Dim light, barely making it above pitch black, slowly flashing inside the cabin.  A loud thumping roar of the rotors.  The periodic cough, sneeze or other noise from the dozens of soldiers lined along the walls.  All these only danced at the back of the sergeant’s mind as he sat in the seat towards the back of the vehicle.  All that was normal, something he could tone out at he did another personal check of all his gear.  He had been in completely packed CV-22s multiple times over his military career.<br/><br/>Every one of the Marines on the aircraft were part of his platoon, about 13 of them on this Helo as well as some army medical staff and their equipment.  Most of his Marine’s gear and the other 14 Marines were on the second CV a minute behind them.  Their spare ammo crates, spare weapons and other tools in those crates.  Everything his platoon would need for the mission he had been given for them.  Including the lieutenant, the OIC of the platoon.<br/><br/>Which wasn’t much beyond be ready, wait for any orders to come down.  They would be in position to be a quick reaction force.  After he had watched the broadcast between the Governor and the Chimera leader, he was sure would be coming soon.  Only an idiot, in his mind, would think that this hadn’t been a hostile takeover by that company.  Well, maybe his opinion was colored by what he had heard from the military bases in Texas.  They had gotten some warnings out before they went silent.  But not enough to know what the hell he would be dealing with when he got orders.  Just that they were far more advance.<br/><br/>He had left Cannon AFB, where they had been staged and where he had watched the news report.  And had known the F-22 flight would have happened.  But he had been in flight to the Fire Base with his platoon when it had happened.  Comms would have been set up already, so he knew the LT would be expecting to see a reply of what had happened.<br/><br/>Nate paused his thoughts at that moment, and pushed them back to the back of his mind.  The Osprey was slowing, he could feel it through the metal of his back.  They were at the forward base.  Securing his SCAR rifle, Nate brought his voice up, especially at the pilot’s announcement into the headset he had been wearing from the wall saying they were a minute out.<span style="color: green">“Marines!  One Mike out from Base.  Button up and be ready to dismount!”</span>He announced loudly to everyone in the passenger bay of the Helo.  Before watching as they all grabbed their helmets and ruck sacks from the floor, secured their weapons, and did just as he ordered before waiting.<br/><br/>One of the Osprey engineers finally came down into the main bay and to the rear door.<b>“30 Seconds!”</b>he announced.  Nate waited, taking the headset off and putting it back on the wall before pulling his helmet onto his head and strapping it on.  His own ruck sack pulled onto his lap.  As soon as the bounce of the landing gear touched the ground, Nate stood up, put his rucksack on his back and kept a hand on his rifle over his chest.  Then waited until the rear ramp was completely down in the hot NewMexico air, being only a few miles from the border.<span style="color: green">“Alright ladies, everyone out!”</span><div class="messageTextEndMarker"> </div>