2000 AGL, Outer Territories, Monfrox
1846 Hours
Task Force Atlas
The trip to Monfrox had been a lengthy one in the back of the C-130J that had been purposed for the journey, and after carefully changing over to an MH-53M at one of the airbases en route, the 4-team company was heading to their Landing Zone. Still, the C-130 ride had not seen them alone. A small 4-woman squad was taking a nap up near the cockpit. Of course, any tries at striking up conversation were quickly shot down no matter which one they tried to talk to. Now, it was just them in the hold of the Pave Low. It had been rather odd that they were heading in without being told who was briefing them or where yet.
The atmosphere was noticeably bleak. Buildings seemed long abandoned, the streets were crumbling and cracked, or dotted with craters from explosives. A few unexploded bombs lined the roads. Very few cars looked like they had been untouched, and there was a fair amount of crashes on the way. A few tanks, also vacant, were present, but the holes in them suggested they were inoperable. Night was approaching soon, and dark clouds hung over the sky. After almost a half hour of flying, the crew chief came off the gun and walked back into the hold of the helo.
"Welcome to Sholk, gentlemen! Well...what's left of it anyways! We'll be dropping you off here! Intel says that the insurgents are well-armed, and we've lost a few of our helos to their anti-air fire today already! Sorry guys, but this is as far as we go! You'll get a proper briefing once you make contact with the local Major who's based up the road North! It's a cafe at the end of the street, just up ahead! Don't make any sudden movements as you approach! Just act casual, and you'll be fine!" The young man yelled over the rotors as the MH-53M landed and dropped the teams off.
After a few minutes, it took off and headed back to the airbase where it had come from. The cafe up the road seemed a little far, or at least farther than the crew chief had thought, but thunder sounded above them, almost as if it was welcoming them on their first trip to the country. Wind howled through the empty streets.
Disc 1, Track 01 - Empty Streets