“Captain, how much longer? They’re breaking through!”
“Almost there. I just need to set the detonator.” I looked back to see Valentine insert the detonator. Turning my head back to the gate, I saw that the dent got larger, and one of the carriers was squeezing through. Taking aim, I looked down the sights of my weapon and fired a shot right into the carrier’s face. The lifeless body was pulled through the hole and another one took its place. Again, I fired a shot, and it was the last of my ammo.

“Take cover!” I heard Valentine order. I took cover on the left side of the wall, while Valentine took the right. Covering my ears, and closing my eyes, my body was hit by the wave of the explosion. I hurried to the door, and saw that the door had been cracked partially open. I grabbed one side of the door, and Valentine grabbed the other, and we pushed with all of our might until there was enough room to get through. I went through first, and Valentine followed after me.

When the maze was constructed there was a failsafe system installed. A secondary door shut when activated on the main console. I began mashing buttons, entering codes, and locating the security grid for this sector. Through the three inch thick ballistic glass, I watched as the gate we came through came crashing down. I motioned to Valentine to provide cover. I perused through the security files and located the grid for the control room. Instantaneously, the secondary door shut, and I engaged the locks.
“Captain, we have to keep moving. Though that door is the tramway that will take us to the main hanger, where I’m sure extraction teams are already in place. To stay here and chit chat would be a waste of time. Hand me the data and samples. It wouldn’t make much sense for you to be seen with any of it.”

There was no disagreement on his end, he only nodded, gave me the satchel, and took point. As we opened the door we found that the area was clear, and proceeded to the tramcar. The main hangar was a fifteen minute ride from where we were, and that gave me a sense of assurance. Freedom was just around the corner. Those creatures couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment. From all sides the carriers came at us like locusts about to devour a field of crops. Without a second thought, I ran towards the closest tram, and shut the door. The tram began to move, and I saw the disbelief in Valentine’s eyes.

There was no denying the inevitable; he was going to be killed anyway. As the tram made its way to the terminal tunnel, I heard shots being fired, and then it all faded away. The remainder of the ride, I sat in silence. It was the first quiet moment I had since all of this started. I didn’t know what to say to the board, or to the president. All I knew was that they were going to want answers.
The tram pulled into the grand archway of the hangar, where I was greeted by total pandemonium. Exiting the tram, I pushed my way through the survivors to the operations room.