at a low altitude to ensure their survival. "Ready!" Noah shouted. "Here we go," Anna said, a hint of excitement in her voice.
The three then jumped from the ship. The drop felt like minutes, but it was only a few seconds. Their feet touched the ground. The air was dry and thin. The sky was a crimson red. There were buildings everywhere, some in ruin, some standing. The trio was surrounded by sand, dirt, and debris.
"Okay, we're on the ground," Noah said.
"Let's move out," Anna said, leading the way.
The three moved quickly and silently, their rifles at the ready. They were only two miles from the colony, and no alarms had gone off. As they walked to a ridge overlooking the colony, they chitchatted about the mission and their new selves.
"This is too easy," Marcus said, a smug grin on his face.
"You think so?" Anna replied.
"I think," Marcus said, with his cocky attitude.
"I think we're doing a great job. I think this is gonna be easy," Noah said, keeping his voice even.
"Alright, let's stay focused," Anna said, a serious expression on her face.
They reached the ridge, crouching down.
"We have a clear view of the colony," Noah said.
"I'm not picking up any signs of movement," Anna said, looking through a pair of binoculars.
"What do you think, Marcus?" Noah asked.
"I think," Marcus began, his gaze fixed on the colony.
"I think," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
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"We have a chance," he finished.
Noah and Anna looked at each other, their expressions unreadable.
"We need a plan," Anna said.
"Alright, here's what we'll do," Noah said.
"Marcus, you take position here. Anna, you're here. I'll be over there."
Marcus took another look at the base. "There's little to no security. I see only five guards on top of the wall and two within the center. If there's a Scientist valuable to the UNE, then it would be more heavily secured."
"You're right," Anna agreed.
"But there's nothing we can do. We have orders."
"We'll be fine," Noah said.
"Let's go," Marcus said, leading the charge.
Anna followed behind him, with Noah covering the rear. They were soon at the wall of the base. Marcus looked at it and took a few steps back. "What are you doing?" his squad members asked him. "I'm doing a field test," he said, running past them at top speed. Marcus easily ran up the wall and onto it. The noise he made was loud, however, and alerted two of the closest guards near him. He quickly shot one and then threw his knife at the other. Both guards fell quickly, as if a ghost sucked the air out of their lungs. As Marcus collected his knife, Noah and Anna appeared beside him. "So far, so good," Anna said.
They then scaled down the wall. Marcus went ahead. His footsteps were silent. His eyes were locked on the two guards patrolling the inner grounds. Noah and Anna were a couple of yards behind him, their weapons ready. As they got closer to the two guards, Marcus signaled for them to take positions. Noah and Anna split, one going left, the other going right.
Marcus watched as the guards stopped and began conversing with each other. He then sprinted towards the two, his footsteps still silent. Once he was close enough, he quickly grabbed one guard and wrapped his arm around the man's neck. The guard struggled against him, but it was no use. Marcus broke the man's neck. The other guard looked in surprise and went for his gun. He was too late; Marcus was quicker. He grabbed the man and smashed his head against a wall, killing him instantly. "It appears we only needed one soldier for this mission," Anna said. "I think we have become more powerful than Dr. Hughes had thought we'd become. Our abilities and training were able to easily adapt us to the battlefield. We have become a new breed of human." "You may be right," Noah replied, walking up to the two dead bodies.
"We need to find that scientist."
"How are we gonna find him?" Anna asked.
"I have an idea," Marcus said before leaving the two. As he runs away, the two turn to each other looking confused. A minute passes by, and Marcus returns with a guard. "He'll help us." The two thought Marcus was joking, but the evidence before them was not even close to being a joke. Marcus was holding the man by his hair. The man had a bruise on his face, and his hands were tied together. He was shaking and sweating. "W-what do you want?" he stammered. "Well, we'll start easy first. What is your name?" Noah asked. The man looked at Noah, then at Anna.
"A-alex." "Nice to meet you, Alex. My name is Noah. This is Anna. What do you do here, Alex?" Noah asked.
"W-we're a mining colony." "Mining? For what?" Marcus asked, his voice harsh.
"M-metals and ores. We sell it to the federation for money."
"I thought it was a federation colony," Marcus said.
"W-well, it was a federation colony, but after the war started, they abandoned us. Now it's our own."
"Hmmm, interesting," Noah said.
"Tell us where the scientist is," Anna demanded.
"W-who?"
"Yuri Sokolov."
"I-I don't know who that is," the man replied, a panicked look on his face.
"Do you have prisoners here?"
"W-we do."
"Are they kept underground?"
"Y-yes."
"Good, that's all we need," Noah said, pulling out his knife.
The man began to struggle, his eyes wide. "What are you doing?" Marcus asked Noah.
"Just watch." Noah said, a grin on his face.
He pressed the knife against the man's neck, the blade digging in.
"P-please don't kill me," the man pleaded. "Noah if you kill that man, I will kill you," Marcus spoke, his tone cold. "He is a POW." Noah steps back and understands. Marcus then squeezes the air out of the man's neck till he passes out on the ground. "I think we got the information we needed," Noah said.
"Yeah," Marcus agreed.
"Let's go," Anna said.
"We have a scientist to save," Noah added.
The trio ran off to the building located in the center of the colony. It was the tallest structure in the base and the most secure. They approached the building, their rifles at the ready. There was no sign of any guards.
"I really don't like this. We are infiltrating a mining colony," Marcus said.
"This mining colony mines for the Federations, that includes them in the list of our enemies." Noah replies, the two butting heads once again.
"Alright, let's focus," Anna interjects.
"Marcus, you're with me. We'll take the front entrance. Noah, you're on the roof. Cover us."