June 5th, 2044 - 21:46:02, Los Angeles, California, 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment Viking Team 6 finishes a routine patrol on the neighborhoods of South LA. With Master Sergeant David 'Hesh' Walker/Viking 6-1 (Sergeant David 'Hesh' Walker in the original), Sergeant First Class Logan Walker/Viking 6-2 (Sergeant Logan Walker in the original) and Riley, the Walker Family's German Shepherd turned Army Ranger service dog, checking up on the civilians.

Logan: Everything alright in your end, Luis?

Luis: Yes, sir. Everything's fine here, thanks to you guys. Chuck, come on. Go say goodnight to your friends.

Logan and Hesh nod*

Chuck: Nightfall! Hesh! Riley!

Riley: Woof!

Hesh: Hey, buddy!

Logan: Oh, hey Chuck. How ya doin'?

Chuck: Pretty safe now that you're here. Say, can I be like you guys and see Ft. Santa Monica when I'm big enough?

Logan: Of course you can, kiddo. You just gotta want it more than anything and be willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Okay?

Chuck: Okay, I will. I promise. Anyway, night night, Nightfall, Hesh, Riley.

Logan: *chuckles* Night night, Chuck.

Hesh: Sleep tight, Chuckster.

Riley: Woooo.

Luis: Goodnight, Logan, Hesh, Riley.

Logan: Goodnight, man.

Hesh: Goodnight, sir.

Riley: Woooo.

Female Civilian 1: Logan, Hesh, we talked about this already. Please stop enticing my son to join the Army. I don't want him to suffer those hardships like the two of you.

Logan: I think everyone's had enough of fear and despair for one lifetime, Becky. What do you want us to do? Scare him instead?

Hesh: Easy, Logan. *clears throat* Have you forgotten that every corner of life will always have suffering? Or that suffering is needed in order to grow and change for the better?

Becky: Oh, shut up and just get the fuck outta here. We're going to bed now. *gives the bird* Goodnight! (quietly) Nightfall and Hesh. The fuck kind of names are those? *snarls*

Hesh: Let's just go.

Riley: Woof!

Logan: Easy there, boy.

With every citizen in the suburb now secure in their homes, Logan and Hesh check in with their overwatch element. Returning to their observation post in an abandoned theater at the same time.

Staff Sergeant Larson Tendo Molina/Viking 6-3 (new) (voiced and played by Donnie Yen), Logan's old friend since high school and son of a Filipino father and a Hong Konger mother, starts the conversation.

Larson: Well, Becky is still her usual self.

Logan: Yeah, still a nosy, stuck-up, has-been news anchor. God damn CNN. Makes me wanna go WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.) on her face with her precious TV. At least Luis and Chuck have changed.

Larson: *snickers* Yeah. Should be grateful that she was lucky enough to have a husband and son like them. Kid's growing up fast. Knows not to talk specifics to us. Right, Nightfall?

Logan: Mm-hmm, warms my heart every time.

Then protocol comes back when Sergeant Perry Davis/Viking 6-4 (Corporal Davis in the original) comes in.

SGT. Davis: Neighborhood is secure, 6-1, 6-2. You are cleared to proceed.

Hesh: Roger that, 6-4. We're en route.

10 Minutes Later

Hesh: Okay, entering now.

SGT. Davis: We gotcha.

Meeting Logan and Hesh through the theater's back door is Sergeant Cody Wilson/Viking 6-5 (Private Wilson in the original).

Logan: Hey, Codes.

Wilson fist-bumps Logan and Hesh*

SGT. Wilson: Hey, Nightfall, Hesh.

Hesh: Hey, Cody. SITREP?

SGT. Wilson: Quiet. But this time, it's a good thing.

Accompanying the three is Sergeant John Taylor/Viking 6-6 (Corporal Taylor in the original). The youngest member of Viking Team 6 who also happens to be one of the youngest U.S. Army Soldiers and Army Rangers in their respective histories.

An only child of a military family on the verge of inactivity who lied about his age to enlist at 12 years young but standing at 5' 7", just before the Army started rejecting incoming recruits. Now 15 years old, 5' 10" tall and fresh out of Ranger School and RASP.

SGT. Taylor: Yep, we checked every single corner of this place. No Feds crawling around anywhere.

Logan: Good work, John. But stay sharp and frosty. We can never be too certain.

SGT. Taylor: You got it, Nightfall. Master Sergeant.

Hesh: Taylor, how does it feel to be a Ranger?

SGT. Taylor: Feels awesome. Been a long time coming. Thank you for bringing me in. I won't let any of you down.

Hesh: Good man.

Now in their designated lookout spots, the Army Rangers and German Shepherd get comfortable yet alert.

Logan: Our people are still holding on tight. Good to know our jobs are actually helping out. Just... wish we could stop playing defensive and start making big changes.

Hesh: Me too. Until then, we still follow our orders. At least this is good material. How's your notebook?

Logan: Still empty.

Hesh: Dude, Dad's gonna be pissed when he finds out you haven't started writing your story yet.

Logan: And I told him I didn't sign up for the applause. I thought we were supposed to be quiet professionals.

Hesh: Well, you know. Dad's ambitious and so am I.

Logan: I am too, but not that ambitious. When we start making actual differences for the better, I just want America and our folks to live and thrive again. As well as to become the best Army Ranger, support gunner and combat medic for every good and innocent around me. *exhales* Anyway, just wake me up for my first watch when you're done. You reciting your thoughts and writing your book still puts me to sleep. I'm just lucky it doesn't bore me to death.

22:01:07, as soon as Hesh starts writing his book while on fire guard, Logan snoozes like he said he would.

Hesh: The Latin American Federation's rise to power had started years ago. When the great energy-producing deserts were destroyed. The world powers that depended on them collapsed. And in their wake, the Federation began to rise. The Federation united all of South and Central America under one banner and devoured everything in its path, as it moved relentlessly to the north. After turning the ODIN against us, the Latin American Federation stood on the doorstep of the United States, poised for the kill. It thought we were weak, crippled, prey, waiting to be taken. We fought hard, we fought well, we fought it to a bloody stalemate. And here, just beyond the craters of No Man's Land, we find ourselves in a defensive war against a more powerful enemy.

June 6th, 2044 - 05:12:20, Larson receives news and orders from Ft. Santa Monica, saying that Dallas got overrun by the Latin American Federation last night and a new sweep of The California Wall is needed. So he wakes up Logan and Hesh before moving out with Davis, Wilson and Taylor.

Larson: Viking 6-1, Viking 6-2, are you there? Hesh? Nightfall?

Logan: *yawns* Affirmative, I'm up.

Hesh: Uh, copy, yeah, we're here. Go ahead.

Larson: Reports are coming in. Dallas got overrun last night. Command wants another sweep of The California Wall ASAP (As Soon As Possible), over.

Logan: *growls in frustration* Not Dallas too.

Hesh: Ah, shit. Any survivors?

Larson: Negative. Sorry, Nightfall. Thought I should tell you already instead of letting you get that surprise.

Logan: Don't worry about it. I appreciate you letting me know immediately. Thanks.

Larson: I got you.

--

Brave New World

June 6th, 2044 - 05:12:38

SFC. Logan 'Nightfall' Walker

2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

--

Hesh: Sorry I didn't wake you. Thought you could use the sleep.

Logan: Hmm, I'm real touched. *shoulders cracking*

Then, sounds of falling furniture and metal debris start occurring. And with Riley on high alert, Logan and Hesh get up, grab their gear and move to investigate.

metallic banging*

Riley: *growls*

Hesh: Quite, boy. Listen.

Logan: Viking 6-2 to Viking 6-3. Are you and the others near our position, over?

Larson: Negative, we're outside, over.

Logan: (on comms) Rog'. Riley's got something. We're moving to investigate, over. (off comms) Gear up, let's move.

Hesh: Riley, go slowly.

Larson: Roger, we'll move to cover the main doors. Viking 6-3, out.

As the noises get louder, the Walker brothers and their German Shepherd move faster to see what is causing them. A minute of sweeping the theater later, all they find are a couple of deers nibbling on old popcorn.

Riley: *barks*

Logan: *chuckles* Oh, Riley.

Hesh: Heh, guess Riley was getting hungry. You don't wanna eat anything out here, boy. Let's head back and get you some real food.

SGT. Davis: 6-1, SITREP.

Hesh: Just some local wildlife. We're good.

SGT. Davis: Check. We're on standby at RP Silver. Copy?

Hesh: (on comms) Yeah, we're on our way out. (off comms) Ah, there she is. Lookin' like Hell but still standing.

Logan: The more I look at it, the more I think this should have been all over the U.S.-Mexican Border. Oh, well. Let's see if we can hunt some illegal aliens.

Hesh: Jesus Christ, Logan.

Logan: *laughs* Thank God the Federation ODIN Attack On The United States fucked Cancel Culture.

Now fully assembled by The California Wall, Viking Team 6 moves into the wrecked street to conduct a patrol. Shortly after, the Army Rangers and German Shepherd find and quietly terminate their fifth Latin American Federation reconnaissance team for the month, in a destroyed restaurant.

Then they find another one with American civilians as prisoners in a gas station. So they each pick a hostage taker, headshot them simultaneously, mop up their friends and secure the tied up people.

Logan: Everyone pick a target. Let's drop 'em together.

synchronized shots*

Logan: Get down on the ground! I said get down on the ground!

Hesh: They got friends! Move in! Move in! Riley, go!

suppressed and unsuppressed rifle fire*

Riley munching on a dead insurgent*

SGT. Davis: We're clear!

SGT. Wilson: And that's number six.

SGT. Taylor: Hang in there. You're gonna be alright.

Larson: Now get outta here and head home, or someplace safe. Now!

Male Civilian 2: Thank you so much, guys. Come on, let's go!

After bagging their sixth Federation recon unit and freeing the civvies, they get a distress call from Security Team Barricade of The California Wall. With Private First Class Ramsay, Barricade 2-6, giving the SITREP over there.

PFC. Ramsay: All available units, this is Barricade 2-6! We have Federation contact at The California Wall! I say again, we have Fed contact at The Wall! We are under attack, over!

Logan: Barricade 2-6, this is Viking Team 6. We got you Lima Charlie (Loud and Clear). Pop smoke to indicate your position. We're headed to you. Just hang in there, over.

PFC. Ramsay: Roger that, Viking Team 6! Popping green smoke on our position, over!

Hesh: This way! Riley, come!

With The California Wall's main entrance under siege, Viking Team 6 drops down to the dried up Los Angeles River and engages the Latin American Federation raiding party. Now going loud and proud, Logan equips his KAC Stoner LMG A1 and proceeds to shred multiple enemy combatants to pieces and shoot down a couple of hostile Eurocopter EC365 helicopters before the reinforcements they were carrying touched the ground.

Five minutes of ridding Security Team Barricade of their foreign attackers later, the Latin American Federation raiding party deploys its second wave. Flying in on their last troop transport chopper while backed by an Mi-24 Superhind Mk.III this time.

With 30 seconds until the enemy arrives, the Army Rangers and Security Team Barricade Guardsmen restock from their backpacks, grab an FIM-92 Stinger and its ammunition, and set up defensive positions. As soon as the second wave arrives, it is immediately obliterated by guided missiles, sniper fire and LMG fire.

Now having no more units to send out, the Latin American Federation retreats from The California Wall and Los Angeles River. Having completed its mission, Viking Team 6 gets on an Oshkosh M-ATV (MRAP All Terrain Vehicle), drives through the main entrance and heads for Ft. Santa Monica.

20 Minutes Later

Fort Santa Monica

Ft. Santa Monica MP: This area is restricted. For essential military personnel only. Return to your homes.

Male Civilian 3: Please! Let us in, man! It's dangerous outside!

Ft. Santa Monica MP: I already told you. This area is restricted.

Logan: Man, I don't blame them for wanting to live in with us.

Larson: Mm-hmm.

SGT. Ohanian: Hey Riley!

Riley: Woof!

SGT. Ohanian: Charlie Company, load up! They need reinforcements at The California Wall! Let's go!

Davis then stops at Elias' command post to drop Logan and Hesh off.

SGT. Davis: Here we are, Colonel Walker's Command Post.

Logan: Thanks, Davis. See you guys in a bit.

Hesh: Riley, stay.

PA: Ft. Santa Monica, we have been attacked by the Latin American Federation. All supply rations have been suspended until further notice. I say again, all supply rations have been suspended until further notice.

Hesh: Let's go find the old man, Logan. Take your headgear off.

Logan: No can do, bro-bro. Dad prefers me wearing it whenever I'm reporting to him.

Hesh: Come on, man. He's just pulling your leg.

Logan: You confirm that with him then.

Regardless of the way of clothing, the Walker brothers meet up with their father.

Hesh: Dad.

Colonel Walker: I heard about the attack. You boys okay?

Hesh: Always.

Logan: Oh, no. The real Hesh and Logan are lying back there dead in a puddle of their own blood. We are doppelgangers sent by the Federation to kill you. Sorry about the confusion. *wheezing* Ha! Of course we're okay.

Hesh smirks, bows and shakes his head*

Colonel Walker: Walk with me.

Hesh: Dad, they're kidnapping civilians.

Colonel Walker: I know. Their recon teams round up scavengers, drifters, hoping to find a way in to the city. It's how they took Dallas practically overnight.

Logan: War criminal fucks.

Hesh: So how can we help? Dad?

Elias: Listen, you boys... you're the only thing I've got left in this world.

Hesh: Dad, listen—

Elias: But you're also the only ones I can trust.

Logan: He—

Hesh: Hey, look, whatever it is, Logan and I, we're ready.

Logan: *sighs and nods*

Elias: You two are going to No Man's Land.

Hesh: Wait, for real?

Colonel Walker: We've been on the defensive for far too long. So I'm sending you outside The Wall. You'll link up with a Tier 1 recon team, gather any intel you can on the enemy and get your asses back here.

Hesh: So where in No Man's Land are we going?

Elias: Somewhere you know better than anyone. You're going home.

Logan: Mind. Blown. Are we taking Viking Team 6 with us?

Colonel Walker: Yes, son. The recon team is small, so they'll need all the help they can get.

After giving his sons their next mission, Elias dismisses Hesh but has Logan stay in order to talk to him in private.

Elias: Logan, a word?

Hesh: Meet us at the Team Room.

Logan: Mm-hmm. What is it?

Elias: Please, take your headgear off. This is serious.

Logan takes his helmet, goggles and balaclava off*

Logan: Well, here I am. All ears.

Elias: Tell me. Do you still want to go to Delta Force?

Logan: Absolutely and positively.

Elias: Logan, can you see that there's a reason why they haven't brought you into their selection process yet? It's because I am giving you and your brother something even better. Do you remember the story I told you and Hesh ten years ago? The one with the 60 men from Tier 1 teams turning into "Ghosts"?

Logan: Yeah, I still do.

Elias: It actually happened. January 27, 2017. And the Ghosts are real. I am one of them. Their team is known as Task Force Stalker. You don't get to apply for that. They choose you. Reserved for the best of the best only. And with the way you and your brother have been operating, your numbers are about up. Do you understand what this means for you and Hesh?

Logan: See, there's the problem. You mention me and Hesh. But deep down, you mean just Hesh. It's obvious you're building him up to be your one, true successor. Real question is what's your plan for me, huh? Do you even have one? Are you just counting on me to be content with being his supportive but forgettable brother? Your less important son? The lesser half of the hidden yet prestigious legacy of Colonel Elias Walker? For how long? Forever?

Elias: Son, this is not about me or Hesh. This is about our family.

Logan: Oh, come on. You think Hesh is the only one who wants to write his own story? Well guess what? So do I, but metaphorically, discreetly and in my own way. I may have been happy being overly reliant on you guys when I was little. But now, I've grown up. Things change. Don't get me wrong. I'm never gonna forget or forsake this family. However, I also don't want to be stuck as your unremarkable younger scion for the rest of my life. I want to be myself, be Logan Walker, be my own soldier. And now that you've confirmed that Hesh is going to become a Ghost, I want to join Delta Force even more. Bottom line: I want to be independent. Let me do that and I promise you can shape your legacy to your specific likings.

Elias: Ironic, Task Force Stalker recruits Delta Operators as well. Which makes Task Force Stalker far more superior than Delta Force. I thought you already saw that.

Logan: I don't find that shit true. I believe all spec ops units in the world are equally great. For example, even the list of things the Army Rangers can't do that the Tier 1 units can is small to non-existent.

Elias: Logan Thomas Walker. Please. Hear. Me. Out. *clenches fist and sighs* At least, give Task Force Stalker a chance. You might love it more than you realize, even if your brother is more preferred there. And if you're not satisfied, you can go off to Delta Force on your own. Okay? Please? If not for me, then for Hesh. You still love him, right?

10 Seconds Later

Logan: Alright, but no guarantees. Let's make that clear. Am I dismissed now?

Elias: *exhales* I knew I could count on you. Yeah, you're dismissed. Rejoin your team. Oh, before I forget, not a word about this to Hesh.

Logan: *tilts head* That is something we can agree on.

Elias: Good. And hey, just so you know, I never saw you being excessively dependent as a bad thing. I'm not disappointed in you because it's actually not so bad when you get used to it. When will you see that?

Logan: Well, I see it as a soul-crushing Hell. And I'm disappointed in myself for realizing it when the damage is already done. Funny. When it comes to you, nothing happens by accident. Gives away a lot of things.

Upon leaving Elias' command post, Logan pulls out his Delta Force Special Request Chit, his ticket to the opportunity of becoming a Delta Operator. After looking at it and reflecting upon the conversation for a bit, he gets even more determined to join The Unit in the future as he secures it and heads for the Team Room.