The alarms wail. The nuclear reactor is breached and belching out toxic waste. A mere human would have no chance of survival. But the mechanised rescue team that clanks into action soon has the situation under control.
This isn't fantasy - if the Pentagon has its way robot squads will soon handle such man-made disasters.
To spur on the technology the US defence headquarters' research unit has selected 17 teams and their machines - from more than 100 who applied - to compete in the Darpa Robotic Challenge (DRC) trials near Miami, Florida this Friday and Saturday.
The finals will follow in a year's time to decide who wins the $2m (£1.2m) prize and gear-driven glory.
"This is a product that saves humanity," exclaims Prof Dennis Hong, director of Virginia Tech's Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory, which is entering Thor - a humanoid adult-sized robot.
"These big competitions help make science-fiction ideas become reality.
"A Fukushima plant-like disaster is going to happen again, and we're just going to be sitting ducks if we don't do this."
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