06:33:07, Logan rejoins Viking Team 6 at the 75th Ranger Regiment's team room in Ft. Santa Monica. Just in time, as Hesh is about to give the full briefing of their special recon op in No Man's Land.
Logan: Hey guys. Am I late?
Hesh: No, you're just in time. So, what did Dad want to talk to you about.
Logan: Ah, the usual. Stay healthy, keep working hard and remember to look after your monkey ass.
Army Rangers laugh*
Riley: Woof!
Logan: Also, you were right when you said he'd be pissed at me for not writing my life story. Still, I don't care.
Hesh: Anyway, I just got word from the officer and NCO in charge of our special recon mission in No Man's Land. Expect chemical warfare, infantry brigades and armor battalions. We'll be outnumbered there, so suppressed weapons, Armor-piercings, Hollow-points and gas masks are vital. Don't forget.
Davis: Got it.
Wilson: Got it. Lucky us.
Taylor: Got it, Master Sergeant.
Larson: Location?
Hesh: Home, Lars. San Diego.
Larson: Interesting. Team leaders?
Hesh: Known only as Silence 1 and Silence 2 for now.
Larson: Unit?
Hesh: Classified, I'm afraid.
Larson: Sounds ominous.
Hesh: Relax, they're the good guys. Alright, get a big breakfast in your system. Then prep your best weapons, uniforms and gear. We got quite a hike ahead of us at 0900.
At the chow hall, the Army Rangers and German Shepherd help themselves with some bread, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages and hash browns. Since he is having hash browns and will be going back home, Logan sees this as the perfect time to share a story Davis, Wilson and Taylor have not heard of before.
Logan: Oh, given current and future events, I think it's finally time for the three of you to know this.
Davis: What's up?
Logan: Okay. Ever wondered how David got his nickname?
Hesh: The hell?
Larson: Ohhh, I remember that.
Logan: It all started back when he was in the 8th grade, and Larson and I were in the 5th grade.
Hesh: Logan...
Logan: Regardless, we all played football together. Real good at it. Then one morning, Hesh was monkeying around with his teammates in their locker room. When they were called to train with our team, he lost his mouth guard. Searched everywhere as fast as he could, and he still couldn't find it. So he thought he can practice without it, if he just doesn't tell anyone.
Larson: Big mistake.
Logan: Only to get socked straight in the mouth, by me, while I was running with the ball.
Wilson: Oh shit.
Logan: When I picked him up from the ground, his mouth was bleeding bad. Our coach saw it and told him to get it fixed and go home. After destroying the bathroom sink for 30 minutes, his friends, Larson and I thought about taking him to McDonald's for breakfast, to cheer him up.
Hesh: Oh my God.
Logan: It was painful to open his mouth, let alone talk. But he still wanted to eat. When it was time for him to order, he said this. "Can I have two hesh br— hesh bro— hesh brow— fuerk!"
Taylor trying not to laugh*
Logan: After helping him out with his order, I reiterated his words out of bewilderment. And I lost it! *laughs*
Larson, Davis, Wilson and Taylor laughing*
Logan: Then Larson lost it! Hesh's friends lost it! The cashiers lost it! The customers lost it! *laughs* Oh my God, it was such a funny scene! *continues laughing*
Hesh: *sighs* And that was no exaggeration, guys. It really happened. God dammit, Logan. Why did you have us go down that part of memory lane?
Logan: What? It's important information.
Hesh: Important my ass.
Logan: *inhales* Okay, okay, okay. *exhales* Even though he eventually owned it and forgave me, he still didn't talk to me for three weeks straight. At least until he needed my help with his U.S. History Class project.
Hesh: Well kids, now you know.
Logan: And knowing is half the battle! G.I. Joe!
entire chow hall starts laughing*
Riley: Wooooooo!
08:30:27, back in the team room, everyone equips their preferred loadouts. A sign that says the Army Rangers of Viking Team 6 are putting their game faces on for something real important.
Larson: Your M4 ISR, SRS A1, Five Seven USG and 1911? Haven't seen you with these weapons since Dallas.
Logan: Well, an op like this requires me to be robust, precise.
Wilson: And your favorite assault rifle, sniper rifle and pistols fit those descriptions?
Logan: That's right. But don't let me convince you to swap out your LSAT. We could still use a support gunner. Better to not need one but have him than to need one and not have him.
Wilson: Appreciate the confidence, Nightfall.
Logan: Anytime.
Hesh: Here, wear this jacket, Taylor. When the cold night sets in, it helps a lot.
Taylor: Thank you, Master Sergeant.
Larson: Ah, your old gray Army jacket. Still fits?
Hesh: Hell yeah. I ain't losing this thing anytime soon, even if I do outgrow it.
Logan: I wish I could wear my paramedic jacket to combat. But I still wanna be hidden.
Larson: And it's safer in your locker than in direct combat. Don't want to lose it and forget about Kacee, right?
Logan: Good point.
Taylor: Kacee?
Logan: Oooh riiight... *looks at watch and shrugs* hmm, we got time.
Logan pulls out his paramedic jacket*
Logan: You know, my beloved paramedic jacket has quite an interesting story.
Taylor: Well, I'm all ears if you want to share it with me.
Logan: I shall. July 4, 2033, Dallas, Texas, Hesh, our mom, dad, and I were eating at a fine dining restaurant before the fireworks show. Ohhh the fillet mignon. But then, three mass shooters tried to ruin the party in downtown. So Dad and Hesh armed up with their conceal-carry P226s and stopped them. While Mom was trying to get the customers to stay inside, I grabbed the restaurant's first aid kits, went out and helped a mortally wounded family with three kids survive. When the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) arrived, I was approached by a female paramedic named Kacee. Who is by far the most beautiful, sexy, fair white, blonde haired, blue eyed woman I have ever seen, let alone met. Still, all I could do was tell her I saved that family in a serious tone. But as she was sanitizing my hands, she surprised me. Lightening the mood by complimenting me, giving me her name, placing her paramedic jacket around me, and winking at me as she, her teammates and the stabilized family left the scene. That was the first time I've done something big without any help from Hesh or Dad. First time I was independent. And I loved it.
Taylor: *whistles* Damn, Nightfall. That was a boy's fantasy come true right there. Becoming a hero and getting the girl. I thought you were a paramedic in a past life, hence the jacket. Nice.
Logan: *smiles* Thanks, John.
Hesh: Alright, enough going down memory lane and talking about random shit. We're moving out. Riley, come.
Logan: That's affirmative, team leader.
09:00:01, Viking Team 6 moves out of Ft. Santa Monica and hikes it all the way to No Man's Land. For 21 hours, the Army Rangers and German Shepherd tread quietly and carefully until they reach San Diego, having to stop at 2300 to cold camp and rest for only 45 minutes.
Of course, during his watch, Hesh continued writing his book.
Hesh: We call it "No Man's Land". A span of destruction between L.A. and San Diego, created when the ODIN was turned against us. The beaches and surf breaks of my own childhood were now mined and abandoned. Dad told us few men got to operate in No Man's Land. It was too dangerous, too unpredictable. If he was sending us out there, it must have been important to him. Still, I couldn't help but think this was another one of his tests. A lesson he was trying to teach us.
June 7th, 2044 - 06:18:10, San Diego, California, Viking Team 6 encounters and terminates a clueless Latin American Federation decontamination team, with Riley kicking the engagement off. Seeing the dead crew's radiation-scanning equipment, the Army Rangers think that they were sent to confirm the fact about the ODIN not being composed of weaponized radioactive material.
Hesh: Riley, go.
Riley attacks*
suppressed gunfire*
Hesh: That's the third group in 20 miles.
Taylor: Now I think they were sent to check for any radiation in the area.
Wilson: Guess they couldn't believe we managed to create a superweapon without nuclear material.
Hesh: Eyes peeled, could be more of them.
Logan: We're in No Man's Land. Of course there'll be more of them.
--
No Man's Land
June 7th, 2044 - 06:19:43
SFC. Logan 'Nightfall' Walker
2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment
San Diego, CA, United States of America
--
While moving on, they come across the destroyed Walker Family Residence itself.
Hesh: Welcome home.
Logan: Surprised some parts of it are still standing.
Davis: C'mon, let's keep moving.
Hesh: Silence 1, this is Viking actual. We are en route to target location. How copy, over?
Silence 1: Solid copy, Viking. Be advised - recent reports indicate lots of enemy movement in that area. We're on a schedule here, so get that intel and get out fast, over.
Hesh: Heh, roger that.
Inside, Hesh finds and acquires the MTS-255 shotgun Elias used for teaching him the rules of firearm safety and how to hunt. While Logan spots and picks up the key to Danielle's SUV on the same table.
Logan: Clear right.
Hesh: Clear left.
Logan: Hmm, Mom's car key. Larson, remember that one time our moms picked us up from that football victory party? When they dragged our drunk, chocolate syrup-covered asses into the Escape.
Larson: Oh yeah. *chuckles* Good times.
Hesh: Speaking of good times, check this out. Never thought I'd see this thing again.
tremor*
Hesh: Guess that means we should keep movin' on.
After one last stop down memory lane, Viking Team 6 gets back to business as they spot another decontamination crew. To keep Riley active, Logan takes him to scout the neighborhood ahead.
Three shot Federation guards and two chewed up nuclear specialists later, Logan gives the signal for the others to move up. With one more house to clear, the Army Rangers and German Shepherd breach and clear as quietly as possible.
As a result, the tangos guarding the dig site up ahead filled with what looks like remains of a crashed ODIN Satellite are unaware of how dangerously close the Rangers are to their positions. While the rest are quickly and quietly clearing the area, Hesh reports the wreckage to Silence 1.
Once secure, Viking Team 6 moves downhill toward the source of all the mechanical noises occurring nearby. Then it finds what appears to be the dig site's storage and delivery area.
With a huge target of opportunity in their hands, the Army Rangers plan to send a small but nimble and well-hidden team in there to investigate. Logan volunteers, with Riley tagging along to help.
Together, they evade BTR-80 patrols, hide within tall grass, crawl through destroyed busses and conceal their kills in concrete pipes. In the heart of the Latin American Federation op, Logan and Riley stumble upon and record an interrogation between an American operator wearing a uniquely painted balaclava and an American-sounding Federation interrogator.
Logan: 6-2 to all Viking callsigns. Do you have visual and earshot, over?
Hesh: Affirmative, Nightfall. Keep 'em steady.
American Fed: Well, well. So nice you could join us.
American Operator: Rorke?
Rorke: What's the matter? You look like you've just seen a ghost.
American Operator: You won't get anything from me.
Rorke: Well, that's too bad then.
.44 Magnum clicks*
Rorke: Heh. Now you didn't think it was going to be that easy, did you? Oh no. You and me got a lot of catching up to do. Move everything to Firebase Charlie! Including him! Operation Homecoming will proceed on schedule!
Hesh: Firebase Charlie? Operation Homecoming?
Silence 1: Viking, what's your position? You boys better double-time it or you get left behind.
Hesh: Roger that, we're on our way. We're at the exit now, Nightfall. Get yourself and Riley outta there.
Logan: On the move. Good boy, Riley.
After regrouping with the others, Riley starts barking and moving towards Viking Team 6 and Silence Team's designated rendezvous point faster than usual, disregarding commands to slow down. When he finally stops, a hungry pack of wolves slowly comes out of the woods, ready to kill.
Riley: *barks*
Hesh: Oh shit.
Logan: Form up, protect each other. Now!
suppressed gunfire*
So the Army Rangers fire at them and protect each other without anyone going down. With the first wave dead, a second one stalks them while they are reloading.
Then all of a sudden, Commander Thomas Merrick (Captain Thomas Merrick in the original) and Master Gunnery Sergeant Keegan Russ (Sergeant Keegan Russ in the original) move in to scare the animals off with their unsuppressed P226s. Now with the officer in charge, Hesh shows the footage from Riley's vest camera to him and awaits further orders.
Silence 1: You look lost.
Hesh: We're not lost. We were looking for you, Commander Merrick.
Logan: Master Gunnery Sergeant Russ.
Keegan: Just call me Keegan, kid.
Logan: It's Nightfall.
Merrick: Hesh. Logan. I believe you have something for me.
Hesh: We came across some Feds moving a guy to some place called "Firebase Charlie". He one of ours?
Merrick: Yeah, Ajax. Alright, we don't have a lot of time. You can stick with us, but you do what I say, when I say it. Understood?
Hesh: Yes, sir.
With the Tier 1 recon team expanded, the Ghosts, Army Rangers and German Shepherd move to clear a wrecked bay area turned Federation LCACs (Landing Craft Air Cushion) port. Merrick then starts getting organized.
Merrick: Molina, Davis, Wilson, Taylor, clear that hovercraft and shut it down.
Larson: Roger, sir. C'mon guys, quietly.
suppressed gunfire*
Merrick: Keegan, post up and keep us covered. You Walker boys are with me. Okay, Keegan. Kick us off.
suppressed sniper rifle fire*
One tango is down out in the open and Larson's element is halfway through, yet no one notices because of the hovercraft's engine and the four-man team maintains stealth. Merrick tries to change that with a Frag Grenade, but Logan moves in to clear the entire street quickly and quietly.
Merrick: Going— Logan, what are you doing?!
Keegan: Whatever it is, let's move up and support him.
Merrick: Fine. Go.
In exactly one minute, Logan kills a 20-man Latin American Federation squad positioned all over the roads and houses with just a full magazine of his M4 ISR, without having to go loud.
Logan: That's it? No alarms? Nice. We're clear!
Although Hesh is impressed with the feat, Merrick is pissed about it. So once the team is on secure high ground overlooking Firebase Charlie, the Commander lets him have it.
Hesh: *whistles* Impressive work, Nightfall.
Merrick: No, not impressive work! Logan, get over here!
Logan: What's wrong?
Merrick: What's wrong?! You disobeyed a direct order, you son of a bitch! That's what's wrong! I told you to do what I say, when I say it! Why the fuck did you deviate?!
Logan: I was just trying to save you all the trouble of going loud. We're in No Man's Land. Stealth is the safest option, right?
Merrick: Irrelevant bullshit! We're on a schedule here and every team I run has to be as tight as possible! And you're getting in the way of that! Logan, give us your rifles!
Logan: What for?
Merrick: We're confiscating them!
Logan: Why?!
Merrick: Because you disobeyed a direct order, SMARTASS!
Keegan would then unclip Logan's M4 ISR's strap, allowing Merrick to take it away from him. While the Sergeant First Class reacts to that, the Master Gunnery Sergeant grabs his SRS A1.
Logan: What the— WHAT IS THIS?! You got your own guns!
Hesh: Nightfall, easy!
Merrick: Until you remember how to follow my every command precisely, immediately and without question, we will be keeping these! Fucking show-off!
Logan: I may love my job, but I wasn't even trying to show off!
Keegan grabs Logan by the collar of his shirt*
Keegan: You better get that through your thick skull immediately, kid. Try to find out who you're talking to and you'll know not to fuck with us, ever. Piece of shit know-it-all.
Keegan pushes Logan away*
Merrick: Let's move it! Double time!
As soon as Merrick and Keegan leave, Larson approaches Logan to check up on him.
Larson: Are you hurt?
Logan: Nah, I'm fine. Fucking direct orders. I saw a safer way to get through that bay for all of us, and I took it. I thought they saw that as well.
Larson: So did we. Wonder what's their deal.
Logan: Fuck knows. I mean, what were we supposed to do? Let every illegal alien in No Man's Land know exactly where we are?
Hesh: Alright, calm down now, Nightfall. I'm sure they had that end already covered. 'Cause I think they're Ghosts, like THE Ghosts. The ones Dad told us about.
Logan: Ghosts? Heh, my fucking ass. And even if they are, what makes them so special anyway? I don't see anything tactically unique yet.
Merrick: Hesh, Logan, get over here and help us with this!
Hesh: The sooner you follow their lead, the sooner you'll get your rifles back. How does that sound?
Logan: A little better. Alright, let's go.
Logan and Hesh would then carry some of the Ghosts' heavy equipment all the way to their insertion point in Firebase Charlie. With Merrick and Keegan taking point, and the rest of Viking Team 6 trailing behind and watching their backs.