Ancient Gateway

Bell maneuvered the JLTV toward the intriguing site, not far from the dense forest's edge. The team had packed meticulously, opting for MG4 machine guns with 200-round boxes instead of assault rifles, prepared for any unforeseen danger. Amelia, not to be outdone, had selected a formidable Gustav M4 launcher, complete with tandem HEAT warheads, from the armory.

"Do you think we'll find anything useful at the site?" Bell inquired, glancing over at Harris who was diligently operating the weapon station.

"It's hard to say," Harris replied, eyes fixed on the horizon. "The structure's design hints it might be a portal of some kind."

"A gateway to another realm, perhaps?" Amelia interjected with a mix of curiosity and skepticism in her voice.

"I'm not certain," Harris admitted. "Let's just get there, assess its purpose, and report back to base with all the details."

"That sounds like a solid plan," Bell agreed, focusing back on the path ahead.

The JLTV surged through the thick snow with surprising ease, making their journey to the mysterious object much smoother than anticipated. It wasn't long before they arrived at the colossal altar. It was vast, offering ample space for the vehicle to park directly in front of its portal. The portal itself was a spectacle, semi-transparent with a mystical blue hue shimmering across its surface. It exuded an almost magical aura, captivating the entire team.

What truly astounded them was the portal's immense size. It was so large that the JLTV could pass through it without a hitch, and even larger objects could potentially fit, provided they were disassembled. For the moment, the team could only speculate about where the portal led. All they could do was observe and wonder at the majestic gateway before them.

"This portal doesn't seem... malevolent, does it?" Amelia remarked, her tone reflecting a mix of wonder and caution.

"Appearances can be misleading," Harris cautioned. "Try tossing a stone through it, see what happens."

Bell picked up a small pebble and lobbed it into the glowing blue vortex. The stone emerged on the other side, seemingly untouched and without any noticeable damage. Harris circled the portal, retrieved the stone, and scrutinized it closely.

"There's no alteration to this pebble whatsoever," he observed.

"Yet, the energy emanating from this portal is immense," Amelia pointed out, her hand hovering near the portal's edge. "The aether energy it's releasing could power an entire city. And this energy is seeping out from this very portal. We need to pinpoint its source."

Curiously, Amelia extended her hand towards the portal. Unlike the pebble, her hand simply passed through, disappearing from view. Harris's mouth fell open in astonishment, while Bell scratched his head, puzzled by Amelia's daring action. This confirmed one thing for sure: they were dealing with a genuine portal.

"Try pulling your hand back," Harris suggested, already rummaging through his first-aid kit.

"What are you planning?" Amelia asked, her hand still inside the portal.

"Just being cautious," Harris muttered under his breath.

"I can't pull it back!" Amelia exclaimed, panic creeping into her voice.

"Great, get ready for potential amputation, Amelia," Harris said, a hint of urgency in his voice as he opened the first-aid kit.

"Hold on, don't consider such drastic measures yet!" Bell interjected. "Amelia, try pushing your hand further in, maybe?"

"That's an unusual suggestion, but I guess it's worth a shot," Amelia replied, uncertainty laced in her tone. "Here we go," Amelia pushed her hand deeper into the portal, and this time, the portal began to suck her in. Her hand began to move forward, deeper into the portal, Bell and Harris tried pulling her out of the portal, but it didn't matter. The portal sucked her in. 

"Move aside, I'll cut her hand!" Harris said. 

"Wait, this portal seems not to be dangerous," Amelia protested. "I'll go first, see you guys on the other side." 

"NO, NO, DON'T!" Harris shouted, but Amelia eventually took a step inside of the portal and she was gone from the altar, into whatever beyond the portal. "FUCK! SHE IS GONE!" Harris cursed, there was a chance Amelia could be dead at the end. However, what could they really do? They must think about the next action, fast. 

As Amelia vanished through the portal, a tense silence enveloped the area. Harris and Bell exchanged a worried glance, each knowing the gravity of the situation but uncertain of the next move.

"Should we follow her?" Harris' voice broke the quiet, his hand hovering near the portal, the glow reflecting in his eyes.

Bell nodded his head, his training kicking in. "Affirmative, but we need to report this first. Besides, we can't risk more personnel without understanding what's on the other side. Amelia is invaluable for our team, and sure as hell we wouldn't leave her to rot alone on the other side."

Harris then put his mouth closer towards the microphone attached to his helmet, "Spear 0-1, this is 0-3, 0-4 is missing in action. Advise no personnel to approach this location in six hours time. 0-3 out." He then cut the radio communication. 

Bell secured the grenade launcher and ensured the rucksack was snug against his back, filled with ammunition for the task ahead. Harris, equally prepared, hefted the Carl Gustaf M4, its weight familiar and somewhat reassuring. They were a formidable pair, armed to the teeth, standing at the threshold of the unknown.

"Ready, boss?" Harris's voice was steady, betraying no hint of the adrenaline that surely coursed through them both.

Bell's reply was a firm nod, "Always ready. Let's do this."

In the vast, silent expanse of the concrete hangar, Bell, Harris, and Amelia stood, enveloped by a sense of the unreal. The clinical illumination from the fluorescent lights overhead cast sharp shadows across the floor, emphasizing the emptiness of the space. The silence was almost tangible, broken only by the echo of their footsteps on the hard surface. They surveyed the area, weapons at the ready, but found no immediate danger—just the vast, empty expanse of the room.

Amelia, standing alone in the quiet, turned to face them. Her expression was a complex mix of relief and confusion. "It's... not what any of us expected," she whispered, her voice barely more than a murmur in the cavernous space.

Bell, with a cautious step forward, lowered his weapon. "What have you discovered?" he asked.

Amelia's reply was enigmatic. "Nothing, yet everything. This seems to be a testing ground, a canvas waiting to be painted. But there's more to it. The energy levels here are extraordinary. It's as if this place is primed for something to be created, or perhaps... summoned."

Harris, still vigilant, kept his eyes on the portal they had come through. "Is there a way back?"

Amelia glanced back at the shimmering portal. "No, the portal's inactive now. There's something we need to do first before we can return. I'm not entirely sure what it is. Bell, did your system provide any clues about what we need to do to get out of here?"

The situation was clear: they were trapped in an unknown space, with the task of deciphering its purpose and, more importantly, finding a way back. They were aware that their return journey was not going to be straightforward.

[Finish The Prototype] [0/1]

Complete the construction and testing of the experimental railgun to secure a tactical advantage. This advanced weapon harnesses electromagnetic technology to launch projectiles at unprecedented velocities. Finalizing the railgun is not only a step forward in military might but may also be the keystone to unlocking the pathway to the outside world. 

[Reward: Access To Outside World]

"We need to finish a prototype." 

"A prototype? Of what, exactly?" Harris asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Bell scanned the information on his system again. "It says here we need to assemble a railgun," he replied, the uncertainty evident in his voice.

"A railgun?" Amelia echoed, her mind racing with the implications. "This is starting to make sense. This place must be connected to some sort of experimental technology."

The realization dawned on them that they were possibly standing in a testing facility for advanced weaponry, a place far removed from their own world and time. The task at hand was clear but daunting: they needed to locate the components of this railgun and assemble it, a task that required not only technical know-how but also an understanding of the purpose behind such an advanced piece of weaponry.

Suddenly, a large blast door the size of a large truck opened with the blare of alarm accompanying it. Bell was startled by the sudden loud noise, but so did the others. The blast door revealed a rather large hallway. 

Navigating away from the quiet expanse of the hangar, Bell led the team through a narrow corridor that branched off from the main area. The hallway itself was utilitarian, with lines of embedded lights that hummed faintly overhead, guiding them to their new destination. 

Their footsteps echoed rhythmically on the metallic floor as they approached the end of the corridor, where another door slid open upon their approach, leading them into a breathtaking space that stood in stark contrast to the hangar they had left behind. They entered a multi-floor high-tech laboratory, its pristine white surfaces reflecting the soft glow of blue and white lights. Workstations equipped with advanced tech lined the walls, and in the center, a towering cylindrical apparatus pulsed with a faint, otherworldly energy.

"Looks like we found the heart of this place," Bell murmured, his gaze sweeping over the consoles and displays that showed schematics beyond his current understanding of the future technology.

Amelia approached a console, her fingers hovering over the holographic interface. "This could be where we assemble the railgun. Everything we need might be right here."

Harris kept a watchful eye on the entry points, still wary of potential threats. "Let's get to work then. We build this prototype, and we might just find our way back home."