(Events take place around the time of the Firestorm crisis of Tiberian Sun, simultaneously with the events of Syndicate in the Assassins Creed timeline.
WW2 Eva: Red Alert 2's Lt. Eva.
Desmond: Desmond Files (f-list))
Desmond wasn't sure how long it would take to get a response from the assassins or how they would send it. Maybe they would send it to Kane? Either way he hoped for a response soon so he wouldn't be hanging there. But in the mean time he had to keep himself and Emir safe and hopefully find a way back state side. He turned to Emir and smiled, hoping to reassure the other.
"Don't worry, you'll love Rebecca. We prank each other all the time and she's going to love you. Shaun is an ass but he means well, its just buried really deep under the snark."
Eva immediately alerted the Kodiak, the nearest on-ground command unit that can make a decision. Alerting the Philadelphia could've taken longer.
"Well done," Chandra responded. "Alright, ladies - it looks like we have a visual in Europe. The message couldn't be deciphered yet, but it's very likely a NOD signal. We need to deploy and find out who it was intended for. Eva? Do you have an approximate LZ for us?"
"Affirmative, Commander Chandra. The best I could triangulate was on the outskirts of Stari Grad, Sarajevo. You will need to enact Mobile Sensor Arrays to be able to scan the city border for all stealth presences. New base setups advised."
"You catch all that, Brink?" Chandra chuckled. "Just like the good ol' days," Brink responded in kind.
In a few hours, the high-speed Kodiak was already en route, to meet with the European branch of GDI forces that have already begun operations. It didn't take long before local GDI armies began to surround the Temple from afar, and prepare an EMP blast to shut down the Temple's defenses.
Desmond was talking to Emir about his team and how they worked since the man would be meeting them hopefully soon. They were interrupted when the lights flickered and Desmond flinched before they both looked up at the ceiling wondering what was going on. Several NOD personal had gotten up and were moving around franticly, calling orders and reports. Apparently GDI was here and were slowly moving in, that was as far as they got before systems started to short out from an EMP blast; Plundging everyone into darkness. Desmond took the chance to form a flashlight while no one was able to see and clicked it on, illuminating Emir and the others in the room.
With the light, the other NOD members were able to get their own lights from emergency kits and got to work on getting power back up. While they worked on that Desmond and Emir went to go find Kane and see what was going on and if they could help in some way possibly.
Eva began her first attempt at hacking the Temple network. She discerned right away this was a NOD hideout, buried deep underground. She'd need some assistance from the MSA units to scan for the layout, but the network alone should do for now. If Eva managed to infiltrate their systems, she'd be able to find out where the message she detected earlier was headed.
"Commander," she alerted Chandra, "we have limited time before the power is restored. I have ascertained that NOD forces are in the area and are preparing a full recovery and possible counter-attack. I detected some activity underground near our targeted area. Would you like me to establish battlefield control?"
"It's about time."
"Establishing battlefield control, please stand by..."
Eva maneuvered GDI's first MCV near the Temple and deployed it. The truck unfurled into a giant assembly of diverse machinery and cranes, intended for base construction. They had to act fast and secure the area before NOD could respond - that way, they can begin excavating underground once more.
"Battlefield control... established."
Desmond and Emir were able to find Kane near the upper levels where there was more chaos. Power was slowly working its way up and Desmond felt a chill go up his spine from the EMP waves still lingering, he rubbed his arm to smooth out the feeling. He looked out the damaged part of the building to see some vehicles in the distance and one that was parked way too close for comfort.
"Is that GDI?! What are they doing here?"
He didn't like sitting idly even if he didn't have any part of this fight right now. "They shot an EMP right? Is there a way of making sure they can't shoot again?"
Eva was now managing resource procurement for the new base erected nearby. It seems the Tiberium in the area helped conceal this Temple from GDI detection after the second war. Could Kane somehow still be alive?
Chandra would need to find that out manually, once they're able to infiltrate underground.
"Construction complete: War Factory ready. You may begin constructing assault vehicles."
"Looks like things are going smoothly. They're hardly putting up a fight - do they think we'll leave?" Chandra wondered.
Desmond looked at the group below making themselves right at home infront of the building. Should he do something about them? Kane seemed very upset that they were there, maybe the message that they sent was what gave up the location? But if NOD had fought GDI before then they should already know the building is here considering the condition its in. He glanced back at Kane who was already ordering his people around to try and counter the small invasion and prepare counter measures.
"Well I didn't expect this to happen."
Kane walked right past Desmond, then turned to face him.
"Personally, I always expect the unexpected. It keeps us ready. I've been waiting for them since your arrival."
A blast shook the underground labyrinth they were in. Some dust fell on the computers and dashboards behind them.
"Come, Desmond. We have a few GDI philistines to tend to."
Kane saw this as a potential opportunity, annoying as it may be. He had new insight now and he wanted to test it out. Grasping his one-sided cape, he flicked it back and pulled on his hood to conceal his face. The enemy won't know what hit them.
Desmond watched Kane pull up his hood and immediately got an idea as to what he wanted to do. He wanted to test out the abilities he picked up from the bleeding effect. Desmond didn't like the idea of the guy running off and trying to stab some people when he wasn't even sure if the guy could fight properly, let along imitate the assassins style of fighting.
"Well if your going to go running around looking like us, I might as well make sure you don't wreck our good image."
He was half joking with this but pulled his his hood anyway and started to follow Kane to the surface while motioning for Emir to stay behind. The other man was still too weak from the animus, starvation and being sedentary wasn't good for the body. It would take time for the other to get his full strength back and Desmond was eager to see it. Kane led them out through a side entrance that wasn't blocked with rubble or GDI.
"So do you have a plan? Or are you just going to go in and stab everyone? I'm assuming you grabbed some kind of weapon."
Kane shrugged. "Not yet. My science ministers haven't yet gotten around to copying your Order's tactics in weaponry and style." He looked at Desmond's wrist.
"I was hoping YOU could lend a hand. Figuratively speaking." Kane continued walking, getting ready to near the front lines.
"We won't be stabbing everyone. Probably just enough to push them back. A few crucial targets should do. Cabal?"
'They have begun manufacturing vehicles. A plausible outcome awaits if we can disable their power units and infiltrate their command ship.'
Desmond nodded at that. "If you want to borrow one of my blades, I would highly suggest you don't go running off by yourself somewhere. I really don't want to loose my things if I can help it. Sabotage their stuff then? I can do that, whether or not they see me is another thing entirely. For your own self defense I would still say that should pick something up, a gun or sword. Something."
The guy did just come back from the dead so he was hoping the other wasn't going to try and be suicidal anytime soon. He might have allot of bodies on standby but dying hurt either way and he wasn't too keen on it himself.
Kane nodded as he received the materialized blade.
"Have I deceived you before?" He said as he slipped his wrist through its belts. Popping the hidden blade in and out, it felt like it belonged there.
"Don't worry about me. I like to procure my weapons on-site. I'll carry something to use... later. For now, we kill."
Kane made a note to remain close to Desmond. According to him, the blade wouldn't last if he moved too far.
Desmond shook his head and made sure his hood was up as they got a good look around them. Their first target was the mobile base that had set up shop right next to them and was slowly building up around itself.
"Try not to get too trigger happy, no point in rushing into an ambush."
There were some guards around the new buildings but most were staying inside in anticipation of an attack. Eagle vision showed lots of people, most of the people inside were a dull blue or gray. Most were ordinary people doing their jobs, some were gold, targets or possibly leaders they would need to take down to get GDI to back off. However there was a few in red, but only one of those was also haloed in gold. Other then that just some sabotage would hopefully be enough.
Kane stared at Desmond for a second.
"What do you see? You're able to discern weak points in their chain of command, no?"
Kane remembered what he learned from Emir and, by proxy, Yusef. Some assassins have an innate, inherent ability to visualize their surroundings in terms of threat and trust, without the need to see directly with their line of sight. This, of course, was something Kane himself lacked, but found quite useful a skill to have.
Desmond wasn't sure if Kane noticed a change in his eyes. The others never mentioned anything but then again he didn't usually use it around them, and the animus never showed anything because it was first person view.
"To an extent, there are some leaders and we can take out and some tech we can wreck. The place isn't sealed so we can get in without any problem. You ready? Most of these guys are just doing their jobs. We shouldn't kill them unless we have to."
Kane sighed in relief. "The element of surprise serves us well - they haven't had enough time to secure their base. I am ready."
Kane and Desmond, followed from a distance by an elite stealth squad of Black Hand commandos for backup, began their infiltration mission. The commandos stood by at the NOD Temple entrance, while Kane and Desmond began to search for entry points for the nearby GDI base without being detected.
Kane's newfound infiltration skills helped him remain hidden behind the different GDI structures. At some point, they'll need to go inside to begin looking for essential components to take down, such as the much needed power supply, and the newly-finished radar center providing support for GDI's mission in the area.
Desmond kept turning eagle vision on periodically to keep an eye on where people were moving around and if they needed to hide or get out of the way. On occasion there would be a power line something that glowed white, and Desmond took it out without thinking causing various malfunction that gave them the advantage. They didn't need to take out too many people thankfully but there was a red/gold nearby. Just a few rooms away. Desmond motioned to Kane about a potential target, the combination of colors made him worried about a possible templar pithing the GDI ranks.
Kane paused for a second, processing what he heard his comrade tell him.
"Did you say... Templar? Are you sure?"
This may turn bad, Kane thought to himself. The presence of an uncalculated new faction in this conflict could complicate his plans. What if NOD stood to gain from them down the line? From what he learned earlier, the Templars seemed very well connected and resourced, so their presence among GDI ranks wasn't surprising. What's shocking is them being -here- of all places, where Desmond could stand to be found - this technically meant GDI had a tip about Desmond, if their plan was to set up camp next to the Temple. Had they been targeting someone else, they would've sent an infiltrator instead.
"Desmond, I... I think they're here for you. I can't say for sure, but you being able to find a Templar in the fray this soon is just... too much for a simple coincidence."
Desmond hummed in thought, "They tend to have people everywhere, a place as connected as this would be right up their ally. If they sent this guy here because of me, then my cover really was blown when I fought Oxanna. We can't know for sure unless we bring him in alive."
There was a risk to bringing this person in, but they didn't have to bring them into the temple but that would be Kane's call. Desmond had no problem interrogating the guy here but there would be a time limit.
Kane wasn't used to this - most interrogations, Anton and Oxanna would conduct for him back at base after capturing the target.
Then again, this IS the assassin life he's dealing with here - it seemed they didn't have the luxury of capturing and interrogating kidnapped targets outside of their infiltration missions.
"Can we pull it off? It seems they're heavily surrounded by guards - probably to try and blend in without being detected as infiltrators with their own agenda."
Desmond checked his sight again. They were defiantly surrounded but it wasn't anything he could deal with. He looked at Kane, "I could try a smoke bomb? Then we can just grab the guy and go or maybe knock them out? The down side is that it will most likely set of the smoke detectors or some kind of alarm. How long do you think it would take to get swamped with guards?"
He was mentally looking his memories and files for the different smoke bombs from the past. Ezio had a good number of them and the more foul ones smelled terrible and caused people to cough from the thick smoke.
Kane wondered for a minute about this strategy.
"I have a better idea. Let's take out the power for this building as well. It's possible they haven't set up secondary power for the smoke detectors just yet. If we wait long enough, they'll be able to do that, so we have to act fast. Can you search for a power generator connected to this specific building?"
He was keen on using the smoke bombs, but only after making sure the detectors couldn't alert the rest of the base.
Desmond nodded and put a hand on the wall while using eagle vision. It allowed him to feel any tech in the walls and see the power lines around them. But he did see where the lines were leading and where they would have to go. He looked up in that direction. "I'm only seeing one power source for this building so far. Its down the hallway, and a few turns. They don't look like they are paying attention to us yet. Nobody is moving around with any urgency but they might have noticed the guys outside. Come on, its this way."
Kane and Desmond used their previous victims as a good distraction - with the outside guards distracted, they were able to maneuver more easily inside.
Reaching the power room, Kane used his blade to sabotage the connection to the generator, while Desmond disabled the fuse box to prevent it from tripping and alerting the base's headquarters of any intrusion. The power silently went out, and no replacement power came in. With some of the guards still outside, Kane and Desmond were able to sneak their way back in, now getting closer to their target: the Templar GDI infiltrator.
((Who's the Templar spy among GDI's ranks? Find out soon!))