The Real First Contact

"You are not from the government," said the man in a gruff voice, amplified with a megaphone. 

"Can you repeat your last?" Graves repeated, his voice booming from the long-range acoustic device fitted at the nose of the helicopter. 

"I said, you are not from the government, because the government has ceased to exist, that's why we opened fire the moment you introduced yourself as such," the man explained. 

Hearing the exchange from the command center, Richard couldn't help but chuckle subtly.

"So they fired just because they think the government's gone? That's reckless," Richard mused. 

Sara glanced at him, her expression serious. "It's more than recklessness. They are impetuous. They could have killed our men out there." 

Why is Sara so being hot-headed today? That's so unusual of her.

"Hey…are you okay?" Richard asked, concerned. "You've been acting so… I don't know, so different today."