Chapter 14
...The Brotherhood believes Tiberium to be some divine instrument, something given to them by God. There is no denying Tiberium's vast potential, but I would fear any god who would send something like this as a gift. Because if this is a gift, then what would a punishment be?
Dr. Ignatio Mobius, on the Brotherhood's worship of Tiberium.
1997
Fort Weisswolf, Germany
July 22nd 07:30
1996
Mark Lancaster stood in the middle of Fort Weisswolf's command centre, full of officers and other personnel going about various duties. It created a cascade of sounds, but Mark couldn't hear any of it, he went into an almost shock like state after hearing the news Nate Bennet just gave him.
"She's dead Mark, they killed Rain. I'm going to find the bastard and I'm going to make him pay!" Bennet was seething anger, a darkness set into his eyes. Mark was at a loss for words, he didn't know Julia Rain that well, they hadn't even served together, but he still considered her a friend and her loss was felt deeply.
"Don't loose your head man." Mark finally said after a few moments of silence. "Don't loose sight of the mission, we end this war first." Bennet sighed deeply and ran his hand through his hair. He seemed to calm down slightly before he continued.
"Yeah I know, but when I do find him I will kill him Mark, then I'll kill Kane." Mark gave his friend a sad smile.
"I wouldn't doubt it." Someone placed their hand on his shoulder and Mark looked back to see Roland standing behind him.
"General Sheppard is calling us." He said sombrely, Mark guessed he overheard his conversation.
"I got to go Nate, take care of yourself."
"I will, you too." With that the call ended and Mark and Roland walked over to the larger video screen that Sheppard used to give them their missions. After a few minuets his face appeared and he clearly was not happy.
"Gentlemen we got a situation but first I want to say that I heard what happened in Africa. GDI has lost one of its best, I'm sorry Commander."
"Thank you sir." Mark replied simply.
"Gentlemen we have an issue. I assume you both know who Doctor Ignatio Mobius is?" Mark and Roland nodded their heads. It was hard not to know who the man was, he was the world's leading expert on Tiberium, and Mark remembered the plane ride with his daughter.
"Well he is currently operating a field hospital to help treat people with Tiberium sickness. It's also being used to further research it's affects, so he is currently there with both his daughter Sydney, and GDI's next top researcher, Doctor Petrova. I hope you understand just how important both these people and their research is to GDI and the UN. Unfortunately Nod also understand their importance and we believe the hospital is in danger. Mark I need you to rescue you these VIPs." Mark nodded his head and was about to reply to the general when an officer walked into Sheppard's office. He was momentarily distracted by the attractive blonde officer while she talked with Sheppard. While Mark was observing her slightly too short skirt he noticed Sheppard was now pinching his nose.
"What' wrong sir?" Roland asked.
"I've just been informed we actually have four VIPs at the hospital now. Apparently Major Duville is there doing a PR stunt."
"Major Duville? As in the supposed founder of GDI, Major Duville?" Mark asked incredulously. The old world war two veteran had been at the UN's declaration ceremony for GDI, and he had been honoured as the man who first created the idea, along with the other Allied leaders.
"Yes him, apparently he was sent there without my knowing. I'm going to have a stern conversation with whoever was responsible for this. Get to Bratislava and rescue our people Commander."
"Understood sir, We'll get it done." Sheppard nodded his head then ended the call. Mark turned to Roland and followed as he began walking over to the large digital map of the continent that dominated the centre of the central command area where he and Roland often worked.
"We still don't have many troops what with these damned sanctions by the UN." He started. He began typing into his personal laptop that sat atop the table, Mark looked over his shoulder and watched him look through various data on the region that Mobius had built his hospital.
"Looks like there is a small garrison there already, but I don't know what kind of resources they have on hand."
"Do we have intel on the size of the Nod force?" Mark asked as he made his way to the other side of the table. He addressed the question to Roland and E.V.A whom he knew was always listening.
"A large Nod force is moving in from the Danube river. Their origin is currently unknown." E.V.A replied in her mechanical tone.
"I thought we kicked Nod out of central Europe when we blew up that damned base." Mark couldn't help the frustration seep into his voice.
"Nod forces still maintain a large presence however the exact location is unknown."
"It's a problem we can deal with later. Your priority is Mobius and the others." Mark looked up at Roland and noticed a giddy look to his face, puzzled he asked.
"What's with you?"
"I just spoke with the garrison commander. They've been sitting on supplies meant for the front, waiting to send them out but they can't because GDI is still dealing with the UN investigation."
"Okay and?" Roland's smile only widened.
"I'll leave it a surprise but you will have access to heavy armour." The man seemed like he could barely keep the secret, Mark was about to ask but decided not to push it. He was about to call up Solomon to start getting their forces ready to move when one of the officers called over.
"Sir we are getting a transmission, unknown source but it's meant for you." Mark looked at Roland confused then made his way back to main video screen.
"Put it up Lieutenant." She simply typed at a few keys then the screen lit up. The whole room instantly grew quiet, duties were forgotten and a few people gasped out of shock. On the video screen right in front of Mark, was Kane.
"Well don't look so surprised commander." The leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, and self proclaimed messiah began speaking in his smooth voice. Mark clenched his fists at the man's natural charisma and the way he looked down on him. "And don't look around for your E.V.A it can't help you now." Mark looked at the Lieutenant and she simply nodded in confirmation, the man had somehow just disabled one of GDI's most advance pieces of technology.
"Well what shall we talk about? Your powerful GDI forces have been emasculated and you yourself are a killer of children. Of course its not true but the world only believes what the media tells them to believe. And I tell what the media to believe its really quite simple."
"You won't win you son of a bitch." Mark replied defiantly, it only seemed to amuse the man.
"If I were in your shoes commander I would spend my last earthly hours enjoying the world. Of course if you wish you could spend them fighting for a lost cause, but you know that you've lost." Mark was about to shout more obscenities but Kane simply smiled and cut the link. As the screen went dark the communications lieutenant spoke up again.
"E.V.A back online sir, I'm currently getting it to see if Kane stole any data or uploaded a virus."
"I don't think there's a need. He was just trying to get under your skin." Roland said. Mark was still staring at the screen, he had just spoken with the devil himself, he couldn't deny that he felt scared such a powerful man had known where he was, and had simply called just to taunt him. However he now felt even more determined now to find the bastard and bring him down, if just to see that smug look get wiped off his face.
"Kane thinks he's won? Let's go prove that bastard just how wrong he is." Mark said this to the whole room, trying his best to motivate his people after having their morale shaken by Kane's sudden appearance. The men and women shouted and cheered and Mark smiled, Roland patted him on his back and offered his own defiant smile. They all got back to work.
... ... ...
Robert McCoy sat alone in the fort's large mess hall, it was still early in the morning and the cooks were busy preparing today's breakfast. McCoy had been unable to sleep, plagued by nightmares of the hellish battle for the fort. He stared down at the cup of coffee in front of him, having gone cold a long time ago. Memories came in vivid flashes and he could clearly hear himself crying out for his mother, he fought off the urge to slam his fists into the table. He felt so weak for having cracked like that, for almost letting Steve get killed.
The smell of cooking food wafted over to him, it all smelt good and caused his stomach to rumble, that was until he smelt the cooking bacon. Suddenly he had vivid flashes of men screaming and flesh burning, it was all punctuated by the memory of Derek Reznick's headless corpse. He ran to the bathroom and barely made it to the toilet before he was violently sick, after puking up his guts he washed his face with cold water from the sink and stared at himself in the mirror. There was no bright eyed twenty year old kid, instead it was a tired and haggard looking man. He made his way back out and found the mess hall was now quickly filling with other soldiers. A line had formed for people to grab trays of food, but he was no longer hungry so he made his way towards the door. Just as he was about to reach the door Steve walked in and spotted him right away.
"Rob there you are!" The big man said in his usual cheerful tone, but as he got closer his smile vanished.
"You don't look so good kid. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." McCoy tired to push past Steve but he remained in his way.
"Seriously you do not look good. Are you getting any sleep?"
"I'm fine Steve." McCoy didn't mean to sound so abrasive but he really just wanted to get back to his cot.
"No you're not, come on I'm taking you to the infirmary."
"What why? You can't just boss me around! You are not my father." McCoy cringed as he realized he sounded like a disobedient child.
"No I'm not but I am your friend and I'm worried about you. We've been watching each other's backs since the beginning right?" McCoy didn't say anything, instead they walked back into the cold morning air and made their way across the base. When McCoy had first left the barracks the base was dead save for the few night sift soldiers on patrol, now it was bustling with activity. They made their way to the large infirmary that handled all of the fort's medical needs. He assumed Steve would lead him to the emergency room to have a doctor look over him but instead he was led deeper into the building.
"Where are we going?" He asked while he looked around the sterile building. Steve sighed before he replied.
"You haven't been sleeping well and you've been distant lately. So I want you to go talk to someone." McCoy was about to ask ore questions when he realized they were heading towards a small cluster of offices, all marked as psychiatrists.
"You think I'm crazy?" He asked angrily.
"No, I just think you need help with coping with what happened. It's nothing to be ashamed of Rob. Lot's of people deal with the same thing you're dealing with. Please Robert, if not for me then for Olivia."
"Olivia? Your daughter?" A big smile appeared on Steve's face again.
"Yeah, she told me to keep you safe, she wants to meet her uncle Robby." The big man started to laugh and McCoy felt his own smile form while a tear streaked down his face, a little girl he had never met had called him her uncle. For the first time in awhile he felt back to normal, he patted Steve's shoulder and watched the big man leave. Then he knocked on the door.
Bratislava, Slovakia
22nd 13:00
1996
Ignatio Mobius sat slumped over his desk, now littered with countless papers, folders, discarded coffee mugs and plates, and some sort of fruit that now was nothing more then a fuzzy ball. He had been working for two months at this hospital, trying desperately to find some kind of cure for Tiberium sickness. Much like the substance itself, the sickness it caused in people was strange and constantly changing, in some people it would cause cancer, others radiation sickness but in most cases it caused death by having crystals grow both inside and outside of the body. It was truly gruesome and why he and his daughter had shifted their work to focus on finding a cure.
At first GDI had protested, more interested in finding a way to stop it's rapid growth, but the United Nations superseded them on this one. Despite the gruesome nature of the work he was happy to be working with his daughter, she had grown into a brilliant young woman and he couldn't have been more proud. She had also taken a shining to Dr. Petrova, she herself was brilliant and her work on Tiberium's affects on the human body far exceeded his own. The three had been working together for some time and it was almost enough to forget that there was a world war going on, almost.
The door to his office opened and Sydney walked in, she immediately waved her hand in front of her face and gave a disgusted look.
"Oh god what is that smell? I really hope it isn't you."
"It smells in here? I haven't noticed." He looked around as if he had just seen the room for the first time.
"You need to take a break, and a shower dad." She walked over and started cleaning up his desk, he leaned back in his chair, suddenly very aware of how sore he was.
"Yes I suppose your right. Where's Petrova?"
"Waiting for us, we're going into town to eat and your coming with us." Mobius was about to protest but he noticed the determined look in his daughter's eyes, the same one her late mother had. He smiled and stood up.
"After I shower first." She smiled and they both made their way out of the office. Out in the hall they saw three people make their way towards them, he recognized Petrova and the GDI commander of the local garrison, but the third person he didn't know. Whoever it was he was old, with thin wispy white hair where he still had any and liver spots where he didn't. He was wrinkly and looked like he could snap with a strong gust of wind, but he moved with determined energy and his eyes were clear and almost youthful looking. The two groups met together just outside the office door, the base commander, a tanned man with a bald head and deep green eyes named Colonel West, began to make introductions.
"Dr. Mobius and...other Dr. Mobius, I'd like to introduce you to Major Thomas Duville." The older man held out his wrinkled hand and both Ignatio and his daughter shook it.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both, Dr. Petrova here has told me only good things about you." Despite Duville's age he spoke with a commanding voice and could be clearly understood despite his thick french accent.
"A pleasure to meet you too sir, I remember seeing you on T.V at the UN ceremony." Sydney said warmly.
"Yes, they decided to dig me up and throw me in the spot light when they enacted the Global Defence Initiative." The old man's smile never wavered and Mobius couldn't help but smile too, he knew the man was a veteran soldier who had served with the French resistance against the Nazis.
"What are you doing here Mr. Duville?" He asked.
"Making the rounds, visiting bases and trying to look pretty for the cameras. Trying to fix GDI's image after Nod's smear campaign in Poland." Duville was still smiling as he spoke, but a hardness had set in his eyes. Mobius remembered the broadcast about the supposed massacre of innocent people in Poland, he knew it wasn't true but that didn't stop others from believing it and the UN started to investigate the very people it had trusted to lead GDI.
"Major Duville is hear to visit you three to check on the progress of your research, to put it bluntly GDI is hoping to sway people to our side by showing just how horrible Tiberium is. And that we have a cure for it." Colonel West added in. Mobius visibly winced at this and he scratched his head as he replied.
"Unfortunately work has been slow, we haven't made too much progress."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." Duville said placing a withered hand on his shoulder.
"I was asking if the Colonel and Mr. Duville would like to join us for dinner." Petrova spoke up for the first time during the conversation, Mobius was about to reply but Colonel West's radio crackled to life and he began talking in it. Everyone waited around patiently to find out what was going on. After a few minuets he turned to the waiting group with a grim look to his face.
"I've been informed there may be an imminent attack on the hospital." Sydney audibly gasped and Mobius felt both fear and anger, why would Nod attack a hospital? Petrova gave no reaction and Duville simply patted his side and Mobius noticed he had a sidearm.
"I've also been told that a Battle-Commander is on route to take command of the garrison, you won't need to worry about security, I hear Commander Lancaster is one of the best." West continued.
"Wait did you say Lancaster?" Sydney asked with an odd tone to her voice.
"You know him?" Petrova asked.
"Not really, I met him last year before the war started, when we were working in Rome." She said.
"In any case I need to get back to base, I strongly suggest you all stay here. I'll deploy more soldiers to defend the building. Major you should stay here as well, we may need to evacuate the whole facility." Everyone exchanged glances, Mobius didn't want to abandon his work and certainly couldn't leave behind the sick patients, but before he could protest West cut him off.
"Don't worry doctors we'll get everyone out, besides we have a special gift for Nod back at the base." West didn't explain and simply began making his way out of the hospital, leaving the others now uncertain of what to do.
"Perhaps we should find somewhere safe to hunker down for a bit." Duville suggested.
"Yes that's a good idea, we can wait in the cafeteria." Sydney replied. Mobius nodded in agreement and they started making their way there, except for Petrova.
"You all go ahead, there is something important I must do first." She began walking briskly in the other direction, Mobius watched her go for a moment before running to catch up with his daughter.
... ... ...
Mark Lancaster along with Solomon and Carter stood staring up at the hulking metal monstrosity in front of them. Colonel West stood there as well with a toothy grin on his face. Mark now knew why Roland could barely contain his excitement.
"It certainly fits the name doesn't it?" Carter said in awe. In front of them was perhaps the single largest tank ever built, a twin barrelled moving fortress called the Mammoth tank. Armed with duel rocket pods this was the most powerful unit ever built by GDI or its member nations. Apparently having been in development since the early days of the cold war, if it ever escalated into world war.
"She's a thing of pure beauty, we've had her sitting her for awhile, with no orders on where to send her. Now she'll give Nod something to remember." West said proudly.
"Sure wish we had this with us back in the Czech Republic." Solomon said while still staring at the mammoth.
"Or back in Germany." Mark replied.
"Production on these things is obviously expensive, so GDI doesn't have too many to throw around." West remarked. Mark turned to walk to the base's communications centre that doubled as the main HQ, the others followed behind. The base was small, meant as a rear reserve facility and was never built to fend off an attack. However it seemed Nod was determined to capture the doctors and their research, so Mark would have to make do with what he had. The mammoth tank would certainly help but he couldn't pin his whole defence on the one tank, no matter how big it was.
"Let's get our defences ready, Nod will be attacking soon. Solomon, you and West go help secure the hospital and get the VIPs ready."
"Yes sir." Both men walked away, and Carter went off to look over the rest of the base, leaving Mark alone for a moment. Kane's voice popped into his mind, taunting him about his inevitable defeat, Mark clenched his fist. He wasn't going to let Kane get to him like that, he began making his way to the HQ and was determined to win this battle.
The sun began to slowly rise over the horizon, marking the beginning of a new day. Mark surveyed the defences he had set up and hoped it would be enough, reports came to him early in the morning of the arrival of the Nod force. Most of the hospital had been evacuated but now the Brotherhood had set up anti air, preventing them from evacuating anyone else. And more infuriatingly the doctors had opted to remain behind, determined to be the last out of the hospital. His forces were arrayed around the garrison, or set up defending the hospital. The mammoth and a handful of other vehicles were idling and ready to move out at a moments notice.
Mark's breath frosted in the air as he stood outside the comms building, a warm mug of coffee held in his right hand. Despite the sound of idling vehicles and people going about various duties the base was quiet, the Chinook helicopters remained powered down ever since Nod set up their AA, they didn't seem to have any moral objections to shooting down helicopters loaded with sick patients. Fortunately none had been shot down, but now that meant Mark would have to engage them soon with his limited forces.
He heard someone approach from behind and turned to see J.C Carter walk up to him, rubbing his arms for warmth.
"How the hell are you not cold?" He asked while his teeth chattered.
"Coffee helps." Mark replied and raised his mug as emphases. Carter didn't reply he simply surveyed the base.
"You think this will be enough? Without the helicopters there won't be any other way to get everyone out."
"I know, we can make do. Have you talked with Solomon yet?"
"Yeah, he's gotten everyone ready to go when we can clear the skies. Mostly just some staff and our VIPs left to get out."
"That's good." They returned to standing there in silence, that was until a loud whistling broke through the other background noise.
"What the hell is-" Mark tackled Carter to the ground before he could finish speaking just as an explosion destroyed one of the guard towers at the base's entrance. More artillery shells began raining down, most of them missed, sending large amounts of dirt into the air before falling back down. A few found their mark however, the war factory that helped maintain their vehicles was hit twice but it still stood. The second guard tower was destroyed and one of the Abrams tanks was hit directly. The barrage ended as quickly as it started, large smoking craters were now spread across the base, and fires spiralled into the sky from the ruins of the guard towers. Mark and Carter got back to their feet and Carter began pushing him back towards the comms building.
"Get back inside!" Mark didn't protests, instead he pulled out his radio and began yelling out orders.
"Get those tanks moving! Find those guns quickly!" The vehicles roared to life and the massive Mammoth began to slowly move, infantry ran to follow the tanks or help secure the defences along the thin concrete walls.
"Solomon! We're under attack get ready!"
... ... ...
The sound of GDI soldiers firing from the windows was near deafening. Mobius struggled not to use his hands to plug his ears and tried to focus on keeping out of their way. He, Sydney, Petrova and Duville were in the main cafeteria waiting for the all clear to head to the base and escape from Nod. A part of him regretted not leaving yesterday on the first wave of transports, but he knew his daughter would never forgive him for abandoning the people under their care. Not too mention the data they had collected was too valuable, so they stayed behind and now they were under attack.
"I need support on the left side! Left side!" One of the soldiers yelled.
"Enemy pushing up the right flank!"
"Need ammo over here!"
"Enemy flamers pushing up! Focus your fire!" It was all so overwhelming, he looked at his daughter and saw her try to put up a brave face but he could see fear in her eyes. Duville seemed oddly calm, though he supposed that was from having lived through the last world war. And Petrova seemed calm as well, how or why Mobius couldn't even begin to guess.
More soldiers ran into the room, some carrying heavy crates no doubt loaded with ammunition or other supplies. Lieutenant Solomon came into the room as well and ran straight over to them.
"I need you guys to head back to the offices, it's more secure there." Solomon had to shout over the sounds of battle.
"I thought we were supposed to stay here until it was time to go?" Mobius asked, straining his own voice to be heard.
"There are a lot of Nod outside. The offices will be more safe." The stern tone and look on his face told him there was no use arguing, plus Mobius felt no need to argue the point. They all got up and quickly made their way out of the room, Solomon remained behind to organize the defence.
"Everything will be okay Sydney, I'm sure Commander Lancaster will come here soon." Mobius said to reassure his daughter, and to reassure himself.
"I know dad." They didn't say anything after that as the building began to shake from explosions outside.
... ... ...
One of the Mammoth's barrels fired and a Nod T-80 tank exploded in a violent fireball. Just as McCoy's body stopped vibrating from the concussive force the second barrel fired and another Nod tank was killed.
After the initial artillery barrage ended The GDI forces rushed out to meet Nod head on. Fortunately for them the Nod forces had become bottle necked on a small bridge that divided the base from the town where the hospital had been built.
Now they were fighting off the Nod forces that had managed to make it across. As far as McCoy knew, the town was under attack and Nod was pushing hard for the hospital. That put a sense of urgency on the GDI troops as they had to break through and reinforce them.
McCoy raised his rifle and fired on two soldiers who were attempting to flank around the mammoth. His shots missed but it did force them to fall back. The mammoth fired again and fired several rockets, McCoy watched the rockets race across the river and slam into one of the remaining mobile artillery guns. It exploded adding more fire and smoke into the early morning sky.
McCoy moved up as he noticed Colonel Carter lead two squads forward. They took cover behind the burning wreckage of a Nod APC, firing on Nod infantry trying to get across the bridge. McCoy again raised his rifle to fire, this time he managed to kill two Nod infantry. More fell from the hail of fire and a large group were sent flying into the air from the explosion of a grenade, but more simply came to take their place and threatened to push through. McCoy emptied what was left of his clip and tried to quickly reload.
More GDI soldiers arrived and added their fire to the desperate firefight. Amongst them was Steve and he was carrying a Squad Assault Weapon, or better known as a SAW. The large man didn't seemed burdened by the heavy weapon and he held down on the trigger, sending a torrent of lethal metal towards the enemy. McCoy got up and fired off a few bursts and killed more Nod soldiers, again more just seemed to pour in. However the Nod assault eventually broke, the destruction of their heavy armour halted their momentum and the Brotherhood couldn't maintain it's siege. The relentless surge of Nod infantry finally halted and they began to retreat, McCoy fired off a few more bursts along with several others at the retreating backs of the Nod soldiers.
Without taking a moment to breath the order came to push forward, the Mammoth tank began rolling over the bridge, pushing away burnt out husks of Nod vehicles. The infantry waited as the tanks rolled past and the APCs raced up so they could load up.
McCoy sat down beside Steve and watched as more soldiers crammed in, and before they had fully settled in the APC began moving. McCoy took a moment to check over his gear and catch his breath since being thrown into the thick of battle after waking up. As he reloaded his weapon and checked over his spare magazines but he looked up when he heard Carter's voice over the squad radio.
"Listen up everyone. The hospital is under attack, but we need to take enemy AA guns. We need to take those down so we can finish the evacuation. Intel says they have them scattered around the area, we follow the mammoth and we take them out." McCoy gulped down the fear that had stuck in his throat, Steve offered him a sympathetic look.
He started taking deep breaths as he mentally prepared himself for more fighting.
"Listen up squad!" This time it was Sergeant Hanson speaking over the squad's personal radio channel.
"Nod has eight S. spread across the area preventing transport and air support. Colonel Carter is going after four located in the town, then he's gonna try to reinforce our boys at the hospital. Colonel West has located a Nod forward operating base that's defending the other four. We're going to roll right up to them and put the fear of God back in 'em!" Everyone shuffled in their seats and tightened their grips on their weapons. After a few minuets the APC rolled to a stop and the ramp lowered, Hanson yelled for them to get out and the all filed out. McCoy was greeted with the sight of snow covered trees and the mammoth tank roll right up to the enemy base. Nod automated turrets fired on the massive tank but they seemed to just bounce right off, it fired both of its barrels and obliterated the defences. Nod soldiers ran up to hold the entrance but McCoy could see a few turn and run when they saw the mammoth.
GDI forces rushed into the FOB. He spotted a group of soldiers attempting to set up anti-tank weapons and he raised his rifle and fired off two bursts, three of the five Nod soldiers were killed and the other two dropped the heavy weapons and raised side arms to fire at him. The fire was inaccurate and he managed to duck into cover behind a concrete barricade. Steve appeared beside him along with Sergeant Hanson, all three of them peaked over the cover and killed the last two heavy weapons operators. Then they spotted more squads of infantry rushing up, they cut them down in a hail of bullets as the tanks rolled into the base unopposed. Hanson motioned for them to move up but they immediately ducked back into cover when a Nod tank rolled out of a service bay and fired on the mammoth, the shell exploded but the damage wasn't enough to stop the mammoth. It rotated it's turret and fired a single shell, destroying the Nod tank and sent shrapnel flying into the air. The turret rotated back and it fired another shell destroying one of the SAM sites.
A group of GDI engineers ran up to Hanson and he motioned for McCoy and Steve to get closer to him.
"I want you two to cover the engineers while they take out one of the AA guns."
"Yes sir." they both said. They followed the engineers as they made their way through the base, keeping an eye out for any remaining Nod forces.
McCoy breathed a sigh of relief when no enemy soldiers appeared, it would seem that the bulk of the Nod forces had either been wiped out after attacking the garrison, or were occupied with taking the hospital. Which left few forces to defend the base. After a few minuets the engineers had set up some explosives and destroyed the gun, two more similar explosions could be heard in other parts of the base. Signalling the completion of the mission, McCoy and Steve began making their way back to the entrance to meet up with Hanson and the other members of their squad. They stopped when Carter's frantic voice exploded over the radio.
"We're under heavy assault! Nod's got us surrounded and we can't get to the hospital! All units respond!"
"Carter this is West! We are on our way just hold on! Let's get moving people." McCoy began running back to the entrance where the APCs were already waiting and the tanks were already rolling through towards the city. McCoy just hoped they could get there in time.
... ... ...
The sounds of gunfire were muffled through the walls, but Mobius could tell they were getting closer. GDI wasn't able to stop Nod from getting into the hospital, now their only hope was that Lancaster could get to them in time.
"Is there no where else we could wait?" Mobius asked one of the two soldiers tasked with defending them.
"This is where Lieutenant Solomon ordered us to wait, so we stay here." The soldiers tone suggested that he didn't like being set to guard duty. Mobius felt someones hand on his and looked to see his daughter try to offer him a reassuring smile, he still couldn't get over how much she looked like her mother.
"We'll be fine dad, it won't be too long until we get rescued." Mobius smiled back as he patted her hand, he returned his attention to the two soldiers when one of their radios began to crackle.
"Enemy AA is destroyed, helicopters are on the way and we got friendlies pushing up the road." The voice sounded like Solomon and everyone gave a sigh of relief.
"We hear you Lt, what do you want us to do with the VIPs?" Solomon's reply never came however as the wall directly in front of Mobius suddenly exploded inwards. Dust quickly filled the room along with a short scream of surprise from Sydney. Mobius was thrown onto his back from the concussive force of the blast, he slowly got into a sitting position when he noticed three black clad figures move into the room. The shot both soldiers once in the head and made their way towards Petrova and his daughter. Fear gripped him and he tried to get to her but one of the figures kicked him back to the ground. They wore full body armour and instead of the scorpions tail that all Nod forces wore, they instead bared a raised first clutching a globe. He didn't know what that was supposed to mean but he realized he was no match for these men.
As the dust finally settled he saw Duville standing there like a statue, leaning on his cane and looking as if three men hadn't literally burst through the wall. Two of the Nod soldiers exchanged glances then one slowly made his way towards the old man.
"Hands up. Now!" Duville just looked into the man's visored helmet before he whipped his cane into his head with a speed that should have been impossible for a 90 year old man. The other two seemed just as shocked which allowed Duville to pull out a vintage WW2 pistol, he quickly shot one of them in the head and shot the other in the chest before he could get his weapon up. Another bullet put the last of the black armoured soldiers down, leaving Mobius to gasp at the man with new found admiration. Just as he thought they had won another gunshot blasted through the room, Duville looked down at the rapidly spreading red spot in the middle of his chest, he turned to the doorway and was sent flying backwards by another gunshot. Another three men entered the room through the hole, two in similar black body armour but the third was wearing a simple black sweater with a bandoleer slung across his chest, he had thick black hair and a beard to match. He surveyed the room and snorted in disinterest before looking down at Mobius.
"Hurry up and secure them and let's get out of hear." The two didn't reply as they went about getting everyone to their feet, and began pushing them forward. Mobius couldn't stop looking at Duville's mangled form, before he was shoved violently through the hole. The obvious leader spoke up behind him.
"General the package has been secured, we have three casualties." There was a pause as he listened to the person on the other end, Mobius couldn't hear that side of the conversation.
"I don't know it was some old man... yes an old man with a cane. Just tell Sakura to have the chopper ready." The three scientists were led through the hospital towards the roof, all around them were dead GDI soldiers. The fear Mobius had been feeling was now overshadowed by anger and sadness for all the senseless death, and for the loss of Thomas Duville.
... ... ...
Mark Lancaster stood in front of the GDI hospital, the entrance was in ruins from the pitched battle that had raged not more then half an hour ago. He slowly clenched and unclenched his fists as he processed what Solomon had just told him.
They were too late, Blackhand commandos had infiltrated the building and had kidnapped the scientists, and too make it worse they had killed Duville. Mark let out a deep sigh before he turned back to Solomon, Carter and West were also standing beside him now.
"Secure the area. let's make sure Nod isn't still in the city. I need to call Sheppard." They all simply nodded and left Mark alone with his thoughts.
In that moment, standing in front of the ruined hospital. He swore that he would find Kane and make him pay for everything he had done, for starting this war, and for killing people like Julia Rain and Thomas Duville. Kane would loose this war and Mark would make sure of that.