September 2070. Washington D.C. United Nations of America.

The rest of the day passed like a fast-forwarded movie—every conversation, interaction, and mode of travel sped up and barely memorable. By the following morning, Liam was taking a C-5 transport from Ronald Reagan National Airport to Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Even that flight felt like a half-remembered dream as he took the opportunity to read Valorus’ dossier on the contract. He wasn’t surprised to find little more than the name of the facility, the Yucca Mountain Complex, and a few names of key personnel. Whatever maps included were just low-res satellite images of the entire Area of Responsibility with little to no data on the complex.

Upon landing, a faceless bureaucrat guided Liam to a waiting CV-22 Osprey—the aircraft that would take him to the heart of the mystery. The plane was an engineering marvel with a unique tilt-rotor design that allowed it to take off and land like a helicopter or fly like a plane. He hadn’t had many opportunities to ride on the aircraft during his stint in the Army.

He knew the Air Force Special Forces relied on this particular model for operations, but he had little experience with it. His team in the Army typically moved around on either an AH-6 or MH-6—dotingly called “Little Birds.” Of course, that was when precision was required.

If they needed more firepower, then the MH-60 Black Hawk was their ride of choice. Either way, the passage in the Osprey was more comfortable and far quicker than the military transport he rode to Edwards.

As the Osprey soared through the skies, a mechanical facsimile of its namesake, Liam scanned the breathtaking vistas of the Nevada desert unfolding below, a timeless grandeur capable of swallowing more than just secrets. Despite his outward professional demeanor, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and apprehension, knowing that he was venturing into uncharted territory, literally and figuratively.

The flight to Yucca Mount was both thrilling and surreal. As they pierced further into the barren landscape, Liam couldn’t believe the lengths the UNA government had gone to conceal the secretive research facility. Yucca Mountain, a remote and isolated location that was supposed to be a nuclear waste repository, was the perfect choice for such a covert operation.

When they approached the mountain, Liam noticed something peculiar. A manufactured aberration of the natural order stood out. The sands shifted, propelled by subsurface vibrations, revealing a concealed hangar entrance on the crest of the flattened mountain. As the Osprey approached, it transformed. The wings tilted, and the Osprey switched to vertical takeoff and landing mode. Once the transition was complete, the concealed hangar obligingly opened, and the skilled pilots allowed the aircraft to descend into the heart of the mountain.

The underground hangar was both awe-inspiring and slightly unsettling. The hangar was more massive than its entrance would suggest. It could fit an entire squadron within its depths. Its towering ceilings seemed to stretch into the unknown like an ancient cathedral, and Liam could hardly imagine the sheer amount of labor required to construct such a facility—and this was just one hangar. He still hadn’t seen the rest of the complex.

The Osprey touched down with a slight bump, and the engines began to wind down. One of the crew chiefs opened the crew door at the front of the aircraft and near the cockpit. Liam got out of his jumpseat without being prompted and left the provided communications headset in his seat. As he stepped out of the aircraft, he spotted a man in contractor garb approaching the plane.

Liam noticed his shirt's stylized red tiger paw print as he neared. Someone had tasked a member of Redwater to greet him.

“Welcome to the Yucca Mountain Complex, Ward,” the man said with a considering glance before gesturing at the hangar entrance high above. “As you can see, we take security very seriously here.”

The two men shook hands, and Liam replied. “Mark Flint, I presume?” The other contractor resembled the name and the image in his info packet. Flint was the current head of security for the facility and the man that Liam was supposed to replace.

“That’s me,” Mark gave a reassuring smile. “Impressive, huh?”

“You or the facility?” Liam intentionally misinterpreted the other man’s statement to elicit a chuckle.

“Me, of course, but I guess Yucca is nice too,” Mark said with a accompanied shrug. “Come on, the Director wants to see you, and it isn’t best to keep him waiting.”

Liam nodded in acceptance and followed the other man’s lead. “A stickler for the rules?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Despite being a doctor and a scientist, Director Ellis was born to be a blood-sucking administrator.”

Liam winced at the revelation. He knew the type. They were a pain to work with and always wanted to interject themselves in matters they knew nothing about. He was somewhat surprised by the frank statement from Flint, but Liam figured the man was extending some professional courtesy.

Flint led Liam through the underground complex, narrating the various departments they passed on the way to the Director’s office like a consummate tour guide. The facility was bustling with activity as scientists, engineers, and security personnel moved about the passageways like they were running late to the most important meeting of their lives.

When they arrived at the Director’s office, Flint knocked on the door and gestured for Liam to enter. “Once you’re done, come see me in my office. It’s just down the hallway in that direction,” he instructed before pointing down the spartan hallway.

Liam nodded and stepped inside. The interior of the office was more spacious than he had expected. He assumed space would be a premium when excavating each square foot would be expensive. The overhead lighting was warm, like soft rays of sunlight, rather than the harsh bright light cast over the rest of the facility.

The meticulously organized room reflected the precision and dedication of its owner. Dr. Ellis was behind an industrial desk in the center of the room that resembled a lab table more than office furniture.

Ellis was facing the door when Liam stepped in, so he took a moment to take stock of the administrator. He appeared middle-aged with short dark hair graying at the sides and a clean shave. The administrator was dressed in a dark gray suit without a tie and undone collar, featuring a silver infinity symbol pinned to his lapel. Ellis excluded an air of casual confidence. His eyes sharpened as he rose, greeting the contractor with a practiced smile.

“Liam Ward, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said, extending a hand.” I’m Dr. Spencer Ellis, the director of this facility. We’re delighted to have you on board.”

Liam took the other man’s hand, impressed by the firm, assertive handshake. To be honest, with Flint’s depiction of the director, he had expected someone more cagey. Despite his reservations, he took the man’s hand before sitting down.

“Thank you Dr. Ellis, the pleasure is mine. Valorus is excited to get to work.”

Ellis settled into his seat and leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Liam’s with an unsettling focus.

“I sincerely hope so. Yucca Mountain Complex is one of the UNA's most secretive and important research facilities.”

Liam nodded. “I was impressed by our entrance. Can you tell me a little bit about the complex?”

“Sure,” the director said with a smile that oozed superiority and pride. “I’ll get rid of the shocking part first, and then we can get down to the security details.”

The director laid his palms flat on the table in preparation for the big reveal. “I think I’ll start with a little history lesson. Back in 1947, an alien spacecraft landed in Roswell, New Mexico. There was no crash—it was an attempted first contact from an advanced space-faring race.”

Liam’s eyebrows raised. “What happened to the aliens?”

Ellis frowned. “Alien is an imprecise term, but regardless, I don’t know.”

The doctor’s expression grew more animated as he continued. “The more important question is, what happened to the ship? In short, the federal government tasked several private corporations to study and unlock the secrets hidden in its construction. The government constructed a facility at Area 51 to contain and research the ship at Groom Lake, Nevada. Around the 1980s, they decided to move the vessel to Los Alamos, New Mexico, and it stayed there until 2019 when the facility came under public scrutiny.”

“So, what brings us here?” Liam was trying to figure out how the director’s story, unbelievable as it was, pertained to his contract.

Ellis grinned broadly. “The government initially constructed this facility to store nuclear waste. In 2019, the administration told the public that Yucca Mountain was being shuttered, no longer a part of the federal nuclear-waste disposal program. However, it became the latest home for the extraterrestrial spaceship.”

“So that’s why all the secrecy,” Liam replied flatly. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that they were not alone in the universe and that the UNA government had an entire facility dedicated to studying advanced alien technology.

“Precisely,” Ellis agreed. “This facility represents the cutting edge of scientific explorations,” he explained. “Our primary goal is to study and unlock the mysteries of the technology recovered from that same spacecraft nearly 150 years ago. The potential applications of this technology are vast and far-reaching—medical advancements, energy solutions, and of course, national security enhancements. Our mission here is to push the boundaries of human knowledge and ensure our nation’s safety in the process.”

Despite himself, Liam was captivated by the other man’s words and the dedication that radiated from him. He belatedly realized that he stepped into a world where science and national security converged, and the responsibility began to weigh heavily on his mind.

Ellis noted Liam’s expression. “I can see this is all new to you. It’s perfectly normal to be overwhelmed. Rest assured—you’re not alone in feeling that way. Our current team has been grappling with these mysteries for decades.”

Despite the director’s assurances, Liam had a nagging concern. “If we’ve had access to this technology for more than a hundred years, then why haven’t we been able to progress more than we have?”

The director frowned at the question, and Liam thought he might have offended the other man, but when the doctor replied, he realized the frown was from frustration and not offense.

“The complexity of this technology is unlike anything we’ve encountered,” he explained.

“We’ve made progress, but there’s still so much we don’t understand. Seeing something work doesn’t necessarily mean we can replicate or fully comprehend its underlying principles. It’s like trying to understand science in an entirely new language. The technology threw long-held assumptions out of the window, but we’ve had some huge breakthroughs. For example, the cure for MERS-44 in 2050 originated from gene-editing techniques we discovered in this complex.”

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Liam was shocked once more. “That cure likely saved millions of lives.”

“Billions,” Ellis corrected. “The infant mortality rate was well over thirty percent before we distributed the cure to our citizens and governments that were still around that time. MERS-44 was a bio-weapon developed in secret Iranian labs. They designed it to target populations that didn’t have key genetic markers present in Arab populations. The cure edited the population's genome to include the markers that designated Arab populations safe.”

“I didn’t know that,” Liam said with an awed tone. “None of us actually knew what was in the vaccine.”

“That was by design,” Ellis shrugged. “Everyone was scared, and asking them to take an unknown vaccine that used never-before-seen technology would’ve added to that fear. The UNA government tightly controls the production of the compound and only administered it through Party-approved personnel in secure government facilities. The gene editing is subtle enough that to this day, no one else has discovered the source of its effectiveness.”

Liam couldn’t help but feel a bit betrayed by his government. It was true that some people would be stupid even in the face of certain death. But he wasn’t sure the end justified the means in this case. Had the government been honest about what the vaccine contained, he still would’ve taken it. He had seen more of his friends and comrades die to MERS-44 than from the Iranians and their Shia allies.

“I can see the conflict on your face,” Eliis lowered his voice. “The technology we possess is unlike anything the world has seen, and not everyone is prepared to handle it responsibly. We must ensure that no authorized individuals gain access to this research. The consequences of that would be catastrophic.”

Still uneasy with the revelations, Liam nodded. He fully understood the gravity of the situation. The experienced contractor had been part of classified operations for over twenty years. He likely had more practice keeping secrets than the director did.

“I understand, Dr. Ellis. You can count on my team and me to ensure the utmost security and confidentiality,” he assured the director.

“Excellent,” Ellis’ voice returned to its typical pitch. “We value your expertise and experience, Liam. I’ve thoroughly vetted your background and found myself impressed. You spent ten years in the army, ascending from the 82nd Airborne into Delta Force. From there, you left the Iranian invasion and joined the CIA as an operator in their Department of Operations. You were deployed to the European theater and spent five years there before leaving the CIA to join Valorus. Since then, you’ve worked several unsavory jobs for the UNA government. If I may ask, why did you join your current company?”

Liam hadn’t expected the director to be so well-versed in his history. His thoughts must have shown on his face because Ellis commented further.

“You didn’t think I would approve your leadership unless you had been thoroughly vetted?” The doctor rubbed the silver pin on his lapel in a habitual gesture. “This is one of our most promising projects. We wouldn’t leave it in the hands of just anyone.”

“No, I figured someone would. I just didn’t expect it to be you,” Liam cooly recovered. “To answer your question, I got tired of seeing death and destruction. We were fighting desperate, helpless people, and there didn’t seem to be a way forward that didn’t include more of the same. At least with Valorus, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

“It doesn’t help that your mother is sick, and you need to find a way to get her the treatment she needs,” Ellis calmly noted. “Have no fear—I’ve scheduled some time to review her prognosis. I’ll check if we can do something for her here.

Liam eyes widened, and he immediately decided he didn’t like this snake in a lab coat. The doctor had been purposefully putting him on a back foot this entire conversation. The latest barb was just a crude way to remind him that the doctor knew more than he did. Still, this was a job, and despite how much he disliked his new boss, it was the only way to help his mom.

“I would greatly appreciate that,” he said with faux sincerity.

“It’s no bother,” the doctor spoke like an aristocrat granting a boon to a peasant. “Welcome to the light, my new friend. What we’re doing here will change the world for the better.”

Liam nodded, eager to change the subject to the details of this new assignment. “Dr. Ellis, what are your specific expectations for my security team?”

Ellis leaned back in his chair, considering the question. “Your team will play a pivotal role in ensuring the security and confidentiality of this facility, but of course, that’s obvious. We’re dealing with technology of immense interest to the other global superpowers, namely Russia and China. Your responsibility will include monitoring access points, safeguarding the research data, and ensuring our work remains confidential and protected.”

Liam shrugged. The director hadn’t said anything he didn’t already know. “Security will be our top priority,” he affirmed.

The director smiled, appreciating the commitment. “That’s precisely what I hoped to hear,” he said. “But, it’s not just about physical security. I also need you to foster a collaborative atmosphere with the other departments. We possess an intellectually diverse team of scientists, engineers, and researchers; their comfort and expertise are crucial to our progress. It’s important that they feel at ease approaching your team with any concerns they might have.”

Ellis paused as if to consider his following words carefully. “I don’t want to cast unfair judgment on Mr. Flint’s team, but their heavy-handed approach has made the staff less than cooperative in their interactions. They’re more afraid of the security team than appreciative of their efforts, and that will likely be a hurdle your team will need to overcome.”

Liam recognized the significance of the man’s last statement. Collaboration was critical to achieving success in his mission. Frequently, the civilians were the first to catch a security breach because they were closer to the subject than the security team. He was determined to ensure a seamless working relationship with all the various departments.

“Thank you for the warning,” Liam acknowledged. “I’ll ensure my team understands the importance of maintaining a respectful and courteous relationship with the civilian staff.”

“I have no doubt,” the administrator approved. “There’s only one final note I need to share. You, of course, will have full access to the entire facility. However, I’d consider it a professional favor if you try to limit the exposure of the rest of your team. I try to keep a tight rein on my staff, and I expect you to do the same.

“Not only that, but you should be aware that you and your team’s quarters will be within the complex. We do our best to limit interaction with the outside world, which begins with bunking you here. Each member will have an assigned room, well-appointed with options for entertainment.”

“We also have a full cafeteria, gym, recreational spaces, and anything else you might need in the short term. We have supply runs that bring in outside goods once a month, and the personnel stationed here are given extreme latitude in what they’re allowed to order.”

Liam winced at the thought of being cooped up in the facility for three years. He now understood why Amal had offered such a significant bonus. Likely, the contract with the UNA government accounts for the problematic and isolating nature of the assignment.

Ellis nodded in mutual understanding. “I know it’s a difficult ask, but it’s necessary. One final thing—you’ll find a tablet and computer in your quarters linked to our network. Nothing from the outside world can be allowed to connect. So when your team arrives, please confiscate their phones and communication devices. There are dedicated terminals to communicate with family or friends from the outside world. I probably don’t have to inform you that the UNA government heavily monitors every communication leaving this facility.

Liam nodded, fully expecting that to be the case once he heard the nature of the secret buried in the complex.

“Understood, Dr. Ellis. I’ll be doing a turnover with Flint for the next week and then another week-long turnover between his team and mine. I assure you that the transition will be seamless, and I’ll be ready to begin working in earnest by the end of the period.”

Ellis looked relieved. “Thank you, Mr. Ward. I’m looking forward to our collaboration. If you have nothing else for me, I have nothing for you.”

Liam rose from his seat, recognizing a polite dismissal when he heard one. “No, Doctor. Thank you for your time. Unless it’s an emergency, I’ll schedule any further meetings in advance.”

“Thank you for that,” Ellis said, impressed by the contractor's courtesy.

Leaving the director’s office, Liam felt a strong sense of purpose. He was finally leading a monumentally important job that didn’t require him to deal with death daily. He just had to keep the facility secure and keep the civilians in line. If anything, the contract felt like a counterintelligence mission rather than a security one. It was likely one of the reasons why Amal assigned him the agreement in the first place. Few in Valorus had the experience that he did.

As he made his way down the hallway to Flint’s office, he couldn’t help but notice the buzz of activity around him again. Scientists and researchers hurriedly moved between labs, engrossed in their work, while security personnel maintained a vigilant presence.

Soon, he arrived at Flint’s office, the room that would soon become his sole domain. A discreet plaque that simply read ‘Head of Security’ adorned the wall, emphasizing the confidentiality of the role. Liam knocked, and the door swung open to reveal a spacious, well-organized room.

Inside, the office exuded an air of authority, with maps of the facility covering one wall and screens displaying various security feeds on the opposite side. A large desk stood in the center, and Flint sat at it, focused on a report.

“Come in, Ward,” Flint said, motioning him inside. “Take a seat.”

Liam entered and greeted the other man with a nod. “Thanks, Flint.”

“Happy to see you made it in one piece,” The former Head of Security said with a wry smile. “What did you think of Ellis?”

Liam chuckled, appreciating the other contractor’s humor. “Seems that way, although I was wary of turning my back. Ellis is a snake, but a job is a job.” Liam shrugged to accentuate the point. “No hard feelings on the turnover, I hope? The government likes cheap, and apparently, we’re cheap enough..”

Flint nodded in affirmation. “Yeah, he has that effect on people and no hard feelings at all. To tell the truth, I’m ready to finish this assignment. There’s only so long you can stare at the same corridors without feeling a little crazy. I’ll be honest— this position sucks. You don’t have the freedom to be friendly with the civilians, even if they weren’t arrogant little shits, and you need to maintain a degree of separation between you and your men.”

“I understand,” Liam said appreciatively, fully recognizing the other man's friendly advice.

“Good, beyond the obvious, there are some unique challenges here, considering the nature of the technology we’re dealing with and the tight confines of the facility,” Flint remarked, his tone turning serious.

Liam leaned forward, excited to get into the finer points of the job.

“What do I need to worry about?” He inquired.

Flint leaned back in his chair, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Well, aside from keeping out the spies and extraterrestrial enthusiasts, this job is more about ensuring the civilians don’t reveal our secrets. Some are functioning alcoholics, and we’ve had more than one incident that led to…uncomfortable conversations.”

Liam raised an eyebrow, appreciating the dark humor behind the other man’s words.

“Got it, Alcoholics Anonymous service along with top-notch security,” Liam replied, matching the tone.

There was a whine above them, and Liam glanced up to see a ceiling-mounted camera turn in his direction and focus its aperture in his direction.

“Is that someone screwing with us?” He asked.

“I wish it were,” Flint admitted. “Things like that happen all the time. Everyone has taken to calling it a ghost. Seems we have more than just alien tech lurking in these halls. Sometimes the equipment acts up; some say it’s the spirits past experiments haunting us.”

Liam chuckled, half wondering if Flint was serious or pulling his leg.

“Ghosts?” Liam asked, playing along.

Flint smirked. “Well, who knows? Maybe it’s because of the big damned alien spaceship parked in one of our hangars, but several strange incidents have required my team to respond.”

He began to list issues with his fingers. “I’ve had computers malfunction like they’re being remotely hacked—nearly impossible because our network is air-gapped from anything resembling an outdoor connection. We’ve had reports of voices issuing from various speakers throughout the installation. Certain technologies or systems have become corrupted or fried themselves—seemingly right as a researcher was on the verge of some big discovery.”

Liam digested the anomalies. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say a foreign entity attacked you.”

Flint tapped a finger on his desk. “And I thought the same thing. Except, it only happens to civilians. Not a single major event has occurred in the presence of one of my security personnel. By the time we’ve arrived, the anomaly is over, or it could be explained by something mundane that the civilian jacked up.”

“And you can’t be sure the civilians are telling the truth—besides moving cameras, at least,” Liam supplied. “They’re overworked and more than a little crazy from being stuck in this facility the whole time.”

“You see my problem—well, your problem now.” Flint agreed.

“I do,” Liam said slowly. “But I don’t see much of a solution for now.”

“Yeah, just something to be aware of. Normally I wouldn’t mention it, but it’s been a puzzle driving me crazy. Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did,” Flint said with a grimace, annoyance writ across his face.

There was a moment of silence as the two men considered the problem. Finally, Flint broke the comfortable peace. “We’ll either figure it out or we won't. Regardless, I bet you’re tired. I’ll take you to your quarters and show you all the important facilities. Do you prefer how you want the handoff to proceed?”

Liam nodded. “I want a full tour of the facility, an introduction to all the department heads, and a copy of your shift rotation, emergency plans, and penetration analysis. Basically, I want to get everything you’ve got and some time to figure it out.”

Flint nodded. “You’ll have it. Let’s get you settled in, and I'll get everything sent over to your personal computer.”