sdrawkcab sgniht gnioD

Another example of how I seem to be inadvertently going about things in this game in the wrong order happened today.

I came across an outpost by a lake and one guard there mentioned that there is a bomber plane sunk some where in the lake. I take this as a cue to check it out, but nothing happens when I find it. Then near by I find a cave underwater filled with monsters, after a very close fight I manage to kill all of them and loot the bodies of a bunch of soldiers. I find a way out and then make my way to another outpost to the north, they say that there was a outpost to the south that they lost contact with. I check my map and find a new marker close to the caves I just left. I walk all the way back and find the remains of the outpost and locate another entrance to the cave. a short way in I find a survivor (scared the heck out of me) and he say "looks like you killed all of them, thanks for the help!"
Apparently I completed his mission already in just trying to survive...