You are a space marine like Aliens, Doom and Starship Troopers.

The year was 2147. Mars had long been colonised at this point. The Union Space Exploitation Corporation (USEC) had built a base there to conduct scientific experiments with warp speed. While space travel between nearby planets like Earth and Mars could be done quickly enough, further away planets still took years.

Cryogenics had been invented to help but while it did prevent travellers from ageing during the journey, it didn't make the trip any faster. USEC aimed to fix that. However during one of their attempts to access another planet, an alien creature came through and attacked several scientists.

A lot of people were killed before security were able to kill the alien. Following the incident, USEC called for military protection from any future attacks. The military sent a group of space marines called the Snakes.

That's where your squad team come in. Seven elite soldiers;

• Cobra was transferred to the team after he assaulted a superior officer who ordered him to fire on civilians.
• Cottonmouth is an intimidating looking black guy.
• Serpent is a martial artist from China, though since space marines tend to be involved in firefights, its not really much help. He is skilled at quoting Chinese proverbs.
• Sidewinder is a reliable guy but that's really all you can say about him. No unique skills or anything.
• Viper is a former lieutenant who was demoted following a recent screw up. She one of the only two females in the team. As military standards are no longer lowered for women, you see very few of them in the marines.
• The other female is Black Mamba (who really is black).
• And finally we get to your team's leader, Copperhead, respected by you and your team.

The squad spent the journey in cryosleep. After nearly a year, their ship finally arrived at the USEC base on Mars.