D-Day 2020
"Five minutes to drop," the C-5 Galaxy's pilot calmly announced over the intercom.
"So," the colonel said, somewhat judgingly, gesturing to the end of the cargo bay, "they let him through… Even after that stunt he pulled in Kadena?"
"Well," sighed the major standing beside him, crossing his arms, "he did save five people, sir."
"And injured six…"
"No one ran towards the accident though, only he did."
"An accident I would argue he caused."
The major chuckled under his breath. "Good thing for him then the inquiry didn't agree with your assessment."
"Man like that is going to get his men killed before this is all over."
An intense shutter momentarily grasped the plane, jostling cabling and nerves.
"I think the North Koreans have a better chance at doing that, sir," the major said, looking up at the fuselage.
Another aerial explosion rocked the plane, this time with more violence.
"Two minutes to drop!" announced the pilot, tension rustling his voice. "Once I give the mark get your asses off this bird. We're taking heavy fire!"
"Guess this is it," said the colonel, unbuckling his seatbelt, the noise of anti-aircraft fire erupting around them. "All teams!" he shouted across the bay, tightening his parachute pack. "Get ready! Hook up and prepare for drop!"
Each soldier swiftly stood up, attaching each of their snap hooks onto the static line above them that ran the length of the aircraft, one for each side of the bay. A rush of warm air flooded the interior as the plane's large rear door was opened, revealing a choppy ocean below.
The colonel saw two other C-5 Galaxy's trailing behind them, their F-16 escorts flying close by.
"Hey!" he shouted down the bay to a man at the head of the left line. Several soldiers turned around but not the one he wanted. "Hey, Emerson!"
The man he wanted the attention of finally looked back. "Yes, sir?!" he shouted with a tone of sarcasm, a smirk on his face.
"Watch yourself, Lieutenant, you hear?!"
"Yes, sir!" the lieutenant grinned, tipping his helmet to the colonel.
"One minute!"
"Asshole…" the colonel muttered annoyingly, shaking his head.
One of the Galaxy's that was trailing them suddenly veered hard to its right, deploying flares as it did. The two F-16's escorting it deployed their flares as well, breaking away as a missile slammed into the midsection of the Galaxy, splitting it in two with a massive fireball.
"Thirty sec - "
An explosion from above threw smoke and debris down into the cargo bay, nearly knocking the colonel over. The major quickly helped him back up.
"We're hit!" the major cried, pointing up to a growing hole in the metal skin of the aircraft.
The colonel peered through the hole and saw the landing beach coming into view, amphibious vehicles, tanks, and other land craft making their way onshore through intense gunfire. He could see both engines were on fire through the hole under the right wing.
"We're going down, sir! We didn't even make it to the beach," the major said, somehow managing to give a smile.
"Fuck that!" the colonel replied sharply. "I didn't ship my ass all the way out of retirement just to be shot down before I even land on that damn beach!" He moved the major out of his way and yelled, "Jump! Jump! Jump!" as the plane began to nosedive.