Doug looked at his watch nervously. It had already been three hours since the assassination, and Terry and his distraction team hasn't arrived. He was afraid that they may have been KIA or MIA. That was news he wished not to report to his superiors. Losing a comrade may not be heartbreaking, but brings grave consequences as he was team leader. He saw past team leaders demoted for the loss of life, and he was feeling he was next. Then Vespin came running towards him.

"Commander, an enemy mech is coming towards us," she reported. Doug took his binoculars and looked through. The mech was pointing at the hill where they wait, and saw several rocket pods coming out from its back.

"Take cover! Rocket barrage!" he yelled. Everyone ran to the nearest cover, a rock, a trench, anything they could find. Vespin tripped and fell down hard on the ground. Doug saw that while running for cover and he turned back to get her. The rockets came wailing down upon them. Doug knew there wasn't enough time to get out, so he opened his x-ray shield from his robotic arm and aimed it upwards. He could see the rockets hitting his x-ray shield, exploding with shrapnel flying in all directions. Vespin could only hold her head down on the ground with the deafening sounds of the explosion loud enough to burst ear drums. Doug didn't feel safe with his new x-ray shield. It was still new and it felt like it was malfunctioning after all the blasts. The Maddie came forward with the stronger metallic shield from her robotic arm.

"Thanks," said Doug.

"Don't mention it," replied Maddie. Then the rocket stopped coming. Doug assumed the machine was reloading, so he quickly drew out his rifle and rushed for a place to fire. When he reached the spot, he saw another mech tearing up the first mech, then turned to Doug at the hill. Terry came out and waved.

"You better have a good explanation for this," muttered Doug. Then he heard a moan not far. He went and saw Vespin at where Ivan was. Shrapnel appeared to have hit Ivan's right knee. Blood bled out of his wound quite quickly and poured on the soil. Ivan moaned as the pain was unbearable. Doug quickly instructed Vespin to apply pressure on the wound.

"Is Cheryl there? We need her here quick," radioed Doug. The mech, with its two other passengers, rushed to site. Cheryl got off the mech as soon as it reached there and looked at Ivan's knee. She quickly opened her Medi-kit, took a bandage and wrapped it around the knee. Then she disassembled her rifle, took the nozzle of the rifle and tied it to Ivan's leg so that the leg doesn't bend.

"Hold still, Ivan. We're going back," said Cheryl in her 'motherly' voice. Ivan kept moaning at the pain. Cheryl got him up and put his head over her shoulder.

"It's okay, crybaby. Hold still. Help is coming," said Cheryl, holding him tight, comforting him. The drone of the helicopter engines became louder and louder as the helicopter approaches the drop zone. The helicopter landed and some soldiers came out to secure the landing zone. One soldier was amazed when he saw the pilotless Nationalist mech.

"Get that thing rigged up, soldier. We're taking this valuable intel back to HQ. Get a stretcher too. One is down," said Doug, pointing at the mech and Ivan. The soldier nodded in agreement and ordered his comrades to help him. Before long, the chopper was ready to lift off with its precious cargo and leave the area.


"How is he?" asked Doug, worried about his comrade Ivan Gredenko. His six hour surgery had just ended. The field surgeon came out of the room, looking disappointed. He had to break the news to Doug.

"The shrapnel shattered most of his knee. There's nothing we can do but put a cybernetic knee as a replacement. It's going to be a long recovery," explained the surgeon. Doug just nodded in agreement. Maddie was there with Doug.

"You can visit him now, but it's about time the meds will kick in. He'll need a rest. Make it short," continued the surgeon before leaving. Doug and Maddie, still in their uniform, went in to see Ivan. Ivan was barely awake.

"How are you feeling?" asked Maddie. Ivan blurry looked at them a d spoke.

"I'm fine. I just can't feel my leg," replied Ivan, trying to lift his injured knee.

"Don't, Ivan. You're still recovering. The surgeon said that your knee was shattered and needed to be replaced by a cybernetic one. Don't worry, you'll get used to it," said Doug.

"Wonders in technology, eh? If not, I would've lost a leg," said Ivan.

"Yeah, but it didn't come early enough for Yee Lin," remarked Doug.

"Right, I'll remember that," thanked Ivan before the medication kicked in and started snoozing.

"Come on, let's go," said Doug to Maddie and they left the room for Ivan to rest.


The lights dimmed. The meeting room became quiet. Several field commanders were chatting amongst themselves, later turning to look at the projectors. A man of high authority came into the room. He had several medals hanging on his coat. The field commanders stood up to salute. The man saluted back and ordered everyone to sit. Then he began introducing himself.

"I'm Field Marshal Anthony Krushcev, the high commander for the Russian and European divisions. I have gathered all of you to this briefing on our final push into Portugal. This is what we all have been fighting for," said the Russian general. Everyone listened diligently. The general cleared his throat to continue.

"As you can see comrades, we have taken most of Europe. Just a few weeks ago, our divisions have managed to take control over Spain. With incoming pressure from the Nationalist forces, the time is now to get rid of their foothold in Europe. With that, they'll be fighting for a lost cause," pointed the general at the projected map of Europe with little icons to represent infantry, tank, naval and air forces in the region. The icons were moving slowly around the map, showing movement of military forces. The blue represents the Eurasians while black represent the Nationalists.

"With these incoming naval forces, it is estimated to be at 2300 hours before fresh Nationalist reinforcements arrive on Portuguese shores. We'll try to hold them off long enough with our Navy, but we can't guarantee a success. We have to capture the ports that facilitate and supply the Nationalist cause in Europe so that the rest of their European force will be decapitated. It will take too much of the Nationalists if they were to recapture the ports we hold."

"It's time to hang them out to dry," remarked a commander.

"So, what do you propose to do, general?" asked another commander.

"This final push will inflict a lot of casualties on both sides, but it's the only way. We're going to Para drop all over Portugal to seize their last foothold." The meeting room fell silent.

"All of you will be assigned to capture different ports in Portugal. The drop will commence at 1600 hours. Good luck and Godspeed."