Chapter 3
"Tiberium: A gift or a curse? Tiberium is a scientific curiosity, a vastly powerful resource, an unprecedented environmental cataclysm, a catalyst for war, and much more. It's like nothing we've ever seen before and it is constantly transforming itself.
We are almost certain Tiberium is extraterrestrial in origin; it is not man-made and there is no evidence of the substance on Earth prior to its first appearance half a century ago. Early forms of Tiberium were almost organic, sprouting out of the ground in what seemed to be plant-like pods, leaching minerals out of the Earth and emitting clouds of toxic gas. Over time, Tiberium showed it had the ability to evolve and change.
By 2047, most Tiberium on Earth has manifested in what we know as its most common form: A self-replicating Proton Lattice that turns any matter it touches into more of itself, giving off powerful radiation in the process. It can change anything it comes into contact with into more Tiberium.
Is Tiberium terraforming the Earth into a planet suitable for alien life? Is it a weapon? It is a creature of some kind? Perhaps some kind of consciousness resides in the crystal lattices, a quantum crystalline brain that grows ever smarter as it grows and grows. There are many theories about what Tiberium actually is... and why it is here. Ultimately, its origin and its purpose - if it has one - are still a mystery.
GDI has not given up on trying to contain the spread of Tiberium. With Tiberium infestation reaching critical levels and new, more sinister variants of the substance turning up, things started to look pretty grim for planet Earth in the middle of the 21st century. However, GDI has found a vulnerability in the green crystal that they have begun to exploit. GDI Engineers have found the resonant frequency for Tiberium... and they have created Sonic Resonators that are capable of breaking up Tiberium crystals.
A high level scientific explanation of the alien substance is included here for students, engineers, and scientists: The most recent form of Tiberium is a dense "Dynamic Proton Lattice" held together by exotic heavy particles. When Tiberium comes into contact with other matter, the heavy particles randomly collide with the nuclei of the target matter, smashing it to pieces (in the case of smaller nuclei) or incrementally knocking off protons and neutrons (in the case of heavier nuclei). Tiberium captures a fraction of the protons that are ejected during this collision process and incorporates them into its own structure, thus transmuting matter into more Tiberium. Whenever one of the heavy particles - a muon or tauon - collides with an atomic nucleus, fission occurs, which results in the production of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma radiation as well as other forms of electromagnetic radiation (like infra-red). During the transmutation process, nuclei that Tiberium has come into contact with may be charged with nuclei with different (usually fewer) numbers of protons or neutrons." -Intel Database: Tiberium Primer.
Washington D.C.
B-2
June 15th, 2047
1830
D.C. traffic was hellish, as usual, and retired-colonel Nick "Havoc" Parker drummed his fingers on the steering wheel in impatience. The former GDI commando, now turned conservative pundit, was supposed to be doing another interview with William Frank at the W3N station, but at the rate traffic was moving, he was bound the be late.
"…And in global news today: the annual GDI energy summit, is still underway on the space station Philadelphia. Our own Casandra Blair reports on the landmark goal set for this year's summit." William Frank said in his usual posh mannerism.
Havoc growled at the news that played over the radio. He couldn't argue that Tiberium was a threat, but Nod still posed the most immediate concern. Even if he conceded that Kane was dead, Nod terrorism was still a huge problem. They never did catch the mastermind behind the Rio Insurrection. Not to mention the military build up in Y-1, which Nod magistrates claimed was just a "defence force."
GDI still needed to be ready for anything, but the bureaucrats and pencil pushers wanted more science labs and fancier equipment.
And see how well that turned out in Australia, barely a decade ago. Havoc thought to himself darkly.
Havoc was jolted from his thoughts as the traffic moved forward. But he cursed out loud as it only moved a few feet, before grinding to a halt again. Stuck waiting, Havoc turned his focus back on the radio, where W3N reporter Casandra Blair was now speaking.
"…When top administrators return to work here tomorrow, they're hoping for a new fiscal agenda. According to Director-General Kinsburg, one of the key talking points for this year's summit is shifting resource allocation from defence, to ecology."
"Damned liberals." Havoc muttered to himself, as Casandra Blair continued.
"Many within the Board now agree, that the eradication of Tiberium is now viewed as a more pressing concern, than the containment of-"
Havoc jolted as the radio suddenly blared an annoying beeping sound, indicating the broadcast had been interrupted for an emergency report. Soon William Frank's voice began speaking, albeit much more solemnly, and…scared?
"Ex-excuse the interruption, but… we're getting breaking news on the Philadelphia. Apparently, just moments ago, there was an accident."
Havoc heard the background crew gasp out in shock, followed by panicked murmurs. Havoc glanced outside to see traffic had come to a dead stop, as people now got out of their cars to gawk at the sky. Havoc got out, compelled by curiosity to see what everyone was staring at.
Not since a November afternoon, back in 1995, had so many people stared at a brilliant fireball in the sky. Only instead of an asteroid carrying the alien Tiberium, these fireballs were raining burning debris of the GDSS Philadelphia. Havoc couldn't believe that something so catastrophic had happened, so many hundreds of lives lost, many of which were high ranking officials.
As people stared in shock or cried out in fear, Havoc's radio continued to play, almost forgotten in the background.
"It's obvious…something has gone terribly wrong. I um…we're going to do our best, to confirm what we are seeing. But at this time we have no idea what could have caused a tragedy of this magnitude. This…this is unbelievable-"
"The destruction of the Philadelphia was no accident."
Havoc turned back to his car, staring at the radio through the open door. His body went cold and his heart began racing. That voice, that damned voice!
Other people heard it too on their own radios, or watching the news through tablets or smart phones. Everyone of them shared the same look: pure fear.
"It was a merciful bullet to the head of a malignant ideology. It was the death of fear and the birth of hope!"
Havoc's old commando instincts quickly kicked in. He opened the rear passenger side door and opened a secret compartment in the back of the driver's seat. He grabbed his old, heavily modified P90 submachine gun, and all the magazines he had. He checked over the weapon, made sure the safety was on, and then barked at his EVA.
"Locate the nearest Zone Security station, tell 'em Colonel Parker is on the way."
"Understood, Mr. Parker." The EVA unit replied, unperturbed by the unfolding events.
Havoc tucked the P90 under his shoulder, and ran as fast as his old legs would let him. He knew something terrible was about to happen: it always did when Kane returned.
… … …
"A damn shame you couldn't be up here, Redmond. I need you to keep Kinsburg and her lackeys in line." Director Schäfer, head of all GDI controlled Yellow Zones, stated gruffly. "Did you ever find the damned mutants that hit your treasury?"
"No, Director Schäfer, never did. Though my own security chief is working closely with InOps to find them." Redmond Boyle, Director of the GDI Treasury responded.
Schäfer grunted in response, before turning to someone off screen. It gave Boyle a chance to sip his coffee, his real coffee. It also gave him a chance to hide his grimace at the mention of the attack. Boyle had thankfully not been there, but hundreds of his personnel had been killed and billions of credits stolen. The official report was an extremist group of Forgotten - calling themselves the Sons of Umagon - had attacked. But Boyle didn't believe it: no way mutants could pull off an attack like that. But if not them, then who?
Boyle casually noted Casandra Blair was now on the small T.V. set into the rear of the limousine. What he would pay to have an'interview' with her.
"My concern," Schäfer abruptly began again. "Is that ZOCOM woman. What's her name?"
"General Renteria, I believe." Boyle answered.
"Right, her. See, she can benefit whichever way this goes. But I can tell that she-"
The video screen abruptly exploded into static. Communication glitches with the space station weren't uncommon, but that didn't make them any less annoying.
"EVA, get this damn thing working." Boyle growled.
"Connection with the Philadelphia has been lost." The feminine voice replied.
"Yes I know that, just-"
"…it was the death of fear and the birth of hope!"
Boyle dropped his expensive coffee onto the limo floor, his hands shaking with sudden fear. He slowly looked over to the T.V. and saw the face of a man who should have been dead twice over.
"Rejoice! Children of Nod, the blood of your oppressors will flow, and fifty years of tyranny will finally end. Transformation is coming; a new day will dawn. The future, is ours."
Boyle barely had any time to process what was happening before the limo lurched into motion. He was pressed into his posh seat as the vehicle picked up speed.
"Yar, what the hell is happening?" Boyle frantically called out.
Natasha Yar, his chief of security, poked her head through the divider window.
"Sorry sir, but we need to get you to safety, fast."
Yar closed the divider, leaving Boyle alone to process what was going on. But one thing was very obvious: Kane was back. Again.
… … …
North Carolina Badlands
Onboard the GDS Huron
1845
"…a new day will dawn. The future, is ours."
John and Athena stood on the bridge, watching the main view screen as Kane's pirated feed ended, only to be replaced by scenes of total anarchy. Bombers flew above skyscrapers, blowing apart the streets below as people ran and screamed. Red and black tanks rolled down highways, destroying Zone Security and civilians indiscriminately. The entire bridge was shocked into silence, and John could feel his mind reeling.
No! He's dead! I was there when McNeil killed him. We…we never did find a body…
"Dear God." Athena whispered.
"Sir! Incoming transmission from General Granger." One of the Huron's technicians called out.
"Put it on the main screen." John ordered with more confidence than he felt. "General, its good to-"
"There's no time, Commander!" Granger interrupted, voice calm but determined. "All hell has broken loose: Nod has launched an attack on every major Blue Zone across the globe. Our forces are pinned down, our ASAT defence systems are offline, and I still have no goddamn idea who's running the show at GDI."
The screen flashed with static, and dust cascaded down behind Granger. John noted staff running around in the background, fear evident in their faces.
"Sir, what's going on over there?" John asked, his own concern plain to see.
"Nod is hitting us with airstrikes. I have no damn idea how they got past all our AA."
Another explosion caused the screen to wash out with static, but the image quickly returned.
"What do you need me to do, sir?"
"This is no time to stand on protocol, Commander! The entire Northeastern Seaboard has been overrun, and we are taking the worst of it in D.C."
"General!" Granger turned around just as Lieutenant Telfair ran into the room. "They're starting evac procedures."
"You go ahead, Sandra."
"Sir? You can't stay here."
"That is an order."
"Yes, sir."
Telfair quickly retreated, and Granger returned his attention to John. The General had the same expression John had, one that expressed their anger at Nod attacking their homes. And an expression that promised swift justice.
John glanced away quickly to see the news feeds, all showing the same thing: Nod bombers destroying buildings, both civilian and military, while Nod forces marched their filthy feet through the pristine Blue Zone streets.
"Commander Lancaster. Take the 7th, and retake Langley Air ForceBase. Nod has already hit Andrews, and we've lost the GDS Pathe. We can not lose Langley."
"But, sir! The Pentagon is under siege. I can deploy the Huron over the Potomac, and deploy my-"
"Negative, Commander. We need that airbase! I have forces moving down from Central D.C.: the 151st Brigade should be here soon."
"Understood, General. I'll head over to Langley, but I'm still sending down an infantry company to assist."
"Very well, Commander. Its all up to you now: get it done."
The video call ended, and John let out a haggard breath. He turned to Athena, who had a grim look on her face.
"Is Rubicon Company still loaded up?" John asked.
"Yes, sir. Captain Ri has kept them combat ready." Athena replied.
"Good, head down there. I want you to coordinate between Rubicon and the Pentagon."
"Sir? Don't you need me up here?"
"I need someone I trust. Now go!"
"Yes sir!"
Athena darted from the bridge, heading down to the hangar deck. John turned to the rest of his crew, and to the darkening sky beyond the view port.
"Helm, I want to be at Langley now!"
"Aye, sir!"
The Huron lurched forward, moving towards the growing battle. John watched in his periphery the Ox transports launching away, carrying Athena and Rubicon Company down into the fight.
… … …
It seemed almost impossible: the Blue Zones were always so well protected, so perfectly safe. Burke should have been staring at a verdant park with children running around, playing. Instead, she now stared at a charred ruin, with a single Predator MBT belching smoke into the dusk.
"1st and 2nd Squads, take point! Our objective is the Pentagon power complex. Nod militia have managed to get inside; we need to clear the Tib' heads out, and get our engineers inside. On the double people!" Lieutenant Hamilton barked out.
Burke led her squad forward, along with Freeman and his team. They quickly jogged down the broken streets of D.C., no longer burdened by the traffic. All the cars had either been abandoned, or destroyed.
"I swear, first Noddy I see, I'm gonna make them pay for this." Haley growled.
"Stow that shit for later. Eyes and ears open, its too quiet." Burke ordered.
The roar of battle was everywhere, but there didn't seem to be anyone, GDI or Nod, around them. Burke figured the enemy must have pressed forward, but she still couldn't help but feel as though they were walking into an ambush.
"Watch those alleys." Burke cautioned.
"Man, this isn't right. We should be fighting in some Yellow Zone shithole, not fucking D.C.!" Ramirez commented.
"Trust me Pat, once we kick Nod out, we're going to flatten every Nod held Yellow into dust." Yusseif replied.
Burke wanted to reprimand her squad for talking so loud, but she figured they needed to talk about vengeance, in order to process what was going on. She herself was shaking with worry, wondering if her wife was okay. They lived out in the suburbs, so hopefully their home hadn't been targeted. Maybe she even made it to the emergency shelter. Maybe-
Burke was ripped from her thoughts as a GDI Firehawk fighter-bomber suddenly appeared overhead. It was being chased by a Nod MiG fighter, before the Firehawk was shot down, and crashed into the building down the street from Burke and her men. Everyone had to duck as debris was launched in every direction, and flames quickly began to engulf the crashed fighter.
"Fuck! We need to get the pilot out of there!" Burke yelled.
"Go, we'll cover." Sergeant Freeman said.
Burke and her men darted forward, trying to reach the downed aircraft. But before they could reach the building, swarms of Nod militia poured out from side streets, rushing for the fighter and the pilot inside.
"Contacts front!" Ramirez called out.
The squad immediately opened fire, ripping into the backs of the militiamen. The enemy was slow the react, but they soon returned fire with a motley assortment of weapons. Burke and her squad took cover behind abandoned cars or large bits of debris, firing on the enemy as Freeman and his squad moved forward to engage.
As Burke unloaded her ammunition at the enemy, she was shocked to see the Nod militia wasn't just a bunch of rag-covered Yellow Zoners. She noted people who, hours ago, would have been stuck in traffic on this very street. Why would Blue Zone citizens be fighting for Nod? Or, could Nod have been planting sleeper agents this entire time? She supposed it hardly mattered, they were shooting at her squad, and she was going to make them regret that action.
"Sarge, those buggers are still trying to get to the pilot!" Haley warned.
"I see 'em! Ramirez, pick 'em off! Haley, West, move forward to that alley, Yusseif and I will cover. Go!"
Her squad responded to her command, as Haley and West darted forward to the alley ahead. Bullets chewed up the street around them, but Burke and Yusseif sent a hailstorm of bullets at the enemy, driving them into cover. As Haley and West reached the alley, Ramirez began picking off Nod militiamen trying to get into the still burning fighter. If the pilot was still alive, he would need to get out soon.
"Freeman, cover!" Burke yelled.
Freeman nodded his head, as his squad laid into the enemy horde. Burke and Yusseif ran to meet up with Haley and West, leaving Ramirez to cover the Firehawk.
As they reached the alley, West ducked out to fire a burst at the Nod forces, killing two militiamen trying to return fire with outdated M8 rifles.
"We need to keep pushing!" Burke shouted over the roar of weapons fire.
"Sergeant Burke, we're coming up on your rear. Captain Ri has taken the rest of the Company down the parallel street." Lieutenant Hamilton's voice crackled over the radio.
Burke noted the enemy was beginning to panic, as they must have seen the GDI reinforcements. Burke knew this was their best shot.
"Forward, advance!"
Burke, Yusseif, Haley and West charged forward, firing on the disoriented enemy. Nod troops dropped like flies as the GDI soldiers charged their position. Soon Freeman and his men followed suit, with Hamilton bringing in the rest of the platoon.
The enemy began to back their way into the building and the burning fighter, screaming curses and Nod verses as they were cut down. When the last Nod soldier fell, Burke and Haley charged up the fighter's wing to reach the cockpit. Burke reached down to pry open the canopy, but cursed as she noted the pilot's shattered and bloody face.
"He's dead." Burke said simply.
"Poor bastard." Haley muttered in reply.
"Come on! We need to keep point! Move!" Hamilton barked from the street below.
Burke gathered her squad and continued to press forward, heading towards the Pentagon and the raging battle at it's gates. Despite the encroaching darkness of night, the sky was lit up like midday, with explosions, fire, and tracer rounds illuminating the city. She could also see the harsh flood lights that marked the power plants for the Pentagon.
As the squad past the ruined security checkpoint that once divided the Pentagon grounds from the regular city, Burke could see more militia swarming around the powerplants. Pentagon security personnel and technicians were desperately trying to hold off the enemy, as Nod troops lobbed grenades and molotov cocktails at the powerplants.
"Rubicon Company, attack!" Captain Ri commanded calmly.
The GDI forces rushed into the power complex, taking cover behind the battered powerplants. The Nod militia noticed their advance, and turned to fight them, also moving into cover. Burke could see Nod Confessors leading these enemy forces, giving them more organization.
"Ramirez, target the cone heads!"
"Copy that, Sergeant."
Ramirez's rifle barked, and Burke watched a Confessor collapse to the ground dead as she and the others cut into the militia, shooting down several enemy soldiers before they could find cover. Already the enemy was starting to fall back, but they still put of a fierce fight. Burke noticed several GDI soldiers or security personnel fall dead to enemy fire.
"West, cover me I'm reloading!"
Burke glanced over to Haley, as he hastily reloaded his weapon. West stood and fired a prolonged burst, killing two enemy combatants. The kid was shaking like a wet dog, but he kept his grip steady.
"The engineers are moving up!" Yusseif suddenly warned.
Burke looked back the way they had come, and spotted the last of Rubicon Company bringing up the engineers who would help repair and maintain the Pentagon's power. Burke knew they would need it to keep the defences running, as Nod seemed to be throwing everything they had at them.
The last of the Nod militia finally broke, and began to retreat towards friendly lines. The GDI soldiers fired on the retreating enemy, punching holes through their backs and sending them crashing to the ground. But most made it back to the Nod line, located at the apartment complex northwest of the Pentagon. Everyone knew those buildings could be a security risk, and now they had been proven right. Sniper and rocket fire poured out from the buildings, as swarms of Nod militia surged from the underground parking lots or side alleys, all charging for the crumbling walls of the Pentagon.
"Rubicon, listen up! Engineers are working on the power now. 4th Platoon will stay to cover them, everyone else, get to the walls! We are holding this damn line!" Captain Ri shouted encouragingly.
Burke and the others charged into the Pentagon parking lot, moving to where they told they could be the most help. Burke casually glanced back to see Captain Ri and Colonel Miles make their way inside the building, where they would be safe and sound. Burke shook the thought from her mind as she led her squad over to an MG unit stationed below one of the Vulcan turrets.
"Ramirez, head up that guard tower, there! You'll have a better vantage point." Burke ordered.
"Copy that, Sarge!"
"Hey Sergeant! We need ammo here, I can't spare anyone to be a runner!" The MG crew sergeant said.
"Alright! West! You're my runner, go get ammo for the MGs, rifles, grenades. Go!"
"You got it!" West said excitedly, happy to get away from the front, albeit shortly.
"Haley, Yusseif, let's send these Nod bastards down to Hell!"
Her team responded by opening fire at the advancing swarms of Nod militia. Between the GDI riflemen, MG crews, and the Watch Towers, they put up a staggering amount of firepower. Nod militia were cut down like twigs in a hurricane, but the enemy still held the numerical advantage, and their blind faith kept them running into the literal wall of bullets.
But something felt off to Burke, as she poured burst after burst into men and women in plain civilian clothes or simple fatigues. The Brotherhood must have known they couldn't simply swarm the Pentagon, so why waste so many lives? Why use such archaic tactics from the First Tiberium War?
Burke received her answer when a fresh wave of militia emerged from the occupied apartments. Nod Carryall transports soon swooped down from behind the Pentagon, four turbofan engines washing out the sound of rifle fire. The lightweight transports touched down, and quickly disgorged a handful of Nod Army soldiers, all equipped with full battle armour and updated equipment. The soldiers were followed closely by Black Hand elites, identifiable by their heavy armor.
"Fuck! Sergeant, focus down those Black Hands! Boys, switch to targeting the Nod regulars, let the turrets chew the militia." Burke hastily commanded.
"Where the hell is our AA?" Yusseif asked as he fired at an advancing squad of Nod riflemen.
"Radar and static AA went down when the Philly got hit! Last I heard, Slingshot SPAAGs were being mobilized, but I ain't seen any!" The MG sergeant replied.
"They want to keep sending men into the meat grinder, let 'em! We'll shoot them all dead!" Haley remarked enthusiastically.
Burke didn't say anything further, she just kept shooting at the enemy, killing them by twos and threes. MG crews and turrets helped cut down the Black Hand, but the enemy kept pushing forward. Eventually, the tide of fire being put up by GDI steadily weakened. GDI soldiers were picked off by lucky shots, and even a few sharpshooters within the guard towers fell silent from well placed laser bolts.
More Carryalls landed in the torn fields between the apartments and the Pentagon, offloading more Nod regulars as militia continued to pour out from the apartments. Again Burke began to wonder if this would be her end, crushed under a wave of religious nut cases.
A new sound broke her concentration, and she involuntarily glanced into the darkening sky. She barely caught a glimpse of the bat winged Vertigo bombers as they cut through the air, before dropping their payload. The explosions shook the ground, as the powerplants went up in flames. The Watch Towers scattered around the perimeter suddenly powered down, and the Nod forces renewed their assault with a fresh chorus of hate-filled litanies.
"All units, be advised: the power has been disabled! Reinforcements are inbound, but we need to hold the line! For GDI!" Colonel Miles encouraged.
Burke just cursed as she kept firing. Without the turrets, the enemy would overwhelm them soon. Fortunately, squads of GDI grenadiers and mortar teams exited the Pentagon, rushing to the walls. Their added fire gave the enemy pause, but it wasn't enough to stop them.
Burke watched entire enemy squads disappear from mortar strikes, only for groups of militia to take their place. The Black Hand continued to whip the enemy into a frenzy, as their laser rifles burnt holes into the GDI defenders.
"Captain, we are going to get overrun! We need support!" Lieutenant Hamilton roared into the radio.
"I know Lieutenant, we are working on solutions now." Captain Ri bit back.
Burke ducked to reload, and grabbed a few fresh mags from the crate West had brought them. The young private soon returned with even more ammo, and a grenadier in tow.
"West, get on the line. Shoot your damn gun!" Burke growled.
"Yes, Sergeant!" West said as he shouldered his weapon.
The MG crew fired non-stop, and now the grenadier added his fire with a rhythmic thwomping. Rifles fired, and the pile of enemy dead mounted, but Nod would not be broken.
"Why won't these bastards quit!" Haley yelled.
"There's too many of them! Fuck! Shit! I wish I was at home!" West whined.
"This is HOME! And these bastards are burning it down. Now shut up, and fight like a man!" Burke all but spat at the young kid.
"All units, this is Medina 1-6, enemy in the wire! I repeat, enemy isin the wire!"
Burke's fear turned into near paralyzing terror. Nod forces had managed to break through somewhere in the line, and were now behind the walls.
"3rd Platoon! Get over to Medina and hold that breach!" Captain Ri ordered.
"This is Medina 2-2. Requesting mortar support on these coordinates!"
"Christ, that's right on top of you!"
"Just do it!"
Burke could hear the thumping of mortar shells, followed by their explosions far off. The breach was clearly further down the line, but she knew the enemy would break through everywhere soon.
"All units, prepare to fall back to the Pentagon proper. We'll make our last stand in the lower bunker." Colonel Miles ordered.
"Belay that order! Stand your ground!"
Burke recognized the new voice as General Granger. She knew the General and his staff were still inside, but she was still shocked to hear his voice.
"Affirmative! Hold your ground men!" Colonel Miles seemed abruptly calmer now, Burke noted. "And keep your heads down! Friendly artillery is inbound!"
Burke felt a small surge of hope at the news. She and her squad, along with all the other GDI defenders, continued to keep the enemy at bay. She never heard the Juggernauts firing, nor did she know where they were, but moments later, a rain of steel and death fell on the apartment buildings.
In an ear shattering crescendo, the artillery destroyed the apartments like children's building blocks. The ground shook from the volley, sending the mass of Nod soldiers stumbling. A few of the militia broke rank and ran, only to be shot in the back by the Black Hand. The GDI forces felt their teeth rattle, but they kept firing, scything through the disoriented enemy. The artillery continued to rain down, and Burke watched entire segments of the apartment complex collapse into clouds of dust.
The barrage finally ended, and all that was left of the apartments were skeletal remnants. The barrage had failed to hit the advancing enemy directly, but without support from snipers or rocket troops, they were now exposed.
"Fuck you Noddies!" Haley croaked through a horse voice.
"They're still coming! Keep firing!" Burke ordered, feeling a surge of hope.
However, what hope there was, was crushed as a wing of Vertigos flew past, no doubt hunting for the Juggernauts. And despite the annihilation of the apartments, Nod Carryalls still continued to ferry in more troops, without any AA to stop them.
Soon a call went out over the radio, one GDI soldiers had feared since the early days of the First Tiberium War.
"Flame throwers!"
"Target Black Hand flamers! Don't let them get close!"
Burke felt her blood run cold, but she tightened her grip on her rifle, and refused to let fear consume her.
"Ramirez! Do you have a visual on those flamers?" Burke asked.
"Yeah, I see two moving towards us!" Ramirez answered with a shaking voice.
"Focus them down. West, Haley, Yusseif, clear the way for her!"
Her squad gave their affirmative, and opened fire on the enemy. Militia and riflemen fell to the storm of bullets, but the Black Hand flamethrowers continued their inexorable march.
Ramirez's rifle barked with high-power shots, along with other GDI marksman and snipers. Burke noticed numerous flamers go down, but the two heading for Ramirez's guard tower still stood. Until one soldier's helmet exploded in a shower of composite armor and blood. The man collapsed like a fallen tree, and the militia around him scattered.
The second Black Hand soldier was now alone and exposed, and Burke smiled like a hungry wolf looking at a wounded deer.
"Black Hand, 2 o'clock! Take him down!" Burke ordered.
Burke and her squad laid into the elite Nod soldier, their bullets denting the heavy armor. The Black Hand couldn't stand against the fusillade of four rifles, and crashed to the churned ground.
"This is Medina Actual. We got friendlies moving up! I repeat, friendlies moving up! Steel Talons finally showed up!"
Burke again felt herself hope that they would win this battle. She eagerly glanced out into the battlefield, trying to see the reinforcement. All she could see, were Nod rocket troops in the ruined apartments firing off at someone on the highway. But before the enemy could get off more than half a dozen rockets, a tank shell took out the segment of the apartment Nod was hiding in, sending more debris raining down. Soon, six Guardian APCs drove onto the battlefield, their Vulcan cannons ripping apart the Nod infantry. Following just behind, were four Hunter tanks, their 105mm cannons blowing apart groups of Black Hand.
Last to arrive, and not a moment too soon, were several Slingshot SPAAGs. Their quad barreled anti-air guns disintegrating the enemy Carryalls. With burning pieces of debris raining on the enemy from the sky, and the new arrivals hitting them from the side, the Nod attack wave finally broke, and retreated into the ruins of the apartments. The Carryalls ended their constant drop offs, fearing the shear amount of flak the Slingshots were putting out.
The sounds of war still raged all around them, but for the moment, they became distant and muted. The battle for the Pentagon had been won, for now.
Burke let out a long breath and slumped down to rest for a moment, as she checked over her rifle. The others did the same, and West all but fell on his ass as he began to shake. Haley, in an odd moment of kindness, checked over West for injuries, while Yusseif began joking with the MG operator, trying to alleviate tension.
Once Burke was sure her rifle could still kill Noddies, she stood up to watch the reinforcements move closer to the wall. They bore the insignia of the Steel Talons, GDI's premier special weapons division. And while she was sad that they hadn't brought any Wolverines or Titans, she was still glad for the Guardians and Hunters.
"Rubicon Company, listen up." Captain Ri began. "Colonel Eckhart and the 151st Armored Brigade are moving up the highway to clear a Nod roadblock. And we are going with them. Check your gear and rest, we move in five!"
Burke heard many people groan at the news, but she quickly snapped at them to keep silent. She didn't want to go back into fighting, but they were soldiers, and they would march into Hell if ordered.
"More elements of the 151st are moving across the Potomac, and will help reinforce the Pentagon's defences. But, according to InOps, there is a large Nod FOB past that roadblock. Orders are to follow Colonel Eckhart and eliminate the roadblock, then carry on to the enemy FOB." Colonel Miles reported swiftly.
"Alright, you heard the lady. Rubicon, let's roll!" Captain Ri bellowed.
The Steel Talons began to move back towards the highway, with the bloodied men and women of Rubicon Company following behind. As Burke and her squad left the battered walls of the Pentagon, it gave her a chance to survey the battlefield. The number of dead Nod soldiers was staggering, at least two, maybe three companies had been thrown against them. But the Pentagon itself remained relatively unharmed, save for smoking holes from bomber runs.
As Rubicon Company followed the Steel Talons onto the highway, the infantry began to cover each and every building, wary of enemy snipers or more militia ambushes. Burke and her men had been trained to watch ruined buildings and dusty Yellow Zone streets; she never thought she would use her training here, at home.
"This is so fucked. I hope my cousins are okay." West said, covering the squad's rear.
"We all have family we're worried about, kid." Burke replied angrily.
She immediately regretted snapping, but she was too worried about her wife. Thankfully, West didn't seem to take it to heart, and managed to maintain some basic combat discipline.
"I'm worried too, Bill. That's why we need to stop these bastards." Burke said more comfortingly.
"I just hope the Commander can get us some air support soon. All I'm seeing is damned Nod fliers." Ramirez added.
"Be nice to have some Orcas. At least the AA is thinning them a bit." Haley commented.
"Commander will pull through, don't worry." Burke reassured, though she still had her own doubts that she kept private.
"Keep your heads on a swivel people. We're coming up to the roadblock soon." Colonel Eckhart warned.
The squad fell silent as they watched the windows and alleys. But all they could see was death and destruction. It wasn't just GDI and Nod soldiers who lay dead along the city streets and ruined parks. Civilians in the hundreds were strewn about, bodies twisted and charred. The squad passed by the bodies of a young couple, a baby held tightly in the mother's arms.
West vomited off to the side, and even Burke felt her stomach churn. They all lived in a world of constant death and decay, they had all seen the horrors Tiberium had done to the planet, and to people. But to see what carnage humans could do to themselves, it was always shocking.
But Burke had to push the grim scene from her mind, and get her squad back into focus, as the sounds of battle started to draw closer. Eventually, Burke could see where the highway branched off to the on/off ramps. A single Nod Tick Tank had been deployed into its fixed turret mode, and several platoons of infantry had deployed barricades and machine gun nests.
The GDI infantry fanned out across the highway, keeping cover behind the Guardians and Hunters. But Nod got the first shot, as the Tick fired at one of the Hunters, coring the tank and setting it alight. GDI returned fire the same moment the Nod machine guns opened up. The APC Burke and her squad were using for cover rolled to a stop, swiveling its Vulcan cannon to tear into the enemy. Burke and her team leaned around the vehicle, firing off quick bursts before ducking back into cover.
Another Hunter was destroyed by the Tick, as the remaining GDI tanks fired on the heavily armored vehicle. Soon, Nod rocket troopers began adding their fire, choking the highway with missile contrails.
"Target those rocket troops! We have to defend the tanks." Burke hastily ordered over the deafening sound of tank cannon fire.
Ramirez moved out of cover to fire, only to fall backwards, her rifle flying out of her hands and skidding across the street. Haley and Yusseif quickly dragged her back into cover, and Burke could see a bullet hole in her chest armor.
"Medic! We need a medic over here!" Yusseif called.
"Haley, West, keep shooting!" Burke growled.
The two men jumped, seemingly in shock at Ramirez's wound, but they snapped back and began to return fire. Burke glanced at the other GDI forces, anxiously looking for the medic. But her attention was dragged back to the battle, as the Nod Tick exploded, raining debris across the highway.
However, unlike before at the Pentagon, the enemy did not break and run. The Nod soldiers merely focused on defending the rocket troopers, as they continued to fire on the battered Hunters.
But before Burke could issue any orders, a medic finally arrived, and immediately knelt down next to Ramirez.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Yusseif asked.
"Fuck…this feels worse than that time in Tel Aviv." Ramirez suddenly grumbled.
"I'd say she's fine. Armor stopped most of the velocity, so its only a surface wound." The medic reported.
"She good to fight?" Burke asked.
"Yes, Sergeant. She's good to go."
"Specialist, on your feet!" Burke barked out, though she tried to suppress a smile at the immense relief she felt.
The medic helped Ramirez to her feet, then darted off to help someone else. Ramirez cursed about losing her rifle, and had to resort to using her sidearm to get back into the fight.
As her squad took down the enemy soldiers, Burke focused on the rocket troops, firing tight, three round bursts. A few of her rounds struck home, and Nod combatants went down in a spray of blood. But the enemy continued to batter the Hunters, even as they attempted to trade places with the relatively untouched Guardians.
However, the enemy was unable to withstand the barrage of rifle fire and high calibre rounds for long. Slowly the roadblock was broken down, but these Nod soldiers fought to the last man. The final enemy combatant to stand against GDI was a confessor, who spouted lines from the Book of Nod as he was riddled with bullets.
Burke was used to the after battle quiet that normally settled after an intense fight. But she was not rewarded with such calm, as gunfire and explosions continued to rage around the city.
"Rubicon Company, thanks for the assist. I'm taking the 151st to find more survivors: we'll bring 'em back to the Pentagon. You guys continue on to that FOB. I'll lend a Hunter and a Guardian. Sorry I can't spare more." Colonel Eckhart said.
"We appreciate the support, Colonel. You go find our boys." Captain Ri replied.
The Steel Talons convoy rolled through the roadblock, and further down the highway. Two vehicles remained behind, and started down the off ramp, towards the indicated Nod FOB.
The infantry of Rubicon Company followed behind, tending to their wounds as they marched. Those who were too severely wounded were left behind with a handful of able bodied riflemen, awaiting medevac from the forces back at the Pentagon.
As the GDI force moved deeper into city, passing by ruined apartment buildings and shopping centers, Burke's thoughts again turned to her wife, hoping she was okay in this whole mess.
Suddenly, Burke was ripped from her thoughts as the Hunter tank fired, blasting open the third floor of an office building. A split second later, all hell broke loose. Rifle and sniper fire poured out from the office building, as militia charged out from the ground floor. The Guardian and the GDI infantry returned fire, as Burke led her squad into cover behind the burnt out hulk of a bus.
"The FOB is past this building! We need to get around it." Lieutenant Hamilton stated as he slid into cover next to Burke.
"What do you need us to do LT?" Burke asked.
"If we take the platoon and hit the adjacent building, we can see if the underground lots connect. If not, at least we will have a higher vantage point to-"
"Hey! Will you assholes stop trying to kill me!?"
Burke and Hamilton fell silent at the sudden voice that interrupted over everyone's radio. It sounded so familiar, yet Burke couldn't quite remember clearly.
"Who the hell is this? Identify yourself!" Captain Ri shouted angrily.
"Just stop shooting the building, you're gonna hit friendlies in here!"
"Identify yourself, or I will keep putting holes in that building regardless." Captain Ri stated firmly.
"Uh, sorry, uh, sir?" A new voice began. "My name is Chief Officer Richardson, 4th Precinct Zone Security. The Colonel and my unit decided to hit the Nod position from the west, we didn't see you guys approaching till we hit the fourth floor."
"And who is this maverick Colonel, Officer Richardson?" Captain Ri asked with growing annoyance.
"Colonel Havoc, sir."
Burke and Hamilton exchanged a shocked look at that. So that's why she recognized the voice, from all the T.V. interviews: it was the famous commando Havoc!
As the back and forth over the radio had continued, Burke noticed the fire from the office building was beginning to slacken. Even some of the militia began to retreat back inside, clearly perceiving the threat there to be greater.
"Fuck! Havoc and his men will be swarmed. We gotta get in there!" Hamilton exclaimed.
"Agreed, my squad is ready." Burke stated
"Good, you take point. I'll bring the platoon up behind you. Go!"
Burke nodded, then motioned for her squad to move forward. They darted down the street, firing on the Nod militia as they went. Both the Hunter and Guardian had stopped firing at the building, and now shifted their heavy weapons to the enemy on the street level. With no enemy in their way, Burke and her squad charged into the office.
They entered into a large foyer, one that before had clearly been built to show the building's wealth and status, but was now filled with debris and garbage. The far walls were lined with elevators, the shafts made of glass so people could easily see the elevator car move up and down. But what drew Burke's eye was the hidden staircase further back, where Nod militia were seemingly locked in a desperate uphill battle.
"Tangos at the rear. Move up slowly, take cover by the pillars." Burke whispered.
"Copy that." Yusseif replied.
Her squad moved into position, as the rest of Lieutenant Hamilton's platoon moved into the building. They all got into cover, and waited anxiously for the order to open fire.
"Cut them down."
Lieutenant Hamilton ordered his men to fire on the enemy in the same voice he would use to comment on the weather. But the effect was still the same, as the GDI riflemen cut into the militiamen without mercy.
Dozens went down in the opening salvo, others turned to face the new threat, but were then cut down by the Zone Security up the stairs. Many militia threw down their weapons in their surrender, but this only seemed to anger their more fanatic comrades, as they began to pull out grenades and scream out,
"Peace through power!"
The explosions rocked the building, and sent the GDI soldiers into cover. But it was clear this was more an act of defiance, as all that remained of the Nod force was a pile of bloody pieces and charred bones.
Burke led her squad forward slowly, thankful for the air filters that would keep out the smell. Unfortunately for their Zone Security compatriots, they did not have the same luxury, and many looked like they would throw up.
As the two sides met, Burke glanced further up the stairs to see a man well into his sixties, armed in old GDI fatigues and carrying an antiquated sub machine gun. The man flashed Burke a charming smile as he descended the stairs.
"Nod must be hitting us real hard, if we have to dig up an old fossil like you. Sir." Burke said in way of greeting, using her own officer appeasing grin.
"Ha! These Noddies ain't nothing like the ones back in my day. I'd could probably have kick these bastards out one handed!"
Havoc gave a hearty chuckle at his own gloating, as Burke led him back towards the Lieutenant. But before either could even offer a greeting, Hamilton spoke first.
"Sergeant, take Colonel…er…Mr. Parker, out to the Captain. I'll handle clean up."
"You got it, LT."
Burke led Havoc outside, where the GDI forces were now securing the building perimeter. Burke spotted Captain Ri staring through binoculars at the Nod FOB, further up the road.
"Captain Ri, sir. Colonel Havoc for you." Burke stated respectfully.
Captain Ri turned to face Havoc, and growled at the man as if he had just insulted his mother.
"He is not a Colonel, Sergeant. Not anymore. He is a civilian, and he will explain why he was leading Zone Security forces behind enemy lines."
"You remind me of Locke. Anyways, Captain, I was busy rallying up survivors and fighting off Nod. I may be retired, but I'm still a commando. That never goes away."
Captain Ri seemed to size up Havoc for a moment, as Lieutenant Hamilton and Chief Officer Richardson both walked over.
"How many men to do you have, Officer?" Captain Ri directed his question to Richardson.
"About one hundred security and city police. About twenty GDI infantry, some in full gear, most without. We also escorted a large group of civilians to-"
"I don't care about the damn civvies. At least, not right now. I need your men to head to the Pentagon. General Granger is rallying all GDI forces there."
"Understood, Captain. I'll get my boys moving."
Officer Richardson moved away to gather his men. The Captain then turned his attention back to Havoc.
"Well, I guess you were able to handle yourself. Go with Richardson, help defend the Pentagon."
"You got it, boss." Havoc said with a condescending grin.
"Captain, the Nod FOB." Hamilton reminded.
"Oh! I already took care of that." Havoc quickly stated.
"You did, did you?" Captain Ri asked with a sceptical look.
Havoc pressed a few buttons on his tacpad, then turned to face the Nod outpost.
"Hey Kane! I got a present for yah!"
The Nod FOB abruptly exploded into a massive fireball. The Nod Emissary, along with several occupied buildings, went up in a blaze that illuminated the night sky. The scene was so spectacular that a few men couldn't help but cheer, overjoyed to see Nod suffer a defeat after watching their homes be destroyed.
"And that, Captain, is how we did it old school."
… … …
Author's note: The Hunter tank is a unit from Tiberian Twilight. Its based off of the Guardian chassis, and according to the game, was designed as a faster tank to deal with hit and run attacks. However, I decided to change it to act more like a modern day Stryker, in that it can be a multi purpose vehicle, like the M1126 ICV variant, or the M1128 MGS variant.
There will be more units from Twilight brought into this story, as the game did have some genuinely cool designs. But we will see those later.
And the famous commando is back, last seen in Part One. (save for a small cameo in Part Two)
Until next time.