Tiberian Dusk

by Hockey2c6

The 3rd Tiberian War ravaged the planet. GDI was decimated. Nod fractured and wilting. Now 7 years later, the 4th war is about to start. Not by a GDI or Nod action, but by a true Scrin invasion force. Can GDI thwart the Scrin again? Will Nod choose humanity over ideology? How does Kane's vision fit into it all? Follow soldiers from GDI and Nod as they are plunged into the hell.

Tiberian Dusk

Prologue:

The static glow of red embodied his face. He watched as messages scrolled across his screen. His complacency turned to anger and in a fit of rage Kane destroyed his monitor. The Third Tiberium War was coming to an end and his plans had failed. Two times before his enemy rallied from defeat led by a brilliant commander. Two times before Kane was denied his vision. Nod laid broken, decimated, and faulting. Not only had GDI routed Kane but they managed to defeat a powerful alien force.

Kane's anger resided and he motioned for a trusted commander to come near. "There is still hope my child," Kane said, returning to his cool and charismatic persona, "GDI has proven that they cannot be underestimated. We have all been tested. However, our work is not yet complete. We will be tested longer. But ascension still awaits." The commander nodded and suggested the next course of action. "In time. But first we must rebuild what we can. I do not think GDI will sit on its loins for long. They will seek to end this once and for all. We must prepare." Kane continued to explain. He gestured for the rest of his inner circle to follow and left the room.

Far away the remnants of a nod army were retreating after a costly effort. They had succeeded in denying GDI the destruction of an alien tower, but they had lost many in its defense. "Sometimes I wonder about Kane," Heinrich proclaimed as he picked up his gear.

"Silence!" Jenell replied. "Are you trying to get us killed brother?"

"Forgive me, but how did defending that stupid tower benefit Nod in anyway? We lost so many. My-our- friends are strewn apart back there. The aliens didn't care that we were trying to help. They still tore through us indiscriminately. I just don't want this to be in vane," Heinrich continued. The pain and loss of his comrades tainted his voice.

"The tower is the reason," A voice from behind the brother and sister bellowed.

"Abbess Eliana!" Jenell exclaimed. Heinrich and Jenell stood up and saluted their commanding officer.

"Kane is brilliant and not one to send us to needless deaths. The tower, for whatever reason, is important. That should be enough. Now get your gear and load up. GDI isn't happy that we sided against them and they still have enough to wipe us off the map. So move it or stay here and die, I don't really care either way," Eliana ordered. Her voice was warm but her words carried a shivered bite. Jenell and Heinrich scrambled for their affects and tripped over themselves as they followed her orders. Both took off in a full sprint to the nearest Carryall. Eliana shook her head in disgust. She had half a mind to execute them for the blasphemy, but she too wondered the meaning of this battle. Only her faith quenched her wonderment. She made her way to the last Carryall and took one last look at the forward base that she had spent the last four days entrenched in. The harshness of the red zone was already wreaking havoc on the hastily raised structures. Soon the GDI battle force would arrive but all they would find is bleakness. The thought of GDI soldiers being harmed by red zone poisons brought a brittle smile to her face. A small consolation for the price paid. Once she was safely on board and situated she removed her helmet revealing her beleaguered face. Four days of horror at the hands of humans and aliens alike. It wasn't normal for someone of her rank to be found fighting hand in hand with the men and women around her but this time it was warranted. Heinrich had been right. The Scrin slaughtered everyone. Nod soldiers destroyed GDI tanks attacking Scrin only to in turn be killed by the aliens. It was so bloody and senseless.

She made her way up to the cockpit to make sure the pilot was en route to the base at Crete. Eliana wondered if she would be able to see the tower from there. It was only five hundred or so miles away and the tower was massive. It dwarfed any known man made object. She wanted to let her mind drift over each and every whim but there wasn't much time to decompress. The Abbess walked back to where she had shoved her helmet into a storage slot. Halfway exhausted she slumped down on the bench. Her army had suffered heavy casualties and she already was dissecting the battle. A sudden pain in her left leg caught her attention. Quickly and without hesitation she took out a knife gritting her teeth as the blade cut behind the shrapnel and pried it out.

"You'll have to get that looked at when we get back," a voice from the doorway said.

"Noya, my friend. It's good to still have one of those."

"You won't have any left if you don't take care of your wounds. Especially with the deadliness of being in the red zone," Noya said with her lips curling up.

"Soon enough."

An hour later the pilot came over the intercom informing everyone that they were about to reach Crete. Eliana looked out over a small window. It didn't matter how many times she had been in and out of stealthed bases, The trick of the eye seeing just a few Disruption Towers and barren earth and then suddenly the bustling of a base was always a shock. She still had no idea how exactly they worked. How could something hide buildings and people but not the ground itself? She shook the thoughts away. The last thing she needed was a crushing headache. Crete wasn't much to look at. A slight improvement on the base she just abandoned. It wasn't even considered important enough to have Obelisks installed. The most advanced structures were the Power Plants and the Disruption Towers. Although, Crete had the medical centers needed to treat the soldiers and that was something Eliana was grateful for. She came across as a hard-ass to most people but the few who knew her well knew that she deeply cared for the well-being of her subordinates. Perhaps that was something that made her excel through the ranks of Nod. Someone who can get the job done is always good, but someone who can get the job done with minimal expense in resources and manpower was better.

The Carryall landed and before Eliana could get off the aircraft Noya was already waiting for her. "To the medical center, now," Noya motioned with a stern look suggesting she was in charge. Eliana just smiled and started limping to the facility. As she cleared the aircraft she took a look over at the horizon. The tower wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Both women entered the medical center to discover a complete contrast from the outside. The outside had been worn through the various days of weather and Tiberium but inside looked as state of the art as ever. The walls were pristine, white with sleek monitors implanted into the walls every so often. A metal door was the only color break in the room. A doctor hurried out and took Eliana. She tried to protest for her men to get treatment before herself. The doctor ignored Eliana's plea. The two disappeared back through the door. Noya leaned against the wall, smudges and dirt from her uniform smeared on the white walls. She didn't care. She was content enough that she had forced Eliana to get patched up. That woman would sooner cut off her limb than get a bandaid.

The front door slid open and a few people walked in. Some of them walked over to the monitors on the wall to check on the status of companions. Others used them to catch up on news and still others used them to call friends or family. All seemed oblivious to Noya, but she didn't blame them. She was essentially doing the same thing they were. More people were pouring in and the small room was becoming crowded. Dirt, blood, and soot spread throughout the room covering the floor and walls. The medical staff would have to close the lobby down or risk heavy contamination. Noya decided she would preempt the staff and go back to the Carryall to unpack. She was sure Eliana would be fine.

Meanwhile on the other side of the base Jenell and Heinrich were already settling into their racks in the Hand of Nod. Jenell was carefully organizing her gear. Each piece had a specific spot. Heinrich just threw his on the floor and jumped on his bunk. Each bed had a small touch screen built into the headboard but there wasn't much else. The room even lacked adequate light. Dull red rays flooded the room barely illuminating the corners. Every so often a white light would flicker casting shadows about the room. "I really don't understand why all the red and stuff. Can't we have regular light like everyone else?" Heinrich asked, rolling his eyes. "I mean sure it's good for a certain atmosphere and all but it can't be doing us any favors."

"All you've done is complain recently. What has gotten into you?" Jenell said, peering over the storage locker.

"I'm just tired of this endless fighting. I'm tired of getting our asses handed to us by GDI and I'm tired of protecting the aliens. I'm not speaking against Kane, I'm only saying I'm weary," Heinrich sighed. He turned over on his cot and started staring off. War had been a constant for as long as he could remember now. Even when he was safe, away from all the death and destruction it pressed against his mind. Dark, and boding. Rest and recuperation was a long forgotten memory. Jenell quietly finished organizing her stuff and sat on her own bed. She laid down with her legs hanging off the side. Neither of them had intended to fall asleep but it came for them nonetheless. A sudden voice from a speaker woke both of them, "Jenell and Heinrich Strauss, report to the Shrine immediately."

"See what you've done now Heinrich," Jenell said. She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep but she wasn't enthused to be awoken at all. Heinrich just grunted and got off the bunk. Together they made their way through the barracks and out into the base.

It was hard to see the sun through the clouds and haze presented from a yellow zone. But Heinrich figured he couldn't have been out for more than thirty minutes. Still, it had been months since he had actually seen the sun. It was something he missed. A candid memory among more bitter ones. More importantly he wondered why he and his sister were being summoned to the Shrine.

They made their way past a Crane moving containers from one stack to another. It was all those things seemed to ever do. The Shrine resembled an oddly shaped church and functioned much the same. From the top it could have been mistaken for a budding flower. Four large petals drooped away from the center forming sharp points. Some smaller, inner pedals stayed curled up forming a tip in the middle. The outside had four extensions from the pedals that made them look like giant orange slices. Red stained class covered the window in a litany of patterns. Inside the light filtered through the glass and a row of pews centered about an altar. Jenell and Heinrich stepped in and saw a Confessor standing at the altar. He gave the siblings the creeps. Only the most devout, the most fervorous became Confessors and that was a level of crazy beyond both of them. "Come!" He beckoned. As they approached they scanned the edges of the room. It wasn't uncommon for people who spoke out against Kane to receive punishment, sometimes even death. The fact that the Confessor was still in armor with his four lensed helmet wasn't a good sign either. "Corporal Jenell Strauss, Corporal Heinrich Strauss, you two are being field commissioned to acting sergeants. Congratulations," The Confessor said through his helmet. Jenell and Heinrich looked at each other, their lips parting just enough to let a squeak of air out. They took their new ranking insignias and left.

As soon as they were outside their moods lightened."Ha!" Jenell exclaimed, "I never thought I would make it to sergeant, even if it is only a temporary rank!" Heinrich smiled but it quickly faded. "What's wrong?" Jenell asked, noticing Heinrich's now solemn face.

"They wouldn't be giving us this if we weren't going back to battle soon," Heinrich trailed off defeated. Jenell's face shrunk as she drew the same conclusion. Apprehension obscured what little joyfulness was left of the moment. They returned to their beds, dejected. This time they fell asleep and there was no interruption.

A day passed before Eliana woke up. The injuries and exhaustion kept her down. She struggled to get her arms and legs on the same page as she slid off her hospital bed to gather her possessions. She wasn't going to wait for a doctor to clear her. If Eliana had half her strength that was a one hundred percent she could be applying to something more beneficial. Clean clothes had been laid out for her. Even as an Abbess they were basic garments. One step above threadbare. If this was what she got, what were they given the masses?

Eliana walked outside and half expected to see Noya standing there but there wasn't anyone. In fact the base looked like it had been practically deserted. There were only a few people she could see working on vehicles off in the distance. She made her way to the Operations Center. Her limp had all but disappeared. A miracle of modern medicine. Twenty years ago and she'd still be laid up. "What's going on?" She asked a soldier working on a computer. Before he could answer Noya appeared from another room.

"Welcome back commander, We're evacuating," Noya said, pointing to a terminal, "there's a message for you." Eliana walked over and accessed her account. A short transcript told of the evacuation. However, there was something menacing and exuberant attached at the end. You are to report to Sarajevo and speak with Kane. Eliana had never personally met Kane, but she always wanted to. Still, she wasn't sure why his eye had suddenly fallen on her and she was not sure what to expect. She took a second to collect herself.

"Okay let's go," Eliana announced and left for her Carryall. Any other set of eyes would have assumed Eliana was walking normal. Noya's caught the smallest of hiccups in her steps. She pursed her lips and chased after Eliana. "Any idea what's going on?" Eliana asked Noya.

"Yeah, that GDI hotshot eliminated the alien's control center. They all just stopped and died. Now GDI has their full attention on us again. It's like they didn't even blink between switching back to killing us." Noya answered with contempt. Noya's hatred for GDI stemmed so far back she couldn't remember why she hated them in the first place. It was just a natural state of being at this point. Eliana was surprised that such a feat could be accomplished. She fought tooth and nail to just hold off GDI and the aliens. GDI had managed to take it a step further. "There's more," Noya continued, "Kane's favored commander, Legion, didn't make it out of that battle. Chaos is descending. Kane has ordered almost everyone back to Sarajevo, it could be our last stand."

"Doubtful," Eliana declared, "Kane has always had a plan. He will have a plan now." Eliana grabbed Noya's shoulder smiling and shook as if to shake the worry from her. They reached the Carryall and boarded the aircraft. The hum of the quad turbines droned as the two boarded. Eliana and Noya had arrived just a day before and were already leaving. It was as unsettling as it was taxing. Everyone sacrificed so much defending that tower and now they couldn't even be afforded a break to rest. If it was true, if this was their last stand, then it wouldn't really matter. But something scratched at the edge of Eliana's mind. This couldn't be the end. Not yet.

By the time Sarajevo was coming into view Eliana's mind had more than enough time to stir with different scenarios and she was almost shaking with nervousness. She had been to Sarajevo once before in between the second and third wars to honor the then presumed dead Kane. But now all she could think about was how he personally called for her. What does he want from me? Did I do something wrong? Did I fail at the tower? Was I supposed to stand and fight GDI? Endless thoughts bounced through her mind.

The Carryall dusted down some few kilometers from Sarajevo itself. At the moment Sarajevo, and the temple were nothing more than wasteland and ruble. The Tiberium detonation had assured that. "Makes you wonder what exactly is so special about this place that Kane keeps going back," Eliana said. Noya shrugged not knowing the answer. As they stepped out of the Carryall the deafening sound of the engines deafened any further conversation. A short distance away the two women saw a Reckoner waiting for them. A soldier greeted them and escorted them aboard. He had a sleek black insignia on his lapel. The traditional backwards "C" of the Nod scorpion tail was replaced with a black hand. "What do you think Kane has in store for us?" Eliana asked, thinking out loud.

The soldier cut in, "What does it matter? You will do what he asks or you will perish." Noya and Eliana looked at each other and slyly smirked.

"Such a downer those guys," Noya whispered. Any other regular soldier would be tripping over themselves escorting an Abbess and her second in command. Soldiers underneath the Black Hand ideology were so fervent that they wouldn't fail to call out anything churlish. Especially with anything involving Kane. They would sooner shoot someone on the spot for a terrible joke then crack a smile. The death of Anton Slavik and the revelation of Brother Marcion's pariahism had fueled their deeper radicalization.

As the Reckoner approached the next outpost it was clear that Nod had consolidated and hardened their fortifications. Disruption Towers, Obelisks, Shredder Turrets, SAMS, even Laser Turrets blanketed and fortified the outpost. Tiny glints of light reflected off the many pointed weapons as the vehicle drove past. As they crossed deeper into the cloaking field Tiberium Refineries could be seen with Harvesters docking. Green crystals tumbled into storage bays. Vents of steam hissed. Every station was working overtime. It's amazing how GDI denies the power of Tiberium. Would they not have been able to build the Philadelphia without the leaching of Tiberium? Would they not have the raw materials needed for their armies? Eliana thought. It was a deciding factor in choosing Nod. Nod saw opportunity, improvement, the next step in human evolution. GDI just cowered, afraid of change in an ever changing world. Nod sought to use a gift given by the heavens and GDI could only seek to destroy it. It seemed pathetic and weak to Eliana. Besides, Nod had Kane, he alone saw the future and he brought a sense of purpose to his disciples. He died twice, and rose from the grave twice. Even Jesus Christ had only done that once.

At last the Reckoner reached the main base. Even though Sarajevo had been pulverized just weeks prior, Kane had quickly set up a base and was already working on Temple Prime itself. GDI for whatever reason, had pulled away letting the reconstruction go unopposed. They must have been too occupied with the Scrin to hold such an unimportant location. With the Scrin gone their attention was sure to come back. It was starting to make sense why Kane had called as much as he could. Eliana and the rest of her army made their way to the Operations Center. There they were given individual orders and dispersed amongst the base. A small tinge of remorse swept over Eliana as her army was dissolved. She was proud to have been in command. Watching her subordinates be taken away stung. Eliana and Noya were told to go the temporary residency of Kane, a structure similar to the Shrine but on a grander and more armored scale. Inside members of Kane's most trusted were busy plotting and carrying on. A tall woman donned in red and black clothing leaned against a pillar. Her arms were crossed and she looked irritated. As Eliana and Noya walked in she gazed up. "Heh, an Arab and an Israeli as allies. Maybe the world really has come to an end." The woman said, venom protruding from her lips. Eliana and Noya both scowled. They weren't too appreciative of being the butt end of a joke. Moreso for ones involving their heritage. The arrogance exuding around the individual only cemented Eliana and Noya's disgust.

Eliana began to say something but was cut off by a voice coming from a doorway. "You should not provoke your fellow sisters like that Nova. Especially ones destined to become fellow commanders."

"Forgive me Kane," Nova replied sharply, returning a sinister look to the two girls.

"Ladies, please," Kane gestured smiling at the three of them, "we have much to talk about." Kane led them down a hallway and into a room with a big holographic globe in the center. There were various icons and symbols buzzing on the globe but Eliana didn't understand any of it. "GDI is mustering up their forces to end us for good. Their commander has shown remarkable skills and defeated us at many turns. He cannot be allowed to continue to command. We must put an end to him swiftly," Kane explained while he reached out to the globe highlighting various things. "Here he sits in Washington D.C. Resting on his recent victory. While he is there he is untouchable. But if we can draw him out, we might have a chance at cutting him off," Kane pointed to an area on the globe, "here is one of the next top scientists for GDI. They are well protected but with such aspiring commanders as yourselves I'm sure you can be creative in dealing with them. Once the commander is called to action Nova will begin the attacks on his position. You Eliana, and you Noya, must then switch from the scientist and support Nova."

"Sir," Eliana said, the word came out almost a whimper but a glance at Nova reinvigorated her, "my forces were disseminated amongst the defenses here. Even if they were reconsolidated I'm not sure I have the manpower."

"Indeed, you have lost many defending my tower. For that I am grateful, I will transfer to you control of all the forces I can spare. To you Noya, I will grant you the entirety of the Black Hand. As I'm sure you are aware they will require you to perform their ritual of rights. See to it that you do." Noya's eyes opened wide. The Black Hand had been ravaged in the war but who was she to lead them? Would they even allow her to? She was not of their ilk. Before she could even question the decision Kane continued, "Nova will use a mixture of the remnants of her force as well as a secret force that has laid dormant since the end of the Second Tiberium War, The Marked of Kane. It is imperative that this battle be won for Nod. I have faith you will accomplish your mission," Kane stopped and looked at Eliana and Noya. Both processing the momentous responsibilities they had just been handed. This was way above their pay grade. Generals should be in charge of this. Had so many been lost in the war that they were the best fit for the job? At their lack of response Kane's simple grin started to fade. Eliana and Noya caught on and recovered with a nod. Kane's smile crept back into the corners of his mouth and he ushered them away. As they left the room Eliana thought she heard "meaningful sacrifice" uttered.

A soldier outside led them to their quarters. There was much planning to be done. It would be a difficult stay in Sarajevo. However, it was everything Eliana expected when she finally met Kane. There was still an ominous and malignant source about the air. The mention of "sacrifice" as they left the room was every bit disconcerting as the task she had just been given. Eliana had been stuck so deep in her head she didn't even realize she was now alone in her room. She needed Noya. She needed to decrypt everything that just happened. Eliana walked out of her room but nothing was familiar. How could she have been so preoccupied she missed where Noya had gone? She picked a direction and started walking. Many of the doors required security keys to get passed and nothing caught her eye to provide direction. A man walked out of a door reading something in his hand. He gazed up and saw Eliana standing there and continued reading his report as he walked by. A few feet after he passed her he turned back and asked, "New here?" He had a pleasant smile across his face that seemed like it could bring warmth in the dead of winter.

"Yes, quite lost," Eliana replied, her cheeks turning red behind her olive skin. The man just shook his head and grinned.

"Heh, newbies," he laughed, "never know what the hells going on. What are you looking for?" A pretentious tone snuck into his voice. Eliana stared at him for a moment trying to decide whether or not it was worth the confrontation. She noticed a subordinate officer's rank on the man's uniform and let out a small smile. "Something funny?" the man asked, becoming evermore smug.

"What's your name and rank soldier?" Eliana ordered. The man looked disgusted at the thought of a plebe asking for rank and name.

"Diocese Ajay of the Twenty-third Reconnaissance. Care to tell me a little about you hotshot?" Ajay fired back.

Eliana just smiled bigger knowing she led him into a trap. "The name's Eliana, Commander of the newly formed Hand of Kane. Maybe you should show some respect to a superior," Eliana goaded on.

But Ajay seemed unfazed by her ploy and proceeded to fire back his own retort, "Well ma'am I'm not sure where you come from, but the only respect I'll give you is what you've earned. Being commander of an army doesn't make you immortal. It's people like me who allow you to even get up that high. Hell, without me you would probably be in some ditch with the bullet holes of some GDI rifle squad through you." Eliana tried to get out a word but was quickly cut off. "However, fortunately for you, you're not just a big shot who was lucky to get promoted. You're a battle hardened badass mother. I heard of what you did down in the Med. That was quite an impressive feat holding off both GDI and the aliens. And for that ma'am I have tremendous respect," Ajay said with a smile extending his hand. Eliana was taken back. Here one second this guy was belittling her only to uphold her as a stalwart leader the next. She reached out and shook his hand with a flabbergasted expression. "So what was it exactly that you needed?" He asked. The tone of his voice had shifted from smugness to genuine compassion.

"I... I needed... I was looking for a friend who was quartered here," Eliana stuttered. Ajay pulled up a map on his portable and explained where they were and how to get around. Eliana was still speechless at what had just transpired and Ajay took the time to make sure she understood what she was saying.

Once he felt she had grasped it he asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you ma'am?" Eliana shook her head no and Ajay propped to attention and saluted her. "One last thing, kick some GDI ass will yuh? Thanks." He said smiling again and continued on to what he was doing. He turned a corner and was gone. Eliana stood there for a few more seconds letting everything soak in. Something about the interaction bothered her. It wasn't the arrogance or insubordination. She had dealt with that plenty of times before. It was like his plan had been to keep her off balance. To distract her. The whole ordeal was strange but then again, it wasn't even the strangest thing she experienced today. She glanced down at her map and journeyed towards Noya.

Noya was already hard at working planning on the mission presented. The Black Hand were a terribly strong fighting force and they had the religious zealotry that often provided the edge in battles. Ever since the purging of Brother Marcion and the reacceptance of Kane the Black Hand have proven themselves as great instruments of Kane's vision. But like most of Nod, they took heavy losses during the war and had not had a chance to replenish their ranks. Still, the survivors were as every bit battle-hardened as the most elite commandos. Additionally, Noya had trained well under Eliana's command and had become proficient in the art of war. She could handle herself.

Noya and Eliana went all the way back to when they were lowly postulants. Together they had advanced through the ranks of Nod showing prowess that the most elite of commanders possessed. They were lethal. They were smart. When they had achieved the rank of Prioress they were separated and sent to different sides of the globe. Eliana benefited from more vital operations while Noya had been placed on tertiary operations, mostly the overseeing of Tiberium refining. Because of the disproportionate operations Eliana achieved a commanding rank before Noya. Subsequently, Eliana petitioned that Noya be brought under her command. The petition was accepted and the duo found themselves fighting back alongside each other. Their actions received great praise from those above them and through their efforts found their way to Kane.

"Noya, hard at work already?" Eliana said surprising Noya. Noya looked up from her desk and greeted her friend but continued to work. Eliana wasn't sure if the room was a temporary housing or meant to be permanent. It lacked any hospitable features save for a plush bed. No windows. No rugs for the cold metal floor. A single light cast out around the room. It was barren.

"Of course I am," Noya replied, still buried in strategizing, "I wouldn't want to fail Kane. Not after the importance he placed on this mission. Not to mention the consequences should we fail." Eliana pursed her lip while her eyes shot downward. Noya had always been calm and collected but it was clear she was on edge. Noya noticed her own distress in her words, "I'm sorry Eliana, This is just more important than anything we've ever undertaken. I'm having trouble finding a way we can pull this off. I don't think we have enough."

"Well let's just get to it then!" Eliana said, trying to create assurance in her friend. They pulled up all the intel they could as well as maps and anything else they thought was useful.

The scientist was in a facility in what used to be Kansas on the border of the Middle American Red Zone. Eliana and Noya had witnessed first hand the devastation of Tiberium infestation in Italy. Kansas was farmland once. Now it looked like a sprawling city of Tiberium with massive crystals erupting from the ground. Any ground force would risk getting lost in the mangled maze and succumbing to extended exposure. The Intelligence of the facility indicated that it was used in Tiberium research, specifically on the effect of Tiberium on different materials. The target was Dr. Emel Ibrahiim, known for her escape from Munich and various contributions to efforts that helped GDI defeat the aliens. She was brilliant in her own right. The loss of Dr. Mobius would have been far more impactful had she not been around. The base around the Science Facility was moderately defended. Sonic Emitters with their lethal shock waves protected a ground assault and the Guardian Cannon with Watchtower support made it near impenetrable. However, there were relatively lax anti air capabilities relying on GDI air superiority in the region. AA Batteries were spread thin and could be overwhelmed. "I think this is our way in. Move in with air, take out the power and push in before they can get it back up." Eliana said, explaining the lack of air defense.

Noya shook her head, "We aren't just dealing with just this base. If we attack and especially if we attack their anti air capability. This base here is within response range and it's even more heavily defended. They have Firehawks, Mammoth Tanks, Shatters, Juggernauts, the whole entourage of GDI heavy lifters. There's no way we could hold air superiority, let alone take the primary target." Noya showed irritation with the impossible feat. She felt nothing in her experience had prepared her for this. Eliana just smiled and let out a curt laugh.

"Noya have you forgotten, our goal is just to draw the GDI Commander into action, not actually take the base. I hope that we draw that second base's attention. The GDI commander will fly there and turn it into his base of operations. Once he calls forth his forces he will be greatly weakened on defense!" Eliana continued to chuckle as if the whole mission was a joke. Noya continued to display annoyance and clung to her rigidity. She stared back and Eliana and the two locked eyes. Eliana remained glimmering with enthusiasm in steep contrast to Noya's stoicism. One of them was bound to break. Noya shook her head in defeat and they continued to form their plan.

Hours passed and slowly Noya became more receptive to the plan. It was starting to look doable and in a moment of resolution Noya smiled. "See," Eliana grinned at Noya pressing her victory, "it is possible and we can do it!"

"If there was a person who could do it; it would be you," Noya told Eliana.

Eliana almost blushed at the compliment but thought better of the hassle. Noya would pounce on the mere thought of an embarrassed Eliana.

"I think it's time we presented our plan of action to Kane, care to come along?"

Noya shrugged, "Nah I think I'd rather catch up on R&R. I've haven't slept much and this bed looks surprisingly comfortable."

"Suit yourself then," Eliana smiled and headed for the door.

Eliana made her way to the briefing room and waited. After a few minutes a soldier came in and told her that Kane would be meeting her in a different room and began escorting her. The soldier came to a stop at a huge metal door. It was shaped like the Nod emblem itself. Triangular with the tips cuts flat. As she approached pistons hissed. The door split into three pieces at the center retracting into the wall. Eliana walked through greeted by a complete break in ambiance. The atmosphere seemed to carry a religious taste and the various artifacts on pedestals added a museum type aurora. Even the light seemed more vibrant in here.

A voice broke her mesmerization, "It's almost like there is a weight to the air itself here isn't it?" Kane spoke from behind a chair with a smile. Eliana walked towards him and he continued, "This place contains relics from all sorts of times. It even has artifacts from the first war. It has a part of the first stealth tank ever built, and over there is a fragment of the first blue Tiberium I ever acquired." Eliana looked around taking in the rich history. The room was grandiose and spectacular. Anything less wouldn't suit Kane. She looked toward a pedestal bathed in light with a clear cylinder perched on top. Inside a tiny blue crystal hung animated, glimmering in the light. "I invited Nova to present her plan as well, she should be here shortly, but tell me Eliana, how does it feel here? I trust your quarters are more than adequate?" Kane inquired with his always cool and smiling face. Eliana nodded but Kane noticed hesitation in her movements. "You have questions my child," Kane gleamed, "we have time, please ask until your heart's content."

"The aliens," Eliana choked out.

She was about to say more when Kane interjected, "Yes, the Scrin. I was hoping they would be more, receptive, and notice our attempts to protect them. But it appears they were blinded by their own agenda. We have the tower now so the Scrin will only be of a use of convenience for us. Should we encounter them we can certainly destroy them. No more will you have to sacrifice your soldiers." Eliana was still noticeably in discomfort and Kane urged her to ask more.

"What do we know about them?" Kane's eyes lit up as if he was delighted to respond.

"We don't know much, unfortunately our best method of gathering information on them was the Tacitus which so far we have been unable to recover from GDI. Perhaps with the success of this mission we can attempt to get it back. But what we do know is that they are a vastly superior race that has advanced in Tiberium technology far above our own. We can barely fathom what they have achieved. Even as we speak our scientists are attempting to reverse engineer some of the technology from the remains of the Scrin."

Eliana smiled, "Good. Perhaps that will be the edge that allows us to defeat GDI once and for all." Kane started to speak but the door slid open and Nova entered the room in a gait of arrogance. She took a seat at the table and showed her distaste for Eliana. It was bitter and palpable.

"Shall we begin?" Nova said. She had no intention of lingering around someone she felt beneath her. Kane rolled his hand at Eliana to begin while leaning back in his chair. Eliana inserted a chip into a slot on the table and an image appeared between the group.

She began speaking, "The Science Facility is here, A second GDI base is here. I will take my army and set up here. Noya will take the Black Hand and set up here," Eliana paused and looked up making sure the two were following, "I will utilize stealth. I will need a squadron of Vertigos and another squadron of Venoms. If I strike quickly I can eliminate the power to the GDI base with minimum losses. This will cause a response from the second base and the scale of the conflict should draw the GDI commander into action." As Eliana explained her plan satellite images cycled through showing the various attack points and defensive positions. She couldn't see either of the others faces past the hologram. Kane at least would be pleased she suspected. Nova probably thought the plan wasn't suicidal enough. "Noya will hold back the second base with the Black Hand while I wreak havoc on the first. I would like plenty of Stealth Tanks to harass the second base in case Noya has any trouble. If we can get some Disruption Towers up at my base of operations I should be able to hold that position indefinitely. Some Spectres could also bombard the GDI base if we can spare any. Shadow Teams can be used to keep the power down and a few Avatars and Scorpion Tanks could be useful bulk our armor. All the soldiers we can spare will be needed as well." More images flashed showing the equipment she was requesting. "I expect to hold, but it will cause many casualties. Hopefully by this time the GDI Commander will be assuming control of the GDI forces which is when Nova would come in and begin assaulting the commander. After she has begun assaulting him I will divert my attention to supporting her while Noya continues to protect us from the other GDI forces," Eliana finished presenting and looked up to see if they approved. The plan itself wasn't complicated. Divide and conquer. But no doubt not all her requests could be made and attacking on three fronts with a smaller army was going to spread lines thin. It wouldn't take much for any one front to be overrun. Nova seemed content in the likelihood that Eliana would be killed. Kane just smiled, pleased with the plan laid out.

"Excellent," Kane said, "I knew I could count on you, Eliana. You have done a wonderful service to Nod."

"It wasn't all me, Sir, Noya was a huge part of this," Eliana replied, trying to raise favor on her friend. Nova rolled her eyes and let out a huff.

"Indeed, You and your comrade are both of talent, a pity Noya was not here to present her part of the plan. But I'm very aware of the trials you two have endured." Kane said. His eyes had a silky smoothness to them. They radiated confidence but also compassion. "Please rest while you are able. I will see to it that preparations are made. As soon as you feel able, I want this attack commenced." Eliana nodded and left the room. She smiled as she left. She pleased Kane and was sure Nova had ceded some level of respect for her conscious or not.

A week came and the resources had been fully allocated. All of them. Not a single item on her long list of requests had been turned down. Even when guarding the tower some assets had been held up. But here, on a task that seemed insignificant she found everything she needed. Was this the perks of commanding an army at this level or did this mission somehow take priority? Something just didn't quite add up.

That same week any logistical inaccuracies had been routed and the orders were disseminated to the troops. It was time. An advanced team had already scouted and set up a forward operating base under the protection of Disruption Towers. The GDI base remained unaware of the encroaching Nod invasion. Noya left a day before Eliana as the Black Hand's doctrine forbade the use of stealth and so they had to position themselves by more conventional means. Nova left as soon as everything had been thrown into motion. Her army was scattered and required time to get organized. Eliana found herself sitting by her Carryall watching as the men and women under her command frantically ran about preparing.

This mission was gargantuan. The battle with GDI and the Scrin had meant more but the resources thrown at this were way beyond that. This was GDI territory. The heart of it. Nod hadn't struck so deep since the initial invasion during the third war. Her nerves were working their way up through her body and she was struggling to push them down. She had always hated the hours before a battle began. It was too much time to think, too much time to analyze all the possibilities. She preferred the rush and reaction of battle. Once it started there it was muscle memory. She didn't need to think, just do. It was where she felt strongest. Two familiar faces walked into her view. She watched as they loaded their gear onto a Carryall and ordered subordinates around. "Jenell, Heinrich!" Eliana yelled motioning for them to come to her. They stopped what they were doing and jogged over to her. They both came to attention and saluted her. Eliana stood up and returned the salute. "Looks like you to have been promoted, congratulations," she said with a smile.

"Thank you ma'am," the siblings replied simultaneously.

"It's good to have you as our commander. Couldn't think of anyone else I would want in that position," Jenell said.

"Good to hear it," Eliana replied, "Where did they move you?"

"We're both part of Icarus company ma'am," Heinrich answered. Eliana nodded and walked into her Carryall. The two siblings stood there unsure if they were dismissed but Eliana came back out before they had to guess.

"Here, have a beer with me." Eliana said handing each of them a beer. It was very unusual for an officer of her grade to drink with the enlisted but Eliana felt this could be the exception.

"Is that an order?" Heinrich said half as a joke half perplexed by the situation. Eliana nodded sarcastically and Heinrich popped the bottle and took a seat on a piece of cargo.

"Icarus is going to be doing a lot of heavy fighting," Jenell said as she played with the label of her beer.

"That must be why you two were moved to that company," Eliana said. The response put both Jenell and Heinrich at ease. The commander of the entire division believed in them. The three sat exchanging pleasantries and sipping the beer like they might not see each other again. The Strauss' had been under Eliana's leadership for the majority of their career. Never before had they had such a candid peak at their superior. It was comforting. Eliana was as human as they were. Time slipped by and the beers were emptied. It felt like a lifetime and a few seconds all at once. The pilot of the Carryall came out and informed Eliana it was time. Heinrich and Jenell stood up and saluted one last time. Eliana returned the salute and turned to get onto the craft. The hatch began to close and she turned around and watched the Strauss siblings disappear.

The Carryall landed in the forward base and Eliana jumped off half expecting to engage in a firefight. However, GDI still hadn't detected the Nod force. Good. Things couldn't be going better. Eliana thought. There was silence in the air. It was midday but the cloud cover choked the light from the sun. The vast, green glow from the Middle American Red Zone echoed on through most of the clouds. The ground was barren with decaying vegetation that was common in yellow zones. Bleak and dull. Old roads were riddled with Tiberium deposits protruding from the ground like weeds through cracks in the sidewalk. Small fields of green crystals polka dotted the landscape for kilometers and kilometers. A team of GDI Harvesters collected Tiberium like they did any other day unaware of their impending doom. "Noya, Can you hear me?" Eliana asked, patching into her communications set.

"Affirmative,"

"Let's get this started then, Vertigos, give them hell." Eliana ordered. She watched as sixteen Vertigos circling formed up like a flock of birds migrating. Their stealth kits flipped on warping them from sight. Explosions rocked in the distance. Anti-Air batteries propelled into action spilling their munition into the air. A Vertigo took a barrage of bullets to its wing and dove into the ground creating a giant spectacle of fire and metal. Other Vertigos made it through and dropped their payloads on the GDI Power Plants. Fireballs plumed high into the sky. Within a few seconds the AA Batteries went silent, smoke still fuming from their barrels. The whole GDI base went dark. Eliana's radio became a string of chatter. "Targets are down. Returning and rearming." Eliana ushered her ground forces into action. "It's on Noya," Eliana said over the radio. She looked up again and watched as the Vertigos returned. The battle had begun.

Out on the front line Heinrich was already feeling the pressure of his new duties. The GDI base was already mustering its forces and forming a defense. Their response time was impeccable. A sudden burst of fire poured into the man running beside Heinrich and he dove behind a rock for cover. A GDI Rifle Squad had taken position and was laying down fire on advancing Nod troops. Heinrich positioned himself so that he could fire. A few shots and he ducked back behind his cover. He looked across and saw that more soldiers were taking cover and returning fire. Another burst of rounds peppered his rocky cover. "I'm pinned. I need some help here!" he shouted through the radio. "On it," a reply came. A Raider Buggy tore over a ridge behind him, bouncing over the uneven terrain. Its light cannon ripped through the enemy squad. He smiled as they attempted to retreat but fell as the buggy's bullets eviscerated their inadequate armor. He motioned for everyone to move forward. The sounds of gunfire intensified as more and more of the two forces converged. He ran to the next knoll and started firing on more GDI soldiers. The Raider Buggy followed in suit. A pair of rockets jolted out behind cover and exploded into the front of the buggy setting it on fire. The crew of two inside fell out coughing and sputtering. Heinrich grabbed one and pulled him to cover. He turned back just as the other was shot reaching for his hand. The outstretched hand fell as the life slipped away. Heinrich yelled in fury and sporadically shot over the ridge. Three other squads joined him and together they rushed over the hill. A member of the Rocket Squad attempted to fire another rocket but Heinrich put a bullet through him before he could fire. The remaining GDI were killed but Heinrich pressed on. Over another hill he went to the sight of a GDI Harvester trying to retreat out of a Tiberium field, its small chain-gun desperately trying to suppress a Militant Rocket squad. Two rockets came screeching and exploding into the Harvester's armor. A final volley of rockets slammed into the Harvester sending bits and pieces skyward. Heinrich smiled again. He was always pleased with the death of GDI. He looked over at Jenell who was assisting the rocket squad. She raised her gun to the air for the small victory. An order came over his radio directing him to take control of a different area. He signaled what was left of his squad to move out.

Back at the Nod base Eliana was listening to all the buzzing communications trying to keep the flow of battle in her favor. Things seemed to be going well. She was losing less men than she thought she would and GDI still hadn't got their power back up. Vertigos were bombing virtually unopposed decimating key structures and especially eliminating ranks of GDI armor. "Eliana!" A voice from the radio shouted, "intel messed up big. There's more to this second GDI base than we thought! They have upgraded tanks here. Their railguns are tearing my forces apart." The sounds of various weaponry reverberated in the background.

"I'll send some stealth tanks to hit them from behind and I'll divert some aircraft to help take them out," Eliana replied pointing to other commanding officers to fulfill her request.

"That won't be enough, they have a MARV!" Noya replied. Eliana turned white with fear as the blood disappeared from her body. She paused for a moment seeking to overcome the unforeseen situation. The Mammoth Armored Reclamation Vehicle was a challenge. It was far bigger than any other tank. It wasn't really a tank at all. If anything it was a ship that traversed land instead of water. Three super cannons could pulverize the hardest of armor.

"Okay, I'll send all I can to assist you. I'll throw the kitchen sink at them if I have to, but you will hold! Eliana out," she turned to a communications officer, "any word on if the GDI Commander has been called into action yet?" The soldier brought up various things on his screen searching for the answer. He turned to her and shook his head. Things had turned in the blink of an eye.

"Wait ma'am this just in, the target commander has assumed battle field control, he is on his way out now!" The soldier excitedly proclaimed.

"Good. Give the order to divert as much as we can to support Noya," Eliana ordered. The plan was in motion and while Eliana was doing better than she expected, Noya was in serious trouble. After this battle is over I'm going to have to ring some intelligence personnel's necks, she thought. Ajay sprang back into her mind. Could he have something to do with this blunder?

Jenell was taking cover behind a burnt out Predator Tank. Moments before a Vertigo had all but incinerated the tank. There was chaos surrounding her, the lines between GDI and Nod had blurred. Infantry were engaging each other freely and tanks circled the outskirts attempting to help various squads. A Pitbull raced past her cover. She tapped on the shoulder of a soldier holding a rocket and pointed at the Pitbull. Together they fired a rocket and watched as the vehicle erupted into a blaze. Jenell and the soldier ran to a small mound. She peered over to see what was ahead. "Delta here, I have a visual on the GDI base. Power is still down, but there is a significant presence of armor with infantry support. Requesting next directive," She said, patching into her radio headset. A lieutenant responded ordering her to hold her position while more forces could consolidate. She again peered over the mound. Only one Sonic Emitter remained and all the Guardian Cannon's had been destroyed. Two watchtowers still stood lifeless without a power supply. Five Predator Tanks stood guard, the barrels of their cannons systematically scanning around. A few Pitbulls were patrolling using their scanners in case stealth was present. A plethora of infantry were dug about forming a defensive line. Jenell even noticed a Sniper team hidden away by a wall. The entry gate lowered and a pack of six APCs rolled out. She could see rocket soldiers loaded into the APCs. Jenell watched as the group moved off away from her and right into a Shadow Team calling out targets. They tried to run but the APC's antipersonnel gun diced them to pieces. There wasn't anything she could do. The sound of movement behind her caused her to snap to the sound and ready her side arm.

"Woah, hey it's me!" Heinrich whispered trying to keep his voice low. "We're ready to reduce this GDI base to ashes, sir!" Heinrich said to his commanding officer. A nearby gun fight erupted causing everyone to tense up. He put his hand up to his ear, pressing his earpiece further trying to hear the instructions. "Ten seconds then the fireworks start!" He told the group of soldiers gathering up on the GDI base. Jenell crawled her way to Heinrich's position. As she made her way to him she spotted the assaulting force waiting. Scorpion Tanks, with their rear mounted cannons overlooking their aerodynamic hull, mixed with Raider Buggies, multiple squads of rocket and rifle infantry, along with a handful of Fanatics strapped with explosives ready to take as many GDI with them as they could. Jenell even noticed three Stealth Tanks creep up on the rear adding additional firepower. She squinted to see their rockets pods perched like eyes from a frog above the rest of the tank.

"Fireworks indeed," Jenell smiled at Heinrich even with her helmet obscuring her face. The hum of aircraft increased as they drew closer. Vertigos zipped overhead dropping bombs. Explosions ripped through the air. The screams of men and women caught in the blast radius echoed across the battlefield.

"Go!" Heinrich yelled standing up and charging. The whole attack force moved like a tidal wave. The Nod force surged forward to an equally aggressive GDI push. It was like two pools of liquid colliding into one another. Jenell stood up and fired a rocket at the nearest Predator Tank but the tank just shrugged off the damage. A Scorpion Tank quickly followed up with a round to the predator. It's side armor buckled a little but it still kept moving. It stopped long enough to return fire on the Scorpion. With one powerful shell the scorpion's front cracked, fire and smoke fuming. A piece of shrapnel from the crippled tank tore through Jenell's armor lacerating her arm. She let out an audible yelp clutching her arm. She dropped to the ground with a heavy thud trying to find some cover. Another tank round blew up near her keeping her pinned. She scrambled to what was left of a tree trunk and propped herself up against it. She moved her hand from her arm trying to test if she could use it. Blood squirted out and she realized it was useless. With a grunt she propped her rocket launcher up against the top of the trunk and aimed at the enemy tank. With her teeth clenched from the pain, she loaded the rocket launcher with her good arm and pulled the trigger. The recoil of the blast knocked her down. Just as she sat up the rocket to tore into the enemy tank destroying it. Spouts of fire rose through the gaping wound the rocket had left. She felt her body starting to tingle from the loss of blood and her coordination skills weakening. She called for a medic on her radio and within seconds two soldiers were over working on her. She laid back on the ground and watched Venoms scream overhead, their guns rattling off rounds.

"She needs to be evac'd," one of the medics told the other. He nodded and got on the radio. "We're going to have to take you back, sergeant," the medic informed her. Jenell grunted displeased with the verdict. She would rather watch the GDI base crumble, but there were better reasons to live.

Heinrich was already closing on the GDI base. With each pull of his trigger he seemed to be enraged even more. He made his way to the wreckage of a burned out buggy and saw a Nod soldier shaking. "What's wrong with you? Get up and fight!" He said, pulling the private to his knees. The private nodded and stepped up from behind the buggy. He raised his gun to fire but five bullets ripped through his chest plate. He was dead before he even hit the ground. Heinrich hadn't meant for the private to be killed, he just wanted him to keep moving. More of his squad made their way to Heinrich and grouped up on him.

"What now sergeant?" One of them questioned.

"We keep moving. We must take this base," Heinrich ordered. He started to say something else but a sudden explosion above him stopped him. He watched as what was left of a Venom came crashing down. He ducked dodging the debris and then looked for the source. A Firehawk roared in and just as quickly left. More and more entered the airspace. Vapor trails scribbled through the sky as the jets raced through. Venoms spun on their VTOL engines twisting and turning as the superior Firehawks strafed in and out of range. Even Vertigos with their light anti-air guns were trying to defeat the GDI jets. "Scheiße!" Heinrich exclaimed. The distinct sound of railguns caught his attention. He looked to see a group of Zone Troopers and a few Mammoth Tanks engaging from the Nod flank. Not a second later another, more terrifying sound filled the battle ridden air. The GDI base had got the power working. Heinrich stood up and watched as the lone Sonic Emitter roared to life and produced a sonic wave. Two Scorpion Tanks and the end of an unlucky Stealth Tank seemed to just disintegrate as the sonic wave ripped the tanks apart. The crippled Stealth Tank crew tried to bail but the newly activated Watchtowers opened up on them reducing them to a bloody pulp. Heinrich's heart dropped. There was no away they could hold this attack. A message came over his radio, "All troops fall back. The primary target has entered the fray. Return to rally point Echo and assist our brothers and sisters there."

"You heard it, let's get moving!" Heinrich said sprinting away from the burnt buggy. He noticed most of the Nod assault force already pulling out ahead of him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a crippled buggy with the crew still inside. The door had jammed. One of the Mammoth Tanks, with vengeance flowing through its metal skin, rolled over the buggy, reducing it to a pancake of blood and metal. Heinrich swore he would avenge that crew.

Eliana was in a fit of rage. She threw over a desk scattering its contents on the floor. "Tell Noya to pull back. We're being out maneuvered on every front!" Eliana barked at an officer. Within a few minutes of arriving on the field the acclaimed GDI Commander had already begun turning the tide of the battle. He restored the power at the smaller base and sent a small expository force to thwart the Nod assault. But that wasn't the limit of his antics, he successfully countered the Black Hand force, causing them to retreat and regroup. If things weren't bad enough Nova was nowhere to be found and the inexplicable third and possibly the biggest arm of the Nod army was missing. "Someone get me Nova! I'm not going to let this hot shot walk all over us!" Eliana said, her voice bubbling with anger. The various officers began scrambling trying to avoid the wrath of their superior. Her patience was growing thin and anger was blinding her. "You!" Eliana growled pointing at an officer, "what do we have that we can support Noya with?" The officer turned a ghostly white. He sputtered trying to say something but Eliana shoved him from his seat and pulled up the information herself. She had a handful of still functional aircraft. Four of the sixteen Vertigos were destroyed. Most of her armor had melted when the Sonic Emitter came online but she still had some Avatars left. She would need their heavy lasers if she was going to escape this fate. Her stealth components, both Stealth Tanks and her Spectre artillery were in shambles. Less than a tenth of what she had started with. Her infantry had taken heavy losses as well. She paused as she scrolled past Icarus company's sitrep. It had sustained a forty percent casualty rate. Far above any other company. Eliana didn't have time to grieve. Some shadow teams were still alive. They would be crucial to her plan, if she could even muster the forces to pull it off. She switched to a different console and pulled up what Noya still had remaining. Noya's armor had been eliminated by the better equipped GDI armor. Her light armor had fared better. Most of it was still alive due to the hit and runs they were employing. Noya's infantry core had a similar result. Eliana sat staring at the screen in front of her. The man she pushed to the floor stood not sure what he should do next. His hands kept moving as he couldn't find a natural spot to rest them. "Good, this should be enough," Eliana said thinking out loud. The soldier leaned in expecting her to explain her thoughts. Instead Eliana grabbed him by the collar, "The next time you are asked a question, you best not hesitate or it will be your head!" He took a gulp and nodded. Eliana shoved him away and began heading for the door. One of the braver officers stopped her.

"Where are you going?" The officer asked. Eliana turned and glared. The officer remained calm and collected. Eliana clenched her fists together but the officer remained steadfast. "Your orders? Ma'am I just want your orders," the officer questioned. Eliana relaxed a bit. The officer's confidence and boldness paid off.

"Give me two sections of our light armor, All of our Avatars and whatever is left of our tank companies, every last Spectre and Stealth Tank we have, and muster a battalion of our infantry back here and ready to go ASAP. I want our Buggies retrofitted with EMP coils, same goes for Noya's if they can. I want our Shadow Teams to carry artillery beacons. I want anything that can be upgraded with tib core rockets as well. Is that understood?" Eliana ordered. The officer nodded and in haste went to take on the task. Eliana walked back to her quarters on her Carryall and sat down trying to cool her temper. She had had a feeling that something about this mission was awry. Was this the sacrifice that kept plaguing her mind? The GDI Commander was living up to the expectations too. It was easy to see how he could have almost single-handedly defeated Nod.

It felt like forever before an officer burst into Eliana's quarters. "Everything is ready!" The officer exclaimed. Eliana didn't say anything but stood up and gave a nod that they proceed. She walked to the cockpit and ordered the pilot to take her to Noya's base. The aircraft took off and began its journey towards Noya. Eliana looked off into the distance and could see the various flashes of battle erupt upon the clouds and the thick smoke from burning wreckage. She looked down and saw her army marching out underneath her, The Avatars towering over the rest. Their robotic footsteps stomping one foot after another. The various tanks were piled on by the infantry, eager to catch a ride rather than walk. She watched as her aircraft zoomed ever forward ahead of them.

The Carryall made short work of the distance between Eliana's base and Noya's. Down below people were running about with various tasks. Firehawks had found the unstealthed base and many of its structures were ablaze. Vehicles crippled were strewn about as their operators abandoned them as soon as possible. It wasn't all bleak however, GDI aircraft wreckage lined the perimeter. The base might have taken damage but GDI had paid for it in blood.

The Carryall descended into the middle of the chaos and Eliana jumped out armored up with her weapon clipped onto her chest. Her hand clasped her helmet by the chin. Noya walked out of her Operations Center and seemed surprised that Eliana was there in the flesh. "You're here and you're suited up? You're not thinking of actually going out there are you?" Noya pleaded.

Eliana grunted, "Of course I'm going out there. I'm not just going to sit here while our troops get hammered."

"Out there is no place for the commander of an army, Eliana!" Noya again pleaded but Eliana would have none of it. She tossed her hair to the side and put her helmet on. She tapped her magazine as she loaded a round.

"Did you do what I asked?" Eliana asked. Noya turned looking out to the base. Her lips hung low and her shoulders shrank like she was in pain.

"Yes, but GDI hasn't stopped attacking we've lost more, especially my infantry ranks, they are no match for the amount of armor being thrown at me." She said crestfallen. Eliana took a more thorough look at the base. It was crumbling. An hour at most and it would be razed to the ground.

Eliana softened her stance, "Don't worry my friend, we've been through worse and this will work." Eliana put her hand on her friend's shoulder but Noya just looked down. "It has to."

"I know," Noya trailed off, "let's just get it over with." Noya guided Eliana into the Operations Center. "If you're going to fight, I'm not going to let you get all the action," Noya smiled, giving Eliana a taste of her own medicine. If Eliana was going to charge into the thick of it so was Noya.

"My force should be here within a few minutes, then we'll take down that MARV and show that GDI dog his better," Eliana boldly replied, still trying to create confidence in her friend.

"Any word from Nova?" Noya questioned. Eliana shook her head. "I guess we will have to do her work for her too!" Noya joked although both women secretly knew such a feat wouldn't be possible. If Nova didn't show up soon this whole attack would just be a glorious death.

Eliana's force arrived on schedule. The two commanders wasted no time in combining their forces and starting their counter offensive. They set out to meet the approaching GDI force. The odds weren't stacked in their favor by any means. They had to face dozens of Mammoth and Predator Tanks all upgraded with railguns. Shatterers with their sonic blast and Juggernauts were sure to be in the mix. Then there were the Firehawks and Orca's to worry about. GDI always had air superiority. Plus an untold amount of basic and advanced infantry. Last but not least, the Mammoth Armored Reclamation Vehicle, which could level entire armies. Each part alone would be a difficult challenge but all of them together and it was near impossible.

"Here," Eliana said as the Nod force moved across the land. Eliana held her hand ordering a stop. "This is where it will be," She said looking ahead. "Okay set it up!" The combined armies started spreading out making preparations for the next battle. Ahead laid a barren basin. A long forsaken stretch of prairie. There could have been a lake at one time, but Tiberium and climate had changed leaving only a ghost of the past. The whole plain seemed almost symmetrical. A few Tiberian fissures and vents erupted through the ground and to one side laid a huge Tiberium crystal formation. Gigantic crystals bigger than buildings collided with one another as they grew and absorbed from the ground. On the other side a treacherous mountain jutted up from the ground making the basin a choke point despite its flat and open size. "GDI has to come through here. Especially if we use the Spectres to shell his other options. He will have no choice. If we place infantry throughout those mountains they should have adequate cover. All our armor can engage in the field. My stealth tanks can sneak across the field now and hammer the GDI division from behind, entrapping them. The MARV needs to go down fast. If we don't we will lose too many. This will be costly but we can do it," Eliana explained to Noya laying out her monologue and strategy. Noya just absorbed the plan trying to visualize the conception. Eliana turned to her radio in her ear, "Alright my shadows, drop those beacons and return as you can." She watched as the squads took out their wing sails and ascended into the air. There was a certain grace they held, like sharp scissors pirouetting on their tips. The gliders may be flimsy but the soldiers qualified to fly them were nothing less than hunters of men.

Within a minute artillery beacons began transmitting to the Spectres and they soon started sending volley after volley of armaments. Shells rained down on the GDI force as it tried to maneuver around the bombardment. Most of the shells missed creating a roadblock with the massive craters they left. A few shells hit the MARV directly but were shrugged off with its extensive armor. After the bombardment stopped the GDI force shifted towards Eliana. A shadow team came back and reported the news. "Send the Stealth Tanks across and have them hide far away, once the GDI force enters the basin and we engage them make sure they attack," Eliana ordered over the radio. The group of Stealth Tanks zipped out across the field, their stealth generators pulsing out like a heartbeat covering any sign they were ever there.

A lull came over the battlefield. Boom. Boom. Crack. Crack. The rhythmic drum of the Spectres firing produced the only noise. The tension grew; Soldiers were preparing themselves for the battle. A fight for their lives. The tanks sat idle; the engines emitting a low hum. The light was starting to fade from the clouds. There was a good chance that the battle would take place in the waning hours and last throughout the night. Eliana took the down time to check in on how the remainder of her army was doing back at her base. She pulled up the latest report and it scrolled through the screen in her helmet. They were taking loses, but holding. Soon the GDI base would only be able to mount defensive actions. They were dwindling on manpower. Eliana let out a smirk at the news. The initial push when the GDI Commander assumed control showed his innate combat sense, but Eliana had proven her own by not allowing defeat. She looked over at Noya who was sitting against a buggy cleaning the barrel of her gun. Eliana was glad to be fighting by her side again. They had fought so many battles together it felt like her right hand was missing when she wasn't there. If they were to die this is how she wanted to go. Hand in hand with her best friend.

Noya looked up sensing eyes on her but Eliana's eyes darted away. Her eyes fell on a soldier receiving a blessing from a Confessor. Even in the full battle suit that had seen better days and a helmet obscuring the soldiers face she knew who it was. She trotted over and greeted the soldier. "Never thought you to be one who received prayer,Heinrich," Eliana joked. Heinrich stood up and took his helmet off and looked at Eliana with a disheartened look.

"It's much less for me than it is for my sister," Heinrich's dried tears crested his cheeks.

"Yeah I heard about her," Eliana said, putting her arm on Heinrich's shoulder, "She'll make it through it. They got her back in plenty of time." Heinrich had tears well up but he shook them away.

"She was the reason we joined up you know? We used to live a little bit outside Munich when it was still a yellow zone. I never had any thought one way or another for Nod or GDI, I was just trying to survive," Heinrich said lost in thought. Eliana took off her helmet to give Heinrich credence to continue. "Anyways we were just outside what GDI wanted to reclaim as a "blue zone." My sister begged them to expand it but they told her it would be too costly and jeopardize the whole project. Eventually we all accepted it. But after a while our younger brother Daniel and both our parents started suffering from Tiberium poisoning, it was a tough day when we had to lay them to rest. Jenell swore she would take revenge on GDI and so she got in contact with Nod and never looked back. I've never been a big fan of tib or anything, but we don't allow our own to suffer from its effects. We try to make it safe and use it to our advantage. GDI would just let us rot. We didn't have money or political sway, so we were no use to them," Heinrich finished his story with a touch of anger on his voice.

Eliana wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't too long ago that she had questioned his faith but now she realized he was as ever committed as she was. It was just a matter of perspective. She was in it for Kane and believed he was the prophet. Heinrich was in it because Nod was his family. His home. She stood there struggling to find the right words to say but Heinrich interrupted her, "It's okay commander, you don't have to say anything." He forced a smile and walked away. Eliana stood staring at the ground. It's funny, she thought, how we all have such a screwed up life and continue on trying to find something better.

The light grew ever darker and the sound of the artillery shells grew closer. The booms rippled across the sky. The GDI force must have been close. Eliana stood on the cusp of the basin waiting for the first vehicles of her enemy to pour over. A Shadow Team reported in over the radio with a short "Ninety seconds." Eliana made one last check that everyone was in position. Her heart started racing with the surge of adrenaline pumping through her body. The air stood thick with the coming battle and there was maybe an hour's left of light on the field. She looked down and noticed pebbles vibrating on the ground. A few seconds later she could feel the vibrations through her boots.

Off on the other side of the basin the top of a tank was beginning to roll over the horizon. A few more silhouettes followed and within an instant the firefight started creating a deafening sound as concussions of all the weapons rattling off. Orcas roared in dispensing their missiles and bugging out. A few unlucky pilots were targeted by the remaining Mantis and ended in fiery wrecks. Firehawks flew in behind and dropped their bombs and used their stratofighter jets to soar out into the upper atmosphere, far out of the range and speed of the Mantis' missiles. Bullets were flying back and forth, railguns were fizzling through the air and lasers from the Avatars were burning into metal. Eliana jumped on the side of a buggy and propelled herself into the thick of the battle. She came to a stop beside an Avatar as it fired its laser on a crippled Mammoth Tank. It tore right through the hull and into the cabin. The crew that survived tried to climb out but Eliana raised her weapon and put a bullet into each one.

She kept moving forward looking for the next target. A wave from a Shatterer crossed right in front of her and ripped into a Scorpion Tank. A barrage of rockets countered, avenging the tank and reduced the Shatterer to ruble. She took cover behind the husk of the scorpion and started scanning the environment but the front of the GDI army was already destroyed. The ground started to shake tremendously. A huge boom overshadowed all the noise of the battle and Eliana turned around to see nothing but the legs of the Avatar she was just by standing by remaining. Molten metal dripped from the husk. A tank as big as a mountain began to roll over the hill and lay waste to everything, its three massive barrels rotating after each shot. It fired its massive gun at a mass of Nod soldiers and left nothing but a crater after. "Send them in!" Eliana ordered over her radio. A group of five Raider Buggies valiantly charged the MARV. It turned its cannon and fired a round destroying two of the buggies before they even got close. The other three blitzed on and got right up next to the super massive tank. A soldier from one of the buggies pulled a lever. With a crackling and whirring sound the EMP coil detonated it's electromagnetic wave. The massive tank groaned to a stop as all of its sensitive equipment shorted. The other two buggies were caught in the blast and came abruptly to a stop. "Focus fire on the MARV!" Eliana yelled. Missile after missile and shell after shell exploded on the hull of the vehicle, but the solid armor barely lamented to the barrage. The bulk of GDI tanks were beginning to fill into the basin and began firing on the closest Nod targets. Eliana ran back to a buggy to transport her away from the front lines. She made her way to Noya giving out orders behind a different vehicle.

"It isn't working!" Noya told Eliana. Panic raced through the air. Eliana ordered more buggies to emp making sure the MARV couldn't be fixed from the operators inside. The lead buggy made its way and discharged its EMP coil. The other four picked up the crew and sped off trying to get away. A Juggernaut crested the hill and drew its triple barrels down upon the buggies and fired. Three of the buggies were directly hit and annihilated. The fourth attempted to navigate around the wreckage but drove into a crater left by the Juggernaut's shell. The GDI walker lumbered its way to the stranded buggy firing at other targets along the way. The crew of the buggy bailed and began running a second before the Juggernaut crushed the buggy beneath its right foot. It looked down at the two soldiers sprinting away and with its left foot crushed them. Noya got on her radio and ordered a Spectre to attack the Juggernaut. She watched as the artillery shell exploded dead center. The Juggernaut wobbled as the delicate balance gave way. It crashed into the earth sending dirt skyward. Noya then ordered all the Spectres to concentrate their fire on the MARV. Eliana and Noya both watched as rounds pounded into the disabled vehicle. Hundreds of rockets were pouring into the MARV but it remained ready. It groaned to life as its massive engines turned back on. The turret rotated towards Eliana and Noya's position. A final Artillery round coupled with tank shells and a dozen missiles sent the whole vehicle a crippling blow. Fires burst from the inside out as its armor cracked and in a supermassive firework show the bulk of it exploded. Eliana and Noya cheered. The remaining GDI forces started retreating back over their side of the basin. The nod force seemed to increase their fire sensing the defeat of their enemy.

"Keep it up!" Eliana ordered over the radio pleased that her army had accomplished such a feat. Eliana looked around and watched as GDI soldiers were gunned down as they ran and tanks were obliterated. She smiled as she watched the last Purifier walk into a platoon of GDI infantry and unleash its flame upon them. They were too far away and too insignificant to hear over the battle but she imagined their screams as they burned so sweet to her ears. She turned to Noya, "we did it. We won." Noya put up her hands in victory. Eliana patched into the feed of a Shadow Team circling over the battlefield providing an aerial view of the victory. She watched as the Stealth Tanks she sent opened up on the last of the GDI troops catching them off guard on the rear of their armor. She allowed herself to smile and believe that the battle was over. She was about to switch out of the feed when she saw a Stealth Tank seem to spontaneously explode. The Shadow turned to see the cause.

"We've got Hammerheads and reinforcements incoming!" The shadow yelled. A second later the feed went out and Eliana switched and looked to see the entire Shadow Team fall out of the sky as Hammerheads flew in. The helicopters had twin cannons that could rip light armor apart. It was super effective against infantry as well. Bodies would become mincemeat in under a second.

"Take cover!" Eliana cried. The lone Mantis again tried to engage the mass of Hammerheads but a precision strike from a Firehawk put an end to its existence. The arrival of the Hammerheads had cemented GDI air superiority. Eliana had decided to keep her air force back at her base to cover her remaining forces. The GDI commander must have realized the weakness and now was exploiting it. The Hammerheads made their way into the thick of the battle firing armor piercing rounds at anything below them. Railguns from crack Zone Troopers rippled out from firing ports and rockets rained down on the defenseless Nod troops. The remaining buggies attempted to fire on the Hammerheads, managing to destroy a few, but the buggies were vastly outmatched in terms of fire power and armor. The majority of the buggies were turned to smoldering piles of scrap metal in seconds. The remaining rocket infantry turned and began firing towards the sky in a desperate attempt to repel the force, but the Hammerheads could out maneuver the incoming projectiles. Scores of infantry were being mowed down as they exposed themselves from their cover to fire.

"Eliana we need your air here now!" Noya yelled ducking a line of bullets from a passing helicopter. Eliana got on her radio ordering her air to cease and assist her. The reinforcements for GDI came over into the basin and the Juggernauts started bombarding the Spectres. A few direct hits demolished half the Spectres. A short shell landed on the corner of the Raider Buggy Eliana was behind. The blast flipped the buggy into the air and the concussion knocked Eliana off her feet. Time seemed to slow down. Eliana struggled to stand up. She placed her hand on the buggy bracing herself as she staggered. Noya was shouting and pointing at something but all Eliana could hear was a distinct high pitched ring. She tried to follow Noya's hand and slowly turned her head. A Flame Tank was setting fire to an entire squad of GDI soldiers. It turned to fire upon another but a hail of rockets pounded its fuel tanks and the tank exploded into a spectacular plume of flame. A flood of Attack Bikes zoomed past the wreckage and unleashed a flurry of rockets on a group of Mammoth Tanks and Juggernauts. The Tiberium infused rockets smashed into the armor. But they still rolled forward. Rail guns dropped bike after bike. The missiles took out even more and the Juggernauts simply walked over what they couldn't eradicate. A group of Nod infantry bravely attempted to take on the rolling GDI group, but suffered a similar fate as the bikes. Eliana just stood there in a daze, unsteady on her feet. Noya ran over and threw Eliana to the ground as the sound came rushing back. "We have to fall back!" Noya screamed at Eliana. "Order the retreat!" Noya screamed again.

Eliana regained her composure and set an order over the radio, "Everyone fall back!" The remains of the Nod army quickly began retreating. The GDI army seemed disinterested in continuing to push, but continued to fire upon the now decimated Nod survivors. Eliana and Noya found a buggy waiting for them and climbed aboard. Eliana looked back at the battlefield as the buggy started driving off.

"Wait!" Eliana ordered. Her eyes fell upon a pinned down nod squad. Two of its members were already dead. One of them was propped up against a rock with wounds all over. She watched as the wounded soldier was covering the squad's flank with nothing but a sidearm. The other three surviving members were trying to hold back the GDI infantry. One took a shot to the leg and fell over still firing his rifle. He crawled behind a small rock and his hands searching for a magazine on his person. Bullets were peppering the small protection he had. "We have to save them!" Eliana ordered the buggy driver. The driver acknowledged and changed course. Noya hopped up on the Raider Buggy's gun and readied it. Eliana positioned herself so that she could jump off and run to the soldiers as soon as the buggy came to a stop. The buggy drew within range and Noya squeezed the trigger spewing rounds in the direction of the GDI troops. A few bullets ricocheted near her but she kept firing. Eliana quickly jumped off and sprinted to the soldier that was shot in the leg.

"Glad to see you wouldn't leave me behind," Heinrich joked, wincing at the pain. The other two members of the squad began running towards the buggy but one was shot in the back and folded onto the ground, her mask popping off and rolling through the dirt. The other made it to the Soldier propped up on the rock and threw them over their shoulder. In a few short leaps both were aboard the vehicle. Eliana fired pop shots as she and Heinrich stumbled to the buggy. Noya kept suppressing with the machine gun even as the buggy drove off.

"I couldn't leave you to die like that. Not now," Eliana finally replied to Heinrich. He just shook his head more concerned with the bullet stuck in his leg.

Eliana's radio blared into her ear. A surviving member of a Shadow Team was gliding through the air, surveying the battlefield. "It appears the GDI force is retreating!" the shadow enthusiastically reported. Eliana turned around and watched as the remaining GDI tanks started turning around. The Hammerheads broke off their attacks and speedily flew back to the direction of their base.

A voice came over the radio, "Nova here, I'm engaging the GDI Commanders base." Eliana let out a sigh of mixed emotions. She was relieved that Nova had shown up and diverted the pressure of the GDI force away. She wasn't sure if they would have been able to successfully retreat had GDI kept pushing. But she was furious that Nova had taken so long to show up, costing Noya and Eliana most of their fighting forces.

"About time," Noya said, coughing and doubling over.

"Noya!" Eliana said, leaning over to her friend. Noya had a hand over her abdomen applying pressure. Blood was oozing out through her fingers.

"I'm fine," Noya said, gritting her teeth. Eliana moved Noya's hand to see the extent of the wound. Blood spilled out and Eliana realized that Noya was grievously wounded. Eliana began screaming for a medic over the radio but Noya put out a hand grabbing Eliana. "It's okay, save the medics for others." Eliana started to say something but Noya cut her off. Her voice grew soft. "Thank you for everything," Noya said. She grabbed Eliana's hand squeezing as hard as she could. Eliana felt Noya's grip weaken as she slumped onto her side. Eliana began shaking her screaming her name, trying not to let her go.

"She's gone, ma'am Let her go," Heinrich said clutching Eliana's shoulder. She began to cry but stiffened her tears. There were still plenty of things that needed to be done and she couldn't let her personal grievances get in the way.

The buggy arrived at the Black Hand base and Eliana immediately began making sure the wounded were airlifted out. She called her subordinate officers together to reorganize her army.

"Heinrich, I want you on a Carryall out of here," Eliana ordered. Heinrich grunted limping over to an ammo cache.

"Like hell you're going to get me out of here!" Heinrich said reloading his rifle and gritting his teeth. Eliana ordered two soldiers to come to her.

"I'm not asking you to go, I'm ordering it," Eliana started at Heinrich. She then turned to the two soldiers, "Make sure he gets on a medical evac," She told them. They turned to Heinrich. He threw down his ammo and grunted as the two soldiers began escorting him away. Eliana made her way to the Operations Center to check on the progress of Nova. The radar dish on top had taken a beating and swayed back and forth no longer able to make a rotation. The reports looked extraordinary. Whatever army Nova had was smashing the GDI base. A flashing warning sign came up on one of the officers screens. Eliana walked over to see what it was and her face drained of color. A transmission was coming through coupled with the warning sign. Eliana ordered that the channel be opened. A face full of bruised pride filled the screen.

"I'm not sure how intelligence missed this but that second GDI base had an Ion Cannon Control Center nestled in it. Looks like they are about to use it too. My guess is they will hit me first, so you better get to work on constructing some Ion Disruptors." The Nova said. Eliana ended the transmission and ordered that the disruptors be constructed. Another officer reported that the Ion Cannon had detonated over Nova's army, crippling it. However, Nova was still alive and pushing into the GDI base.

"We have eight minutes before that Ion Cannon is recharged and ready to fire again and you can be sure that GDI will clean up the rest of Nova's army. That means we are the next target people. Let's get a move on!" Eliana ordered. She ran outside eager to help set up the towers. The remaining troops were racing and running about combining the various parts needed for the Ion Disruptors. Under any other circumstance the Ion Disruptors would have been set up during the construction of the base, but the bad intelligence and lack of power forced them to be shelved. Eliana stayed patched into the Operations Center listening to updates as they came in. "Target is confirmed down," a message relayed over the radio, "I repeat target is down." Some of the troops began cheering as they heard the news. Eliana ran back into the Operations Center.

"Get me Nova on the radio!" Eliana ordered. Within a few seconds an officer had Nova standing by. "Nova any chance you can destroy that Ion Cannon Control Center?" Eliana pleaded. There was a long silence and Eliana waited for a reply. She fidgeted with her radio. It still worked.

"Negative," Nova uttered.

Eliana was shocked and started pleading for Nova to help, "Your forces are right there in the base! Send them to the control center and take it out!" Eliana beseeched Nova. Again there was a long silence and Eliana nervously waited.

"Negative. You're on your own," Nova replied, ending the transmission. Eliana shrank, defeated, she didn't have the forces to take out the control center. Her only hope was to erect the Ion Disruptors.

"Three minutes until the Ion Cannon is over us and recharged!" An officer yelled out. \Two towers were already up and running but a third one was needed to prevent the strike. It was almost completed, just a few more seconds. A sudden explosion behind Eliana caught her attention. Before she could even turn she heard the aftermath of a Firehawk as it soared overhead. She knew what happened before she turned. It was over. The Firehawk had taken out a Power Plant rendering the Ion Disruptors useless. She stepped away from the tower and fell to her knees. Her helmet clattered against the ground as it slipped from her hand. She threw her hands up in the air and watched as white light pierced the dark sky. The atoms in the air began to ignite creating sparks. The hair on her body rose becoming charged with the air. She closed her eyes as the white light consumed her. The Ion Cannon fired sending pure energy down on the base reducing it to a giant crater instantaneously. The battle was over.

Act 1:

It has been Seven years since the end of the Third Tiberian War. The alien invaders we now call the Scrin went offline when a GDI force at the hand of a renowned commander took out a central power node disabling the Scrin forces. Unfortunately, just a few weeks later the same commander would be killed along with Doctor Emel Ibrahiim in an unprecedented Nod attack on the Kansas-Missouri border. While the last of Nod's standard army as well as the Black Hand faction were eliminated with a ion strike The highly mobile Marked of Kane cybernetic army vanished only to lead an assault of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex a few days later. The likely goal was that of the Tacitus as it had been kept there for research. However, the attack failed with the death of the Nod commander we know only as Nova. As a result of the attack, the Tacitus was further damaged and eventually destroyed marking the end to decades of research into its origins and uses.

Since then Director Granger, former general for GDI, has kept the GDI forces at an elevated state of readiness insisting that Nod and or the Scrin will be back. However, dissension between Director Granger and the disgraced former Director Redmond Boyle is at an all time high as growing support for further Tiberium technological research increases. The Boyle camp is further fueled by the success of sonic resonance programs that have begun reclaiming yellow zones. Recently, the first red zone was downgraded to a yellow zone. Four new blue zones have been created this year alone. The Boyle camp believes this marks the end of Tiberium being seen as a tragedy and as a chance to use it for the betterment of mankind. Another political clash was seen in upstate New York-

"Okay that's enough!" Blackborn fussed turning off the news report, "I can't stand that political hogwash." Logan Boyle sat up from his bunk and shook his head with a chuckle.

"Come on, you know I care. It's a big deal for me," he replied. Blackborn looked around the empty Barracks before sliding onto his own bunk.

"Yeah yeah, nephew of the former director, but completely against his ideology. Like the world hasn't seen it before," Blackborn said rolling his head towards Logan. It was true. Everyone had family on one side or the other. Tiberium had split the world in so many ways."Say I heard that the guys from your previous unit called you Kit, what's the story behind that?" Kit started to reply but was interrupted by a voice over the speaker. Charlie Company. Please report to the Command Center for mission briefing. Kit and Blackborn got up and gathered their packs and headed out. It was a short distance from the Barracks to the Command Center but there was a lot of movement on the base. It was apparent that they were about to be mobilized. As Kit and Blackborn made their way into the Command Center they saw their sergeant waiting at the briefing room. He gestured them inside where they saw the other two members from their squad.

"Hey Kit and Blackborn! What's up guys? Looks like we get to have some fun today," A bulk of man said in a soft voice. If Kit hadn't known better he would have suspected the giant to be faking his voice.

"Hey Benny! Looks like it," Kit replied and made his way to his seat. His other squad member, Jorge Sanchez, gave a silent nod of acknowledgment. The rest of the people in the room Kit didn't recognize.

Blackborn leaned over and whispered, "Seriously you gotta tell me what's with the name Kit." Kit just shook his head and smiled. The other sergeants walked in with the lieutenants and the captain. The room stood up to attention while the captain gestured for them to return to seating.

He started, "Gentlemen, my name is Captain Ortiz. I'll let EVA bring you up to speed on this. EVA." The old familiar electronic voice assistant started up. "The Research Facility at grid Seven Bravo Four six four, nine two three has gone dark. Last communication was received yesterday at o' four hundred. Intelligence believes possible Nod activity in the area. This facility holds critical research components as well as important scientists. It is imperative that we reestablish communications and check for survivors." For much of the approximate sixty years that EVA has been in existence the voice model used has changed very little. After the initial success at the implementation as a simple voice assistant EVA grew into a vital asset in almost every aspect of GDI and continues to get integrated into new things.

"Thank you EVA. Gentlemen, we do not know what we are up against here. If it is Nod activity it marks a first time in nearly two years that Nod has been spotted operating in this zone. You all know that orders from Director Granger himself state to eliminate any Nod resistance. I want you suited up and on the tarmac for the ox's in fifteen. I want double checks on all red zone equipment. I won't have anyone die from Tiberium poisoning on my watch," Ortiz said followed by a resounding yes sir by the rest of the group.

Kit and the other men in his squad quickly dismissed themselves and headed towards the armory. Kit and Thomas Bentiford had been transferred from a different base only six days prior after the last of the Steel Talons branch had been dissolved. Kit and Benny were reassigned to the Zocom faction which had become the primary branch since the winding down of the Third Tiberian War. The standard GDI outfit had conversely diminished greatly and took on a security role. Zocom had proved their effectiveness at dealing with Nod incursions and especially any engagement with Scrin. Zocom had always been a tougher force with many recruits scrubbing out during basic training. Only the best were selected and it was an honor to get transferred to Zocom. Most soldiers from the GDI regulars or Steel Talons were retired or placed into the GDI national guard. Under Director Granger Zocom became the main fighting force despite their more difficult standards. The world was long worn out from Nod aggression. With the invasion of an alien force humanity became hardened, resentful. Never again would such devastation be allowed.

The squad reached the armory and began about requesting their gear from the personnel manning the building. Kit wasn't completely used to the red zone habitat suits they had to wear. They were bulky and the circuitry tended to short out often. Zocom had grown while their funds were sequestered. General Granger did his best to keep them outfitted but politics were not his strong suit. His opponents took every chance they could to weaken him, even at the expense of soldiers. Still old suits or not, they were the only things keeping the poisons from red zones off their body. Kit had seen what Tiberium poisoning could do. It was a slow and painful death. The alien substance slowly crept up your body, mutating your very DNA to replicate itself. It was like cancer if cancer worked at an accelerated level and was contagious. Late term cases of Tiberium poisoning resembled disfigured people gasping for air with Tiberium crystals cracking through skin with the familiar greenish glow as it permeated through. Kit tried to shake the thought from his head. His sergeant sensed the uneasiness and approached him, "Have it easy lad, We'll take care of you." Kit couldn't help but chuckle. Mackay Avery was British and his accent always made Kit grin. "What? Laughing at my accent again are you? Well all right then, I suppose proper English is funny to you yanks," Avery continued trying to imitate his best American accent, "suppose I'll talk like this from now on." To Avery's dismay this only resulted in a resounding laughter from the rest of the men. "All right all right. We had our fun now. Let's get serious gents," Avery said, reassuring his command. Kit put on his helmet and tested it's systems. He responded by moving his right leg around. It jostled a little but wasn't anything serious.

"Reports?" Avery questioned around. Everyone responded "good" except for Sanchez.

"My temperature regulation seems to be non responsive. It keeps flipping around," He responded. Avery walked over to Sanchez and attempted to check his suit out.

"Alright get over to the techs and see if they can fix it. Then I want you to double time it to the tarmac. I do not want to head out down a man. Understood?" Sanchez nodded and ran out to find a tech. "The rest of you fall in and follow me." Benny, Kit, and Blackborn followed Avery out towards the airfield.

Kit and Benny were both trying to stay calm. Neither of them had actually seen combat yet. Benny was as green as could be. Eighteen years old and completely naive to the world. Joining the military was more of a way of escaping home than any semblance of duty or courage. That's why he joined up with the Steel Talons. He figured that their outdated equipment would keep them far off the front lines. Plus the war had ended recently, It wasn't likely to start up again and by the time it did he would be out and riding a college tuition fully paid for. He didn't anticipate that the Steel Talons would be dissolved and retired. He still had time left on his term so he was reassigned to the branch that was on the front line. For Benny's massive size he was a gentle giant. He was timid more than anything. Kit on the other hand, teetered between duty and shame. His father was killed in a Scrin attack and his infamous uncle had caused the death of tens of thousands with his haughty ion strike on Sarajevo. His mother had long before been taken at the hands of Tiberium. He needed to prove every bit of his honor to himself as he did to the world. He felt that serving would distinguish him and act as penance for his family. Avery was a role model for that. He had been in before the third war started and fought through it all. He had joined Zocom on the onset when there was a high fatality rate just in training and an even higher causality rate when first contact occurred. He battled through it all and came out unscathed. Blackborn was in a case similar to Benny but instead of escaping home he was kicked out and had nowhere to go. He had spent his youth fighting and engaging in petty criminal activity. By the time he had gotten out of high school there was little work he could do. So he ended up trying to fight with the best and he was quick to love it. He wasn't keen on going to war, but he loved playing with all the toys the military got.

The squad stood waiting on the tarmac with the rest of the company. In the distance other elements of the strike force were loading up. The vents from the V-35 Ox's and Orcas alike obscured the view. Captain Ortiz rolled up bearing his own red zone suit. He refused to repaint it and as consequence it had been stripped to the bare metal and carbonate. When asked he would always reply, "I ain't here to look pretty."

"Three minutes and we load up. I'll have EVA dispatch orders en route," he said gazing out across his men and put his helmet on. He turned and started talking to a subordinate. Kit took a deep breath to try to quell his nerves. The sudden thud of boots caught his attention and turned to see Sanchez hanging onto Blackborn and gasping for breath.

"That was close, but I'm good to go sergeant," Sanchez said in between pants. Avery nodded and motioned for Sanchez to fall in. Sanchez came from a poor Mexican village stuck in a yellow zone. He had grown up hating GDI and buying Nod propaganda. When the Scrin invaded the Nod contingent left his town while the GDI force stepped in to defend the people. He found himself taking up arms with the GDI soldiers and cursing Nod. From there it was a personal vendetta against Nod. He had grown to have a vitriol reaction at the presence of Nod. He seemed to be the only person in the squad looking forward to the incurring battle. This was his moment. Any other sect of GDI and he would have been in jail. He was brutal often for the sake of it. Brutality wasn't an official part of Zocom's tenants but it did provide the base in which that aspect would thrive. Brutal, lethal, invidious, are what made Zocom itself. After the war's official end Zocom continued offensive operations against Nod. With their bright white ceramic armor and their proficiency in rooting out Nod they earned the name "Bone Raiders". Sanchez took that literally.

The V-35's touched down meant for Charlie Company. Group by group everyone piled in preparing themselves. Right after takeoff EVA began discerning orders to the squads themselves. Ortiz cut in briefly, "since we don't know what we are walking into we will be dropped off two clicks out from the complex. We are going to have to hump it through red zone growth. Alpha and Bravo Company will have it easy approaching from the road but we are the element doing the heavy lifting here. I want you all on the top of your game." Kit looked around at the rest of the squad. The helmets covered their faces but the body language was sufficient to tell him what they were feeling. Legs shifted uneasy. Arms paced back and forth. But after a few moments they melded into their training, preparing for a fire fight.

"Now's a good time to tell me how you got the name Kit," Blackborn said breaking the tone around the aircraft. Benny started laughing and Avery leaned in ready to listen as well.

"What? You didn't tell them? Do you want me to?" Benny questioned.

"Nope he hasn't told me anything, So how bout it Tommy boy?" Blackborn replied, giving a push on Benny's arm. Kit just shook his head and waved his arm in a dismissive manner.

"Alright if he won't tell you I will, so long as you never call me Tommy boy again. Call me Benny." Benny said and Blackborn nodded. "So in our other unit we all went out one weekend to get hammered. Typical weekend ya know? Well it happened to be around Halloween and the bar we were at happened to be next to a specialty costume shop," Benny said. He leaned forward animated, "well Logan was the first to get wasted and he had the bright idea that he'd sneak off and buy a costume." Benny became ever more excited and everyone leaned in closer, anxious to hear more save for Kit who tried his best to melt into bulkhead. "Well being as drunk as he was, his judgment wasn't that great and he ended up getting a child's costume. In his stupor he stripped down to his underwear and tried to put on the costume. He thought it was great and so he went back to us. Well, have you ever heard of an old show called Bob The Builder? Well the costume he got was based off that, Just a hard hat and a utility belt. Kit also bought a yellow briefcase that matched pretty well. So as he stumbled up to us to show his proud achievement we all lost it at seeing this grown man squeezed into the kids costume wobbling all around. He kept trying to say "I have the tools or I can figure it out," while pulling out a plastic hammer and referring to his "kit". From there on we called him Kit. I have a picture back at the base. Remind me to show you!" Benny ended his story laughing. Blackborn turned to Kit who did his best to merge with his seat.

"Is that so?" Blackborn asked and Kit tilted his head down with a sigh. "Well all right Kit, I think that will be your nickname here too!" Blackborn started laughing and everyone else joined in.

Kit rolled his eyes with sarcasm thick enough to cut. "Great!"

The lightheartedness fizzled out as EVA interluded with a one minute until touchdown warning. It was back to mission readiness but at least now Kit was feeling relieved. The story had settled his nerves. The V-35 rattled as it slowed and dove towards the ground. It's massive VTOL engines strained struggling to handle the g-force of the sudden shift in momentum. The ox touched down in a small clearing of gigantic Tiberium crystals. What could have once been flowing golden hills of grass or perhaps farmland with endless rows of corn stalks was nothing more than barren rock with an abundance of Tiberium infestation. The familiar crack of thunder resonated and echoed amongst the crystals. One by one Charlie Company exited their rides. Each squad securing their assigned sectors. The all clear was given and they began to move out. "first squad will take the left flank. Second squad, you got right flank. Third squad I want you to head over to the communications tower. See if you can get any intel onto what happened," The lieutenant for first platoon ordered. Avery put Blackborn on point to lead through the maze. Their armor had the traditional GDI beige-gold coloring, but being so close to the crystals emitting the green glow they looked almost black tinged with green. It made it much more difficult to discern who was who. Luckily their suits had been updated with EVA advanced support. They could display the names of their fellow soldiers as well as send a ping to each squad member to mark locations. It was the most sophisticated EVA system for infantry to date.

Blackborn made his way carefully keeping his gun with his eyes. Checking any place that might house an enemy combatant. According to EVA they were just around the corner to the communications tower but with the Tiberium rising twenty meters into the air in almost every direction they had no hope of actually seeing it. They stacked up preparing to clear the area beyond. Avery gave the tap to go and in silence they rushed in. "All clear," Blackborn stated after he swept the area. He headed towards the panel to check the tower. "I've got blood here. A decently sized pool too. It's cold," he reported as he neared. Avery came to investigate. "Looks like the tower's been fried. EMP? Lightning strike?" Blackborn wondered.

Avery shook his head and responded, "no these things are made with lightning and emp shielding. It looks like it was shorted from the inside. Electrical overload perhaps. Someone would have had to have gotten into the panel to do that." He kicked the tower in disgust and turned toward the way they had come. "Sir this tower is toast. Looks like it was taken out from the inside and we've got a pool of blood."

"Roger, first and second have stopped their advance. It seems the power is down all over. I'll have HQ send some engineers to repair everything once we clear the research center. See if you can flank around. I don't want to walk into an ambush. LT out."

"You heard him, let's go," Avery said and pointed in the direction. Blackborn made his way back out monitoring his EVA for which direction to head. The compound was approximately one-hundred meters past the communications tower. There would be wide open ground to cross once they got to the edge of the Tiberium forest. A perfect place for snipers to pick them off. Another squad was converging on them from the east. They would meet up with third squad just around the next bend. Blackborn kept moving steadily checking his corners. He came to a small clearing with second squad standing on the other side. He gave a short wave and the rest of his squad filled in behind him. "Okay let's go," the lieutenant said.

Blackborn began to move when something caught his eye. He raised a fist into the air. "Something just moved up there," he said, indicating the spot with a ping in his helmet. "Looked like a leg to me. Not human though." Everyone trained their weapons on that spot scanning any other holes that may present a threat.

"Keep moving," the lieutenant said. They began to move, keeping a steady eye on that area. The screech of hard objects embedding themselves in metal broke the eerie silence. "Contact!" "I'm hit!" Communications were blaring. "Ten o'clock high!" Someone was screaming. The gunfire only abated to the confusion. After a flurry of seconds the gunfire stopped and a body fell from on top of the Tiberium. Avery walked over to it. It looked like it once could have been a wolf or a big dog but Tiberium had mutated it and gave it a shell of Tiberium laced spikes. Sanchez gave the corpse a good kick. Nod wasn't here.

"Tiberium Fiend. If there's one we know there's others. Probably was a Floater that took out the comm tower. These things tend to come all together. Viceroids, Fiends, Floaters, maybe something new. Who knows? Just take it slow," Avery commanded. "Your guy all right?" He asked to the other squad.

"He needs an evac. You okay to continue on alone?" the sergeant of the other squad asked. It was the careless lieutenant who had been hit. Avery nodded and pointed for his squad to continue on. Kit took one last look at the guy laying with spikes protruding from his armor. That could have been me he thought.

"Send to higher it looks like we are dealing with Tiberium animals. I don't see Nod activity yet. Avery out." The squad had made their way to the edge of the compound. Blackborn peered out through the Tiberium. There were monsters all over the place. Floaters were using their long electrical tentacles and shocking the various metal surfaces. Tiberium Fiends were huddled around a body tearing at it. Viceroids were rolling about bumping into things and changing directions. "Command?" Avery asked. Still no answer. He was starting to get a little nervous. He should have got a response by now.

Just as he was about to ask again a response came through, "a little busy at the moment. These things are really coming after us." was all that came through. Faint echoes of gunfire or thunder booms rattled amongst the Tiberium labyrinth; it was too hard to differentiate. Blackborn looked back waiting for further instruction. Avery saw him and issued him to stay put. "Actual here. We are fine. Just got attacked by forty of those things. I'm going to call HQ and see if they can give us some Hammerhead support. There's too much here to take on by ourselves. Hold your positions for now," The squad just hunkered down trying to find adequate cover in case those things came after them. Everyone seemed to be glad that they wouldn't have to engage the mutated creatures. "Well HQ thinks the complex too valuable for Hammerhead support. They are worried we could damage the facility. So it looks like it's plan B boys. Time to get your best shooters in a quality position. We are going to have to fight our way in. Alpha and Bravo company will approach from the front and try to draw their attention. Charlie company will hold on the left and provide support. High priority targets are the floaters and Viceroids. Don't let them get near you as they are lethal. We can handle the fiends so long as we don't take direct shots. Move to your positions and wait for me to execute. Actual out." The squad let out a collective sigh. This is exactly what they were afraid of. But orders were orders.

Blackborn again took point as they crept around to their position. The other squads rallied behind them. Sanchez was the best shooter but Avery had told Kit to take up the marksman position. He tried to plan out his order of attack. Take out that Floater first, then that group of Viceroids, then targets of opportunity. But the mutated monsters kept shifting like they were anticipating the assault on them. With all the units in position, Ortiz gave the order for attack. The chatter of all the weaponry was deafening even with suits absorbing a lot of the sound. The monsters immediately went after Alpha and Bravo company like armies would charge at each other two-hundred years ago. They didn't have fear or understand pain. "Keep it up!" Ortiz ordered. The onslaught of creatures were galloping closer to the firing line. For every one they knocked down it seemed two more took its place.

"Fifty Meters!" Someone yelled. "Forty Meters!" They were getting closer. "Thirty Meters!" Kit's heart began to race, if they reached the line they would tear through them in a matter of seconds and then they would turn their sights on him. "Twenty Meters!" The exasperated continued. Each update brought further terror. Without warning a new line of fire started up. Automated Watchtowers kicked to life and dispensed their ammo with extreme accuracy into the animals. In a matter of seconds the towers stopped firing and the beasts stopped moving. Silence swept the battlefield and the stillness of the red zone habitat returned. Benny stood up bewildered as to what had just happened. He hadn't even noticed the Watchtowers before. A door to the complex opened up and a figure stepped out.

"Can you guys read me?"

"Affirmative," Ortiz Replied, "Who is this?" The figure walked further out into carnage and Kit could make out armor like his but with a much bigger gun.

"This is First Lieutenant Sooner. Come inside and I tell you what happened," the lieutenant said gesturing to follow them inside. The order came through to proceed in. Kit and Benny looked at each other and nodded. His helmet blocked his grand smile but Kit was more than happy that the battle was over.

As the group entered the building it was obvious a recent battle had taken place. Spent shells still dotted the floor and long dark streaks of unidentifiable liquid blotched the tile. Off to the side people in hazmat suits were scrubbing away at the substance. "If you all would follow me into the decontaminating machine. We can't let any miasma or other contaminants into the main facility," Lieutenant Sooner said leading everyone around the corner. Four by four they stepped into the machine while it sprayed them down and cleaned them of anything harmful. Kit and Benny passed through and took off their helmets breathing in the recycled air. It was stale. Benny preferred the filtered air from the suits. "Those damn things disabled the communications tower and dug into the Power Plants outside. We ran the towers on emergency power but they kept coming and made it inside. So we sealed the door and cut the power from the towers to keep the power on in here as long as possible. We figured you'd show up soon enough. Good thing too because we only got about three hours left on the emergency generators. We didn't have enough men to mount any escape or anything. Hell I lost a lot of my men before we even understood what was happening and a lot more when they breached the door," Lieutenant Sooner explained taking off his gear and handing it to someone. Captain Ortiz made his way to the front of the group talking through his earpiece "I want Bravo company back outside and on guard in case more of those things show up. If you spot some radio back and we'll get the Watchtowers to support." He turned to Lieutenant Sooner, "we already called in for engineers when we ascertained the power and communication situation," He listened to incoming communications for a second. "Alpha company to secure the arrival for the engi's. Charlie Company will see if they can help out around here. The men from Charlie Company were rather ecstatic that they got the easy orders. Lieutenant Sooner led Ortiz and the men out through another door.

The men from Charlie Company cleared out leaving Benny and Kit standing there. Kit was gazing around. They stood in a big open bay. A few doors and windows that led off in different directions, behind them was the decontamination room, and at the far end there seemed to be an entryway with a metal sheet door that could rise up like a gigantic garage door that covered the majority of the back wall. The whole room was unimpressive and mundane. Even the lighting seemed to be bored of the place. "That means you two too!" Avery ordered at Benny and Kit half startling them. They nodded and started heading off down the room following one of few people wearing a lab coat they saw. The technician walked all the way to the back wall and went through a door next to the hanger door. The next room was a break in contrast to the first. Everywhere there were people monitoring consoles and screens. Other people from Charlie Company were helping people pack things. Technicians were running around with clipboards writing things down. There were objects behind glass cases and cordoned off with black and yellow striped lines painted on the floor. Kit recognized some of them.

"Hey that's part of a Devour Tank and that's an intact Seeker Tank! Look over there is the front half of a Corrupter!" Kit said to Benny in excitement. Benny turned a bit white. The Scrin creeped him out and he had no intention of staying near any of their vehicles. Kit ran off to a technician writing something down next to the Seeker Tank. "What is this place? Why do we have Scrin vehicles here?" Kit asked the technician.

The technician turned to him, "We study them! Try to learn from them. In some ways their technology is far superior to our own. In other ways we seem to have grasped things they haven't. It's really quite interesting!" The technician was obviously someone who loved his work. He seemed to want to jump up and down just talking about it.

"Yeah but Seekers, Devourers, Corrupters? They weren't that special were they?" Kit asked, intrigued by the technician's claim. The technician gave a slight frown and lowered his head to look at Kit above his glasses.

"You don't know much do you?" He asked Kit who wilted in embarrassment and shook his head. "Well consider this: This Seeker Tank for example, It's a little bigger than a truck. But it has an extremely powerful hover technology that makes our Shatterer's hovering capabilities child's play. We can get up to maybe-and it's a big maybe-thirty miles per hour in a Shatterer, this thing could go fifty plus easily. It's maneuverability is fantastic and don't get me started on its sensor array. That Devourer over there? Sure it could be taken down by our Predator Tanks pretty easily and its hover capabilities aren't as good as the seeker here, but it had this ability to take in Tiberium and supercharge its energy cannon. When one of those things were charged up our preds split open like paper. And take a look at how its main cannon is mounted into the superstructure of the vehicle itself. We have primitive recoil absorption techniques. Theirs transferred energy throughout the tank. It even abated in charging its energy weapon! Lastly, that Corrupter, well lets just say, you wouldn't want to be in anything short of a Mammoth Tank if that thing spewed on you. The corrosive material in that thing's guts would melt straight through that suit you're wearing no problem!" The tech started to continue but Kit stopped him. It was clear he had underestimated these vehicles like many GDI troops had done before.

"So we are reverse engineering the tech?" The tech nodded and started walking around describing the process. He led Kit to another door in the back of the room and slid a key card letting access. There was a long hall with glass windows covering the sides peering into rooms holding much smaller vehicles. Some about the size of Kit and some things that didn't resemble vehicles at all. Kit walked up to the glass of one. Inside were tiny metal objects no bigger than a beach ball and plenty the size of baseballs. They had serrated edges sharpened to a lethal blade sticking out from the core of each object. He passed to the next glass room. A metal carcass was slumped down; bullet holes riddled the exterior. Two long, straight horns protruded from either side of the head. Directly behind the head seemed to be a long flexible tail. A short base supported eight separate legs similar to a spider and two tentacle-like arms protruded from the body.

"This is what we called the Assimilator. It was able to use our technology. It could hack into our buildings and disable them, commandeer a fallen Juggernaut husk and repair it. Worst of all it generated a small stealth bubble around it whenever it wasn't moving. Those things back there-we called Buzzers. You might have heard of them," the tech said with an overtone of sadness. Kit had heard of both of them but never actually seen them. The awful stories he heard of soldiers who survived buzzer swarms flooded into his brain. The video he saw during training of the aftermath. Pictures. The eviscerated armor and the amputations that they caused made him grimace. It was the ugly side of the war he often tried to forget. The technician started up again, "here's the thing though, we've examined everything the Scrin had at the time of the node going down. We considered this their "infantry" but we've never encountered anything to suggest sentient organic life." Kit looked up perplexed. "This means one of two things. Either the Scrin are non organic in nature and that they are a sentient race of robots or that they have a far more superior drone technology than we do and through the millions we lost, we never actually killed a single "Scrin" only their weapons," The tech was visibly distressed. His face had sagged as if the corners of his cheeks were pinched by gravity's invisible hands.

"How could that be possible?" Kit asked, feeling the same worry the tech was. He realized he'd been talking to the man and didn't even know his name. "E. Whitenose" was printed on a tag above the left breast pocket. Whitenose just shook his head. He put his hand up on the glass and stared at the Assimilator.

"I don't know," he paused, "we don't know. But if you told me twenty years ago aliens really did exist I wouldn't believe you. And it seems not everything is as it seems." Kit stared back at the Assimilator as well. There was something deeply unsettling that a race could inflict the damage they did without ever putting themselves in danger.

A week passed with nothing out of the ordinary. But Kit was still stuck on what the tech had told him. Benny tried his best to ignore Kit, he didn't want to hear it. Blackborn and Sanchez just seemed to be pissed that any Scrin they downed ended up just being a machine. Avery on the other hand, he already knew. He had a long talk about how destroying a tank is just as good as killing the person driving it. Saving lives was saving lives and that it didn't matter if they were robots or drones. Their job was just to eliminate the threat, keep humanity safe. His words consoled Kit for a bit but he just couldn't shake the eeriness.

Kit spent the majority of his time monitoring the news. If he wasn't there he was most likely on the firing range. It became a habit for his down time. People noticed his behavior as well. Avery and a handful of others appreciated it. It reminded them just how serious the world was. The Scrin had completely changed the world. Sure it was scary knowing the planet was getting taken over by an alien infesting element but it was more terrifying knowing that an alien force was ultimately using that very same substance and showed no remorse nor hesitation in attacking to obtain it.

It was a rare day where the sky was cloudless. The sun sent gentle rays of warmth heating the ground. It was early into spring and the budding plant life eagerly soaked up the rays. Third squad was getting their regular lieutenant back, who had been on leave for a month. Kit and Benny had yet to meet her. Avery, Sanchez, and Blackborn were all more than happy to have her back. "Apparently she's a really bad ass. One of the original Zone Raiders. She fought all over Europe and was part of the group that took down the last tower," Benny said outside enjoying the sun with Kit.

Kit took a drink from his glass of water, "Good. It sounds like she knows what she's doing." Kit didn't say it but he felt like the lieutenant would look down on him for his relation to his uncle. Anyone who fought that much in Europe must have lost a few friends in relation to Redmond Boyle's actions. It would be easy for her to resent him for it. It would be just another person he had to prove his altruistic intentions for. "It's about twelve hundred now. She should be here around thirteen thirty. I imagine she's going to want to inspect us since we got assigned here while she wasn't," Kit added. Benny nodded taking a sip from his own water.

Blackborn was back in the mess hall playing cards with some of the other soldiers. A small amount of gambling, but for those losing, enough to gruff when they saw Blackborn's earnings increase a bump at a time. Blackborn loved the small agony he caused when he won. It was one of those dirty little pleasures that he liked. A glimmer of a grin could be seen across his face.

Avery walked up behind him with Sanchez in tow. "Makes' back today." Avery said over Blackborn's shoulder. He twitched startled causing the people he was playing with a small chuckle.

"I know, that's why I'm taking these fools credits," He said with his eyes narrowing and his grin spreading. The other players returned from their reprieve to further scowling.

"Good, you can use some of those extra credits and help us buy something for her then!" Avery said, grabbing and shaking Blackborn's shoulder. Blackborn was no longer smiling. He just shook his head and sighed. He gathered up his winnings and tipped his nonexistent hat to the table with the hint of a smile returning.

"So what's the plan?" He asked as the three left the building.

"Well I figured we'd start off with a nice dress and a bottle of champagne. We'll say those are from the newbs. Maybe she'll crack them upside the head," Avery said trying to contain his chuckle, "Then I figured we'd get her that leather jacket with the Zocom emblem embroidered on it she said she wanted. Also a bottle of some whiskey." Blackborn and Sanchez both laughed. It was a good prank to play on Kit and Benny, but it was a good welcome back as well. Lieutenant Makeoveli had been an ideal leader in their eyes. They felt lucky just to serve under her. "So we'll let you buy the jacket seeing as you got all that extra cred now too," Avery said. Blackborn just shook his head and laughed. It was worth it to him.

Thirteen thirty came in the blink of an eye. Kit and Benny found themselves waiting in the barracks with the other three. Blackborn would occasionally point at Kit or Benny and the other two would snicker. Something was up but Kit wasn't sure what. Perhaps it had something to do with the gift he was instructed to give to the lieutenant. No, it had to be that. "Hey Benny you wanna give this to the LT?" Kit said, gesturing to the gift behind them.

"Sure!" Benny said with glee. Benny hadn't figured out the trap yet or if he did he simply wasn't afraid of it. His gentleness made him hard to hate. The door to the Barracks creaked open. Inside walked Adriana Makeoveli. She was of average height for a woman, but that's where anything average about her stopped. She wore tattered jeans and a rugged heavy jacket meant for ranchers. Her hair was dyed crimson red, kept short just past her eye, and just below her ear on the back. Silver aviators covered her eyes and a mostly burned out cigarette hung from her lip. In a swoop of her arm she swung her rucksack around and dropped it to the floor. A thud echoed through the empty room. She took her sunglasses off revealing intense hazel eyes. She stared down Kit and Benny. Benny was regretting his decision to give the gift now. He let out a soft gulp. "Now why was it that I just had to come here? Even before I dropped my stuff off at my own quarters? Hmm?" Makeoveli said, scowling with a stare at Avery and Blackborn. Neither flinched.

"The new guys thought they'd get you a nice gift!" Avery said pointing to the bag behind Benny.

"Yeah it's a custom or something from the Steel Talons," Blackborn chipped in. Her gaze trained on Benny who stumbled to reach for the bag. His hands skittered around. One found it and he reached out to give it to Makeoveli. She pulled it out of his hands fast. Benny's hands held suspended for an awkward second before he let them drop. She peered into it before strolling over towards Avery.

"The next time you wanna do something stupid leave me out of it," she told him as she gave a hard punch to his unsuspecting gut, "and don't try to set up the new guys. That's just bad form." Sanchez and Blackborn burst into laughter watching Avery double over in pain. Kit and Benny stood there blinking not sure what to do.

"We also got you this," Blackborn said, moving a blanket revealing the jacket and whiskey underneath. Makeoveli took a longer look at the jacket and bottle of whiskey. Her eyes seemed to lighten and she approached Blackborn.

"Thanks," she said, grabbing his shoulder. Sanchez stopped laughing not sure where the moment was leading. Blackborn froze confused. Makeoveli started to pull away but instead twisted back grabbing his arm with her other hand. In one swift swing Blackborn had toppled over her face first into the ground. She pinned his shoulder with her knee and applied pressure. Half stunned and half dazed, Blackborn choked out a cry and laugh at the same time. "Don't get any more wise ideas for awhile okay?" She said. Sanchez and Avery started laughing at Blackborn's misfortune.

"I could of stopped you, you know," Blackborn said, still wincing from the arm bar. Makeoveli strained his arm more. Blackborn yelped and tapped the ground with his hand. Sanchez and Avery burst into an even bigger fit of laughter.

"Don't push your luck Corporal." Makeoveli shot Kit and Benny a look before grabbing her belongings and exiting the room. Kit and Benny weren't sure what just happened but they let themselves laugh at Blackborn regardless.

"Looks like I got out of that unscathed!" Sanchez said with a wide grin. Blackborn and Avery looked at each other with a smile before turning to Sanchez. His smile turned thin lipped as he realized what he'd just done. Blackborn and Avery leapt at him before he could react.

Makeoveli smiled as she made it to her own quarters. She appreciated the gesture and the joke. Though she would never admit it to their faces she was glad she had the squad she had. She wasn't so sure about Thomas Bentiford. He didn't seem to have the gull she wanted. He was docile. Logan Boyle had potential at least. He had a lot to prove. She was more than aware of his uncle. She hated him. His actions killed many of her friends. But she couldn't blame Kit for that. If Kit was as determined as she thought, he'd pick up corporal in no time. Well on his way to making good decisions and righting wrongs. Now more than ever GDI needed people like that. "Well might as well have them fill me in, just a few more moments though," she said to herself reclining on her bed and folding her arms behind her head.

By now the guys had recovered from their blows although Sanchez's gut still smarted from his hazing. "So what was that all about exactly?" Kit asked around.

"She's a good lieutenant. We are all close. It means something to us you know?" Avery said his eyes pacing the floor. Kit nodded understanding the camaraderie. He had been equally close with his previous squad. In a way he still missed them.

"She's a real hardass though, yeah?" Benny inquired. Avery chuckled and pointed to the bag with the dress and bottle of champagne.

"You tell me," he replied grinning. Benny started to say something but the barracks monitoring board came to life. Blackborn checked it out seeing a message for the squad to meet in the briefing room. The rest of the squad peered over his shoulder to read the message.

"Looks like she missed us," Sanchez joked.

When Kit walked in, Makeoveli was sitting on a table with a foot kicked up on the seat. Blackborn, Sanchez, and Avery pulled up a seat near her. Kit and Benny tried to do the same, but she stopped them, "no you guys stand. That's an order." They obeyed and stood at attention. "So you two got put onto my squad huh? And from what I hear, you had a little exercise with some tib brutes eh? So, Avery, how'd they do?" Makeoveli said turning to Avery.

Avery smiled and replied, "oh, they did just fine, Kit is a helluva shot, for a Steel Talon's boy that is." Kit shot him a look that Avery promptly ignored.

"Well, I got some footage of that. So I'll get to see first hand won't I?" Makeoveli motioned, turning on a display behind everyone. "Have a seat now, I want you to watch." She started the footage from Kit's helmet. Kit smiled remembering the part that was playing. It was during the charge on Alpha and Bravo Company. Kit hadn't missed a shot and took down a plethora of beasts. The screen flashed to Benny with a less impressive recount. He missed plenty but still managed to kick in a good kill count. The footage played until the Watchtowers came back on before Makeoveli turned it off.

"Not bad rooks. I guess I'm okay with you in my squad," she said staring at Kit and Benny. She then sorted through various footage looking for something specific. "However, Blackborn, care to explain this to me?" The screen turned back on to show Blackborn's footage. He was looking around the room after they had made it into the complex. His view passed a female soldier and snapped back. It stayed locked on the soldiers butt for a long time before someone else got his attention. Makeoveli paused it and glared at Blackborn. He turned a light shade of red and shrugged.

"She looked good, what can I say?" Makeoveli's glare intensified as if she meant to shoot lasers out of her eyes and melt Blackborn down to a puddle.

"Well I know what I can say: Fifty. Now." Blackborn didn't even question it. He got down and started counting off pushups. He wanted to laugh, but he knew better. Benny However, let out one chuckle before Makeoveli was in his ear ordering him to do fifty as well. She looked at Kit expecting him to say something. Kit sucked his lips in and shook his head. He wasn't about to fall for it.

O' four hundred a few days later came with a blaring alarm. Orders came through for each unit to be battle ready and alert. The order was a rarity in itself, reserved for attacks on the base or other events of equal magnitude. Kit was up in a flash and putting on his clothes. There wasn't time to talk; they needed to get their gear from the Armory as soon as possible. As Kit raced out the Barracks he saw the outline of people running about. Orcas, their twin bowl VTOL engines, screamed overhead and tanks rushed by. Makeoveli was waiting at the Armory helping others gather their things. When she saw her squad she pushed her way towards them and threw them their gear. "Come on we got to get in position." Kit took off running while still throwing his gear on. It was still pitch black out but he could see in the distance a glimmering light with a massive smoke cloud billowing up. There were searchlights trained on whatever it was but there wasn't any gunfire. He finally caught up with Makeoveli and slid behind sandbags training his weapon in the direction of the smoke. It was hard to make out but he could see a Nod Carryall had been shot down.

Blackborn caught up moments later still wheezing and asked, "What's going on? What's that?" Makeoveli shook her head. She wasn't sure yet. A group of GDI soldiers were approaching the downed craft. They crept up to the bay door weapons at the ready. One opened the door allowing the rest to disappear inside. A few moments later they came out behind twelve or so people with their hands in their air. An "All clear," came over the radio. An APC pulled up and took the twelve away. The base stood on alert for another three hours waiting for something to happen but it never did. Eventually everyone was recalled and the base returned to normal. Makeoveli passed outside the debriefing room eager to get some answers while the rest of the squad sat and talked in their Barracks. "I saw twelve men, looked like they were in Nod garb. I'm sure of it," Kit said to the group. "It was a Carryall. It had to be," he continued.

"So why just a lone Carryall? It doesn't make much sense?" Benny responded unsure of what to make of the situation. Kit shrugged. He really wasn't sure either. Another alert flashed to life again. All personnel report to the Grand Briefing hall.

"Looks like we get to find out," Avery said, getting up and heading out.

The Grand Briefing Hall lived up to its name. It was used only for operations that required as much as the base that could be mobilized as possible. It held an easy thousand men and anyone who couldn't fit in there could be connected through the smaller briefing rooms meant for detachments like the first mission Kit had gone on. He and everyone in his group had got the last few spots before the smaller briefing rooms would be needed. The room was set up much like a theater with a stage at the very bottom and row upon rows of seats. A small screen stood in front of the man standing alone on the stage. When the image pulled up on the huge screen behind him, Kit immediately recognized who it was. "This is Commander Hamilton," the man started, "Earlier we shot down a Nod Carryall. The people inside claimed there was a coup at a Nod base. InOps confirms that there was definitely a firefight in the sector. Furthermore they claimed they were refugees from the fight and that other refugees including high ranking officials had taken shelter inside a town near the Nod base. They said they are willing to negotiate and supply information should we help them out," A murmur spread out from the crowd with an occasional boo but were silenced by a stern look from the commander. "I know how you feel but someone very high up wants this to happen. They also want to test some new equipment. So you in the armor division can expect to be working with the new vehicles they've got you training in and I'm sure the infantry have some new toys they are eager to try. I'll be overseeing this mission. Now let's go get this done." The commander ended his speech and left the stage with a small army of lower officers following behind.

"All rights boys, time to prove your worth!" Makeoveli said to Kit and Benny.

Suiting up was a blur. Everything was just an autonomous motion. Before he knew it Kit was geared up and sitting in the cabin of a V-35 Ox listening to EVA and the commander lay out the mission parameters. He hardly had a thought through the whole ordeal. It was nothing like the previous mission. This time he knew he was going up against Nod. This time there was a very real chance that he might be killed or wounded. This was an actual fight. Makeoveli got his attention, "Hey focus. EVA is filling us in on some new Nod tech and I don't want to lose someone because they are zoning off got it?" Her voice was softer, kinder. Kit shook his head and cleared his mind focusing on the screen in front of him. The Nod Avenger Tank is Nod's next generation anti-personnel and anti-garrison flame tank. It includes a fuel similar to that of the Black Hand Purifying Flame burning a full three-hundred percent hotter than their former fuel mixture. The duel cannons sport a three-hundred-sixty degree rotation. It has improved armor on its fuel tanks, reportedly a Tiberium composite. Most importantly, the tank is believed to have smart explosive charges that on destruction or crippling of the vehicle, explode sending shrapnel and molten metal at enemy targets. Infantry and light vehicles are advised to avoid at all costs. Other unidentified vehicles are believed to be present but reconnaissance efforts have failed to gather information. Kit stared at the image in front of him. Nod had a tendency for the sleek and tight in their vehicle design and the Avenger Tank was no exception. The fuel tanks were curved down around the double turrets with armor plating interlacing, covering all the vitals. It was a mix of magnificent invention and devastating power, something Kit never wanted to be face to face with. Death by fire, no matter how quick the tank would make it, was not a thought he wanted in his head. He looked beyond the image to find Makeoveli still watching him.

"I'm good and ready. Promise ma'am," he voiced. It seemed good enough for her and she turned away. Kit looked at Benny for assurance but something was different. He didn't look like the timid gentle giant like normal. His eyes had gone to a deep and darker color with his forehead furrowed slightly forward. He didn't look afraid or nervous at all. It seemed to be a mix of anger and amusement. Maybe He's found his place after all, Kit thought.

The V-35's touched down outside a small GDI listening outpost. Only a Communications Center and a few Power Plants with four Watchtowers overlooking each corner of the retaining walls. Previous ox drop offs had already begun revitalizing the base for operational use. Engineering crew's were working on reworking the power grid to suit their needs. Kit got off the craft following his commanding officer towards where command had set up. In the distance he could see rows of tanks waiting to deploy. Crews were compiling equipment and loading munitions. Towards the back he could see some of the new toys GDI High Command wanted to test out. "Looks like they finally got those WASPs battle ready," Kit said, pointing for Benny who looked confused. "Walking Armored Sonic Platforms? You know the new Juggernaut for Zocom. It fires those two five five millimeter sonic rounds out of its three barrels? It's got that sprint ability to avoid charges on the leg?" Kit continued but Benny still didn't understand. He shook his head, "Behemoth. Juggernaut. WASP." He said and finally Benny nodded.

"Got it, Sorry man, sometimes I'm just dumb as a rock ya know?" Benny said, shaking his head. Blackborn started to add to it but Makeoveli cut him off, they had reached the Communications Center.

Inside a big hologram displayed a satellite view of the area. Commander Hamilton was sitting at one of the stations interfacing with the screen and barking out orders to scouts in the field. Makeoveli led the way over to Captain Ortiz looking at a much smaller monitor, pointing at various things to fellow officers. "Orders?" She said in his direction.

He paused and looked up at her then pressed a button on the station. "Updating EVA now, You've got first platoon." He said and motioned for her to leave. EVA chimed in afterward. The squad stood listening to EVA issue the orders momentarily before they all looked at Makeoveli and nodded.

"All right you guys go find which APC outfit we are hooking up with. Blackborn, Sanchez, you two go find those new armor piercing rocket rounds and get set up. I'll meet you there," Makeoveli said, turning and going off to find her other squads.

Kit and Benny found their way to the APCs they were meant to ride in and radioed back informing the rest of the squad. Hamilton was having them comb one of the surrounding towns that the defectors were supposed to be at. Charlie Company had been combined with an armor detachment with the new vehicles and APCs for the transport and protection of the squad and defectors. The APC driver for third squad approached Benny and Kit. "You fellas part of charlie?" Kit turned around to see a guy leaning against the vehicle with a wide smile. The name Vander was printed on his armor plate.

"Yes we are. Just waiting for the others to get over here," he replied pausing to try and read his name tag again, "Vander is it?" Vander nodded and stuck a toothpick into the corner of his mouth.

"Eli Vander at your service. Proud owner of this here APC," he replied banging his hand against the vehicle's side. "We got ourselves the interesting part of the mission don't we? We get to test the new toys and we get to pick up the defectors! I can hardly handle all the excitement!" Vander danced. Benny looked over at Kit shooting a slight concern. Even with the helmet on, Kit understood Benny's action. A few cracks of gunfire went off far away. The three men looked off towards where the sound came from. "Looks like someone is having some fun!" Vander said smiling and rubbing his hands together. Benny shot Kit another look. The rest of the squad showed up saving Kit and Benny from any further interaction.

"I want guns on each side. We gotta be fully covered, got it?" Makeoveli said as she approached the APC.

With a press of a button the vehicle came to life and switched to electronic mode. "Pretty cool huh? In the event of some Nod EMP all we gotta do is switch to diesel power and we can move again!" Vander said snapping his fingers at Makeoveli who tried her best to ignore him. The call to move out came over the radio and the occupants shifted as the APC rolled forward. Kit looked out his slot and watched as the tanks circled into a motorcade. He patched into the satellite feed and counted the tanks in the convoy. "Six predators, twelve APCs, ten of those new Bulldogs, and four WASPs, they sure are giving us a large force. All to find some defectors? Are they expecting an ambush or something?" Kit asked, looking at Makeoveli. She turned, grabbing a hand hold on the top of the APC, gave a quick nod, and turned back around. Kit looked back at the satellite view and scrolled to find the town they were going to. It had all the makings for an excellent ambush, he couldn't deny that. But it seemed like a weak tactical decision. The bulk of the GDI forces were out the other way and much more likely to stumble on the Nod base. Perhaps command knew more than they let on. That wouldn't have been a stretch by any means.

The column had come to a stop just a hundred meters from the edge of the town. "This is where we dismount. I want smooth, clean clears from each building. No surprises, got it?" Makeoveli said, looking at each of the men. "Avery you take care of our boys, I'm going to be babysitting the other squads," She mocked climbing out the back of the APC.

"Hey Makes, we got any stealth detection? I got that feeling again," Avery said, following Makeoveli out. Avery was the only person allowed to call Makeoveli by her nickname. It was a sign of respect. She stopped and put her hand up to the side of her helmet. Avery could just hear the muffled sounds of her talking on a different comm channel.

After a few seconds she patched back in, "Yeah the Bulldogs can launch Sensor Pods. We clear the buildings first then they'll send them. Now move out." Avery rallied the squad up designating which building to sweep first.

The town was generic for a yellow zone installment. The outermost buildings had largely deteriorated from prolonged exposure. Some even showing signs of Tiberium contamination with haze sifting through the dilapidated structures. The building Avery had chosen was once an apartment complex, but one whole outside wall had collapsed into a pile of bricks. Musty air poured inside. It was a short jog to the rubble and Benny and Kit wasted no time staging for a room clear. "All right if this building's clear I want Blackborn and Sanchez to find a nice perch and keep an eye out for Nod tanks. Make sure you find good cover, I don't want to pick up the remains of a body with no head after this is over," Avery said, knocking his helmet against Blackborn's and Sanchez's. He tiptoed up the rubble slide of bricks trying not to make much sound. He tapped Kit's shoulder indicating him to go, and step after deliberate step they disappeared into the depths of the building.

A minute passed in silence. Blackborn looked back at the convey. The tanks had pushed out into a zipper life formation. Their cannons scanning the horizon in case of an attack. Avery appeared from the building above them, "all clear," and returned back inside. Blackborn and Sanchez followed suit and Avery led them to the far end where Kit and Benny were waiting. There were enough holes in the building to let sunlight fill the innards. Only a few dark corners escaped. "There's a decent sized hole in the room next to us. It gives a good vantage point for anything coming into the town from the East and North. Make's got someone on the building across the street covering the West so we should have everything covered," Avery told Sanchez and Blackborn.

Makeoveli chimed in over the radio, "we got a modern complex about two blocks up on your side. There's a whole lot of open ground to cover from our side, but it seems to connect to an older building on your side. I want you there now Avery." Avery responded with an "understood," and Kit and Benny followed him down to the street.

A couple rickety high rises obscured the view of the compound for Kit but he had to trust that Makeoveli knew what she was talking about. At least I got plenty of cover Kit thought. Benny sprinted across the street and slid into a doorway. A second later he signaled for the next person to cross. Kit sprinted at Benny and executed the same slide. Avery waited in case someone was watching. Satisfied, he dashed across. Unlike the first building this one was dark. The sliver of light from the doorway illuminated a small spot on the floor. "You wanna go through or around sergeant?" Benny asked Avery.

"We go around. Make can cover us that way and we don't gotta use our lights. Take point," Avery responded. Benny made his way back outside checking his surroundings and turned the corner down the street.

The further into town they pushed the better shape the buildings appeared to be. At the heart of the city stood the modern marvel. Sonic repulsion receptors patterned the outside of the building keeping Tiberium off. The opaque panes absorbed the light while the shiny metal casings created an aurora around the building. Benny ducked into a doorway close to where the building connected. "Let's get to the roof and try and go in from the top, Stay real quiet. Makes, we are moving on it now." Avery updated. Benny broke the doorknob off with a small grunt and eased the door open. The hinges made the tiniest creak. The light from the outside was just enough to make out a solid plate of steel covering the end of the short hallway.

"No go here, it looks like it's been blocked off," He said, turning to Avery. Avery pointed up making Benny smile. "Hope you're ready for some scaling Kit," Benny snickered. Kit groaned as he struggled to climb up the outside of the building. It wasn't that he was weak, he was just on the shorter side. So while Benny could pull himself up easily reaching every possible foothold, Kit had to jump and hope he caught himself. It wasn't something he enjoyed doing. One misstep was a long way down. Benny and Avery stood waiting at the top while Kit grunted through the extra exertions. He climbed over and rolled onto his back stretching out his arms.

"You've got to learn to climb better," Avery said, patting Kit's knee. Kit responded with a glare that even his helmet couldn't hide.

Benny jogged to the end of the building and hopped onto the new one. "There's an access panel here," He indicated with his rifle

"Negative. Let's make sure everyone else is clear to approach. We can't clear this by ourselves," Avery ordered jumping onto the building himself. "Kit scout the far side, make sure there aren't any surprises waiting. Benny check out that side over there too." Avery gestured pointing in the directions he wanted them to go. Kit and Benny both took off on the rooftop. As Kit approached the edge he slowed and crawled towards the ledge. A short wall encircled the outside. He peeked over. Before him was a huge parking lot. Dozens of rows of parking spots spread out in front of them. Fallen light posts had rusted out with broken glass surrounding the bulb ports. A few rusted car carcasses dotted the lot hearkening back to when the city was abundant with life and function.

"Sergeant, something doesn't seem right about this," Kit said. Avery slid his way to Kit and peered out at the parking lot as well.

"What's wrong?"

Kit pointed out towards the empty lot, "look this place is pretty desolate right? Look in the back though. What are the chances those cars got left in such a perfect defensive position?" Avery and Kit crawled back towards the center of the building.

"Make. It looks like we may have some stealth activity. How do you want us to proceed?" Avery asked over the radio. A few moments later Makeoveli got back to him,

"Have Sanchez and Blackborn rally up with you. The armor column is going to approach from that side of the town. We'll see if those Bulldog Sensor Pods are worth a damn and try and get some detection on there. If there is something there light them up. I'll take the rest of the platoon and clear the building while all that is going on." Avery went to radio Sanchez and Blackborn but they had already heard the transmission and were moving.

It didn't take Blackborn or Sanchez very long to meet back up with their squad, even with rocket launchers on their back they muscled their way up to the roof. Avery positioned them. Each gun trained on one area. He then went over to the backside to watch Makeoveli get set up. She was across the open yard of the building hiding among the decaying ruins of an old superstore waiting for the armor column to get around the town. He crawled back to the other side with his squad and patched into the satellite feed through his helmet. The tanks were almost in position. The Bulldogs were next gen Pitbulls, little more than open topped, recon vehicles. Command had seen success with Pitbulls modded with mortar tubes in the back and took the idea further. Bulldogs could be modded with a wide array of mounts. They were still lightly armored, but now could be fixed for mission specific requirements. Short on anti air? The Bulldog could fill that gap. These ones had been outfitted with anti armor. The rest of the force stayed back with the WASPs in a protective diamond. "Thirty seconds," someone from the advancing Bulldogs called out. "Fifteen seconds," they announced again. A small, dark object catapulted over a building into the parking lot. Kit watched as it activated. Before it hit the ground Kit's helmet started going crazy. Lines and shapes were starting to appear on his visor screen. Blackborn and Sanchez were already firing before Kit's brain caught up. A trail of smoke streaked out as they launched their rockets and almost in unison they exploded sending metal sprawling into the air. The stealth shielding of the tank waned.

"Nod tanks in the direct front!" He yelled, firing his gun. The first Bulldog rounded the corner and let out a torrent of missiles hitting another tank. The surprised Nod force was just now fighting back. A volley of cannon fire struck the Bulldog buckling its side. The crippled vehicle tried to gun it for cover but another round from a Nod tank turned it into a fiery mess of mangled metal. Bulldogs were too thin for direct engagements. Why even try to give them anti armor?

Kit was trying to shoot but his weapon wasn't effective against tanks and there wasn't any infantry for him to try and pick off. He looked toward Avery who was thinking the same thing but an explosion shook the building interrupting their train of thought.

"What was that?" Avery asked over the radio, "Makes!" Kit flashed to where his Lieutenant was supposed to be entering the building; a cloud of smoke was rising from the side. He got up and sprinted to scan over the edge. An explosive charge leaving a huge hole. The door and surrounding area were obliterated. A few GDI bodies were laying motionless around the rubble but the majority were running into the building.

"Booby trap, looks like our little surprise maneuver made Nod detonate it a little early. Only a few casualties," Makeoveli replied back with gunfire in the background. Again Avery and Kit looked at each other sharing similar expressions. They ran back over to the other side just in time to see the sonic shells from the WASP's land and obliterate the Nod tanks below. Shattered metal slammed into the building and stacks of black smoke erupted from the burning remains. More gunfire opened up from a building opposite of the parking lot. Rockets screamed into the sides of the GDI tanks creating bursts of flame. Another Sensor Pod lit up Kit's HUD. A windowless, black vehicle uncloaked revealing itself. Kit tried to zoom in on the vehicle. It appeared to be a smaller version the Nod Reckoner. It was ribbed with firing holes and sleek, low to the ground. It was about the same size of an APC. The only other difference it seemed to have was the stealth generator. A little round knob near the rear swirled and pulsed. The back folded down and Nod troops started to pour out shooting towards The GDI tanks and at Kit. He ducked as bullets pelted the building with hardened thuds. He peered up just to see the tank vanish as it escaped the range of the stealth sensors. More bullets exploded against the building sending Kit back into cover.

Another round of shells from the artillery split into the building Across from the GDI squad. Clouds of dust filtered out through broken windows. "Third squad on me," Avery said, taking cover at the corner of the building. "Sanchez, Blackborn, send some rockets down there for some cover fire. Kit, Benny, and I are going to get down there and support our tanks!" Avery barked. As soon as Sanchez and Blackborn fired their rockets the three men hopped over the side of the building and began descending. Kit could feel his heart racing as they hopped from ledge to ledge hoping his balance held. He'd break a few bones if he fell to the ground. Benny and Avery were ahead of him. A burst of fire from a Nod soldier peppered the building and Kit watched as at least a few rounds sliced into the back of Avery. Kit's eyes became wide with terror as he watched his sergeant fall from his hold and crashed onto the street. Benny was on the street seconds later dragging Avery behind him to cover. Blackborn and Sanchez let out more bullets killing the Nod assailant. Kit jumped on the street and reached his squad mates. Much to his relief, Avery was cussing and pushing Benny off of him. "I'm fine. Bloody damn lucky, but fine." Avery gritted turning on his side revealing the spent rounds fused into his armor. "That's going to leave a bruise isn't it?" He growled and gathered himself on a knee before trying to walk off the pain. "Back to business lads," he said, raising his weapon. Kit smiled. It was good to know his sergeant and lieutenant were both hard to kill.

The three men rounded the corner guns blazing taking out a few unsuspecting Nod soldiers. A wave of bullets coming from a different direction came too late as the GDI troopers had slid into cover. An anti-infantry equipped Bulldog pulled up in front of the building. It's chain gun roared to life sending bullets at impressive speeds into the building and clearing straight through wall after wall. Kit watched as rounds passed through Nod soldiers unimpeded. After the stream of bullets ended Avery pushed into the building clearing each room and to his liking he found only bits and pieces of Nod soldiers. Kit and Benny followed behind them feeling similar gestations. Better them than me. Kit thought"Redirect fire to third and roof levels, Friendlies are approaching second level," Avery ordered on the radio and a sudden shift in the intensity from gunfire indicated the order had been received. "Okay let's go," he told the other two creeping up the stairwell to the second floor. As they advanced on the second floor gunfire seemed to fade in and out. Nod bodies were scattered across the floor.

"Looks like we already got this floor?" Benny said, stepping over a fallen soldier. Avery just shook his head and waved them on. Another burst of gunfire erupted as the remaining Nod soldiers engaged the GDI tanks. "That came from above us," Benny insisted. Kit hit Benny in the back and put his finger up to his helmet to shush him. He wanted him to stay focused on this floor. Footsteps dashed across the floor. The squad froze trying to listen to which direction they had come from. Avery used hand signals for them to all split up. Kit nodded and went down a different way, raising his rifle checking each corner of the room and using his EVA assistant as an extra pair of eyes.

The front half of the building had been demolished lending light to trickle through the dust clouds swarming about. He stepped into a long open room. Debris filled the floor and scorch marks lined the walls. There were bodies everywhere. EVA alerted him to movement in his field of view and highlighted it with a red box. The dust was too dense to see what it was. Kit tiptoed closer trying to avoid crunching on the bits of building beneath his feet. He got within three meters before he realized what it was. A Nod medic was frantically trying to apply a tourniquet to another wounded Nod soldier. They were saying something but Kit couldn't make it out. He took another step. Should he shoot or should he attempt to take a prisoner? He knew what he should do. But Zocom had a reputation. "Bone Raiders" didn't take many prisoners. How would his squad react? He didn't dare try to radio for Avery.

The wounded soldier still had his rifle in his hand and was grunting through the pain. He took another step forward and felt a sharp stinging pain in his ribs. He turned staring into the dull red glass of a Nod soldier's helmet. Dirt had caked the corners of the mask and fresh scratches from shrapnel gouged the left side. Kit wasn't sure he was breathing or if he was holding his breath. He looked down to see the Nod soldier start to press the trigger again. A loud crack snapped time back into motion and Kit watched as the nod soldier folded over in front of him. Avery's silhouette came into view. He had used his butt stock to smack the enemy in the back of the head. The medic turned to see what had happened and the wounded soldier tried to raise his gun but Benny swooped in and kicked it away. Maybe the Zocom rumors were false. Kit thought.

"Up," Avery said over his helmet speaker. The medic helped the wounded soldier stand and the third one stumbled to his feet using the cabinet as a brace. "Move," Avery ordered. He didn't attempt to hide his disgust. The Nod soldiers struggled ahead. Once they had got a little bit in front of him Avery turned to Kit and asked, "You alright there?" Kit just nodded still trying to catch up on all the breathing he had just missed. Benny moved past Kit with a muffled laugh coming out his helmet. Benny seemed to be thrilled through the death and destruction. Kit stood there a few seconds longer than everyone recollecting himself. Once they had disappeared around the corner he thrust his foot through the cabinet and toppled the top half with a swift punch. "Stupid!" he said to himself. He was lucky his armor took the rounds. At that range he had no right to still be alive.

Back outside Avery was leading the prisoners to an APC waiting to transport them away. A final round of shelling demolished the building. Makeoveli came walking over just as Kit caught up. "Building is clear. Nod got to the defectors first. They're painted all over a wall back in there," she said looking at the prisoners load into the APC.

"Three survivors from the ambush," Avery replied to Makeoveli's gaze. Makeoveli grunted. She wasn't too keen on survivors. Nod didn't deserve it. A different APC pulled up after the one with the prisoners left. The driver got out and Makeoveli let out a groan.

"Well I reckon that was exciting for y'all wasn't it?" Vander said with a wide smile as he hopped off the vehicle.

"Stow it, everyone load up we're RTB!" She replied to Vander and yelled at everyone else. Vander sheepishly smiled and climbed back into his driver seat. Avery, Sanchez, Blackborn, and Benny all traded high fives and congratulatory pats on each other. Kit shrunk into his seat. He was exhausted. This was his first brush with death. It wouldn't be his last. Zocom was too active. He could get used to it like Benny seemed to do or die.

Once the convoy made it back to base and they debriefed they were allowed to get some rest. A different GDI rescue force looking for the defectors in a different city had been ambushed en route and fared much worse than the force Kit and company had been a part of. While the Nod ambush Kit encountered had more of the standard Nod hardware the other force had superior weaponry. Superior. That word wasn't common with "Nod" attached to it.

Command was still going about reviewing footage of the new Nod vehicles and weapons. Kit had managed to get his hands on the information. First hand experience had confirmed that the Nod Avenger Tank did have smart explosive charges that were strong enough to disable a Predator Tank. The fuel tanks were composed of hundreds of missiles. Upon critical damage the missiles would activate and search out enemy signatures. It was terrifying. Command had also organized a code name for the new Nod transport Kit had seen in the city. They designated it the "Sandshark Tank." Kit thought the name fit quite well. What troubled Kit was the third newly identified tank, the Phantom. GDI had known in the years since the end of the last war Nod had sent their stealth technology into overdrive. But they had no idea they had furthered their walker tech. The Phantom took their latest stealth technology and added the ruthlessness of their Avatar walkers. A shorter but much faster two legged monstrosity sat on the screen in front of Kit. He played the combat footage and watched as the walker uncloaked in front of the GDI force, fired its laser pulverizing an APC, and just as quick vanished. Bulldogs sent out Sensor pods but the Phantom shot them to bits with a secondary machine gun. A lucky shot landed on its laser cannon as it was about to end another tank sending sparks flying and molten metal dripping from the arm. It shrouded itself and disappeared. The GDI force then got hit with the rest of the Nod ambush and weren't able to track after it. Only a tenth of the force sent out returned being after being crippled by the smaller ambush force. Kit shook his head and rolled over. It was going to be a long fight.

The rattling of his cot shook Kit awake. Bleary eyed and not fully sure what was happening he stumbled outside to find the rest of his squad staring into the dim sky sipping coffee. He rubbed his eyes and tried to focus on his watch. O six thirteen. "What's going on?" he asked, continuing to try and shake his dreariness, "and where can I get the coffee?"

"They finally found the Nod base. They've been sending in Firehawks on bombing runs for the last hour now, here," Avery handed a cup of coffee to Kit and looked back up to see a Firehawk fly overhead, "nice of you to join us." Kit took a sip hoping the caffeine would have an instant effect even though he knew better. Instead the bitterness took up the cause. He turned toward the sky squinting to see the black outlines of planes soar past. The sun hadn't yet broken the horizon but enough light had begun to fill in the darkness to cast outlines. The temperature took a huge dip from the day before and even in standard issue gear he felt the bite of the cold.

Makeoveli walked over with the group and peered at them. Benny was the first to notice her presence and gestured a greeting. She laughed at the awkward fumble, "You guys got your noses so far up in the sky you better be careful if it rains!" Avery just rolled his eyes.

"Lieutenant, we are but simple enlisted men. It is the officer corps knowing for arrogancy isn't it?" Avery mocked. Makeoveli scoffed and Kit grinned. She pulled up a crate and sat down. The top of the sun was just now peeking up over the Earth and the Firehawks in the sky were in full illumination showing their GDI coloring. Yellow-gold bands lined the wings and neck of the plan. To kit they reminded him of the extinct condors. Massive wings jointed and folded. A thin neck extended with two balancing fins. The sunlight made the wing tips look ablaze. They were beautiful.

One of the ones returning from a bombing run showed faint trails of smoke rolling off its flank. The plane was flying much lower than any of the others. Kit saw it and looked on as the pilot was having an arduous time keeping the bird level and flying straight. The small amount of smoke turned into a raging inferno sending the Firehawk spiraling down. The serenity of the morning was broken. The pilot struggled to keep the bird up for just a few seconds longer as he doubled back towards the outpost looking for an emergency landing. A ground crew must have been in communication with the pilot as a relief crew was already standing in place. The group continued to watch as the Firehawk continued to ark towards the ground. VTOL was out. A soft crash was the best chance. Without warning the left wing, caught in the middle of the blaze, ripped away from the body sending the Firehawk into a spin. The pilot over shot his intended landing space. Crack. The plane smashed into the ground with tremendous force. The burning wreckage came straight for the squad tent. Makeoveli remained still. Kit dove behind a pile of crates and waited for the sound of the plane crashing into the makeshift barracks but it never came. He poked his head over his cover to see the plane some fifty meters short and a swarm of the emergency crew already trying to extinguish the flames. Makeoveli took off towards the mangled cockpit. The flames had seared the glass black but the inside looked unscathed. She tried to wipe the burn marks away and pressed her face to the glass to see inside. The sudden palm hitting the glass from the pilot made her jump back. "He's alive in here!" She yelled to the rescue crew. Three men came over and tried to pry the cockpit open. The Metal around the glass capsule groaned and creaked as they tried to peel it away. With a sudden pop the capsule fell off revealing the pilot. A mixture of blood and soot covered his body. He had at least a few broken bones. A deep laceration ran down the side of his head. Kit had run up just in time for the medics to take the pilot away.

"Alive?" He said unable to get much more out.

"Yeah," Makeoveli nodded with similar frustration. She struck her boot against the fallen Firehawk. "No Ceramic Armor? Must be out of Langley Air Force Base," she said kicking the plane again. She didn't understand why Ceramic Armor wasn't standard. Kit guided his lieutenant away seeing she was seething. She would get her dues. He was sure of it. She ripped away from his arm and marched off pushing Blackborn hard in the chest knocking him over and leaving him with a confused expression. Someone was going to get yelled at, but it wasn't her squad.

A few hours later Kit sat armored up listening to the briefing again through EVA. They had bombed as much as they could of the Nod base but Nod had deployed some new anti-air weapon that was defeating the bombing runs. Of the thirty-two Firehawks that went out only eight returned without being hit and ten more had to execute emergency landings. The rest splashed out. As the GDI assault force moved closer to the Nod base the wreckage of the planes that didn't make it back could be seen with fading smoke towers burning out the last of the fuel. Kit wondered if any of them had survived but it was a miracle the first one did and these looked much worse.

The battle plan for this mission was simple: let the WASPs do the brunt of the work, cover them from any Nod force that was sent out to meet them, then over take the base. Simple enough, but Kit knew that simplicity never stuck. The science facility was supposed to be simple. Rescuing the defectors was supposed to be simple. At least this time Kit wouldn't be in the middle of the firefight. Charlie company had been assigned a rear guard. Kit looked about the APC cabin and watched as everyone bumped up and down over the uneven ground. They all had their head down clutching their weapons with an iron fist. Kit felt he knew why. For years GDI had always had the technological advantage, or at least the resources to mass produce it, while Nod often had scraped together arms with a mix of a few high tech units. The weapons that Kit encountered in the search for the defectors, the weapon that had shot him and Avery, were all ancient by comparison. But then whatever took out the sister search force and the Firehawks, those weapons were lethal. Before Nod had a massive amount of makeshift soldiers. Now however, Nod had been backed into a corner and diminished. Fractured. They were small enough that every soldier had the best equipment. It meant that GDI wasn't fighting a multinational terrorist organization. That hadn't been true since after the first war. Now however, they were fighting a well equipped foe. GDI had already seen what an empowered army could do with the Scrin. Kit wasn't sure if GDI could handle another war with Nod and the Scrin, and he was sure there would be another.

As usual Makeoveli was there to bring everyone out of the depths of their mind. "Stay sharp boys. This isn't anything," she announced with a mix of sternness and enthusiasm. "Time to keep your eyes out on your sectors." Everyone responded by sticking their guns out their portholes. Kit looked out to see a Tiberium field glittering in the bright sunlight. In the middle stood the innards of city skyscrapers with Tiberium growing on and out of like vines to a wall. Where once was a metropolis stood a sea of green and poison. How many lives had been displaced when the Tiberium first spread there? Did they even know what it was? How many died from the poisoning? Kit shook his head trying to stay focused. The afternoon sun had taken away the early spring chill and now was providing a shimmering warmth inviting sleep. Kit shook his head again. He had to stay alert. The APC creeping to a stop helped. He felt his heart beat pick up.

Vander turned back and announced, "rides over." Kit got out stretching his legs which helped him wake up. He hadn't realized how far they had gone, the outpost had faded out of view and around him seemed to be endless desolation with the occasional Tiberium field. Just off the edge of the horizon rose a blip of smoke where the Nod base had been bombed. The winds raced across the ground unobstructed. Rain a few days prior had limited the amount of dust kicked up. Visibility was good all things considered.

Over the night GDI had flown in static stealth sensors and soldiers were quick to work erecting them to form a perimeter. WASPs stomped into position and attached bracing spikes into the ground. APCs formed protective concaves for the infantry while Predators attempted to form an armored wall. Kit nestled up next to the APC Vander was in and gazed unto the horizon. The wind had already marred the tracks left by the tanks. It was a bleak place and Kit didn't want to be part of it. The thunderous rattle of the WASP cannons firing startled him and he knew there was no turning back now. "Just keep your eyes out there. If you see anything suspicious, report it," Makeoveli reminded her squads. There was a paralyzing fear when facing stealth. It didn't matter if you had detection. At some point the enemy would just appear. An ambush. It was always an ambush.

Bulldogs patrolled the parameter launching a sensor when someone thought they saw something. The wind whipped around increasing and the constant patrolling of the Bulldogs were only adding to the dust. "This sucks," Sanchez scoffed. Blackborn mumbled something but Kit couldn't quite hear it. Makeoveli got up from her perch and stood in front of Sanchez glaring at him. He started to say something but Makeoveli flashed her boot into his chest knocking the wind out of him.

She knelt down and pulled him up by his chest plating, "If you go and jinx this mission because you want to get in another stupid fight I will personally see to it that when we get back the only thing you will ever want to do again is join the peace corps. Do you understand me?" Makeoveli snarled with a vehemence that he had no intention of agitating further. Sanchez gulped and nodded. Makeoveli responded by shoving him back into the dirt and ordering him to keep watching. Blackborn mumbled just loud enough to catch Makeoveli's ear resulting in a death glare at himself.

"I said we ought to get off easy for once!" he exclaimed, trying to divert her eyes to anything else. A transmission relinquished her glare and she stormed back to her post.

Another sensor was launched from a Bulldog and plopped into the dirt. A small plip as it rolled. Kit looked up at a WASP as it fired, the huge cannons jolting back with each concussive force. The spent brass went tumbling into a large pile at their feet. He could only imagine what it must be like working inside one of those. If anything were to happen it would be a long fall down. What exactly do they do if the machine topples over? Do they have a place for them to strap in? He thought. Regardless, he was happy he had chosen infantry over something like that. It was always better to be under your own two feet.

The whole outfit seemed to be getting antsy. Everyone expected a Nod counterattack but nothing had come. The combination of waiting and anticipating the attack was making the dread and fear infinitely worse. Lieutenant's were talking to each other and over relaying information. Kit could tell they were suffering the same anxiety as everyone else. Kit was no exception. He had resorted to fidgeting in an attempt to persuade his consciousness. "Okay everyone listen up. Scouts and satellite imaging report that Nod has abandoned the base. Command is going to send in a sweep team but it isn't us today. Load up and let's head home," Makeoveli said, opening the APC hatch. Jubilancy spread to each squad as they got the word and within minutes the whole setup was deconstructed and everyone loaded up. The convoy started up and Kit took one last look back, watching the wind erode any evidence that they had been there. The fear would remain. He couldn't deny the anxiety he felt. It permeated through him and he found himself still shaking as they left.

The days following the return to the base were filled with long boring debriefings that Kit tried his best to give any effort on. Although his short supply exhausted at the first chance it could. He nodded off everytime. It seemed he just couldn't get enough to sleep. Any free time he had he spent napping, much to the amusement of Blackborn who didn't hesitate to pull practical jokes. Fortunately for Kit, Avery took it upon himself to prank Blackborn for every one he did to Kit. Benny spent time with Sanchez at the firing range trying to better their shooting. Makeoveli was only seen when required and spent the majority of her time wading through officer paperwork, a perk that she was never told about when she first became one.

Kit kept an eye on the news when he could manage. Globally, GDI forces were encountering Nod forces at a higher rate. Although the expected Nod havens like Australia and Northern Africa had been devoid of contact. Director Granger raised the threat level to elevated from guarded as a response. Despite the recent Nod activity more and more people were chastising Granger's unwillingness to research into the benefits of Tiberium. Kit found it all revolting. The willingness of people to forget or outright ignore the millions lost at the hands of the plague that spread the Earth had him shaking in anger. He couldn't stomach it. Avery took notice of Kit's rage after a news report of GDI soldiers embracing the Tiberium Future Party. As far as Kit was concerned the Tiberium Future Party were just Nod supporters who were well off enough to live in blue zones. Cowards and avarice corrupted people. "Hey man, let me ask you something?" Avery said, grabbing Kit on the shoulder and pointing for him to come join him on a walk. Kit followed him out and as soon as they were out of earshot of other soldiers Avery spoke, "Why did you join up kid?" Kit wrinkled up his face in confusion not understanding what Avery meant. "Are you in this for life or what?" Avery asked.

"Until I don't think there is a threat from Nod or the Scrin, or I'm too old," Kit responded wondering what Avery was getting at. Avery took a few more steps and sat down on a small knoll by the path.

"You don't have to lie to me. I can see it clear as day the way you carry yourself. The weight around your neck."
"I don't know what you're on about?" Kit shifted uncomfortable with the questioning.

"Look, at the end of the day, people like me, Sanchez, Benny, we won't matter much in the grand scheme of things. If it comes to another war we'll have a very small part in winning it," Avery continued but Kit sensed something amiss with the way Avery was talking. Like he had lost faith in what he was doing or that the close call he had the last battle had diminished his spirit. "You remind me of me. You've got something to prove." Avery turned away looking off into the distance. The sun was at just the right angle to create a medley of light off the reflective surfaces in the base. The glittering infrastructure reminded him of the way the sun danced across the ocean along the bluffs of the British coast. He hadn't been back there in a long time and he found the sudden nostalgia overwhelming.

"What are you getting at?"
"I'm getting at that we both should be dead after that last mission. We both got shot and by some miracle the armor stopped the rounds." Avery clutched his still bruised ribs. "I've been doing this a lot longer than you. Somehow made it through that last war. Terrible war. You haven't even been in two years and we both walked the same fate. It's a waste." Pain struck Avery like the words themselves were hurting him. "I see it in your face. The fear. The sadness. You're not meant to stay here and prove yourself. You already have. Get out when you can. Don't let this consume you." Avery stood up and started walking off. Kit didn't even get a chance to reply.

Makeoveli sat at a small desk in a minuscule office. A small fan circulated around the room catching the edges of various paperwork. She sat tapping her pen reading over a document. The more she read the harder she tapped. Tap tap tap. She would rather be back out in the middle of nowhere covering artillery than writing reports. Tap tap tap. Or worse, having to review an after action report. "Lieutenant? A word please," Avery said, poking his head just inside her door. Makeoveli leapt up from her desk throwing the pen into the air. He was the perfect excuse to leave.

"What can I do for you Sergeant?" She inquired. Avery led the way to a bench outside the office and sat down. He took a long look at Makeoveli who returned the favor.

"I think I'm expired." He blurted out. Makeoveli showed a hint of surprise in her eyes. A gentle breeze fluttered through a loose strand of her hair and she smiled, grabbing the strand and sliding it around the back of her ear.

"What makes you think that?" She asked. Avery looked down like he expected the response. When he looked back up he noticed Makeoveli standing watching a pair of birds soar through the air. "This have anything to do with your and Kit's close calls?" Avery looked at her wondering how she knew and what she knew. He nodded yes. "You didn't tell him did you?" she questioned again. Avery just looked off in the distance. It was more than enough to answer the question. Makeoveli shook her head with an aggravated chuckle. She looked back off towards the birds. "I still disagree with this transfer. We could use you here. You're not useless you know." Makeoveli had granted the transfer but she didn't want it. There was nothing she could do. Avery had made his choice. She owed him that dignity. Makeoveli started to walk away leaving Avery there with his thoughts but she turned around for one last point of advice, "I'll miss you, you know. The men will miss you too. " Avery stood and watched as she disappeared around the corner. Makeoveli had made him think more than he had anticipated.

The day Avery left was filled with invisible tears. It was clear Avery and Makeoveli wanted to cry, but if they did it wasn't in front of anyone. Blackborn took it the hardest. Avery didn't tell him until he had his bags packed. He and Blackborn were close friends, closer than anyone else in the unit and for Avery to say nothing really spoiled Blackborn's blood. He left before Avery boarded the plane. Sanchez stayed to say goodbye but as soon as he did left to go drown his anguish with Blackborn. Benny and Kit shook hands with Avery and wished for the best. It was all they could do. Kit and Makeoveli stayed after to watch the plane disappear into the sky. He wondered if he should try and console her or if he'd be met with a fist into his face and a knee to the groin. He decided against it. Kit walked away sneaking looks back to see Makeoveli unmoving. She stayed out there well into the night. Her eyes focused on the void where the plane once was. It was like the plane had stolen her will to move or maybe Avery had paralyzed her with regret.

Within forty eight hours the replacement sergeant for Charlie Squad was unpacking his things and familiarizing himself with his new squad. He was another veteran of the last war and took part in the battle at the Cheyenne Mountain Complex where The Marked of Kane were defeated. Horrible cybernetic monstrosities. Hold outs from the Second Tiberian War. They had gone offline with the defeat of the crazed Nod AI Cabal. Kane had somehow found them and brought them back in order to steal the Tacitus. He failed. GDI failed too. The stress of the battle had destroyed the Tacitus. A critical piece to understanding the Tiberian calamity was gone.

Sergeant Moreau was old. Most people his age were much higher in rank. His skin was weathered by the elements and his hair had balded out a long time ago. His most remarkable feature was his lifeless eyes. Their brown near black color and their glassy sheen made them look more like polished marbles than eyes. They were devoid of emotion, possibly from the many battles he had fought. "The name is Sergeant Ryan Moreau. I have no intention of trying to replace your former sergeant. I'm just here to keep everything neat and orderly and to make sure that whatever the lieutenant orders is done," he told the group while they sat on their bunks in the Barracks. Most NCO's would make a squad be at some sort of standing discipline. Moreau did not. His words invited warmth but no warmth took. His voice was cold. He made it clear he wasn't going to be a friend to them. He was there to make sure they were efficient weapons of war. Nothing more, nothing less. The squad responded with the same level of coldness as he did. It would be a while before they warmed up to him and he didn't present himself as an easy person to warm up to.

Makeoveli was quick to dismiss Moreau as well. She tried to bury herself in the paperwork she avoided before. She dreaded any interaction with him. A week passed before they had any extended conversation with each other. Moreau wanted to get out and do something. Fighting was all he knew and sitting at the base was frustrating him. He even tried to get his squad assigned in place of others going out on missions. Anything to get out. At last a mission turned up.

Third squad found themselves crammed into the briefing room again as Ortiz gave his short speech on what they would be doing and let EVA fill in the specifics. A remote science team in the Appalachian Mountains had been attacked and forced to retreat deep inside a cavern. A GDI base closer to the mountains had already attacked and defeated the Nod base where the strike originated from, but heavy fighting and important intelligence from the razed Nod base left the GDI outfit unable to lend further support. Plus InOps believed that the Nod strike force was still in the area looking for the science team. Ortiz would take his command into the mountain and pull the scientists out before Nod found them. Hamilton would assist in helping the rest of the GDI outfit move the intel gained to a secure location and if needed send additional support for Ortiz should he encounter the Nod strike force. It was no walk in the park, but it could be done and over without even alerting the remaining Nod in the area.

Kit checked the news one last time before heading for the oxes. "Granger upped the threat level again. Reports showed Nod is increasing in skirmishes with us but are losing a lot of assets. If this is the start of the fourth war, it won't be very long or bloody at this rate," Kit updated Benny as they walked to the tarmac. The cold weather clothing was uncomfortable in the modest spring sun and it was making everyone squirm and itch. Even after they put on their armor suits and let the humidity and temperature control initiate it did nothing to stop the itching and stuffiness.

"If this is the fourth war I hope I get to kick plenty of Nod ass!" Sanchez jeered. The V-35's were already waiting as third squad approached the airfield. They got there just in time to see the new Diprotodon's lift off. The plane dwarfed the V-35 Oxes. Reverse engineering Scrin aircraft had led to their creation. Now GDI had a super massive transport capable of carrying not one but three Mammoth Tanks or three Juggernauts straight to the battlefield. The engines roared overhead sending reverberations through the ground. Kit couldn't help but be at awe. The aircraft weren't very fast, but what they lacked in speed they made up for in armor and capacity. Even Firehawks would have trouble bringing them down and it was fortunate that Nod relied primarily on ground anti air. Even the Scrin Planetary Assault Carriers, the ship the Diprotodon was derived from, would struggle to finish one off. Kit wondered if the plane could endure cosmic conditions. It was the first step into planetary travel, perhaps it was the first step into taking a fight directly to the Scrin.

Kit found his familiar seat in the ox. Turbulence jostled him back and forth. This would be his first chance to see how Moreau was in a battle situation. From what Kit had observed it wouldn't be pleasant. Moreau demanded respect and obedience but didn't give much of a reason to give him it. He was lax in standards as long as it suited him. It was the exact opposite of what the unit needed. But in battle, it may be different. Having someone who could constantly make decisions and keep the squad moving would be greatly beneficial. If he could keep the squad alive everyone might warm up to him and considering his previous engagements it seemed plausible he could do just that.

The V-35's inserted at the GDI base responsible for the mission. The majority of the base was vacant with the combat forces out in the field. The few reserves left gave a welcoming to Hamilton's army. Within minutes of landing Kit was already departing on the search and rescue mission. An armor attachment of Predator tanks, APCs, and Bulldogs accompanied Kit on the mission and he found himself in the company of Vander's APC again. "You fellas hold on tight now, this mountain terrain isn't exactly the smoothest riding," Vander said, adding in an exaggerated laugh. Moreau and Makeoveli both weren't having his quips and simultaneously told him to shut up, causing a ripple of chuckles through the APC cabin. It was the first thing Moreau did that Kit applauded. Vander scoffed at his condemnation but ended his banter. The winter frost was just beginning to give in to the spring thaw. The snow dripped from each tree branch and the road was muddied by the droplets of water dribbling down. The deeper into the forest the more the convoy slowed. The wheeled vehicles were slipping about in the sludge. Ortiz ordered the wheeled vehicles tethered to as many tanks as they could and to just drag them behind them. Once they cleared the forest and made it into the grassland at the base of the mountain they could move about without slipping. Just before the end of the forest the group came into the first signs that there had been a battle. Craters pockmarked the road and surrounding area. Trees split and splintered. The husk of a GDI APC laid on its side just off the road. The convoy stopped to examine the wreckage. "What exactly were the scientists doing up here again?" Blackborn asked as he dismounted from the APC and kicked a piece of metal wreckage.

"They were drilling into the mountain to see what extent Tiberium had penetrated the Earth's crust," Makeoveli replied, peering into the fallen APC. "They have a small installation somewhere up the mountain. Chances are the nod contingent found it and destroyed it but there is a bunker in the mountain for just such an occasion. If they are alive that's where they'll be," Makeoveli continued on and mounted back into the APC.

After the forest a thawed meadow laid out to the base of the mountain. Yellow flowers were already dotting through the remaining clumps of snow. More evidence of a firefight was strewn throughout the meadow. "The installation is supposed to be up the road to the right. The left one leads to a reservoir," Makeoveli pointed out to Vander who just nodded his head in acknowledgment. The group stopped long enough to untie the vehicles and examine the evidence from the battle. It appeared this time most of the fragments were of Nod origins suggesting that The GDI patrol garrisoned up at the complex had arrived. Ortiz ordered over the radio that everyone continue on. It was imperative they got there soon. Vander's APC groaned slightly as he pressed his accelerator down. To Kit's surprise the Predators in the group had no trouble keeping up the pace. He only wished they had artillery to march along with him, but the giant machines would only slow them down and act as prime targets for Nod pickings.

At the increased speed and the luxury of a solid road it only took fifteen minutes to scale the mountain and reach the mining base. At first glance Kit wouldn't have expected there to be anyone alive. The remaining GDI vehicles were obliterated and the majority of the compound left in ruin. Even the bunker had been breached with the massive steel doors blown open. However, no sooner had they arrived they started picking up radio signatures from inside the bunker. Ortiz ordered everyone to form defensive positions and Makeoveli volunteered her command to sweep the bunker.

Just inside the entrance and beyond the rubble were bodies of Nod soldiers. As Kit stepped over them he noticed their guns were state of the art. "This was a main element of Nod. Look at their weaponry," Kit said, squatting down and picking up a Nod rifle, "this is Tiberium enhanced stuff. This the kinda stuff they discovered at the Nod base?"

"I think so," Makeoveli responded, scanning into the depths. They approached the back of the bunker where it split into three different tunnels. Someone from first squad tried hailing the scientists but there was still too much interference. Makeoveli walked over to a damaged control panel and tried to see which tunnel they might be in. "Okay, looks like the tunnel on the right leads to where they were drilling. Moreau, Kit, Benny, you three take that tunnel. Blackborn, Sanchez and myself, will take this middle tunnel, It looks like it leads to their living quarters. First and second, that last tunnel looks like it splits into storage and maintenance. Make sure you cover both tunnels," Makeoveli said and started down her tunnel.

Mining lights were attached to the ceiling of the wing Kit went down. They flickered and provided a dim light that cast a faint glow on the floor. "Turn on your lights and keep close, we don't know what's down here," Moreau ordered through gritted teeth. The room transitioned into the actual cave giving way to dirt floors and jagged, rocky walls. The further they ventured in the more dank the cave became. Tiberium reared its head. Green laced in the walls. "There's a room up ahead, sweep the corners," Moreau said. They flowed into the room checking every nook. Empty.

"Clear," Benny said, lowering his gun. The room opened up into a natural cave with stalactites and stalagmites scattered around. There was a drill in the corner and spot lights that were disconnected. Kit walked over and looked down the hole, He could see the green twinkle of Tiberium as it reflected from his lights.

"This room's empty," he said, continuing to look down the hole. Moreau tried to raise Makeoveli on the radio but all he got was static interference. Benny found a glow stick in a crate and walked over to the hole Kit was looking into.

"I wonder how deep it goes," Benny said, cracking the glow stick and tossing it down. The dull orange light created a small ring as it fell down the pit. Kit and Benny stood as the light got farther and farther away. "Must go on for a mile."

Moreau grabbed his shoulder, jerking him back, "Lets go." Kit gazed for a second longer as the glow stick tumbled into darkness. Tiberium had infected deep into the crust. There would never be a time the planet was rid of the infestation.

Back at the tunnel split the other squads and Makeoveli were already waiting. What was left of the GDI patrol and the science crew were talking and Kit got back just in time to hear Makeoveli say, "We got to warn them!" She started sprinting towards the front and everyone ran after her. Kit noticed the ground began to rumble as they neared the entrance. Nod artillery shells were bombarding the cave entrance. Makeoveli yelled for everyone to get inside as the armada of shells rained down. Soldiers were trying to evacuate their vehicles and run into the bunker. Vander escaped his APC just in time for it to evaporate behind him. Some of the tanks tried to run but the artillery had adjusted their fire. Within seconds the convoy was reduced to a smoldering wreck. The wounded were screaming as soldiers carried them deeper into the bunker. Kit grabbed onto Vander and helped him into the cave and sat him up against the wall.

"They killed my baby," he stammered, "my lovely APC. She's gone." Kit looked him over to see if he had any shrapnel or wounds but he looked fine. A few final rounds exploded causing more smoke and dust to enter the cavern. People were coughing and yelling trying to figure out what to do. Makeoveli was down over a soldier with her hands covering a wound. Blood was leaking out between her fingers and the soldier was reeling their head around dazed. Kit ran over and realized it was Captain Ortiz.

"Medic! Captain Ortiz has been hit!" Makeoveli yelled. A medic came bursting through the crowd and threw down his kit. He told Makeoveli to leave and that he would handle it. She got up and made her way to the next injured soldier and tried to help. Kit swayed back and forth, his ears were still ringing from the concussions.

"Eyes forward! Lets make sure nothing else is coming. Defensive positions everyone!" Moreau yelled. Kit shook his daze and followed orders. Most of the smoke and dust had dissipated and Kit could see the burning debris of what was left of the tanks. Makeoveli was talking to the medic working on Ortiz. He had a piece of shrapnel in his gut and the medic had done their best to stem the bleeding. Ortiz was unconscious and the other lieutenants never made it inside. Makeoveli was now in charge.

"Someone get me Hamilton. Now!" She ordered. The bunker was inhibiting their radios, they needed to get outside and to higher ground. She called her squad over to her. "According to the guys here Nod has Spectre artillery down by that reservoir. They sent out the majority of their patrol to take them down but they never came back, so it's safe to assume they are all dead," Makeoveli was speaking with a rare calmness almost like she was prepared for the unexpected command. "Now that artillery can't be that accurate from that far without someone spotting for them, so there has to be a Shadow Team nearby. If we can get comms with Hamilton he can send some Orcas to deal with the artillery," she went on, "So I'm going to need two teams. One to find the spotters and eliminate them and another to raise Hamilton." Before she could finish there were people shouting to volunteer. She tried to hush them and quiet them down, "who here is the best climbers?" she asked. Someone in the back raised their hand. Makeoveli motioned for them to come forward, "You and your squad will try to establish a line with Hamilton. Who is the best shooter?" A few confident soldiers raised their hands. Kit just stood watching her but Makeoveli seemed to catch his gaze through his helmet. "Kit you're it. Third squad, go find those SOBs and bring them down," Makeoveli said. She was thriving. Scared but organized. Moreau ordered everyone to meet up with him at the entrance. Kit looked back to see Makeoveli organizing the remaining men into helping the injured and keeping a perimeter. Scared but organized.

Blackborn took point as they exited the bunker and hugged the walls. If there was a Shadow Team out there the only place they could be that gave them a decent vantage point was a small outcropping up by a large crag. The radio team followed close behind keeping an ear out for any incoming artillery rounds. Moreau ordered Blackborn and Sanchez to try and flank from behind. Kit, Benny, and himself would try to keep them busy from the front. The radio team split off scaling the mountain, trying to stay in cover as much as possible. The sun was working against Kit as he tried to reach his position. It was right in his eyes and the warmth was melting the snow. What little climbing he had to do was treacherous. His height was working against him again. It was never an easy foot hold with him. Benny and Moreau had already scaled to the small plateau while Kit struggled. He tried to grab hold of a sapling growing between a crack in the rocks but it couldn't support his weight and ripped out. He let out a quick gasp as he lost his balance and began to fall. Moreau dove after him catching his forearm just in time. Kit kicked trying to pull himself up and with Moreau's help managed to get up and over. "Thanks," he squeaked. Moreau just turned around and continued climbing. They were almost in position to see if the Nod Shadow Team was there. An abrupt burst of gunfire removed all doubt. Kit dove behind a rock as bullets whizzed by. He stuck his gun out and tried to blind fire but was met with a retaliatory salvo. Snap snap! "I'm pinned!" He yelled trying to find where Benny and Moreau were. He could only judge by the sound of their firing that they were in a similar spot. Moreau tried to say something over the radio but the bullets impacting the rock in front of Kit were deafening. A green beam struck the top of the rock behind him scorching the rock and discharging with a chemical fizz. The bullets stopped just enough for Kit to hear Moreau order a fire and move command. He stood up and fired at where he assumed the Nod soldier was and out of the corner of his eye he saw Moreau run to Benny. Another burst of return fire splattered against his cover. His EVA assistant was able to distinguish five enemy signatures. He peeked out and fired again providing cover for Moreau to sprint to his position.

"When I count to three I want you to sprint to that tree right there, don't stop. Just get there!" Moreau pointed for Kit. Kit nodded and prepared himself. "One... Two... Three!" Kit jumped from his cover and heard Moreau's gun chatter as he emptied his magazine on the Nod position. He struggled trying to hop from rock to rock up to the tree. A few bullets whistled by his head but he kept going. He slid behind the tree gasping for air and listening to the trunk absorb another shower of bullets. He looked back down and Moreau hunched up behind his cover. "Shoot!" He yelled. Kit took a deep breath and peeked out from behind the tree. From up here he could see the whole ridge the Nod soldiers were on. In the back there were two soldiers covering the flank and a third talking on the radio. With a deep exhale Kit unloaded his weapon dropping two. Another of volley of bullets bit into the ground in front of him. A huge crack behind him knocked him up against the tree. "Artillery, stay in cover!" Moreau ordered. More shells rained down on the mountain. Kit curled up trying to protect himself as best as he could, the shock waves pounded all around him, glitching his heads up display. A round detonated near the top of the tree sending splinters everywhere. The shelling stopped and Kit rolled over to continue firing. Two of the Nod Shadow Team members were attempting to get their gliders and jump off the ridge. Blackborn and Sanchez had reached their position just in time to cut them down before they jumped, sending the lifeless bodies tumbling off the edge. The firing stopped but all Kit could hear was a resounding zing. He stumbled over to the edge to look back at Moreau. Benny was already over Moreau trying to shake him. A deep red trail crept out from behind him pooling down by his legs. Kit climbed down to him and Benny shook his head.

"Thanks," Kit said, putting his hand on Moreau's helmet, "Thanks for everything."

Kit and Benny carried the body back down to the bunker where Makeoveli was waiting. She looked at Kit and he shook his head as he walked by. "Hamilton sent a whole Squadron of Orcas at the Nod force. They destroyed every last soul there. Every piece of equipment. He wants us to rendezvous back at the meadow," Makeoveli filled Blackborn in trying her best to console him and still lead. Kit and Benny laid Moreau's body next to the other dead and Kit slumped down next to him. Blackborn came over and put his hand on him, "There's nothing else we can do for him now. But we gotta go." Kit looked up and nodded. His helmet hid them, but tears were streaming down his face. Blackborn let out and hand a pulling Kit to his feet.

"Everyone, let's get ready to go," Makeoveli said, walking out of the mouth of the bunker. The remaining soldiers started to follow bracing the injured and limping on. Kit tried his best to shake his sadness and carry on. The more steps he took the heavier his feet seemed to get. No one noticed the blood trickling down the side of his rib cage. He collapsed to the ground and rolled over on his back. The last thing he heard before he went unconscious was Benny calling for a medic.

The next thing he knew he was being carried into the meadow by Benny and Blackborn. He tried to speak but his strength had left him. He felt the gust of wind from an ox's engine bear down on him. The pressure and heat rippled over his suit. His head bobbled about unable to keep control. He was cold. An immense thirst washed over him. He had never been so thirsty in his life. "Water," he tried to say but no words came out. He was breathless. Benny and Blackborn hoisted him up onto the V-35 The other injured loaded up and someone removed his helmet revealing his waning complexion. They shouted something but he couldn't make it out. He couldn't seem to focus anymore. His eyes blurred and he just stared off deep into the distance. His mind seemed to go silent as death took him, he couldn't muster the strength to think. He just knew he was slowly fading away.

A day later Kit jolted awake. Immediately the intense pain in his side sent him swirling. "I'm alive?" He blurted out. He winced as another wave a pain washed over him. He tried to look at his side but a bandage was wrapped around his ribs. "I'm alive." He said to himself feeling how weak he was.

"Yes you are. Barely." A voice from his left said. Kit strained trying to see who spoke but the way he was positioned prohibited any movement to his left. "Relax and just heal up kid," The voice said again. Kit's lipped moved a twitch.

"Makeoveli!" He spurted, "how nice... of you... to check up on me!" Makeoveli walked over to his bed so he could see her. She had a glass in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. It was the gift Blackborn and Avery had given her. By her movements, Kit could tell she had been drinking for a while. The glass looked clean. She took a swig from the bottle. She didn't even need the glass. Makeoveli set the glass down and clutched Kit's knee with a gentle shake.

"Just get some sleep kid and heal up," She smiled and walked away. Kit closed his eyes returning to sleep. "Just one last thing though, you're going to have to report to Hamilton as soon as you're better. It seems your rank insignia is not correct, corporal." Makeoveli added raising her bottle in a toast. She poured a tiny amount into the glass she set on the tray before exiting the room. Kit grinned one last time before easing back into sleep.

Three days later Kit was discharged from the hospital but couldn't return to active duty for another month while his wound healed. Kit hadn't even realized he'd been hit but he was okay with not being able to return to active duty right away. He had a lot to sort out. So much had happened. He was curious about who had taken control on third squad. It had to be Blackborn. If that was so he knew they were in good hands. It took him a while before he could walk without crutches against doctors orders. He tried to push himself as much as possible. Everyone but the doctor was encouraging him and he couldn't help but laugh. He used the remainder of his down time to monitor the news. Nod had quieted back down after the short outburst. Granger downgraded the threat level back to elevated but continued to launch hunting missions on suspected Nod bases. Nd was abandoning every base GDI attacked. It was worrying knowing that the people manning the bases were simply disappearing and InOps had no idea where they were going. Somewhere Nod was consolidating its forces. Deep in the shadows. Maybe it would be a final stand. Or maybe Nod was stronger than GDI thought and they had enough to wage another devastating war. Granger seemed to believe the latter which caused political backlash and gave further fuel for the TFP. It seemed political uprisings were happening at an exponential rate. Hostilities were increasing as people against the Tiberium Future Party were calling them Nod supporters and spies. There had already been a few riots in various blue zones over the issue and if something wasn't done a civil war could erupt. Maybe that was Nod's plan, divide and conquer. Kit found it all upsetting.

Kit sat puffing at the sloppy food sitting in his bowl. The mess hall was on a particularly bad streak. The gray mush was supposed to be oatmeal but tasted nothing like it. He took a spoonful and let it plop back down into the bowl. He contorted his face in disgust and pushed his bowl away. He couldn't eat it. The PA system came to life explaining there was an announcement in the Grand Briefing hall. He didn't need to be there. He wanted to be. Kit jumped up revealing a striking pain across his ribs. He hobbled his way into the room. Makeoveli and everyone else were already waiting. Benny got up and helped Kit to his seat. Kit slid into his seat with a slight groan. He wanted to look better, ready to rejoin the squad but it was clear to everyone he was hurting. He accepted Hamilton to appear on the stage. Instead the giant screen displayed a different face. It was Director Granger and just by his plain expression Kit knew something was seriously wrong. "Three hours ago, Our sensors we deployed into deep space started transmitting data back to us. Somewhere out in the Oort cloud there is a large group of objects traveling at relativistic speeds toward us. There is only one thing we know that can travel at that speed. The Scrin," Granger paused letting the information sink in. "We have no reason to believe they come for any other reason but war. Ladies, Gentlemen, We must prepare ourselves once again to defend our home. The Scrin are coming. War is upon us," Granger finished and the screen faded out. The room erupted into talking and yelling with everyone clamoring about. Hamilton tried to regain control but there was too much chaos. Kit turned to look at Makeoveli. Her jaw had dropped ajar and her eyes widened. The color seemed to drain from her face like something was sucking the life out of her. Kit put his hand on her and she returned to normal. She turned to him and looked right into his eyes, "get better soon," she said, "we're going to need you."

Act 2:

Heinrich Strauss put his hand up against the porcelain wall. The hot stream from the shower splashed down steaming all around him. He let his head down allowing the water to pour all over his back. He found himself in an all too familiar situation. Nod was abandoning yet another base. It had happened four times prior and each time he was denied his requests to stand and fight. Four times prior he watched brothers and sisters fall at the hands of inferior GDI aggressors. His frustration bubbled over and he punched the wall shattering the porcelain, bloodying his knuckles. He turned off the water and stepped out drying himself. A few minutes later he emerged with a towel hung around his waist.

"It's time," a voice from a bunk across the room announced. Heinrich nodded, throwing on his uniform. He walked over to his sister sitting on the cot. Her short sleeves revealed a long scar that ran down the majority of her bicep. Despite losing a lot of blood, the medics were able to stabilize her and save her arm. Now the scar remained as fuel for Jenell's conviction. She hopped off her bunk and followed Heinrich outside.

Smoke and fires raged in the ruins of the Nod base. A lone Sandshark Tank waited just outside the Hand of Nod. In the darkness the dancing flames flicked shadows about. In the distance a building crumbled sending a wave of ruble across the ground. The siblings continued walking towards the waiting tank. As they approached the back lowered revealing the occupants inside. "Ready?" A soldier asked. Heinrich and Jenell climbed aboard. He took one last look at the disheveled base as the hatch closed. The vehicle lurched forward as the driver kicked it into gear. The stealth generator reactivated and within an instant the vehicle disappeared into the night.

A few hours later the tank caught up with the rest of the retreating base. Kane had ordered withdrawals from most bases. A few times he even ordered groups to distract and ultimately sacrifice themselves so that others could get away. Manpower was in limited supply. The last war had cut deep into manpower. Instead he focused on furthering his technological advantages rather than fighting. Recruitment had slowed to nothing with GDI's continuing effort to eradicate Tiberium and reclaiming yellow zones for blue zones. Dissension in the brotherhood was at an all time high and Kane didn't seem to care. The continuing retreat from bases only furthered the agitation. If it wasn't for Jenell's adamant belief in Kane, Heinrich would have split long ago. His loyalty to his sister quelled his insurrection.

What was left of the retreating group made their way into the Andes Mountains where the last operational Nod base remained in South America. It was a cold reception. The base was bloated with previous arrivals from other disbanded bases. Structures had soldiers bunking down in any open place. The corridors, kitchens, entrances, anywhere a body would fill, they were all taken. Fortunately, there were plenty of supplies to go around. Everyone was fed and fuel wasn't a problem. A small miracle all things considered.

Heinrich exited the vehicle as it stopped outside the base. Entire divisions of tanks were overflowing out the mouth and around the perimeter. The entire might of Nod's South American Army Division was focused into this single point. If GDI got wind of the massive Nod force an Ion Cannon strike would follow. In one move South America could be rid of Nod. It hadn't been that way since the ninety's. Back when Nod was still an infantile state. Jenell followed Heinrich as he walked into the base. Power Plants were being constructed to handle the additional strain of more Disruption Towers. The base was exceeding it's capacity both technically and physically. It had lost most of its tactical posture. In a day or two the base wouldn't resemble anything meant to wage war. It was nothing more than a refugee camp.

The Operations Center was crowded with the officers from all the other bases. The loud rumbles circled through the building as each group raised their voices to try and fight through the noise pollution. Heinrich pushed through uninterested with the lesser officers. He needed to find General Bezpalov. He made his way to the back of the building and around the corner. The voices became faint as he walked down the hall. At the end two guards stood at attention next to a door. Heinrich and Jenell stood together as the door scanned them. A green light lit up and the door slid open. Inside commanders of the various bases stood around a giant, circular table with a projector covering the center. "Heinrich, Jenell, welcome," a weathered man with gray hair and a thick Russian accent beckoned.

"General Bezpalov," Heinrich replied, saluting. Bezpalov motioned for the brother and sister to join him and for the other generals to sit down. He pressed a button and a hologram appeared unto the center of the table.

"This is Priest Heinrich and Priestess Jenell Strauss. Kane has favored them and thus they are here," Bezpalov introduced the two. Heinrich looked around at the other generals. They didn't hide their envy very well. "Heinrich, Jenell, Kane has asked for you to leave with your elite cadre for Sarajevo at once, so you need not stay any longer than necessary. Before you go however, you should know this: our spies have reported that GDI is mobilizing. They have been unable to ascertain exactly what for, but by the size of their movements it is something big," The general said. Heinrich stood up with his sister. They had heard what they needed to hear and it would be rude to sit in any longer.

It didn't take long for Heinrich to track down his squad. They were where they always were when they had nothing to do, harassing anyone stupid enough to try and fight them. "Bradley, Vitorre, enough!" Heinrich yelled, pulling the two off of two other soldiers. Bradley gave one last kick to the ribs of one of the downed soldiers and wiped his lips.

"He started it, sir."

"I'm sure," Heinrich replied, rolling his eyes. "We have work to do. Where's Niu and Nika? Vitorre and Bradley both shrugged.

"Last we saw them they were heading to the Tiberium Chemical Plant. Something about wanting to get their hands on that new prototype," Vitorre said, leaning up against the side of a vehicle and slicking his dark brown hair back. Jenell and Heinrich both shot each other a look. The last thing they needed was their two pyrotechnic, insidious, and downright supercilious remaining squad members anywhere near a Tiberium processing facility.

Niu and Nika were watching two men labor over a liquid Tiberium container. The two women were using their feminine charm to coax the men into getting their hands on the new rifle with Tiberium infused bullets. "Hey Charlie, why do they call it Tiberium Liquid Version Two? Why wouldn't they just call it Liquidv2?" One man said to the other as they carried the container across the room.

"Liquidv2? What do they want to sound like someone addicted to jelly or something? Way too renegade for that. TLV2 works just fine for me," Charlie said, groaning under the weight. Heinrich and Jenell walked in before any further cunning charm could bewitch the two men. Niu had a knife in her hand picking the grime out from under her fingernails. Her mouth hung open in annoyance that she wouldn't get to see the new rifle. Nika just smiled knowing she had another chance to get her hands on the gun.

Heinrich nodded his head for the two girls to come with him, "Nika, Niu, we gotta go to Sarajevo, you two can play with your toys later." The girls got up from the box they were sitting on and rolled their eyes as they followed Heinrich out.

"Hey you told me your name was Zhana!" Charlie yelled as Nika left the building. She raised her middle finger in the air without even looking back. The men were just pawns.

An Armageddon Bomber retrofitted for transport was waiting on the short runway chiseled out of the mountain. Whatever Kane needed Heinrich and his squad for, it was urgent. It was one of Nod's fastest planes. One by one the group loaded into the back of the bomber. Even though it had been altered to allow transport, the space was cramped and they had to duck their heads even while sitting. The pilot patched in through the overhead speaker informing them to buckle up. Heinrich looked across the cabin space at his crew. They were finishing strapping into their makeshift seats and waiting for the plane to take off. With a violent jolt the plane propelled skyward. Heinrich could feel the gravity pushing him farther into his seat. His squad jeered and applauded, raising their hands into the air like they were on a roller coaster. The bomber climbed higher and higher before leveling off in the stratosphere. "We oughta do this more often sir!" Vitorre said. The ride was a thrill for him.

"Were you always an adrenaline junkie or were you dropped on your head as a baby?" Jenell asked.

"Well I've always wanted to join the mile high club. What do you say captain?"

"You do realize who you are talking to? You know Heinrich is my brother right?"

"Yes ma'am I do," Vitorre smiled, locking eyes with Heinrich.

"It's not me you should be worried about, Vitorre," Heinrich said. Vitorre's grin grew wider. Jenell shook her head. It seemed nothing phased Vitorre, he wasn't scared of anything. Jenell knew he was joking, if Vitorre ever tried anything he'd be dead before he hit the floor. Heinrich would mop up any bits and pieces that even made it to the floor.

"Vitorre, the only girls that want to sleep with you want cash first," Niu taunted Vitorre.

"Love you too Niu!" He said with a wink and a kiss to the air. This was the squad Heinrich had found himself in charge of for the past two years. The death of Eliana had hit him hard. He often thought back to the beers they shared before that final mission. The Ion Cannon strike was frozen in his mind. The fall of Eliana had prompted all other Nod forces to retreat.

He returned to Sarajevo at Kane's personal request. Eliana must have recommended him before she died. Kane showered Heinrich in accolades from the battle. He then proposed that he become a cadre member, the elite group of people comprised of only the best commandos in Nod's arsenal. It was an offer Heinrich couldn't refuse, especially when Kane mentioned his sister would receive the same offer when she was released from medical care. He and Jenell spent two years training in the techniques the cadre used and sharpening their skills. After that his sister and himself were promoted to Acolyte and given their own squad. Each of them had a specific talent that set them apart from the regular soldiers. Two years ago they formed the squad they had now. Where other squads had failed the two siblings had prevailed. They were nothing more than sharp shadows in the dark.

Despite his direct contact with Kane, Heinrich had not seen him in person since he received the offer seven years ago. Nor had he been back to Sarajevo during that time. When the plane touched down it was apparent just how much had changed. Tiberium had metastasized across the land. Sarajevo was once a yellow zone but so much of it had become corrupted and festered with the markings of a red zone. The remains of Redmond Boyle's blunder further the Tiberium encroachment. In the center of the infestation rose Kane's temple. The temple and the surrounding area around it were spared from the rampage. The sanctum itself had been repaired and improved on. The Tiberium around the temple created a monstrous wall casting an emerald glow about the barren land.

The temple wasn't without company. An entire base stretched out before it, complete with Nod's best tech available. If GDI were to launch an incursion it would take an extraordinary effort to defeat Kane on his hallowed ground. It seemed like Kane, much as he had ordered on other continents, consolidated his forces to the temple. Here however, it was less of a hodgepodge encampment. This base was still suited for war. It was like he was expecting a tremendous battle in the near future.

Heinrich jumped off the plane eager to stretch his cramped legs. The Armageddon Bomber had made quick work of the twelve thousand kilometers journey, a short three hour flight. The air was different than he remembered, and it seemed devoid of the thickness and poison found so often in heavily contaminated zones. Instead it seemed stale, like it was being recycled and filtered. He looked around and noticed that despite the looming Tiberium chasm the personnel on the base were in standard uniforms. Only the infantry were in habitat suits that could withstand the radiation. Jenell walked up beside Heinrich sharing the same confusion.

As they stood on the tarmac waiting an emissary of Kane pulled up in an old Raider Buggy. The vehicle came to a stop in front of them and with confidence and luxury the driver hopped out to greet them, "welcome! Kane awaits for you two, the rest of your squad will be picked up and dropped off at their quarters." Nika made some remark about underhanded treatment but Heinrich couldn't quite hear it. The smiling driver gestured with his hand to climb onto the buggy, an offer that Jenell accepted with joy . Heinrich looked around trying to figure out what was going on. Something just didn't add up and it made him apprehensive. He climbed aboard still unsure why the base was acting as it was.

"It has been too long since I've seen Kane, I cannot wait!" Jenell gleamed as the buggy sped off. Jenell had always been fanatical when it came to Kane, she regarded herself as a devout follower. She never allowed herself to doubt his word. When she heard Heinrich had received a blessing on her behalf she ran to the nearest Black Hand Confessor eager to receive the same blessing. Only Kane's blessing was above that. She had that too.

"Kane will be pleased to hear that, I hear he is awaiting in his inner sanctum for you two. Must be something pretty important!" The driver responded. It was clear that for whatever reason the driver loved his job. Heinrich stared at the back of the drivers head as it bounced along the road. There was an unnatural glee about the man. It was the type of person that Heinrich despised. No one could be that happy all the time.

The buggy stopped short of the temple's grand entrance. Kane had a knack for elegance that demonstrated power. A trait that was proven over and over again in Nod methodology. The temple rose up in front of the siblings like a cathedral, stained glass reflected in gigantic windows, and thick and boisterous facades swirled about in geometric designs. As they walked up the steps guards opened the set of enormous swing doors. An open communal room edged into view as they stepped through the doors. Devout followers were performing religious ceremonies as Jenell and Heinrich pushed further into the sanctum. They both knew the heart of the building lay beneath many stories below.

After a seemingly endless elevator ride and numerous security checks the two found themselves in Kane's personal enclave. Intelligence officers were busy pouring over data as it scrolled across their screens. Another soldier greeted Heinrich and Jenell and led them to a room to wait. Heinrich couldn't help but notice the ambiance had transitioned with each floor. Each step down added anxiety. Whatever data the intelligence officers were processing through had them racing about. Heinrich watched one run back and forth between two machines six times. "I have a bad feeling about this," Heinrich said to Jenell as they waited in the room. Jenell nodded sensing the same.

"Do you think it is time to go to war with GDI? Is it possible GDI has erupted into civil war?" Jenell proposed.

Heinrich shook his head, "no, Kane wouldn't have recalled everyone like he did if it was a GDI civil war and if we are going to war with GDI we wouldn't have consolidated this much. Besides if we attacked during a civil war that could just reunite GDI."

"What do you think it is?"

"I don't know. None of this makes sense to me. Kane knows what he's doing. He always does."

"Yes indeed. This is all part of my vision," Kane said from the doorway. Heinrich and Jenell both stood up to salute but Kane ushered them to return to sitting. A small group of people from Kane's inner circle followed him in and sat opposite of the brother and sister. "I am afraid I do not have much time, my children, so I must be brief, Kane started smiling at Jenell and Heinrich, "Some time ago our agents in GDI reported that GDI deep space satellites spotted suspicious objects approaching Earth. The Scrin will be here within a day." Heinrich shifted in his seat. His contempt for GDI seemed passive for his disdain for the Scrin, but his fear of the Scrin unnerved him. GDI could be beaten. He'd seen it. The Scrin seemed so much more of a challenge. Nod was massacred last time. They didn't have the numbers they did last time either. Kane could sense Heinrich's troubled emotions and moved to pacify him, "fear not my child. I have recalled our forces to minimize our contact with the Scrin. Currently only the people here know of this announcement. But soon it will be broadcast about our forces. There will be no withholding this time, should the Scrin seek out and attack us they will be met with the full power of the Nod arsenal." Heinrich relaxed knowing Kane would not ask for sacrificial missions to protect the Scrin again. Jenell seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as well. "The Scrin will harbor no mercy in who they attack. GDI or Nod, they will seek out to destroy us. It is this reason I have called you here. Due to the temple's location, the Scrin will stumble upon us long before GDI does. I want you to take part in defending our temple. Soon the final piece of the puzzle will present itself and we will have an opportunity to ascend." Heinrich raised his eyebrow. Kane had talked about ascension plenty of times before. It could be just a ploy to inspire courage but this time Heinrich felt different about it. Never before had Nod possessed a technological equivalent to GDI. Even with their diminished fight force, so long as the Scrin kept GDI occupied Nod could have a chance. It would be unlikely for GDI to attack Nod while the Scrin roamed the Earth. The possibilities seemed endless.

Kane smiled as he and his inner circle stood up in unison. "Have faith, my children. Deliverance is certain," Kane grinned before walking out the room. Jenell turned to Heinrich not sure what to say. They stared at each other processing the information. They would need more than faith if they wanted to keep the temple safe. A lot more.

By the time Heinrich and Jenell reemerged to the open air, the sky had darkened. A full moon lit up the night sending a mauve light across the ground. The message of the impending invasion had reached the lowest of the troops. Unrest and stress had taken hold of everyone's heart. The bustling and confusion had increased tenfold and people scurried about trying to prepare. In contrast Heinrich's squad was as easy and joking as usual. Fighting was what they were good at and any chance they had to fight they took. This was exactly what they wanted. "I can't wait to kick some alien ass!" Vitorre boasted while polishing his gun on the back of a Raider Buggy.

"Just make sure you save some for me," Nika said. There were only six or so hours before the Scrin would make landfall. Based on the last time they landed the battle would erupt almost within minutes of splashdown. Scrin had an impressive shock and awe capability. The Nod base was busy being fortified and Heinrich wasn't sure if they would be ready by the time the Scrin came. He wondered how the other Nod bases would fare. The Andes Mountain base would have to meet the Scrin in an open battle and lose their defensive bonus. They would be too clumped up at the base. Scrin artillery had been revolutionary. No huge cannons on a tracked or walking vehicle. No, the Scrin used air. Superior air. Even GDI Firehawks were no match. What good was stratosphere boosting when the enemy aircraft could survive outer space? Devastator Warships were the size of a naval ship that floated through the air. Their gigantic headless, lobster-like bodies looked grotesque. Two long claw-like arms off the bow of the ship could generate energy discs capable of cutting through almost anything in one swoop. Artillery from above. Heinrich wondered how many thousands would be dead in just a few hours. He wasn't sure they could defeat the Scrin. He wasn't even sure If GDI could defeat the Scrin again.

A construction crew working near the edge of the base next to the gargantuan Tiberium crystals caught Heinrich's attention. "I still don't understand how they can be in regular uniforms," Heinrich said, focused on the workers. Bradley hopped off his seat next to Vitorre and pointed his finger at tiny black specs off in the distance.

"Those things way out there are a special type of stealth technology. Instead of just hiding the presence of us here they generate an image like a giant hologram," Bradley said. As far as Heinrich could see the objects responsible for the mirage littered the land.

'That still doesn't explain why we can wear or standard uniforms and not suffer any Tiberium radiation," Heinrich sucked in a big breath of air, "in fact it seems like the air is completely clean here."

Bradley and a few others laughed, "well here's the kicker, they also produce a sonic resonance that keeps the Tiberium at bay." Heinrich shook his head. It made sense but he wasn't sure why Kane would use GDI technology meant to rid the world of Tiberium. Nika flipped him a tablet showing an overhead of the temple. He pressed the screen and it changed to what everyone else saw, nothing but a sea of Tiberium with a massive ball of it where the temple was. Unless GDI physically walked into the mirage they would be none the wiser. It was a brilliant deception, but it would lead the Scrin right to them. The epiphany made Heinrich understand why Kane had called him here. Temple Prime was going to be in the thick of the Scrin invasion. They would see the Tiberium and draw upon the Nod base.

"We better get ready, all hell is about to rain down on here," Heinrich said. The squad began to disembark for everything they needed leaving Heinrich to his thoughts. He found himself wishing his old commanding officer was still alive. She would know what to do. His eyes started to swell. Under his breath he said, "why did you have to go and die Eliana?"

Daylight had just started to peek when word of the first Scrin Drone Ship making landfall reached the squad. Venoms screeched across the sky eager to scout ahead. Heinrich and his squad had dug in next to a section of Spectre Artillery. The base looked impermeable to assault. Obelisks sat poised on the front lines, their imposing red crystal tips glowed with energy. New SAM Sites reminiscent of the ones Nod used during the first war waited for the Scrin aircraft to breach the base. The new cluster warheads infused with Tiberium swiveled as the automated targeting system scanned the sky. Tank crews murmured to each other anxious for the impending attack.

A bright object streaked across the sky leaving a burning cloud behind it as it fell. The impact sent a low rumble through the ground. Reports from Venoms engaging early Scrin scouts poured over the radio. Heinrich listened as each one updated the situation. "They are getting chewed up," Jenell said through her teeth. The radio turned incoherent as the chatter erupted in magnitude. Competing voices vied over each other. Heinrich ordered everyone to switch channels only to find more screaming. The Spectres started firing startling the squad. Each deep, concussive jolt sent a chill down the back of Jenell's spine. There was a certain majesty about artillery. It commanded respect.

A fleeing Venom roared over the base with energy beams blazing by. The pilot put their bird to its acrobatic limits trying to dodge the enemy fire. Panic sunk in and they tried to climb straight up. The Scrin Stormrider maneuvered behind the Venom. It let out a burst of fire into the hull of the Venom sending fiery wreckage falling back to the Earth. The Stormrider bowed and arced through the wreckage and sped back off into the distance before the SAM Sites could acquire a lock.

"Everyone get ready!" Heinrich said, pressing himself into cover. A group of Stormriders zoomed into the nod base unleashing a flurry of energy beams. The SAM Sites engaged sending missile after missile into the crowd of Scrin aircraft. A primary missile splintered spewing smaller missiles right in front of a Stormrider obliterating the plane. Heinrich turned to his left to see an Obelisk unleash its laser on a Seeker tank. The laser cut deep into the vehicle splitting in half and sending sparks into the air. Plasma disks fizzled on the front of the building as more Seekers reached attacking range. "To the front! Go!" Heinrich said, jumping from his hole. The battlefield erupted into spectacular fireworks as red lasers crossed with the bluish-violet energy beams. Explosions rang through the air and shook the ground with each thud.

Bradley screamed as he unloaded his gun into a Seeker cracking its light armor. Nika joined in behind him unleashing a vibrant green beam from her own gun. A shell from a Scorpion tank struck the wounded Seeker sending bits and pieces tumbling through the air. Bradley cheered before rallying up with Heinrich behind the Obelisk. "They just keep coming!" Bradley yelled, trying to catch his breath. Heinrich poked out from behind the tower popping off a few rounds.

"They are going to keep coming too!" Heinrich replied, reloading his weapon. The rest of the squad formed up behind the Obelisk waiting for Heinrich's next order. Energy beams continued to pepper the Obelisk The front of the tower was showing signs of stress but it was far from disabled. "We hold this position, keep this Obelisk firing got it?" Heinrich said, looking at his squad. Everyone nodded and spread out to pieces of cover and fired at anything Scrin.

The roar of the battle was monstrous. The torrent of noise was inhibiting Heinrich's ability to hear orders from his higher ups. He was depending on visual updates from his visor in his helmet to get any information. An energy beam sawed through the remains of a vehicle Heinrich was behind leaving molten metal dripping and sizzling into the dirt. A Devourer tank had charged up its Tiberium infused cannon and was levying rapid volleys into the Nod line. An Avatar stomped up to the front lines eager to take on the Scrin armor. A direct blast to the Avatar's body smoldered leaving a scar of fused metal. The Avatar returned fire leaving a gash in the Scrin tank. Heinrich watched as the two tanks battled, unable to assist with his inadequate gun. Another Avatar joined the fray upgraded with a second laser. Simultaneously the three lasers cut into the Devourer separating its cannon from its body. The purple glow of the tank faded out as the tank dropped to the ground. A final volley of Avatar lasers wiped out the remainder of the tank.

Heinrich fired as he found a Scrin Seeker to shoot at. From what he could tell the battle was going well, the Scrin were only sending out light forces which meant their heavy units hadn't had a chance to deploy. If Nod could end this battle soon they could counter attack. They could apply pressure to the Scrin base before they got any of their high tech units out. "Buzzers incoming three o' clock!" Niu yelled over the radio. A cloud of razor sharp objects were flying straight at Heinrich. Their tiny metal edges glittered as they reflected off the sunlight.

"I need anti-buzzer help over here!" Heinrich called on the radio.

The swarm of metallic objects changed course into a platoon of rifle infantry. Within seconds the platoon was eviscerated and the swarm moved on. Heinrich's plea over the radio was answered. An Avenger Tank rolled into the fray dousing the Buzzers in the burning accelerant. Neon sludge cooled in the dirt as the Buzzers melted and fell from the air.

The fireworks in the air were slowing as the bulk of the Scrin advance force diminished. Everywhere Heinrich looked his brethren were roaring forth crushing the Scrin invaders. The last Devourer tank futilely fired into the Nod ranks. An avatar marched on and crushed the Devourer beneath its foot, folding the tank like a tin can. Nod had repelled the attack through an element of surprise and sheer tenacity. But now the Scrin force would be prepping for a real battle and Nod could not risk being overwhelmed. They would take the attack straight to the Scrin's landing position.

"Saddle up," Heinrich said as a fleet of Raider Buggies and Sandsharks swept up the infantry. "Let's hit them hard and let's hit them fast. This is our world and no alien is ever going to take control of it!"

As the horde of Nod marched into the red zone dark storm clouds loomed overhead. Bolts of lightning flashed through the near black cloud cover. A hole still swirled where the Drone Ship had plunged through. It couldn't have been more than an hour or two since the first landing. Hesitation slithered into Heinrich's mind as he thought of the colossal power and coordination the Scrin war machine had. Within minutes of landing they had dispatched a full light attack force and pinpointed exactly where the Nod base was. What could they accomplish in the next two hours?

A burst of gunfire shattered Heinrich's day dreaming. The Sandshark came to a stop and deployed its loading door. The squad ran out expecting to engage in a firefight but to their surprise there was no fighting. He made the way to the front line to see what had happened. A few small plumes of smoke dispersed in the wind. To his astonishment in front of the Nod army laid barren earth. All of the Tiberium had been stripped away. What was left of the few harvesters the Nod group fired upon provided the answer. On the edge of the horizon Heinrich could see other Scrin Harvesters with their long tentacle-like spindles scouring over Tiberium deposits soaking up the crystals. "These aren't the same harvesters we saw before. They were never this ferocious in their Tiberium collecting," He said, peering out onto the stripped land. In the distance a blip that was the Scrin Drone Ship vexed the horizon.

"At least we won't have to worry about fighting in Tiberium labyrinths," Vitorre chuckled. The more the words sank in the more profound they became. Fighting in open ground would be a huge benefit to Nod. And yet, Heinrich and the rest of the squad felt an uneasiness deep down. There was something terrifying knowing their enemy could do so much in a minute amount of time. There was an ever prevalent possibility that they were marching to their doom.

As the Drone Ship grew taller against the horizon the air fell cold. Communications erupted in intensity as the first Scrin reactionary force met the Nod formation in battle. The Sandshark lurched to a stop allowing Heinrich and his squad to exit. He instinctively put his arm up to shield his eyes as dust pelted his helmet. A small contingent of Seekers and Devourer Tanks had engaged the Nod force. The combined might of the Nod armada ended the threat almost as fast as it had showed up. The Scrin base was almost in range of the artillery. The Nod force surged forward eager to take on what laid ahead. Heinrich and the rest of his squad joined up with other infantry squads as they pushed ahead using tanks for cover. The wind was wreaking havoc on visibility. Like a rising tide the Nod force inched closer to the Scrin dealing with the few tanks sent out to meet them. Without warning lightning bolted from the sky incinerating a Raider Buggy. Heinrich peeked from behind the tank he was following just as the Storm Column finished phasing in.

A horde of Scorpion tanks began shelling the spined tower which in turn unleashed more bolts of lightning. Far behind the tower a sea of purple and metal were swelling forth. "Finally something for us to kill!" Jenell said. The infantry spread out in front of the tanks as the swarm came into range. The nod soldiers spewed bullet after bullet into each available target. Buzzers dropped from the air and Disintegrators crumbled into heaps. Other tanks joined in leveling scores of Scrin infantry. Still the enemy came. A triad of oblong shaped bodies with thick mechanical legs and three vertical light-like eyes scrabbled to the front lines. "Shocktroopers!" someone yelled trying to direct fire on the assailants. An aura arose around the group of Scrin and they teleported behind a line of Nod tanks. Plasma discs dark purple in hue ejected from a concave on the creature's back. The discs tore into the exposed back armor of the tanks shredding them to pieces. A group of Raider Buggies tried to intercept the Shocktroopers but they blinked away.

Heinrich ran towards a wounded Disintegrator that had lost a leg and was stumbling along. He raised his rifle and unloaded a full magazine into the drone, "Keep pushing!" More infantry squads rallied around his cry and pushed further into the carnage. Venoms and Stormriders engaged openly in the air sending masses of craft crashing into the ground battle. The nod force was pushing into the front of the Scrin base. Another group of Shocktroopers teleported behind an Avenger Tank ripping through its hull. The smart charges detonated and before the Shocktroopers could disappear the shrapnel cut through the infantry sending fragments everywhere. Niu took cover behind what was left of one of the Shocktroopers as she reloaded. Even with most of the body destroyed it was still plenty to cover for a human. Nika blasted her way over to Niu in support. "Things are getting crazy out here!" Nika said, firing her weapon. Niu started to reply but an energy shard streaming past interrupted her. The two fled to better cover behind the remainder of the Avenger Tank.

"We're pinned down by a Gunwalker over here, could use some assistance!" Niu pleaded over the radio. She peered over the wreckage to see the large insectoid tank flowing over the battlefield with each leg effortlessly moving forward. Its prongs jutting out in front were gathering energy and firing away energy bolts. It stopped long enough to turn towards a passing buggy and shoot a few shots before it returned to its beeline on Nika and Niu. "Anytime with that fire support!" Within moments a throng of missiles exploded into the belly of the Gunwalker. It took a few steps before it stumbled forward digging its prongs into the ground.

"Nika, Niu, on me," Heinrich said over the radio. They thanked whoever it was that fired the rockets and ran off to regroup.

Heinrich had pushed forward with a strong group of Avatars and Scorpion Tanks. Each of the Avatars had upgraded themselves to increase their combat effectiveness. Two cannons, flame throwers, the works. The leader of the group was the same one Heinrich had witnessed assist in destroying a charged Devourer Tank. Now the group was pushing on the very front of the Scrin base. Laser blasts smoldered as they struck the remaining Photon Cannons defending the base. Each shot severed the finger like protrusions from the base disabling the defensive structure. As the group breached the outer perimeter of the base Jenell noticed the Warp Spheres begin to power up. The gigantic gateways began spinning a wormhole between their towers. "We need to take those out before they warp in reinforcements!" Jenell cried. A mix of Buzzers and Disintegrators appeared from behind a Reactor. An Avatar that had retrofitted a flamethrower pushed past the others. It marched forward spraying its flame on the Scrin infantry. Cracks and pops erupted from the husks as the fire engulfed them. Heinrich tried to call for fire on one of the Warp Spheres but it was too late. One by one colossal machines stepped out of the wormholes. Their three, long, stocky legs lumbered as the machine sprawled forward. The distinctive sound of their immense energy beams brought chills down Heinrich's spine. A wail as the beams burned the air. Their three limbs waved as the machines marched. The front Avatar turned to fire but a barrage from all the Scrin walkers destroyed it in seconds.

"Tripods! Fall back!" Heinrich screamed. The Tripods marched forward firing their brutal lasers into the mass of the Nod group. The Avatars returned fire. Streaks of the competing beams blended. It was brilliant and savage. A Scrin beam caught a weak part of an Avatar arm amputating it. Bradley and Vitorre dove out of the way as the hunk of metal landed in front of them. The Tripods continued forward stepping on Scorpions Tanks foolish enough to stay in their path. The long sharp legs of the Avatars cut clean through the Nod tanks, killing the crew inside. Nod was relentless. The combined effort of the Nod force brought down a Tripod, the machine folded in upon itself before collapsing into a mangled mess. The remaining Avatars turned to run but the approaching Tripods were faster. Heinrich watched helplessly as the Scrin vehicles initiated their proximity EMP's. The Avatars deactivated and the Tripods demolished the defenseless machines. "We need artillery, something, anything here now!" Heinrich said over his radio. More Scrin infantry were forming up. The Nod infantry would be overrun at this rate. The Tripods were already pushing on further into the Nod army squashing anything in their path and cutting down any tank that stood against them but the sheer magnitude of the Nod army whittled the Tripods down. One by one they fell.

The Scrin infantry began to advance against the stranded Nod infantry. "Call for artillery right on top of us, it's the only way!" Jenell said. Nods from the rest of the squad indicated they felt the same.

Heinrich put in the call. It was suicide but he had no choice. The small chance of survival was better than being torn limb from limb from a Buzzer. The call was acknowledged and Heinrich ordered everyone to take cover. Within seconds the artillery shells were exploding all around. Nod soldiers and Scrin alike were caught in the devastation. When the shelling stopped only a few survivors remained. Heinrich quickly checked his squad's status. Vitorre was hunched over Bradley trying to remove shrapnel. Niu had been knocked out cold from a blast and Nika seemed dazed.

"Call in a pickup, the Scrin will come back again, we need to regroup," Jenell coughed out. Heinrich nodded and relayed the order. He grabbed Niu and slung her over his shoulder. What was left of the Nod infantry retreated to Heinrich's location.

"Wait here, pick up is coming soon," Heinrich said to the battered infantry. "Jenell we can't let them warp more Tripods in. Let's go ahead and mark the targets for an Armageddon Bomber to come in, Vitorre you get these guys out of here," Heinrich said. The siblings ran forward negotiating Nod command for a Tiberium Vapor Bomb request. They huddled up next to a Reactor that was just inside the base. The building was badly damaged. Coolant was leaking down the sides and the finger like appendages on the top seemed to curl into a fist like they were in pain. Jenell pointed to the spot she thought the bomb would have the most effect and Heinrich agreed. He relayed the grid to the Nod command and waited for the bomber to come.

The wormholes in the Warp Spheres were beginning to swell again. Another wave of Tripods strolled out, but these ones were different. They were shorter and seemed much more agile. A group of Shocktroopers ran up to the Tripod and crawled up each of its three legs and into a small aperture. "Did they just attach themselves to the Tripod?" Jenell asked. Heinrich shook his head. Nod had only observed the Scrin Hexapod as having the ability to attach garrisons to its legs, but now this new tripod seemed to have the same ability.

"Come one hurry up," Heinrich said. He was nervous waiting for the bomber to show up, he didn't want to get left behind. Just as the new Tripods began to move out the Nod bomber rocketed in over the base and dropped its bomb. The air crackled as the fuel mixture ignited and detonated. A paper thin smile spread across Heinrich's face as the Warp Spheres broke apart and fell into the wormhole. The blast had just caught the Tripods and their flame ridden bodies stumbled about before crashing with an incredible thump. The two wasted no time getting back to the rest of the squad. They would have a small reprieve from the battle, but deep down Heinrich knew they would be thrust back into the thick of it as soon as they could. There would be no rest for this day.

Not fifteen minutes after medics had patched Bradley of his superficial shrapnel wounds he rejoined his squad. The medics had protested but he suggested they shove it where the sun don't shine. He returned seeing the squad in standby for another excursion to the front. "Look who's back!" Vitorre jeered as Bradley approached their makeshift camp. A torn camouflage netting was draped over the top of the crews designated Sandshark, the other side hastily tied to a fence post hammered into the ground. Nika and Niu were pretending to sleep against rucksacks.

"Nothing serious, a few cracked ribs, some stitches." Bradley said, checking over his body at all the cuts he sustained.

"All kidding aside, that piece that was embedded in your chest scared me man. I thought we'd lost you." Nika and Niu sat up sharing the concern.

"Turns out I'm hard to kill. Who knew?" Bradley chucked running his hands over the stitches on his chest. His smile grimed as he realized just how close he came to dying. "Say where's the Strauss'?" Vitorre pointed towards a shallow metal dome with speakers and antennas poking out the top.

Kane sent an Emissary to establish a forward base with much needed reinforcements and supplies. What was left of the forward infantry and the dozen or so tanks were rearming and refueling. After the initial push and the subsequent retreat Heinrich and Jenell found themselves requested to report to the temporary headquarters. Kane was pleased, but demanded more. He wouldn't settle for anything less but the destruction on the Scrin base. Heinrich could sense the aggravation in Kane's voice. It made sense under the circumstances. However, Jenell seemed unusually militant. She questioned Kane at every point during the briefing. Heinrich couldn't figure out why. She was always the devout follower. But now she seemed weary to believe Kane. Heinrich tried to question her after the left the Emissary Outpost but Jenell offered nothing but contempt. "Let's just get this over with," She said. Maybe he was misinterpreting things.

The Strauss' returned to their squad to find them up to their usual antics. Niu had Vitorre in a choke hold while Bradley and Nika laughed. "It's like raising kids with you," Heinrich complained, "let him go, we have work to do."

Niu smiled as she loosened her arm and pushed Vitorre in the back, "he had it coming anyways." She was concussed from the shelling but otherwise okay. If anything else was wrong she wouldn't admit it anyway.

"Let's suit up, we got some Reactors to destroy."

"Reactors? What about the rest of the Scrin base? How are we supposed to get there without going through the entire Scrin army?" Bradley questioned fixing his replacement armor.

Heinrich pointed out past their encampment, "With help from those." Four Phantoms sat idle waiting for their pilots to commandeer them again. The fortified exoskeleton seemed to trap the light that touched it. The faceless machine stared ahead, red lights pulsed and glowed in contrast to the black armor. The bodies of the machines set crouched almost in the fetal position. Even in a state of complete vulnerability the giant walkers were intimidating. They were meant to replace the aging Avatars and by all accounts were much better. Avatars were bulky and slow while phantoms felt like an extension of the pilot. They had grace. Precision.

"And these," Jenell said as two ships descended next to the Phantoms.

"Sentinels? Are they even field tested yet?" Bradley asked. He was never too keen on technology that hadn't been proven to work. Heinrich shook his head at the suggestion.

"We will be giving them their field test," Heinrich said. The airships took the best of the Scrin, Nod, and GDI arsenal and combined them into one ruthless machine. Reverse engineered Stormrider engines sat underneath the craft. One engine under each wing and the third supported under the breast. The body curved like a dolphin but these were much more vicious in nature. Rocket pods similar to the GDI Orca sat on the tips of each wing armed with the latest rockets used by the Stealth Tank. More missiles hidden in bomb bay doors provided anti-air superiority or fluid heavy ordinance. The Sentinel even contained a cloaking matrix. It was the pride of decades in research. Armed to the teeth. A predator.

"Let's just hope it works," Nika chimed in.

The two Sentinels deployed their landing gear and gently hummed as they shut off. One of the hatches opened up and the crew hopped out. A few seconds later the second crew exited their ship and together made their way towards Heinrich's squad.

"You the boys who are going to take down the Drone ship?" The leader of one of the ships said. Heinrich walked toward the group and put his hand against the pole holding up the netting.

"No, just the people that are going to clear the way. It's good to see you again Sarah," Heinrich responded.

"Woah woah, it's Vestal. No need to get all personal about it," the girl said. "So where's Gamble and Gargoyle?"

"Picking up some rations, you know how they are."

Bradley cut in overhearing the conversation, "We're working with Gamble and Gargoyle? You didn't tell us that!"

Vestal looked at Bradley and then back to Heinrich, "you didn't fill them in yet?"

"I hadn't had a chance."

"Well fill us in already, this day just got exciting!" Bradley pulled up a crate and sat down looking at Heinrich. The army was going to create a large engagement toward the front of the Scrin base and draw as much Scrin as they could into the conflict. The Two Phantoms, Sentinels, and Heinrich's Sandshark would sneak around to where the majority of the Reactors were constructed, the lifeblood of Scrin energy. The Sentinels and Phantoms would alleviate any Scrin threat and allow Heinrich's squad to sneak in and plant explosives on the power plants. Then, once the Scrin's superior air defense was offline an entire wing of Vertigos would drop their payloads on the vulnerable base. Anything left the army would clean up.

Heinrich finished explaining the plan to everyone just as Gamble and Gargoyle showed up. "Hope we ain't late to the party," Gamble smirked. Heinrich neglected Gamble, grabbed his rifle and his share of the explosives and loaded it into the Sandshark. "What's his problem?" Gamble asked Vestal.

"Just keep on the mission, none of that stuff that you tried to pull when you took on that entire GDI army okay?"

"You mean the army that I could have destroyed if it wasn't for a lucky shot?" Gamble said. Vestal confronted Gamble leaving only a small space between them. Her eyes flashed with contempt as she stared him down.

"You almost ruined years of research into that tech. Do you have any idea how much you would have set us back if you had been killed or disabled? All the time we spent perfecting that weapon and GDI would have adapted to it in a week. You're reckless and if I had any choice I'd give control of the Phantoms to any second rate Avatar pilot!" Vestal fell into a fit of rage. A shoving match began but Gargoyle and one of Vestal' crew separated them. Gamble stormed off and Gargoyle followed behind. Heinrich had good reason to distrust Gamble. The previous time he had worked with him he had gone off mission and almost caused its failure. Vestal had her own reasons to dislike him.

The strike force was in position long before the Nod army was ready for another attack. Heinrich and Vestal kept in constant communication as they scanned the Scrin base. During the draw down the Scrin had managed to get another Warp Sphere back into action. It pumped tank after tank out. The light in the center swelled and flickered as the various units phased through. If this attack failed the temple would be in serious danger. More Drone Ship armies would converge and Nod would be overrun.

"Looks like we got a patrol heading our way, recommend we shift outta their path. They got a few Seekers in the group," Vestal said. Heinrich agreed and together they shifted far away from the direction of the patrol.

"The army should engage within a few minutes. We may have to fight our way through that patrol anyway. Make sure you guys take them out quickly, we don't want them to get a signal out," Heinrich said. Gamble and Gargoyle started to move out of the formation stalking the patrol like a lion to prey. "What the hell are you doing? Fall back into formation Gamble!" Heinrich said. The Phantoms went on without a response. The machines closed on the patrol. A Seeker stopped and rotated around towards the Phantoms but they had already split the gap. Gamble picked up the Seeker with his free hand and crushed it while his other released a laser burst into the supporting Devourer Tank. In a swift motion Gargoyle grabbed the turret of the firing Devourer and hammered it into another Scrin tank shattering both. The remaining Disintegrators were mopped up with the machine guns of both walkers.

"All clear," Gamble said over the radio as he began walking back.

"God dammit. You do that again I will personally kill you myself!" Heinrich reprimanded Gamble.

The atmosphere in the Sandshark cabin heated as Heinrich seethed. Heinrich shared Vestal's distaste for Gamble and Gargoyle. Gamble's call sign came from his tendency for rash decisions with special disregard for mission perimeters. But like all good gamblers, he had luck that never seemed to run out. Heinrich had the displeasure of working with him time and time before, though previously Heinrich had never out ranked him. His reservations against them didn't matter as a junior officer. However, now he was senior and if they managed to live through the ordeal Heinrich had every intent to persecute Gamble for his actions.

The situation was different with Vestal. Vestal and Heinrich had an underlying admiration for each other and respect that went beyond military prolificacy. They understood each other and what was at stake. They would take risks like anyone else, but they respected superiors commands. At some point Heinrich and Vestal had a romantic relationship but for reasons neither of them knew, it fell through.

The sounds of far off battle echoed across the land and Heinrich gave the order to proceed. An opening near the back of the base was guarded by a few Photon Cannons and a Buzzer hive. The Tanks and infantry that were supporting were diverted, rushing towards the front to reinforce. "Perfect, Vestal, you know what to do," Heinrich said. Vestal and Chapel, the other Sentinel Pilot, flew forward and engaged the helpless ground defenses. The structures crumbled within seconds and the group advanced. "Looks like we caught the attention of a few Shocktroopers." Gamble and Gargoyle moved up and engaged the scouts. They delighted in ripping off the appendages of the Scrin infantry. Like the legs of a spider. The group pushed on past a few Refineries and a Stasis Chamber. A sudden salvo of plasma discs zipped through the air towards the Sentinels streaking across their canopy.

"Plasma Missile Battery is up there somewhere, falling back 'til you guys clear it out," Vestal said on the radio peeling off to safety. Without waiting for a response Gamble and Gargoyle took off.

"Looks like we are on foot now, let's go!" Heinrich instructed. His squad left the Sandshark behind and took cover next to a Refinery. Like all Scrin creations, their Refineries resembled a twisted amalgamation of animal and metal. The top looked like a sea anemone with flowing tendrils waving in the winds. The base housed pools of Liquid Tiberium in a half circle around the structure. Fizzing and bubbles emanated from the pools. "The Reactors should be just passed that Nerve Center, let's move out." The squad began to move in stacks of two as they went from cover to cover. The gunfire at the front was increasing but Gamble and Gargoyle were quiet. No radio chatter. Nothing. By the time Heinrich made it to the next Refinery he began to suspect something might be wrong.

A sudden call came over the radio. It was someone from the front, "Heinrich if you can hear me be advised, the Scrin have deployed something new. It looks like a Ravager and a Corrupter combined. We're calling it a Locust right now, but its got some sort of advanced stealth detection and it's relaying the info straight to other Scrin. I repeat, our stealth capabilities have been compromised."

Immediately after the transmission ended Gamble began screaming over the radio. The sound of gun and laser fire erupted around the corner from Heinrich. He sprinted ahead to see what was happening. He rounded the corner to see the new Scrin unit crawling all over the Phantoms spraying their corrosive ammunition onto the hull. "They're all over me! It burns! Ahh!" Gamble cried.

Vestal broke in over the radio, "Getting engaged by Stormriders up here, they got some sort of flying machine revealing me!" An arm of the Phantom fell off as the acid ate through the joint. The Locusts on the arm jumped off and spread wings and took to the sky.

'They can fly too?" Jenell said, flabbergasted.

"There's nothing we can do for them now, we have our objective, let's go." Heinrich responded, issuing a move out order. One last gargled transmission came from Gamble before the acid ate all the way through the cockpit. Poor bastard, he didn't deserve to be liquefied, Heinrich thought as he ran passed.

The Reactors were in sight and the squad set up the charges. Every second counted. Vestal cried out again over the radio. More and more locusts were taking to the air and they were having trouble keeping their distance and avoiding the Stormriders, "I have an idea," Jenell said, turning to Niu, "Niu can you hack into one of the Reactors temporarily? I'm going to try and save the Sentinels. Heinrich, get Vestal to try and ball up the Locusts if she can. Nika, Vitorre you're with me." Jenell took off running back the way they'd come. Heinrich turned to Niu who had already begun working.

"This'll draw a lot of attention to us here," Niu voiced as she dug around a panel in the Reactor.

"Bradley let's get dug in, we have to hold this," Heinrich pointed and ordered, "Jenell you have a minute nothing more."

Jenell, Vitorre, and Nika made their way to the Stasis Chamber they had passed earlier. "Cover me while I work on this!" Jenell barked as she slid next to the base of the structure. A few Buzzers peered into view and Vitorre and Nika began firing. Gunfire from Heinrich's position rippled over the buildings. It started sparse at first but picked up into a continuous volley.

"You got thirty seconds Jenell and we are falling back!" Heinrich yelled over the radio. Jenell continued digging around with wires in the alien building. She was almost done. Another call from Vestal came over indicating they were retreating.

"Got it! Just gotta target the Locusts now!" Jenell said. Heinrich's portion of the squad came running from around the corner, swarms of Buzzers were on their heels. Vitorre and Nika turned and gave cover fire as the squad ran.

"Time's up we gotta go!" Heinrich said tapping Jenell's shoulder.

"Got it!" She replied, finishing a connection. Heinrich turned to Bradley who detonated the charges. A gigantic fireball rose over the base and the light from the Stasis Chamber faded out.

"Vestal here, The majority of the Locusts got caught in that Stasis Shield. We've taken some fire but I think we are okay. I don't know how you managed to use Scrin tech but many thanks down there," Vestal called over the radio with joyous enthusiasm. Heinrich wondered when Jenell had learned how to activate a Stasis Shield let alone hack the alien structure but they needed to escape first.

The squad climbed back into their transport and sped off. Another call from the front came in over the radio, "it worked, base power is offline, Vertigo's are thirty seconds out. Enjoy the fireworks. Everyone craned to get a look at the bombing run. In a grand display of Military prowess the Vertigos leveled the base leaving a raging inferno and heaps of twisted metal. The Drone ship collapsed on one of its legs and like a building crumbling on its own weight, disappeared into the dust and fire. Heinrich let out a sigh that was joined with the rest of the squad. Nod had proved they still were a force to reckon with and the Temple was safe for now. Heinrich could only hope other bases had done as well. Still, the fact remained, there were plenty of Scrin Drone ships and sooner or later they would stumble upon the Nod location. Heinrich could only hope that day was far away and that they had adequate reinforcements.

Act 3:

Throughout history the Pacific ocean was regarded as the exuberant ocean. The Atlantic was seen as murky and cold, while the Pacific boasted pristine waters. Still, as the water crashed against the bluffs of Western Ireland Kit couldn't help but feel the Atlantic had been forlorn of deserving praise. He pressed his face into the porthole of the Diprotodon as the craft continued onward. The awe he felt from the majestic water drained as a new terrifying wonder overcame him. He had heard the devastation the Emerald Isle wrought by Tiberium, but he never could have imagined the desolation it caused. The sobriquet "Emerald Isle" remained true for new and terrific reasons. No longer were there rolling hills of green grass and gentle rains. Myriads of Tiberium crystals had rooted themselves and dark clouds hovered overhead. It was a void of green. From out in space the whole island shone bright green with the heavy Tiberium contamination. It was no longer earthen.

The Diprotodon landed at a GDI base along the western coast of Britain just southwest of Liverpool. Of the twelve bases GDI had on the island this one was the only one still functioning. The Scrin had come with swift vehemence. Much of the island was in shambles and there seemed to be no stop to the Scrin surge. Kit wasted no time exiting the plane. He strode, ardent on his way to the Barracks and stuffed his belongings into his locker. He suited up and checked his weapon while running outside.

The base had already mobilized. Lots remained empty as tank after tank was put to use. Airfields were bereft of Orcas and Firehawks alike. The only people that seemed to be there were those either in command, or tasked with the upkeep of the base. Even the reserves had been called out. Kit ran straight to the Command Center with intent to speak to someone in command. He wanted to get back to action. As he burst through the doors a smile swept over his face. Makeoveli was already petitioning the commander for a mission. "This is Logan Boyle, corporal for third squad," Makeoveli introduced him as he walked forward. The commander turned and gave Kit a once over before returning Kit's salute.

"Sir, I must charge that you add us on to retaking Greenwich," Kit pleaded.

Makeoveli turned toward Kit, "I've already requested that he put us on."

"So is there any word on Avery? Do we know if he made it?"

The commander raised a hand to allow himself to speak. He pulled up feed from a satellite and displayed it on the panel in front of him.

"The Scrin have largely demolished Greenwich and made their way onto more contested regions. We have an entire regiment deployed from what's left of our hold here fighting the Scrin. We've had contact that there still is some resistance in Greenwich and that the Scrin have left secondary forces to clear out the remaining resistance. I sent out a commando squad who had dealt with this situation seven years ago in Stuttgart but we haven't had any communication from them in a while. It's possible that they are still out there. Find them and retake the city. Maybe you will find your friend in all of it," The commander finished his report and ushered the two away.

Within minutes the orders had been disseminated and the troops prepped. Charlie Company as well as a mechanized section had been detached for this mission while the majority of the reinforcements from the US East Coast were allocated into taking on the main Scrin force. With the scattered forces around Greenwich and the missing commando party there was more than enough means of taking out the Scrin clean up crew. After that they could rejoin with the bulk of the army and push the Scrin out of the UK.

Charlie Company and the tank section loaded up into the Diprotodons and V-35s waiting on the airfield. Captain Ortiz explained the formulation once they took off. The last contact with the commando squad had occurred some twenty kilometers from Greenwich. There was no indication that they had been assaulted by Scrin. Meanwhile they still received reports of scattered units engaging in skirmishes with Scrin forces. Some had managed to regroup outside the city but many were still trapped and surrounded inside. "Makeoveli, I want you to take your platoon and search for the commandos, I'll take the rest of our force and reconnect with our assets outside the city. You'll have one hour before we're going in," Ortiz said.

Makeoveli and her squads were dropped off at the rally point. The rest of the company continued on. First platoon began retracing the steps of the commandos. What was left of the suburb the group landed in didn't shed many answers. Scorch marks indicative of Scrin weaponry pockmarked the ground. Trampled cars littered the street. There were no signs that the commandos had been killed, nor did it seem that the Scrin had been pushed back. "Let's make our way through this town quickly and quietly. Don't engage anything we don't have to and if you see any signs on where the commandos might have gone, report in," Makeoveli said. She split up with one of her other squads leaving Blackborn to control his. Like Kit, he had been promoted and was leading third squad now. It was better that way. No outsiders to screw up the camaraderie.

Blackborn took his squad and moused down the street. Greenwich and the surrounding area were considered a blue zone but it was evident that the Scrin attack had introduced Tiberium. Already there were miniature deposits growing from scars of Tiberium based ammunition. "This isn't good," Kit muttered to himself as he stepped over a fallen tree.

"I hope the people here made it out," Benny said, following Kit over the tree. As the squad cut across a soccer field the first signs of the commando squad appeared.

"Got some dead Scrin over here," Kit reported in. Remains of Buzzers and Disintegrators littered the street past the soccer field. Bits of pieces of Scrin armor were strewn about as well, but no husks to belong to. "Looks like they got pushed out, proceeding forward," Kit continued to update what he saw over the radio. A few blocks down the smoldering remains of GDI hardware gave further information. What was left of four Predator tanks sat in a defensive line. The bodies of GDI riflemen laid around furthering the tale of destruction.

"We've got something, LT, lot of dead GDI in this intersection," Blackborn said.

"Any sign that the commandos are part of the dead?" Makeoveli replied. Blackborn continued searching around. A few Scrin remains with railgun wounds indicated that the commandos had been there, but he couldn't find any bodies that matched the outfit. Kit signaled for Blackborn to come over.

"Whatcha got?" Blackborn questioned looking down at Kit squatting.

"Tire tracks, from what looks like a Pitbull or Bulldog leading out the city," He replied pointing up the road as the skid marks faded down the street. Blackborn issued an order for his squad to follow the tracks and reported his actions to Makeoveli.

Just outside the city limits the culprit of the tracks showed up. A Bulldog had crashed into a ditch with a large portion of its back blown away. One body had been pulled from the wreckage. Another was dead against the steering wheel. This was at least part of the commando squad. Blackborn patched into his radio, "we've got two confirmed KIA commandos over here, I think it's time for you to rally up." Makeoveli acknowledged him. A few minutes later the rest of the platoon showed up. Makeoveli sent out a general call on all the communication frequencies but there was no response.

"We've got less than fifteen minutes before we are supposed to regroup and I'd prefer if we find these guys before we walk into God knows what. Suggestions?" Makeoveli said as she gathered her platoon in a circle. They murmured about themselves as they thought up plans.

Wilcox, the newest member of third squad spoke up, "According to the map there's a small church about two clicks northwest from here that's off the main roads. If they were alive that would put them out of immediate threat and closer to the city." He was a good addition to the squad. Smart and dependable. Makeoveli and Blackborn both agreed with the assessment.

"Good thinking, we got about ten minutes to find them, let's get to it," Makeoveli nodded at Wilcox and signaled for the platoon to move.

The church grounds stood in abstract contrast to the skyline behind it. Where metropolis met agrarian land, the church rose as a humble mediator. Neglected years had taken a toll on the building. Paint chipped and faded and wood paneling laid exposed to the elements. Had the church been anywhere but a blue zone it would be a pinnacle example of Tiberium infestation. A short black iron fence encircled the building and a ramshackle cement walkway led up the gentle slope where the building strode.

The platoon moved in isolating their sectors around the building. Rifles pointed on any dangerous areas ruling out Scrin ambush points. The Scrin themselves had never shown a dispensary for ambushes. They didn't need to. Most of their units were far too big to hide behind human dimensions. Buzzers with their loose softball sized razors were the only thing that could hide. If they got in close entire platoons could fall.

As they approached the front of the church the mighty wooden doors stood ajar. Makeoveli ordered Blackborn and his squad to be the first inside. With diligence Kit pushed the doors open. The rusted hinges creaked with an echo through the building. Each of the squad filed in securing their part. It was dusty and dark inside. The windows had been boarded up a long time ago and the pews stacked up against each other. In the back a room emitted light dancing about the floor like a TV in the dark. Kit dared not call out as he was unsure what he would find. Nod was always a possibility. Blackborn used hand signals to tell his squad to press forward.

Kit approached the room taking one step at a time over rotting floorboards. Just as he neared the doorway he felt the distinct tap of a muzzle hit the back of his helmet. The unknown assailant stepped out from the shadows and Blackborn kept a steady bead trained on him. "Easy everyone easy," Kit started raising his hands slowly.

"What's your business here?" The assailant asked, scanning the room at the rest of the squad.

"We're GDI. We are looking for a commando outfit we lost contact with out here. We tracked them to this location."

"It's okay boys, they are with us," The man lowered his gun from Kit's head and lights flashed on. Kit turned around to see two more men climb down from the rafters. His squad had no idea they were there. "Sorry about that, our EVA got fried in a Scrin attack and there have been Nod roaming around here lately," The man explained. Kit looked at the man worried.

"There's been Nod around here why?"

"Beats me, but they still ain't on our side." Kit called for Makeoveli and everyone else to come inside.

Makeoveli jogged over to Kit and the man, "Good we found them now let's go we got less than five minutes before they begin the assault." She tried ushering everyone outside and began walking away but the man grabbed her by the arm.

"They are doing what?" He asked. Makeoveli explained their mission and the impended attack on the city. "No no no! You have to tell them to stop! You'll get us all killed!" he screamed. Without hesitation Makeoveli relayed the order on to Captain Ortiz. "Tell them to fall back to here and do not draw attention to themselves!" The man again pleaded. Makeoveli nodded and repeated his message. She could tell by the fear in his voice the commando was serious. Whatever awaited them in that city was worth delaying until they had better intel.

"Okay, they are coming here, now you mind telling me what's going on?" Makeoveli questioned looking for the soldier's name. "Wait, Fullerton? The Fullerton? The one who retook Stuttgart?" She asked. Kit raised his eyebrows in response. He hadn't looked at the soldier's name either.

"Yes, Captain Fullerton in the flesh, and it wasn't just me who retook the city. I had help from a talented commander and a few good men," Fullerton explained with modest generosity. Captain Fullerton, a then lieutenant, was the last commando alive in Stuttgart when the Scrin first invaded. Together with the strategy of a legendary commander he retook the city, one of the first to be reclaimed after the invasion. Through the remainder of the war he worked to bring down Nod and Scrin and was there when the Control Node went down. He was widely regarded as one of the war's few living heroes. He attended the funeral of the commander after Nod had launched a surprise attack and killed him. "But to the order, lieutenant, The Scrin have set up a forward base in the city. When we initially arrived they were still organizing and we believed that they were just mopping us up," Fullerton began to explain, "but as we rallied our forces to retake the city the Scrin swarmed and pushed us out. A call came out from the suburbs about an evacuating science officer with crucial information. They were pinned down and needed help so we responded." Fullerton paused making sure Makeoveli was following his story. She acknowledged her understanding and he continued, "we reached them with all the survivors we had but the Scrin were still too much. So we sent the majority of them away with the science team and distracted the Scrin. I lost two good men from my squad as a result. A Tripod EMP knocked out our EVA units and most of our equipment so we hid in here. We need to find the science team. Someone in it found a way to get the Ion Cannon Network back up and running. If we can do that we can level the Scrin base in the area, it'll go a long way to retaking this island." Kit and Makeoveli both took in the news. It was the best thing they'd heard in a while.

At the start of the invasion the Scrin had knocked out any Ion cannon control centers they could and even destroyed some of the satellites in space. For months now GDI had no control over the Ion Cannon arrays. Plenty of man hours were wasted trying to reconfigure the network. Nothing seemed to work. Makeoveli reported to Ortiz about the possibility and he agreed on the priority of the situation. With the Ion Cannon network functional again they could spare a lot of lives.

"let's get you guys reoutfitted and fed. Then we're going to track down the science officer," Makeoveli smiled at the commandos. Kit looked at the other's names as they sat on the edge of two pews and talked. Xenos and Dvorak. The names seemed familiar to him but he couldn't quite place it.

Ortiz showed up twenty minutes later. The air escort dropped off the rest of a company and returned to base. From here out they would be on the ground. Ortiz conferred with Fullerton briefly in the church before agreeing on a plan of action. It was likely the group was heading west to avoid any of the major Scrin landing zones. While that would take them outside the blue zone, Nod had abandoned their hold on the island. The chance of a Nod encounter was slim. At least it was thought so. Captain Fullerton's revelation of Nod still operating in the area was concerning. Speed outweighed the costs. They would have to fight through the yellow zone. Fullerton couldn't think of any other course of action and Ortiz agreed.

It was a sweet change traveling on well paved roads despite the occasional hazard. Kit sat comfortably in the APC cabin as Vander eased down the road. In the stillness of the moment Kit had time to reflect on everything he'd been through. Never had he imagined the impact of his decision to join up. What started as a way to exalt himself of his uncle had given way to new credence. He didn't much care for proving himself to others nor did he particular care for self infatuation. It was the people he was with in the here and now. Makeoveli, Benny, Sanchez, Blackborn, even Wilcox who had been added on, they were the people Kit cared about. He never understood why Avery was so shaken that he would uproot himself and run. But once Kit became promoted, he felt the weight his decisions made. It was one thing to hold his own life in his hands, but the hands of others required special consideration. He wasn't a naive kid any more. People died. He knew that. But he could make choices and those choices could determine if one more body was coming home or not.

Benny changed too. Confidence had taken hold and a lust for action. Sanchez' hatred and Blackborn's willingness to fight paled to Benny's warmongering. The arrival of the Scrin had awoken almost primal urges in him to the point of near madness. He took risks that he would have quivered at before. The most notable change was the large knife he had magnetically installed to his shoulder. On more than one occasion he had charged the enemy intent on hacking them to pieces. He became ruthless. Crazed even.

"Scouts report some residual fires ahead, LT," Vander said, looking back over his shoulder. Makeoveli confirmed with Ortiz before ordering the dismount. The night settled in. What few stars there would have been were choked black by thick smoke. Makeoveli and Blackborn made their way to the front of the convoy where Fullerton and Ortiz were already waiting.

"Definitely a firefight with the group we are looking for. The hole in that Seeker Tank is about the size of a shell from a Predator would inflict," Fullerton said, running his fingers around the edge of the tank. Gunfire erupted in the distance. Everyone ran back to their vehicles and loaded up. From the magnitude of chaos, the segregated GDI group was coming under heavy fire.

As they came within communications range the situation unfolded. A swarm of Corroders had dissolved the remaining heavy armor. Nod called them Locusts as they devoured everything and took to the skies. GDI thought them more similar to the Corrupter Tank seen in the last war. Corroders however, were close to the size of typical Scrin infantry and much more mobile than their counterparts. Only a handful of APCs and Bulldogs remained. The Grenadier squad in the group had taken out the last of the swarm but the grenades had little impact on the Scrin armor. Without any anti-armor the group was getting eviscerated. They tried to take as much cover as possible in a parking center. Ortiz quickly called an action and sent all the Predator Tanks he had against the Scrin Devourer Tanks. The initial shelling caught the enemy tanks by surprise. The Scrin tanks lumbered and swiveled around facing the new threat. Shell after shell exploded and beam after beam ripped into armor. Tanks evaporated left and right. Reinforcement Corroders flew in from above and descended on the Tanks. The APCs did what they could to support the tanks but it came down to the infantry eliminating the threat. Makeoveli started barking out orders, "third, second, we got left side! Don't let any Scrin get on the tanks! Kit and Benny ran and slid against the side of a building firing their guns at incoming Corroders.

"Buzzers coming in down the street!" Sanchez pointed out as the metal death balls swarmed over a car.

"Focus fire on them!" Makeoveli replied. With lightning speed and accuracy Fullerton and his squad sprung into action. Every shot seemed to find a target and within a mere moment the buzzers had been obliterated. Benny and Blackborn seemed invigorated from the display and charged forth into the fray. Benny worked hard on becoming a better shot. He was almost as good as Kit but Captain Fullerton put them both to shame. It was no wonder he was able to save a city. Corroders continued to fly and crawl towards the tanks and with each step they were cut down. The last energy beam from A Devourer blazed across a Predator's hull in purple sparks and fire. A hail of tank shells penetrated the Devourer. Its engines failed and it fell to the ground. The aura of light emitting from it dulled and disappeared.

"Sitrep!" Ortiz ordered. A few tanks and a handful of troops had been lost in the fight. Good odds all things considered. The separated group sustained the most casualties but the science officer and most of his team had survived. Ortiz and Fullerton both questioned the science team before continuing on. "Pick up is incoming. ETA fifteen," Ortiz announced over the radio.

Blackborn was calming down from the adrenaline rush, his hand shaking as he slumped up against the wall. Benny was still amped up. He was kicking each carcass of fallen Scrin making sure they were dead. "I think we got them," Kit chuckled, running up next to Benny.

"Stupid thing got acid on my arm, there's almost a hole there now!" Benny grunted as he kicked a Corroder causing its contents to slosh around. Kit looked at his arm and sure enough the acidic concoction had eaten away most of the armor. A divot the size of a golf ball formed on the top of Benny's forearm.

"You ought to get that checked out," Kit suggested

"That an order?" Benny said, poking fun at Kit. Makeoveli came around on a wellness check and Benny grabbed the damaged part of his suit. The last thing he wanted was an actual order to get checked. He had Scrin to kill. Content that her squad was okay she proceeded on and Kit followed beside her.

"So what's the deal? He tell us how he thinks he can get us the Ion Cannon again?" Kit asked as he walked beside Makeoveli. She stopped as two soldiers carried a body and laid it in line with others. After a long exhale she replied, "yes, but you're not going to like it." They continued walking past as the soldiers went back for another fallen soldier. "We have to take over a Nod base to do it," she went on, "and there's the possibility Nod will gain access to our network in the process." Kit froze understanding what that could mean. During the first war Nod had attempted to take over the Ion Cannon and nearly succeeded. Post intelligence gathering had indicated the White house, Eiffel Tower, the British Houses of Parliament, and the Brandenburg Gate were all targets Nod planned to attack. Had this been successful support for the then new GDI would have fallen and Nod could have become the status quo. Makeoveli stopped and put her rifle down next to their APC. She slid down the side landing in a soft plop on the street. Kit joined next to her and stared off into the darkness.

"Don't worry. We can do it. We have to," he reassured her. In the months after Kit recovered from his gunshot wound He and Makeoveli had grown closer. They worked well together. Kit fed off her leadership and she appreciated a soldier that would do anything to get the task done. Both filled the vacuum in each other that Avery had left.

The Nod base was deep into the yellow zone on the English island near Portsmouth. Once GDI command learned of the plan they divided their fighting force in half. Half for the ongoing effort against the Scrin and half for taking the Nod base and whatever Scrin forces they may encounter. Kit had never been part of such a massive effort. There were a couple thousand bodies marching on the Nod base. With all the tanks and aircraft the ground quivered and recoiled. There would be no doubt in Nod's mind what was coming for them. Kit was sure the Scrin would notice such a massive movement too. It was very possible they would be sieging the Nod base at the same time as fending off a Scrin attack. "We could be caught between a rock and a hard place," Kit said, talking to Benny.

"Bring it on, nothing like a challenge." Sanchez agreed with Benny. Even with the world under Scrin invasion he still found time to hate Nod. Kit turned to Blackborn and Wilcox to get their feelings on the situation but neither of them wanted to speak. Kit decided to drop the subject in case he was scaring them.

The quickest route to the Nod base was to take the A3 to the border of the blue zone. Once they crossed that threshold the A3 became nothing more than shambles. Like much of the infrastructure in yellow zones it was either ignored, destroyed, or rotting with Tiberium. The A3 had suffered from all three. Nod had no intention of keeping the road functional and as time and war damaged it, Tiberium clenched its claws and spread like cancer.

Upon reaching the edge of the blue zone Kit noticed the Sonic Repulsion Fencing was still active despite the world burning around it. Battles from weeks prior still earmarked the devastation. But as a nuance beacon for hope, the fencing withheld the onslaught of the yellow zone. What was equally impressive was the silence. No animal life. No wind. Just the sounds of the GDI army. "Okay, we'll set up operations outside Petersfield. We know the Nod base is largely based out of the Portsmouth area and we know that much of the city has been destroyed since GDI abandoned it twenty years ago. Nod held this base from the GDI raids before the Scrin arrived but intelligence indicated they shipped most of their fighting force elsewhere. Now it's believed to be nothing more than an outpost. Regardless, Nod poses a threat to GDI and a hindrance in dealing with the Scrin," Commander Hamilton announced over the radio informing everyone of what he expected of them.

The forward base was up and functioning in half a day. The engineers earned the respect of the rest of the infantry with how quick they'd constructed a Barracks for them to sleep in. AC, showers, a bed, it was more than they could ask for. Kit couldn't remember the last time he had a comfortable night's rest. The engineers didn't stop there, Power Plants were up and running, and some light base defenses were in working order too. By the time Kit woke in the morning they had finished the base complete with a Refinery for Tiberium processing.

Scouting parties in the night had encountered Scrin patrols and dealt with them. If there was any doubt that the Scrin would attack it was removed. It worried Kit that there were no incidents with Nod. Nod was sure to know they were there and investigate. "Maybe they just stayed out of stealth detection range?" Blackborn blurted out as the group discussed the outlook.

"It's possible but even our scouts that surveyed their defensive front seemed to indicate disinterest in us," Kit replied, shoveling chow into his mouth.

"Maybe they are spread too thin to do anything but defend? They've been getting hammered around the globe. Their entire South American Operations were knocked out just a few days ago. That gigantic base in the Andes fell to a Mothership," Wilcox suggested holding his spoon up and pausing before eating. Sanchez looked up recalling the news with a smile before putting his face back down into his plate.

"What do you think, Benny?"

"I don't think it matters if it's Kane and the rest of Nod behind there, they ain't got a chance." Kit and Wilcox looked at each other wide eyed before laughing out.

"Where was that confidence six months ago? Benny went to reply but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Makeoveli stood in her armor looking at the squad.

"Let's go, we got work to do," She said through the external speaker. The squad stood up from their table and headed back towards their Barracks.

Late into the night Captain Fullerton and his team had surveyed the Nod outpost. The base was relying largely on their Disruption Towers to conceal their vitals. A Scrin air patrol revealed the array of high tech anti-air SAM Sites prohibiting an air assault. Obelisks were sure to protect the front from a land invasion as well, but Fullerton had been unable to identify where they were. Hamilton was reluctant to act without knowing what he was getting into. So he decided to send Charlie Company to look into the possibility of establishing an artillery front. It was always Charlie Company. Either Hamilton had full trust in their abilities or he really hated them. Kit could never guess. If they could get within range of the foremost SAM Sites he could use an Orca squadron and bring down the Disruption Towers. The only problem was the probability that Nod had Vertigo bombers. Hamilton had a limited supply of artillery units and if they were lost it might prove too costly to attack the base. He had to be sure he could exploit a weakness.

For hours Charlie Company searched for a defensible position, but nothing offered adequate protection. "There's nothing here that's going to allow us to defend the air better," Blackborn expressed frustration with the options.

"Agreed, but orders are orders," Makeoveli said, with equal disgust. They had driven for a while and the weary conditions were causing the group to become unfocused.

"Why don't they just steamroll them? Isn't that our MO? Isn't that how we've operated virtually since our existence?" Benny said with increased distaste.

"You want to walk into God knows what in that base, you feel free. Nod could have an entire division of Phantoms in there," Kit said, trying to calm Benny.

"And if they do? Then what? Kit wasn't sure how to reply, Benny had made a good point. He wasn't sure what they could do if the Nod base was fortified. After driving and inspecting another possible location Ortiz recalled the company. There just wasn't a good option to go with.

Back at the base Hamilton argued with Ortiz and Fullerton on which avenue to proceed on. Fullerton wanted more time to search for a weakness but reports coming in from the main base indicated that the Scrin were winning the battle for the UK. GDI needed the Ion Cannon or they would have to fall back leaving just Eastern America, parts of Europe, and a few places along the Asian coast as unopposed havens. "Give my squad five more hours and if we haven't found something then by all means take action, commander. All I'm asking is a little more time!" Fullerton said.

"You've been at it for over a day now, we'll need you well rested if we have any chance at a forward assault," Ortiz said, preferring the full frontal attack. Hamilton silenced them both as he stared at the screen in front of his desk. He was never a man for absolution. There was always a second or third option and he refused to believe otherwise.

"You have two hours to find something to exploit. If not then I want you rested, we will attack at o' three hundred," Hamilton said, ending the discussion. Fullerton jumped at the opportunity. As he regrouped with his squad and moved to commandeer a Bulldog, Makeoveli and Kit caught him.

"Do you want two extra hands?" Fullerton seemed surprised from the offer but accepted it. Since the loss of his two men his squad had been short handed and any help he could get would be appreciated. Together they piled into the Bulldog and took off out of the base. Xenos drove. The other four began talking about possible insertion points.

"What about west from the Gosport side?" Makeoveli questioned. Fullerton shook his head and explained that the Nod anti-air covered the approach. Plus the Nod base sprawled that peninsula as well. "And the east, from Hayling Island?"

"No go, Nod's blown the bridge. There's no way to get tanks to there."

"Got any satellite data I can look at?" Fullerton handed her a tablet. She studied it for a minute, swiping around the map. "It looks like the bridge is partially destroyed. Did you guys get a closer look?"

"Yeah it's about a one hundred meter gap. Jump jets could clear, but to what end, we'd be stuck over there and I'm sure Nod has plenty of infantry stationed over there."

"Any base defenses?"

"The SAMs, and likely a few Shredder Turrets, I doubt they'd waste Obelisks there. What are you thinking?" Kit was starting to guess what Makeoveli was thinking. If they could jump jet across and mark the defenses GDI could shell them with artillery allowing the infantry to advance, from there they could take control of some of the SAM Sites to deal with the Nod counter airstrikes. With the Nod air support out of the picture GDI could continue shelling with impunity. Fullerton thought of the plan double checking the maneuver. It was solid based on the intel they had. They had their way in. All they needed was a little reconnaissance to confirm.

Kit had never used a jump jet before and the pack felt awkward and heavy on his back. They only had enough packs for four squads. Makeoveli volunteered her platoon. She would lead half while Fullerton took the other. Fullerton explained in order to make the jump they would have to leap as far as possible and then engage their jump jets. Jump Jets weren't rated for long distance jumps. Longer burns tended to burn out the fuel reserves. There was no guarantee they would all make it. Failure would mean a rapid descent into the cold bay. With all the weight of their equipment they would sink all the way to the bottom. The same suits that kept the toxic elements at bay would be their coffin. It wasn't something Kit wanted to face with his first time operating the pack. Makeoveli did her best to reassure the squad they'd make it. After all as a Zone Raider she was more than familiar with the packs. She could coach people onto them. It didn't inspire Benny much however, "C'mon ma'am, I ain't no twig. I'll drop instantly." Kit couldn't help but laugh, it was one of the rare occasions his size was beneficial.

"If you bust your ass and get a good leap off you'll be halfway there!" Makeoveli tried to reassure him. Benny's grimace let up as he imagined soaring through the air in a cartoon like fashion.

"Alright if you say so," he said, putting on the pack and checking his rifle.

Outside Fullerton and his crew waited. It was nearly time. They loaded up in the APCs and Bulldogs and left ahead of the rest of the force. The bulk of the army would be situated at the front of the Nod base waiting for the defenses to fall, a small contingent was sent with the artillery group in case of any Nod scouts attempting to counterattack. All the while the four squads headed out on their own. They drove just a kilometer from the bridge before disembarking. Their transports turned and left, adding more protection for the artillery. From there on out, they would be on their own.

Fullerton led the way. The moon was a sliver in the sky. Night vision helped relieve some of the darkness but the shadows still swallowed the majority of the light. The dark was crippling. Rusted cars had been pushed off the bridge and piled around the base. Parts of it were crumbling, it wasn't going to be an easy task. As they approached the edge Kit got more nervous. One hundred meters never seemed like that much. He could sprint it in ten seconds in his suit, but jumping and flying that distance was nerve wracking. The other side of the bridge was crumbling worse than Kit's side.

Makeoveli gave it no thought and with a short sprint and leap, jumped off the edge. She engaged her jet pack and landed on the other side with ease. "No problem!" She called back over the radio, "everyone over!" Everyone from her half of the group jetted over. Sanchez, Blackborn, and Wilcox followed right behind. Benny and Kit gave each other one last look before jumping off. Benny got a much better leap thanks to his size, but Kit found he landed with a bit of extra juice. It was that easy.

"Piece of cake," He said. He turned back and watched as the last of Fullerton's group crossed. Two of the soldiers didn't have enough and fell. They plopped into the water disappearing into the depths.

"Nothing we can do for them, carry on," Fullerton said. Everyone made sure to rotate comm channels. The last thing anyone wanted to hear was the painful cries for help as the soldiers slowly asphyxiated. With a gulp and deep breath Kit pushed it out of his mind.

Nod had cleared away anything that might serve as cover except for the small cape that rose out into the sea. White light erupted from the blackness of the night as streams of Super Charged Particle Beams cut through the air. "Off the bridge now!" Fullerton yelled diving over the side. Kit jumped over and landed in the water. He panicked as he started to sink unsure just how deep the water was. After a few seconds he hit the sandy bottom and began to walk out. His suit was meant to protect him from red zone conditions and could withstand aquatic conditions for a short period of time but he had no intention of finding out how long that was. As he emerged from the water bullets flew all around. The Nod infantry had taken up defensive positions. The night sky lit up in fantastic color explosions. Blue-white beams streaked by. Red explosions flashed. Green flames licked at the air as chemicals and elements burned. Fullerton called artillery strikes on the Shredder Hubs. Salvos rained down adding bright fireballs into the mix. Kit ran to where his squad was up on a slight wall on the shore. Green energy beams fizzled out in the dirt in front of them. Makeoveli returned sporadic fire. Everywhere Kit looked bullets were whizzing by.

"Keep it up!" Makeoveli yelled, firing her gun.

Fullerton was still underneath the bridge using it as cover, pushing up the left side. He ordered Makeoveli to advance on the right hoping to funnel the Nod defenses toward the middle. Another round of artillery knocked out the last Shredder Turret creating a massive inferno. Bits of debris pelted down. The Nod infantry had dug in behind sandbags and were not giving an inch. Each time a Nod soldier fell another one seemed to replace them. "We've got to get control of one of the SAMs or else this is suicide!" Makeoveli said, gunning down a Nod soldier. The squad pushed forward to the wreckage of a Shredder Turret. Wilcox and Benny pushed on further towards a tree consumed by Tiberium. A barrage of Nod bullets tore into the tree sending a mist of Tiberium into the air. The fine particulate glittered as it fell reflecting the various explosions going off around it.

"I'm hit!" Wilcox cried out. Benny hid behind the tree and checked out Wilcox. Some of the Tiberium shards had ripped through his suit exposing his skin, blood was seeping out through the cracks.

"Can you go on?" Benny asked, holding the soldier's shoulder. Wilcox nodded and Benny pulled him to his knees. "Kit, Blackborn, cover me! I can get closer!" Benny said. Makeoveli and Kit unleashed a torrent of bullets forcing the Nod soldiers into cover. Benny sprinted forward, jumped over the sandbags, and emptied his gun into the unsuspecting soldiers. A wounded one started crawling away. With sick amusement Benny drew his knife. Despite all the terror happening around him Benny was transfixed on the dying soldier. He picked him up by his head and tore the helmet off. Scared and shaking eyes met Benny's mask as he peered at the soldier. Benny jammed the knife down past the armor. He watched as the eyes drifted off. Glassy. As he withdrew his knife he tossed the body to the ground. Benny reloaded his rifle. There were more Nod to be killed.

Fullerton was making progress on the left. Their efforts were funneling the enemy soldiers towards the middle just as planned. The first SAM Site position was almost in their control. "Force them together and we'll hit them with another wave of artillery!" Fullerton said, gun chattering. The Nod soldiers were getting clumped closer and closer together as the GDI squads flanked. A few Raider Buggies rolled up spraying their machine guns at the GDI troops as Nod tried to retreat away. Juggernaut shells rained down catching one of the buggies sending it flipping through the air. WASP shells sent sonic waves through the air turning soldiers caught in the wave into red mist.

The first wave had been pushed back and the GDI outfit had temporary control of the area. Fullerton and his commandos got to work hacking the enemy anti-air while the rest of the GDI troops formed a defensive line. Another wave was sure to come. Kit's heart was racing from the battle and he did his best to patch up Wilcox from his wounds. If he didn't get out of there soon there was a high chance of Tiberium infection and that could turn fatal. Time wasn't on his side but he didn't have a choice. This mission would either see them succeed and get airlifted out or fail and be wiped out. "Let's keep it up guys, we're doing good!" Makeoveli said, coming over to third squad. Blackborn nodded and peered out over cover. He pushed his squad to another position. Even though they had penetrated the first Disruption Tower's stealth range the other overlapping towers were preventing him from seeing anything ahead. The darkness wasn't helping matters. Kit found the blackness frustrating. It was psychological torture. He had no way of knowing just what was out there.

"I can't bypass the system here. Nod's got them locked down, they must have expected this. We should have brought engineers!" Fullerton grunted playing with the wires on the machine. The rest of his squad was having similar problems. They only had a few minutes left before Nod would have pinpointed the GDI artillery position and sent the Vertigos out. "Come on give me something baby!" Fullerton said. Kit ran over to see if there was anything he could do. "They've already locked us out, we can't manually override," Fullerton said as Kit evaluated the system. Explosions from behind him caused him to duck for cover. Nod had regrouped. Raider Buggies were demolishing the weak cover offered by the sandbags and Scorpion Tanks were digging at the solid cover.

"Avenger Tank!" Someone on the front called followed by the sound of flame enveloping the radio. Without being ordered Xenos, Ericsson, and Dvorak sprang forward charging their heavy railguns. Makeoveli was next in line for the Avenger Tank. She sat behind the cover as it approached. If she ran it would incinerate her. If she stayed it wouldn't even need to waste the ammo. The commandos fired buckling the tank's flank but it strolled forward. Rounds from the Raider Buggies were ripping into the sandbags eliminated her cover. Another railgun burst smashed into the Avenger Tank but it still rolled forward. Makeoveli sprinted to a new piece of cover dodging the hail of bullets. The turret trailed behind her as she ran. A final volley of railgun bolts sent the Avenger Tank into suicide mode. In a gigantic fireball it detonated sending its smart charges in every GDI direction. A few exploded into Makeoveli's cover obliterating it and knocking her back.

"LT's down!" Blackborn yelled out. Sanchez and Blackborn ran to her and dragged her behind part of a Shredder Turret. The Nod force was advancing using the same tactic GDI had used to take the position. Flank and funnel.

"Call another artillery strike on the group of armor!" Kit pleaded with Fullerton. Fullerton shook his head unwilling to make the order.

"If I call in another one Nod will have a fix on their position we can't until we get control of these!"

"Just do it I have an idea, trust me!" Kit said, pushing Fullerton aside and digging his hands into the circuits. Fullerton hesitated for a split second before calling for another strike. Sweat poured down Kit's face as he tried to fulfill his idea. The artillery shelling rained, down destroying a handful of the Nod attacking group forcing another withdrawal. "Got it! Relay this information to our Firehawks and Bulldogs!" Kit said, tapping Fullerton's shoulder. He turned to investigate what Kit had done and started transferring the signal. Fullerton looked up as invisible shimmers zoomed overhead. His visor gave a simple IFF reading where the bomber was. It wasn't enough to turn the SAM Sites to GDI favor, but it was enough to reveal the general position of the enemy aircraft. The Firehawks could lock on to the signature with their anti-air missiles and blow the Vertigos out of the sky.

The valor of the moment dwindled as Kit remembered Makeoveli. Blackborn was shaking her trying to wake her up. She coughed spurting up bits of blood. "She's alive!" Blackborn said, trying to comfort her. She tried to sit up but Blackborn kept her down, he wasn't sure the extent of her injuries. Kit fought his way over to check on her. She turned her head to give him a weak thumbs up.

"How's she doing?" Kit asked, inspecting her damaged armor plating.

"She's okay for now but she needs a medevac ASAP. The quicker we get this over with the better," Blackborn said, placing his hand on Makeoveli's shoulder. "Wilcox, stay here with her. Everyone else on me" Blackborn ordered as they followed him forward. The second Nod wave was retreating but the squad had no intention of letting them run. It was personal now.

The first rays of sun were permeating over the horizon. Firehawks streaked in firing their missiles at nothingness only to create a spectacle of fire and smoke as the Vertigos were destroyed. Unfortunately a few were slipping out of the SAM Sites range and losing the exploited IFF signatures. The artillery pieces would have to switch to taking down the Disruption Towers in hopes of revealing the Air Tower the Vertigos were coming from, or at the very least paving the way for the ground assault.

As a final favor to Fullerton, the Artillery rained shells down upon the Disruption Towers shielding the section of the Nod base he was attacking. The shells echoed with tremendous force and the towers fell like cascading water. In an instant the cloaking field deactivated exposing the retreating Nod infantry. They were caught in the open fields and the advancing GDI soldiers picked them off one by one.

In the distance the heart of the Nod base rose up among a few remaining trees and the ruins of the old city. A Construction Yard, out alone on a small peninsula, was busy with automated instructions. A War Factory droned on welding bits of tanks together. The remaining infantry were pouring out from the Hand of Nod. A platoon pushed out eager to defend the base before the GDI soldiers could reach it. Bullets started flying even though they were far from being accurate. The GDI group was outnumbered. If they didn't come up with a plan they'd be overrun within a few minutes. Amidst the bullets flying around Kit found himself losing focus. He knew Makeoveli was bleeding out. He couldn't fathom fighting without her there. The world just seemed emptier.

Bullets pelted the hill Kit found himself behind. A Scorpion Tank was crawling track thread by thread advancing with Nod infantry behind. Xenos and Ericsson fired their railguns zapping against the armor. More bullets pinned them down. The force was overwhelming. Each step closer was strangling the GDI chances of survival. They fired another burst into the tank destroying the cockpit only to be met with another intense bullet barrage. "Sanchez let's go!" Benny said as he fired his gun and ducked down. "Cover us!" He said before sprinting away. Kit tried to order him to stop but he was already gone with Sanchez close behind. They needed to retreat not thrust forward. With a grunt Kit peeked over the edge firing at anything he thought he could hit. A few bullets hurled by his head and a few more hammered into the ground in front of him. As he ducked down he saw Sanchez and Benny disappear into the ruins of a housing tract. Fullerton ordered his squad to advance on the left again as the two groups exchanged fire.

The Nod troops were entrenched on a road and in the ruble surrounding it, despite Fullerton's attempts to push them back. More troops were reinforcing the position. "We have to go into those houses on our right, it's our only chance!" Fullerton called out over the radio. Together the GDI troops suppressed the Nod soldiers long enough to allow a few soldiers to cross over. Soon it was just Blackborn and Kit left.

"Ready?" Kit asked. Blackborn reloaded a mag and nodded yes. Fullerton ordered covering fire and they sprinted at the ruins. A bullet grazed the armor on Blackborn's shoulder as he dove behind the wall. He patted himself checking for holes and laughed as he looked at the scratch.

"That was a little close eh?"

Without the line of sight the firing stopped and the GDI soldiers tiptoed through the maze of crumbling buildings. Within minutes Nod would have the area surrounded. Their only hope was to dwindle the Nod force as they tried to enter in. Numbers helped in an urban environment but anything could happen in the tight quarters. Fullerton passed in through the side of a house signaling for everyone to follow. Explosions in the distance rattled the bricks and dust fell from the ceiling. Fullerton peeked out the window scanning for Nod. Blackborn tried Benny and Sanchez over the radio but there was no answer. He crept up next to Fullerton and asked what the plan was. "We gotta stay in the shadows for as long as possible. Maybe get to their Power Plants and take them offline, then maybe we can get some Orca and Hammerhead support," Fullerton responded.

"How do you expect to get into the heart of the Nod base undetected? Not to mention we only got sixteen guys left including Benny and Sanchez wherever they are," Blackborn said aggravated. He was uncomfortable being the second in command. The mission seemed impossible and he was starting to regret ever taking it on.

"I'm not sure yet, but I've been in worse." Fullerton opened the front door an inch and scanned outside. Satisfied it was clear he slunk outside staying close to the building. He peeked around the corner of the house before waving everyone along. The road split. A crumbling house with a cobblestone wall lined the road. Fullerton sent two men to the wall. They scanned down both streets before giving an all clear. The rest of the group followed. The rumbling of a tank caught their attention and they fleetly entered the deteriorating home. The tank and squad of infantry strolled by unsuspecting. Once they were out of view Fullerton ordered them to the next house.

Another open intersection laid in front of the GDI ensemble. Fullerton was contemplating which side to take. It was open ground for a good twenty meters. Nod could cut them down if they had the position on them. Fullerton didn't have much choice and took the risk. He sent two more men to scout the streets. Everything appeared quiet so Fullerton ordered the rest across. As soon as everyone was in the open an outbreak of gunfire gushed out. The man next to Fullerton took a bullet clean through the head sending the person tumbling face first into the street. The GDI troops fired upon the house where the ambush was coming from as they ran for cover. Two more soldiers were hit and dropped in the road. Kit crashed through a picket fence and dove through a window as bullets cracked around him. "Contact right! Contact right fifty meters!" He screamed as other soldiers followed suit. He hoisted his gun firing without having a target. His shots would be ineffective but he just hoped it would keep the enemy occupied. Others ran into the next room to get into a firing position. Screams of agony followed as Kit turned and saw a Black Hand flamethrower blanket the GDI soldiers in fire. Xenos ran in with his railgun. He shot the Black Hand trooper leaving a huge hole in his chest and carried on. Boom! The house the Nod infantry occupied shattered. A cloud of dust spewed out as the building caved in upon itself and fire danced on the dry wood. All the firing stopped as Benny and Sanchez appeared running out from behind the house leaving a swirl of smoke as they passed through.

"Where the hell were you?" Kit howled, not sure whether to shoot them or hug them.

"Sorry Kit, We thought we could flank them but lost our bearing in this maze. We heard the gunfire and came running. Luckily Sanchez still had some c4 on him," Benny said, trying to quell Kit's anger. He pushed Benny hard causing him to tumble. Benny wasn't expecting it and fell onto his back. "I'm sorry okay, I won't do it again." Kit sighed a breath of relief. He wasn't through with Benny yet but now wasn't the time to deal with it.

Fullerton called the remaining men over to him. They were down to eight men. What was left of Kit's squad and what was left of Fullerton's original commando troop. "Is this all we have left?" Fullerton asked, checking the body of a fallen soldier. Blood pooled around the dead soldier's ribs. Kit nodded and Fullerton shook his head and sighed. "Okay, scrounge up what ammo you can from the dead and get back here. We're going to end this mission," he said, lifting up a manhole cover revealing the sewer beneath.

After ten minutes of walking in the sewers Kit was sure if he ever made it out of the situation he was buying himself a full new set of armor. No amount of washing and sanitizing could rid the stench that was consuming it. He was only thankful the air filtration system was working on full efficiency. He didn't dare think of the smell outside the suit. "Hold up here, it looks like Nod has sealed this tunnel. Looks like this is where we go back up, Xenos, have a look," Fullerton said as they approached a dead end. Xenos gripped the old ladder and lifted the cast iron cover. He signaled for them to come up. All around were endless fields of dirt and dead grass. Outside the manhole the road degraded into pebbles and loose asphalt. They had passed the Construction Yard and the first part of the Nod base. Ahead they could see the beginning of the power infrastructure and a few Tech Labs.

"Do we have comms again?" Blackborn asked. Without waiting for an answer he tried contacting Wilcox, "Wilcox, It's Blackborn, status?"

"Sergeant, you made it through?" Nod sent out a recon squad in our direction so we moved the wounded down by the bottom of the bridge to hide. They haven't found us yet but the five guys Fullerton left behind ain't going to do much if we're spotted. I managed to stop the bleeding on Makeoveli but she's pretty weak, we need that evac soon. She's got maybe an hour or two tops. I'm not in much better shape but hanging in," Wilcox replied. Blackborn turned to Fullerton but he had already gotten the same report.

"Looks like the main front ran into a mess of scorps as soon as they took down the Obelisks. Luckily a wall of Shatterers annihilated them. They managed to locate and take out the Air Towers too, but there still is some heavy nod resistance. According to them the main power hub is over here. So if we take that out we can get some air support. But you can be sure Nod has that area heavily defended," Fullerton explained to the group. It was good news that the main battle was going well but it was no relief for them over here. Ammo was low and it was eight guys versus whatever Nod could throw at them.

"So what's the plan?" Kit asked, disheartened with the situation.

"Kill them all and blow it up, not necessarily in that order either," Fullerton joked, making Sanchez smile. Fullerton started walking off towards the Nod base, "let's get a little closer and see what we can do."

In the radiant daylight the Nod Power plants gleamed. The Liquid Tiberium Cores spun in their centrifuges. Steam pillared out the exhaust chimneys. Nod soldiers on guard duty patrolled uncaring of the imminent danger around them. They were on the back lines and in their minds the battle was far away.

The makeshift GDI squad had trekked just to the outside perimeter of a grouping of Power Plants. Two squads passed each other, exchanging pleasantries, before continuing on their way. As they separated the GDI soldiers crawled forward. Little bits of dirt and dead grass clung to their armor as they dragged themselves across the ground. An old chain link fence long ago rusted by the elements divided them from the base. Fullerton pried the fencing from a pole sending ripples down the fence as the weakened couplings broke. As soon as there was an opening Kit shimmied through and dashed to the nearest Power Plant. He scanned around seeing if he had been spotted . Nothing. The rest were clear to follow. They began placing their explosives on key points on the buildings. Charges below the Liquid Tiberium Core, near the electrical turbines, anywhere that would cause the plant to fail. Content they could bring the power down, they retreated back into the field.

The larger group of Power Plants were a different matter. Thick concrete walls circled the compound. Sentries posed at every corner prohibited any attempt over the wall. Gates, the only entrances to the center, were manned by soldiers. Raider Buggies stood idle in preparation for an attack. The GDI squad would have to attack. Kit crept to the edge of the grass picking his target. He centered his sights on a Nod soldier leaning against his post. His gun had fallen to the side as he relaxed in the sun. He couldn't have been older than sixteen. In his eyes joining Nod was an escape from poverty more than vengeance against GDI. He cared not for Kane's master plan of godliness. He just wanted to be fed. But even if Kit knew the predicament of the young soldier it wouldn't matter. He was an obstacle standing in the way of saving everyone Kit cared about.

Fullerton was the last to move into position. With a voice as cold as frost he issued the order to fire. Kit held his breath as he squeezed the trigger. A slew of bullets hit the Nod soldier, passing through him and embedding bloody into the wall. The kid slid down the wall leaving a trail of blood. The first guards had fallen. Return fire from the buggies ensued as the Nod soldiers scrambled for cover. Xenos and Ericsson targeted the machine guns mounted on the light vehicles with their railguns. The well placed shot sheared the weapons clean off making the vehicles useless. Frantic fire from the Nod soldiers buzzed through the air. The training the GDI soldiers had allowed them to advance into the compound. They alternated bounding and suppressing. When they could they took their time to sight in on their targets. Nod soldiers trying to flee were cut down. It was a one sided bout. Within a minute the last Nod soldier crumbled over riddled with bullets.

Kit tossed Benny some charges as they ran at the Power Plants. Dvorak and Fullerton watched the front as they were sure Nod would send reinforcements. Someone had to have called for help. "Okay everything is placed," Kit called out over the radio.

"Move out the-" Fullerton got out before cutting out. Gunfire broke out in spectacular intensity. Flashes of red echoed across the Power Plants as charged lasers flew. Kit ran to find Fullerton suppressed by the Nod fire. A group of upgraded Raider Buggies were speeding at them, each supported by a mounted laser, firing. Each time Xenos or Ericsson tried to blast the enemy vehicles they were met with a storm of beams and bullets. Scores of Nod infantry were advancing. "Go out the back now!" Fullerton yelled. He and Dvorak made a break for the nearest Power Plant. Kit tried to provide covering fire but there were too many to take down. A bullet cut through Dvorak's calf muscle sending him tumbling over the ground. Fullerton wanted to stop but he knew better. Dvorak was dead. Kit watched in horror as the commando refused to quit. He crawled one hand ahead while his other pointed his rifle behind him. He sent blind shots with each grasp of dirt. More bullets struck him in the back knocking him down. With his dying strength he clawed further. A final Laser blast took his last bit of strength. His head hit the ground as his life faded away. Fullerton grabbed Kit by the arm forcing him deeper into alleys between the Power Plants.

Fullerton recalled everyone deep within the complex. Wilcox and Sanchez regrouped, panting from the run. Xenos rounded the corner chased by two Nod soldiers. He slid as Fullerton used his last few bullets killing the pursuants. He looked at Xenos who shook his head. Ericsson hadn't made it. "Okay, take my last explosive charge, we're going to cut out the back," Fullerton said, handing Xenos the explosive. He walked to the fallen Nod soldiers and picked up one of their guns. He twisted the gun around looking at each side, "this will do." He signaled for them to follow and jogged off.

Xenos set the charge against the wall and backed away. With a loud boom, the bomb detonated sending pieces of wall everywhere. Kit was the first one through scanning his sectors like he was trained. His weapon swayed side to side as he kept it trained with his eyes ready to fire. The others followed behind completing the sweep. Kit found himself on the edge of what once could have been a golf course. Time and abandonment had taken its toll. The once lush green fields were dead. A sand trap had been overgrown with weeds. It was safe for now at least but he wasn't sure where to go. In the distance the ocean lapped against the rocky shore but they would get torn to shreds before they could get there. They couldn't outrun the vehicles. He turned to Fullerton awaiting further instructions.

"Xenos!" Fullerton said as a string of Nod soldiers discovered the hole in the wall. He tried to dive to save him but was too late. Xenos was dead before he hit the ground. "Into the ocean now!" He said, pushing Kit away and picking up Xenos' gun.

"What about you sir?" Kit asked, confused.

"You don't worry about me. You get into that ocean and you call for air support as soon as you hear the bombs go off. That's an order!" Kit tried to argue further but Blackborn grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away.

Fullerton waited until the majority of the Nod force had mixed into the Power Plants before he detonated the explosives. The Nod soldiers nearest to the charges evaporated as the fire consumed them, others were sent flying as the shock wave smashed into them. Fullerton continued firing at the survivors duel wielding the railgun and the Nod rifle.

Every fiber in Kit's being wanted to turn around and support the captain. He called for air support as soon as he heard the explosions like Fullerton asked. He continued and dove into the ocean hiding in the rocks and praying the support found him before Nod did. "I don't know what you guys did out there, but the SAMs just went offline over here, thanks," Wilcox radioed over. Kit clutched the rock as the waves bounced him back and forth. He gawked up at the edge waiting to see who would peer over. His weapon trained ahead, his finger resting next to the trigger in anticipation. Explosions rocked the air followed by light arms fire and intermittent heavy weaponry. A flight of Orcas roared over the edge followed by Hammerheads with their machine guns bearing down on the Nod units below. Spent casings dropped into the water splashing like rain all around. Kit gave a heavy sigh of relief.

Kit climbed back up the rocks weak from the day spent. As he staggered back to the wall a V-35 landed in the field waiting to evacuate the remainder of the squad. Fullerton was propped up against the wall clutching his left side, blood was seeping between his fingers. "Piece- piece of cake," he coughed.

No sooner had the power fallen than Nod was defeated. With the Hammerheads free to rain death down and Orcas allowed to assail what was left of the Nod armor the battle ended in the blink of an eye. The GDI auxiliary force moved in and began reconditioning the Nod base. Key structures were left unscathed in the attack. Allowing the engineers to commandeer the Nod equipment at an accelerated rate. The biggest problem they faced was the lack of power, a necessary set back. In a few hours they would have constructed new ones. A Mobile Construction Yard was moved from the forward base to expedite any further repairs.

Kit sat alone on a cot. He was exhausted but his mind refused to quit. His thoughts paced wondering about the condition of Makeoveli. Multiple times he'd tried to go see her but the doctors wouldn't allow it. An old civilian hospital, barely maintained by Nod, was acting as the only available field hospital. V-35's were landing and unloading soldiers and taking off one after the other. Kit couldn't even wait inside, too many wounded and dying soldiers were filling it up. Beds lined each room and down the hallways. The overworked medical staff tried their best to accommodate the masses. Triages were set up anywhere possible. Blood and dirt alike coated the floors. GDI had paid the price for taking the base. Makeoveli and Wilcox were close to adding to the debt.

With his thoughts eating at him Kit decided it was better to do something and distract himself. He caught a ride with a group of soldiers heading to one of the Nod research centers.

The building rose up rather unremarkable. Just a giant rectangular prism with no distinguishable markings. In part, the building was constructed into an old cemetery. People long ago dead were no matter for Nod. Much of the old world was no longer relevant. Trivial things like respecting the places of the dead had come to pass. It was by no means a Nod tenant. GDI had no choice but to remove landmarks or demolish entire sections of cities. Historical significance was subject to survival and the Tiberium plague rendered survival pivotal.

As Kit entered the building the unimpressive facade disappeared. GDI engineers jumped from station to station with their equipment trying to collect as much information as they could. Before the fall the Nod workers inside had initiated a data purge. By the time GDI had taken control of the building much of the information was gone. Kit approached a technician packing up his tools from a server bank. "We get anything useful?" The technician stood up dusting off his legs. He pulled a small screen from his pocket and handed it to Kit.

"Most of it was corrupted when we got here, but here is some of the stuff I found. Excuse me," The technician said, flagging down some of his colleagues. A few intact files displayed on the screen as Kit flipped through. Most of it was just bits and pieces of video or audio logs, some were just pictures, and others were simple text entries.

The Nod base was an intelligence gathering asset with a focus on the Scrin. Nod had decoded several Scrin logs indicating that the first invasion was the result of the Tiberium explosion, something GDI had deducted as well. But the more he read on, the less things seemed to make since. The first invasion was only a harvesting operation. They had minimal military support. The little military attachments were meant to be used against the remaining indigenous life or the mutants spawned by Tiberium. This invasion was different. The Scrin had sent a military force for the sole reason of extermination. A translated excerpt explained that the bulk of the new Scrin army was made up of the Harbinger Four sect. Unlike the decoded sects of Reaper Seventeen and Traveler Fifty-nine, this one was a battle hardened group. The rest of the log remained undecipherable, with a few words of "conflict" "progress" and "support" popping up.

The technician returned asking for the tablet back. Kit handed him the screen pensive over the new information. The log had him puzzled. It raised much more questions than it answered. The tech took the instrument from Kit looking at him bewildered, "Your world just get turned upside down or something?" The tech said. Kit looked up only half aware that someone had said something to him. He looked at the tech more confused than ever. "You okay buddy?"

"Yeah, just a long day." Kit replied. His head felt like it was going to roll off his shoulders. He fell into a daze as he got another ride back to his Barracks. All of it was too much. He meandered into his room, bracing himself against the doorway. Kit's feet shuffled forward as his body struggled refusing to push onward. As he managed to make it to his bed his legs gave out and he crashed face first onto his pillow.

The next day Kit woke up feeling refreshed. He shook the grogginess away and clutched the banister of his bed. It was the last day of his rest and recuperation off the front lines. Tomorrow he'd be back fighting for his life. The rest of the squad was off enjoying their time off and he had no intention of interfering. He hadn't had a chance to listen to the news in a long time. He grabbed a phone from his pack. The transparent screen bloomed into color as he held the sides.

The Tiberium Future Party had refrained from political protests as a result of the second Scrin invasion. Despite their political differences with the rest of the GDI, they still very much believed in humanity. Granger had been taken into the Reykjavik stronghold. Scrin had laid a heavy campaign on the island, but GDI wasn't budging an inch. Elsewhere the planet trembled in the onslaught. Millions of civilian casualties flooded in from every corner of the globe. GDI casualties were high. Even Nod was suffering astronomical amounts of casualties. Reports confirmed the temple at Sarajevo had been reestablished. The bulk of the Nod military might had been centered around the superstructure. North Africa had been thought abandoned by Nod but the Scrin attack proved otherwise. They were as strong there as they had ever been. Additionally, they had beaten the Scrin out of Australia after the GDI garrisons were defeated or rerouted. It was the first continent Nod had sovereign control over.

Worldwide GDI was still taking the brunt of the Scrin invasion. The Scrin had an impressive ability to run simultaneous operations on the whole planet. They never slept. They could fight GDI and Nod and still find time to target civilian populations. However, a resourceful GDI commander was proving their better in strategy and defeating the Scrin at every turn. Hamilton had worked with the rising commander in repulsing the Scrin from the East Coast of the USA. Kit had seen first hand the brilliance and prominence. GDI seemed to have a knack for generating skilled commanders. Kit wouldn't mind serving under the commander again. He'd brought them through a river of fire unscathed. Those missions were of the few Kit hadn't been scared to death. It was an incredible feeling.

There wasn't much else in the news that interested Kit. He contemplated whether to look at the GDI causality list or not. Since they'd arrived in the UK he had been sure Avery would be waiting for them. Then he was sure he'd be in Greenwich, but Fullerton had prevented him from finding out. He was sure the old man was alive. With hesitation, he brought up the list. He scrolled through until he got to the "AV's". He paused reading each name. His eyes flicked line by line as the finger guided. Avery, Mackay MIA. He inhaled pulling the air deep inside him. He struggled to fit the sensation into a singular emotion. He was sorrowed to find the name, but relieved to see a letter other than a "K". He breathed out letting a single blubbered chuckle out. I guess I'll have to go find him if he isn't going to come see me, he thought, forcing a smile on his face. He tossed the phone on the bed beside him, took another deep breath and exited the room.

Makeoveli was being released from the hospital. She was battered and stitched wide, but she was alive. Her biggest injury was a moderate concussion. Some second degree burns on her body would persist for a while. All in all she was alive. It was nothing she hadn't been through before. What's more she was enraged. Nothing ruined her mood more than hearing how the fight went on for another half a day and she wasn't around to see it. Her rage gave way to moroseness. Soldiers under her command had been wiped out. A glimmer of rejoice worked its way to her lips when she found third squad had survived the endeavor. Maybe she shouldn't have a favorite but she did. Third squad was all she had left in the world. Before she could even make her way to Blackborn and the others they had found her. She opened the door from the hallway to the waiting room to find the squad waiting. Blackborn was pacing back and forth chewing on a fingernail. They could have been there for hours and wouldn't have regretted a single moment. "Makeoveli!" The group gushed as she locked eyes with them. Kit pulled a small bottle out from his pocket. The clear cylinder had a small label near the top that read "водка" Kit didn't speak any Russian he'd seen enough Russian to recognize vodka.

"Thanks," She said, the words trickling out her mouth. Makeoveli wouldn't be able to join the fight for a few days longer but she had no intention of sitting on the sidelines.

After parting ways with her squad she bolted for the Operations Center. GDI had reconfigured the Nod base, using their existing infrastructure where they could. The GDI Command Center had yet to be constructed so Hamilton was making due using the Nod variant. On the way she passed a Nod satellite relay. The rescued science officer had a team working on converting the node, forcing the relay to receive and transmit signals to the orbital cannons. She stopped for a second watching the workers bicker. If the project worked GDI stood a real chance at defeating the invasion, not just on the British island, but the whole world.

The inside of the Nod Operations Center was dissimilar to the GDI counterpart. Work stations like office cubicles crowded the main room. Security sensitive doors at the end of a hallway had been pried open allowing GDI personnel to go freely. Hamilton sat at a table as subordinates conjectured about the next course of action. A hologram in the middle displayed information supporting each suggestion as the men talked. Makeoveli entered, catching Hamilton's eye. "Makeoveli, glad to see you up and about please join us," Hamilton said. She took an empty seat and scoured over the information available. The forward base had encountered a light Scrin force and scouts indicated a sizable army was converging on the area. The Main GDI base in the north was sending everything available to assist. Much of the base was still engaging with the Scrin in open combat as the two main armies tried to outmaneuver each other. Each clash was matched in vigor and brutality.

The briefing turned to other fronts in the war. Nod was still remaining quiet, much to the concern of Director Granger. GDI was losing the fight worldwide. Each sector was losing ground at a slow but steady pace. The notable exceptions were the British isle and North America. The prodigy commander in the United States had taken the Midwest back. Preparations for being made for taking back the Western Half. Here on the British isles GDI was putting up their best. If they fell, Iceland would be in danger.

Refugees from all over were flooding non contested areas. Shanties had been set up all over as the millions fled the Scrin. Day by day the space in the rag cities shrank. Granger had authorized a huge influx of people into Canada and the United States as they were the most safe. At the height of civilization the two countries boasted almost half a billion souls. Now as tens of thousands of people entered the continent each day a billion souls would be feasible.

The normal proceedings were interrupted when a GDI soldier ran into the room. He took a moment to gather his breath as sweat dripped off his brow. Hamilton looked beleaguered as he waited for the soldier to speak. "Sir we've just uncovered this information from the Nod computer banks." The soldier said still reeling from his run. He handed Hamilton a small device and looked with reluctance to the middle of the table. The hologram transformed as Hamilton inserted the drive into a slot. Nod had been unable to interpret the data but the GDI linguists had translated a Scrin cable. Threshold Nineteen, the last of the mysterious towers the Scrin had constructed, came into view. According to the translation the Scrin intended to retake the tower and activate it, allowing a continual link between worlds. Once the link was established untold amounts of Scrin forces could pour through. Enough to wipe out mankind once and for all.

Hamilton immediately switched to the GDI situation in Italy. One of the largest Scrin groups had centered around northern Italy. GDI was struggling for control of the Italian peninsula. The threshold was secure for the time being, but like most other GDI bases they were failing. It was only a matter of time before Scrin took control.

With the new information at hand Hamilton began contacting superiors. The news would no doubt reach Granger and he would move heaven and Earth to defend that position. But first thing was first, the Ion Cannon network needed to be reestablished. The foreboding Scrin contingent coming headlong at them added increasing chaos to that resolve.

The reinforcements from the north arrived a short time later. Hamilton sent the majority of his command to the forward base in anticipation of the Scrin incursion. Makeoveli was still unsuited for combat. Without hesitation Fullerton requested to take over. His injuries had healed and he couldn't think of anyone better to be grouped with than first platoon, third squad. Fullerton was an able leader, something Kit liked but he had an omen about him. It wasn't a death wish but it attracted death the same. Kit didn't know what to call it.

Along with the reinforcements valuable supplies made their way to the base. Weapons and ammunition were paramount. The heavy fighting the days before had drained the stockpile and Hamilton had every intention of emptying the reserves into the Scrin army. It was them or GDI. The infantry benefited the most. It was a wet dream for the average grunt. Their standard rifle had been replaced with next generation Zone Raider weaponry. The new rifle shot sonic rounds at railgun speeds. They served as anti-infantry and anti-armor. Blackborn and Benny both squirmed with excitement as they held their guns for the first time. They were more bulky than the old rifle and much heavier. But what they lacked in sleekness they made up for it with their ergonomic feel and impressive reliability. Now entire infantry battalions could be used against the Scrin armor leveling the playing field. Rocket Squads could then focus on air support reducing the Scrin advantage there.

As the battle drew near Kit was deployed near the A3 and A272 junction. The interchange served as a rapid avenue of approach to the GDI base. A small stream had dried up in the metamorphosed landscape. A modicum of trees to the left had been infested with Tiberium, the vibrant crystals growing from the trunks and branches of the petrified trees. To the right the sprawling land gave way to an abandoned city. More GDI forces had been stationed there. The Scrin were still an hour out but the anticipation was killing Kit. This battle was different from all the others. It was much more than fighting for his life like he had done before. It was more than playing a crucial part of the mission. This was to be a statement. History would look upon this battle and draw that it was this moment, this victory that drove the Scrin from the Earth. He forced the inspiring thought through his mind. The blood pulsed through his head as Kit pumped himself up. His finger twitched over the trigger. He turned to Fullerton poised on a rock. He had grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed his hands through it. The dust fell as he cleaned his hands. He wiped what was left on his arms leaving four streaks below his shoulder. Kit looked closer and saw the scratches etched into the armor. Four scratches for the four friends he'd lost. For a second Kit and Fullerton locked eyes, their wills synchronized. Kit considered etching his own scratches for the friends he'd lost. Maybe another time. He had to focus now.

Benny sat murmuring with Sanchez. He had drifted away from Kit. After the last battle Kit went on a twenty minute tirade over Benny and Sanchez's actions. Upfront they yielded, but in private they dismissed the claims as weak. They shared the blood lust that Kit lacked. They wanted to battle just to fight. They had become addicted to the adrenaline. The brush of death never made them feel more alive. Fighting wasn't an obligation, it was a compulsion. They chuckled as they exchanged stories. Sanchez animated himself as if he was on top of someone punching with indignant strength.

Blackborn and Wilcox were the only ones Kit couldn't get a read on their state of mind. They sat with their rifles poised ahead. It could have been fear. They were anxious, but so was everyone else. It could have been that they had withdrawn to their primal instincts. They didn't want to think of the situation. They just wanted to react. Whatever it was that they were feeling, Kit was sure he could count on them. Blackborn wasn't the best leader but he was one hell of a soldier. If it came down to it Kit knew he'd make the right call. Wilcox had proved himself in the last battle. With as much as the squad had been through it was a miracle they were all still together. The bond they shared made them tougher to kill. It enhanced their combat abilities as they just knew what each other were thinking.

The first sounds of the impending battle rattled through the air. The rhythmic rumble of the Scrin machines generated little quakes through the ground. The vibrations increased in magnitude as they drew closer. A squadron of Orcas flew overhead like a flock of birds in a "V" formation. They faded from view as they soared ahead. Concussions echoed through the air as they encountered the enemy. A few seconds later a few of them returned flying in broken formations. Firehawks circled high in the atmosphere as Stormriders gave chase. The Firehawks descended like birds of prey swooping on top of the enemy aircraft unleashing their deadly missiles and peeling off. Debris from the destroyed craft crashed into the field in front of Kit. It was the first of many to dot the battlefield.

Outlying skirmishes transitioned into full blown engagements as the two races clashed. WASPs hurled their armaments at the Scrin. Energy beams raised across the sky. Smoke pillared as fires raged. The scale of the conflict seemed endless. Most of the fighting centered around the desolate city. A group of Seekers and Gunwalkers appeared from beyond. Their force field shielding enveloped them as they moved across the land. The Scrin tanks had been upgraded with Tiberium Shards increasing their lethality. Instead of violet bolts of energy they had shards of blue Tiberium that could rip through a soldier. If it didn't kill them instantly the toxic shock would. A supporting group of Predator's moved in as the Scrin unleashed their fire. Shards flew through the air like sharp diamonds. They splintered and shattered as they hit their targets. The GDI tanks returned fire striking the shields and causing them to ripple like water. The infantry launched their sonic bullets tearing through the force fields. With a suction and a loud pop they vanished as the incoming fire was too much. Without their extra protection the front vehicles wilted under the fire, ripping apart with each sonic impact. Still the Scrin company pushed forward. Buzzers swarmed over the wreckage bolting towards Kit's position. Shocktroopers warped in right in front of them. The GDI infantry adjusted targeting the new threat. Plasma discs ripped past Fullerton's head. He ducked before standing up and emptying his mag into the group of Shocktroopers. Kit followed with another burst as they collapsed. "Right side!" Benny yelled as Buzzers reached another squad. The razor blades ripped through the squad like they were nothing. All their armor didn't affect the sawing enemy in the slightest. Third squad turned to avenge the fallen squad as they annihilated the Buzzers.

"Keep it up!" Blackborn said. A Predator Tank burst into fire as its outside armor folded in upon itself. Inside the crew screamed as agony as they were consumed. There wasn't anything anyone could do.

More Scrin tanks entered the fray. Charged Devourers sprayed their green beams. More Predators were exploding. Ortiz ordered the infantry to concentrate their fire on the Devourers. Round after round impacted the first tank causing it to falter before sparking and incinerating. One by one they brought down the tanks stopping only to deal with more Scrin infantry. Orcas dropped in from above releasing their missiles point blank and flying out through the top of the battle. Everywhere Kit looked there was destruction. Tripods and Corroders were filling the gaps. Ortiz ordered a short retreat as the Scrin heavy armor stormed the field. APCs from the back rolled to the front to pick up the infantry. Fullerton ordered everyone inside as Vander drove up. "Y'all need a lift?" He said as the bay door opened. Sonic shells from the artillery littered the field as they pulled back. Husks of tanks obliterated as the concussions rocked the ground.

Ortiz regrouped on the edge of the Petersfield city. In the west Kit could hear the chatter of Watchtowers and the bass boom of Sonic Emitters as they activated. If the forward base were to fall, they would be trapped. Vander opened up the APC's machine gun as the next wave of Scrin approached. The GDI infantry redeployed taking cover in a small gully. Corroders flew through the air diving on unsuspecting targets. Kit tried his best to track them down but there were so many it became hard to keep up. Within minutes Ortiz would have to displace again.

Benny grunted as he fired at a Corrupter. A shot to the leg sent the machine sliding through the ground. Another shell landed on the mouth causing the noxious acid to spray about. A tiny bit landed on Benny and burned his armor. The acid sizzled on his chest. He didn't seem to notice. He was too busy finding the next thing to kill to care. Wilcox joined up with him to take down another Seeker. Their sonic ammo made short work of the light tank.

The sky began to darken as the aircraft flooded the air. Hammerheads roared in taking out slews of Corroders. Rocket infantry garrisoned inside targeted the Tripods as they hovered from above. Without warning fireballs engulfed the helicopters. Hammerheads dropped from the sky. Planetary Assault Carriers had descended from the heavens further crowding the airspace. Their tiny drones zipped through the air sending powerful energy beams into Hammerheads. Devastator Warships joined in soon after launching their gigantic plasma discs below. The situation was becoming critical.

"Cover the Rocket Squads as they take out the Scrin capital ships!" Fullerton said, charging forward. Kit followed behind blasting a Buzzer in front of Fullerton. The new rifles were proving their worth. The old projectiles would take multiple bullets to bring down a Buzzer swarm. The new sonic shells were ripping them apart with a single shot. Rockets troops trained their weapon to the sky and launched. The Scrin ships activated their force fields before they hit.

"We need Firehawk support to punch through those shields," Blackborn said, still firing on Scrin infantry. Benny and the rest of the squad joined in as enemy fire exploded all around. Plasma discs from the Devastators ripped an entire platoon in half. As soon as they fell more soldiers took their place.

After what felt like an eternity Firehawks raced into the fight. Their missiles blitzed through the air knocking out the heavy shields. Drones from the carriers pursued them, destroying a few unfortunate planes. With the shields down the Rocket Squads unleashed another volley at the looming ships. In an incredible sight and magnitude the rockets felled the first aircraft. A tremendous sound echoed across the field as the ship ripped apart. Huge pieces crashed down into Scrin and GDI troops alike.

Wilcox cheered as the first ship fell. GDI was winning the battle. A spray of Scrin fire forced him back into cover. It wasn't won yet. More and more Tripods were dispatched to the battle. Their shields absorbed shot after shot from the infantry. Mammoth Tanks countered, their massive cannons firing one after another.

A Tripod marched forward in front of Kit. Its tentacle arms spit fierce beams in every direction. Garrisons on its legs suppressed the infantry looming ever closer. A massive leg stomped over Kit revealing the exposed bottom of the Tripod. A flurry on Tanks shells pierced the shields and crippled the gigantic beast causing the walker to wobble and fall. Dirt and dust flung into the air as the massive machine crashed into the ground. In the confusion a Buzzer swarm slipped through the lines and found their way to Fullerton. Before he could cry out the tiny machines had shred through his body. Kit turned just before Benny launched a grenade at them. A stray Buzzer piece lodged into Kit's arm digging deep into the armor and knocking him over. Benny helped him to his feet and Kit ran over to Fullerton. There wasn't much left. A piece of his armor caught Kits attention. A fifth scratch from one of the buzzers had shred next to the ones Fullerton had done to himself. It suited him. He had lived and died for others.

There wasn't much time to mourn as the battle still raged behind him. Blackborn assumed command of the squads Fullerton was in charge of, "Fall back to the APCs!" Ortiz had issued another regroup despite the Scrin advance dwindling. Kit ran to the hatch of the APC as it opened covering the squad as they entered. Vander drove away, the machine gun still chattering through the retreat. Plasma Discs zoomed all around as Vander swerved into the city limits. Energy beams cut through the brittle buildings without effort. Every path they took they found themselves under heavy fire.

The radio was buzzing with communications. Ortiz had gotten word of a Mothership inbound to the base. Everyone was supposed to pull back outside and clear a way for heavy anti-air. Vander skid around another corner pushing the APC to its limits. A Tripod ran through a house hot on their tail. It's energy beam tore into the side of the APC sending it careening and rolling over as it crashed through a house. Much of the old home collapsed as the squad tumbled through before coming to a rest upside down in a back room. The building groaned as the center of mass changed.

"Everyone good?" Blackborn called out. Everyone responded but Vander. His head had smashed into the side of the vehicle. Blood was leaking out his helmet and his legs were pinned in the wreckage. Benny and Sanchez forced the hatch open and climbed out. Outside the Tripod carried on down the street unconcerned with the APC. It had new targets. Kit helped Wilcox out and shut the hatch behind him. Later he hoped to come back to Vander and bury him. Buzzers started to flow over the degraded fence in the backyard. Benny and Sanchez charged ahead eliminating the threat. "Let's keep moving we got to get back to the base!" Kit said.

They ran until they regrouped with other stranded soldiers and together pushed their way through to the base. Mammoth Tanks had lined the outside unleashing hell on any Scrin foolish enough to come in range. The WASPs continued to put shell after shell downrange. Some of the barrels on the artillery were glowing red hot. The machine turned and dipped its barrels into a pool. Steam erupted around the machine. It would cause damage but nothing that couldn't be fixed later. What mattered was now.

In the distance the Scrin capital ships were still falling out of the sky as Firehawks lined for strafing runs and other GDI elements had yet to retreat. Ortiz ordered everyone to rearm with the intent to head back out. Blackborn hunched over still trying to catch his breath. He was never the most athletic. A Bulldog pulled up to provide transport. Shakespeare entered Kit's mind as they drove back into the battle. Once more into the breach my friends...

The Mothership was just peeking into view. Throngs of Firehawk missiles dug into its thick hull but it still trudged on unphased, The fight continued as the last GDI elements converged together in front of the base. Walls of Mammoth Tanks lined the front. The remaining Predator Tanks lined the rear. Kit stayed with the Bulldog on the far left protecting for any flanking Scrin infantry. A score of Rocket Squads sat behind the tanks waiting for the Mothership to come in range. They would be the last line of defense should it make it that far, and even then it might not be enough.

The last of the Scrin airships were approaching. The Bulldog began engaging as a Devastator sailed over the squad. Its long claw like extensions holding the four firing mechanisms in animated suspension turned as the rockets slammed into its side. A volley of Plasma discs rained down into the group of rocket squads cutting them to charred bits of flesh. A missile from a Firehawk embedded deep within the ship. Bulbous pieces bowed out and imploded as the ship buckled from the damage.

Suddenly the sensor on the Bulldog began beeping. Kit turned around to see a ship uncloaking and landing. It was nothing like he'd ever seen before. The Scrin hadn't used much cloaking tech before but they hadn't come last time expecting a fight either. If it was Scrin it wasn't attacking. Yet, the ship was very similar to Scrin designs. It had near black Tiberium composite armor with dark red hues emanating from some place. Two jaw appendages like a spider or ant's mandible rose out on either side of the front of the ship. As its landing gear touched down Kit and everyone had their gun trained, ready to fire should a hostile act be taken. A bay door lowered from the front of the craft revealing more reddish light. A woman bearing a Nod insignia jumped out of the craft. Her hands were up and empty. The black jumpsuit she wore seemed ill fitting for the environment. "Stop!" Kit commanded as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

"We're here to help," A man said from the top of the stairs. He stepped one foot after the other with deliberate fashion as to show his intent wasn't malicious. Blackborn and his squad moved forward keeping their weapons trained on the two.

"Why does Nod want to help?" Kit asked, stepping closer to the people.

"I'm not with Nod any longer, and he never was," the woman replied, putting her hands on her hips. As Kit moved closer he could see the Nod insignias were old. They had been scratched and dulled from long periods of use. The man seemed to be wearing a suit similar to the woman's only blue. "My name is Eliana Novak. I'm dead by all accounts. This is Abel. What's important is we can destroy this Mothership if you cover us." The woman spoke with authority. Giving commands was nothing new to her. The name sounded familiar to Kit but he couldn't quite place it. He got Ortiz on the radio relaying the information. One Nod ship was the least of his concerns and if they wanted to bring down the Mothership he wasn't going to abject. He could sort out their true intentions later. Ortiz cleared the order and the GDI group shifted to taking out the Seekers and anti-air units. Eliana and Abel returned into their ship and took off. Once the path was clear they recloaked out of sight.

Kit was almost sure they had just ditched and ran. Tripods had marched closer while GDI shifted the fire. They were within range and began hammering the front Mammoth Tanks. One after another the tanks crumbled under the blasts. A few Tripods marched forward stepping on the fronts of the mammoths and EMPing the tanks. The crew inside tried to climb out as the tank was useless but the garrisoned Scrin infantry gunned them down.

Kit had been so distracted by the Tripods he almost missed the Mothership's sudden dive towards the ground. Its massive ring around the chrysalis swirled as the middle dug into the ground sending a shock wave through the Earth. It was so powerful Mammoth Tanks sprung into the air as the ground rumbled beneath. Debris and smoke filled the sky as the galactic ship crashed. Much of the remaining Scrin were caught in its wake and incinerated in the fire it caused. The ones outside the crash radius were destroyed by the now overwhelming GDI army.

The battle mulled as the inferno raged. The Scrin army had been defeated. What was left could be routed with airstrikes and tank hunting groups. Kit wouldn't have to fight much more that day. He breathed a sigh of relief every battle drained his spirit and this one wrapped its icy grip around his soul. Recovery would take a long time. Kit leaned against the bulldog as the unidentified ship landed again. He still had to figure out who they were.

Act 4:

The operation had been a success. GDI overwhelmed the Nod base and took control of their satellite uplink. It was all as Kane desired. The brothers and sisters that died would be martyred. If not for their sacrifice GDI would have suspected their operation was too easy and looked for a trap. They would have delved deep into the Nod infrastructure and uncovered the virus hidden in the uplink protocols. Once again Nod had desired the Ion Cannon for their own nefarious uses. And like moths to a flame GDI played right into the ploy. Kane knew that GDI would discover where the Scrin based their relay nodes. The Scrin had been smarter this time spreading the nodes over different continents and smarter still, keeping one in orbit around the planet. The carefully constructed logs and intelligence material Kane had ordered be left would lead GDI to this revelation. It would take a few days, enough for Kane to enact the second part of his plan. Ascension was at hand.

The Strauss siblings bumped along in the back of their Sandshark. News of the capture of the Nod base at Portsmouth rejuvenated their spirits. Recent times had not been the brightest. In the dawning hours of the second Scrin invasion Nod had done well to defend itself. Their retreat and consolidation brought the brunt of the Scrin forces to bear against GDI. The massed Nod forces worked too. Scrin advance parties fell with less than expected Nod casualties. The GDI forces in Australia were ousted leaving Nod the sole power. It was unprecedented. The Generals down there made sure to throw everything they had at the Scrin evicting them. Millions of Citizens flocked to Nod havens praising their efforts. It was the first time in a long while that public opinion of Nod had been so warm and receptive. It meant more people for the brotherhood. The foundations of a legitimate government.

North Africa had fared almost as well as Australia. GDI forces were routed but the Scrin were too strong to overcome. The Egyptian front had become a desolate place. No man nor Scrin machine survived long. In the heart of Africa no one side could wrestle control from one another. GDI was too weak to hold much of anything and the Nod and Scrin forces clashed in giant battles obliterating each other. Each day some one side gained a foothold and the next it would dissolve.

Everything seemed to be going well until South America fell. Nod had been unable to bring down a Mothership. Its blast spread like a contagion. No one knew how it propagated. Somehow the strike from the Scrin ship would ark to a target within close proximity. Metal glowed whitehot before exploding. Organic life boiled, and the ground itself turned into sludge. A typical blast could destroy a plethora of units or level a small base. However, the Nod forces were packed so tight the resulting blast shook the entire continent. The general in charge, Valeri Bezpalov, had seen the destruction coming and ordered as many to leave as possible. He packed his own transport full of his men before sending the shuttle off leaving him to die at the hands of the Mothership. He was a good man who deserved better, but he died a hero.

With the utter Annihilation of the Nod forces GDI stood little chance at stopping the Scrin advance. South America became dominated by the Scrin. Nod and GDI rescue efforts ran non stop saving civilians but every mission took heavy losses. Millions would die to the Scrin unable to defend themselves. There was a possibility South America would be devoid of human life by the time of the war's end.

The thought of Kane's plan coming to fruition was the motivation Heinrich and Jenell needed. It was what Nod needed. With all the despair and destruction, the lost friends, the sacrifices, it all had to add up to beating the Scrin. Beating GDI. Ascending. Jenell always thought of ascension as a shortcut to heaven. She wasn't exactly sure what it was but it had to be better than the life given. Kane believed it. So did she. Heinrich wasn't so sure. Ascension to him was just a better understanding of the universe, an access to knowledge and power far beyond the primitive human intellect. He hoped that whatever it was would make the human race better.

Now they were tasked with one of the final steps to ascension. Somewhere in China was the next piece of the puzzle. GDI had tampered with the Tacitus and destroyed the matrix but it wasn't the only one in existence. Kane had prophesied that with this invasion the Scrin had brought another similar device. This codex would be the key to operating the threshold. Kane called it the Portunus. He desired it above all else in the world. Both the Tacitus and Portunus were ciphers for Scrin information.

The Central China Red Zone had been one of the worst. Billions of people were displaced as it grew. Bhutan and Bangladesh had been consumed whole. Even India had found itself in the grasp of the expansive red zone. Any and all efforts to slow its steady march over the land had failed. The entire Southern Asian peninsula was under threat. In a decade there could be nothing but Tiberium left.

Fighting deep in the red zone would be alien to humanity. Conventional forces would be neutered as maws of green crystals shredded the Earth. Aircraft would be under constant threat of ion storms and organic life would need complete isolation from the environment. A small leak could prove virulent to the most hardened individual. The Scrin excelled here. Their infantry drones were bigger, able to leap and see over Tiberium. None of their armor was tracked, hover tech or insect-like legs ruled. Most important, Scrin air somehow harnessed ion storms enhancing the ships. Scrin would show no solace, no mercy. They didn't take prisoners. Heinrich and Jenell volunteered for the mission.

The Sandshark slowed in the sandy slush that was the ground. Gales of wind swept over the Earth trailing dust like a tail. As the soldiers stretched their legs the horror of the landscape took their eyes. Green as far as the eye could see. It was like nothing any of them had seen. This wasn't a red zone anymore. It was something else entirely. "I can't believe it," Vitorre said.

"It's just so strange. I don't feel like I'm on earth," Nika said as she gazed at the horizon. Niu and Bradley stood beside Nika and Vitorre. Uneasiness jumped from one person to the next. Heinrich wasn't much sure what to make of it. Tiberium was the future but what use was this future? Poison, desolation, catastrophe? Humanity was antithetical to Tiberium. The Portunus would need to be more than a key to the portals. It would need to bend Tiberium to humanities will. Jenell sensed the melancholy of the squad and ushered them over. Now was not the time to lose themselves in bleakness.

As if the world beckoned the notion further four Phantoms stomped over a hill. Two Sentinels cooed over the giant machine's heads, like falcons following their owner. The Sentinels landed kicking up more dust. The cockpits of the various vehicles opened up and the pilots and operators climbed out. Vestal was stamped into the breastplate of one of the pilots. Heinrich smiled as he read the name. Vestal and Bethel were one of Nod's best pilot duos. On numerous occasions they had survived insurmountable odds. Together with Chapel and Tabernacle they were near unstoppable. They were often found in tandem with Vestal and Bethel. It was unusual for such a quartet to form with pilots. Pilots didn't last long for Nod.

The Phantom operators were of similar caliber. Sorrow, Misery, Agony, and Gloom were all skilled operators. No matter what Nod tank was in front of them they could use it. Often they found ways to use the vehicle against its intended purpose to great results. They were some of the first to commandeer Scrin tech and pioneered the path to the creation of Phantoms. It was their vision that brought the cutting edge machines to fruition. Kane had smiled upon them. He smiled upon all of them. "Gents," Gloom said as he walked to the waiting group. His voice was low and serious. Everyone rallied in a circle around waiting to hear the final pieces of the plan. Intel had narrowed the Portunus down to a specific Scrin base. Any attempt at further reconnaissance had been met with disaster. The majority of Nod's forces were too occupied to affect much of an assault on the base. Key members of the inner circle had also worried such a direct assault would provoke the Scrin to transfer the device. Scrin wormholes could allow an escape before Nod even got close. Stealth would be the only option.

What little could be gathered on the base seemed grim. Most Scrin bases were nothing more than outposts to filter in troops for their war effort. This base was the opposite. The Scrin units there remained home, sweeping the surrounding area like they were on guard duty. It made them almost human like. It was the first time anyone had observed the Scrin taking a terrestrial action. It served as a sign of hope for Jenell and Heinrich. A species with superluminal travel had come to Earth twice now and been unable to exterminate them. Humans were tenacious and now the Scrin couldn't afford to boast arrogance and raw power. They had to defend.

The downside was not lost on the spec ops team. Forcing the Scrin to defend had made this mission all the much harder. A handful of vehicles and soldiers would be no match for a Scrin patrol, let alone a Scrin base. Kane had accounted for it of course. He would risk everything he could to achieve his prize. The small strike force was composed of some of Nod's most talented and armed with their latest tech. The Phantoms had been upgraded with everything Tiberium. The traditional Red lasers had been augmented with the violet lasers seen from tripods. The engines had been infused with a Tiberium component. The armor was also a Tiberium composite. The line between human and alien tech had been blurred. These were the ultimate fruition of Tiberium. Technology beyond humanity. The Sentinels were upgraded in the same manner. Tiberium this, Tiberium that, everything laced with the substance. The only standalone upgrades were the stealth drives and even they benefited from the increased power output of Tiberium.

It was hoped the improved vehicles could withstand skirmishes and retreat into the shadows when needed, to confuse the Scrin and allow the infiltration of the base. Once the Portunus had been acquired Kane had intended to level the Scrin base and deny them any effort to recover the codex. Nuclear missiles Kilian Qatar had stolen during the last war would be perfect instruments for his vision. The strike team would just need to avoid the blast. Time was of the essence.

"It's time," Heinrich said. The light piercing the clouds had been swallowed up as darker storm clouds rolled in. An eerie glow radiated underneath the ceiling. Lightning in distance danced and the light reflected around the crystal lattices. "We'll take the Sandshark as far as we can, then use gliders after. We shouldn't have any problems with the Phantoms along this route but if we do the Sentinels will have to scout for alternatives."
"Any questions?" Jenell asked. She looked around but was met with silence. With a nod she prompted everyone to disembark. Heinrich and the rest of his squad climbed back into the Sandshark. The vehicle lurched forward as the door shut sealing them inside. They wouldn't be able to take off any gear or helmet, too much contaminants from the outside had entered and the simple decontamination in the vehicle wouldn't be effective. Heinrich wondered just what would happen to this vehicle when they got back. Would it be easier to melt down for parts or attempt to scrub it clean? If we even make it back. He thought.

After what felt like a few hours of sluggish bumping along the Sandshark made a sudden stop. "What's wrong?" Heinrich asked.

"You may want to see this," The driver said. Heinrich wiggled his way to the front looking out the small window. Nestled in the sea of green Tiberium rose a monolith of a blue crystal. Blue Tiberium was rarer but not uncommon. It could be found in various fields in little clumps but Heinrich had never seen this. A singular crystal the size of a city skyscraper rose above. It had long been known that concentrated Blue Tiberium was volatile. This much in one area was a ticking time bomb. One wrong strike from lightning and the whole thing would combust. It was a small miracle it had gotten as big as it had in the first place.

"Let's push wide around it just to be safe. The driver nodded and took a wide berth around. Soon the sea of green swallowed the blue from view.

A short while later the Sandshark went as far as it could. A small chasm had opened up the ground. Inside vents of toxic gas spewed and faint glimmers of green shone through. Heinrich ordered the dismount and began setting up his glider. "These things suck. Are we even sure they'll fly?" Bradley said, trying to attach himself to the harness. The gliders had been meant for Shadow Teams, who operated with light weight and minimal equipment. Here in the red zone the squad was forced into bulky environment suits.

"If they don't you won't have to worry long," Niu said, snapping a buckle.

"At least we don't have to go far, Just over to the other side there. I could almost jump it," Nika said. The Phantoms took a running jump and soared through the air. They rolled on the other side digging into the Earth. It was easy for them. "See if they can do it we can too." Nika took a short run and leaped into the air. Her sail extended from her glider and caught the up draft. She looked graceful for a second before the nose turned towards the ground. She landed with a thud as the glider skidded over the ground. She groaned as she unclipped the harness.

"That looked less like gliding and more like crashing."
"Still made it!"

"Let's go," Heinrich said, taking his own leap of faith. He managed to crash with a little more grace. The rest of the squad followed his lead.

The other side of the canyon had a small opening before a forest of Tiberium. Maneuvering through it would be difficult. The Sentinels would need to guide the ground force step by step. As soon as they entered signs of a recent battle littered the floor. Burns in the crystals, metal fragments, and shell casings were strewn about.

"What the hell could be out here?" Vitorre asked, picking up a brass casing. He examined it feeling for warmth but it was cold. It wasn't GDI nor was it a Nod caliber. He tossed it to Jenell so she could have a look but she didn't recognize it either.

"Forgotten maybe?" Nika said.

"Out here? Could they even survive?"

The Forgotten had been quiet ever since the end of the Second Tiberian War. They were too weak and splintered to have any consistent leadership. Nod had had skirmishes with them in various yellow zones but it always ended with defeated mutants. Any Forgotten near GDI territory would have faced a similar fate.

"They are mutated with Tiberium, they might thrive out here." Someone piped up. As the squad continued on, bodies of The Forgotten confirmed their suspicions. Hundreds of them encircled a small opening. Evidence of Buzzers and Scrin anti-infantry weaponry were scattered about.

"They don't even look human anymore," Niu said, kicking over a body. It was twice the size of a normal human, with thin skin stretched over massive muscles. Small green crystals sprouted on the head like hair. Bradley turned over a different body and discovered even the innards of the mutants were laced with Tiberium. Heinrich couldn't help but wonder if this was the next stage of human evolution. He found comfort in the fact Kane gave no special treatment to The Forgotten. Ascension didn't involve turning into these hideous creatures.

"Let's keep moving, we're almost there." Heinrich said, pushing past the slaughter.

At last off in the distance the first makings of the Scrin base came into view. Typical Scrin bases harvested every bit of Tiberium as they sprawled out but this base was different. Harvesting seemed to be almost unimportant for them. Much of the surrounding maze of Tiberium deposits had been left untouched providing a natural barrier. What areas that had been cleared were under heavy guard. Patrols of different Scrin tech skidded across the trails. Storm Columns with their tall spine like spindles covered every gap. Their localized ion storm cackled over them. An occasional Stormrider patrol would divert into them catching the arcing energy and boosting the aircraft. Photon Cannons burst from the ground with their giant open hands waiting to generate plasma discs. If those base defenses were there Heinrich was sure Buzzer Hives were hiding out of view waiting to unleash their swarms. "Really wish we had some arty with us," Heinrich said to Jenell.

"Same. Let's just hope this new stealth tech is enough." Jenell replied. The first glance made the mission seem impossible. Between the patrols and defensive emplacements they were bound to get spotted and obliterated.

"So what's the plan?" Bradley asked.

"Could we get a Catalyst Missile strike?" Vitorre asked.
"You want a Catalyst Missile strike here... Where we are surrounded by giant walls of Tiberium, where the key component in the missile is something that reacts to Tiberium causing an explosion?" Nika said, mocking Vitorre.

Vitorre moved to respond but Heinrich cut hit off, "we're going to walk right in and out. No weapons. Nothing." The Scrin couldn't cover everything and if a sacrifice needed to be made Heinrich was more than prepared to do it. There wasn't a person there that wasn't prepared for it.

After a short observation of the battle space Heinrich devised the final plan. The few Scrin harvesters all returned at the same time, the Scrin patrols always stopped well away from the Harvesters allowing a small window for the Phantoms to pass through. It wasn't a traditional "harv walk" that had been popularized in the first war but it was similar enough. Vestal and her Sentinels would hang back as the Gloom and the others snuck through. If needed, Heinrich was sure that an attack on the harvesters would generate a response. He and his squad could glide over the walls during the diversion. Gloom and his Phantoms could also create a division if they found the opportunity.

Gloom engaged his stealth drive as the Phantoms walked off. Within a blink of the eye an aura surrounded the machines and they were gone. Reports came over the net as the Phantoms moved into position. The infantry climbed on top of a Tiberium crystal. As they climbed they could feel the radiation coming off the crystal. They began sweating. Their armor would absorb some of the radiation but they couldn't stay up there long. The top of the crystal allowed them a great view of the base. If they jumped right with their gliders they could make it over a wall. From the vantage point they saw the Signal Transmitter, its thin needle like appendages arcing electricity between them. Intel hadn't been able to determine where the Portunus would be but the Signal Transmitter made the most sense. Through it the Scrin could summon a Mothership or aided in Planetary Assault Carriers from warping in. It was what generated wormholes.

"Everything is set," Gloom said. The herd of Scrin harvesters were returning with their precious cargo. The Phantoms squeezed their way into the center of them, careful not to bump the harvesters. Scrin harvesters didn't have stealth detection but a sudden crunch in seemingly empty space would be enough to deduce something was wrong. As the group approached the base the tension grew. If something went wrong they would be in the middle of hell. A Scrin patrol had stopped where expected. As the Phantoms passed the threshold of the base they let out a collective sigh.

Inside the base felt like a maze. The various Scrin buildings towered over the horizon blocking any sense of direction. At any moment Gloom could stumble upon a detector and the ruse would be up. Heinrich was doing his best to help navigate. The sheer amount of Scrin structures were making it difficult. "Okay, turn left in about ten meters and you should be there," Heinrich said. Gloom acknowledged him and on cue turned to find himself face to face with the structure.

"As expected there is a Buzzer Hive here," Gloom informed Heinrich.

"Vestal, looks like we'll need you to create that distraction.

"Got it. Tell me when." Jenell surveyed the squad making sure everyone was up and ready. With a nod, she turned back to Heinrich. Gloom reported in halting the mission.

"Wait one. We've got a Warp Chasm here," Gloom said. He positioned himself to get a better view on the structure. A large slab sat in front of Gloom. A slanted ramp ribbed up onto the platform where four long squid like arms reached toward the sky. A purple hued ball of energy spun around the center of the stage. The arms of the structure glowed a reciprocal purple. The building caused Gloom's heart to beat hard. Nod had encountered this type of structure during the last war. The first time Nod faced it they expected it to be similar to the Warp Sphere, blinking in Scrin vehicles. Nod could handle those well enough but this was different. A Warp Chasm was capable of allowing the emergence of a far bigger and far deadlier Scrin tech. Eradicator Hexapods. Named because the first time Nod encountered one, few survivors returned. GDI had their own supermassive unit the MARV and Nod their Redeemer, but Hexapods were on another level. They didn't have the raw firepower the other vehicles had but they made up for it with surprising agility. A vehicle that size should lumber about but an Eradicator Hexapod was nimble often able to go over obstacles the others couldn't. In a lot of ways it resembled an insect. Six legs around a bulbous abdomen with a small ant like head. Two hornlike objects rose high above the head like a crown. Tentacles capable of recycling matter swung underneath the giant machine. Still, it wasn't the machine itself that struck so much terror in Gloom. It was the abilities that came with it. Nod hadn't been able to determine how Scrin Masterminds fused with the Eradicator. Masterminds could teleport themselves a considerable distance and once they combined with the Eradicator Hexapod they granted the massive machine to do the same. A Sudden jump and the beast could be on top of an attack force crushing everything under its legs. There was no way to stop it. Worse still the Scrin somehow had the ability to phase the machine between space for a brief period. The entire vehicle would become invulnerable to anything man made while incinerating anything that touched it. It was the ultimate weapon for the Scrin and a death sentence for any human force. Not even GDI had answers to the threat. All of it culminated with Scrin regenerative capabilities. Tiberium seemed to heal them to some extent. Failing that, Corrupter's ooze could restore wounded Scrin vehicles. The Eradicator Hexapod was no exception. Gloom recalled a classified debrief stolen from GDI. They had encountered a hexapod and lost five whole tank sections trying to take it down. A sixth section had crippled the beast and retreated hoping to allow artillery to kill it. When GDI returned hoping to pick apart the wreckage they instead found the giant machine lumbering off. A plethora of Corrupters were spewing their salve onto the Eradicator. Hole from tank rounds disappeared as the salve hardened into armor. It was incredible. Terrifying.

Heinrich knew as much as Gloom did and the mere thought of a hexapod entering the fray sent his mind into a frenzy. "Is the Warp Chasms arms curled in and touching?" Heinrich asked. Panic rippled through his voice.

"No, but something is preparing to come through," Gloom said. His voice was just as shaky. Before either of the Nod soldiers could venture a guess a Scrin unit emerged. A vehicle the size of a GDI Mammoth Tank peered through. It hovered for a second as it gathered its new surroundings. A slanted and pointed plate angled from the front. A spherical bowl straddled behind the head as a ball of blue energy spun in the open top. Stubby tentacles circled the bowl wiggling about. Gloom had never seen anything like it. Two more passed through the portal following the other. The three craft floated off effortlessly. No sooner had the portal ejected its passengers did it start glowing again, another wave was approaching.

"The Scrin just deployed some new type of vehicle and I don't really want to find out what it's capable of. Let's get this going," Gloom said. Vestal responded by launching a volley of missiles at the harvesters. The monotony of the day was broken as the harvesters disintegrated under the fire. Like clockwork the Scrin patrols scrambled to protect the defenseless harvesting drones. The Sentinels didn't wait to meet the response and slipped back into the dense Tiberium forest. Gloom took the chance and focused all his Phantoms lasers on the Buzzer Hive. Hot light bathed the structure and it evaporated leaving smoldering metal in the wake. As the last sparks flew Heinrich tumbled over the ground. He ripped off the glider and readied his weapon looking for a target. So far the plan was working. The Scrin hadn't noticed yet but it wouldn't take them long. Heinrich ran to the Signal Transmitter but he wasn't sure how the Portunus would be housed in the structure. Scrin didn't need doors or insides and the heart of the structure was a few meters off the ground.

Sensing the confusion in Heinrich, Gloom sprinted his machine into the side of the structure toppling it over. "Find it quickly, whatever is about to come through that portal is going to be a problem. Heinrich ordered his squad to search for where the Portunus might be. A burst of lasers erupted from above him. He turned to see a slew of Scrin vehicles materialize out of the portal. They were another new Scrin vehicle.

"Shadow Stalkers!" Gloom yelled as he engaged the targets. Heinrich's face grew grim. Shadow Stalkers were curtailed to deal with Nod stealth. They looked like smaller Annihilator Tripods and functioned much the same. Thin gelatin like arms waved around the base of the vehicle. If the tentacles latched to part of a Nod vehicle they would drain the power out disabling the Nod unit. Scrin energy beams would finish it off. A stealth sensor perched on the top further cemented the counter to Nod tech. No one was sure if the new stealth tech could hide from the Scrin sensor and Gloom had no intention of finding out. Another burst of lasers severed an arm of the Scrin machine.

Behind the battle Vitorre noticed the Warp Chasm glowing again.

"We're out of time!" He said. The usual purple hue portal had transitioned into a vibrant pink. The arms of the structures bent inward almost touching each other. Light swelled as the portal grew in size enveloping the entire platform. "They're warping in a hexapod!" The Phantoms may have been able to handle the Shadow Stalkers but an Eradicator Hexapod was beyond them. Heinrich needed to recover the device. It was now or never.

"Got it," Jenell said, ripping a sphere out of a socket, "this has to be it." She held up the sphere as she ran to Heinrich. It looked just like the Tacitus, swirling with lines, glowing in a soft light.

"We've got it, let's get out of here," Heinrich said. Gloom burned a tentacle off of Misery's body, revitalizing the machine. Together the Phantoms unleashed their fires on the last Shadow Stalker obliterating it.

"Send the order for the nukes. We're going to need it," Gloom said. A burst of machine gun echoed from the far side of the base. Vestal radioed in a new update. A large Forgotten force had begun assault on the Scrin base. It was the best news Heinrich could hope for. The Scrin would be too occupied with the mutants to pursue the stealth detachment.

"We've got fifteen minutes to get twenty clicks away or we're toast. I suggest we get moving. Heeding the order, Sorrow and Agony used their walkers to burst through the wall. They turned, lowering their arms to the ground. They didn't have hands to hold the infantry but it was their best chance of escaping the blast zone before the nukes irradiate the base. Heinrich nestled himself into a nook on the arm. Riding on the outside of a tank through a red zone at breakneck speed wasn't high on his list of things to do but it was the only option he had.

The Sentinels fell into formation as the group raced through the twisted jungle of gems. A bright white light flashed on the faces of Tiberium. Behind the Nod outfit a mushroom cloud rose into the air. A shock wave ripped through the maze blasting the machines. Vitorre's grip loosened as he fell, smacking the ground hard and tumbling over and over. The strike force stopped to recover him and assess the situation. Vitorre let out a spurted grumble as he struggled to move. The fall had broken more than a few bones and knocked him senseless. Blood was oozing from his ears and mouth and he coughed through labored breathing. Bradley jumped down and picked Vitorre up. He could kill him just by moving him but they still needed to make their escape. The surviving Scrin would be trying to hunt them down.

Heinrich had the Sandshark opened up and waiting when they arrived. There were first aid kits inside, just enough to keep Vitorre alive a little longer. Agony tried his best to set Vitorre and Bradley down gently. For all the machine's grace such a delicate action was still difficult. Bradley could hear the bones in Vitorre's body twist and bend. He'd be lucky to live through the night. Jenell gave him a quick check just to make sure he was still alive. Gurgling and wheezing were coming from beneath his helmet. "Do we take anything off and risk Tiberium exposure?" Jenell asked. If they didn't take his gear off they wouldn't be able to treat his injuries. If they did treat his injuries he could be poisoned to death.

"Contact!" The driver yelled. The Sandshark shook, throwing the occupants around.

"How did they find us?" Someone said over the radio. The sound of lasers drowned out the question. One of the Scrin tanks with the small sphere cradled in a bowl had survived. The orb in the center was growing in size lapping at the sides of the bowl. Plasma discs from a Seeker Tank ripped through the air hitting the Sandshark again. Agony turned his laser on the Seeker and burned a hole clean through. Misery and Sorrow turned and attacked the other tank but it seemed to shrug off the damage. The orb turned into a blinding light and streaked into the sky. In an instant a squad of Locusts appeared.

"It can teleport!" Sorrow said, hitting the tank with another blast. The Sentinels dove from above killing the Locusts before they could cause any damage.

"Get us out of here," Heinrich told his driver. The wheels on the Sandshark spun out as the driver floored it.

Another pillar of light jumped into the sky and two Shadow Stalkers materialized. No matter how many laser blasts the Phantoms shot the Scrin tank shook off the damage. Missiles from the Sentinels were just as ineffective. The Nod strike force continued to try and withdraw but every Scrin they destroyed the tank brought more right back to the fight. "Nika tell me you brought some explosives?" Heinrich said. She reached into a pouch next to her seat and tossed Heinrich a brick. "Perfect. Take us directly by that giant blue tib crystal!" The driver sped to the crystal and slammed on the brakes. Heinrich jumped out and threw the explosive on the base. He wasn't sure if it was enough but Nika always had impressive explosives. He was sure she had managed to find a way to increase the blast by using Tiberium. Under a different circumstance she would enjoy the fantastic firework display that was about to happen.

The Scrin force dogged the Nod team. As soon as the Scrin were close enough Heinrich blew the charge. Red and blue flame danced with each other as the entire structure detonated. Smoke billowed into the air and glints of green tinged debris pelted all around. When the dust settled a gigantic crater was left with sizzling bits of metal lying around. "Nicely done," Vestal and Gloom said almost at the same time.

"You're welcome," Nika said to Heinrich. He let out a grim laugh that turned ever more manic. They did it. They had the Portunus.

The flight back to Sarajevo gave Heinrich a lot of time to think. Ascension was almost palpable. Kane would see his vision come true. Years, decades even, of struggling in grime and dirt had led to this. The times Heinrich felt hapless and lost would come to and end. He felt the bittersweet melody or remembering lost friends and all those who died in the name of Nod. Vitorre. He thought about Vitorre. His brother in arms was holding on, fighting his best and possible final fight. Even if he won his life would be shattered. A medic had examined Vitorre discovering a severed spine. His chances of walking would be slim.

Heinrich looked over at Vitorre and the medical equipment monitoring him. The stats were good all things considered. The rest of the squad spanned the range of emotions. Bradley hurt for a friend. Niu slept curled up in her seat. Nika regaled the explosion to anyone who would listen. Jenell kept a small smile spread over her face. Nod was going to win. Her loyalty to Nod was going to be rewarded. She knew in her heart that she would be offered to ascend personally from Kane. It just had to be.

Sarajevo had already heard the news when the plane landed. The highest echelons of Nod ushered Heinrich into the temple while swarms of cheers and shouts bellowed out. Every soldier there had their spirits lifted and fought that much harder. To them it was a means to an end. With the Portunus Kane could deal with the Scrin and GDI in one fell swoop. Peace through power.

Kane greeted the squad with an uncharacteristic wide simile. He couldn't hide his exuberance. "My child, you have succeeded where so many others have failed," he said, grabbing Heinrich by the shoulder, "it is through your efforts that all of this will be possible." He walked the room grabbing each soldier by the shoulder and embracing them. "I've been told one of your own suffered severe injuries. Fear not, he will be made whole." A tear streaked down everyone's face as they rejoiced in the good news. Vestal and her pilots walked in the room causing Kane to light up with enthusiasm again. Once more he went around the room congratulating each individual.

"What happens next?" Heinrich said, cutting in on all the excitement.

"Today you rest my child. Soon we will have the biggest test of all our lives."

Heinrich felt a sense of relief. He knew the next step would be taking the threshold. All reports had shown that the Scrin congregated around the tower. GDI and Nod attempts to dislodge them had all failed. A Control Node had been established near the base of the tower providing the wireless energy and control to all of the Scrin on Earth. The loss of the Portunus was a minor setback, a different key could be used to open the portal. If the wormhole was opened neither GDI nor Nod could hold back the hell that was unleashed. It wasn't a battle Heinrich was prepared to fight. Not yet.

Jenell soon found herself alone in her room. She wanted to sleep. Her body told her to sleep but she kept playing the events over and over. Getting the Portunus, the welcome back, and the future. The final battle excited her. It was the last step before ascension. Her thoughts shifted, just what was ascension? Was it a physical? Would it change her? Would it hurt? Was it just information? The questions piled on faster and faster making her dizzy. She lied down as the room spun. Her stomach churned and she leaned over the bed puking her guts out. The yellow bile spread over the floor and Jenell found herself cussing in between laughing bouts. For the first time the fear of the unknown had faded away. She was in harmony with the moment.

Kane stared into the Portunus as the yellow lights swirled inside. The Tacitus had been the most significant discovery he ever had. It explained a great many things about Tiberium and how to use it. This new device would have new secrets to divulge. He had worked out that it could be used to open the portal, to direct its destination, but how to use it had eluded him. His scientists had offered to figure it out but he wouldn't release the object. It called to him and him alone. He picked it up feeling its cool touch. "Such a small thing to wage entire wars over," He said to himself turning the device in his palm. He set the ball in a padded container. Soon the world would be his. His vision would be met. He would be king.

The conquest of the South American continent had done well to fuel the Scrin diversion. GDI had slowed the attacks on the Mediterranean allowing the Scrin uninterrupted preparation on Threshold Nineteen. The last relay node had finished construction. However, the loss of the Portunus had forced the Scrin to hasten their plans. An immediate recall was issued to all forces to defend the Control Nodes. The bulk of the Scrin armada was sent to defend the Tower. Both GDI and Nod would stop at nothing to take it. The tower was vulnerable and Nod knew it.

As soon as Kane took possession of the codex he had ordered an advanced guard to gain a foothold in the region. Heinrich was glad he wasn't the ones who had to establish the beachhead. It was a short reprieve. "Reports indicate that the Scrin are sending almost everything they have to defend this area," Heinrich said as his squad landed in the Nod base. A barrage of Spectre fire echoed in the distance. The first wave had eked out just enough to hold for reinforcements. The second wave had carved a large swathe in the Scrin defenses allowing the base to sprawl exponentially. Heinrich was part of the third wave. Everywhere he looked soldiers were running around. Tanks brigades rolled out to face the enemy. Aircraft zoomed in and out the base. Everyone fought with a newfound vigor. They could taste the end and it accentuated their strength. Nod had been broken thrice before and now it was their moment. Victory at last.

The squad ran to a waiting Sandshark and hopped in. Soon they would be attacking the Scrin base around the threshold. If Nod could route the Scrin there they would control their destiny. "Every wormhole they open we send our wrath through. So they've resorted to conventional means of transport. This is our window." Excitement radiated from his words. He had never felt so sure of himself. Jenell put her arm on his shoulder sharing the mutual glee.

"We must take that tower before the Scrin fleet arrives. We don't have the numbers to hold off that entire force and GDI at the same time." Jenell added.

"GDI doing their part taking out the relay nodes?" Nika asked. Heinrich nodded. Three of the six nodes were already under pressure from GDI forces. They would be destroyed in the next few hours. Kane had ordered Vestal and Gloom's commandos to take out a node in the Australian outback. The node near the tower could be taken out once Nod had control. The last was somewhere in space. Kane had made sure GDI was made aware of its existence. Like the sheep they were, GDI would use the Ion Cannon to destroy it. Kane had prophesied as much. The groundwork for this plan had been laid so long ago and now it was all coming together.

Explosions grew louder as the Sandshark sped to the front. Vertigo Bombers rocked unprotected Scrin Tripods while Venoms weaved through the airspace unleashing torrents of laser fire on any exposed Scrin infantry. The Scrin were trying their best but the fervor and ferocity of the Nod attack was crushing them. The transport came to a stop and Heinrich rushed his squad out the door. An unlucky group of Locusts were obliterated as the squad opened fire.

"Right side!" Jenell said, shooting at a swarm of Buzzers. An avenger tank rolled by spraying a plume of molten fire incinerating them. Another group of Locusts crested over a hill and latched onto the tank. Heinrich and Nika did their best to pick off the targets but there were too many.

"Down!" Heinrich said, taking cover. The tank exploded raining metal all around. Small explosives tracked the Scrin infantry vanquishing them. "Go, keep pushing!" Gunfire rattled all around in the chaos. Overhead a Scrin Devastator Warship ripped in half. A ball of purple flames erupted out of the aircraft as it fell to the Earth. A giant cloud of dust and fire spread through the air as it crashed. Another Venom tried its best to dodge bolts of Scrin fire. A lone shot hit its engine sending it spiraling into the ground.

Everywhere Heinrich looked, Nod were advancing, smothering the Scrin forces. Anytime a Nod soldier fell two more took their place. A group of Avatars equipped with dual lasers focused on a Tripod, cutting the machine clean in half. As it crashed a group of Nod infantry cheered. Jenell ran to the top of a hill exposing the true devastation of the battlefield. Craters from explosions, melted clumps of tanks, bodies of the fallen, and raging fires mixed in the slaughter. As far as she could see there was nothing but carnage.

The Scrin forces were trying to retreat to their base but Nod was giving them no mercy. As soon as the Scrin turned to run they were cut down. Heinrich joined his sister at the top admiring the scene. Never before had Nod pressed such an advantage. A few years ago such a feat wouldn't have been possible. Heinrich thought back to the withdrawal of so many bases and the losses that had piled up. It was nice to see it had led to something.

A monstrous roar cut through all the noise on the battlefield. An Eradicator Hexapod had warped in. In an instant it let a slew of energy disks loose. A wide section of Nod armor melted under the fire. Planetary Assault Carriers joined in with the hexapod sending their fleet of drones into the air. The Strauss siblings slid into cover as a hail of beams impacted all around them. Another surge of Scrin vehicles poured out from their base desperate to push Nod back. With the support of the hexapod it seemed they were turning the tide. Laser after laser burned into the Eradicator's armor but it continued to crawl forward. Each step of its massive legs sent a shiver through the earth. "We can't stay here," Heinrich said, pointing in a direction he wanted his squad to go. In between bursts of Scrin fire he scrambled from cover to cover. His squad took his example and followed close behind.

They rounded the wreckage of a tank to see a group of Buzzers tear through the ranks of a squad. Bodies fell to pieces. With a new threat, the Buzzers turned to engage. Niu and Bradley took up positions whittling the Buzzers down while Nika prepared a grenade. She tossed the frag and dove on the ground. The explosion destroyed the majority of the swarm and what survived was put down by the squad. "What's the plan?" Niu asked.

"We gotta keep pushing, don't let up." Heinrich said.

"What about that huge bug bastard?"

"Nothing we can do about it let the armor deal with it!" Heinrich continued forward cutting down a lone Shocktrooper. A wounded Disintegrator was trying to hide and heal in a small patch of Tiberium. Bradley saw it and emptied his magazine in it. He hated those things.

The Hexapod was taking a beating while the Nod forces focused on it but it was still pressing forward. The ground Nod had gained was repulsed. A call came over the radio, "the Redeemer has risen." A smile grew over Jenell and Heinrich's face. They had noticed the Redeemer Engineering Facility when the first landed. The three sided pyramid was hard to miss. Redeemers with their towering size, were too big to transport. Instead they had to be built onsite. It was the perfect answer for the Scrin Eradicator Hexapod. The massive machine was equal in height and size to the Scrin unit. Three legs stomped over the ground as it entered the fray. The top of the machine looked like an old cyborg model. A metallic human. Instead of a right hand the Redeemer had a super massive laser. It was stronger than three Obelisks combined. If it wasn't for a breakthrough in Tiberium technology the machine would never have been able to be powered.

The Scrin switched targets to the Redeemer. A brilliant display of energy beams and Plasma disks ate at the Redeemer armor. A volley of the Eradicator's pinkish disks ripped into the Nod unit leaving deep gashes. A deafening sound rang out. The Redeemer returned the favor by firing its laser sawing off one of the Hexapods legs. The giant bug faltered as it tried to steady itself. It took one step before it tripped to the ground. As it tried to stand another laser blast slammed into the belly of the beast. The force of the blast rolled the Eradicator onto its back sending clouds of debris into the air. It struggled helplessly as it tried to right itself. The Redeemer pressed forward, crushing everything in its way. It took a leg and pinned the Scrin monster to the ground. It raised its right arm at the head of the Eradicator and fired. The ground smoldered in the crater where the head used to be.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Heinrich cheered.

With the Eradicator down Nod was free to continue their advance. Once again the Scrin forces had retreated away. The first of the Scrin strongholds had been cleared out but there were still many in the path to the tower. In the distance the threshold rose over the horizon. Dark clouds swirled over the top obscuring the true height of the structure. Lightning arced between the millions of blade-like features on the side. The Scrin were trying to activate it.

An order came down from Kane himself. The Scrin could not be allowed to activate the portal. It would be Nod's doom. The power required to use the structure would be substantial. A large amount was being drawn from the Scrin Relay Nodes but those weren't enough. Massive farms of Reactors had been phased in to support the power draw of the threshold. Kane wasn't sure how much the Scrin power plants were providing but they were the best chance Nod had at delaying the portal. If Nod could even get to the power. The Scrin army still stood in the way.

"Get me some Venoms," Heinrich said over the radio. Jenell looked at him puzzled. Venoms weren't meant to take on buildings.

"You got a plan?"

"Yeah but you're not going to like it." The rest of the squad joined in concerned over the plan. If Jenell didn't like it they knew they would hate it. A call came back over the radio confirming the request. Heinrich responded asking for five of the Aircraft. The crazier the pilot the better he added at the end.

"You're not going to try what I think you're going to try are you? Jenell asked. Heinrich just nodded as the two began to understand the idea.

"Nika you've got a lot of explosive still right?"
"Yeah?" She said unsure of what he was leading to. The Venoms arrived hovering over the squad. Their engines groaning as the machines held suspended in the sky. Heinrich signaled for them to touch down. He walked around one of the aircraft scanning over the body. It was sleek as was customary for Nod designs. Elegant with a hint of deadliness. Heinrich ran his hand over the outside feeling the metal. A small lip protruded out from in between the fuselage and engines of the craft. He stopped examining the section closer.

He turned to the squad and said, "this will do. Everyone get on a Venom here and hang on tight. We're gonna fly in."

Of all the crazy plans Heinrich had tried before this one was the worst. Five Venoms streaking through the air at mach speeds zipping in between Scrin anti-aircraft fire and dodging bullets alike was a new level of insane. If that wasn't enough the fact that if they did survive the flight they would be stranded in an enemy base with just themselves. The Nod force wouldn't be able to get to them. It was suicidal. Jenell swore if they made it out of this she would wrestle control of the squad from Heinrich. Niu and Bradley tried to fight the memory of Vitorre falling off the Phantoms and the sound his body had made of the ground. Those were going much slower and were closer to the ground. If they fell from here there would be no surviving. Nika on the other hand had lost all levels of sanity. She was on the fast track to death on some half baked plan, but at least she got to utilize all her explosive arsenal.

The pilots, for their worth, lived up to Heinrich's request for crazy. They didn't even stop to consider when Heinrich explained the plan. They were committed. They weren't however, completely insane. They had enough sense to use a squadron of Vertigo's on a bombing run as cover. As the Scrin engaged the Nod air the Venoms broke off and made a run to the power farm. A group of Stormriders took notice and chased after them. Heinrich was squeezed into the tiny space hoping the inertia kept him in place. Blue beams streaked by as the Stormriders engaged the Venoms. It would take just one landing a shot to turn the craft into a fiery wreck. The Venom pilot pushed his craft to limit twisting and turning around the enemy's fire. Heinrich could feel his lunch churning in his stomach. The G's the aircraft were pulling were straining his vision as well. He sucked deep trying to keep the blood in his brain. Black lines swirled on the edge of his vision.

Plasma Missile Batteries forced the Venoms to change their path. They turned and dove down into a sea of Tiberium crystals as the plasma discs sailed by. The Stormriders gave chase still shooting beam after beam. In the dense maze of Tiberium the Venoms had the advantage they could twist and turn faster than the Stormriders. "You're gonna wanna try and not pass out," The Venom pilot said as he cut hard around a corner. Heinrich flexed his abs hard. If he passed out he'd fall off and die. The aircraft groaned under the strain of the turn. The Stormrider screamed around the corner unable to match the Venom. It tried to retreat back into the sky but the Venom's laser cut deep into the wing of the craft. The wing buckled and the Stormrider careened into a Tiberium crystal exploding in blue and green flame.

"Please don't try that again," Heinrich said as the Venom pilot let out a maniacal laugh. Together the other Venoms circled in on the Stormriders and destroyed them. With nothing pursuing them the aircraft had an easy time negotiating the terrain and flying the squad to the Reactors.

The squad hopped off the Venoms and got to work planting the explosives. Scrin infantry started rushing them but the Venoms were able to hold them off. "We'll take care of them as long as we can. To the death," The Venom pilot said. Heinrich didn't waste time responding. Time was running out. He was close enough he could hear the crack of lightning rising up through the tower. A giant white light was emanated from the center of the structure blinding the surrounding area. The burst of lasers snapped Heinrich's mind back to the mission. Nika was busy placing charges on the base of buildings. Niu tossed Bradley explosive after explosive as they ran to each power plant.

A Seeker Tank ripped into the engine of Venom sending it tumbling into the ground. Fire engulfed the aircraft moments after the pilot crawled out. Heinrich ran to the injured pilot throwing his arm behind his head and dragging him away from the crash. "Blow it now!" Heinrich yelled. The Seeker Tank came around the downed Venom just as Nika set off her explosives. A shard of the building pierced the side of the tank knocking out its hover propulsion. The light of the vehicle flickered as it struggled to keep power. The turret groaned as it fought to turn and attack the fleeing Nod soldiers. As the turret centered on Heinrich the light died out and the machine went silent. "That was close," he said as he ran with the pilot.

The rest of the explosives went off destroying more Scrin reinforcements. The other Venoms continued to try and cover the soldiers as they made their escape but fell one by one. "We've done all we can. We need to hide," Jenell said. She scanned around looking for anything for conceal the group. An old tree twisted with Tiberium was the closest thing. It wasn't much but it would have to do. Heinrich dove behind the trunk catching his breath. He looked towards the threshold. The light dimmed as Nod hammered the power. Every time a Reactor fell the light grew dimmer. It was working.

For the moment the Scrin seemed to ignore the lone squad. The bombing runs and the main Nod army were forcing them to refocus their efforts. In the lull Jenell gave the wounded pilot first aid. "You'll make it."

"Thanks."
"We need to keep moving," Jenell said to Heinrich who nodded in return. Their best bet was to disappear into the Tiberium labyrinths on the outskirts of the Scrin base. It was the opposite direction of the Nod army but it would be safer. They were low on ammo and stranded all alone.

The Tiberium field showed signs of Scrin harvesting. Most of the crystals looked cut as Scrin Harvesters had leached the alien element from the ground. As the squad retreated through Heinrich reflected on a tree that had been consumed in the middle of the field. The once lush tree had twisted into an abomination. Strange growths sprouted out on it as bulbs of flower-like pods sprayed some sort of gas. It was one of the first things Tiberium did, mutate organic matter and use it to spread more of itself. In a way it made it seem like Tiberium was a living creature. To this day Nod and GDI scientists alike hadn't figured out just how Tiberium propagated.

Past the patch of Tiberium there was a small rocky outcropping followed by a dense cluster of Tiberium fissures. As Heinrich approached he could hear scratching in the rocks. He raised a fist freezing the squad. "Something up ahead."
"Scrin?"

"No, I don't think so. Probably mutated creatures. Maybe Fiends." It was the worst luck. Fiends were fast and lethal. Five soldiers, even well experienced soldiers could succumb to the Fiend's vicious attacks. Heinrich ordered the squad to spread out on line. Their ammo was all but depleted. Together they tiptoed forward keeping their weapons up and ready. They worked their way through the boulders and found a small cave. Whatever was inside had scurried deeper into the darkness. Bones of small critters were spread around the entrance. "Wraiths," Heinrich said. He froze considering his options. Wraiths were a lot like Fiends, but instead of shooting spikes of Tiberium Wraiths could generate an electric shock that would incapacitate their victim. They weren't as aggressive as Fiends but every bit as dangerous. Walking around its den could provoke it to attack and the squad was down to their last few bullets. He took a look back towards the Scrin base, already the Scrin were trying to rebuild the Reactors. A large swarm of Buzzers swam through the air like fish in a tide. The gunfire would attract them. "We go slow and don't shoot if you don't have to."

The fissures ahead were popping as they belted out their gaseous poisons. Heat waves danced through the air. The squad took careful steps around them, one slip and they could tumble down to their death. They moved slowly making sure to keep and eye on the den. If a Wraith was going to attack it would do it when no one was looking. A little further and they would be clear and safe for the time being. The hair on the back of Jenell's neck stood up forcing her to stop moving. "Nika, tell me you still have a grenade," Jenell said frozen in place.

"I do," Bradley said.

"Get ready to throw it, my neck feels staticy."
"Ready." It happened so fast. Jenell tried to sprint. A surge of electricity enveloped her. Bang bang. Someone fired two shots. More shouting as the Buzzers bee lined for the soldiers. There was a thud as something heavy fell. More shouting. All the while Jenell was paralyzed. Her face pressed into the ground, she couldn't even focus her eyes.

"Throw... gre.. sure," Jenell murmured. The swarm closed the distance in a matter of seconds. The Wraith stood back up as the Buzzers ripped by. The Scrin didn't seem to even notice the creature. It took the opportunity and limped back to the den. Bradley dropped the frag in the last hole and took off running. The blast knocked everyone off their feet and a plume of fire split from the earth. The ground gave way as the tunnel system collapsed. The Buzzers were swallowed in the flames and disappeared in the dust.

"Okay I think that was the last of our luck for the day," Heinrich joked. The pilot let out a small chuckle before clutching his ribs.

"I don't know who the hell you all are, but you're crazier than me!" Jenell gurgled a laugh. The pilot wasn't wrong.

Act 4:

Like the previous war the Fourth Tiberium was culminating in the Mediterranean. GDI had forced Scrin withdrawals or so they thought. Nod had stolen something and then made an attack on the tower. Abel was sure Nod had found another codex like the Tacitus which sent GDI high command into a frenzy. Such a device was a key to much more than a portal, GDI could use it to reverse the spread of Tiberium or so they hoped. Abel tried to convince them otherwise. His appearance and revelation that he was an alien who wanted to defeat the Scrin had given him some leeway. His helping in countering Scrin with the GDI's prized commander in South America had furthered his favor but many did not trust him. He was selective with what information he gave out and often refused to answer questions. Having a presumed dead Nod General under his command did help either. Eliana had insisted she no longer sided with Nod and offered all the information she knew. Too much had happened and wounds were too sore for many to believe her.

Strikes on the Relay Nodes in South America, Africa, and Eastern Asia had gone well. The information gathered from the Nod satellite uplink had proved every bit as valuable as Abel's own intelligence. Abel was disturbed when rumors of a Nod strike team had taken out the relay in Australia. It wasn't like Nod to help GDI and Kane always had elaborate plans. The sudden strike on the threshold cemented his doubts. Nod had a key and Kane was trying to leave. Kane had avoided Abel twice before. He wouldn't allow a third time.

"I don't care if he's the only one capable of it, we shouldn't let him," Benny said to Kit. Two last relays remained and both were guarded well. The one near the tower was the last Scrin stronghold. They had recalled all their forces to its location after the other Control Nodes fell. The other one the Scrin had placed on the moon. Kit looked into the night sky at the crescent moon. There was something surreal and violating about the Scrin being on the moon. From here it looked normal. Pristine. Kit knew it would be crawling with them and it unnerved him.

"We don't have the means to get there ourselves. The Scrin would shoot down anything we sent up there." Kit said.

"Yeah but it's too convenient he shows up with a Nod General and starts demanding we do this and that. Now we're going to put the hopes of this entire operation in his hands?"

"Stow it. It doesn't matter anyway, they left two days ago," Makeoveli said. She wasn't the biggest fan of letting them go either but she couldn't admit that to her team.

When the topic of destroying the relay node on the moon first came up Abel offered himself to the job. His specialized aircraft could cloak, had the weapons capability, and the space faring ability to make it the moon. GDI command first suggested an Ion strike but the Scrin had constructed phase generators prohibiting the use of the space laser. Then they suggested sending an ICBM but Abel explained that the Scrin would see the missile coming and intercept. No, it had to be him. He would go in with his stealth and bypass their defenses. After he took out the phase generators GDI could use the Ion cannon. It was a similar strategy GDI has used to take out the incomplete towers the last time.

Stopping Nod or the Scrin from activating the portal was the more pressing issue. Both possibilities could spell the end of humanity and all life on Earth. It was comforting knowing the GDI famed commander was to be steering this mission. They had bested Nod and Scrin at every turn and Kit was sure this time would be no different. Since the appearance of Abel and Eliana the tide turned in GDI's favor. The information they had provided led to key victories. South America would have been a lot more bloody if not for them. Abel and Eliana deserved that credit at least.

The coming battle could be the last one of the war if things went right. Kit was sure it wouldn't. War never went as planned. He was determined to see this through however and the thought of peace, even if short lived, was something he wanted more than anything else. He was tired of fighting. Tired of every waking moment fearing for his life and wondering if tomorrow would be his last. The Scrin could be defeated. Abel wanted to end Kane and without Kane Nod would fall to splintering and wither away. If GDI could recover the new matrix then they could end Tiberium too. It gave Kit hope. His last hope.

He knew tomorrow he would be off in a full scale attack on Scrin and Nod. What little time he had left he spent alone. He just needed a break from it all. Everyone else was having one last hoorah drinking the night away. Even Makeoveli, wherever she was, was enjoying a nice whiskey. Kit wondered if she was drinking alone or with other officers. She never seemed too fond of them but what did he know? He took a look up at the moon. Somewhere up there Abel was sneaking around. The fate of the world in his hands.

"You're sure we can stop him?" Eliana asked.

"Yes. We can and I don't intend to let him slip away again."
"Again?"
"It's my fault Tiberium is here. Had I been more careful Kane wouldn't have escaped." Abel stopped what he was doing to stare ahead lost in thought. It seemed like forever ago that Abel took pity on Kane and let him go. How could he have known that Kane would bring the death of millions of people for his "vision"? No that wasn't true. It was there under the skin the entire time and it was precisely that that ate at Abel. His weakness had let Kane commit these atrocities. He couldn't rectify the past, but he could put an end to it now.

"Yes you've said that before. We all have things in our past," Eliana said, trying to comfort Abel. Her life had dissolved before her eyes. Everything she believed had been proven fake. Everything she had loved was dead. She was waiting to accept death when Abel appeared, a wormhole seconds before an Ion Cannon strike. For whatever reason he had chosen to reveal himself to her at the very moment. Her life was over. He gave her a second chance. She too couldn't atone for the mistakes she made but she could stop Kane now. Make him pay for the death of Noya, Eliana's friends and family, the millions who suffered in a false ideology. It had to end.

The last thing the Scrin were expecting was a manned stealth mission to the moon. Neither GDI nor Nod had such a capability. Not after the years and years of war at least. A small fleet of Planetary Assault Carriers stood in a grid formation in space above the relay node. On the ground a Drone Ship sat idle having no specific mission. There weren't very many buildings, just a few basic support structures for the node and phase generators. Eliana wondered if the Scrin would consider spreading Tiberium on the moon. The thought of the once bright white moon casting shades of green on the Earth made her sick to her stomach. It would be the ultimate insult to humanity and show just how small and helpless they were.

Abel maneuvered the ship through the Scrin defenses. The carriers had stealth sensors but the gaps between them were just big enough to slip through. The Scrin were positioned to intercept nuclear missiles more than an infiltration attempt. As the cloaked vessel drifted by Abel pulled up a zoom of the phase generators. Three sat forming a triangle around the Control Node. Each one had to be taken out and Abel was trying to think of the best method. He knew as soon as he revealed himself the Scrin would send everything they had at him. GDI had the Ion cannon trained on the spot. As soon as the shields were down they had every intent to blast another crater on the moon. If Abel wasn't quick enough he could be a permanent feature on the moon.

"It's gonna be tight but we can do it," Abel said, positioning the ship, "let's just make sure GDI is ready." He opened a communication channel confirming the plan was set. An acknowledgment came back over the line. Before the Scrin could even react Abel took out two of the generators. He was keying in on the third when the first drones began firing on his vehicle. The beam sizzled in the light force shield surrounding the craft. Another shot from the cannon ripped into the final generator throwing chunks and pieces hurling off into space. No sooner had the generator gone offline had the Ion Cannon been activated. Bits of moon dust started drifting into the air towards the Ion Cannon as the particles became excited. "GDI doesn't waste any time do they? Abel said as he steered the aircraft clear of the blast.

"No they didn't for me," Eliana said. The Scrin capital ships attempted to get out of the blast but it was too quick. A bright burning light slammed into the moon sending blue plasma out in a cone. Eliana wondered if the creator of the Ion Cannon had ever considered GDI would use it on the moon. Regardless she was sure everyone on Earth could see the blast.

Kit was fighting for his life. Sonic rounds were shredding the Scrin to pieces but they just kept coming and coming. Disintegrators ran like ants in a swarm. Kit watched in awe as an entire mammoth was covered in them. When they moved to their next target the skeleton of the Mammoth Tank was nothing more than bits of metal and holes. Corroders lived up to their Nod namesake and blotted out the sky. Entire columns of armor melted as the flying machines drenched the tanks in acid. Everything the Scrin had seemed insect-like, crawling over each other in grotesque masses. It was fortunate for WASP or Juggernaut operators. Every shell that hit took out dozens upon dozens. The same group of Disintegrators Kit watched devour the Mammoth Tanks turned to slush as a WASP shell hit directly into the mass. It left him with awe. Benny cheered as he saw the shell hit. For him it was the coolest thing he had ever seen. He was just jealous it wasn't him who got to lay waste to the Scrin.

Orcas dropped their payload on a group of Gunwalkers. Before they could turn to engage the Orcas they were obliterated. Zone Shatterers ripped their sonic waves across the ground carving holes straight through Scrin lines. The bass of so much Sonic weaponry was deafening even through Kit's helmet buffers. Every weapon GDI had for this operation had been curtailed to annihilating Scrin. Abel had enhanced the sonic ammunition making it even more lethal. Nod would be just as vulnerable to the rounds should the need arise. It was inevitable.

Nod had taken the southern portion of the battlefield controlling from the Tower to where the ocean used to be. The years of Tiberium growth had pushed the sea out well past the shores of half a century ago. The Scrin were squeezed in the middle trying to wrestle control of the portal and protecting their relay node. GDI had approached from Rome and taken the northern battle space. The aliens were losing. Two fronts was too much. If they could withstand until their global armada reinforced they had a chance. GDI was pressing deeper and Nod was fortifying their control of the tower. It would be close.

"Rally up!" Makeoveli said, getting her platoon in line. An APC pulled up and opened the hatch. "We're gonna let someone else clean up the scraps here. We gotta press deep into the Scrin territory and hit them hard before they can regroup. Word from higher says Abel is about to take out the moon relay node."

"Hell yeah, let's go!" Benny said. Beating his fist against his chest. He had never felt more alive. Third squad loaded up in the back of the vehicle. Everything seemed to be going so fast. Sanchez and Benny had begun telling each other the cool explosions they saw and how many Scrin they took down. Wilcox and Blackborn sat resupplying their ammo. Makeoveli was busy communicating with the other officers devising just how the next step would work.

"What's the word?" Kit asked.

"Scrin got an outpost command wants us to take out. driver change the heading, we're going to need you for this one." The APC shifted following the order.

Third squad's APC rounded the bend to a waiting GDI strike force. The second APC for First platoon came to a halt behind the first.

"Lieutenant," a Zone Raider said as Makeoveli approached.
"This all we got?"

"A sniper team is out on overwatch but yeah, my Zone Raiders, and your platoon." A small Scrin outpost had been discovered. Three Portals were streaming out various types of Scrin infantry. GDI command was worried that if left alone the outpost could cut off the main effort.

"Let's get to it then. Hanson, Carlyle, I want your APCs on point We'll use you for cover as we push in. The Zone Raiders can take the buildings out." The APCs rolled forward with their guns trained on the Scrin base. The road up to the outpost passed down through a ravine where the snipers would lose sight for a few seconds. Makeoveli was sure the Scrin would be there waiting to ambush them.

Kit scanned the flanks as the APCs crawled forward. Off in the distance the real fight was going on. Firehawks dipped in and out dropping their bombs. WASPs bombarded Scrin positions. As soon as the APCs entered the gully their chain guns opened up. Buzzers and Shocktroopers were blocking the path. The infantry spread out to engage the enemy making quick work of the first wave. Two Shocktroopers teleported in behind the APCs on top of the ridge. Kit turned to engage just as two sniper rounds shredded through the Scrin bodies. "God I love snipers!" Benny called out, continuing to mop up stragglers.

The further the APCs pushed the more Scrin poured out of the base. The sheer volume of fire coming from the combined GDI force was eviscerating the Scrin defenses. As soon as they were in range the Zone Raiders jet packed over to the buildings. Their sonic rounds rippled through the Portals causing them to collapse. The last Scrin infantry were mopped up as the last Scrin structure fell. It was an easy mission. "Well done, now let's get back to the real fight," Makeoveli said, ushering for her platoon to mount up. The Zone Raiders thanked her for the help as the APCs escorted them out.

The transports began speeding off back down the road. Before the second vehicle could react a group of Disintegrators ran out and under the vehicle, detonating themselves. The APC flipped into the air as the explosion rocked the vehicle. Before Kit's driver could stop the APC, Makeoveli was out running to the aid of her men. The broken APC was smoking, with pockmarked holes lining the belly. A soldier kicked open the back door and fumbled out the opening. Two more followed him carrying the bodies of the rest of the squad. "Carlyle, Evans, and Heathdrop are dead, ma'am," the soldier said. Makeoveli took a second thinking through the situation.

"Load everyone up in our vic, we gotta keep pushing," she said. The soldier responded and began loading up into Hanson's APC. Kit ran over to help with the dead. Nothing's ever that easy. He thought.

Hanson took the dead to a resupply point in the rear. Makeoveli ordered everyone to fill up while they were there. The battle was far from over. It was just the beginning. Kit took the down time to get to a spot with a view. Through all the destruction and smoke it was hard to tell where he was. It was easy to forget he was in a red zone. All the bombs and missiles had destroyed or at least broken down The Tiberium in the area. He wondered just how toxic the air was. Would it kill him in seconds? Everything that was used in the battle would have to be incinerated. Fine Tiberium particulate no doubt coated his entire body. A small hole in his armor could prove deadly. The Scrin had harvested an untold amount as well. It seemed like no matter how much the Scrin or GDI or even Nod took, more Tiberium was always there.

The sky overhead was dotted with a few dark clouds. For some reason Threshold Nineteen had sucked in all the overcast. The sun was shining. It had been many years since direct sunlight had touched the ground. The tower loomed off on the horizon. Blips of explosions and lasers flashed. The Scrin were trying to regain control of the tower but Nod was holding their own. Kit knew GDI would have to fight Nod at some point. After all this killing more humans seemed so pointless. It was almost childish that in the wake of the attempted extermination of mankind, humans were petty enough to still fight each other.

"Just got word. Abel took out the moon node," Makeoveli said as she walked over to Kit.

"Good we're almost done then.
"Almost." Makeoveli looked up at the moon as it shared the sky. Had it been night time she might have been able to see the aftermath. "I'm going to move you with me into the other squad. They need some manpower." Kit didn't need to question the decision. It made sense to him. It would be different without the rest of the squad. They had worked together through the whole war. At least Makeoveli would have his back.

The front line was going as well as chaos would allow. Each thrust by GDI was cutting the Scrin down. They destroyed a key Scrin staging ground allowing GDI to establish a forward base. From there they could strike the last Scrin Control Node and be within stepping distance of the tower. Nod had already begun their own attempt at starting the portal. Insufficient power and unfamiliarity were holding them back. Every Scrin attack on the threshold was turned aside. GDI threatening the Control Node had forced the Scrin to slow further attacks. All they could do is defend.

Charlie Company had been tasked with securing the flank when the main force attacked the Control Node. Benny and Sanchez had voiced their displeasure at missing out on all the fun until Blackborn reminded them that the task put them in between the Scrin support base and the objective. Any reinforcements would have to come through Charlie Company's path. A ridge cut through the valley surrounding the relay node base. Any Scrin activity could be seen and engaged well before it got to the base. Captain Ortiz had ordered his company to set up along the ridge and dig defensive positions. Whatever came they would be ready.

"So what's your name again? Kit asked the soldier next to him.

"Kamau."

"and you're Park right?" The other soldier nodded. Park was easy enough to remember but Kamau stuck on Kit's tongue. It seemed weird to Kit that even though the soldiers were in his platoon he had so little interaction with them. His squad tended to stick together and it was showing. Makeoveli settled in a fighting position near a rocket team. They laid out a dozen rockets prepping for a Scrin counter attack. All along the ridge infantry settled in, nestled between Shatterers and tanks.

The main effort was getting hemmed in. The Scrin defenses were proving to be difficult to destroy. A string of Storm Columns were guarding the one approach to the Control Node. Scrin aircraft zoomed in and out of the local lightning storms enhancing their capabilities. Firehawk carcasses burned near the base of the columns serving as a warning to any GDI pilot foolish enough to try.

Additionally, a Stasis Chamber and Nerve Center were providing the Scrin with tools to freeze any GDI attack. A group of tripods phased out of existence and reappeared in the middle of a WASP detachment. Before the crews had time to react the EMP from the tripods shorted their systems making them easy prey. GDI returned the favor by destroying the Scrin walkers as soon as the effect wore off but the damage was done. WASP's were in limited supply.

A shard of Tiberium whizzed by Park's head. Scrin reinforcements had been upgraded with their best equipment. Shields gleamed and rippled as they shrugged off GDI bullets. Even waves of Sonic blasts were being tempered by the Scrin force fields. "Concentrate your fires," Makeoveli said, directing the rocket troopers. A Seeker with its gun turret infested with Tiberium had drawn up the ridge. A white shimmer surrounded the tank as it climbed up the hill. Together the rocket men shot a volley collapsing the shield. A second later a Predator Tank applied its own round destroying the Scrin light tank. "Good again!" Another tank was already replacing the last.

Kit was doing his best to hold the line. Kamau and Park were both capable soldiers with little need of guidance. A Gunwalker had received the same Tiberium shard retrofit as the Seekers. A flurry of shards shredded the ground right in front of Kit. A sonic wave cut through the legs of the Gunwalker causing its cannon to dig hard into the dirt. It tried to stand and continue firing but couldn't balance on the mangled joints. It looked helpless like a wounded animal. Given the chance it'd kill any GDI soldier that stepped in front of it.

Blackborn was having trouble keeping Sanchez and Benny under control. Every chance they took to advance on the enemy they did. He couldn't figure out if they had gone suicidal or if they were blood lusted beyond sense. "Stay put!" Blackborn said as Sanchez hopped to a different hole engaging a Buzzer Swarm. Benny grunted ignoring Blackborn. Sanchez had drawn multiple swarms and needed a hand. Wilcox read the situation and followed Benny close behind. If Sanchez died the squad would be vulnerable and overrun the next time a big swarm came. He had no choice but to leap forward.

The Scrin counter attack was starting to overwhelm the GDI company. Wave after wave of Scrin crashed against the defense and the cracks were starting to show. Commander Hamilton was stuck in a hard spot. He needed Charlie Company to help take the Control Node, but he also needed them to hold their flank. The relay was the priority. Without it the Scrin would die all over the globe and the alien threat would be over. If the flank got overran he could always retreat. He reasoned half of the company could buy him all the time he needed. Their sacrifice would be worth it.

Makeoveli called out over the radio, "Hamilton wants half of Charlie to support the attack on the Control Node. I want your squad there, Blackborn."

"With all due respect you need us here," Blackborn replied emptying his weapon on a pack of Disintegrators.

"I wasn't asking!"
"Ma'am, come on that suicide."

"Go. Now." Makeoveli said. Bursts of gunfire echoed over the radio. Wilcox had convinced Benny and Sanchez to stay closer. More guns together made for better explosions. It was enough for them. Blackborn turned to his squad trying to find the right words. He was sure they wouldn't want to follow Makeoveli's order. Knowing them, they'd take off sprinting to her side as soon as Blackborn explained the situation. He wasn't good at stuff like this. It went beyond following orders. Makeoveli was a friend willing to risk her life for him.

Hanson's APC rolled up behind the squad and lowered the bay door. "We moving positions?" Benny said.

"The Commander wants half of Charlie Company to join the attack on the base and Makeoveli told us to go with them."

"Screw that we belong here!" Benny said, gesturing with his hands. Wilcox looked over at Blackborn trying to gauge his demeanor. Even behind the face shield it was obvious Blackborn was conflicted.

"Let's go!" Hanson called out from the APC. Benny looked off in the distance where Makeoveli was hunkered down. First she split the squad and now she was pushing them away. He didn't understand it. Blackborn wasn't giving him time to think it over and grabbed him by the shoulder. At least he wouldn't have to stay in a hole. Plus there were more Scrin to kill fighting forward.

The first of the Scrin Reinforcements from around the globe were entering the combat range of the Nod base. Heinrich peered over the various reports coming in and the results were grim. Taking control over the tower had been a hard fought battle, one that he barely got out alive the first time. Holding the Scrin off was proving difficult and now an army much bigger than the Nod force was closing in. Threshold Nineteen hadn't been activated yet. Without the Control Nodes to draw power from Nod wasn't able to keep the demands up. Nod power tech had advanced in line with GDI's but the Scrin were still levels beyond humanity.

Kane sat at the head of a table being fed the same information. His eyes darted back in and forth as he read the news before ushering a handler away. "Yes it is unfortunate," He said, gaining the attention of Heinrich and Jenell. He had asked for them to join him while the final stages of the battle commenced. "The Scrin have proven to be resilient. A pity GDI is so weak. We could have taken the last Control Node ourselves much sooner." He brought a hand to his face pausing as he thought.

"I will go at once," Heinrich said, but Kane shook his head.

"Your allegiance is admirable my child but not needed. I suspect the GDI commander in charge is using the Scrin to weaken us before GDI finishes them off." Kane seemed to enjoy the cleverness of the strategy. He had factored it into his plan. Over the many years he learned to never underestimate GDI. "I will need you to defend the portal."

"Understood."

Kane radiated a soothing confidence like a mother comforting her child. Something about him was intoxicating and the longer Heinrich remained in his presence the more it took hold. If Kane ordered him on a suicide mission to destroy the relay building he wouldn't even hesitate. Heinrich looked over at his sister wondering if this had been the love for Kane she always carried. Jenell was family. Nod was family but Kane was more. He truly was the messiah.

The extra help of Charlie Company was the driving force GDI needed to close in on the Control Node. The reinforcements were spearheading the assault cutting to the front of the Scrin base. Blackborn took cover behind the husk of a Firehawk spraying a barrage of bullets. A line of Mammoth Tanks had taken position waiting to neutralize the Storm Columns but the Scrin infantry were preventing them from advancing. It was everything Benny could hope for. He reveled in the slaughter. "Push to the left and take out that Shocktrooper team," Blackborn said, moving past Benny. Benny answered with a string of bullets. The lead Shocktrooper crumbled as the shells ripped through its soft carapace. He reloaded his weapon and charged forward. The other Shocktroopers tried to blink away but the rifle fire was enough to disrupt their jump. Sanchez joined in emptying his own weapon riddling the Scrin infantry with holes.

The other rifle squads had pushed the Scrin back enough that the Mammoths advanced. The Storm Columns cracked as lighting spit from the clouds. Surges of electricity smacked into the Mammoth Tanks but their thick armor allowed them to press on. Stormriders swooped down from the sky unleashing a wave of energy beams on the advancing tank line. The Mammoth's missile pods angled towards the sky as they tracked the Scrin aircraft. As soon as they were in range the missiles streaked out chasing down the enemy planes. Even with the ion storm accentuating their defense the mammoth tusks were enough to knock them out of the sky. Bits of the destruction rained down on the infantry below like hale.

The GDI tanks continued their assault soaking up damage from the Scrin defenses.

"Let's go keep up with them!" Blackborn said, pushing with the tanks. As soon as he issued the order more Shocktroopers appeared only to be cut down by the advancing GDI force. They had finally cracked the Scrin front line.

Without the other half of the company the remaining members of Charlie Company were getting slaughtered. Kit looked on in horror as a fleeing Bulldog was disabled by a torrent of Seeker shards. A cloud of Buzzers enveloped the open top vehicle leaving a clump of bloody meat left in the seats. The cracks that were present before Hamilton ordered the split had eroded into massive gaps in the defense. The Scrin force was big. More than enough to collapse on the remaining GDI contingent. Makeoveli's heart was beating out her chest. Of all the years she led, the battles and tough situations she fought, she didn't think it would end like this. Kit wasn't giving up. A few razors had nicked at his armor but he kept up the fight. Magazine after magazine bounced on the ground as he reloaded. Smoke from his barrel drifted off his gun. His EVA was overwhelmed with Scrin contacts.

Kit was running on instinct reacting, shooting, using all the training and discoveries he learned. He ducked as a blue beam sliced by his head. A Tripod with garrisons attached was lumbering toward their position. A massive energy shield encircled the machine repelling bullets with ease. Pip pip pip. Bullets ricocheted off the shield distinct to the rest of the noise. Another energy beam carved into the earth throwing Kit and Park off their feet. A sharp pain reverberated through Kit's body. He winced as he tried to crawl back onto his feet. Makeoveli and Kamau rushed to provide cover for the two soldiers. Buzzers evaporated seconds before they reached the line.

"Thanks," Kit said, shaking the pain off. He still had all his bits. Makeoveli nodded and continued firing.

"Don't die on me yet, we still got work to do. That's an order." A faint smile came over Kit but faded just as quick. The situation looked too hopeless to him.

Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he could feel a tingling slipping over his body. Makeoveli was stunned feeling the same situation. Before Kit could ask what was happening a bright light shined down from the heavens. "No!" Kit cried. He fell to his knees, tears already streaming down his face. The shock wave ripped past him pelting him with dirt and shards of Tiberium followed by a deafening sonic boom. A smoldering wasteland appeared where the Scrin base once was. Kit slumped over as the strength left his body. All around him Scrin aircraft fell from the sky. The giant machines collapsed and tripped about. Buzzers fell flat on the ground and Shock Troopers rolled as their legs failed. Makeoveli jumped over Kit as the debris rained down around them. The loudness of the battlefield had been snapped and a ghostly wind swept over the ground. Together Kit and Makeoveli sobbed.

A streak of light flashed by the front of Abel's spacecraft. He watched as the beam spread brighter and brighter. A jolt of light swelled down the light column and then the whole beam vanished. All together it was closer than he would have liked. Abel shifted the vessel's course to put it further away from the Ion Cannon. "Did GDI just fire again?" Eliana said as she worked her way to the front.

"Looks like they did, the situation must have been desperate." Abel replied. Eliana worked through a screen trying to find a camera angle on the Ion Cannon. It was almost lost in the soft blackness of space, nothing more than a pea-sized dot in the distance. She zoomed in as much as she could revealing debris separating around the satellite. Glints of light reflected as the bits of metal tumbled around. The Ion Cannon was designed to fire once every eight minutes. Each energy shot created a tremendous amount of heat. If it was used before it could properly cool off the heat would rip the delicate system apart.

"How long will it take them to reroute another satellite to cover the area?" Eliana said.

"At least thirty or so minutes. The Scrin destroyed most of them in the planetary landing."

Abel continued to maneuver the ship into the upper atmosphere. As soon as the ship broke through Abel and Eliana realized something was wrong. Ruined Scrin ships littered the entire Italian peninsula. Columns of smoke rose high into the air like a dark jungle. A massive rolling crater marked where the Scrin base last stood. In the destruction Abel could see the faint remnants of GDI units. Nod. Kane. It was them. Eliana and Abel put the pieces together at the same time. Both of them should have known better. Using their enemies to destroy each other was a staple of the Nod playbook. Turning enemy assets against their owner was another. It was the Nod base GDI had taken on the English isle.

Eliana flipped a switch on the console and a flood of chaotic communications rang out. GDI was trying to figure out what went wrong and passing blame between each other. Ground forces were scrambling trying to figure out their next actions. Nod was taking every second of the confusion to complete their objective. Eliana and Abel began trying to settle the GDI commanders down. There was still time to stop Nod from activating the tower. They just needed to focus. Eliana glanced at the looming threshold. A purple glow radiated from the center. She was sure Nod was close to powering the tower.

Heinrich and Jenell ran outside as the Scrin fell from the sky. The sight of the Scrin aircraft splashing into the sea and crumbling into the ground gave the siblings a great sense of Schadenfreude. It was the world's most dangerous hailstorm as the skies rained down. Cheers throughout the Nod base erupted. Once again the alien force had met destruction. Humanity had prevailed. Even though GDI had been a huge part of the Scrin defeat, there was a deep sense of pride in being human.

Heinrich hugged his sister tight as they celebrated the victory. For a little while longer GDI would be in complete disarray. Heinrich knew it wouldn't last and started preparing for the GDI attack. Jenell felt a bittersweet sadness creep up through the back of her spine. The invaders were dead once again. Earth was safe. The ion strike that consumed a large part of the GDI force should have brought her more joy, GDI was against everything Nod stood for. Yet, she couldn't help but feel sorry for all the deaths. Humans were human after all.

Without the Scrin threat Kane had ordered all of Nod's efforts to hold back GDI. The portal was close to being powered. They wouldn't have to hold GDI at bay for long. Kane needed Heinrich and Jenell defending the structure but he promised to keep them close. As soon as it was activated they would be one of the first to go through. Heinrich wondered what it would feel like crossing through or even how it would work. Did he need to physically walk through it or would anyone in the area be sucked in? Would they be able to come back? There were a lot of questions he had but no time to ask. GDI scouting parties were already pressing on Nod's space. He hoped this would be the final battle. One last call to action.

Kit couldn't shake their faces. Blackborn, Sanchez, Benny. If he closed his eyes they were there staring at him. Even when his eyes were open he could see their ghosts, haunting him. There were no words that could console his pain. Everything in his world stung. Makeoveli was every bit as lost. It was her decision to send them. Her orders that got them killed. It was a fact of war that good people die. She knew that some of her orders would get people killed. She knew it. Still, it was too hard to let go. A hole had punctured her confidence and in it sadness malingered and festered. She was broken.

Park and Kamau carried what was left of the squad to the nearest aid station. Kit was too dehydrated to cry and had fallen to incoherent sniffling. Makeoveli was mute and lost within herself. No matter how many times Park and Kamau asked they couldn't get a response from her. A medic stuck an IV into Kit to give him fluids and sat him up against a box. "What's wrong with the Lieutenant?" The medic asked.

"She's in shock. Just lost everyone in that ion strike." Kamau said, sitting Makeoveli down next to Kit. The medic gave her a quick once over and shook his head.

"I'm really sorry ma'am but there are hundreds of others who lost people and hundreds of casualties coming in. I can't do anything for you." Another group was bringing in a wounded soldier and the medic rushed to help.

All around injured people were stumbling in. The small medical tent was not equipped for the mass. Bodies both living and dead lined the outside with more and more getting dropped off. Blood free flowed over the ground creating a soggy red mud. Kits eyes drifted from body to body picturing his comrades in their place. His friends had vaporized. Painless. It was the smallest comfort his fragile mind could suggest. "What are we going to do with them?" Park asked Kamau.

"If they can't fight we gotta go. All of this will be for nothing if Nod gets that tower activated." Kamau said. Park nodded in agreement and took another look at his broken squad mates. He wished they would come with him. They weren't the only ones grieving.

With the help of Abel and Eliana GDI deduced that Nod had hacked the Ion Cannon and caused the strike. It hadn't been a blue on blue that so many feared or worse, a sanctioned sacrifice. The GDI army rallied itself and centered on the next objective. Nod had solidified their defenses around the tower. GDI had the numbers but Nod had the position. There would be no easy way to break through. The fight against the Scrin had been brutal and the incoming battle was building to be every bit a match. GDI wanted, needed vengeance.

Kit continued to wallow in self pity. Over the war he found himself becoming more weary of fighting, questioning the very nature of war itself. It was easy to displace the brutality and the chaos when it was life and death. Human vs alien. Fighting Nod again almost felt unnatural and pointless. Humanity had been invaded by extraterrestrials twice and humanity couldn't ban together to save themselves. Ideology stood in the way. Nod sought to use Tiberium and bring humanity through the next stage in evolution. GDI wanted to preserve the world and the beauty it bestowed. And yet, a growing part of GDI no longer feared Tiberium and wanted to reap the benefits of it. Twenty years ago they would have been called Nod sympathizers and thrown out. Even if Kane was defeated and the Brotherhood of Nod disbanded, would the idea itself even die or would another devastating war break out in the near future? What little good was left in humanity deserved a break. Or maybe it was better to perish and be forgotten. Makeoveli had fallen asleep next to him. Kit turned to look at her feeling another wave of loss sweep over his body. She was all that was left of third squad. His squad.

Far away the rumblings of bombs sounded off. Intermittent gunfire supplemented the bass of the bombs. The terrifying hum of Obelisks charging up drifted faintly on the air. All of it created a cacophony of terror. The devastation from the Ion Cannon had been stabilized. A few medics stood by cleaning up the last bits of bloody bandages and disposing of the tattered equipment left behind. Most of those operated on in a red zone would suffer some degree of Tiberium Poisoning. Many would die. One of the medics walked over to Kit shaking his shoulder, "You're going to have to move." Kit shrugged the hand off his shoulder with a grunt. "Listen I get it, believe me I do but I can't let you stay here. We all lost someone. More are going to die and more are going to show up here. I'm going to do my best to save them." The medic extended a hand to help Kit up. He took a second before grabbing the hand and pulling himself up. Kit turned to help Makeoveli get up on her feet. "You're an officer and a NCO. You two should be out there leading. There are plenty of people scared and sad and lost. They're still fighting," The medic shifted his gaze between the two while continuing his rant, "If I had the choice I'd be out there fighting the ones that just killed everyone I cared about." Kit's eyes stopped wandering and sharpened. All of the grief and loss had clouded his mind. Up until the medic he never thought why the Ion Cannon had been used. In fact it didn't even make sense. The Scrin base had been protected by Ion Disruptors. If not GDI could have used the Ion cannon earlier and saved a great deal of lives.

Kit turned to Makeoveli trying to gauge her body language. Behind her face shield fresh tears were streaming down her cheeks. She had similar questions as Kit but was trying to keep her composure together. She felt like her sanity was being stripped threadbare. The revelation by the medic wasn't helping matters. "So you're saying Nod was responsible?" Kit asked.

"Yeah they hacked the system somehow, they tried it once before back in the first war too. Bastards."

"What about the disruptors? How did they get around that?"

"They had to have snuck in during the confusion of the battle. Maybe fanatics on a suicide mission or maybe that was us I don't know I'm just a medic." Kit started to ask more questions but a Bulldog carrying wounded soldiers pulled up to the medical tent. An explosion had shredded the man's armor and shattered his helmet. His eyes locked with Kit as he was carried past. He looked so young and scared. The medic pushed Kit and Makeoveli out of the way and disappeared inside the tent. The soldier wouldn't make it but that wouldn't stop the medic from trying.

Heinrich fired his gun and ducked behind cover. Behind him the gigantic tower stretched high into the sky. All around him his brothers in arms took up positions around any piece of cover they could find. Buggies ferried troops to the front in between shellings from GDI. Venoms and Sentinels soared over head engaging GDI counterparts. Hails of bullets and shells and lasers mixed with the battlefield. Everywhere Heinrich looked soldiers were gunned down or blown to bits. Every time one fell more took their place. GDI tanks exploded before his eyes only for their burning husks to be smashed by another tank moving in. Missiles detonated as they found their targets and sonic waves ripped across the ground. Every fiber of his being wanted to curl up into a ball. The next time he stuck his neck out could be his last. His squad inspired him to bravery. Every time he bounded forward pushing GDI back they were right beside him. He had complete trust in them. Brothers and sisters not by blood, but by courage and temperament. Each of them owed each other their lives more times than he could count. That closeness couldn't be bought or sold. It was earned.

Jenell sprinted to Heinrich sliding into the cover. She pulled a mag from a pouch and hadn't it to him, "here." Before he could respond she was off killing a team of advancing GDI infantry. Niu followed behind before taking a grazing round across her shoulder. She dropped and rolled behind a rock yelling slurs in Chinese.

"I'm pinned down by a fire team on my ten o' clock." She said. Bradley responded and moved to cover with Heinrich.

"Push left with me and we can draw some fire for Niu." The two fired two bursts before sprinting from their position. The GDI soldiers noticed and tried to return fire but bullets from Jenell and Nika kept them from being accurate. Heinrich rounded the corner of a rock just as a Predator tank came into view. He stumbled and slid as he scampered back behind the rock hoping the tank had missed him. A flurry of rockets streaked down from above as a Sentinel zoomed overhead and flew back out. Fire spread all over the tank but it kept pushing forward. Its railgun sizzled through the air as it engaged a Nod position. "We're blocked by a tank here. Jenell you got anything?"

"Make it quick," Niu said over the sound of bullet impacts all around her, "I'm getting lit up here!" Jenell motioned for Nika to stay put. She grabbed a rocket from a fallen soldier and made her way up a jagged cliff face. Once at the top she would be exposed to GDI gunfire. Jenell needed Nika to distract them just long enough for her to get the rocket off. She hoped it would be enough to take out the crippled tank.

Heinrich peaked out to see the tank pressing closer to his position. Another fire team had taken position behind the wounded tank using it to cover their advance. He'd have to deal with them before he could help Niu. "They just keep coming," he said, turning to Bradley. If it was just the tank he could hide but the soldiers would find him and redirect the tank. On cue a rocket ripped into the side of the tank sending the turret sky high in a fireball. The explosion knocked a few of the GDI soldiers down and Heinrich took the opportunity to exploit their weakness. He pointed his rifle at the surprised soldiers still standing and squeezed his trigger. Bullets ripped through their armor and they fell. Before the one's on the ground could react Bradley gunned them down. The fire team suppressing Niu heard the commotion of their flank and withdrew before they could be encircled. "Thanks for the help," Niu said, checking herself over.

"Everyone good?" Heinrich asked. Niu took a closer look at her shoulder. The round had destroyed most of the armor leaving a thin layer still attached.

"I'm going to need a replacement."

"Alright let's regroup and refit," Heinrich said, rallying his squad. A Raider Buggy drove up, dropping off a fresh squad. They moved into position checking the dead GDI. Heinrich ordered his squad to mount up. Soon another GDI wave would thrust forward. He just hoped the replacement squad could hold the line.

Kit didn't remember how he got to the front line. The only thing he did remember was a brief moment of clarity while in the armory. Both Kit and Makeoveli had removed their helmets as they jammed magazines. Kit stopped what he was doing to find a reflective surface. He hadn't seen his face in a long time. When he found one and looked, the face starring back at him seemed so foreign. The young idealistic kid he once was had melted away. It scared him how cold his eyes looked. "I know," Makeoveli said, a voice as soft as silk. "I know what you're feeling and what you're thinking. It's how I felt when your uncle detonated the liquid Tiberium." Her voice trailed off as the old memories flooded her mind.

Kit turned to look at his Lieutenant. Her hair had caught his eye. She always had it dyed. Neon pink, crimson red, or some sort. But the war had dragged on and her roots had begun to show. Makeoveli wasn't old. Maybe late twenties. Kit had never asked. And yet her roots had gone gray. A sick silver. Her face had been fair once too, even with a few scars from the previous war. Now it was long and weathered. Fresh scars and cuts dotted her face. Her lips pursed as she struggled to find the right words. "It's how I feel now. But we can't give in. We don't get to." The next thing Kit remembered was stepping off a vehicle back into the battle.

Kit's hatred had bubbled over leaving nothing but seething anger. Nod needed to die. Damned if they were human or not. It was their desires that brought the Scrin to Earth in the first place. They were the ones that hacked the Ion Cannon. They killed his friends. They killed his faith. He swore to avenge his friends, to end the wretched war. If he could he'd kill Kane himself. Makeoveli tried to reason with him. She wanted revenge just as much as him. She had already almost given up before. She couldn't do it now. She felt a burning anger at Nod and for what they did but she knew rage would be pointless. Kit's rashness would get himself and others killed. Deep down Kit knew she was right but he didn't care. He wanted to die. He wanted it all to just be over.

The front line had settled on the outskirts of what could have been a thriving coastal town. Sloping hills rolled across the background. The city had been swallowed by Tiberium, a fragment of what it once was. Jagged green crystals burst from the rot of walls and the remains of cinder and stone. Ancient cobblestone roads had degraded to nothing more than loose gravel. The once lush green or golden fields had been stripped by violent winds and tremendous storms.

GDI had taken strides into the Nod lines allowing them to establish a hasty forward base. WASP's could bombard Nod bunkers while being tucked behind defenses. Countless Vertigos attempted to root the GDI artillery out but Firehawk support kept the bombers at bay. GDI armor was staging for the next step of attack. A nod base blocked the route past the town. Four Obelisks rose to their points, the red crystal glowing at the top. There wasn't an alternative around and every second GDI delayed the closer Nod got to ascension.

Kit found himself sitting in the backseat of a Bulldog. The gunner had retrofitted a sonic cannon and every bump sent Kit's head into the bottom of the gun. "Is there anyway you can move that gun so it doesn't crack my head?" Kit said as the vehicle bounced over the ground. The gunner let out a crazy laugh before shaking his head. Kit would have to deal with it. In the seat across from him Makeoveli eyed Kit with suspicion.

"You're going to break your rifle with how hard you're gripping it." She said. Kit loosened his hand playing with his fingers.

"Feels fine to me."

"Kit."

"Don't bother."

It hurt Makeoveli that he wouldn't listen to her. She thought about pulling rank and ordering him but he would never forgive her. To deny him this path was worse than death.

"Fine I'm not going to stop you. I'll go with you." Kit's hand loosened on his rifle again. He turned slightly toward Makeoveli and shook his head. They both knew there was nothing she could say to stop him, though nothing he could say would stop her either.

Makeoveli was about to speak but the gunner interrupted her, "ambush!" A barrage of missiles appeared out of nowhere as a line of Stealth Tanks opened fire. The missile tore into the soft armor of the front vehicles tearing them asunder. The Bulldog Kit was in, took a direct hit to the front crumpling the front half and flipping the vehicle end over end. Kit was ejected from the seat and smashed into the ground. Sharp pain ripped through his entire body. He looked up as a Mammoth Tank unleashed two railgun rounds. The Stealth Tank evaporated as the heavy armament hit its mark. The Mammoth continued without even stopping engaging different targets.

Makeoveli pulled herself out from under the wreckage. She ran over to Kit checking to see if he was okay. He stumbled around grimacing, looking for his rifle. "That's going to leave a mark tomorrow," he said, clutching his side. His rifle had been mangled in the wreck. As he picked it up the bottom half broke off falling with a soft thud. "Well that sucks," he said, shaking his head. Makeoveli let out a small chuckle at the total absurdity of the situation. Both of them had avoided death so many times before that one more just felt comical.

The two stood there collecting themselves for a brief moment before another Bulldog pulled up alongside them. "You two need a ride?" The driver asked.

"Yeah, and a new rifle."

WASP shells were softening the Nod defenses. Nod vehicles and infantry scattered as the sonic rounds rained down sending shock waves through the Earth. A few rounds smacked the front of the Nod Obelisks but the towers remained unphased. It would take a lot more damage for them to fall.

As the battle ramped up in intensity it resembled less and less of modern day battles and slipped into old world slaughter. Tanks advanced slowly while infantry tried to use them for cover. Spectre artillery shells exploded in the ranks of GDI killing entire platoons and dismantling armor. Avatars and Phantoms singed holes in the remaining tanks. The Obelisks of Light were ripping through any threat close enough but the GDI mass was overwhelming. Casualties were mounting up on both sides. It was pure hell.

Makeoveli was using the massive body of a Mammoth Tank to shield her from enemy fire. Slews of bullets ricocheted off the armor as outmatched rifles tried to halt the advance. Kit kept pace besides her putting extra rounds into every nod position they passed. He moved like Benny, angry and revolting. His motivations were different though, Benny reviled in the danger and the madness, Kit had succumbed to it all. Crazed like an animal and callous.

The tank rolled past a burnt out Nod bunker, a soldier half dead was clawing away from the battle. Makeoveli watched in horror as Kit put a bullet through the back of the soldiers head.

"Kit, get a hold of yourself!" She screamed. He reloaded his weapon throwing the empty magazine to the ground. "That isn't you."

"They were dead anyway. That was mercy," he said, looking for his next target. Makeoveli had had enough. Her bond to Kit had grown over the war. All the times they had each other's back. She thought back to the kid who had nearly died from a gunshot wound so long ago. She remembered the fear in his eyes, the disbelief as he slipped unconscious. His last thoughts would have been panic. The soldier he had just killed would have felt the exact same. Maybe he wouldn't have made it but it wasn't for Kit to decide. Enough was enough.

"Corporal Boyle. Stop!" She ordered. Kit turned facing her.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, seething. All around them explosions and gunfire ripped by. Lasers blasted into armor and missiles streaked through the air. All of the noise paled in comparison to Makeoveli's heartbeat. With the world falling apart around them the two were locked into a starring contest.

"You need to get your head on straight. None of them would want this"

"Don't you dare tell me what they would want." A burst of gunfire snapped overhead causing them to duck and move behind the tank. "You wouldn't have a clue what they would want." Kit said, shooting a few rounds at the attackers.

"Except I do. Do you remember when you got shot? When Benny and Blackborn carried you across the meadow? They thought you were going to die. No one got sleep that night." Kit slid down behind the tank hanging his head low. Thoughts of that day swirled through his mind digging at the wound he was so desperate to cover up. "They cared for you and I know they would have wanted to tear the world apart if you had died but they knew better."

"But I didn't die."

"No but you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to."

"So what? What gives me the right to live while they died? It was a flip of the coin that separated me from them. I should have been there," Kit said.

"You're not going to honor their deaths by rushing to join them," Makeoveli said, picking Kit up, "but you can by continuing to fight smart. You can make this right." Makeoveli was trying her best not to get choked up on her own words. Kit wasn't fairing much better. So much had happened in such a short time he hadn't had time to grieve. Now he was getting thrust into another battle still carrying the wounds from the last. He breathed a heavy sigh and lilted to Makeoveli's demands.

"Fine. We'll talk about this if we live through it." He said. Makeoveli nodded content she'd quelled his temper for the moment.

The Strauss pair and their squad were huddled around a video call. Kane had ordered they take a break from the front line and patched them through to Vitorre. He had been comatose ever since the accident. Seeing him awake and moving had lifted their spirits. "The doc says I'm paralyzed," Vitorre said, shooting his eyes downward. It brought a glimmer of sadness into the joyous call. "But there's talk of a possible cybernetic augmentation." Cybernetics had been a touchy subject within Nod circles. Many of the survivors of Cabal's rage had an inherent distrust with anything autonomous. Cybernetic improvements often fell into the same category. It didn't matter to Heinrich. He just wanted his friend to walk again.

Jenell realized Kane must have been responsible for the possibility of cybernetics. It was his brainchild that created the Marked of Kane. She shivered thinking back. Kane lost the majority of his cybernetic army, The Black Hand had been almost eradicated, and two faithful commanders had perished. She hadn't thought of Eliana in a long time. A tinge of sadness crept into the corner of her eye. "I'm glad you're back, really," Nika said, interrupting Jenell's thoughts. Nika had always teased Vitorre. They were family and that's what family did. He smiled and returned the compliment.

"I wish I could go with you guys. Just promise me you'll come back for me when you can. I'll have so many questions," he said.

"You can count on it," Heinrich said. An orderly walked into the room ushering Heinrich away. He smiled one last time and let his squad continue to talk to Vitorre.

The orderly led Heinrich to a different room where Kane was waiting. It was the first time Heinrich ever saw Kane wearing any sort of armor. "The time is at hand, my child," Kane said. Behind him a screen showed a progress bar of projected power output. Within half an hour Threshold Nineteen would be functional. The news brought joy to his heart but a separate screen brought him back low. GDI was cutting through the Nod defenses despite their best efforts. They would reach the tower before Nod could activate it. Kane noticed Heinrich's eyes looking past him, "yes I know. Troubling that GDI could be so persistent." Kane paused, pensive. His smile seemed forced. He was trying to hide his own nervousness. All of his failures, the times GDI defeated him, all his plans, they all led to this moment. The next half hour would determine the future of the Nod, humanity, the Earth. "I have one last thing to ask."

"I will hold the line as long as it takes." Heinrich said, bowing his head. He knew Kane would ask this of him. Seeing Vitorre one last time had raised his spirits but he knew the next mission would be his last. It had to be.

"No, as soon as the portal is open I need you to go in. GDI will no doubt bring the fight to the base of the structure. You should be able to hold and reach the heart of the tower." Heinrich nodded pleased his last mission wasn't meant to be a suicide. The hope of ascending inspired him further. He was sure his squad would feel the same.

"I shall prepare at once," he said, leaving the room to return to his comrades. The group had ended the call and sat waiting for Heinrich to return. As he entered the room his body language gave the mission away. Without a word they began suiting up for the fight. This was it.

Kit looked on in awe. The tower stretched out before him dwarfing the Nod forces defending it. Threshold Nineteen was as impressive as it was terrifying. A modern spectacle and the result of an alien incursion. GDI was convinced it was a teleportation device of some sort, a shortcut through time and space to some far off alien world. The truth was they could never know for sure until it was activated. Fear gripped Kit with icy cold tendrils. He didn't need to know what the portal could do. It was enough to know Nod wanted it. He'd do anything to prevent Nod achieving their goals. Makeoveli had managed to talk some sense into him but his rage was still burning. Every step he took was a step towards dismantling Nod. Whether it was killing his enemy or denying them ground it didn't matter to him. He just needed to end Nod.

Makeoveli found herself struggling to keep up. In the past Kit had always been the smart and calculating soldier. He moved with precision. He was never the quickest but he made up for it with efficiency. But now he embodied something so foreign she couldn't be certain it was really him. The fight had taken them to another Nod defensive line.

Kit rushed forward through gunfire, pushed with brutish strength, and relied on instinct to carry him through. Nod soldiers fell one after the other as he gunned them down. An entire platoon was caught off guard as he sprinted up through their cover before they could react. Makeoveli made it up just as the last Nod soldier collapsed on the ground. A pile of bodies surrounded Kit with a knife dripping red.

He looked up at Makeoveli standing in trepidation. "It's almost done now and I can rest," he tried to assure her. He hadn't gone insane. It was still him inside. All the violence and coldness was an end to the means. Nod had killed his friends in cold blood. They showed him no mercy and he would show them none. GDI would crush them here and now and be rid of their pestilence. "Let's keep moving."

Phantoms were tough for GDI to pin down. Their agility allowed them to dance out of the way of incoming fire. Their stealth allowed them a half second of reprieve before reengaging the enemy. But they weren't invulnerable. Concentrated railguns could do enough damage to slow them allowing conventional weapons to finish the job. A Predator Tank clipped the leg of a Phantom as it leapt forward knocking the machine to the dirt. The pilots climbed out through the mangled wreck only to be gunned down by advancing GDI infantry. Firehawks circled above. Anti-air missiles levied attacks by brazen Nod pilots. Nod sentinels swirled in arcing past missiles and obliterating GDI tanks. The final Nod protective line was in view.

Kit was running low on ammo and considered withdrawing if only to resupply. But Nod was too close to powering the tower. He couldn't let it happen. He flipped over the body of one of his fellow fallen soldiers. The face shield had splintered showing a glassy eye stuck open. The face of a young girl looked back at him as he rifled through her pouches for spare ammo. For a second he caught her eye and stopped. She was younger than him and gone from this world. With a sigh he reached inside her mask and closed her eyes. She deserved better than this. He moved to a different soldier in a similar situation. The face of Blackborn crept into his mind and he imagined his friends face over the dead soldiers. "I'm sorry," he said softly as he pulled out a magazine.

Makeoveli caught up to him just as he reloaded his weapon. "Get any for me?" she asked. She too knew they should turn back but it was too late. They were too close now.

"Yeah," Kit said, tossing ammo over to her.

"Just one?"

"I've only got one and half. Just enough I suppose." Makeoveli shrugged as she loaded the ammo. It would have to do. The crack of nearby gunfire put them on guard. Kit sprinted to figure out where it was coming from. As they rounded the wreck of a Mammoth Tank they saw Park and Kamau. A Nod squad had pinned them down behind the burning husk of an APC. Two of the Nod infantry were trying to get into a flanking position. More had taken cover in a hole in a perimeter wall. "Take the ones on the left, I'll get the one's on the right," Makeoveli said. Kit responded by opening fire on the enemy maneuvering. Makeoveli turned her attention to the group spraying their position in bullets. Park and Kamau looked to see their comrades providing a means of escape and crawled their way to them. Intermittent rifle shots rang out as the Nod squad tried to push the GDI soldiers off.

"Glad you two showed up," Kamau said in between breaths.

"What's the sitrep?" Makeoveli asked. Park explained that they were trying to flank a major nod position down the way. The Bulldog and Mammoth Tank tried to carve a hole through the wall allowing Park and company to push through. Nod had caught on and a duo of Avatars had destroyed the armor and decimated the infantry before being forced to retreat. What was left of the GDI force tried to push forward only for the Nod squad to block them.

"These guys bear the mark of Kane's elite guard. Nod either must be desperate or we must be close," Kamau said.

"Or both," Kit added. Four against five weren't favorable odds. A Nod commando squad didn't help matters. The pulsing of the portal in the background ended the discussion. Nod was too close. This could be the last chance GDI had to cut down Nod. "Listen, you two stay here and try to draw their fire. The LT will go far right trying to sweep around and I'll go left down a flanking route. With any luck we can pull something off." Makeoveli eyed Kit over. "I'm not being suicidal without reason. We're out of time," he said, readying himself. Makeoveli didn't attempt to argue further. Another pulse from the tower was all the convincing she needed.

"Right let's get it done. Good luck," she said.

"You too."

Kamau and Park peeked from behind their cover and let out a few bursts of fire pointed in the Nod direction. Kit sprinted as fast as he could. His heart pounded as he crossed the open ground. Through the corner of his eye he could see the Nod soldiers trying to sight in on him. Another round of bullets prevented them from getting a perfect shot. Nod bullets sailed around him as he dove into cover. Kit turned back to see Makeoveli running in a similar position. When the Nod team tried to kill her he took another bound to a new piece of cover. One by one they moved from position to position while Kamau and Park provided covering fire.

Kit crawled behind the remnants of a Nod Venom. The canopy had taken a direct hit incinerating the pilot and everything inside. Somewhere around the other side he knew the Nod soldiers were lying in wait. He just had to figure out a way of surprising them. He checked his ammo one last time. Less than half a mag remained. I don't have any room for error, he thought. He crawled to the edge of the venom trying to peek around. The Nod soldiers were close by taking cover behind a boulder. One of them was returning fire in Kamau's direction while the other one was scanning Kit's area. Okay, If I can get one of them I can close the distance. I'll fight hand to hand if I have to, He thought to himself.

Rounds from Kamau struck the front of the boulder causing both Nod combatants to flinch. It was all the distraction Kit needed. With a speed that surprised even himself he leapt from his position firing bullets at his enemy. Both Nod soldiers ducked behind the rocks as the bullets zipped by. Kit watched as a bullet glanced through the arm of the rear soldier. Within a second he was on top of them. He pressed the trigger. Click Click Click. The Nod soldier sat motionless frozen in fear. Kit cursed as his empty weapon failed him. The enemy began raising their muzzle but Kit threw his weapon knocking his opponent off balance. Before they could recover he tackled them to the ground. As he fell he noticed the other soldier writhing on the ground disoriented. A fist hit him hard on the side of the head and he toppled over. The Nod combatant climbed on top of him and began striking his face. He tried to use his arms to shield the blows. With a grunt he struggled to find his knife. His hand gripped the handle but the Nod soldier pried the knife away knocking it into the dirt. Kit managed to get a leg free and kicked hard in the chest of the body on top of him. It was enough for him to crawl away and grab the knife. Both of them stood up facing each other. The Nod rifle was just a few feet away.

Kit lunged with the knife but a shock wave knocked him to a knee. Dust from the ground kicked up as a deafening noise resounded all around. Bright light from the center of the tower raced into the heavens. Kit raised his hand to shield his eyes as the tower swelled with light and energy. GDI was too late. The tower had activated. As the light faded the silhouette of the Nod soldier drew his eyes. The soldier stood with the weapon pointed at his head. He fell to his other knee with his hands hanging limp at his side. "Do it," he said in a half whisper. He longed to join his friends. He begged and pleaded. "Do it!" He shouted. The soldier stood, contemplating. Kit's eyes drifted upward. He wanted to know who it was that had defeated him. J. Strauss was painted above the left breastplate.

"Jenell we need to go now," A voice from behind her came. She turned to see Heinrich recovering from his wound and motioning for her to retreat. She took one last look at Kit before helping Heinrich withdraw off the field. Once again Kit slumped over in despair. Even when he wanted death it didn't come.

Abel and Eliana were orbiting the outskirts of the battlefield as the tower activated. "My god," Eliana said as the light shone out. Abel began flipping different instrument switches on as he raced the craft towards the surface. Kane had won. The shock wave rattled through his aircraft as it reverberated out from the superstructure.

"it's not over yet," he said as he swooped low. "There's still a chance we can stop this." Eliana raised an eyebrow perplexed. Once the portal was turned on it was impossible to shut off. She looked in the distance as a score of Nod infantry poured in the tower. Wherever Kane was headed, he wasn't alone.

"What can we do?" Eliana asked. Abel responded by telling her to get the closest GDI units in through the portal. Kane was sure to change the destination after he passed through. Whether that was to a Scrin invasion force or an empty part of space Abel didn't know, but the only way to make sure was to steal the key themselves. Eliana wasn't sure the plan would work but they didn't have any other options. She broadcast a message on every GDI communications channel, "to anyone who can read this, we don't have time but you need to get inside that portal!"

"Roger, what's left of my squad just watched a nod team retreat back into the tower. We'll follow them in," a voice called back.

A Venom took notice of Abel darting to the tower and started to give chase. An alarm sounded on the dash as the Venom's lasers hit the ship's shielding. Abel didn't have the luxury of avoiding the incoming fire. He flipped on his ship's stealth drive hoping the Venom's sensors wouldn't be able to pick up the signature. For a moment it seemed to work. A jolt ripped through the craft as another wave of laser impacts hit the ship. "This might be a rough landing," Abel said as he flew towards the center of the tower. Eliana braced herself in her seat. She didn't imagine Abel was going to slow down or use landing gear. The Venom continued to pelt the ship as it descended downward. The shielding failed and lasers burned into the armor. Another alarm went off that Abel continued to ignore. This was a one way trip. The ship started to break apart and the Venom peeled off, convinced it had downed the craft.

The spacecraft crashed into the ground catching fire as the rear broke apart. Sparks erupted all around inside the cabin and the windshield shattered sending glass everywhere. Eliana cried out as the ship continued to crumble. The aircraft skidded to a halt listing on its side. Despite the damage the outside of the ship received the cabin remained relatively intact. Eliana and Abel were bumped and bruised with a small gash streaking down Eliana's face but otherwise they were unharmed. Smoke filled the room as the fire roared to life. The two unbuckled themselves from their seats and dropped to the bottom of the aircraft. A raging fire had engulfed the exit. "No good," Eliana said, pointing at the blaze. The nose of the craft had dug into the ground but a small hole in between the windshield and ground provided a means to escape. Eliana grabbed a rifle and began slithering through the hole. Abel followed suit and emerged outside. Four GDI soldiers were standing bewildered to see anyone survive the crash. "You all okay?" Makeoveli asked half aghast. She outstretched a hand helping Abel to his feet.

"We're fine, we need to get in through the portal," he said, moving past Makeoveli. This was their last chance to prevent total disaster. In the distance a white ball of energy floated a meter or so off the ground. Shades of blue and purple flicked around as the sphere swirled. Abel took off in a jog with the rest of the group following behind.

He slowed as he got near and checked to make sure Nod hadn't posted a guard. Kane might have succeeded in opening the portal but there was still a sizable GDI force outside. Nod would have their hands full holding them at bay until Kane could complete his plan. "This may be unpleasant for your first time," Abel said, turning to the group. "The trick is to just not think about it and jump in." Kit shot Makeoveli a look. The advice was not helpful. Was he really about to jump head first into a portal that he wasn't even sure where it led? Makeoveli didn't give him a chance to consider his options. She grabbed him by the arm and threw him through into the light.

Act 6:

Kit felt like he was living his worst version of a hangover. Without thinking he ripped off his helmet and vomited his insides out. The light flooded and overpowered his eyes. Even while closed he could feel the ache. His head felt like it was trying to run from his body and his body felt like it was being pulled in every direction. Not a fraction of flesh nor bone didn't reel in pain. He cursed Makeoveli for dragging him through the portal. He cursed Abel even more, no amount of unthinking could prepare him for this.

As the experience started to fade and his senses recovered he felt a rush of panic sweep over him. He had no idea where he was or what awaited him. He didn't even know if it was safe to remove his helmet. Kit looked around him taking in his surroundings. The room was small and lit by a single panel of lights. A platform circled the center of the room where the GDI soldiers had materialized. The walls and floor were all plain steel, smooth and clean. A single paneled door was the only real break in the room. A slight hiss was moaning from somewhere. Abel and Eliana drew their weapons to the door waiting for an alert or alarm to sound off. The rest of the squad was in various states of recovery. "Where the hell are we?" Kit asked.

"I'm not sure yet, but I've got an idea," Abel said. He moved towards the door and it slid open revealing a hallway every bit as plain as the room. Eliana followed, peering over his shoulder.

"There's no sign of them," Eliana said, pushing past Abel.

"They're here somewhere. Keep alert."

Kit helped the squad up, pausing to glare at Makeoveli who seemed to be suffering even worse than Kit was. "Next time you plan on jumping through a portal to god knows where, leave me out of it." He said. Makeoveli shrugged the remark off. She noticed Kit had removed his mask and eyed Abel. He had moved down to the end of the corridor waiting for everyone to rally up. Both he and Eliana had removed their helmets. Kamau and Park gave their weapons a thorough check to make sure they were functional. Neither of them were sure of the effects of wormholes and they didn't want to chance it. Abel walked forward and the door slid open. A much larger room appeared before him. It was oval with doors sealed at the short ends. Various consoles and displays were placed about the room. Lights on screens blinked and data passed by. Nothing looked remotely human. No chairs or landings. The lettering in the screens looked Scrin from what little experience Kit had seen but he had no way of knowing. The displays themselves seemed alien in nature. Curved and angled edges clashed together. Abel approached one of the consoles reading the information on it. "Just as I thought," he said, placing his hand on the surface. A light lit up from underneath and scanned his hand. Two panels on the wall split apart from the center revealing a window behind. Outside a green sphere stretched clear across the window's view. Light from a distant star bathed the world. An entire planet had been consumed by Tiberium. It spun, lifeless as gigantic crystals rose from the surface. "I'm home."

Kane sped down each hallway twisting and turning. Heinrich and Jenell were struggling to keep up. They were caught between the wonder of where they were and keeping their mind focused. Kane assured them there would be no threats ahead. GDI would follow behind but for now they had the advantage. He seemed at ease as he passed through each door, like he was returning home after a long trip. At last he reached a room and stopped, "here my children, I need you to hold here. Kill anyone that tries to pass through." Jenell and Heinrich took up a position behind the edge of the door frame. Down the hall from where they came was open with no cover. If GDI tried to come through they would be cut down. It worried Heinrich that their only cover was the doorway. The room behind them was devoid of any cover and if GDI managed to overrun them they would have no escape. A perfect canal for slaughter. One way or the other.

The doors into the room were across from each other. If they tried to break contact and retreat to the next room they'd have to run through enemy fire. It wasn't a very defensible position. Thoughts of sacrificial lambs crawled into Heinrich's mind. He could only hope he meant more to Kane than that.

Jenell and Heinrich would hold the front line with Nika, Niu, and Bradley hiding behind the entry of the next room. If they had to Jenell and Heinrich would try to retreat back. The corridor was big enough to allow a score of people across but not big enough for both teams to fire without risking hitting Jenell or Heinrich. Once the squad was set Kane and the rest of his inner circle disappeared behind another set of doors. Before the door closed Jenell could see Kane pull out the Portunus. It's glow cast a dull light across Kane's smiling face. He's eyes sparkled with excitement as he talked to his council.

"This was your home?" Kit asked Abel. He nodded as he looked out the window. Off in the distance tiny specks were ferrying their way from the surface of the planet. Drone Ships were depositing Tiberium and taking off again. As the station rotated around the extent of the situation came into view. Massive rings orbited the planet. Pools of light rippled across the rings as various Scrin ships entered and exited. The stations reminded Kit of supersized Warp Spheres.

"It was, a long time ago," Abel said, "to the Scrin it's Ichor Hub." Kit hadn't been told much of Abel and his origins. He knew he was an alien. He knew he had something to do with Tiberium but he had no idea where Abel was from or what he even called his race. The idea in Kit's mind had always been that Abel was a master of Tiberium. In control. Abel wore a look of despair upon his face with eyes pained with emotion. Abel was as much a victim of Tiberium as humanity was. It scared Kit as the truth dawned on him. Abel didn't have the answers to Tiberium.

"Is this what the Earth it doomed to be?" Kit sputtered.

"Yes," Abel said, putting a hand against the glass. It had been so long since he'd seen his planet. The memories of what it used to look like had long since faded but the feeling had never wilted.

"What of the sonic repulsion? We've reclaimed red zones."

"Band aids to cover the surface. Tiberium has eroded its way into the planets' core. It will and probably already has adapted." Kit looked out at the dead planet. The idea of the Earth bearing the same fate sent a chill down his spine. The rest of the room shifted uneasy as they listened to the conversation. All of the wars were so pointless if this was the planet's fate.

The atmosphere of the room grew dark as despair crept into everyone's minds. Abel sensed the growing defeat and redoubled his efforts to get the group back on track. "Free yourself from the bleakness of that future. We have a much more tangible threat here and now. The future is still uncertain," he said. The miasma seeping into everyone's minds seemed to dissipate as Abel spoke. Kit began to feel a sense of hope. Abel had survived. Perhaps in time Humanity would learn to survive.

Abel turned back to a console and placed his hand on the surface again. With slight twitches of his fingers he pulled up information on the screen. "We must move quickly, Kane has activated the Portunus here." Abel said. A map of the station displayed on the screen with a line tracing where they needed to go. One of the doors on the far end of the room snapped open. "This is the way." He pointed. Makeoveli motioned for Kit to take point as the squad flowed out the room.

Footsteps echoed down in the distance. Jenell shrunk behind the frame of the door as much as possible. She readied her weapon where she suspected GDI would appear. As soon as the door opened she would squeeze her trigger. If she was lucky she could kill one or two before they had a chance to react. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, were the walls thick enough to withstand a gunfight? They looked thick but there was no way of knowing. A round breaching the outside and everyone getting sucked into the coldness of space wasn't a pleasant thought. The distraction was enough for her to be surprised when the door sprung open. Jenell centered and fired her rifle but the GDI soldiers had already moved.

Bullets ripped down the corridor as both sides exchanged gunfire. To Jenell's relief the walls withstood the onslaught. Neither side could maneuver under the torrential bullet storms. Any movement would mean certain death. Heinrich tried to yell something over the gunfire but Jenell couldn't hear it. She paused to look at him. Heinrich was gesturing for a grenade. "Are you crazy?" She tried to yell. The walls might have held against the bullets but an explosion was sure to rip through them.

"The doors will shut as soon as they sense decompression!" Heinrich yelled back. He didn't know for sure. It just seemed logical to him. Jenell had her doubts. From her position getting a grenade to the GDI position would be hard enough. She had no idea how much damage the space station could take. She looked back over at Heinrich. Blood was oozing out of where he had been hit the shoulder before. Jenell had almost forgotten. He wasn't in the best condition to fight and GDI had the numbers. The grenade was their last shot.

She unclipped it from her waist and grasped the handle. Heinrich took notice and emptied his magazine to provide some sort of covering fire. It was just enough to lessen the GDI suppression. Jenell leaned and chucked the grenade as far as she could. It bounced against the metal floor and rolled past the GDI soldiers. She heard one yell, "Grenade!" Without thinking the person who yelled dove into the center and grabbed the grenade. Heinrich was quick to pour bullets into the soldier. With their dying breath they threw the grenade into the dividing room. The explosion tore through the wall and sucked the debris into the vacuum of space. In an instant the doors sprung to life and sealed the exposed room. Heinrich had been right.

Jenell ran over to her brother to give aid. "Are you okay?" She asked. He grumbled clutching his shoulder but was otherwise unharmed. The patch job they had managed to do wasn't holding. Jenell pulled from her first aid pouch. Another dose of local anesthetic and liquid stitches was the best she could do. "Good as new," she said. Heinrich stood up careful not to stress his shoulder.

"I told you the doors would shut," Heinrich joked. Jenell resisted the urge to smack him in the shoulder.

"We need to move. GDI will try to find another way around." Jenell led the way to where Kane was working. As the door opened she caught his eye. "GDI tried to attack but we blew a hole in the room." She said.

Kane raised an eyebrow with a smirk, "I did not expect them so soon. No matter, we are done here. Come my children, the final step is at hand." Kane motioned for his inner circle to go down one corridor and for Jenell and her squad to follow him.

"They don't need support?" Heinrich asked.

"No, they will be safe where they are going," Kane replied.

Park rested his hand on Kamau. In a split second he had decided to give his life to save the squad. He knew he would die when he dove for the grenade but his sacrifice had saved everyone. "He was brave," Abel said, trying to comfort Park. Park reached for the dog tags around Kamau's neck and pulled. Blood had stained the metal but Park didn't care. He stuffed them into a pouch and shook a tear from his eye.

"Let's finish this," he said.

On the far side of the planet a sensor went off on a Scrin ship. The explosive decompression had triggered an alarm onboard. It was small enough to be an anomaly. Anything bigger and the Scrin would have registered it as a threat. The ship turned and labored it's way towards the space station. As the ship moved it passed by an idle Scrin war fleet floating against the blackness of space. Thousands upon thousands of ships sat offline, waiting for a call to answer.

Abel led the group down another set of corridors. Every door led to the same dull interior. "What is this place anyway?" Makeoveli said as they hurried into another room identical to the last.

"A waystation of sorts. It directs the flow of various Tiberium harvesting operations." Abel said. In truth it was more than that but Abel didn't have the luxury of taking the time to explain everything. The space station was capable of connecting to a massive network of relays through the galaxy. Each ring had a station to oversee the functions of the ring. Most rings were capable of handling threshold towers on multiple planets. Abel hadn't yet told humanity the extent of the Scrin reach and the devastation of Tiberium. They were but a small fish in a very, very big pond.

Nod had blown the quickest way to the control center of the station. With it they had cut off their access to the nearest teleportation point. Another one existed on the opposite side and it was now a race to who would get there first. "Who built this station?" Kit asked.

"My people did a long time ago," Abel said.

"What happened to them?"

"The Scrin," Eliana replied. She had spent a long time with Abel. When he first saved her she asked many of the same questions everyone else did. Who was he? Where did he come from? What happened to his people? Why was he here? She oftentimes had nothing to do but ask him about his plans. Much of it was over her head and Abel was never forthcoming. He called his people the Recar. They had played some sort of role in the creation of Tiberium and some calamity had befallen them involving the Scrin. Whenever Eliana asked more Abel shied away. Whatever had happened was too painful for him to discuss.

Heinrich led the way as fast as he could. His shoulder hurt but he'd been through worse. Kane was surprisingly fleet of foot. He showed no sign of struggle as he raced behind the squad. He would offer up directions from time to time making sure he was being led the correct way. "Where did the inner circle go?" Jenell said.

"They've gone to commandeer a ship to lead the rest of Nod to ascension," Kane said with a smile. "Though they must remain with the Portunus until we get to our next destination. GDI cannot be allowed to follow us again." His calm charm was radiating more than usual. All the excitement had gotten to him. Decades of planning and setbacks had culminated to this moment. Jenell took a second to ask what would happen. Kane slowed and peered into Jenell's eyes. She felt her face go flush as he judged her. Was she worthy enough? He seemed to stare straight through her but she found herself unable to avoid his gaze. "They will open the threshold on Earth and connect it to a place pure of Tiberium essence. The faithful will transform in ascension and the weak will perish," he said at last. The answer gave her no comfort and she found it cryptic. It sounded a lot like an extinction of humanity to her and less of ascension.

They were closing on the teleportation room. As soon as they were through a member of the inner circle would cut off the portal. The GDI troopers would be stranded on the waystation. Heinrich approached the second to last door. One more room and it would be over. GDI would have lost. The door opened and Heinrich skidded to a stop. Across the room the GDI squad came to an abrupt halt as both sides surprised each other. Everyone raised their weapons ready to annihilate the other side. No one was sure what to do. At any moment one side could squeeze their triggers and all hell would break loose. Heinrich inched his way to shield Kane glancing his eyes over at him. For the first time Heinrich could ever remember Kane looked lost and aghast. "What's a matter brother," Abel said, stepping forward, "you look confused to see me." Jenell looked bewildered at the scene in front of her. A man she didn't recognize had stepped forward with the same confidence Kane had. A slight grin behind thin lips met her eyes. Jenell shifted to the face behind the man. It took her a second as her brain processed the information.

"Eliana?" The words trickled out in disbelief. An old pain worked its way up to the surface. Jenell stared on confused.

"You're supposed to be dead," Heinrich said.

"It's good to see you too," Eliana said, lowering her rifle and stepping out next to Abel. "I see you've done well for yourselves." The atmosphere of the room changed as tense hostility gave way. Terse confusion took hold. People who were supposed to be long dead were alive. Kit, Park, and Makeoveli lowered their rifles not sure what to do. Niu, Nika, and Bradley did the same. Kane stood frozen seeing the ghost of his past.

A long silence swept over the room as both sides worked through their thoughts. Kane was the first to break it. "I killed you." Shock gripped his face.

"It seems we both are hard to kill. You've had your own run-ins with death." Abel said. He was draining the charisma Kane wore leaving a terrified shell. "Did you not suspect that I was alive? You just assumed GDI had bested you by luck? No, skill hmm? You are not the only one who can plot." Kane shook his head in disbelief. It was impossible.

"My children, kill this man, these heretics, and let us be on our way," Kane said, enraged. He was far beyond unsettled and his voice quivered with fear when he spoke. Both sides raised their weapons again, reigniting the standoff but Heinrich and Jenell remained unmoved.

"So what? You can ascend?" Abel said to the group, "did he even tell you what that is?"

"He said we'd be flooded with pure Tiberium essence," Jenell squeaked.

"And be transformed into monsters. Tell them Kane, tell them the truth." Abel glared at Kane who shrunk by the minute. His calm and stoic nature had melted away leaving nothing but a beleaguered and withered man. Jenell and Heinrich turned toward Kane waiting for a response. He stammered trying to find the words but they fled his mouth.

"Ascension will turn you into the Scrin," Eliana blurted out. The words punched Kit in the gut. He fought for so long against the Scrin. Hearing that Nod's ultimate plan was to turn humanity into them made his blood run cold. Jenell felt a tear run down her cheek. She didn't need to hear Kane say it to know it was true. All the work they had done had been towards this. It sickened her.

Kane's face furrowed as he tried to concoct a plan. It wounded him that his brother was turning his children against him. He didn't need them. He just needed to fulfill his plan. "This is your final test of faith my children. Kill these heathens and let us be on our way," Kane said, regaining his composure. His cool smile had come back to him and the momentary lapse of his guard had vanished. He turned looking across the faces of his flock. Temptation and doubt were there. They weren't sure who or what to believe. Kane saw his advantage and pressed further, "My brother is a GDI dog. He's always been against the idea of ascension. He tried to stop me before." Abel's finger twitched over his rifle. If he raised it and killed Kane the Nod soldiers would side with Kane and everything would end in a bloodbath. There was just one way for everyone to walk away. Nod needed to make the decision.

Jenell looked over at her brother. He was fighting a wave of emotion. GDI had made many mistakes in the past. It was their doing that led to the Strauss family's demise. But the Scrin had killed millions. Nod or GDI didn't matter. Humans came before aliens. If ascension would strip him of humanity and turn him into Scrin he wasn't sure if he wanted it. Jenell looked at the rest of the squad gauging their faces. Niu's eyes were watery but hatred colored her irises. Nika and Bradley seemed torn like Heinrich was. Jenell set her eyes on Kane and felt the familiar warmth his aura emitted. Even in the face of vile controversy she felt comforted just being by him. For a second they locked eyes and she felt like all the worries in the world would melt away. Jenell forced herself to look away and her eyes fell on Eliana. She felt ashamed seeing her former commander now against her. There was a bittersweet happiness. Jenell was overjoyed to find Eliana alive but the circumstances soured the reunion. Eliana's eyes had always been light and bright even when she was in the midst of battle. Now her eyes had darkened to an unfamiliar color. The light was still there, lost in reserve.

Kane opened the palms of his hands towards his brother, "you see my children are faithful. They can see through your-" A sudden gunshot cut Kane off. His eyes shook as his head looked down. With an unsteady hand he reached to touch his chest. Blood was starting to trickle out of the wound. Before he could utter another word he collapsed on the ground.

"No," Jenell said, lowering her rifle, "We are not your children." She turned to Niu who had raised her rifle in response. Jenell walked over placing her hand on the barrel gently pushing the gun down. "I'm sorry," she said. Niu's cheeks were wet with tears. "We need to hurry and stop the inner circle before they lay waste to Earth." Jenell said to Niu while holding her. Niu nodded, pulling through the tears. She had believed Kane until the end but she trusted Jenell every bit as much.

"Quickly, we need to stop them," Heinrich said, pulling his sister and Niu with them. Everyone took off down the corridor leaving Kane's body behind. A small pool of blood was spreading out from underneath him.

The two squads were uneasy with each other as they raced down the halls. Neither side trusted each other. Both were ready to react in case the other side acted up. An instrument on Abel's wrist sounded an alert. He looked down as he was running and let out a sigh, "great, a Scrin ship is scanning the station."

"What's that mean?" Eliana said.

"It means things are going to get crazy. Be ready for Buzzer Swarms."

"Great."

Jenell was the first to burst into the room with the inner circle. A member stood at a console with the Portunus nested into a disc-like slot. The inner circle member took a step back in confusion. The sight of GDI soldiers following in step sent the entire inner circle running for the shuttle. Jenell began to pursue them but Abel stopped her. "Leave them. The Scrin will clean them up." Abel began working on the Portunus programming a new destination for the portal. "I can send everyone back home to Earth but I need to return to my people. With my ship destroyed I'll have no way to get back," he paused looking at everyone in the room, "it's been a great many years since I've had contact with them and I worry about the state of affairs. I don't have time to do both and as soon as we leave the Scrin will destroy this way point. I'm not sure if the threshold will be able to connect to another safe point. We would be trapped." Eliana weighed the options for a moment. There was a chance that if she chose to go with Abel she would never see her world again. She worried that Earth would need an ally to fight the Scrin. Another war was bound to happen and with what little information she knew, the Scrin were far too great for humanity to take on alone. Defending Earth was one thing, but galactic warfare was something else.

"We'll go with you and work it out from there. I assume your people can get us back to Earth at some point?" Eliana said. Abel nodded in agreement. It was the best option. Abel continued to interface with the device. Another alarm on his wrist went off. The station vibrated as the Scrin ship attached itself to a port.

"There's one more thing. Someone is going to have to stay behind." Abel said. The tone in the room shifted. Everyone knew it was coming. If they left and didn't change the destination the Scrin could use it to unleash an invasion. A sacrifice had to be made.

"I'll do it," Kit said stepping up, "just tell me what to do." He locked eyes with Makeoveli. Her eyes were begging him not to but she knew there was nothing she could say. This was beyond orders. Kit had lost it when his friends died. It was his turn to make the sacrifice. This was his redemption.

"You'll need someone to keep the Scrin off you. I'll stay too," Jenell said, stunning Heinrich. He turned to say something but Jenell cut him off, "it's my choice brother. Let me make it." Jenell had proven to be stubborn in the past but it was hard for Heinrich to let her make this decision. Without her he'd be alone in the world.

Abel showed Kit what he needed to do. An indicator would appear after the portal had been used. Abel shook Jenell and Kit's hands and thanked them. Heinrich came over and gripped his sister tight and kissed her forehead with a soft goodbye. Makeoveli stood awkward, not sure what action to take. The line between friends, officer, and enlisted was blurring. Kit let out a tearful laugh, "it's okay Makes, I'm pretty sure this is far beyond regulations." Makes. Only Avery had ever been allowed to call her that. It fit that Kit said it. Makeoveli let out an uneasy chuckle as Kit hugged her. "Take care," he said. The sound of another Scrin ship docking bled the moment away. At any second hordes of Buzzers would pour through the facility hellbent on eviscerating the intruders. With the destination set Abel removed the Portunus from the slot. The device could contain useful information on the Scrin given the chance to study it.

"We need to go," Abel said.

One Scrin ship had docked on the far side of the station past the teleportation room. Buzzer Swarms erupted from the ship spilling over each other. It would be a tough fight through them. The second ship had docked where the inner circle had stolen the shuttle. The ship had ignored the shuttle at first but upon confirmation of the threat aboard the station destroyed it in a swift motion, an unceremonious end to Nod's leadership.

Abel and Eliana led the charge, guns blazing. Bullets shredded through the dense Buzzers cutting a path for the troops behind them. As they stopped to reload two others took their place to keep the line of fire up. At last they reached the room where Jenell had shot Kane but the body was not there. Splashes of blood led away into the teleportation room. "Impossible. She shot him through the chest," Eliana said, concerned.

"We Recar are hard to kill. It wasn't his first brush with death. This won't be his last," Abel replied, pushing into the next room.

A small pool of blood had congealed in the center of the platform. Wherever Kane had gone he'd need medical treatment soon or he would die. Abel had his suspicions but he would have to figure that out later. An orb of light started swelling above the platform in the center. Makeoveli and Heinrich were holding the Scrin at bay for the moment. "Let's go," Abel said, jumping through the portal. Makeoveli was less than thrilled to take another nauseating ride but the alternative was worse. With a grunt she thrust herself into the orb. Heinrich followed right on her heels. The Buzzers pursued them but as they got close the portal deformed and collapsed. They had escaped.

Jenell was firing her rifle knocking down target after target. For now the Scrin were only coming from one direction but she knew soon the other door would open and more would pile in. "It's done!" Kit said, picking up his rifle.

"Good. I don't know about you but I'm not planning on just rolling over and dying. If I'm going to die it's going to be fighting." Jenell said in between gunshots. Kit admired the notion. The least he could do was channel his final bits of rage and take as many Scrin with him as possible.

"I don't suppose you think we can fly a Scrin ship outta here?"

"I'm not sure but I'm willing to bet my last grenade if we can't." Kit laughed. For a Nod soldier Jenell was alright. He wondered if she knew it was Kit begging her to kill him before the portal opened. It was too late now. They were about to die together. Kit charged forward slaying a slew of Scrin. Jenell charged after him racking up her own kill count. The two disappeared down a corridor as the door slid shut behind them.

Makeoveli found herself back in the depths of a threshold. To her surprise the effects of the portal were lessened this time. Her head still spun and her body ached but she found herself recovering quicker. She made her way through the structure to find herself in bright sunlight. Green vegetation surrounded her in every direction. Not an inkling of Tiberium seemed present. It was the opposite of what she had become accustomed to. No dark clouds swirled overhead, no poison crystals glowing, nothing. Abel walked out beside her. "Welcome to Donae," he said. Heinrich appeared next to the two looking off in the distance. It reminded him of his home before Tiberium had wreaked havoc on it. "If you're wondering why it's so pristine we've made careful considerations to avoid Tiberium contamination here. It's one of our few safe havens." Abel said, taking in the scene.

Off in the distance trees swayed in a light breeze. Small bird-like creatures buzzed around the treetops. Abel couldn't remember the last time he was here. He'd spent a long time hunting Kane. This world had faded to memory and he wasn't sure if he would ever see it again. It brought a faint smile to his face as the breeze kissed his cheeks. "We should be greeted shortly. In the meantime I'm sure you all have many questions. I will do my best to answer them." Abel said as he took a seat on a rock.

"What are the Scrin?" Heinrich asked. Abel had told Eliana the tale before and began to explain again. The Recar and the Scrin were one in the same. Tiberium had been created by Kane as a means to limitless power. It acted like a virus, turning everything it touched into more of itself. It leeched precious elements from the soil and congregated them in the crystals. Unbeknownst to Kane there were side effects to his creation. It altered matter far beyond simple chemical changes. Recar exposed to the substance for prolonged periods of time changed with mutations much like humans. Kane saw it as an opportunity. Ascension, as he always called it. He grew a fanatical following and after years of research perfected the method. At a certain stage Tiberium exhibited an ideal radiation. "He and his following were set to ascend but I stopped him." Abel said.

"What happened?" Makeoveli asked.

"I confronted him and forced him to flee some thousands of your years ago. He escaped and it took a long time to track him down."

"What! Thousands?" Makeoveli said in surprise.

"We Recar are long lived, but we do succumb to age." Abel said.

Abel had prevented Kane from ascending but could not stop all of his followers. They bathed themselves in the radiation and ascended. The Recar called them Scrin, their word for "lost pilgrims". They lost most of their physical form resembling swirling beings of light. Almost incorporeal. Age became meaningless to them. They didn't need to eat or drink. Tiberium fueled their existence. They were near immortal.

As a result of their creation they became ever more fanatical about Tiberium. Its use permeated everything. Their consumption of it overtook their ability to produce it. So they sought to seed planets with the substance and harvest it when the time was right. At first the Recar and Scrin lived in a symbiotic relationship. When it was discovered that the planet could not be cured from Tiberium a rift occurred. War broke out and the planet was devastated. The Recar were forced to abandon their home. The Scrin soon discovered that organic matter increased the spread of Tiberium. In turn, the Scrin turned the entire planet into Tiberium. Civilizations with intelligent life further fueled the spread. Scrin scoured the galaxy looking for life. Once found they would send an asteroid contaminated with Tiberium and wait.

As soon as the crystal landed on Earth Kane knew he could use it to return home. Humanity had a penchant for fanaticism and he used that to his advantage. "I suspect Kane would have subjected the human race to becoming Scrin given the chance." Makeoveli shivered at the thought. Abel continued his story but a vehicle uncloaking interrupted him. A person stepped out wary of the unexpected visitors. Makeoveli could see a strange looking rifle slung across the person's chest. The person rested their hand on the rifle and spoke. Makeoveli had no idea what was being said but after Abel spoke the other person seemed to relax. More vehicles uncloaked revealing the group had been surrounded. "They've welcomed you to the planet," Abel said. "Let's work on getting you home."