Chief Warrant Officer Darrel Briggs groaned in the overwhelming heat of the Harpy. His squadron was flying recon patrols over the tactical headquarters several miles out from a nearby GDI base. Practicing and drilling evasive maneuvers, basic dogfighting skills and diversionary measures, Briggs and his squadron were jacked and ready for some combat. Turning his Harpy around, he makes a beeline to the helipad within the heavily fortified defensive base of Fort Terrier. Waving to the tactical command post below him, he saw the welcoming faces of commanders and soldiers alike. A good airman could be a great asset in a firefight, but Briggs didn't consider himself the best. He thought his wingman, 2nd Lieutenant Karyn Forticelli displayed the greatest abilities in piloting and dogfighting. Many a time had he been locked in her crosshairs in flight simulation, but she always attributed it to luck.

Landing back inside Terrier's walls, he met up with his fellow pilots, and discussed their strategies and tactics individually. After all, his job as squad leader was to comment and make corrections to improper or hazardous conduct. Later on, the pilots showed their avid ability to absorb suggestions as they took their lessons learned into the skies in several more training sorties before their newest combat mission was dispatched.

NOD air-strike battalions had been organized into the greatest military command group, a Corps. It was a vast and extremely large grouping of similar weapons or abilities for a specific purpose. Terrier Corps, as it had been so properly named, was behind held within the expansive air-dock facility on Earth. A majority of the NOD air forces were assembled and dispatched from this area, and remains the largest producer of NOD air weapons. Within its 200+ docking stations were crews of over 300 each, technicians, engineers, and construction workers maintained the facilities, designed and constructed Banshee and Harpy components, and assembled them into the light-weight fists of fury that NOD connived to use against the GDI Mammoth research facility.

The commanding officer of Terrier Corp, Brigadier General Daniel Franks, was responsible for organizing the precise tactical maneuvers of this massive strike-force. Battalion commanders had informed the company commanders, who informed their squadron leaders, who reported to the pilots, that battles would first take place head-on to the base, engaging the SAM sites and RPG launchers. From there, the force would make its way through the base, destroying ground defense sites such as Vulcan Cannons and RPG launchers. The surviving forces would then destroy essential command and research facilities, moving from MCVs to Power Plants to factories, ensuring that the Communication Centres were either captured or destroyed. If all of this did not go into plan, the massive subterranean APC force that would follow behind would be demolished by ground defenses. Within the APCs were engineering crews, each crew ordered to infiltrate and convert essential buildings into NOD possessions. The main objective behind this assault was to setback GDI research into the Mammoth Mk. II and other research projects. Engineers were being trained in massive numbers to fulfil objectives to retrieve combat data on new Titan models and Wolverine weapons specifications. After all resistance was neutralized, or the force was damaged enough to warrant retreat, a ground force strike team would invade the base, and destroy its contents internally.

Alarum sounded, and pilots made their way speedily to the launch pads, initiating startup sequences, loading munitions, and warming up engines. In one orchestrated movement, a massive force of over 200 Harpies rose from the ground like a flock of locusts, grey and monstrous. Airmen tested their weapons systems, examining lock-on and missile cruise range. After a quick analysis of the battle fleet, he noticed a few Banshee bomber prototypes within the ranks. He had not been informed of the use of such devastating weapons. Their plasma weapons would more than likely neutralize any threats to the Corps, but also any important data contained within nearby buildings. He shook off any doubts in the Banshee's abilities, and moved forward through the battle group, checking up on his troops. Roll call was completed, and each squad leader checked off attendance and flight capability, and they were off.



The engines of the massive force roared as one, a hideous buzzing in the background of the hover components. In all of the confusion of the fist takeoff, several airmen had bumped into each other, with squad leaders barking into their comm units to keep a clear head and maintain a visual on your surroundings. Not from Briggs squadron -- they normally were the bumpers, able to keep up with the trained experts guiding the force from Fort Terrier. Within no time flat, the several miles to the research facility was covered, and the assault began.

Instantly, SAM missiles and ground fire from ground troops took out a few of the front runners. This had been planned, so most of the front units were remotely piloted, NOD technicians at home safe from enemy fire. The units quickly hugged the ground, taking cover from SAM missiles under the radar, only to pop up and take a few calculated missiles shots at SAM turrets. Slowly, SAM sites were neutralized, and units made their way forward, easily destroying the undefended ground forces and structures. An explosion in the distance, followed by the roar of Harpy engines, signified that the massive hulk of a deactivated Mammoth prototype had been destroyed. Flying through the debris and fire, the three victorious pilots cheered over the comm. Suddenly, a thin, blue streak tore through the sky, impacting with the front pilot. Earth-shaking impacts on the hard soil shook GDI ground forces, which were confused initially, looked back, and raised their weapons, cheering. A battle-ready Mammoth Mark II exited the war factory facility, guns ablazing. Its Vulcan Cannons blew through the hulls of jets, the SAM missile packs demolished whole squadrons, and the feared rail guns tore through hull after hull, without pause. Pilots looked in fear as they honorably charged the marching monstrosity, missiles flying, bullets raging, exploding harmlessly, and bouncing uselessly, off of the enforced hull. Company commanders called for a quick retreat, and the forces moved toward Fort Terrier. In the distance, we saw the jerry- rigged EM Pulse Cannon elevate, and make its target. The bluish ball of energy flew over the ragged and battle-torn force, and the pilots turned to see the impact, continuing their hasty retreat. A white, blinding blast filled the sky, and a shockwave rolled over its borders, blowing over the cement walls and observation towers. The Mammoth stood disables, blue ion bolts darting over its armor. With its shields disabled, and weapons systems offline, the troops continued the attack.

GDI upper brass had not anticipated the construction of an EMP Cannon at the tactical base, and was overwhelmed by such a miscalculation in NOD stratagem. A second EMP blast caused the Harpy force to come to a careening halt, several pilots falling to the ground in a blast of jetwash, its energy blast impacting with the Mammoth, causing it to topple and fall. The blue-white shockwave flooded toward the Harpies, and they continued the hasty retreat. The EMP cannon was shutoff, and the APC convoy was seen digging their tunnels underneath the hard soil. In the chaos of the EMP bombartmet, the APCs rose to the surface, their engineering squads infiltrating the MCVs and Communications Centres. A few of them were busy arming pseudo-nuclear devices to the hull of the fallen Mammoth. With such efficiency, and sheer numbers, the engineers were able to reboard the APCs and escape home, with minimal casualties. As the Harpies landed in their bays, noticing more then enough remained empty, they watched as the bombs detonated on the Mammoth and spreading over the border or the base. Had the massive walker been destroyed, or had the armor held? No one wished to find out, and the few soldiers that did, never returned to active duty, or never returned.