High Altitude, Low Opening (HALO) Para Insertion

Gathered in the pre-dawn quiet of JRH, your team finalizes its preparations and receives some final words of encouragement from your Mission Commander – callsign GUARDIAN.  The CC130J Hercules aircraft designated for your tactical insertion taxis into position, its engines a low rumble against the backdrop of anticipation.  With a final equipment check and a shared nod of resolve among the team, you board the plane, the weight of the task ahead settling in as the aircraft lifts off into the darkness.

As you reach an altitude of 25,000 feet, your team stands ready at the edge of the open ramp, the night sky an endless abyss below.  The Jumpmaster gives the signal and shouts “GET READY!”… and seconds later “GO!”,…  and one by one, you step into the void, your bodies quickly engulfed by the cold, thin air.

The HALO jump is a dangerous test of precision, with each member descending rapidly, supported by oxygen masks and wrist-worn altimeters, the only guide in the pitch-black descent.  The target Drop Zone (DZ) is a secluded clearing 3 km EAST of the crash site.

Mid-descent, a sudden gust of wind, stronger than forecasted, attempts to push you off course.  Quick adjustments with your guidance systems counteract the drift, a maneuver that demands both calm and expertise in the face of adversity.

The ground rushes up as you deploy your chutes at 2,500 feet, the silence of the night shattered briefly by the rustling fabric.  Your team lands 90 seconds later, scattered across the DZ, with the darkness complicating the team’s regrouping.  One team member finds themselves dangling from a low branch, a reminder of the unpredictable nature of HALO operations.

After consolidating, you start the 3 km march to the crash site where you hope to locate Captain Chan.  You remain on schedule based on your prior mission planning estimates.  The adrenaline of the jump is slowly replaced by a focused determination for the next phase of your mission.