Captain Thorn, in shock, stared at Lieutenant Marlow for a few seconds.

Thorn: “Are you sure?” asked the captain in total disbelief.

Marlow: “I can run another test just to make sure.” suggested, as she turned and restarted the device to perform another test.

Thorn: “Please do so.” responded the captain, standing up from his seat as he approached Marlow and Simmons. standing in front of the device he proceeds to say, “If that’s the case, the incident at the Mars Political House is connected to the Particle Mission.”.

The tension in the room thickened as the squad eagerly awaited the results of the meteor test. Simmons, growing impatient, demanded an explanation.

Simmons: “Are you guys gonna explain what's going on?” asked the doctor, tired of waiting.

Thorn: “Remember the Phobos Mission?” he started. The team nodded in acknowledgment. “If this meteor is a piece of the half that disappeared, it implies someone did this. And not Mars Military, Wakame, Shio or My Father." he stops a second to analyze, "It is obvious that the only being able to do something like this is a sun particle. But…”

Marlow: “They didn’t kill us when we encountered them.” Marlow interjected, completing the thought.

Kuznetsov: “So, they're responsible for destroying the Mi'ro Science Facility, cutting Phobos in half, and annihilating the Mars Political House using that moon fragment or not?” Ask Kuznetsov, still seated with his hands crossed behind his head, questioning Thorn's theory.

Thorn: “If it did, they must be looking for something. That would explain why they are still here and haven't left. And it has to be something that the higher-ups know about.” Answered Thorn while scratching his head in contemplation. 

Simmons: “You think so?”asked Simmons, now worried as well.

Thorn: “It's a possibility. Their actions, targeting key individuals like Lead Mi’ro Scientist Monoka, the one in charge of the particle research, places like the Mars Political House, killing the Senator, public face behind that twisted plan we found, suggest a purpose beyond mindless destruction. But what that purpose is, we're not sure.”

Tanaka: “This also means someone other than the H.E.A.T particle.” Mentions Tanaka cutting into the captain's explanation, “Because H.E.A.T was released after the facility got hit.”

Thorn: “Exactly.” Confirm the captain, “Which leads us to the other being in the Phobos mission. But like I said, they haven't left the planet. They gotta be looking for something.”

Simmons, now expressing concern, pointed out another aspect, "Have you considered that Mercury, Venus, and Earth are gone? What if we're next?"

Kuznetsov: “I was just thinking about that."

Simmons: “You always think about stuff and never say anything until someone says something.” countered Simmons, annoyed. 

Kuznetsov: “I like to listen and be quiet.” jokes the Sargent. 

Marlow: “This is serious, and Simmons raises a valid point. What if whatever these particles are seeking, is connected to the destruction of planets?”

Amidst the discussion, a beeping sound signaled the end of the suspense. Marlow retrieved the results and, after a brief analysis, confirmed.

Marlow: “Yes, that meteor is indeed a part of that missing half of Phobos.”

Thorn: “This changes everything.”says the captain disappointed. “I don’t think we can get out of this one.”

After a moment of silence, frustration and worryness, the Lieutenant came up with a way out.

Marlow: “We can just fail the next mission and get disbanded.” suggested.

Tanaka: “But if we do, the particles will destroy the planet anyways.” countered Tanaka with a sad expression.

Kuznetsov: “What if we just destroyed the particles?” suggested Kuznetsov as if doing so would be easy.

Simmons: “That’s funny Sargent.” said the Doctor sarcastically.

Thorn: “Actually…”Started the captain, “It might not be the worst idea.”

Simmons: “Captain, are you listening to yourself!? Have you seen what those things can do? Let me remind you, you guys got lucky that time in Phobos.” exclaimed the doctor in disbelief.

Thorn: “What else do you suggest? Leaving the mission will get us killed, Staying in the mission will get us killed too. At this point we are destined to be doomed no matter what decision we take. So why not die on our own terms…Trying?” said the Captain with an overwhelmed but yet confident expression.

Simmons: “I mean- if- uh- if we just get disbanded, we can just hope to be lucky and let them solve the problem themselves.” suggested Dr. Simmons with mixed emotions.

Marlow: “And live knowing you could die in any minute?” countered Marlow, overwhelmed by Simmons' suggestion.

Simmons: “Are you really on their side with this, Anya?” asked the doctor, now shocked.

Marlow: “Is not that. Is just…I don’t know. I can’t find a better way to solve this. But if we destroy these particles, Mars won’t be able to start a war and the particles won’t destroy the world.” responded the lieutenant carrying the same weighted overwhelmed expression.

Simmons: “Whatever these particles are looking for, I don’t think they will stop!” Exploded the Doctor enraged by their suicidal ideas. “WE KNOW there's more of those things out there! What makes you think this stupid idea of yours will solve this situation?! And in any case. How do you pretend to stop these monsters!?” asked Simmons filled with anger and frustration.

Kuznetsov: “Calm down Simmons.” suggested the Sargent still sitting on the chair.

Simmons: “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” countered Simmons.

Thorn: “Tanaka’s device had a flaw.” mentions the captain. 

Everyone in the room was silent for a moment. Tanaka faces the Captain with a confused expression, wondering what could’ve been wrong with his device. The Sargent, disgusted by the way Simmons talked to him, stands up and walks out of the room for a smoke.

The Captain now staring at Simmons continues, 

Thorn: “When Marlow and I went to the abandoned facility at Phobos, we were trapped between both creatures. I activated Tanaka’s device because I recognized the creature in front of me. It was H.E.A.T, once the device activated, instead of suppressing the energy to capture the target, the device was killing it. If it wasn’t for the other particle, we would’ve killed it. So if this time Tanaka and I go together we can both use the device and kill both particles.”

Tanaka: “I must’ve done something wrong with the orb systems. But well I guess I don’t have to do anything to it, since it is working the way we want it to work now, right?” Said Tanaka.

Marlow: “That’s right.” responds Marlow, putting the test results on the table, “Now that we will have two devices and a plan, we just have to find the particles. Do you have anything that could track these particles, Tanaka?” asked Marlow as if everyone agreed already with the plan.

Tatsuki: “I don’t think that plan is a good idea.”

The presence of Tatsuki, avoided by everyone in the room, steps into the conversation with absolute denial as he sits on a bench in a corner of the room.

Tanaka: “What do you mean?” Tanaka was confused.

Tatsuki: “Just, don’t keep up with this plan… Is useless.” answered the Mercenary without any other kind of explanation.

Tatsuki: “Well, I’m sorry Tatsuki, but we already made a decision.” said the captain leaning on the table facing him.

Simmons: “I haven’t agreed yet.” mentions Dr. Simmons standing now next to Tatsuki.

Tanaka: “Seriously?” asked Tanaka with a sad expression disappointed.

Simmons: “You guys don't understand how unethical a decision like that is for me. I won’t approve any suicidal mission. So if you want to do it, just don’t count on me.” said the doctor, hands crossed.

Thorn: “Ok then.” responded the Captain, “We ARE going to do this. So that’s fine, I'd rather have some people behind just in case things go wrong.” suggested the captain.

Dr. Simmons fell on the bench next to Tatsuki, mad still. Kuznetsov calmed down, made an entrance and asked, 

Kuznetsov: “So what are we gonna do?”

Marlow: “We will proceed with your idea.” mentions the lieutenant taking a seat.

Kuznetsov: “That’s what I thought.” responded, locking his gaze on Simmons who was staring at the floor with a mad expression.

Marlow: “Now back with the plan. Tanaka do you have a tracker or something?” asked the Lieutenant to the teen sitting across the table from her.

Tanaka: “Actually I do. But I won’t be able to track anything from this distance. We gotta figure out where the particles may be and start from there.” responded Tanaka pulling a holographic map.

Kuznetsov: “That kinda defeats the purpose of the radar.”

Thorn: “Is what we have, so I guess we gotta deal with it.” said the captain firmly.

Marlow: “So what do we know about the particle hits?” asked Marlow as a starting point for the plan.

Tanaka: “They are targeting the people behind the H.E.A.T research, right?” asked Tanaka a little confused.

Thorn: “Yes, they are.” confirms the Captain before adding, “They Already got the lead researcher and the public face of the war planned.”

Marlow: “You think they would go after Admiral Malik or First in Command Okomo?” suggested Marlow.

Kuznetsov: “I don’t think so,”responded the Sargent stretching his neck before mentioning, “I meant, I don’t think they are targeting Malik, she’s only a peon under Okomo’s division. They might be targeting Okomo directly in any case.”

Thorn: “She’s the one in control of the military, which means she is also the one in charge of the weapon development. So it makes sense.” said Captain Thorn now staring at the map.

Tanaka: “But what about Wakame?” Asked Tanaka trying to not leave any point out of the conversation. “She’s also part of that plan we mentioned.”

Thorn: “Yes, she is but she’s not as much of a threat as Okomo.” responded the captain to Tanaka with a focused but serious expression.

Kuznetsov: “So we go to the North Pole Military Base?” suggested the Sergeant.

Thorn: “To the base we go.” confirmed the captain now staring at the two members sitting apart from the rest, then added, “Last chance, are you guys coming?”

Simmons: “No.” said the Doctor without making eye contact.

Tatsuki: didn’t say anything.

Thorn: “Ok, I understand. I’m sorry for all this, but it is our best option. just keep your radios on, we’ll keep you guys updated.” said the Captain, “Let’s move. The Base is not too far from here.”

As the squad concluded their discussion and packed their equipment, the room slowly emptied. One by one, the members stood up from the table, securing their gear. Dr. Simmons remained behind, her thoughts lingering on the gravity of the situation. Tatsuki, stoic and silent, chose not to partake in this particular mission.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as the departing members left Simmons and Tatsuki behind. The door closed behind the last member, leaving the two alone in contemplation. The quiet outcome hinted at the weight of the imminent mission and the uncertainties that lay ahead.

***

Inside of the vehicle, the atmosphere was tense as the squad made their way toward the North Pole Military Base. The conversation revolved around the recent decisions of Tatsuki and Simmons to stay behind. 

Tanaka couldn't help but express his sympathy for Tatsuki, 

Tanaka: “It surprised me that Tatsuki didn’t want to join. I wish he would have joined us.”said the teen while looking through the car window. 

Kuznetsov, with an air of uncertainty, questioned Simmons' actions, 

Simmons: “The one I don’t understand why she acted the way she did was Simmons. Like…What the fuck? I was just suggesting the only option I thought of.” mentions the Sargent a bit mad remembering the situation.

Thorn: “I don’t blame her, everything is happening so fast, we have barely slept. On top of that we’ve had so many situations and added a mission where we could die…Not everyone is ready for something like that. But I appreciate you for being here guys.” said the Captain, understanding the potential frustrations simmering among the team and acknowledging the overwhelming nature of the recent events and Simmons’ need to process them in her own way.

***

As the North Pole Military Base emerged on the horizon, the captain directed Tanaka to deploy his radar, 

Thorn: “Tanaka, get the radar ready.”

Tanaka nods and pulls a bag from under his seat. The device inside the bag looked really outdated. When he starts pressing buttons on it Marlow proceeds to point out, 

Marlow: “That thing looks old.”

Tanaka: “Well…Umm. After a certain year the military stopped developing radar as accurate as this one, they preferred the ones we usually carry but they sacrificed so many things on those to make them more portable and versatile. I spent a couple thousands getting this beauty.” explains Tanaka as he sets up the device.

Kuznetsov: “That explains why the range is so shitty.” jokes Kuznetsov teasing Tanaka.

After a few minutes of tinkering with the device, Tanaka's face shifted from focused concentration to surprise. 

Tanaka: “I’m detecting something,”he announced, “But it is behind us.” said the technician, now confused.

Marlow sitting next to him proceeds to turn around to look through the back window, 

Marlow: “I don’t see anything.” notifies the Lieutenant.

Tanaka: “Maybe it is flying?” suggested Tanaka.

Captain Thorn abruptly stops the vehicle.

Thorn: “Let’s get off.” orders the right away.

The squad swiftly disembarked from the vehicle, scanning the skies for any signs of activity. Yet, to their bafflement, they found nothing, and the signal abruptly disappeared.

Tanaka: “Is gone.” notifies Tanaka disappointed.

Kuznetsov: “I don’t know Tanaka but I think someone scammed you with that shit.” joked Kuznetsov once again.

Preparing to return to the vehicle, Captain Thorn, in a state of shock, stood frozen. The rest of the team followed his gaze and witnessed  sight. 

At the distant horizon, a colossal meteor, propelled by an unknown force, descended from the sky, breaking apart as it entered terraformed Mars’ atmosphere. The fragments rained down on the North Pole Military Base, causing explosions that illuminated the surroundings in a blinding light. The squad, caught in a moment of disbelief, began to process the unfolding catastrophe.