The Nucleus Project: Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Aftermath

Nucleus Facility

Trans-Dimensional Joint Task Force
Four Hours Later
The VTOL carrying Major General Shephard, Krenzi, Alyx Vance, RED Soldier, Gordon Freeman, and Barney Calhoun was the first to land outside of what used to be the Nucleus Facility that was nothing more than a large smoldering crater in the center of the forest that had been flattened by the shockwave from the blast

"Oh my god..." Alyx said as she and the others looked across the crater

"Spread out and look for survivors!" Shephard shouted to his men

"This is bad, real bad Shephard." The RED Soldier said to him

"I know Soldier..." He replied as he activated his comms, "Claire are you there? What is command saying?"

"I'm here Shephard and it's not good, the explosion of that reactor has released a huge amount of dark energy that's already began to spread across the Mann verse and has started to form several portals, and it's not just staying in the Mann verse because there's report of a new portal forming in the Zombie verse as well." Claire said to him, "Good news is that Brokaw has already dispatched forces to take control of the ones in Allied territory, but one here in the Mann Verse is dangerously close to Combine-controlled territory and the one in the Zombie Verse is in territory controlled by Serbia aka it's controlled by the damn Pact."

"God dammit, any idea where these portals are leading to?" HE asked her

"Kleiner and Magnusson have traced them to a new dimension, so it looks like the war is about to expand some more." She replied

"Oh just what we fucking need! Another damn front!" Krenzi shouted before Shephard cut him short with a motion of his hand

"We have a job to do general and we shouldn't be complaining about it!" Shephard said to Krenzi before returning his attention back to Claire on the comms, "How long do we have?"

"A day at the most." Claire replied

"Then we don't have much time, we're going to finish up here and head back to Japan. You keep us posted on any new developments!" Shephard said to her

"Yes sir." She replied

"Sounds like we have a long day ahead of us general." The RED Soldier said to him

"I know...but for now lets try to locate any survivors so we can get out of here before BLU or the Soviets launch a counter attack." He replied

RED Soldier nodded and looked back at RED Team #405

"Okay maggots! You heard the general, lets go find some survivors!" He shouted to them before left as the others started to spread to find survivors

"What can you tell me about this dimension? Have they discovered any radio signals coming from it?" Shephard asked Claire

"Yes, but they're very basic ones and there's too static to make anything up from them." She replied, "But if they're human, we don't know."

"Well I guess we'll be finding out soon enough." Shephard said to her, "As I said before, keep me posted."

"Don't worry I will Shephard." She replied

***
BLU High Command; Northern Canada; Mann Verse
The Ubermensch was with his inner circle that included his most entrusted advisors and allies that included one of the chief leaders of the Northern Faction and several heads of states that were friendly to the Ontario Pact

"We do not have much time to waste komeraden. Soon there will be new portals forming here and in the Zombie Verse and we unfortunately have access to only one with the other two being out of our reach. So we must hurry if we are to beat our enemies in reaching the new dimension on the other side." The Ubermensch said to them

"I've already dispatched forces to take control of the one in our territory. But we need to consider the possibility of whatever being the other side of those portals not being friendly to humans." The Northern Faction Leader replied

There were quiet whispers throughout the gathered Inner circle while the Ubermensch nodded

"We will know soon enough Herr General." The Ubermensch said to him, "But for now we must focus on getting there to find out in the first place."

***
Capital of the Brenodi Empire
Later that Night
General Brokaw was with the leaders of the Major Allied that included the President of the Earth Empire, Brando Douglas, Empress Bertha, and Miss Pauling who were gathered around a large table in the soundproof cabinet room of the Imperial Palace

"We should've known that the BLUs were not going to let us take their secret weapon without a fight." Miss Pauling said to them, "I've should've never brought the Pentagon into this..."

"Well it's too late to do anything about it now." Douglas replied, "But now we must deal with these new portals and whoever is going to be living on the other side because we only have a day or less to get forces to the one near Combine-held territory and the Combine are no doubly already on the move to take control of it."

"We already have forces in route to it, but if you're right, the Combine will reach it before we do it and probably get some forces through it. But we'll contest them for it none of the less." Brokaw replied, "On the other hand, I say we send the TDTJF through the other one in Mann Verse Australia to see if they can make contact with who or what is living on the other side."

"Do it." Douglas said to him, "We cannot let the Combine or the damn Ubermensch take a whole damn dimension for themselves. Where is the TDJTF?"

"They're at the Nucleus Facility evacuating survivors." Brokaw replied

"Recall them immediately, we need them now." Douglas said to him

"Yes sir." He replied, "But sir I think we should really consider rethinking our Combine First Policy because it's starting to become obvious that the Pact is just as dangerous to us."

"I agree with the general, we must devote more of our attention into fighting the Pact so something like this doesn't happen again." Bertha said to Douglas

"I'll think about it..." He replied, "But I won't make any decisions until we make contact with the inhabitants of the new dimension."

***The End***

The Nucleus Project: Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Screaming Eagles

US Military Base; Hokkaido, Japan - Mann Verse
101st Airborne Division
A Hour Later
Private Manduser was sitting in the back row of chairs in the company briefing room while his commanding officer prepared to brief him and the other paratroopers on their mission

"You all better listen up now, because we only have enough time to cover this once before we got out!" The Commanding Officer shouted, "Our friends at Allied High Command have uncovered a BLU secret weapon project based in Siberia and our mission is to stop from completing it!"

"What kind of secret weapon sir?" One US Soldier asked him

"We don't know son, the REDs aren't telling us much about it, all they gave us was it's location on the map and what we're supposed to do. But all we do know is that we can't afford to let it become operational!" He replied, "But luckily we won't be alone because several more divisions will be coming to help from other bases in the region along with Spectre gunships from the 497th Tactical Airlift Squadron and the Marines."

"What about the Soviets?" Another US Soldier asked him

"We don't know if they'll be showing up or not, but we do know is that we will be facing BLU Shocktroopers! Which means we will be fighting hard as soon as we hit the ground!" He replied, "Which is why this operation is all hands on deck! That is all, dismissed! Good luck out there, because you're all going to need it!"

Manduser and his fellow US soldiers got up from their seats

"Great, a suicide mission!" One of them said

"We don't know that yet corporal. But it does sound a lot like one to me as well though. " Their Squad Leader replied, "But orders are orders, so we're going if it's a suicide mission or not."

"Why don't they use the TDJTF for this? Isn't this their kind of op?" Manduser asked him

"Guess they weren't available." He replied
***
South Africa; Zombie Verse
Trans-Dimensional Joint Strike Force - In Route to the Kimberly Portal
Claire was on the radio with General Brokaw while General Shephard talked to Alyx, the RED Soldier, and Krenzi about the mission

"How the hell did the BLUs even get this far into this project without us noticing?" Krenzi asked him

"We don't know, but that part doesn't matter any more. What matters now is that we make sure they never get the chance to use it!" He replied

"How do we even know if it's even going to work when they do use it?" The RED Engineer asked him

"I'm not willing to take that chance." He replied while Claire got off the radio

"Miss Pauling got the Mann verse Pentagon involved and they've mobilized everything that can reach the facility, and they're preparing to launch a full scale assault against it." She said to them

"Shit, that's a bad idea! They're going to have no idea what they're dealing with!" Alyx replied

"Then we better make haste before they fuck it up!" The RED Soldier said

"There is no way we're going to reach them in time!" Alyx yelled to him, "They might as well shoot themselves in the foot!"

"It could be worse! But there is no use in complaining about it, because there is noting we can do about it from here!" Shephard said to them

***
Nucleus Facility
The Ubermensch was still watching the construction of his secret weapon from the Observation deck when Hammer came inside and stood alongside him

"What is it Hammer?" The Ubermensch asked him

"Our defenses are nearly complete, but we've got a problem. The American military has mobilized all their forces in Alaska, South Korea, and the Japanese islands, so they're no doubly preparing to attack us and we don't have the firepower to stop them." He replied, "I suggest that you leave so you won't be captured if they overrun the facility."

"Fully noted." The Ubermensch said to him, "But what about the TDJTF?"

"We don't know." He replied

"Well it's now obvious to me that we're not going to be able to complete the weapon before the Allies start their attack." Ubermensch said to him

"Then what should we do?" He asked him

"Well we can't let our enemies get a hold of it, so we'll have to destroy it." He replied

"Destroy it? How?" Hammer asked him

"If the Allies do attack and overwhelm the facility's defenses, have our engineers disable the safety functions on the reactor." He replied

"What will that do?" Hammer asked him

"Well according to one of the scientists we have working on it, it will cause the reactor to overload itself and destabilize causing an dark energy explosion." He replied

"I may not be the smartest one around here, but wouldn't that cause more portals to open?" Hammer asked him

"It's better than letting the Allies take control of it and using it against us." He replied

Hammer nodded

"It will be done." He said to him

***
Somewhere over the Sea of Okhotsk - Mann Verse
101st Airborne - In route to the Nucleus Facility
A Hour later
Manduser was sitting next to his squad leader on one of the C-130s taking the 101st and several other divisions to the their drop zone outside the Nucleus Facility while a small fleet of American ships sailed in the same direction

"How far are we from the drop zone?" Manduser asked his Squad Leader

"About a half an hour." He replied after looking at his watch, "So is this your first time going into combat?"

"Yes Sir." Manduser said to him

"So I guess your a draftee?" He asked him

"Yeah." He replied

"I feel for you son, I was drafted for Nam before this shit started." The Squad Leader said to him, "I was only promoted to squad leader when the Combine wiped out a majority of our stateside officers."

"So is this the first time you've gone against the BLUs?" He asked him

"The BLUs? Nah, I ran into a few of them the last time we were in Vietnam. But never any shocktroopers though, I've heard plenty of stories about them though." He replied

"What kind of stories?" Manduser asked him

"Stories that make the all shit that I saw in Nam look like a sideshow if they're true." He replied

"We're ten minutes from the drop zone! So you all better start getting ready to jump!" The Pilot shouted to them from the cockpit

"You heard the man! Get ready to lock and load!" The Company Commander shouted as Manduser began to check his equipment to make he had everything he needed including his Light Anti-Tank Weapon(LAW) and M14 Battle Rifle along with his parachute and the reserve chute while his squad leader took a drink from his canteen before offering it Manduser

"Take a drink, you're going to need it." He said to him

"Thanks." He replied as he took the canteen and took a quick drink from it before handing it back to him while the Company Commander stood up and counted the passing minutes with his wrist watch as the plane came closer to the drop zone while B-52s flew past the C-130s and dropped daisy cutters into the wooded area that surrounded the Nucleus facility, clearing away the trees to make drop zones for the paratroopers to land safely while also destroying any nearby BLU defensive positions

"Okay stand up and line up at the door!" The Company Commander shouted as he motioned with his hands for his men to stand up and to come toward the door behind him before one of the C-130's two engines was hit by a anti-air round

"Shit, both right engines are on fire! Everybody bail out!" The Pilot shouted as the company commander pushed the door open

"EVERYBODY OUT!" He shouted as started to push his men out of the aircraft before it was finally Manduser's turn; when Manduser jumped out of the C-130, he waited a few a seconds pulling the cord that released his parachute that slowed his descent down the ground as flak rounds exploded all around in the skies around him as batteries of anti-air guns fired at the American aircraft flying over them before he landed in one of the areas that had been cleared by the daisy cutters where he quickly packed up his parachute and pulled out his M14 as other US soldiers around him began to advance toward the facility as the sounds of distant and nearby gunfire broke out in all directions

"What unit are you from?" A US Officer asked Manduser

"Baker Company sir!" He replied

"Well this is Able! So you're with us for now!" The Officer said to him, "Now get your ass moving to the front, we need all the men we can get!"

Manduser nodded and ran forward toward the Nucleus Facility that was visible over the treetops as he entered the tree line and joined a squad of paratroopers who were trying to take out a BLU Anti-Air position

"Do you know how to use that LAW private?" One of the Paratroopers asked him

"Yes sir!" He replied
"Good! Use it to take out that sentry nest down there so we can knock out those guns!" The Paratrooper said to him

Manduser nodded and pulled out his LAW before extended the back and arming it before he went forward and aimed it at the BLU sentry nest before firing the weapon and hitting the center of the next, immediately knocking out the sentries and the BLU engineers protecting them and allowing the squad to press forward with their attack on the anti-air guns

"Good shot private!" One of the Soldiers shouted as he vaulted out of his cover as Manduser dropped the now useless LAW and took up his M14 and joined them in their attack on the AA site

Inside the Nucleus Facility, Hammer and four BLU Shock Engineers entered the main control room for the reactor where several scientists were working on the watchful eye of several BLU Shock soldiers

"Get out of the way." Hammer growled to one of the scientists as he pushed him out of his seat in front of one of the control panels to allow the Shock Engineers to take his place where they began to deactivate all the safety measures for the reactor

"What the hell are you doing?! You're going to kill us all!" The Scientist shouted

Hammer pointed his shotgun at the Scientist's chest before pulling the trigger, killing the Scientist instantly with a slug round, Hammer then looked at one of the BLU Shock Soldiers

"Get the others out of here so they don't get in the way." He said to them

"Yes sir!" One of the Shock Soldiers replied as they began to escort the other scientists out of the room at gunpoint while Hammer watched the Shock Engineers deactivate the last of the reactor's safety measures

"It's all set Mr. Hammer." One of the Engineers said to him, "But we better haul ass because we don't want to get in the blast when this entire place goes up."

"Da." Hammer replied as he and the Shock Engineers left the Control room as alarms started to blare across the facility

***
Several minutes later outside the facility, Manduser and his temporary squad had just finished taking out the last of the BLU anti-air guns when several armored trucks zoomed out of the facility's entrance, plowing through the security gate as paratroopers fired their weapons at them, but to no prevail as the trucks escaped at full speed

"What the hell was that all about?" Manduser asked the Squad Leader

"I have no idea, but those were Shocktroopers in those trucks and they're usually not the ones to flee from a battle." He replied, "But come on! We need to get inside that damn facility!"

Manduser and his squad began to advance toward the facility before a series of massive explosions ripped it apart and the last thing that Manduser saw was a bright green flash before complete darkness