Not that it hadn’t been tried. For decades China had been leading the world on a quest to strip the Earth of precious metals. After international talks failed, the world’s leading private science and security company, New Tech Corporation, took matters into its own hands. It secretly hired mercenaries to set off five electromagnetic pulse weapons (EMPs) in strategic locations across the country. It solved China’s thirst for resources instantly, by sending the country back to the Stone Age.

Unfortunately, the EMPs had only stalled the inevitable. The Doomsday Clock was still ticking, and humanity’s time on Earth was limited. So a group of leaders had gathered in a closed-door meeting, as they had always done, deciding for the masses that it was time to jump ship. Humans were officially heading into space, and leading the mission was none other than New Tech Corporation.

Sophie could have lied and told her team she was surprised they had been picked for the first stage of the experimental mission, but none of them would have believed her. This wasn’t the first job NTC had hired them for. Two years ago they’d been sealed into an underwater biosphere off the coast of Puerto Rico for just over a month. The data they collected was used by the tech and science giant to design manned underwater probes that would be used on the mission to Europa.

They were the best private sector team in the world; six months in a biosphere deep within some mountain wouldn’t be a problem. But she couldn’t deny the fact that they would be rusty. They hadn’t worked together since Puerto Rico. After the success of the mission, everyone under her command had received offers from tech companies around the world, and had quickly found work elsewhere.

Sophie exhaled her concerns with a long breath. She would see her team soon enough, and it would probably take only a few days to get readjusted.

Suddenly the com blared to life, the static echoing through her headset. Sophie clutched the armrests of her seat, her nails scratching the cold metal.

“Halo 1, this is Black Echo, stand by for report. Over.”

“Black Echo, this is Halo 1, standby to copy. Over.”

“Roger, Halo 1, reports of a massive dust storm heading your way. Over.”

“Copy that.”

Sophie watched the pilot, trying to control her labored breathing. She hated flying, especially by chopper. With the constant weather fluctuation in the Wastelands, there was no such thing as a safe trip. Dust storms could form with little to no warning, and had caused multiple crashes. Often the crews of downed flights were never found, more than likely buried by the very sand and dirt that had sealed their fate.

She didn’t want to end up like those other crews. Not now. She’d worked too hard to let a dust storm stand in the way of her destiny. She had a mission to complete.

Shocked into motion, she unclipped her safety belt and ducked into the cockpit, plunking herself down in the empty copilot’s seat.