The news in Gabriel "Shade" Rorke's villa was subtitled in English as he ate his cheerios. So far, the news had reported protests in Santiago over the recent election results giving President Ramos his fifth term in a row, protests in Lima over the result of the independence referendum, and protests in Rio De Janiro over the continued occupation of Central America and the USA.

"The terrorist group known only as the Ghosts have launched another devastating attack that left sixteen people dead, six of them civilians. Six men are believed to have been involved in the attack; two were found dead at the scene. Pilot Melissa Cruz was able to destroy their escape vehicle, however was hospitalized from enemy fire when her jet was destroy-"

Rorke switched to Top Gear.

The Ghost Graveyard was a quiet place. Out in the desert, three crosses stood, each adjourned with dog tags, a helmet, and a name. A small passage was inscribed on each one. The lone and level sands stretched far away. The wind whistled lightly. All of them knew that, one day, there would be sixteen graves standing beside each other. None of them knew which day.

The crosses read:

Frederick Kevin Gallagher The Banshee of ingenuity, he was the decisive genius of the Ghosts

Robert Woodrow Wilson The Revenant of death, he was the merciless wrath of the Ghosts.

Michael James Garrett. The Apparition of steady aim, he was the vigilant eyes of the Ghosts.

Two more crosses joined them two years after the first had been planted.

Louis George King The haunt of defiance, he was the noble defender of the Ghosts.

Henry Oscar Carson The spook of vigilance, he was the overseeing watcher of the Ghosts.

To Kill for your Country

25th June 2027, 13:09

Walker family residence, San Diego, Occupied California

"How's Riddian holding up?"

"He'll live; though he won't be joining us for a while."

Elias "Ghost" Walker smiled at his son.

"I'm proud of you, Logan. And you, David. You've done the nation proud."

"Thanks, dad," said David.

It was a sunny day. The three of them sat on the couch, watching the news report of their attacks. Merrick and Keegan "Wraith" Russ sat with them.

"So, are Alex and Chris coming round?" asked Keegan, opening a can of beer.

"Yeah, with James and Ben. God. I'm missing Henry and Louie already," mused Merrick.

"You couldn't have saved them. Anyway-"

There was a knock on the door.

"That'll be them."

The nine men gathered in Elias's basement. Weapons and explosives covered the walls, all donated by an anonymous donor who was certainly not the US government.

"Okay, I've just got some great news, boys. The USA have just finishing developing ODIN."

"ODIN?" asked Benjamin "Spirit" Hunter.

"Orbital Defence Initiative. A kinetic orbital system that, while not directly violating any Treaties, will allow us to bomb SAMA to bits. We can take back our land; and theirs, if we can."

"Wait, really? Are we gonna take their land?"

"For the good of the people. For the good of us all."

"Anyway, how long until this think is launched?" asked David.

"A week. Until then, however, I've got one last plan..."

After he heard the plan, Logan went to his room and began to cry.

There was something about Baldy's face that had engraved itself into Logan's mind. He knew he shouldn't be calling him that; he knew full well his name was Carlos Garcia. It had been all over the news.

No, no, he had to do it. He had to kill him, he was working with the enemy and he would have done the same to Logan. Dad told you that. Dad told you that we do bad things to bad people. Bad people deserve bad things done to them.

"And where do bad people come from, Logan? Come on, you've nearly figured it out," said a voice in his head he was sure wasn't his.

"By doing bad things," he said aloud.

He began to wail harder. He couldn't do this. What had Merrick said the other day? "Peace is a lie. War is always inevitable. I say, once we drive off these bastards, we wipe 'em out. Like a leach on the world. Always trying to get in bed with America so it can give us AIDS. They'll always keep rising up. Not a decent one among them. We'll be doing the world a favour."

"Son? Son, you alright in there?"

Logan sniffled, and said, "Uh, yeah, dad, I'm fine."

Elias entered a put an arm around him.

"What's the matter?"

"I just...I don't know if I could kill anyone else..."

Elias stared at Logan for a second, before standing up.

"No, Logan!" he boomed, "We are NOT going through this again! They are your enemy! They have to die because they deserve it!"

"Why?"

"War is inevitable, Logan!"

"It's only inevitable because of BASTARDS LIKE YOU!"

There was a beat of silence, as they stared at each other.

Then Elias backhanded Logan across the face.

"Don't. You. DARE! Talk to your father like that!"

Logan put a hand to his bruised cheek.

"S-sorry, dad."

"Now, go run to the woods. You're sleeping there tonight; maybe that'll give you time to think about your disobedience."

"Yes dad."

The woods were cold, damp, and dangerous; but Logan still preferred it to staying with Elias.