Prologue
May 7th, 2183 - 1600 Hours
"This place…. Isn't yours anymore. Kill them, and save the bullets."
When Lieutenant Reyes had been summoned by Admiral Raines for a private briefing, he had practically jumped out of his dress whites and into his flight rig. He had expected action, or at the very least to finally be given an order to grab a Jackal and start a combat air patrol for the ongoing Fleet Week Parade. Now, however, he was staring at Salen Kotch's thugs executing fellow SCARs, and his mentor was watching it with nothing more than a stoic look on his face.
Admiral Frederick Raines had survived the Secession Wars from the pilot's chair, then spent his twilight years both training and commanding SCARs before getting stuck behind a desk once the USNA Navy threw stars at his shoulders and overall command into his lap. The Detroit native had survived hell in more ways than one, and had the composure to match, and yet all that composure did now was confuse Nick.
"What is 'Riah'?" Nick finally asked.
"Unclear." Raines told him, "Helmet cam stopped transmitting. It's been 18 hours, no contact, SetDef's made no demands."
"Settlement Defense Front doesn't make demands." Reyes replied, gesturing to the screen as he faced the admiral, "They planted a flag on our rock. They executed three men and shot down a pilot."
"Our team was sent to secure classified weapons from a closed facili-"
"That facility is a black site, admiral. Why the hell is SetDef allowed in that airspace?"
"By permission of the Accords, all nations have access to free and un-"
"Sir, that objective required a full strike force, not a four man team!"
"Lieutenant Reyes." Raines finally stated firmly, taking the SCAR aback slightly, "I implore you to use diplomacy in this office. Take a different tact."
His reply was slightly delayed, being caught off guard not just at the minor admonishment, but the fact that he had gotten so heated so quickly.
"Yes, sir. Who else knows about this?"
"Right now? Joint strategic air command, and you." Raines told him as he flicked the wall switch next to his desk. Light poured into the room, as did the dull roar of the crowds below in Geneva, yet Reyes still couldn't let the issue go.
"This is a deliberate act of aggression, admiral." Reyes said, gesturing out the bay window of the admiral's office, "We should be out there on patrol, not down here throwing confetti."
"The rules of engagement prohibit definitive action under these circumstances." Raines countered, once again stoically as he observed the festivities unfolding down below.
"So we stand with our barrels in the sand and watch a fleet week parade?"
"Lieutenant Reyes." came another stern reply, though below it Nick could trace a hint of the frustration that was eating him up inside too, "Make no mistake, my instincts, which are aligned indelibly with your own, are that we need to engage."
He paused again, half relieved that his old mentor still had his edge, yet still confused as to why the fleet was putting on a show rather than getting ready for an operation.
"Why don't we, sir?" he finally asked, and the resigned sigh and hand on his shoulder from the admiral said more than any explanation that the flag officer could offer.
"They're politicians, Reyes. They'll wipe hell's ass with whatever flags keep the smokestacks burning." Raines initially stated, gesturing for Nick to take a seat while taking his own, "To these men, the idea of mounting an offensive triggers a fresh and unplanned piss…. Until there's war, the warriors aren't in charge."
"But sir, by the time there's war it's too late. 'Hesitation is a hole in the head'. You drilled that into us relentlessly at flight school. 'Work the problem, respond.'" Reyes retorted, getting a light chuckle out of the man sitting across from him.
"You were always a fast learner, lieutenant." Raines told him, before quickly shifting back into a more professional tone, "STRATCOM is well aware of our grievances. At this time, no use of force is being considered on the operational level. These are the laws of war, son."
"The laws of war…" Reyes mulled over in his head for a moment. Even with Raines agreeing with him, their hands were tied.
"Thank you for the briefing, sir." Reyes answered, only for the wall terminal to spring to life and grab the attention of both officers.
"Admiral Raines." the female Petty Officer on the screen announced, "E3N is in position on the roof."
"Thank you, Petty Officer."
"What is E3N?" Nick inquired, only for Admiral Raines to smile at his former student once more.
"Go take a look for yourself. I think you'll be quite impressed. Dismissed."
With that Reyes stood back up, standing at attention for a moment before making his way out of the office to a waiting Lieutenant Nora Salter, suited up and just as ready for a fight as Nick was. The Lebanese native had been his best friend ever since they both were inducted into SCAR, as well as his biggest rival in the cockpit with piloting skills that often surpassed his own. Nick couldn't ask for a better wingman.
"How many?" she asked.
"Four, KIA."
"Europa?"
"Front was already there. Took out the whole team, looted the site." Reyes answered, and Salter was quick to reply.
"Son of a bitch." she spat, "This fleet sh… stuff is nonsense. We should be up in our jackals flying watch."
The self-censorship got a slight smirk out of Nick, a smile that Nora was quick to scowl at as he looked back at his partner.
"Admiral doesn't disagree." he offered.
"Captain Alder know?"
"Negative." Nick grumbled, which only caused Salter to rest her hands on her hips, "Today, Retribution isn't a warship, she's a parade float."
"Whole fleet here in Geneva… doesn't seem right."
"We do this every year, Salt." came another resigned reply, a mood that mirrored the body language of both SCARs.
"Well, let's not miss the party." she told him with a slight gesture at the door with her head.
"After you, lieutenant." Nick teased, opening the door for her.
"Thanks, slick." she said with a smirk before making her way in front of him, "Come on, we'll take the scenic route."
Nick couldn't tell if she was being serious or sarcastic given where she was walking. The "scenic route" took them straight through a hallway lined with black marble slabs, each one with dozens of names chiseled into them, save the last slab at the end of the hallway. As they passed through it was instantly recognized not just by the lettering above the doorway but the massive words "Lest We Forget" inscribed at the bottom of each slab, as the SATO Memorial Hall.
Salter's fingers gingerly brushed the marble as she walked past, eyes quickly skimming the many, many names forever etched into the smooth stone.
"Not a list you want to make." she finally said quietly.
"Peace to the fallen." Reyes answered just as quietly, pausing a moment as one particular name on the central monument caught his eye.
"Hey, mom." he thought as he kept walking, leaving the name "Velinda Reyes" behind him as he and Salter finally made their way onto the balcony. Whatever Salter said next was drowned out by jackals flying by, their smoke trails painting the sky just in time for the massive Admiral-class carrier that they called home to descend next to SATO Headquarters.
"There she is, Retribution." Salter stated with a smile, elbowing her wingman and gesturing for him to follow her down the nearby stairwell through the crowd of SATO personnel, "Home sweet home."
"Only been down here a day, Salt." Reyes was quick to reply as he followed after her, only for her to give a wicked grin as she looked back at him, a grin he couldn't help but match.
"I prefer the wild black yonder."
"You and me both." he told her, his eyes focusing back on the Retribution as she moved further away in formation with her escort, "Raines mentioned a thing called 'E3N' - Heard of it?"
"Negative. Rainman's got all kinds o'tricks up those four star sleeves." Nora quipped.
"He's flying to the ceremony with us." Nick quickly chided, "Make sure you don't call him that."
"Never, to his face." she said before belting out, "Make a hole!"
After a second of confusion, the enlisted sailors and marines waiting in line to get through the security checkpoint stepped aside, clearing a path as the guards waved both pilots through without incident.
"Service has its perks, we have a plane to catch." Salter told him as they ascended yet another set of stairs just in time for the USNA Eclipse to do a low flyby directly over their heads. Down below civilians cheered, an announcer read off bullet points about the destroyer, and Reyes could only shake his head as they continued towards the waiting Raven transport.
"Crowd's eating this thing up."
"Public relations, Reyes."
"It's propaganda, Salt." Nick grumbled once more, "We lost four men and we're throwing a party."
Nora looked back at her friend as they kept their brisk pace, concern etching lines on her forehead as she finally shrugged at her fellow pilot.
"Our hands are tied. Take a little R&R today, Reyes. That's an order."
"You can't give me an order, we're the same rank." Nick retorted, a smile, however faint, working its way back onto his face.
"Got me there lieutenant." Salter replied as Nick unlatched the Raven's door, only for her to hesitate as a human-sized, bipedal, and very well armored drone reached its hand out to grasp Nick's.
"Lieutenant Reyes." it stated, helping him up onto the deck.
"What the hell is that?" Nora asked as she followed in after Nick.
"I think we found 'E3N'."
"Indeed sir." the robot replied cheerfully, "Petty Officer First Class. E3N. Enhanced Tactical Humanoid. Third Revision."
"That's a mouthful." Salter quipped.
"You ain't kiddin'." the robot told her, a southern accent seeping through, "Call me Ethan, ma'am."
"What are your orders?" Reyes asked.
"I'm assigned to Retribution, reporting to Captain Alder." Ethan answered which only piqued Nick's curiosity even more. Before he could get a word in though, Salter beat him to the punch.
"You programmed for combat?"
"Thoroughly ma'am. Born to kill."
"You look like you can kick some serious ass." Nick added, only for Ethan to let out a reply that he would never have expected from something with programming in its head.
"Well, now you're just making me blush, sir." Ethan told the SCAR as he reached down once more, only for Admiral Raines to shrug off the attempt at assistance entirely.
"Step aside Ethan, this old goat can still climb." Raines told them.
"Welcome aboard, Admiral." Ethan added.
"Well, now that we're all acquainted, let's get up and away." the admiral said, getting affirmations from the pilots before the bulky transport finally lifted off it's landing pad and started making its way towards the Vengeance.
"You kept the Ethan project well under the radar, Admiral." Reyes added.
"Captain Alder knew. First troop ready model. Quite remarkable. We're revealing him at the ceremony today." Raines told the trio, only for Ethan to do a double take before addressing the admiral.
"You know I get stage fright, right, sir?" Ethan asked, which in turn made Salter focus her attention on him again.
"You got feelings, Ethan?"
"I do Lieutenant, I do." he answered seriously, "I carry the brain of a human farmer."
"Holy shit, are you serious?"
"No ma'am, not at all." Ethan deadpanned, getting a laugh out of Raines and the first real smile Nick had seen on him in days as he and Salter kept trading quips.
As they continued on their flightpath, the various sights meant to enthrall the civilians below caught Reyes' attention, everything from the pride of SATO, the entire active UNSA Navy hovering above the city to the massive AATIS defense turrets placed strategically around Lake Geneva, silent sentinels constantly on watch within their bunkers, but on full display today as both a show of force for the Fleet Week festivities and a precautionary measure.
"AATIS guns are working overtime today, Admiral." Reyes observed.
"Lots of allied traffic." Raines responded, nodding at Reyes, "Always vigilant, Lieutenant."
"Unless you're a politician." Nick thought, his mind drifting back to the admiral's office as Salter and Ethan discussed the air intercept systems and the wind whipped at him from the open hatch they were all standing around. He was still replaying the events of Wolf's helmet feed when a loud booming from below caught his attention.
He barely heard Ethan shout "Incoming!" as the hatch slammed shut and the Raven banked hard to the left. The maneuver did little to help as a round slammed into the starboard side of the dropship, sending debris and shrapnel flying through the cabin. Reyes swore he felt metal barely graze his face as the craft began to spin.
"Pilot's hit!" Salter exclaimed, and that was all Nick needed to be back in the zone.
"I'll take it!" he announced as Nora pulled the wounded pilot out of his seat. Nick was quick to take his place at the controls and Salter quickly took the chair next to him as they both tried to wrestle with the burning, falling raven.
"Pull up!" she shouted.
"No joy, I can't control her!" Nick swore.
"SDF Destroyers inbound!" Ethan added to the cacophony that threatened to deafen Reyes, an announcement that confused the SCAR until he noticed Admiral Raines accessing the raven's comm suite and ordering all available assets to engage the invading SDF forces, though that announcement was cut short by Reyes as their transport continued plummeting.
"Brace for impact!" was all he could get out before their ship slammed through the glass canopy of a shopping center and his vision went dark.
Author's Note:
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare has a campaign that I believe is one of the best out there in the past 5 years of gaming. However, a handful of things always irked me, or caused continuity issues, so I'm endeavoring to rewrite the story of Infinite Warfare to be a bit more realistic to its own setting. No more dismantling the entire SDF in a single 24 hour period, no more campy, poorly written mustache twirling on your HUD every five minutes; this is a retelling of the Kotch War, and what SATO had to do to hold the line against the Settlement Defense Front. Things will change, dialogue will be tweaked or glossed over, other things will be fleshed out, and while this is a retelling, this will not be a beat-by-beat repeat of the entire game.