The Objective

In the harsh terrain of Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, a skilled U.S. Army Special Forces unit is gathered. Chief Warrant Officer Wally Hamer emphasizes the importance of their mission to locate the elusive Afghan cleric, Mohammed Aban, preparing the team for the dangerous journey ahead.

Upon arriving in the region, the Special Forces team partners with Abdul, a local guide skilled in navigating the rugged landscape. Together, they embark on a dangerous expedition into the mountainous terrain, anticipating the challenges that lie ahead.

The team's journey takes a tragic turn when they are ambushed by violent assailants, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of Sergeant Joe Trinoski. In response, the team fights back, taking down several attackers, but they are left unsettled as the bodies mysteriously disappear.

That night, the team's attention is caught by strange lights glowing in the night sky. As they watch in disbelief, the lights transform and launch into the sky, leaving them puzzled about their origin and purpose.

As the team attempts to call for a resupply helicopter, they discover their communication equipment has malfunctioned. Their frustration grows as their only means of external contact vanishes, trapping them further in their dire situation.

Frustrated by their lack of progress and their fallen comrade, the team decides to cache Trinoski's body and move to a safer location. However, their situation worsens when they discover remnants of his violent end scattered in the morning light.

While navigating the treacherous landscape, the team encounters unsettling triangular markers made from sticks. These markers heighten their sense of unease, suggesting that supernatural forces might be involved in their ordeal.

Seeking temporary shelter, the team finds a cave where they meet an enigmatic old man who offers them food and drink. Sergeant Pete Sadler observes a piece of a 19th-century British army uniform he finds under the old man's clothing, igniting intrigue about the past.

The morning brings unsettling visions as Sergeant Cole sees robed figures with swords through his night vision goggles. In a moment of panic, he accidentally shoots the old man, escalating tensions within the team and deepening their fears.

As struggles continue, Sergeant Vince Degetau suffers from intense stomach pains. In a desperate attempt for relief, he discovers his canteen filled with sand rather than water, symbolizing their deteriorating situation and growing despair.

The group encounters a strange valley, and tensions heighten when Tanner and Cole investigate a blinding light. In a terrifying turn of events, they are vaporized, leaving the remaining team members in shock and horror as they grapple with their fate.

Desperate to survive, the team finds an oasis but is met with the sight of Chief Warrant Officer Hamer’s lifeless body. In a moment of distress, Keynes fires a flare gun to signal for help, igniting a sudden blinding light that prompts both fear and hope.

In a trance-like state following the flare's ignition, Keynes experiences a surreal vision from above as he witnesses medical professionals reacting to his past. He clutches the talisman from Aban’s dwelling, uttering the cryptic phrase: 'It will save us all...'

The film concludes with a pull back to Keynes' wife waiting in suspense for her husband's return. Unbeknownst to her, a dreadful fate awaits him as the eerie mystery of their experience hangs over her, reflecting the uncertainty of what has transpired.