Point of a Spear
"A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions."
Marcus Aurelius
Chapter 3: Secrets
Caucus Mountains
1800 Local Time
May 30, 2030
In a rare moment of calm, O'Connor actually had the time to enjoy his dinner for once. After Hassan's execution and Kane's public reappearance, the Brotherhood was finally united after thirty years of turmoil. However, that didn't mean the Brotherhood was ready to fight another war. Only a few formations were properly equipped and trained. Most of the rest were just a bunch of militants with light arms. If GDI brought its heavy weapons into play, they would be crushed. And guerrilla warfare could only do so much. But O'Connor could worry about that after dinner. For now, he wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet. He could even take off his sunglasses in the privacy of his private suite.
"How is it you manage to get wine in this place?" Marko asked between sips. She too had no need of her sunglasses in here and a pair of bright green eyes stared back at him. It was almost like a reflection of his own. "I mean, we're in the middle of nowhere and the closest place to get good wine is France."
"The black market's always thrived alongside the Brotherhood," O'Connor said, cutting into his roast. "You'd be surprised what you can get."
"And you don't find it hypocritical, that we're here enjoying the good life while the people Nod claims to represent are suffering?"
This conversation had taken place many times before. Sometimes O'Connor wondered if the good doctor had just run out of topics to talk about. Both of them knew the debate by heart.
"There's something I've been meaning to ask you," O'Connor said, pointedly ignoring the accusation. "Is Homo Tiberius a species? Or just a mutation?"
Marko raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me my opinion as a scientist or as a human?"
"How about as a woman?"
Setting her glass down, Marko stared at O'Connor. "I suppose a species must be viable, otherwise you couldn't call it that. As to whether I'm capable of carrying offspring, who knows? I'm biologically capable of doing so, but whether I can conceive is another matter."
"Should I order a project to explore that avenue?"
Marko's face remained stiff but O'Connor could see the twinkle in her eyes. The doctor badly wanted to burst out laughing and was trying very hard to restrain herself.
"General O'Connor," Marko said as evenly as she could. "You have the strangest way of coming on to a woman I have ever seen. And while you're not as crass as Captain Parker, you're not exactly a romantic either."
"I believe he's a retired colonel now." O'Connor kept his face equally impassive. "I wasn't aware I was flirting. I believe I was discussing a serious scientific question."
At that Marko gave up and let out her laughter. She went on for several moments before wearing herself out and sinking into her chair.
"Sometimes I don't understand you," she finally said. "We've been in this on and off relationship for almost two decades. We've even slept together on a semi-regular basis and we didn't even use protection quite a few times. I think the answer is obvious. I can't conceive."
O'Connor raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that?"
"What makes you think it's possible?" Marko shot back. "Especially if our bodies don't degenerate like you claim, what purpose would there be to create offspring? It would only result in massive overpopulation."
"And yet we can still be killed if enough force is applied," O'Connor replied. "If we were a species, that means some natural way exists to compensate for that possibility."
"Oh? Has Kane's return got you worried about death?"
"Kane's return is a concern," O'Connor conceded, "but let's just say my concerns also extend to humanity as a whole. After all, if Homo tiberius is meant to be a replacement for Homo sapiens, it'd be mighty stupid if the next step of human evolution couldn't produce offspring."
"That's if Homo tiberius really will replace Homo sapiens," Marko stated. This was a fairly sensitive issue with the doctor. "Humanity has adapted quite well to Tiberium. It may be taking its toll, but humans will persevere."
"There are many ways to persevere. And besides, aren't we also humans?"
Marko huffed. "You're too damn good at doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Turning my words against me. But I see your point, and I know you see mine. Still, I agree we need to keep our options open. I'll look into the matter." A mischievous grin appeared on her face. "Of course, I'll need a sample of your sperm to dissect."
"I'm surprised it's taken this long to initiate this project," O'Connor said calmly. "After all, it's not like you didn't have plenty of opportunity to do so before."
That earned him more than just a glare as the wine bottle's cork came flying at him. Thankfully his reflexes were just as fast as hers and he caught the thing before it could smack him. Marko spent the rest of dinner pointedly ignoring O'Connor. Still, she didn't resist as O'Connor kissed her goodbye. Both still had a lot of work to do and only needing an hour of sleep a week definitely helped increase productivity.
As Marko walked back to her labs, she thought over O'Connor's words. The general was right about one thing. If the two of them could not have children, that was one avenue of survival cut off for the human race. A species capable of surviving on a Tiberian Earth would at least drastically reduce the risk of extinction. A part of Marko also felt, not embarrassed, but angry that she could not conceive. It was entirely possible she was simply infertile or too old, yet her own physicals had indicated she still had viable eggs. For that matter, she hadn't had a period in years. Something else was needed to trigger a reaction. What she had no idea.
The lab facilities here were top of the line, probably even better than what GDI could have provided her with. Because the Brotherhood had much more experience with Tiberium, some of the diagnostic equipment were years beyond anything GDI possessed. While she could have asked for a more powerful supercomputer to run simulations on, the ones here were still powerful. And if she really needed more computing power, there was apparently another facility with an even more advanced cluster that she could send requests to. That however required her to go directly to O'Connor and she always needed a damn good excuse for why she required access.
However, the matter of children would have to wait for morning. There was something else Marko needed to investigate, something O'Connor's forces had found in Italy during a routine sweep. Italy, ground zero for the meteor that brought Tiberium to this world. Even Nod cells avoided the area unless there was a good reason to go into the wasteland. Marko didn't know why O'Connor sent regular patrols, but this find seemed to justify his actions.
This base, as one of O'Connor's primary command centers, held several containment and quarantine units to store unique or dangerous items. These chambers were behind a series of radiation shields, blast doors, and enough armor and buffering to contain the detonation of most conventional explosives. Considering what was in this particular unit, Marko wasn't sure if it was enough. She passed through a series of checks, with each door sealing behind her before she could open the next one. Entering the observation deck, Marko could barely make out the item inside. But if one was at just the right angle and the light struck it just right, a red glint could be seen. Magnifying the image on the console, the camera zoomed in on a red Tiberium crystal.
The crystal was small, so small Marko originally thought it was a fragment from a larger formation. Yet after the preliminary scan results, she quickly changed her opinion. If something had applied enough force to fracture a red crystal, the resulting explosion would have destroyed everything within a ten meter radius, if they were lucky. A crystal this small would at the very least fracture the blast screens it now floated behind. Calling up the spectroscopic analysis, Marko examined the results. The differences were quite stark.
The green crystals of Tiberium riparius was highly stable, concentrating large amounts of desirable elements in the process. With Tiberium vinifera, the arrangement of the molecules and bonds were different, resulting in higher concentrations of elements but a more unstable structure. However, this, object, was something else entirely. Instead of the usual structure one would expect from a crystal, this red Tiberium seemed to be partially liquid in nature. It was as if veins in the crystal acted as paths for the liquid like compound to flow. This flow seemed to also create an electromagnetic field and in effect becoming a battery of sorts. The implications were nothing short of astounding. Yet so many questions remained. How was red Tiberium formed? What exactly created the electromagnetic field? And most importantly, was there more red Tiberium out there in the wild?
Until the chamber was further reinforced, the tests and experiments Marko could run were limited. As such, all she could do for now was take non-intrusive measurements. Giving the crystal one last glance, Marko turned and made her way out. For some reason, being around the crystal felt comfortable. Yet that comfort made Marko sick to her stomach.
Cairo, Egypt
1200 Local Time
June 10, 2030
"Another battalion has reported in," Oxanna stated as she followed Slavik down the corridor. "That makes eight since last week. Construction of the defense system is proceeding on schedule and should be completed within the month."
"And until the system is in place, we have to remain here and protect this base," Slavik uttered. A tinge of discontent could be heard in his voice, were one to pay attention. "And the excavation of the Temple?"
"O'Connor's forces seem to have found something, but they've already locked it down and begun moving it out."
Slavik paused. "What?"
"They have Kane's authorization," Oxanna quickly assured him. "I checked the moment the report came in."
"Very well." The Nod general resumed his pace. "How soon before we can begin a general offensive?"
A moment passed as Oxanna checked her pad. "In theory, within six months. However, our forces have been weakened by the years of infighting. To properly fight a war against GDI, we would need at least a year, maybe two."
"A year which we don't have," said Slavik. "Have any new directives been issued?"
"No sir."
"Good. Then I'll see you after the meeting."
Nodding, Oxanna separated from Slavik and went on her way. Slavik proceeded to the conference room, passing dozens of Black Hand guards. As the elite of Nod, his forces provided most of the security for Kane and this complex. The base itself was reinforced by regular Nod forces, with more units arriving with each passing day. Soon enough, Cairo would become an impregnable fortress not even GDI could crack.
Of the major Nod commanders, Slavik was the only one in Cairo. The others were all attending this meeting remotely. Three faces were on the screens as Slavik took his place next to Kane. Marzaq, Vega, and O'Connor.
"Welcome, brothers," Kane greeted them. While Slavik could see the metal mask covering half of Kane's face, the others would not. The feed was being digitally enhanced so Kane looked normal. "I called this meeting to share with you the direction the Brotherhood will be taking. For too long, the Brotherhood has stagnated and fought within itself for power while the real enemy, GDI, continues to grow stronger. We must prepare for the future, and Tiberium is the key to our future."
"We do not doubt your word, sir," Marzaq said, "but the Brotherhood is in shambles. We need time before we can challenge GDI once more."
Casting a withering look at Marzaq, Kane made no response to the general's statement. Instead he spoke to another officer. "General O'Connor. I believe you have several technical projects underway, based off of data you retrieved from both the Cairo and Sarajevo temples."
The other warlords all looked at O'Connor, surprised at Kane's words. Vega had even secretly wondered why O'Connor was included in this conference. It seemed all of them had severely underestimated the leader of the Cadre.
"Yes," O'Connor admitted, "though none of them are ready for deployment."
Keying something in, Kane issued an order. "I am transmitting you designs for a ballistic missile system. How long will it take to complete?"
Whatever Kane sent took little time arriving. Glancing over the data, O'Connor grimaced. In reality, he had developed something similar to this, though the specific payload had not yet been determined. Lying wouldn't do much good. At the very least, he could try to delay this.
"Fifteen months," O'Connor finally said.
"Very well," said Kane. "In one year, I want the Brotherhood ready to launch strikes against GDI worldwide."
No one dared raise any objections. And from his tone, it wasn't likely Kane would broker any.
"General Vega," Kane said, turning to the Latin American. "Transfer a division of your forces to Europe. They will be needed for a forthcoming operation. There is also a mission I require your forces to undertake in Bolivia."
Vega swallowed. "Of course, Kane."
Slavik grinned at the druglord's discomfort. Vega had grown more and more bold over the past few years. He continued to expand his territory north, in what many viewed as an attempt to set himself as Hassan and replace the North African as leader of Nod. With Kane's return, those ambitions were crushed. Now Vega was being forced to divert resources away from his campaign of conquest. The man dared not disobey, for he needed the Brotherhood far more than the Brotherhood needed him.
"When the time comes, we will reclaim Sarajevo. Once the Temple grounds are back under our control, our victory over GDI will be assured."
"Excuse me sir," Marzaq said. "But what is at Sarajevo? GDI forces have been excavating the region for years."
"You will learn when the time comes," Kane simply said. "GDI has not yet discovered the item in question."
Looking at the attending officers, Slavik tried to read their reactions. Marzaq and Vega tried to remain impassive, but it was obvious neither knew what Kane was referring to. The only one who had walked within the hallowed walls of either Temple was O'Connor and he was the least likely to betray anything. Not being able to see his eyes made it that much harder to read the man.
"General Slavik, General Marzaq," Kane spoke once more. "We must secure footholds for our campaign. The European theater will be especially important. Large concentrations of GDI forces are stationed within a relatively small area. This means they can bring more of their forces to bear against us, thus we must weaken and divide them. Marzaq, you will concentrate on northern Europe. Slavik, move in from the south."
"Yes sir," said Slavik. Though Marzaq was a competent commander, Slavik didn't quite trust the man.
"Begging your pardon, sir," Marzaq began, "but what of the mutants? They've become increasingly disruptive over the years and there are large numbers of them in Europe. They often employ the same hit and run tactics as we do, making them hard to outright defeat."
"The mutants are misguided," said Kane. "They have received the gift of Divination and yet resist us. Still, we cannot allow them to obstruct our plans. Wipe them out when necessary. The healthier ones can be used for our cyborg program."
O'Connor listened carefully at Kane's words, picking them apart mentally. Their great leader had simply issued a directive, leaving his followers to figure out the details. Then there was the order to forcibly conscript the mutants into the cyborg program, as if the other factions needed an excuse to do so. Ultimately, innocents mattered little to Kane. Anyone who opposed his will was irrelevant and anyone who followed him was expendable. That was the true way of the Brotherhood, no matter how the other members deluded themselves. It was simply a matter of staying alive long enough to benefit from the fallout of whatever mad scheme Kane was brewing this time.
As Kane spoke, a map of the world appeared on the conference table. All the generals looked down at the patchwork of red and gold. Large areas of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America were a bright red while regions usually considered as westernized were gold.
"For the time being, we must divert GDI's attention from our true objectives. Create enough incidents that GDI is forced to respond and spread their forces thin. When the time comes, they will be ill prepared for our major strikes."
"Sir, if I may," Marzaq began. "What are our true objectives?"
"The transformation of Earth into a Tiberium paradise," Kane proclaimed.
The statement was delivered with an even, almost nonchalant voice. Yet it seemed to reverberate amongst the gathered officers, as if Kane had screamed the words into their ears. There was no denying the force behind those words, even if one didn't directly hear it. Kane meant what he said and he would broker no failure. O'Connor nudged up his glasses and considered what course of action would lead to such an outcome. The missile system was but one part of this puzzle, after all.
"Humans aren't yet capable of surviving in a Tiberian environment," O'Connor pointed out. "The same holds for our food supply."
The other officers all turned to face Kane, waiting for his answer. They all shared O'Connor's concerns and were glad to have them voiced.
"Soon enough, Homo sapiens will be replaced by Homo tiberius and the problem will solve itself. But for the time being, I believe you again have taken measures. Or I severely underestimated you."
Slavik swore a look of annoyance crossed O'Connor's face. While he knew his mentor was exceedingly thorough, that same trait was the closest thing to a pattern in O'Connor's actions. And like any good commander, O'Connor didn't like being predictable.
"While I have contingencies in place, they do not have the capacity to supply the entire Brotherhood. My question was directed at what preparations, if any, the other parties have made." The emphasis was as much a warning as it was for clarification. If the other factions were unprepared for the coming transformation, they would face extinction. Considering the power plays within the Nod hierarchy, it was probably the most deniable way of eliminating rivals.
Amongst the gathered, Slavik focused on Vega. With his stronghold in Latin America, the druglord was in perhaps the most precarious position. The climate down there was heavily favorable to Tiberium, allowing it to overrun almost all arable land. This combined with the scarcity of fresh water only compounded his problems.
"While the matter is of concern, all it means is we must accelerate the evolution of mankind," Kane stated.
As if that closed the matter for discussion, Kane moved onto other matters. The rest of the meeting was somewhat tedious, with Vega and Marzaq jockeying for advantage against Slavik and O'Connor. Kane didn't bother intervening, perhaps using the bickering as a way to keep his generals in check. By the time the meeting was over, Slavik was happy for the reprieve. At the very least, he now had his orders. As the screens shut down and Slavik himself stood to leave, Kane spoke.
"O'Connor, linger for a moment. There is something we need to discuss."
Pausing briefly, Slavik wondered what the topic would be. Kane had waited for Marzaq and Vega to disconnect, yet didn't seem bothered that he was still present. Perhaps that meant he would soon share this secret. Or perhaps the matter was completely inconsequential. That didn't seem likely. While he had faith, Slavik still intended to find out what was going on. All the better to be prepared.
Once the leader of the Black Hand was out the door, Kane spoke. "I assume you've continued work on Project: Regenesis."
O'Connor tilted his head. "To a degree."
"From what I have seen, you possess a much more refined Divination procedure than even those used to create cyborgs. You even avoid the extensive augmentation my cyborgs undergo."
"A centralized army is unwieldy," O'Connor replied. "I know the design of the cyborgs. At the flick of a switch, someone or something can seize control of them and turn them against the Brotherhood."
"Is that your GDI training speaking out?"
Taking it in stride, O'Connor shrugged. "Consider it my humanity speaking out. I trust flesh over machines."
"You mean CABAL."
"Please recall I was there when the original version destabilized. I would prefer not to suffer an even bigger disaster."
"Is that why you created the Elite Cadre?" Kane asked. "A force of shock troopers able to match the cyborgs?"
"It was a consideration."
Leaning back, Kane gave O'Connor a thoughtful look. Both men had a lot of practice hiding their thoughts and moods. While O'Connor's glasses hid his eyes, half of Kane's face was covered by the metal mask.
"I want you to conduct a special project for me," Kane finally said. "You've laid most of the foundation with your work on Divination. Now I need you to take it to the next stage."
"And that would be?"
"To develop the technology to complement the biological. While the Brotherhood has made great advances over the past few decades, the technology is still extremely crude compared to what the Tacitus holds."
At the mention of the database, O'Connor's chin rose ever so slightly. "You have the Tacitus?"
"Not yet, but it will be in my hands soon enough."
"It's at Sarajevo," O'Connor said bluntly.
Kane nodded. "Fortunately, GDI has yet to discover it or the ship."
"No backups exist?"
"And what is it you want from the Tacitus?"
Checking his tone, O'Connor answered. "Not having it has set back basic research in almost every field the Brotherhood is interested in. We're stumbling in the dark."
"True enough. But don't get too ahead of yourself, O'Connor. After all, I have a timetable for the Brotherhood to follow." O'Connor said nothing so Kane continued. "Now there existed two partial backups from the Tacitus, of which I have one. The other you already have, since otherwise quite a few of your projects would be quite impossible."
That perked O'Connor's interest. "And is this backup also encrypted?"
"I doubt that will be too problematic for you. After all, you've had three decades to break the encryption on the other backup."
So he had. O'Connor wondered if Kane knew the full extent of what he had discovered. "Very well. I assume there's a reason you're giving me this data?"
"The weapons technology you're developing will be crucial in the coming battle. I require as much of it to be ready as possible. The Banshee fighter, for one. As well as a corp of Tiberium enhanced warriors."
"Don't you already have the cyborgs?"
Kane grinned. "While sturdy, the cyborgs are imperfect creations. You yourself are far superior."
A grunt. "I'll look into it."
"The specifications will be sent with the backup."
Taking note of the intent, O'Connor nodded. Once the connection was broken, he rubbed his eyes and leaned back. It seemed the work Marko had conducted on Divination were about to be diverted for something other than the survival of mankind. The good doctor was not going to like this, something that would play out during dinner tonight. O'Connor couldn't wait.
GDI Sector Command
Paris, France
1600 Local Time
June 15, 2030
Pouring over field reports wasn't high on the list of enjoyable passtimes in Langley's book. With the increase in Nod activity, the amount of reports increased proportionally. Activity along the old German-Polish and Greek-Turkish borders was especially heavy. Such widespread activity suggested a leadership acting in concert, a disturbing development considering the infighting of the past three decades. The question remained as to what their objective really was.
"General."
Looking up, Langley gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from his assistant. It being afternoon mattered little, coffee was always welcome after such heavy reading.
"Shouldn't you be leaving this to InOps?" Lieutenant Samantha Jackson asked.
"If I could trust their analysis, I would," Langley replied. Like most field officers, he held a natural suspicion of desk analysts. "Besides, they still haven't reached any conclusions."
Tossing aside another report, Langley took a sip and relaxed. Since his assignment, his taskforce had engaged Nod nearly fifteen times. Most of the battles were quick and decisively GDI victories. Whether they mattered in the long run was another question entirely.
"We live in interesting times, Lieutenant," said Langley. "Nod activity has increased threefold over the past month, though we have yet to see any major attacks. It's likely they're rearming in preparation."
"Yes sir," Jackson said, before putting down the folder in her arms. "The file on O'Connor. General Khalid granted you access to it."
"Finally. Wonder what InOps did to delay approval for so long."
Supposedly a minor player in the grand scheme of things, O'Connor had avoided extensive scrutiny from InOps by lying low in Russia. They didn't even have a reliable picture of the man. Yet there was something about O'Connor's activities that suggested he was a very big fish. Too bad the InOps dossier was so incomplete.
"No known date or place of birth, they don't even know how old he is. Suspected time with the Brotherhood, over thirty years. That would mean he's fairly old, older than me at least. Yet that seems contradictory with the few eye witness accounts of him. Perhaps a double?"
"Sir, if he was really part of the Brotherhood over thirty years ago, might there be something about him in the archives?"
"Possibly," Langley said thoughtfully. "But most of those archives are supposed to have been digitized. EVA, run a search for the name Richard O'Connor in association with the Brotherhood in the archives."
"Searching," the disembodied voice reported. Several seconds passed in silence as they waited. "Search completed. No results found."
Langley frowned. "None whatsoever?"
"Correct."
"EVA, are you limiting the search based off of my clearance level?"
"Level Five clearance level required for full search."
"Which doesn't necessarily mean there is anything in the classified sections," Langley muttered.
"What about the paper copies?" Jackson suggested.
"You know, that might just work, though I might get stonewalled again because of clearance issues." A moment of silence passed as Langley considered his options. "We can start with the SWD archives in London, maybe we'll get lucky and not need to go outside the Division. Unfortunately, digging through them would be very time consuming. I'll need to pull together a team, people I can trust."
"Are you worried about spies?"
"If O'Connor is really as powerful as I think he is, well, who knows. And even if he doesn't personally have spies in GDI, I wouldn't underestimate the combined intelligence capabilities of the Brotherhood."
Before Langley could follow up on that, his console beeped and another message box appeared. "I hate popups."
Jackson suppressed a smirk while Langley read.
"Well, well. It seems we have another mission. Which squads are reporting ready?"
"Squads 8, 10, 11, and 17 are all ready," Jackson answered immediately.
Calling up a map, Langley nodded. "Good. We can get air support from Ramnstein base."
"A situation in Germany, sir?"
"Poland, actually. Intelligence has identified a series of Nod outposts. Command wants them taken out. Get squads 8 and 17 ready for departure. We'll be taking the Kodiak."
"Yes sir."
One of two Orca command cruisers, the Kodiak I was the prototype that eventually spawned the Kodiak II. Traditionally reserved for use by General Solomon himself with the callsign of Global One, its use was granted to Langley for his current assignment. The last time Solomon actually made use of the craft was two years ago, so it wasn't as if the general needed it. Smaller than the Kodiak assigned to Brigadier General Michael McNeil, Global One served well in its role for fast insertion and extraction.
Walking out to the airfield, Langley was greeted by his strike teams. While not considered true black ops units, the Special Warfares Division had a colorful history of getting the job done however they could regardless of what was at hand. In doing so, they sometimes stepped into what other parts of GDI considered their exclusive jurisdiction. Langley continued that tradition without reserve and thus had quite a few enemies, especially in InOps. Fortunately, he had just as many allies amongst officers with field command experience.
"Our targets are a series of outposts outside Gdansk. Intelligence thinks Nod is using them as staging points and weapons depots. Orders are to take all of them out. Let's move it!"
"Sir!"
Traditionally, generals weren't supposed to accompany their men on small missions like this one, even if he was overlooking them high above. That bit of conventional wisdom went out the window around the end of the 20th century as GDI continued integrating the armies of the western world into itself. Langley climbed onto the bird with his men and proceeded to the bridge. A short jump through the upper atmosphere and they were above their target zone. His troops didn't take long disembarking so the Kodiak wasn't long on the ground.
What was once a rather nice tourist location was now a Tiberium wasteland. With its natural harbor, it used to be a major port. These days, the city itself was nominally GDI controlled but in reality the population was heavily sympathetic to Nod. This made the area a perfect place for the Brotherhood to set up operations and eventually take the region from GDI, something his superiors wanted to avoid at all cost.
A total of eight dots appeared on the map, marking each of the outposts they needed to take out. With only a company's worth of troops, Langley couldn't launch more than two simultaneous attacks without overextending his forces. Good thing air support was on the way and all his troops needed to do was light the targets. As the eight teams moved out, video feed was relayed back to the Kodiak and displayed.
"Minimal defenses, we can take them out without armor. How's our air support?"
"Fighters ETA in three minutes," Jackson stated, then looked at Langley. "Sir, why are we out here? Sending out the Kodiak for such a simple mission seems to be overkill."
"There was a footnote in that mission briefing that I'm worried about," said Langley. "Notice the configuration of the bases. My bet is those outposts are more than staging points, that they outline a perimeter for something bigger."
Jackson's eyes widened slightly. "A cloaked base?"
"Possibly. Nod activity has increased significantly over the past few months. Intel doesn't know how they're getting so many troops into the area or where they're hiding them. Seems a logical conclusion."
"If that's the case, shouldn't we have brought in more forces?"
"SWD doesn't have the resources on hand to. Besides, I'm not a field commander. I'd need to confirm my suspicion before I can federate the local forces."
"Yes sir. What about the risk to our forces?"
A moment passed before Langley answered. "This is war. I can't coddle those under my command, no matter how much I want them to keep living."
"Targets lit," the radio interrupted them. "Awaiting strikes."
"Tigerhawk squadron, this is General Langley. Targets are lit. Permission to begin attack run."
"Tigerhawks acknowledge," another voice replied. "On the way."
The wait wasn't too long before fires blossomed in the feeds. Fire rained down and explosions tore apart each outpost. Figures could be seen scrambling about trying to escape the carnage but the Orca fighters were now coming in low to use their guns. Bullets peppered the ground and shredded anything that escaped the fires. A rocket here and there rose up, challenging the fighters, but all fell short as the Orcas easily evaded them. As the flames began dying down, Langley's teams moved in to survey the carnage.
"Any indications of a tunnel?" Langley asked.
"If there was one, it's been buried," came one response. "The Orcas really did a number down here."
"Excuse us for being good at our jobs," one of the pilots shot back. The squadron was still overhead, waiting for further instructions.
"Stow the chatter," Langley ordered. "All units, still nothing so far?"
"Sorry sir, nothing but rubble here."
"Nothing but twisted metal."
Leaning back, Langley frowned. Either Nod was too shocked to have all these outposts taken out at once, or he had miscalculated and there wasn't a larger base hidden in this region. Looking at the map again, Langley considered his options. Without more troops, he couldn't comb the area, but without proof, he couldn't get those troops. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted as signals appeared on the map, only to disappear seconds later. They were quickly followed by sounds of explosions.
"Artillery fire!" a voice screamed over the radio.
"Pull back," Langley ordered. "Tigerhawks, did you get a fix?"
"Roger. Nod artillery hidden by a cloak. Permission to plaster them?"
"Negative," Langley said. "If they've got cloaked artillery, they've likely got cloaked AA. Maintain altitude and wait for further orders."
A pause, then finally. "Order acknowledged."
"Status on our units?" Langley asked.
"They're pulling out as fast as they can," Jackson replied. "Team 3 took heavy casualties though. The initial strikes were right on top of them."
Cursing to himself, Langley barked out more orders. "Inform Command that we've discovered a Nod base under a cloaking field. I want MSAs out here on the double. Notify Gdansk garrison that I am assuming field command of their forces and need reinforcements."
As quickly as Langley issued them, Jackson carried them out. Responses from the garrison was expectedly confused but Jackson provided the necessary justifications and the ball was soon rolling.
"EVA, extrapolate the firing zone of those artillery," Langley requested. "Will our MSAs have enough range to detect the base?"
"Working. For Mobile Sensor Arrays to be outside the estimated firing zone, they will be at the extreme range for their sensors to detect any cloaked units."
"Good enough. Land forces here, here, and here." Langley designated three hills around the suspected base. "Each force is to have a MSA. I don't want any holes in this grid."
"Sir, Gdansk garrison can only send us two MSAs," Jackson said. "They need their last one for their own early warning network."
"Damn. Alright, change landing site for the second MSA to here. At least two is better than one. ETA on main force?"
"Twelve minutes, sir. Gdansk garrison wasn't expecting a force request."
Langley growled. "Sloppy. Alright, get my troops to this position. Have the Tigerhawks move to the other point. They'll provide cover for the MSAs until the main force gets there. I want that sensor net up as fast as possible."
"Yes sir."
Despite having suffered an artillery bombardment, Langley's forces made good time and managed to beat the MSA being airlifted in. A few were still slightly dazed but they were safe for the time being. As the MSAs deployed, new telemetry began transmitting to the Kodiak and the map was updated accordingly. Faint signals were displayed at the edge of the grid.
"EVA, overlay the suspected positions of the artillery." Three of the signals were circled, while five others were slightly off. "Looks like they're moving the artillery. Assign targets to the Tigerhawks."
"What about protection for the MSA, sir?" Jackson asked.
"I'll take that chance. If we can take out the artillery, we can move the Arrays in closer and see exactly what Nod is hiding."
"Yes sir."
"Sir, we don't have much ammo left," said the squadron leader. "At most, we can pull off one attack run."
"Then make it count, captain."
"Acknowledged."
From his seat, the Orcas were but dots on a screen. Outside, it was so much more real. The fighters paired off and began attack runs, cutting through the air. Each unit came in from a different direction, hopefully dividing the attention of whatever AA was down there. Alarms began blaring, signaling missile locks, but no one broke off. Hot led spewed out, impacting the ground. For a second only dirt was kicked up, but suddenly sparks flew and a vehicle shimmered. Those fighters with a partner peeled away as their tail came in to finish the job while the rest continued firing. At the last second, all of them veered away as missiles appeared out of nowhere. Three weren't fast enough and ran right into the missiles and exploded, showering the ground with shrapnel. The rest danced past the missiles and pulled up to escape the next salvo.
"Any other signals?" Langley asked, forcing himself to ignore the losses for now.
"Partial contacts, but they disappeared right away," Jackson answered. "Sir, our reinforcements have arrived."
"Have them escort the MSAs deeper in. Have Tigerhawk squadron return to base. They've done their job." At a cost.
"Yes sir."
A company of Titans and Wolverines unloaded from the transports. Not as large a force as he would have liked but he'd make do. The two formations inched closer to the Nod base, with the walkers flanking the MSAs. Pairs of Wolverines pushed ahead, acting as a screen and scouting for any cloaked units. Once Langley was satisfied with the distance, the two forces stopped and the MSAs deployed. However, the sight took everyone by surprise.
"Sir, they're-"
"Yeah. EVA, are any Ion Cannon satellites in range?"
"Negative."
"Damn it."
Langley would have settled on his hunch coming true. Instead, it seemed he'd stumbled upon a force that outnumbered his own three to one, at least.
"Contact Ramstein! Request additional air support. We can't take on a force this size alone."
"Yes sir!"
Cursing GDI's lack of artillery, Langley ordered his units forward. They wouldn't be able to overcome the bases defenses, but might be able to draw the Nod forces out into the open for a bombing run. At this point, it was all he could hope to accomplish.
"Relay this to Philadelphia immediately," Langley said. "We need an Ion Cannon overhead if we want to take out that base."
Even now, Langley could see units rolling out from the Nod base. Nearly two dozen tanks were coming after his Titans, a mix of both stealth and conventional. With the MSAs, the field was leveled, assuming he could keep them from being destroyed.
"Sir, fifteen Tick Tanks and four Stealth Tanks are going for the second MSA."
"Shit." The second MSA, guarded only by the infantry Langley brought with him. "Bring us down. Do we have hard locks on those Stealth Tanks?"
"Yes sir," the pilot replied. "How low do you want us?"
"Within weapons range."
A hesitant answer came. "Yes sir."
As a command unit, the Kodiak possessed minimal weapons, mostly in the form of point defense guns. However, it did have one howitzer hidden in its belly. The barrel appeared as the Kodiak descended and the weapons officer took aim.
"Take out those Stealth Tanks the moment the cannon is in range," Langley ordered. "Once we're close enough to use the Phalanx, target the Stealth Tanks with it and switch the howitzer to the tanks."
"Sir?"
"Stealth Tanks have minimal armor," Langley explained. "Chainguns should be able to punch through with a sustained burst. Lieutenant, come in behind the Nod force. Once in weapons range, slow us down as much as possible. I want enough time to cripple them if possible."
"Yes sir," the pilot said nervously.
The Kodiak was by no means a stealthy unit and the sound of it approaching could be heard far away. That said, its actual combat record was nil and only caused confusion amongst the Nod forces. As some of the tank commanders popped their hood to see what was going on, they were suddenly greeted by rounds smashing into their comrades. Three Stealth Tanks met fiery ends before a stream of bullets carved the last one into swiss cheese. The cannon was now aiming at the regular tanks and pounding on their top armor. One shot was all it took and mushrooms of fire rose from each hit. A few Nod soldiers tried to turn their machineguns up against the Kodiak but were mercilessly chewed apart by the chainguns. In a matter of minutes, the entire force was wiped out and the Kodiak ascended once more.
Breathing heavily, Langley thanked whatever celestial was watching over him. He wouldn't be able to repeat this trick, especially with Nod AA now knowing to look for him. It was a miracle none of the Stealth Tanks got off a missile, but at least the MSA and his men were safe.
"General, Philadelphia confirms our situation and is tasking ICS-19 to us. ETA, three minutes."
"Relay our telemetry to Gdansk Garrison's ion controls to get a target lock. We need to keep Nod forces tied down in the meantime."
"Enemy forces have engaged the Titans," Jackson reported. "Unit commander is requesting orders."
"Hold the line and protect the MSA," Langley said. "Where are my fighters?"
"Sharkstorm and Falcon fighter squadrons, ETA one minute," said Jackson. "Highland bomber squadron, three minutes."
"Have Sharkstorm provide cover for the Titans." Pulling up an image of the Nod base on his personal monitor, Langley looked for any sign of evacuation. Fortunately, there wasn't even any subterranean activity. "Falcon squadron is to circle the Nod base. Do not get in range of the Nod AA, but take out anything that tries to leave the theatre. Bombers are to stand by for an attack run on my orders."
"Yes sir."
The battle on the ground was growing ever more pitched. Wolverines maneuvered about, spraying the tanks with bullets. Sparks flew and a few Stealth Tanks actually began burning but the Tick Tanks shrugged off the fire and returned some of their own. They were soon joined by the Titans as rounds smashed into the lead tank. Missiles and cannon fire responded in kind, blowing apart two Titans. The two sides continued to trade shots before a shriek signaled the arrival of the Orca fighters, punctuated with a barrage of missiles. The Nod tanks were torn asunder but fought back all the same, determined to take at least some of the GDI units with them. However, the finale wasn't long in coming.
"Sir, ICS-19 is overhead and fully charged. Target is locked."
"Fire."
The words were almost a whisper, but the following more than made up for it. A beam of light touched down from the heavens, burning anything in its path. The air itself danced as it became ionized while the ground cracked from the power. Anything unfortunate enough to be at ground zero was outright vaporized while the blast wave flattened the rest. When the sky darkened once more, a crater lay at the center of the Nod base. Structures began to decloak and defenses powered down. Almost as an afterthought, the Orca bombers came in and unloaded their deadly cargo. Another wave of fire crashed into the Nod base, finishing off those still standing. They left behind their signature, that of scorched earth.
End of Chapter 3
I actually liked how I ended this chapter, writing wise. In the process, we learn a bit more about O'Connor's past and where certain weapons technologies came from. Now does the Kodiak II also have the same weapons? We'll just have to wait and see. Anyways, I'll be playing around with the sequence of missions a bit, specifically the Nod missions. I need to make them fit with the overall GDI campaign after all. And of course, leave reviews.
Z98