The task force group sat camped 5 miles out from the GDI base nearby. A cold, harsh wind had kicked up, and cut at the soldiers faces as they prepared for the coming mission. 1st Lieutenant Brian Mitchell sat huddled with his comrade 2nd Lieutenant Eric Hastings. The two had graduated from New West Point together and completed OCS, and were also childhood friends. The task force commander, a gruff, surly Major by the name of George Collins, sat clustered with his logistics and intelligence operatives, discussing battle tactics and strategies, stuff not important to a soldier. They were trained to be Mo-bile, Hos-tile, and Ag-ile, not strategic thinkers. Get in, shoot some blunts (shared NOD/Forgotten term for GDI soldiers) and complete the objective as stated.

He shrugged off a quick chill and looked to the tall, collapsible tower that served as the primary lookout post. As usual, the sentry was a sleep, as was most of the base. With the silence of inactivity, he could tune in to the lightest of tones and the slightest ground vibrations. As he drifted closer to disturbed slumber, he heard a distant rumble. His senses perked up and his body began to release dopamine and adrenaline into his blood. He was instantly alert. Removing a pair of binocs from his jacket, he scanned the distance. HE saw a rooster-tailed cloud of dust slowly rising, with quick dashes of read appearing in between. The reinforcements had arrived.

A squad of three attack buggies and 5 attack cycles parked in the outskirts of the makeshift base. Several soldiers emerged from the convoy, and a surfaced APC was approaching quickly. A single soldier made his way to the TF commander, who shook hands and spoke briefly, before returning to his convoy and driving off into the distance the way they came. So much for the reinforcements.

Dawn broke, and Mitchell discovered he had fallen asleep. Several soldiers were already prepped and in battle dress uniform, ready to go to combat. After all of the soldiers had been awakened, they began their solemn march toward the GDI facility. Most of the lower ranking grunts hadn't been told of any long-term objective, other than: Infiltrate the GDI Communications Centres, Neutralize enemy threats, and Protect and Preserve the information within the centers. Mitchell had been informed of the greater aspects of this assault. Important technological data involving weapons research, which was allegedly stolen from NOD by GDI spies, is stored within its computer system, and requires direct retrieval. Digital infiltration had proved impossible, as several technicians had been assassinated when access attempts had been traced to individual NOD operatives. Top brass officials had determined that a strike force was required to retrieve the data, not just a single operative. They also decided that the centres should be taken in whole, with soldiers minimizing collateral damage to weapons systems.

As the procession began its dull march, dusk had already started to fall. Briefings, munitions distributing, and last minute tactical training had consumed the daylight, and they wanted to utilize the double-entendre of deep-dark cover and surprise to overwhelm the centres. The troops approached the south entrance, which was apparently less defended from assault, given its flank was facing seaward to the Baltic. Electronic Countermeasure operatives had infiltrated the towers and deactivated their sensor arrays. With perimeter defenses deactivated, the force could penetrate the base and complete its missions. Sentries were established and the remainder of the forces began the mission into the base.

Stepping into the main courtyard, which was suspiciously empty, they crouched low and searched for enemies. At first, all seemed clear, and we made our way to the first Comm Centre. Staff Sergeant Victor Carter led a three-man team into the facility. They exited victoriously with a cache of data discs. Five gun reports were heard, barely. A sniper! Running for cover out of the open, a bullet struck him in the chest, and he fell to the ground, the discs crashing into the ground, a bullet hole in each. The other two operatives had dove for cover with the rest of the group, and several bursts of silenced, automated fire. A few men took bullets in stray limbs, but there were no causalites -- yet.

Suddenly, bright, blinding lights were activated, and a ring of GDI soldiers surrounded the forces, weapons drawn, safeties deactivated. None of use fired. I think a bit of each of us inside wanted us to be taken alive, to allow us a chance to escape, or at least live again. A GDI commander executed a single command and they opened fire on us. Half of the men were instantly gunned down. Bodies of our comrades dropped to the ground, dead and wounded, and the survivors took refuge beneath their bodies. Bullets ripped through their dead bodies, while GDI soldiers slowly began to dwindle. Eventually, three of soldiers, Major Collins, the taskforce commander, Lance Corporal Davis, a young soldier drafted by his country, and myself were left. We were the only survivors of a 20-man raid. I forgot to mention -- that mechanized division that stopped by earlier -- they were only there to warm up and eat. We really could have used those AB/C's in combat. And sometimes I wonder if NOD is really winning this war.