Operation Urgent Light
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A NASA Special Operations Team Delta mission.
MISSION DES: URGENT LIGHT TEAM CODE DES: CONDOR OPS CODE DES: NAOMI MISSION: Insert into mountains of Afghanistan and begin recon within 5K of Asman village. Locate package and proceed to package location. Secure and retrieve designated items from package. Destroy remaining package. Return to LZ with in 24 hrs. Encounter locals with discretion. Activity of Taliban and other hostiles has been confirmed in this area.
Background
In late August 2009, Captain Sean Riley of NASA SOC Team Delta received an assignment for a standard equipment retrieval with a twist: a satellite had gone down in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. The area was remote and hostile. Taliban forces were known to hide in the mountainous region. SAC had tracked the satellite through the atmosphere and had determined a 5 sq mi area near the village of Asman in which the craft could be located. Riley would have his pick of personnel, but he would have to keep the team light. On top of that, two scientists from NASA were going with him to secure specimens from the satellite.
Riley knew who to pick to get his back on this one: Gunny Gates had arrived just six months ago and had proved a valuable member of the team on two missions since. Gates had been in Afghanistan for three years and had the language abilities they'd need if they encountered locals. The old cowboy could definitely handle the rough country and would probably love the challenge, in spite of his constant comments about retirement. Gates would also have a lead on being able to pick some Marines from in-country to go along. With the rest of Team Delta in northern Russia, they were low on personnel and had no replacements. They would have to 'draft' a couple of corporals once they were in Afghanistan.
Gates was eager to take the mission, saying he looked forward to getting back to the country and having some good qorma nadroo and kebab. He knew exactly the soldier to take along. "In fact, since Team Delta has a couple of slots opening up, the Captain might want to judge her performance on this mission and consider her for the team," Gates suggested. Riley was intrigued: there weren't many women in special ops. "She must be quite a soldier," Riley commented. "Sir, they threw away the book when they made Esparza."
Near midnight Riley and Gates waited in a secure area at Moffett Field. The two men from NASA Special Operations were late. Luckily for them the plane couldn't leave without them. Riley and Gates had stepped outside for a cigar when the two scientists arrived, apologizing for being late. Riley noted right away that one of the scientists - an officious but oddly charming bureaucrat named Brooks Campbell - was flabby and out of shape, a factor sure to present problems in the mountains of Afghanistan. The other scientist, who introduced himself as Ted Zinn, seemed fit and capable, as good as many soldiers Riley knew.
The four men boarded the USAF transport fifteen minutes after midnight and began the long flight to Afghanistan. Along the way Campbell and Zinn briefed Riley and Gates on the original purpose of the downed satellite, and what the scientists hoped to recover from and discover about the the craft.
Project Starlight
Ten years ago, NASA Special Operations command launched a secret comet probe. The launch was kept secret due to the small amount of nuclear fuel used to propel the craft and drive its systems. Previous launches of nuclear-powered satellites had aroused public controversy. The target of this probe would have inspired additional hysteria: the craft would approach the Comet Solanum, which was scheduled to pass very close to Earth in late 2012 or early 2013. Campbell was the head of Project Starlight in 1999; it was his decision to keep the launch a secret, though his superiors at NASA knew and approved his decision. The probe was supposed to return and enter Earth orbit, then be retrieved during a shuttle mission. However, budget cutbacks had led to the cancellation of the mission which was acting as cover for the secret retrieval. The probe returned to Earth and kept orbit for three days before making atmospheric re-entry. Campbell arranged this mission to recover the probe's samples and ensure the nuclear fuel is secured.
Zinn's interest in this mission lies in the samples that Starlight carries. Analysis of Comet Solanum suggests a high concentration of organic compounds. Recent research has suggested strongly that organic compounds which led to life on Earth may have come from a comet or its tail. Comet Solanum is one of many contenders for the "Genesis rock," as Zinn calls it. "The origin of life on Earth may be in that dirty snowball. Which is headed right for us, by the way."
Team for Operation Urgent Light
Captain Sean Riley. US Navy Captain. Formerly USN Special Warfare Command, a.k.a. SEAL Team Six. Twice decorated in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Two years service in Operation Enduring Freedom. Special Department of Homeland Security award for meritorious service. Has risen quickly in ranks and landed some choice assignments due to friends in high places. Assigned to NASA Special Operations Command in 2009.
"Gunny" Max Gates. USMC Gunnery Sergeant. Career man. Veteran of first Gulf War. Served in Fallujah during second Gulf War,2003-2006. Assigned to special training duties in Afghanistan, 2006-2009. Speaks Arabic, Farsi, and Pashto, with a little Dari he picked up in-country. Expert on American West. Carries two revolvers modeled after classic six-guns. Joined NASA Special Operations Command in order to enjoy a few quiet years before retirement.
Lance Corporal Esmerelda Esparza. USMC Corporal. Rifle Corps Marksman. Communications specialist. About to make sergeant. Served under Sgt. Gates for two years in Afghanistan. Loves fast cars, women and guns. Expert in hand-to-hand combat. Determined to have long career in USMC special ops. Currently serving in Afghanistan. Recently requested by Sgt. Gates to accompany Team Delta, this is her first mission with the team.
PFC Eddie "E-Prime" Prine. USMC Private. Recently court-martialed for insubordination and reduced in rank from Corporal to Private First Class. Computer geek and hacker. Math whiz. Nickname is a coincidence: he got it due to a misprint on his nametag, which reads PVT. E. PRIME. Love horror movies, remembers them in vivid detail, and has encyclopedia knowledge of horror cinema. Gates told Esparza to bring a buddy and she dragged E-Prime along because she likes talking to him.
Mission Specialists
Brooks Campbell. Manager of NASA Special Operations Department of Space Technology. Aerospace engineer turned administrator. Attained his social skills through reading self-help books and attending seminars. Has a personal stake in the recovery of the satellite, as he was head of Project Starlight which launched the craft. Does not like Dr. Zinn, but respects his abilities and achievements. Loves beer and wine. Brews his own beer.
Dr. Theodore Zinn. Research Biologist. NASA Special Operations. Formerly with Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. PhD thesis studied contagion patterns of various disease and conjectured possible matrices for pathogens of extraterrestrial origin. In early 2009 he rewrote NASA procedures for satellite recovery to reduce risk of contamination. Handsome and debonair, with a reputation as a ladies man. Reminds most people of a scientist from a 1950s science fiction film.