since it's never come up before: this story takes place shortly after the culmination of what little actual plot there is in the game, so a slight spoiler warning for this chapter. don't lose sleep over it, though: ubisoft apparently used their best writers for world building, and let the interns write the actual story for the campaign.
also, i tried something a little different this time. let me know what you think!
Angela, I need to talk to you. We have a mission coming up. An important one. Into the dark zone*.
"Dr. Ziegler? You've never come to listen in on an OP. Everything alright?"
We've learned about a terminal set up by the First Wave, one that's still active. One that might lead us to Keener.* It's deep in the DZ, almost on the edge of Central Park.
"Of course Dr. Ziegler, I'm just surprised is all. Usually Dr. Kandel is with us to cover anything medically relevant. I assume she has briefed you?"
It's...a long shot. We have little intel on what to expect but...well, it's the dark zone. Let's just say we expect the worst, and then some.
"Well, the primary goal is to uncover information on Keener's whereabouts, but anything that can help us with speeding up developing a vaccine for the Green Poison is a very close second. We think this terminal is part of a server cluster that was used as the primary communications hub by the rogue First Wave elements. This could be a gold mine."
Stonewall, Washington, and Gauntlet. They're good agents. We'll watch after each other. This is our job, Angela. This is why I, why we all signed up for this. You know we need to stop Keener, and our first step in doing so is getting that intel. Someone has to do it.
"Alright people, we're patched into their comms. Tungsten squad, do you read? Copy that, reading you loud and clear. No new intel, unfortunately. Remember, our patch might not work, so it's possible we'll lose comms once you enter the DZ. Use your flares when you need to exfil."
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distress you. I just thought...I just thought you should know what's going on. I promise I'll be careful.
"Tungsten squad, do you read? Can you hear me? I'm still reading you five-by-five, confirm? Tungsten squad? Damn...well, at least we can still hear them. Have the chopper on hot standby."
Angela, there's something else. I...I've meant to tell you for a while, but...well, I never really had the guts. But I really want you to know before...what I mean is...bloody hell, this went a lot smoother in my head. I... … ...I like you, Angela. I really, really like you. And if I- when I get back I'd like to...take you out on a date? Or as close to a date as we can manage...
P: Watch out, I got two tangos on my 11 o'clock. Looks like cleaners. Gauntlet, Washington, can you take them out quietly?
W: Roger that, Pharah.
G: Confirmed. On three. One, two, …
P: Good job. Let's push on.
S: I don't like this, guys. I feel like someone's watching us.
W: Did you forget to put on your big boy pants today, Stonewall?
G: Yeah, what happened to Mr. 'Dark Zone, Schmark Zone'?
P: Comms discipline, guys. We're nearly at the target.
G: Subway entry in sight. Looks abandoned.
W: Looks can be deceiving. But I haven't picked up any heat signatures on my scanner, so far.
P: I'll take point; Washington, bring up the rear. Keep the talking to an absolute minimum as long as we're down there.
P: Got something on scan. Two heat signatures, possible Tangos. Make that six. Ten...shit.
G: Looks like LMB. Double shit. Should we pull back?
P: Negative, we need that data. We proceed as planned.
S: Jesus Christ, woman, there's at least two dozen of those guys up ahead. We can't take them all on, we should retreat!
P: Keep your fucking voice down, Stonewall! Our objective is to retrieve that intel, and we will complete that mission. We're Division agents, a bunch of rent-a-soldiers won't stop us.
W: Movement behind. Looks like more LMB. Orders?
P: They know we're here, they're trying to box us in! Open fire, open fire!
P: Washington, take out that .50 cal with your 203*!
W: Eat this, faggots! [static] ...chine gun down!
P: Keep pushing forward, they're breaking!
S: Washington's hit, she's down!
[static]
"Dr. Ziegler, are you alright? You look pale."
[unintelligible]
S: ...negative, no pulse.
P: Goddamnit...alright, sweep the area one more time, then get ready to move out.
P: On the off chance anyone at HQ is getting this: data is secured, we're about to move to the exfil point. Washington is...we have one casualty. She's KIA. Pharah out.
"How could they have known we were coming for that data? Shut up, Rhodes, I want explanations not excuses. It could be just bad luck, yes. I could also secretly be Marilyn Monroe, so please shut the fuck up!"
P: Stonewall take point, Gauntlet take up the rear. Let's move it, people!
S: This is so fucked up, Pharah. We shouldn't have left her behind!
G: Oh, so you would have carried her, or what? Get your fucking act together.
S: Shut up, Gauntlet, no one cares what you think!
P: Quiet, both of you! Focus on the task at at hand. We're just half a click from the primary exfil point, you can bitch and moan all you want once we're out of here.
S: I don't like it, it's too exposed.
G: Of course it is, the chopper has to land somewhere.
P: Stonewall, set up with your LMG* on that scaffolding over there; Gauntlet, see if you can't get up and behind that billboard. You'll have crossfire on both streets leading into the plaza, I'll try to cover the alleys.
G: 10-4
S: Roger that.
"Alright, get the chopper in the air. Tell them to stay on the lookout for a flare from somewhere within DZ-7, and get there ASAP. And make it clear that those agents must get out of there. Unless they have fucking Stingers* the LZ is not too hot!""
S: I'm in position.
P: Copy that. Gauntlet?
G: Almost there. This billboard isn't the sturdiest piece of cover, but I'll manage.
P: Let's just hope we won't have to wait long until the chopper arrives. I'm firing off the flare now!
S: If they didn't know we were here, they do now.
P: Watch your sectors, guys. Stay frosty.
G: Movement to the east. Counting two runners. Permission to engage?
P: Make your shots count, Gauntlet. Weapons free.
[static]
S: Jesus, how many of them are there?!
P: Stay calm, Stonewall, and change positions. I'll keep them occupied.
G: I'm running low on .338*, where's that damn chopper?!
S: I think I can hear it...yes, I can hear it! It's coming! I'm heading down now!
P: Hold your position, Stonewall! Fuck, Gauntlet cover me, he'll never make it across the plaza.
G: I have visual on the helicopter, it's almost on top of us.
P: Copy that, make your way down-
G: Shit, enemy sniper, take cover.
P: Where is he?!
G: Southeast brownstone, 4th floor. Saw him in the rightmost window, but he's changing positions.
P: Stonewall, can you lay suppressin-ARGH!
G: Pharah's hit, can you get to her Stonewall?!
"Dr. Ziegler sit down again! No buts, you sit your ass back down again right now or you leave!"
P: He got me in the foot, I can't get up.
S: Hold tight, I'm almost there!
G: Got the bastard! No tangos in the immediate vicinity, but we've got a whole lot incoming. ETA 90 seconds. Now is our chance to bail!
S: Lean on me, cap, come on. We gotta go!
P: We'll never make it before they arrive, take the flash drives and go!
S: Fuck you, Pharah. It's either both of us on this chopper or none; and since I know how important that data is...
G: Come on you shits, the pilot is getting twitchy over here. I'll cover you, but hurry. They're almost here!
[static]
[static]
[unintelligible]
[static]
Pegasus-Actual this is Pegasus-3/1, got two agents and the cargo on board and secured. We're en route to the HQ, have a medical team on stand-by for one wounded in non-critical condition. Over.
Copy Pegasus-3/1, Pegasus-Actual out.
terminology explained for those not familiar with the game (obvious spoiler alert). copy&pasted most of this from wiki:
*Dark Zone: Originally this quarantine zone in the middle of Manhattan was heavily patrolled by the Joint Task Force and was created under the Government Order to ensure that those infected with the Green Poison virus could be contained.
However, the growing number of riots and supply shortages forced them to pull out, leaving behind much of their valuable gear. Not only this, but it was a total mission failure by the First Wave Division Agents after losing support from the JTF, causing some to feel betrayed by the government and go rogue. The Dark Zone is now mostly empty and lawless and basically an isolated zone; outside communication is limited, and dangerous gangs roam the streets in brutal conflict, fighting over the remainders.
*Keener: Aaron Keener is a Strategic Homeland Division agent who has gone rogue and created his own unit with other First Wave agents. At the end of the game he is revealed to have taken equipment and research data required to manufacture other deadly diseases. His current whereabouts are unknown.
*203: an underbarrel grenade launcher, mainly in use with american M4 and M16 rifles, but can be used with many others. This is something that actually isn't in the game, but look at me, i'm the captain now.
*stinger: a versatile surface-to-air weapon system. Can be mounted on a wide variety of ground vehicles and helicopters, and can also be fired from the shoulder. It is a 'fire-and-forget' weapon system, which means the missile homes in on the target autonomously without any input required (or possible) from the shooter after launch.
*LMG: Light Machine Gun, a rifle which usually has a very large magazine (50-200 rounds) and is typically belt-fed. Sustained fire is usually inaccurate, and used mainly to suppress enemies in the target area
*.338: the caliber of a powerful rifle cartridge, very popular with military snipers.
Sooo. I tried something different with this. I'm not sure I really like it, but there's only so much fiddling I can do before I scrap it entirely. It has definitely been a challenge to write, it really is a quite different experience to have to rely on dialogue only to tell a story. I hope it was understandable enough for you guys, and I welcome any and all feedback you guys have for me!
cheers