Before there was Cell... Before there was the DarkSpiral Catastrophe... There was Operation BlackWater... • Accessing Files: February 8, 1952 Location: Unidentified General Cormick’s blonde hair flew wildly in front of his face as he peered out of the helicopter. He leaned outwards, looking out the door to the sands beneath him on the ground. With one hand he blocked the sand buffeting his face, and with the other he held onto the inside of the helicopter. Sand was everywhere, flying past the helicopter and grazing across the steel of the chopper. The sound of rotors deafened his ears as he leaned out even more to try to get a better view, only for him to nearly fall out of the Helicopter. He began to ease himself inside the helicopter, taking refuge in its controlled environment from the sandstorm outside. He stared at three others inside the helicopter, dressed in camouflage, and each holding rifles similar to his. His boots clanked on the floor, with each step as he sat down and closed the door. The soldier to his right, a sturdy and bald man, was the first to speak... “Sandstorm still goin on huh?” The figure turned his head behind him to face the cockpit and began to talk again in a loud voice with a clear southern accent... Blackhawk! How’s the driving?” An emotionless voice came from the cockpit... “The usual. Always a -blam!-ing disaster...” The brawn and bald man began to talk to Cormick again... “You look young. What’s you doin in Operation Blackwater?” Says the man as he lights a cigar in his left hand, orange embers briefly dropping on the floor of the helicopter. Cormick ran his hand through his shaved head, the only remaining hair tied back in a ponytail... “I’ve had three years of combat training since I was 16. I was drafted for the Crypt War after the Second World War. Fought against them damn aliens before being selected for Operation Blackwater.” Cormick had let out in his gruff but young voice. The brawn man nodded, and extended his hand out for a handshake as he blew a puff of smoke from his cigar... “The name’s Till. Served for six years now. Nice to see new faces fighting against those monstrosities.” Cormick gripped the man’s hand, but Till’s grip was harder than steel. Till began to speak once more in a battle-hardened voice... “The man in front of you is Dex, the tech of the team.” Till pointed to a somewhat skinny man sitting in front of Cormick. Dex waved his hand in return, holding his rifle in his other gloved hand. His face showed no sign of aging, and his hair was a short brown spiky hedge. Beside him sat a masked figure, wearing a gas mask of some sort, with pure black goggles. “That there’s Vice, the explosives specialist.” Vice responded with a mere grunt as he kept his head turned towards the side of the chopper, not bothering to look at Cormick. Till pointed behind him towards the cockpit. “The pilot’s BlackHawk, one of the most experienced pilots in the European Military.” “Ay there Cormick. Nice to have you on the team.” A feminine voice came from the cockpit. Till let out a small laugh before setting his gaze on the window. Cormick scratched the back of his head before following Till’s gaze. The sandstorm was growing stronger, and now the pattering of sand could be heard from the inside of the helicopter. “Shit... I think I’ve got a Mothership on my radar.” Blackhawk spoke with a worried tone. “That’s our target.” Till spoke in an excited voice as he got up from his sitting position. Dex and Vice followed, both standing near the doors. Cormick stood in his seat, barely finding space to stand up. Till began to speak over the sound of the sandstorm. “You all know what to do right? We gotta insert the Enigma 6 AI inside the Cryptoid mothership systems, hack the invading forces, and get the hell out.” Till held out a small rectangular device in his hand, labeled on it were two words written in some sort of marker: Enigma Six. The AI designed to cause blackouts to any network it was exposed to. The government authorized its use, but Cormick had felt uneasy about the program. It seemed too powerful for use. Till opened up the door, and behind the screen of sand the outline of a Cryptoid mothership could be seen, hulking over the sky. The helicopter flew near it, and it became clearer. “Alrighty boys. Parachutes up. Let’s board this ship!”