Alarms blared in the Thunderhawk gunship. The craft struggled to maintain altitude, steadily dropping through thick, green clouds that were filled with bolts of lightning and drawing ever closer to the barren surface of Taali. "Pilot," spoke Sergeant Talthor, "what's going on?" Talthor braced himself against the grey steel wall of the transport bay in the back of the Thunderhawk. The lights flickered in the turbulence. His red MK VII Power Armor was covered in black blood mixed with orange slime. "Pilot?" he said again. "Pilot, report," he said. Suddenly, Kalik groaned. Kalik stirred then groaned.