The Golden Sunset

by BenFo

Christopher Shepard saw heavy combat with Task Force Hawk, a join task force created by the GDI to combat insurgency in countries heavily influenced by NOD forces. When Task Force Hawk was disgraced in a lewd slaughter of civilians, Shepard retreated back home only to find that the war was following him. Written by a Marine combat veteran. HEAVY military lingo. Please review

1. Chapter 1

The Golden Sunset

By Benjamin Fortier

Based on the "Command and Conquer" Universe created by Westwood Studios

Any names used are currently placeholders, and do not reflect my feelings for individuals that actually have those names in real life

June 3rd, 1999

0942 Hours

Captain Darrell King moved quickly through the hallways of Building 864, GDI Central Command in Monrovia, Liberia. He barely had time to acknowledge the several soldiers who gave him the proper greeting of the day. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the manila envelope he carried under his armpit labeled "Task Force Hawk" in bold, black letters.

He stopped outside the briefing room and looked at his watch. He was three minutes early. Command had just received the distress call from Major Weiland, Hawk's Company Commander. The situation was moving at a dire pace, and Captain King knew that if they were going to bring Task Force Hawk back to Monrovia alive, they had to act quickly and with sound decision.

King took a moment to collect his thoughts, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Memories of home tried to pry into his head, but he rejected them. He couldn't become distracted now. He had to enter the briefing room ready to play the game. There were lives at risk. He had to step up to the plate with no distractions.

"Gentlemen," King entered the briefing room, looking to Lt. Colonel Marc Laurent, Colonel Stanley Hunter, Colonel Paul Wright, and Major Scott Kotansky. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee mixed with sweat. It was a familiar odor in the officer's quarters of CentCom/Monrovia.

King wasted no time, dimming the lights as soon as he entered the room. He stepped up to the laptop positioned in front of the drop down screen, placing his envelope of documents onto a nearby table. He brought up the EVA Command Display, and started without skipping a beat.

"Members of the 18th Infantry Battalion, Task Force Hawk, 3rd Platoon, have come under heavy fire while traveling on a foot mobile patrol on the outskirts of Ganta, Liberia," King spoke with confidence, but his hands palms were sweating and shaking, his nerves jolted. "3rd Platoon's task was to disrupt and distract the enemy while 1st and 2nd Platoon delivered relief and aid to citizens of Ganta. 3rd Platoon came under concentrated small arms fire this morning at 0823, a little over an hour ago."

The commanders listened intently, following King's laser pointer as he picked out key areas on the digital map.

"3rd Platoon fought through the ambush, only to be split up by enemy fixed wing air attack. They sustained three killed in action, and two wounded in action. 3rd Platoon has fortified several different buildings on the outskirts of the city, in the area of their patrol route, 200 meters from their designated rally point. 1st and 2nd Platoon are pinned down in the center of the city, receiving heavy indirect fire and machine gun attacks. Air support is approximately eight hours away. Ground reinforcements have met a blockade of NOD mechanized infantry."

Lt. Colonel Laurent, the 18th Infantry Battalion Commander was the first to speak. He stood with a chiseled face in the front of the Army and Marine Corps commanders.

"Task Force Hawk is vital in stabilizing peace in the area. Ganta citizens have become hostile towards GDI forces, thanks to our poor public relations efforts in the city. It is believed that this large number of enemy troops that have come down on my men came across the border from Guinea in an attempt to reinforce their 4th Armored Division several miles to the South of Ganta. Intel confirms that 4th Armored is moving up to the city to attack Task Force Hawk," Laurent paused for a moment, scanning the room of expressionless faces. He had a lot of pride in his Battalion, especially in Task Force Hawk. He hand picked the men he thought would work the hardest to bring aid to the citizens of Liberia, and fight the hardest if they came under fire. "Hawk will be crushed if we don't evacuate them before the 4th Armored arrives. Colonel Hunter, sir, I'm hoping your ORCAs will pound the shit out of that Armored Division before they reach my men."

Hunter nodded slowly. "You can count on it, Marc."

"I know I can count on all of you," Laurent took his seat. "Captain, let's go over our options."