You hop out of the raised armored humvee, landing squarely on rocky inhospitable earth.

It had been a tense walk back to the barn with Ghost following not far behind you. The back of your head had felt ablaze due to his burning eyes boring into your skull. Someone sure knew how to brood. Rudy and Soap had already made themselves comfortable and knocked out in their cots so you followed their lead, looking over to the Lt only once to see him sitting on his cot, fiddling with one of his knives.

Having thought back you couldn't remember ever seeing Ghost sleep. Later that night you were the last to wake, stirred by the sound of Soap and Ghost disagreeing over which guns they should back. The four of you didn't have much to talk about on the drive to the prison. Of course that never stopped Soap, who had gotten in next to you, from running his mouth.

But now it was game time, the lights from the prison could be seen on the other side of a rocky bluff. Ghost got out of the passenger seat and looked down at you, fuck he was tall, but didn't say anything to you as he brushed past, rudely bumping into you.

"Graves'll have this place locked down" Rudolpho warned as you joined the team at the back of the humvee. Rudy had already climbed into the bed of the armored vehicle and was handing down supplies.

"Expect patrols on the outside," Ghost said.

"No doubt," Soap agreed.

Rudolpho handed you a large bag full of weapons that you slung onto your back.

"We geared up?" you asked the three.

"Guns, ammo, and charges in the packs," Soap answered.

"I got the plummet-gun, Ascenders?" Rudy checked off.

"Check"

"Check"

"Check" You chime in after Ghost and Soap.

"Let's hope Alejandro's alive" Soap worried under his breath.

"Count on it" Rudolpho answered without even a grain of doubt.

"On me-" Ghost ordered, taking the lead.

The three of you filed in in a slightly spread pattern with you near the back, Soap taking the tail end of the group.

"Go left," Rudolpho said.

"Trail," Ghost confirmed.

"Let's follow it," Rudolpho agreed.

It felt good to focus your mind back on the mission. It always felt like the rest of the world was a confused mess while your objective here was clear. Saving Alejandro and the rest of the team didn't require you to read Ghost's tired eyes or worse, sort out your own thoughts.

Despite being surrounded by three large men the shuffle of your team's boots over the sand was near silent, the four of you were drilled for silent approaches since your early days in boot camp.

"Rudy, how long've ya known Alejandro?" you heard Soaps' voice crackle over the radio, his voice near a whisper.

"20 years. Signed up together. Toughest dude in the regiment," he answered.

"I wouldn't want to mess with him-" you agreed with the sentiment to the two.

"We used to say "el unico que puede matar a Alejandro es Alejandro""

"What's it mean?" Ghost asked, ever curious about the language.

"The only thing that can kill Alejandro, is Alejandro," Rudy translated.

"Glad he's on our side" Soap chuckled under his breath.

"A huevo," Rudy agreed.

The trail Ghost was leading you down could hardly be considered a real trail. It was littered in large boulders and you had to jump down a drop off, your teeth rattling with the extra weight of your pack. So far your gunshot had only been a dull ache but you were careful not to tense or flex too much and risk ripping the stitches.

"Hold up" Ghost ordered, coming to a stop around the corner. His voice was low and no longer over the radio "Eyes on the prison."

You could see the spotlights shining down as you came up next to him, those were some tall walls. Through the outlet of the trail you could see a large tower with a few men patrolling the metal catwalk.

"Patrols on the outside" Ghost said, his earlier suppositions confirmed.

"We'll have to take them out to get in," Rudy said as your eyes landed on the handful of men surrounding an armored vehicle in front of the prison.

"Two snipers, first tower. Soap- you take one, I'll get the other," Ghost ordered and Soap followed to a t, stepping up beside you to line up his shot.

As soon as Soap squeezed off the trigger, taking down one man, Ghost shot a second and two bodies hit the ground.

"Shadow down," Soap said, lowering his rifle.

"Good shot, hermanos," Rudy said.

"I'll flank around and we'll clear the field-" Ghost answered, getting right back to business. "Glass give us a hand" he added, addressing you finally. At least he could get his head on straight when it came to dropping Shadows.

The three of you moved forward while Rudy hung back.

"Hold fire, Soap" Ghost warned the younger man, already knowing he would be the one to rush through. Rude looked up the side of a rock overhang you had been skirting and grabbed an old root, scaling the rocky ledge. "Got a heli coming. Looks like a supply drop." He warned and you heard the blades chopping through the night sky.

"Copy" Rudy answered over the radio.

Soap and you hung back watching the Shadows through your sights.

"Eyes on six Shadows," Rudy said from atop the ledge.

"Affirm, three at the vehicle, two behind the rocks, one solo on the right," Ghost added..

"Take the two at the vehicle first and the others won't see," you suggested over the radio with your lover vantage point.

"Good call," Ghost answered, sparking a bit of pride in you. "Glass, on my mark, drop the one with the cap."

You looked through your sights, the two Shadows a dim green outline for you. You lined the point right over the head of the man on the right, the one with a soft cap instead of a helmet.

"Set," you breathed into your radio.

"Check, 3, 2-" Ghost counted off before finishing "1"

A heartbeat after one your rifles went off in tandem and the butt of your gun popped into your shoulder from the recoil.

"Solid, two down. On the move," Ghost said and all three of you started moving forward with him in the lead. Before you could even slide to a crouch behind a sage bush Ghost had snuck up behind a Shadow. "Take the two right off the vehicle. I'll hit the one on the side."

If only he was this good at communicating about anything else.

Soap and you snuck forward keeping low and silent to not alert the Shadow Ghost was on. Once the two other Shadows were in sight you lifted your rifle back up.

Squeeze, one down.

The other man looked around shocked as his comrade crumbled in a dark mist and it was all too easy to move the crosshairs to his head and squeeze off again.

"Hey-" Soap complained next to you.

"Too slow," you shot back, it was hard not to have a little fun, even when you were dropping bodies.

You heard another soft thump as Ghost laid his Shadow out on the ground.

"Clear," Rudy confirmed over the radio.

"Push up to the base of the tower, that's our entry point," Ghost said from behind you. "And stay quiet."

You could hear that order fly right over Soap's head.

Rudy came jogging up from the edge of the clearing already pulling the plummet-gun off his shoulder to set it up. It was a risk using it as it tended to be loud but fortunately the other watchtowers were a couple hundred yards out.

There was a loud thump and a whine as the grapple hook shot out of the gun and sliced through the air dragging a thick rope into the sky.

"Good hook" Ghost said, tugging at the end of the rope once the grapple had swung around the metal railing.

"Take point Lieutenant," Rudy said as you gathered around him, pulling your Ascender from where it was hooked on your pack. "Soap, cover him."

Ghost enabled the motorized handle and shot up into the sky, it was much easier than having to climb up one tedious grip after the other. You stepped forward and hooked in your own Ascender while Rudy and Soap kept watch.

Your shoulder, and more pressingly your stitches, pulled as the Ascender dragged you and your gear up the rope with surprising speed. It was a lucky thing that heights didn't bother you.

Once to the top you felt a pull at the back of your vest and Ghost was dragging you over the railing, you had to act fast to press the unlock on your Ascender to not leave it hanging.

"Thanks," you grunted, a little frustrated at how he was getting into the habit of grabbing you and moving you as he pleased. All you got in return was a nod.

"Up," you heard from behind you and Soap was climbing over the railing from the rope.

"Copy, behind you," the radio cracked with Rudy's voice this time.

"Let's get to the security room," you said as the rope tightened with Rudy's ascent.

"Stay close," Ghost agreed and started moving forward again.

"Look for a hatch with a ladder," Rudy said as he made it up.

Ghost wasted no time moving inside the tower as his gun swung around to clear the space, fortunately for you the two bodies on the deck were the only ones who had been guarding the tower. Before you could even get inside Ghost had started climbing down the hatch with Soap close on his heels. Rudy and you made up the back and and to catch up you hooked your feet around the outside of the ladder and let your gloved hands slide down the railing to slow you drop.

"Above you" Rudy said as you pushed off the ladder at the bottom to give him room.

"All in, let's move" Ghost nodded once all of you were at the base of the ladder. It seemed he had cast off his role of 'lone wolf' after his little speech in the safehouse and was becoming a real leader, with special skills like waiting.

He didn't wait long however before jogging to the next building.

"Security building straight ahead. CCTV's inside," Rudy guided them in a hushed voice.

"Move fast and stay low," Ghost ordered them.

You slid up against the side of the building and found a dust crusted dim window. It was hard to make out the details but against the light of a screen you could see the basics.

"Two inside. Let's take them out before they call their friends," you informed the team, taking Ghost's rear.

"You'll want to use a close-range weapon for interior," Ghost advised and taking it you hook your rifle on your pack, switching to the pistol you had holstered to your leg.

"Good call, Lt" Soap agreed and you went around Ghost, lining your pistol with the door.

"Let's get in there" was Ghost's response.

"On you, Glass" Rudy said, confirming they were all ready for breach.

You put your hand on the door, it wasn't latched so ever so slowly you pushed it open and with your luck it stayed silent as it revealed the interior. You aimed your pistol to one Shadows head and shot, dropping him. The other Shadow swung around and shot, an pullet clipping the side of your face before Soap was able to take him down with a shot, you grit your teeth.

"We're clear" Rudy said and you straightened up turning to the three others pouring into the room. "We'll use the closed-circuit to locate my men."

You were surprised when Ghost walked right up to you and grabbed your face, by the chin, to roughly turn your head from side to side, checking the fresh wound.

"And find Alejandro," Soap responded to Rudy, the two of them not concerned with either of you.

"I'm fine," you bit out, again annoyed at the Lt's overstepping and batted off his hand.

"We'll need diversions when we move," Ghost said, satisfied with your health after the snappy response. "We'll plant charges on the outside. Soap your eyes'll guide us."

"Aye"

"Get on those cameras," Ghost ordered the two men as he started out the building, expecting you to follow.

"On it."

"Same," they both answered now over the radio while the two of you rounded the building, guns up again. You'd have to be fast but silent if you wanted to get to the charges planted before anyone noticed the bodies dropping around the facility.

Ghost reached back to you and you saw the hilt of one of his knives that he was offering to you. He didn't seem like the type to share but you were grateful all the same.

"What I always wanted, how'd you know," you chuckled under your breath as you gripped the knife.

"M'a charmer like that," Ghost played along in his typical flat voice, but at least you were getting as good of a response as Soap did. "Soap, let me know when we're clear to move in past the gate."

There was a pause as you and Ghost waitied next to the rusted gate for Soap's response. He was likely getting used to the camera's controls.

"Clear, go" he finally ordered with a clipped voice, letting you know there was a small window to move.

Ghost pushed open the gate with a creak and you both slipped through it scanning for your next available cover.

"Access the cameras ahead and check for threats," Ghost ordered over the radio.

"One Shadow, easy kill," the response came when Ghost settled behind a wood crate. You could see the man just after Soap pointed him out. "Take a stab at him."

Ghost nodded forward and you headed in his direction at a low crouch with your new knife tight in your hand. You grabbed up, your free hand coming around the Shadow's mouth to silence him before slitting his throat. It wasn't an easy kill as you had a lot more reaching to do than someone as tall as Ghost and the dead weight threatened to crush you while you did your best to lower him quietly.

"Nighty-night, fuck-head," Soap chuckled over the radio enjoying to show.

While you were busy getting the dead man off you, Ghost was already on the move.

"Shadow on the balcony," Soap pointed out.

"Little far off for that, Johnny," Ghost grunted with some humor, nice to see even he had limits in his ability.

There was another pause from the radio and you crouched next to Ghost.

"How'r you holdin up, Glass" Ghost asked you without looking over to you.

"Fresh as rain" you answered, failing to mention the burning ache from the bullet wound. It wasn't much worse than it had been that morning.

"Multiple Shadows." Soap said over the radio, they must be on the other side of the truck that was parked in front of you. "They're armored. Stay low"

"Good copy" you answered into the radio this time and slowly made your way around the truck to not draw the Shadow on the balconies attention.

"The balcony, take a shot at him," Soap insisted this time and since Ghost had refused the first time you lifted your pistol and took aim, landing a clean shot. You had a smug grin knowing you hit it when Ghost had been unsure of himself.

"A little help's not so bad, eh, Lt?" Soap laughed over your earpiece.

"Stay focused, Johnny," Ghost warned.

"Just sayin'-"

"Keep it tactical, Sergeant" the Lt drew the line, his voice tense. You rolled your eyes, hurt pride then. It couldn't be very often that the infamous Ghost got showed up.

"Move" Soap clipped over the radio.

There was a mess of pallets and crates around the truck which gave the two of you great cover to spread out a bit and cover more space, as long as Soap could keep up.

"One around the corner," Soap said, then "Go up" referring to a ladder. Ghost was on it and scaling the ladder while you waited around the corner. "Go down"

You were left in the dark to Ghost's movements as there was a pause in the radio but could hear the bored Shadow shuffling around the corner.

Then a muffled grunt with a few juicy stabs.

"Trash bin on your right. Time to take out the trash" Soap was back to his usual jokes, sharp words forgotten.

You came around the corner just as Ghost was hauling the dead man's body into a large bin.

"Shut up, Soap- Fucking hell" Ghost groaned. You could just imagine Soap chuckling about his joke with Rudy and couldn't help a smile of your own.

"Relax, Ghost" you huffed, still grinning. "He'll blow a vessel if you don't let him at it." you bumped his elbow with your own to get him out of his head. He just looked down at you, his eyes seeming confused if not a little startled.

"One on either side" Soap broke in over the radio, not privy to your attempt to sooth the Lt.

"Take the right," Ghost ordered you, quick to take the opportunity out of an unfamiliar encounter.

You let him and headed around a squat square building to find another Shadow's back, you pulled Ghost's knife and slid up kicking in his knees to give you an easier reach and stabbing into the side of his throat. You didn't spend long with the body before continuing on until you reached the corner of a low wall.

"Go to the crate, Glass" Soap ordered over the radio and you moved on, not sure where Ghost ended up.

You straightened up to see over the wood box when suddenly you heard fast footsteps. Before you could move out of the way your legs got tangled under you and you hit the ground, your vest keeping you from hitting your head as a shot sounded but not from either of you. A second hot rang and finally you were able to collect that Ghost had dropped you, and now the Shadow that had shot at you, and was standing over you with his hand gripping the front of your vest to keep your head clear.

"Fuck Ghost-" Soap started over the radio.

"Get your head in the mission," Ghost cut him off, his voice low and dangerous. He clearly didn't like the idea of Soap getting sloppy.

"Copy, Lt," the scott answered, all business.

Ghost looked down at you and again you saw it, confusion, in those usually steady dark eyes. That confusion also carried worry with it.

"I'm fine, Lt" you assured him, matching Soap in his effort to get back to business. If Ghost was getting sentimental someone had to keep him from getting distracted.

"You could have-" he started to disagree with you.

"Move to the truck," Soap said over the radio reminding Ghost that they had a time limit before things would get hairy again. You reached out a hand so Ghost could help you off the ground, you needed to keep a move on too before you could think about how close he was to you.

He pulled you back on your feet, thankfully by your offered hand and not by your vest, affording you some dignity, and the two of you spotted the truck.

"Good place to plant a charge. How's it look?" you asked Soap.

"Three Shadows ahead, one at the truck, two around the bend." Soap said.

There was another pause while Soap considered the path forward.

"Go for it, Lt"

"Good copy," Ghost responded and pulled one of the charges out of his pack, attaching it under the vehicle and pushing a button to arm it. "Bomb planted. On the move."

"On your left, go now."

You saw the collapsing wall that Soap was referring to and led the way, keeping low to the ground with your pistol ready. There was another pause on Soap's end.

"You're good."

The two of you started moving immediately, getting past the part of the wall that wouldn't hide their movement.

"Head right."

There was a crate large enough for both of you to hide behind as Soap planned out the next move.

"Time for a distraction."

You looked back and saw a large power box on the ground. The thick wires likely lead to the lights shining down on the Shadow's ahead.

"The power box," you said to the Lt and backed up to it, flipping the large switch.

"Your bread 'n butter." Soap said.

"Lights out," Ghost confirmed your guess.

"He's headed towards the electrical," Soap warned but Ghost was ready and grabbed the Shadow just as he was out of sight of the other men, dispatching him.

"I'm pretty good at this, eh Lt?" Soap asked, sounding pretty damn smug.

"I've seen better," Ghost put him down, his mind still stuck on the near miss to your skull.

"Who?"

"Me," Ghost grunted.

"How humble," you chimed in.

"Oh left, recommend your blade," Soap ordered, determined to prove himself.

Ghost was already on it giving you a clear to continue on.

"Shadow, left" Soap pointed out the next. "Cut him down, Glass."

You saw him and moved, making quick work of him. You were getting pretty good at this silent infiltration business.

"Goodnight," Soap was back to his commentary. "Seeing a pickup you can sabotage."

"Good call, Soap," you answer as you both move up on another Shadow.

"Dump him," Ghost orders you and you grab the man from behind, stabbing into the back of his neck with a quick jab. Ghost was already on the vehicle, relying on you to get it done clean as he set up the second charge.

"Good kill," Soap said.

"Two down, moving," Ghost said as he got up and moved on.

"There's another up ahead, one Shadow," Soap again.

This time you threw the knife Ghost had handed you, a risky move given that you hadn't had a chance to practice but the knife was balanced perfectly, it connected with the Shadow's throat so he didn't have a chance to call out.
Ghost planted the third bomb on the vehicle, itching to finish up.

"Go now," Soap ordered and you both retraced your steps, avoiding a group of Shadow's under a light. "There's another electrical-"

"Good copy," Ghost was already flipping the switch to shut off more lights. Two voices sounded in confusion.

"Go left- cut'n run, Glass," Soap said and you spotted a Shadow rounding the corner giving you just enough time to slit his throat before he really registered you were there.

Ghost rushed up on the other man and cut him down.

"Sleep well, asshole." joked Soap. "You're clear, go up."

At his order you both made it up the stairs of a two story building. There was another Shadow on top but he didn't last much longer.

"Another under you-"

"Gonna do this one my way, watch," Ghost called and almost sounded excited to show off. He dropped off the building and you watched as he used the Shadow to cushion his fall, thanking him with a stab to the neck.

"Fucking beautiful, sir," Soap cheered him on and you jumped off the building after him, using both the dead Shadow and Ghost to break the fall.

"Watch it, Glass," Ghost complained but his voice was lighter, he was in a better mood as you finished up.

"Another APC with your name on it, Lt" Soap pushed them forward. This time there was no resistance as they found a supply truck to hook the last charge to.

"We're all set here, Soap." you reported as Ghost finished up. "Have we located Alejandro?"

"Perfect timing," Rudy chimed over the radio. "I found him."

"Where?" Soap asked.

"Stand by."

The both of you were left blind as your teammates discussed the video footage. The prison was half a maize but you had spent enough time studying it to know roughly where you had ended up.

"Let's head back-" you suggested but Ghost was distracted again, by you.

He grabbed your face again.

"You're still bleeding," he complained "How's your other-" before he could even finish his question he was taking liberties with your vest.

"I'm fine," you protest, who thought Ghost could fuss like a mother hen.

"I need you to get out of here alive," he said, sounding near desperate but more than that, angry. Who pissed him off this time?

He pulled up your shirt once your vest wasn't holding it down and grabbed your hip, right above your waistline, so he could angle you to better light.

"See, I'm fine," you insist again.

He paused a second and his thumb ran a circle around your bare skin, the pad of his finger rough and cool.

"Ghost, we got him. He's alone. Two Shadows on guard." Soap reported, not seeing what the Lt was up to or knowing better than to comment on it.

"Not for long. RV outside the cellblock, we'll pry him loose," Ghost responded, taking his time before he let your shirt back down and grabbed the sides of your vest, roughly pulling them together to clip it back in place. You couldn't help but notice that every gentle action he made towards you was followed by a gruff one.

"Roger that, on the move," Soap responded for him and Rudy.

The two of you didn't move. Instead you looked up at him and he seemed caught in your gaze, wanting to say something but you couldn't fathom what. It was an interesting feeling to have caught someone so much more imposing with a single look and make them almost, small, or at the very least unsure.

"Don't die on me, Glass. You got that?" he said and you could almost see the boy he had been once, before whatever broke him, and you knew that this time he was asking for your reassurance. It was vulnerable and you couldn't let him down.

"You won't get rid of me that easily, Simon" you answered with a smile pulling at your lip.

With that the man was satisfied and gave a nod, turning towards the cellblock. It was getting easier and easier to see right through that mask of his.

"Ghost, what's your status?" Soap called through the radio.

"Comin' your way," he answered and you picked up your pace to follow slightly behind and to his right.

"Copy."

"Heads up on the heli," Rudy warned.

"Looks like we're out of his line of sight," you answered before you saw Soap and Rudy round a corner with their rifles up.

"Cell block. Entry's ahead. Shadows blocking the way," Rudy said and it was nice to hear them in person rather than over the radio even if the tension was rising as your team prepared to breach the center of the facility.

"Let's send 'em to hell and get inside," Soap said and you could hear that fired up grin in his voice as he came up from behind you, taking the lead. You could tell things were about to get hairy when Soap started rushing but the poor guy had been cooped up in the CCTV room all night and was keen on stretching his legs. He took out the two guards in quick succession with a clean triple shot to each of their heads.

"All clear," Rudy said, sounding impressed.

"'s where I get my name," Soap answered, earning him a groan from Ghost, apparently he had heard this story a few times. "Cleanin' house."

He then pushed at the front door not waiting for the rest of you.

"It's locked," he complained.

"We'll need to breach it," you pointed out the obvious reading yourself at the side of the entrance.

"No, Glass- Knock," Ghost said with a nod and you almost thought he was making a joke, but he stanced up in front of the door.

So you knocked, twice, and waited.

After only a few seconds the door opened to an unarmed guard and you shot him in the head, without hesitation. The four of you rushed the room, and with the ease of a team who had worked together for decades, you had dropped 6 Shadow's in a matter of seconds.

You kept pushing forward to keep your momentum and found a dank two story hallway with cell blocks lining either side, greeted with enemy fire.

"Enemies on the second deck," Rudy called and was quickly corrected as they fell one by one. The four of you spread without having to exchange a word to spread out oncoming fire and clear the area.

"More comin' down the stairs," -Ghost this time and your crosshair found two more heads.

"Soap, we'll keep 'em busy up top, press forward!" you called over and found shelter behind a concrete wall to pick off man after man, rushing towards the sound of gunfire.

The whole world shook as large munitions started exploding around you, luckily coming from Rudy.

One more shot and the hall was cleared, for now.

The four of you pressed on, your knees bent and your bodies swiveling to scan for more Shadow's or better yet, signs of Alejandro's men. You reload your rifle once you start heading up a slick set of stairs.

"Alejandro's up here, let's go" Rudy urged over the radio having rushed on. "Right side."

"Expect contact-" Ghost had barely enough time before you saw a Shadow behind a desk and squeezed off another round to drop him.

"Come on, you Shaow Fucks-!" Rudy shouted letting off a spray of fire followed by a tossed grenade from Soap, you ducked around the doorway to shield from the blast. The room was cleared.

"There's Alejandro's cell- Open it up, I'll cover you," Rudy said as the three of you joined Ghost around a locked cell door.

He had pulled out a large set of lock cutters and readied them around the steel lock.

"Johnny, when I pop this lock, you push in," Ghost ordered and Soap followed suit, holstering his gun so the first thing Alejandro would see wouldn't be the barrel of his gun.

The lock gave way and Soap opened the door, pulled into the cell and out of sight before any of them could react. Rudy rushed in after.

"Al- It's me hermano," Soap protested and you followed in after Rudy to see him pulling Alejandro off of Soap.

"Colonel, relax, it's us!" He shouted and Alejandro looked at him, confused before looking back.

"Soap!" he finally recognized him and slowly lowered his fist. "Rudy, Ghost!" his eyes fell on you briefly but there was no recognition there, reminding you that you were a fresh member of this team if at all.

"Didn't think we'd leave you did you?" Soap said with a laugh, not taking the attack personally

"What the fuck took you so long, pendejos?" the man still complained and gripped Soap's hand.

"Place is crawling with Shadows," Ghost broke up the reunion "There'll be hell ahead."

Not being part of the greeting you stayed on track and pulled a shotgun from your pack handing it over to the addition to your team.

"Let's fight fire with fire," Alejandro said, more than ready to get some revenge for his capture.

"There's more Vaqueros in the cells upstairs," Rudy said using the info he had gathered from the cameras.

"Time to get 'em out," Soap said, already headed for the door.

"Orale, on you, Rudolfo," Alejandro agreed and followed him out, with you and Ghost taking the back.

"You've seen Graves here?" Ghost asked from next to you once they hit the stairway again.

"No, but I plan to pay that cabron a special visit," Alejandro answered dangerously.

"Me too," Ghost agreed.

"They have guards on all the floors, be ready."

You made it to the top of the stairs and followed Alejandro through the open doorway.

By the time Ghost made it up, Soap was already skirting past Rudy to round the corner of the narrow hallway, only to be met with gunfire.

"Riot shields!" Alejandro called and Soap chucked a grande, clearing the men with one blow.

"Think we're clear," Soap grinned at the groaning of a half dead Shadow and you landed a shot to shut him up.

"Los Vaqueros are locked in these cells," Alejandro said as the five of you came up on the locked steel doors that lined the right side of the hall.

"Aquí estamos Vaqueros, hora de ir a casa," Rudy shouted to their men as a warning as Ghost cut through lock after lock and you tossed down your pack, happy to be 40lbs lighter.

You started handing out the small armory you had dragged into the prison as Alejandro directed them over in a string of Spanish that you couldn't quite follow.

"Rest of you with me," Alejandro shouted to the three of you and you all jogged down the hall ready to meet hell with some firepower of your own once you made it outside.

You looked back as you followed close behind Ghost.

"Right with ya," Soap confirmed.

"This was the mess hall," Alejandro nodded forward, directing you to the wider space that opened up under you. It was a mess with long tables scattered around.

"Let's make a mess," Soap laughed, the only one able to make such a lame joke and still laugh at himself, as you followed Alejandro in jumping down the broken down overlook.

The lights flickered on with a buzz.

"Shadows know we're here," you warned just as the first one came through the door and you dropped him with a triple shot, so the next man tripped over his friend's body and quickly followed.

Fire exploded all around you as the Vaqueros assisted in mowing through the unsuspecting team of Shadows. It was quick work to get to the two doors at the end of the mess hall when you had at least a dozen men at your back. You noticed Ghost stuck to you, not an unwelcome sight, and then Soap was right behind you. The feeling of being out of place when you had reunited with Alejandro was a quickly faded memory when the five of you, including Rudy and Alejandro, moved as a united front.

Voices called out shots and your bullets found them, the Shadows having no chance in this battle. The spray of gunfire slowly faded as it became harder and harder to find new targets.

"Big room, make sure we're clear!" Alejandro called.

"Parece claro, coronel," Rudy answered from the other side of the hall.

"No threats," you agreed, doing a final sweep before turning towards the busted open double doors.

"Re-group at the door," Alejandro ordered, seeming satisfied with your answers.

"On you, Colonel," Ghost said as your group collected, reloading weapons in preparation for what was on the other side.

"Weapons hot, hermanos," Alejandro led despite his lack of armor, no one was about to stop a raging bull when he had been cooped up in a cell for more than a day. "Stairwell leads down and out- We'll link up with the other and exfil the fuck out of here."

"Exfil vehicles are set. Ghost planted charges to help us get out," Rudy filled in his commander.

"With Glass and Johnny's help," Ghost added.

"Eh- I can't call Soap "Johnny"" Alejandro complained and he was right, it sounded awkward on his tongue.

"Don't. Only Ghost can pull that off," Soap agreed and you didn't miss the pointed look from Ghost to you, even over your sight. You rolled your eyes.

So he was still going to act possessive.

"We'll have to cross the yard to get everyone out," Rudy said, bringing you back to the mission and out of the morning's trist by the barn.

"Lead the way, Soap- Let's give these Sombres hell," Alejandro nodded him forward as your group filed out from inside the building.

Soap ran forward as the rest of you spread out behind cover, covering Soap while Shadows rushed him.

"The roof, right side!" you warned and Soaps barrel pivoted to the Shadow you pointed out and shot him down.

Ghost chucked a grenade and men screamed when the blow set shrapnel shredding through them, either killing them outright of leaving them incapacitated on the ground for your team to finish off.

Your team's movement had a rhythm to it. Shots were fired in a piercing treble as you called warning to each other, each followed by more shots and the group pressed on, step by hard earned step.

A truck came to life, headed in your direction.

"Johnny- That trucks got one of our charges on it. Detonate it," Ghost ordered and with only a heartbeat's hesitation it blew into a ball of fire, bodies flying as they opened their doors.

"Ka-freaking-boom, baby!" Soap cheered at his handiwork.

"Good effect," Ghost agreed.

"Let's move up," you urged, the fever or war taking you hold like a hurricane. The rush was near addictive. Soap was met with rushed gunfire as he rounded another bend.

"Turret gun in our way!" you shouted to him. "Use the detonator to take it out, Soap!"

"Johnny, that turret's near our truck bomb, hit it!" Ghost chimed in with you.

An explosion followed.

"That's a thing of beauty," Alejandro laughed, enjoying the fresh air and sharp tang of gunpowder burning.

"We clear?" Soap asked.

"For now," you answered, finding only dead Shadows.

"Rudolfo, where to?" Anlejandro asked.

"Cut through the building, left side," he answered almost immediately.

Your team followed that direction and just as you came into the building, a Shadow burst through the door, only to be met by a spray.

"These Shadows are crazy," you huff.

"Mercenaries, Glass. Bloody wannabes," Ghost corrected.

Alejandro started up a ladder to get some higher ground. "I'll get an OP up top and cover by fire. Rest of you, wait for my signal."

"Copy," Soap answered as you gathered around the door, trigger fingers hot. And you didn't have to wait long before there was a spray of gunshots and Alejandro's voice called for you.

"Rog. Moving out," Ghost answered and you advanced as one, taking out Shadows with deadly efficiency.

"We got grenades!" Soap shouted and his words were followed by explosions and the sting of tiny bits of shrapnel shredding whatever exposed skin they could find. Lucky for you, you were far off enough that it was only an inconvenience. You threw your own grenade in response with a furious shout.

It cleared whatever opposition was left in the courtyard.

"Break through!" Alejandro shouter running along the second story of a building.

"We need to get up and over that wall," Ghost ordered as he stuck to your side.

Suddenly there was a helicopter flying over the wall filling the air with the chopping and crushing wind.

"Helicopter- Searching for us!" you shouted as gunfire sprayed down on you. You slid for cover and Ghost came in behind, grabbing the back of your vest to drag you in tighter behind a barrier.

"We'll need more than this to take it out," he shouted as you did your best to aim and take out the Shadows inside the heli.

"All stations, this is Bravo-6. Get down!" a voice rang from the radio.

A fat round flew through the air and collided with the helicopter turning it into a crashing ball of flame that warmed your face.

"It's Price!" Soap shouted triumphantly.

"Hell fucking yeah!" you grinned, your team would make it out alive without a doubt.

"All Bravo and Vaqueros- Top o' the wall. Get here and I'll get you out. How copy?" Price called over the radio and a green flare sparked on the wall drawing your team to where Price was standing.

"Loud and clear, Price. Comin' to ya!" Ghost answered and you ducked back out from your cover, rushing to the flare that Price dropped to the base of the wall.

"Who is he?!" Rudy asked.

"A friend," Soap answered simply as your team gathered.

"I like him already," Alejandro said.

"Be advised. Ropes deployed. Find 'em and climb," Price ordered and Ghost pulled his Ascender with you close on his heels, mirroring his action.

"We're clear for now but Shadows are on the way, count on it," he warned you once you were clipped in and you nodded, activating the motor to zip you up the rope.

You were climbing over the metal walk as Price pulled Soap up and they greeted each other.

"Ghost-" Gaz was there as well standing next to Price.

"Garrick, Price," Ghost acknowledged the two of them with relief.

"How'd you know-?" Soap started to ask.

"Laswell," Gaz answered simply but Price was more ready to clarify.

"Soon as Shepard went dark, she called us."

"Laswell, still solid as a rock," Ghost said.

There was a scrape and Soap turned around, pulling Alejandro up.

"Coronel Vargas, meet Captain Price and Sergeant Garrick," Soap introduced them.

"Thanks for the assist- my men need cover fire," he said with a nod, all business.

"Gaz, Soap, Ghost- overwatch- now!" Price ordered and the group spread out, lifting their guns to start taking out what was left of the Shadows. While you didn't need to be introduced to Price, having already known him, you did hope you'd get a good word in after the last couple of days' performance.

You could use a raise.

"Vehicles, incoming, right side" you called out between fire.

"Soap- that vehicle is rigged- detonate it!" Ghost ordered and Soap lifted his hand to the detonator pressing down to be rewarded with another explosion.

"Vehicle destroyed," you confirmed picking off a straggler crawling out.

"We're good to go, Colonel," Rudy reported as the last of their men made it over the wall.

"Let's get the fuck out of here, hermanos," Alejandro shouted.

"Down the wall- We are leaving!" Price ordered and you ran along the wall to find one of the ropes going off the side.

"Glass, get on the rope. We're going," Ghost ordered, putting a hand on your back to push you forward as he covered with one hand firing off whatever rounds he had left.

"Copy" you answered and grabbed a rope, vaulting over the wall to repel down with Ghost close behind.

Two more pairs of boots hit the ground and you looked over to see Soap and Price bringing in the rear.

"Those two are ours," Price pointed to two vans parked and you moved forward.

"Rudolfo- You take the truck we came with!" Soap directed.

"Roger that," he agreed.

"Vaqueros, en mi!" Alejandro shouted out. "Rudy, encuéntrame en la casa!"

"Lo haré, coronel, buena suerte," Rudy answered.

"Gaz, drive," Price tossed the other man a ring of keys as you came up behind the van, splitting around it as Price threw open the back doors so you could file in, squeezing in tight in the rows of seats.

Ghost slid in tight beside you with Soap to your opposite, you felt a hand come up behind you and grip your back before lowering again. You looked over to Ghost but he was looking straight forward.

The van came to life and lurched forward over the rough terrain.

"Shepard burned us," Ghost stated, anger lining his voice as he turned his head forward to Price.

"He sent Graves and his Shadows to kill us and round up Los Vaqueros," Soap added without much theater.

"We know why," Price concluded "Laswell did a bit of digging.

"What did she find?" you asked and though you had never been part of this "inner circle" Price didn't look surprised.

"The truth," Price answered, looking over what was left of his team.