Warning: Failure to complete I.E.D., now in line with the Complete Ending walkthrough, will result in the loss of multiple supporting characters and the mission's special intel. As well as the discontinuation of the attempt altogether.
June 5th, 2025 - 06:01:04, after receiving his breakfast, Crosby chooses to eat by himself in order to give his teammates time to cool down, which he has been doing for the past four days. As he sits down, the sailors and marines alongside him move away because of his attempted assassination.
But the DEVGRU operator does not mind it or even blame them. Though all that did not stop King and Shade from being with him and comforting him.
King: We were told what happened. Not an easy task, but you did the right thing, Fallout.
Shade: Yeah, also glad to know you're safe and still kicking, Fallout. Don't worry about them, things'll settle down.
Crosby: *smiles* Thank you for the support, guys. Although, what I'm worried about is keeping Section in check. He's not exactly wrong when he said he's the only one who can get through to Menendez.
King: With what the higher-ups know now, playing our cards right and not turning Menendez into a martyr has become an official matter of national security. Section can't reason around that, and he still can't outrank me or Kraken.
Shade: Besides, Harper and Salazar are reasonable. I'm sure they wouldn't mind keeping him in line.
Crosby nods*
Then to Crosby's surprise, Harper chimes in.
Crosby: LT.
Harper: Crosby, you do realize what you've done, right?
Crosby: Told everyone what they needed to hear.
Harper: At what cost?
Crosby: I know what I've sacrificed. But tell me. What would you do if you were in my position?
Harper: I wouldn't stab my brothers in the back.
Crosby: I chose not to leave my countrymen and brothers in the dark.
Harper: *sighs* You could've told me.
Crosby: Could you snap him out of his obsession?
Harper: Stop calling it that. Could you, for once, get your head out of your mask, Luke? What is it with guys like you being so unpredictable? This isn't Task Force Rogue, so there's no need for unorthodox methods anymore.
Crosby: Ah, see? You're all in with Section even though he's wrong. Which is admirable, but that is why I couldn't trust you. Look, despite the hardships we've had, I still care deeply about you guys. You, Section, Salazar, King, Shade, Briggs and all our brothers in DEVGRU. Turning on Trident Team by telling the truth was the most difficult and painful decision of my life. But since neither of you are willing to listen and our mission is on the line, the mission has to come first. You and Section know that. Someone has to take responsibility when others can't.
Harper: I couldn't risk taking David's chance in getting Menendez away from him. That'll destroy him and none of us, not even his family, can fix that.
Crosby: This is not just about him, Mike. Look around. Remember four days ago? We're all here to win as well. Letting China start World War 4, turning Menendez into a rallying point and allowing Cordis Die to burn us to the ground doesn't look like victory.
Harper: *shakes head* I—I... think we're done here. Good luck... getting that promotion.
King: Harper, enough!
Shade: Definitely not the best in playing third party, huh?
Crosby: Yeah, guess I was wrong.
07:30:01, despite the thought of his original Trident Team squadmates turning against him, Crosby puts his game face on for a new mission for JSOC Strike Force. After receiving an update on S.D.C. from a satisfied Briggs, he feels better despite Section still beside him in directing the upcoming operation.
The news is about Zhao trying to offer the U.S. a cease-fire and a spot in China's upcoming new world order, which everyone in JSOC finds laughable. Even though the Lieutenant Commander is clearly disinterested in The Second Cold War, Briggs' orders keep him from abandoning ship.
Admiral Briggs: *laughs* How about that. Chairman Zhao just sent me his résumé. Cocksucker's looking for a new gig! *continues laughing*
Crosby: *claps* *laughs*
JSOC Strike Force: *claps* Whooo!
Admiral Briggs: You bet your ass, we got these dickwads on the run. Alright, alright, settle down.
Crosby: Seems trouble in Afghanistan never stops, gentlemen. As you know, a Russian peace delegation is in Kabul negotiating a peace treaty with the Afghan president.
Section: Problem is, Central Intelligence intercepted an assassination order directed by Raul Menendez himself.
awkward pause*
Crosby: To be carried out by the Taliban, sponsored by WCO PMC and S.D.C. After sharing this to Russia and Afghanistan, the summit location has changed to Maidan Shahr, approximately 50 miles west of Kabul. While the Russians' finest are assembling in country to defend their delegation's convoy, we've agreed to help the Afghans protect theirs. If you witness a hostile act, direct lethal force is authorized.
Admiral Briggs: Authorized and fucking mandated.
Crosby: Use your Quad Rotor Drones for aerial surveillance. Best way for enemy sniper and RPG teams to take out our VIPs is to dig in those mountains. Which means you can flush them out with the drones' explosive rounds. They're the best defense against enemy air support as well. You'll also have the High Altitude Munitions Platform variant of the VTOL Warship for far support. Use its Kinetic Strike Weapon against heavy armor and large groups of hostiles. A.G.R.s will flank you on the dirt. If the H.A.M.P. is reloading, their rockets are the most effective against tanks and other ground vehicles. And keep an eye out for enemy infantry on terra firma and on horseback, or they'll plant additional I.E.D.s which will take out their MRAPs in one explosion. Now, I know it sounds like all fun and games to sit around comfortably and play "Chair Force" for a bit. But we still have some very important people in our care. Their military transports aren't as durable as ours. If we lose all of them, Afghanistan will turn to the S.D.C. because we failed them. So stay sharp and don't let your guard down until the Afghans are absolutely safe.
After the briefing, Crosby starts training with JSOC Strike Force in controlling the Quad Rotor Drones and A.G.R.s, as well as directing the H.A.M.P. VTOL Warship. June 6th, 2025 - 06:00:17, after spending nearly an entire day preparing and taking the drones to the AO, the Afghan peace delegation starts leaving for Maidan Shahr from their temporary operating base in the mountainous outskirts of the city, where the Russians will be waiting.
--
I.E.D.
FIVE MILES WEST OF MAIDAN SHAHR, AFGHANISTAN
JSOC STRIKE FORCE
JUNE 6TH, 2025 - 06:00:27
--
Section: Closest heat signature is located in vicinity of Echo Sierra 7-1-9-8-5-4. Additional Quad support now online.
King: Roger, we got 'em.
Quad fire*
King kicks it off with his Quad Rotor squadron by killing an RPG team before they could shoot him or his teammates down. With him on the UAVs, Shade directs the A.G.R.s, Crosby controls the H.A.M.P. VTOL Warship's Kinetic Strike Weapon, and Section is on ISR.
Section: Confirmed, multiple hostiles observed in the AO.
King: Affirmative, Kraken. Convoy will take effective small arms and RPG fire, over.
Section: ISR sensors are tracking multiple hot spots on the surrounding hill tops. Use supporting elements to eliminate I.E.D.s and clear safe path for convoy.
A.G.R. fire* *explosion*
Shade: Enemy Type 99 tank destroyed. Taliban is confirmed supplied by the S.D.C., over.
After Shade takes out a Chinese main battle tank operated by terrorists, Section confirms the ROE for the duration of the op. Which in layman's terms mean: Shoot all clear and present threats to the convoy.
As the escort mission goes on, visual confirmations are surfacing that show Taliban insurgents armed with RPGs, SMAWs, HAMRs, SVU-AS's, AK-74 UUKs and AN-94s. Which confirm the C.I.A.'s intel about Menendez and WCO PMC ordering and supplying the assassination.
In gameplay, if all VIPs are killed, King, Shade and Crosby will have to report to Afghanistan for a long while to address JSOC's screw-up. Making them absent in future Strike Force Missions and Story Missions.
Recommend using the A.G.R.s' rockets and H.A.M.P. to destroy tanks quickly before they can destroy a friendly vehicle. And the Quads to kill enemy helos, cavalry and RPG teams fast.
After King gives the coordinates of an enemy tank waiting to engage, Crosby aims the Kinetic Strike Weapon and deals with the Chinese armor accordingly. Then an unexpected attack helicopter comes in and starts firing on the Afghan convoy.
King: Enemy Z-10 gunship moving to engage the convoy. All Quads, focus fire!
Quad fire* *crash boom*
King: Helo is down. Scanning for survivors... pilots are flatlined. But they appear to be WCO PMC judging by their uniforms and patches, over.
Once finished poking around for a bit, JSOC Strike Force clears the explosive-filled vehicle path by shooting and detonating them from a safe distance. Now almost at the main road leading straight to Maidan Shahr, the Taliban initiates an assault with every RPG team, infantry, cavalry, tank and helicopter they have.
King directs the second Quad Rotor squadron to the two incoming Z-10s while he and his squadron deal with the RPG teams. On the ground, Shade gives Crosby two Type 99s close together to obliterate while at the same time, he and his A.G.R. squad shoot the suicide bombers off their horses.
With not many left, Shade decides to insult the Taliban by using his UGV to run the survivors of the toppled cavalry over.
payload impact*
secondary explosions*
Shade: You can run, bitch! But you'll only die tired! *laughs* Oh, I'm real sorry... for the horses.
06:10:04, the Afghan peace delegation's MRAP convoy arrives on the main road, with a squadron of Russian VTOL Warships and a group of Russian SOC-Ts meeting it there to provide armed escort into the city. The Taliban then sends another swarm of bombers on horseback after the Afghans in a last ditch effort to kill them.
But they are immediately annihilated by American C.L.A.W.s firing incendiary rounds. Then the walking tanks start covering the VTOL transports extracting the drones before going back in to RTB.
Section: Mission success, convoy has arrived at the main road. Friendly Russian elements will escort the Afghan delegation to the city. All units, land in the VTOLs for RTB. The C.L.A.W.s will cover until all clear.
King: Excellent unmanned ground and air support, team. I'm proud of y'all.
Shade: JSOC, three. S.D.C., zero. All Quad, A.G.R. and C.L.A.W. units in the VTOLs. Ready to extract.
In the Obama's Team Room, after Briggs gives his praises, Crosby still compliments Section despite their history and the Lieutenant Commander immediately ignoring and going back to his normal routine.
Admiral Briggs: That's how we get shit done. Good work, Mason, Crosby.
Crosby: Thank you kindly, sir. Textbook execution right there, Lieutenant Commander.
Career Record:
Afghan Peace Delegation saved - Afghanistan resists S.D.C. pressure.
Reward:
I.E.D. Intel
The I.E.D. intel shows the relations of America and Afghanistan getting friendlier, Russia taking notice of the rising Chinese threat gunning for them, and the Russo-Afghan Peace Summit kicking off to a fruitful start. Including the specs of the Quad Rotor Drones, VTOL Warship H.A.M.P. variant, and Kinetic Strike Weapon.
As well as an encrypted message intercepted by the C.I.A. which reveals the Coalition higher-ups getting jittery after their failure to take Afghanistan. And Zhao having to calm them down by revealing that coercing Russia with everything they have will solve all of their problems.