(Events take place right around 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 gave Kane a thoughtful look at his description of the feeling. Of the ancestors who had held a Piece, and the stories others told very few had felt that way. Desmond being one of them, he hadn't payed attention to the feeling before because of Juno and her influence that he had tried to fight. But now, with his Apple he could understand. If Kane felt something similar then he could also have allot of ISU ancestry in him.
He nodded at the moment about being careful with who handled it, that wasn't surprising.
"I don't know if there is any of them that are exactly the same, each tends to have something unique about them. Even the ones with similar designs. I wouldn't know for sure unless I have a good look at it though. But we have dealt with other Pieces that store information. Its not surprising that it would be picky with who uses it, usually they tend to like certain people other others. Who they like depends on the specific artifact but they all agree with certain genetics."
"It goes without saying, then," Kane responded, "that GDI are ill fit to wield such artifacts."
Kane had wanted Desmond to still reach his own conclusions about the Tacitus. If this truly matches different artifacts Desmond has touched before, then his journey doesn't end with simply the Tacitus in hand. There must come something further beyond it, but only the Tacitus can guide them all.
"GDI at the moment is trying to fortify their new base near us. I'm not yet sure if they'll be bringing what we need straight to us or not. We're going to need to bait their higher ups to come closer, Desmond. Are you up for the task?"
A horrendous plan began to brew within the minds of both Kane and Cabal. Kane was a bit concerned if Desmond would bite. But he did mention that Jake was fair game for NOD to do as they wished with him.
"Either way, if they have connections to the Templars then they could be using it wrong or to try and expand their influence. It needs looking into either... How were you planning on baiting them?"
He was curious as to what the other was planning, he glanced at Emir. He was concerned but as long as it wasn't too crazy they wouldn't be opposed to it, Desmond still wanted to keep Emir out of the thick of it in case he bled again.
At the moment, the only collateral they had on GDI was Jake, unless they wanted to reveal Desmond and the assassins' connection to NOD, which he didn't feel too comfortable with since they weren't supposed to be out in the open like that.
"It wouldn't be pretty," Kane answered. "We would use Jake to hit GDI in their pride as soldiers."
Philosophically, NOD had always been questionable at best when it came to their tactics and strategies against GDI. Their enemies were known for thick armor and aggressive military presence globally, so NOD was forced to adapt by remaining quicker and lighter on their feet, and that also described their decision-making process as well. Not beholden to the same ideals as GDI whatsoever, NOD wasn't held back by pompous displays of military might or civilian involvement (civilians volunteered for NOD without making a big deal out of it).
Precisely because of that, Kane found it easy to rely on simple propaganda and targeted messaging across the forsaken slums of the entire world to recruit his forces and engage the enemy when the situation was in their favor. He would reward his brethren with spaced out, yet still occasional displays of NOD's cunning and superior planning against a relentless behemoth like GDI.
This is why Kane had experience 'baiting' GDI. This is why he was always confident in his ability to get them to behave how he wanted, at any cost.
"If we show the GDI base how weak and incompetent they are, they are bound to bring in heavier reinforcements. I'm aiming for their command ship to get enough reason to arrive and land near us. There's a good chance that's where the Tacitus you're feeling is."
Kane held Desmond by the shoulders and looked him in the eye.
"Do you trust me?"
Hitting where it hurt wasn't anything new to Desmond. Most assassins always had an uphill battle against the Templars and usually their methods varied but worked.
"Yea, lets piss some people off."
He was right to think Kane had experience with this, he'd been fighting GDI a while now and knew how to do it. Desmond was new to this enemy and would fair better by following the others lead.
"So what's the plan?"
"There's multiple ways we can go on about this... but they all involve Jake's execution."
Kane straight up shot it out with a straight face, and turned to stare at Desmond's for an answer. This was his current way for handling the delivery of such an abrupt plan to his comrades - throw it out there, see how they react. In Desmond's case, Kane had been too careful for so long not to get on his bad side, considering how powerful of an ally he can be.
But it was time to test their bond. It was time to see if Nod and the Assassins can survive this war together or not. It's a fact now: not all battles are going to be fought against GDI. Some will be fought right here, back at home.
"Considering what... you did to him, Desmond," Kane added, "...it would be a mercy kill, if you ask me."
It was true. By the time they were dragging him out, Jake was practically braindead from whatever horrors he experienced in there.
Desmond looked at Kane, a public execution might piss of GDI enough. He didn't know them well enough to say for sure but it might prompt the Templars I to action too. Then again they never seemed to care for their own very much outside of what they could do for the order. It didn't used to be that way.
Desmond shrugged at Kane, he didn't care about Jake. He had left the man alive in case Oxanna had more questions for him, usually an assassin would kill their torture subject.
"How do you intend to rile them up? Just killing him would be enough?"
"Don't worry your head about it," Kane reassured Desmond. What he had in store for Jake - he was definitely not prepared to reveal just yet.
"We are currently preparing a way to 'taunt' GDI into action. If everything goes as planned, they'll have no choice but to call in reinforcements for a heavier assault on us."
Knowing GDI, they would figure out some of their bigger targets were in the Temple, possibly including Kane himself. There was no telling just yet what GDI could possibly have on them at the moment.
Desmond snorted at the comment, he wasn't sure how Kane would taunt GDI but he would be interested to know. It might come in handy to know for future use.
He figured Kane would talk big and then shoot the poor bastard they had caught. Something about futility and humiliation.
"Is this place ready for a siege? GDI seems like they have allot of military style equipment."
"Somewhat. We are still under repairs, so starting our show soon is paramount to our survival. Will you help us watch our entrances? As soon as our plan moves forward, we can expect an immediate GDI skirmish with whatever remaining forces they have - before their big guns arrive."
Kane needed Desmond gone for other reasons. But he couldn't tell him right away. Letting him know what he was going to do with Jake was risky enough as it was - he'd need a backup plan if Desmond went rogue once more.
Desmond could do that easily. He knew it was risky to invite trouble when your still fixing things from last time and while this place had taken a beating before they arrived it still looked pretty good.
"Do you recommend I use a security room with cameras or take the birds eye view?"
It was a thinly veiled hint, Kane had seen Ezio from Yusef and Emir and he had likely seen the assassins penchant for tall places. He was sure that NOD personal could handle things but if this little alliance was just starting and he should do his part to foster good relations.
"Birds-eye view. Highest point for the temple." Letting Desmond get access to more footage would be unwise.
As soon as Desmond left to complete his second official NOD mission, Oxanna watched him leave with a nervous stare, and walked in when she was sure he was gone.
"You're gonna want to see this," she tipped Kane.
"Oxanna," he turned to look at her with concern. "Rarely do I see you this troubled - what happened?"
In a few minutes, Kane would be witnessing evidence to something even he couldn't have anticipated. As Oxanna and Kane walked back to the main control room with the footage she pulled up, NOD was preparing a special broadcast of "Today's Execution" - to be aired specifically for GDI to enjoy.
Desmond nodded before heading towards the elevator that would get him to the highest access point. From there he could climb to the top of the temple, a perfect view of everything around him and the surrounding area.
Out of habit he activated eagle vision just like he did in the Animus as a sync point, the whole area suddenly showing him what was around. The specs of allies below him in the temple, the red of the scattered GDI forces that had retreated behind some wreckage and natural defense points, white and gold of people that could help him or items that would be useful. It was interesting to see some white in the surrounding area, maybe wreckage that had been buried from past battles? If so then maybe digging them up would be good salvage.
If he concentrated a bit he could identify specific people by their glow. Kane being a mix of blue and gold with some red flakes, Oxanna was similar bit with more red and gold. He must have made her nervous or something for her to shift in color, or she was a bit of a sadist? He wasn't too sure. He could see Jake, his red/gold coloring having dimmed allot since the torture session with Altair. The man didn't have much will for anything right now, whatever Kane planned it would end him soon and he could join the dead in peace without anymore pain.
While they had hurt the templar badly it was mostly superficial, he wouldn't die from the wounds he had if treated properly. Mentally was a different story but again it would just take time. They mostly just needed him to feel pain and that was enough for the weaker man to break, it was sad really.
He shook his head when he realized he hadn't asked then the broadcast would go out, so he wasn't sure how long he should stay up on the temple. Its not like he gave the man his phone number and he didn't want to go into the system when it still glowed such a bright red, the computer program he had met at Abstergo came to mind and he was pretty sure it was the same one here.
Nod's internal monitors lit up, as another broadcast cracked through the nervous silence that had befallen the Temple since GDI's recent retreat.
It was Oxanna, addressing the troubled Red Zones and Yellow Zones with NOD-loyal civilians.
"Good welcome, citizens. Children of NOD: We are alive and we are well. GDI may have been a setback in our plans for Divination, but they are no match for our tenacity, our perseverance."
Oxanna was careful not to mention anything current about Kane's return.
"While GDI parades their 'civility' and sophistication to the world as a selling point, NOD remains planted, grounded in reality - the slums of Rio and Bosnia, the oppressive GDI-backed regimes plaguing Africa, Asia and Europe - fully aware of GDI's global transgressions."
She breathed, doing her best not to break down from what she saw earlier. In between moments and words, she would get flashbacks of the footage, of Kane's reaction, of what he said, of what he did.
Focus on the mission. Use Jake to lure GDI. Keep it simple.
"NOD has no need for re-introducing Today's Execution - a segment long cherished and hailed as our way of delivering and broadcasting justice to the world. Today's is a traitor to humanity, GDI scum that not only served the enemy, but even betrayed them for worldly, fleeting rewards."
Oxanna felt her disgust shoot up at how easy it was to ring this chump loose for information. But then, the footage of his recent interrogation struck her once more. Unintended thoughts. She hesitated.
"The... serum tonight contains no sedatives. If everything goes as planned, our traitor will be fully conscious to the painful end. We're receiving word the procedure is about to begin."
The feed cut away from Oxanna as she started breathing heavy, taking off her broadcast gear.
The feed resumed, now showing Jake as he's being dragged by two elite NOD soldiers dragging him to a large, slanted chair in the middle of a spacious, metallic room.
A large number of cities were now tuning in globally. An actual projector was now aiming its light at the GDI base nearby the Temple. Even Desmond could see the broadcast from above.
Desmond felt the transmission go out, it was pinging all over the place to all NOD personal and any GDI who wanted to see what was going on and Desmond was sure that they would be watching when their enemy decided to speak like this. He pulled up holographic screen infant of him showing the video feed, up here he didn't need to worry about watching eyes to see his abilities so he could relax and see what was going on.
Oxanna would have made a very good news anchor if she hadn't joined NOD, but who was he to harp on anyone's life choices, he tilted his head curiously at the mention of serums and started to have a slight sinking feeling. He trusted Kane to take care of Jake, a merciful death he had said. It wasn't supposed to be painful, just quick since the guy had suffered enough. He hasn't seen any mention of Kane or that he had returned, were they not going to advertise that? He figured it would be a sure way to rile an enemy up to attack, but Desmond and the assassins had decided not to do that for their own reasons. They also couldn't take on a military force that large. He continued to watch, tense at what was going to happen.
Kane was out of view for the camera - he was nowhere to be found in the broadcast. A one-minute countdown counter showed up on-screen, as ticker text explaining Jake McNeil's "crimes" was scrolling underneath multiple angles of his squirming face. The counter hit zero, and a gauge on the screen with a percentage above it began "draining", next to Jake's squirming face. The Tiberium was being injected into his bloodstream directly.
"Sweet dreams," Kane whispered as he and his men looked closer at their suffering victim.
Desmond was already moving the instant he realized what was going on with Jake. He had leapt from his perch finding it faster then taking the elevator, he couldn't afford to be stopped now. He ran past several confused NOD personnel before some of them seemed to realize what he was aiming for. Anyone trying to stop him or get in his way was knocked out or out of the way, he had to stop the execution.
His heart was beating in his ears so loudly he couldn't make out what anyone was trying to tell him, not that he cares at the moment as he barreled down the hallways heading straight for his target.
He burst into the execution room, the guards at the door easily crumbling before him. He quickly saw Kane and Oxanna off to the side and away from the camera view watching as Jake weakly struggled and suffered against the foreign crystals invading his body. Desmond quickly leapt at Jake, his hidden blade ejecting as he quickly ended the poor man's life the room bursting into commotion from his entrance and attempting to stop the broadcast.
Without hesitation, Kane's men aimed their rifles at Desmond.
"CUT THE FEED!"
Kane's yell came as Desmond pulled his bloodied blade out of Jake, just out of frame for the broadcast. It was unclear what part of that commotion was televised before the feed was interrupted.
He then turned once more to face Desmond, their pained eyes filled with tension, much similar to their ever first encounter in cyberspace.
((BETRAYAL! How will NOD react? Find out in the next chapter, coming very soon!))