12:27:13, after successfully infiltrating Firebase Charlie, which is the Tony Gwynn Stadium, Hesh decides to quickly write about Merrick and Keegan before the action starts. As the recon phase is still in progress with Logan, Larson and Keegan assembling the Barrett M82A3 Remote Sniper Turret.

Hesh: They emerge from the shadows and vanish into sunlight. Outside The California Wall, their reputation lingered over No Man's Land like a shroud of fear. A weapon far more effective than brass or steel. Merrick and Keegan. These were the men Dad had spoken of. The Ghosts. And someone dared to go against them. They were headed to San Diego, Federation territory, to find their man, Ajax. Ghosts. We'd only imagined them. Now, we were determined to be one of them.

Slightly caught off-guard by his brother's journal entry, Logan lets him in on his biggest secret a little bit.

Logan: Speak for yourself, Hesh. I think I'll be having other plans.

Hesh: Come on, Nightfall. If it's any consolation, this could be your chance to become the best version of yourself. And I think the first step is testing your knowledge with foreign weapons.

Logan: *scoffs* Some test. How come they took my rifles but not your Honey Badger?

Hesh: Because I already know how the Federation's weapons work.

Logan: Oh, don't you dare preach to me about seniority, dammit. The gap between your time of service and mine is microscopic in the grand scheme. Whatever you know, I know too. You know?

Keegan: Hey, focus kid. I'm about to be done.

--

Struck Down

June 7th, 2044 - 12:31:05

SFC. Logan 'Nightfall' Walker

2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, Task Force Stalker

Tony Gwynn Stadium, San Diego, CA

--

Keegan: Alright, remote sniper's online. Thanks for the help, Molina.

Larson: Yeah, sure thing. C'mon, Nightfall. Let's find you a rifle.

Merrick: Scan around, Keegan. We need to get eyes on Ajax.

Keegan: Enemy patrols on the field.

Merrick: Keep searching.

Keegan: Twelve o'clock high, inside the restaurant and bar. That's him. That's our boy. They're moving him. We should go now.

Hesh: We're going in there? What about backup?

Merrick: Why do you think you're here?

Upon returning to the sniper's nest with an SC-2010 Red Dot Sight, Logan sees that Merrick is not done testing him. As he swipes his chocolate bar from his battle belt and tries to give it to Riley.

Logan: Hey, what th— That's chocolate. You'll kill him.

Merrick: Oh, close call. Sorry, boy. *bites*

Logan: Okay, now you're just being a pest. I thought this isn't personal but professional.

Hesh: Nightfall, come on, give it a rest.

Merrick: *clears throat* Grab Keegan's grenade launcher, kid.

With the use of 40mm sticky grenades, Logan and Merrick rig an incoming Latin American Federation convoy heading to the stadium. And the recon phase is complete.

Now it is time for the assault phase as everyone boards a Federation Tatra 815-7 transport truck. Going in as a Trojan Horse, Logan detonates the grenades, and Keegan drives as close as possible to the stadium's restaurant and bar, Ajax's last known location.

Landing in the food court, the Army Rangers, German Shepherd and Ghosts fight their way up. After killing half of a platoon, Logan notices that Merrick and Keegan have not used his rifles once throughout the gunfight.

But before he can get annoyed, Keegan hands him the controls of the Barrett M82A3 Remote Sniper Turret. With it, Logan provides sniper support for his teammates' breach of the restaurant and bar.

Keegan: Here, Logan. We'll breach. You give us cover.

Logan: Got it. Six hostiles inside. Three of 'em are manning the door.

Merrick: We'll breach on your shot.

Logan: Sending.

bang*

Merrick: Go! Go! Go! Twelve o'clock! Twelve o'clock!

Hesh: Runner on the left!

Merrick: Clear right!

Logan: Clear left.

Merrick: He's not here!

Riley: *barks*

Keegan: Where is he?

Federation Survivor: (Spanish) Ahh, get that dog away from me!

Keegan: Where is he?! Where did you take him?! *pulls out knife* Where is he?! WHERE IS HE?!

Federation Survivor: I don't know where he is!

Logan: Oh, what's that? You don't have a passport?

Larson tries not to laugh*

Hesh: Logan, focus! Riley's got his scent.

Merrick: Let's go.

Federation Survivor: No, no. Yo— you—

Keegan executes the Federation Survivor*

Logan: Deported.

While following Riley to the lower levels, Logan spots an enemy RPG team high up opposite of him and the others. So while sliding down, he lines the turret up on them and kills them before they could do some serious damage.

Riley's search leads to the stadium's team area. With time running thin, the Army Rangers, German Shepherd and Ghosts put on their gas masks and move to breach and clear with Tear Gas Grenades.

After sweeping every corner of the place, it gets too quiet until Riley takes the team to the stadium's locker room and they hear enemy chatter inside. To see if there is another way in there, Keegan and Logan go through a small gap within a wrecked hallway on their right.

One Federation Soldier quietly killed later, the two find double side doors leading to the target area. With the ability to hit the enemy from two sides acquired, Viking Team 6 and Silence Team prepare to breach with more Tear Gas Grenades.

Keegan: Logan, get on these doors. We'll hit 'em with gas first.

Logan: Really? Okay. Hope you taught Ajax how to breathe through Tear Gas.

Keegan: (off comms) Christ, kid. (on comms) Breach in five.

Logan: (quietly) Gas out. (Hand Signal) One, two, three, hit it.

crash*

semi auto and full auto gunfire*

Hesh: On Riley, he's found Ajax!

Keegan: Ajax!

Upon finding Ajax, who is badly wounded, Logan and Keegan rush to help him.

Logan: Help me with his kit. Oh, jeez.

Hesh: How is he?

Keegan: It's bad.

Merrick: Son of a bitch. Hang in there, Ajax. Hang in.

Ajax: Rorke. It was Rorke. He's targeting... look... the wall. *labored breathing*

Logan: Guys, search the walls.

Merrick: C'mon! Hang in there, Ajax!

Ajax stops breathing*

Keegan: He's gone.

Merrick: Dammit!

Logan: I'm sorry, Ajax.

Riley: *crying*

Larson: Over here. We got something.

Hesh: Merrick, you gotta look at this.

Merrick: Get him ready to move, Keegan. It's a kill list. Rorke's targeting Ghosts.

Hesh: Who the hell is Rorke?

Merrick: No time to explain, Hesh.

Logan: Could be Ajax's American-sounding interrogator.

Merrick: They're coming in. We need to move.

With Keegan carrying Ajax and enemy reinforcements approaching, the Army Rangers, German Shepherd and Ghosts head out to the field to steal choppers for exfil. One an NHIndustries NH90 for Silence Team and the other a Eurocopter EC365 for Viking Team 6.

While Logan clears the field with the remote sniper and sees the rest of his team securing the rides, he also spots Merrick and Keegan leaving with his rifles and not even attempting to return them. And in spite of the situation, he loses it.

Logan: Field secure! Now— HEY! THOSE RIFLES ARE STILL NOT YOURS!

Merrick: God dammit, kid! WE HAVE NO TIME! Get us outta here, Keegan!

Logan: LIKE HELL WE DON'T! GIVE ME BACK MY GUNS, YOU ENTITLED PIECES OF SHIT!

Hesh: LOGAN! PLEASE! We're still not out of this! Just stop!

Larson: Contact incoming!

Viking Team 6 returns fire*

As they exfiltrate, the Army Rangers clear the baseball field again until the remote sniper runs out of ammo. Now up and away safe and sound, Logan self-destructs the Barrett M82A3 Remote Sniper Turret and Hesh tries to contact United States Central Command, callsign: Papa Gator (Command in the original).

Logan: Remote sniper has successfully self-destructed. The Ghosts' tracks have been erased. You're welcome, thankless assholes.

Hesh: Papa Gator, this is Viking 6-1. We've acquired an enemy helo and are RTB from south of The California Wall. Do you copy, over?

Colonel Walker: Hesh, Nightfall, can you hear me?!

Hesh: Dad?!

Logan: No specifics, Hesh!

Colonel Walker: We've got a full Federation division moving on Ft. Santa Monica! You boys have to get back here quick!

Hesh: Scarecrow?! Dad?!