So I watch all the intro videos, get the first mission to travel with Maniac to the base for a debriefing, we get ambushed and 10 seconds later there's a bullet-hole in my hud and I'm listening to my obituary. Tried 4 or 5 times and just gave up.

Am I missing a "raise shields" button or something? Seems like I take 2 hits and I'm dead. Doesn't seem to matter if I accept Maniac's challenge or not. I don't remember the game being THAT difficult.