09:30:58, the joint Task Force Stalker-Space Delta 9 assault team in their Space Shuttle Star Sky OV-106 leaves Earth's atmosphere and approaches the LOKI Control Station without a hitch. The Task Force Stalker side of the boarding party consists of Keegan, Torch, Grim and Kick.

While the Space Delta 9 team, Icarus Team 1, is comprised of four exceptional Guardians: Major Spencer Collins/Icarus 1-1 (Second Lieutenant Collins in the original). Chief Master Sergeant Travis Thompson/Icarus 1-2 (Sergeant Thompson in the original).

Master Sergeant Bonnie Ramirez/Icarus 1-3. The younger sister of the great Sergeant Major James 'Chaos' Ramirez and a former paratrooper of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division who transferred to the U.S. Space Force after the Federation ODIN Attack On The United States in order to help Space Delta 9 in developing its combat capabilities on the ground, in the air and zero gravity, and furthering them to "paratrooper level".

And Specialist Three Sarah Hall/Icarus 1-4, the youngest member of Icarus Team 1 and the youngest Guardian in U.S. Space Force history. While the other branches already started turning down recruits last year, the Space Force never did because no one wanted to join, for it served no purpose in The Federation-American War.

With this fact and the drive to get out of the foster care system and serve something greater than herself, Hall lied about her age and enlisted at 10 years young but standing at 5' 3". While she did not excel academically, she thrived physically as she has great bodily speed and an unwavering will to fight.

Now 11 years old, 5' 4" tall and right where she belongs: Space Delta 9.

Together, they get ready for the fight that can turn the tide of the entire Federation-American War.

Papa Gator: Icarus 1-1, ground mission successful. They're blind and deaf up there. Start your attack, over.

Maj. Collins: Roger, Papa Gator. Second Stage separated, vectoring to target.

NASA Houston Command: Icarus 1-1, this is Houston. You should have visual on the LOKI Control Station, over.

Torch: Holy shit, we are screwed.

Kick: Not yet we're not.

Maj. Collins: It's big. Houston, Papa Gator, there's a whole ring of Federation Satellites and they're all powered up, over.

Merrick: Icarus 1-1, this is Deep Blue. We won't last long down here. Get in there and get it done.

Maj. Collins: Roger, going in.

--

LOKI

July 5th, 2044 - 09:32:08

CMSgt. Travis Thompson

U.S.S.F. Space Delta 9, Task Force Stalker

LOKI Control Station, Low Earth Orbit

--

CMSgt. Thompson: This one's for you, ODIN, Terry, Kyra.

Torch: Why is the *snickers* Space Force taking lead on this again?

Kick: Keegan and I already told you, fuckface. It's a joint operation and Major Collins is the senior Guardian on board.

Grim: Hey, "Guardians", just because you can kill, doesn't mean you're ground pounders now. Is that clear?

Kick: You gonna belittle them because they somehow hurt your feelings, ass clown? Sorry about that, guys.

MSgt. Ramirez: Don't worry about it, Kick.

static*

CMSgt. Thompson: Quiet! Everyone quiet.

Merrick: Heavy Federation reinforcements are in pursuit of ground forces. SITREP.

Maj. Collins: Deep Blue, this is Icarus 1-1. Be advised, we've made it to the LOKI Control Station, over.

Merrick: Make it fast, 1-1. We're taking heavy ordnance down here.

Star Sky 1-1 Captain: Houston, Icarus is on final approach. Infil will be hot, over.

NASA Houston Command: Roger that, Star Sky 1-1. We'll notify the reserve forces, over.

Maj. Collins: Let's get control of this station, then we'll start raining some Hell of our own. EVA's (Extravehicular Activity) (suits) engaged.

silent 3-Round burst rifle fire*

MSgt. Ramirez: Contact, get to cover!

silent automatic rifle fire*

CMSgt. Thompson: Stay close, kid!

silent thump boom*

Spc3. Hall: Right behind you, Chief!

silent semi-automatic rifle fire*

Upon arrival, Space Delta 9 and Task Force Stalker engages Latin American Federation Combat Astronauts guarding the LOKI Control Station. With Collins, Keegan, Torch and Grim taking point, and Kick, Thompson, Ramirez and Hall covering the advance.

One and a half minute later, the hostile security forces are neutralized, and the station's entrance is open and clear. But the weapons would not be given up easily as Novikov self-destructs the door along with the West Wing of the LOKI Control Station just to kill the boarding party.

Novikov: (faintly) I don't care if we still have men over there! Self-destructing the West Wing now!

CMSgt. Thompson: West Wing RCS is self-destructing!

Keegan: Back! Back!

silent explosion*

Luckily, the blast does not dispatch any Americans but rather pushes them to the center of the station. 50 yards closer to their target area: the Control Room.

thud*

CMSgt. Thompson: Oof!

thud thud*

Spc3. Hall: Oof! Woah, shit!

thud thud thud thud thud*

CMSgt. Thompson: Hall, you okay?!

Spc3. Hall: Yeah, everything's still intact.

Keegan: Ghosts, check in!

Kick: I'm here.

Torch: Still good.

Grim: That was surprisingly fun.

Maj. Collins: Thompson, Ramirez, Hall, Ghosts, we can't stop now! Let's move!

CMSgt. Thompson: Yes, sir! We're still with you!

Kick: On you, Major!

Maj. Collins: Tangos, 12 high!

Novikov: (faintly) Spread out! Kill them! Do NOT let them reach the Control Room!

As things get worse for the U.S. Military in Chile with the loss of the entire 7th Fleet and the Latin American Federation breaching The Elysium Checkpoint, Icarus Team 1 and Silence Team push through and kill faster. As a result, they are able to eliminate the last of the LOKI security in less than one minute and make the trip to the Control Room a straight shot.

silent automatic rifle fire*

silent thump boom*

Maj. Collins: All clear, move up!

Novikov: (faintly) All security teams, come in! ALL SECURITY TEAMS, REPORT!

Keegan: Stack on the entrance!

Merrick: Our forces have fallen back to The Elysium Checkpoint. They have an entire division moving on top of 'em. Take that station NOW!

Maj. Collins: Roger, we're breaching now, over!

As they plant the Space C4 Charges around the Control Room's door, the Guardians and Ghosts ready up in semi-auto and detonate. While Novikov and the LOKI technicians prepare to defend with everything they have.

CMSgt. Thompson: Charges set.

Maj. Collins: Here's hoping these things work up here.

Novikov: Grab that rifle no—

click*

silent explosions*

silent semi-automatic rifle fire*

Novikov: No!

silent 3-Round burst rifle fire*

Novikov: Fuck you, Americans! I'll kill you all, Satan's min—

silent DMR fire*

Novikov suffocates and dies*

Mother Wolf: (faintly) Novikov, do you copy?! Novikov?! Maxim! Maxim, do you co— *static*

Kick: Tango down.

Torch: Dammit, Kick. I had him.

MSgt. Ramirez: Clear!

Maj. Collins: Hall, Ghosts, security. Let the incoming reserves know where we are. Thompson, Ramirez, with me. Take those control consoles.

MSgt. Ramirez: I got Sat 3 overlooking the Federation Navy's 3rd Fleet.

CMSgt. Thompson: Sat 4 and Sat 8 are on The Elysium Checkpoint. Just in time.

Maj. Collins: (off comms) Copy, I got LOKI Targeting Drones 1 and 2 flying above them now. (on comms) Icarus 1-1 to Deep Blue, we have control of the station. I say again, we have control of the station, over.

Merrick: Copy, Icarus. Get eyes on the enemy's positions and hit 'em hard!

Maj. Collins: (on comms) WILCO, Sat 3, 4 and 8 loaded and ready. (off comms) Connecting the two of you to the Targeting Drones. Be ready to launch those rods.

CMSgt. Thompson: Connecting now.

MSgt. Ramirez: Connecting now.

Spc3. Hall: Houston, this is Icarus 1-4. LOKI Control Station is ours. I say again, LOKI Control Station is ours. Send in the reserves. Be advised, we're at the Control Room. Center of the station, over.

NASA Houston Command: Outstanding, Icarus 1-4. Icarus Teams 2, 3 and 4 are inbound. ETA one minute, over.

With eyes on the Latin American Federation ground forces attacking The Elysium Checkpoint, Thompson quickly and carefully gets to work in obliterating them.

CMSgt. Thompson: Eyes on The Elysium Checkpoint, and the Feds attacking it.

Maj. Collins: Oh, man.

Merrick: Icarus, focus fire on the heavy armor battalions.

Maj. Collins: Targeting online. Thompson, initiate launch!

CMSgt. Thompson: Firing!

Kinetic Rods launching*

boom*

Merrick: Holy shit! They felt that!

boom boom*

Torch: Fuck yeah they did, Merrick!

Grim: That is how you end a fucking war!

As Rorke and Admiral Leonor's train, which is moving towards the edge of the Atacama Desert, comes into view, Merrick lets Icarus Team 1 know that Logan and Hesh are on it.

Merrick: Icarus 1-1, Ghosts are on the train moving northeast through your targeting area. Hold your fire. I say again, friendlies are on the train. Check your fire.

Then he notifies them of more Federation Army battalions attacking the U.S. Military's ground forces from the front and the rear. Thompson proceeds to clean them up without friendly fire.

CMSgt. Thompson: All enemy battalions toasted. No cases of friendly fire.

Maj. Collins: Great shots, Thompson.

Merrick: Phenomenal work, Icarus. Local units can clean up remaining hostile forces. Prepare to target the Federation Navy's 3rd Flee— Hold, Icarus. Incoming traffic.

Maj. Collins: Ramirez, that's you.

MSgt. Ramirez: Eyes on, the drone's moving towards the 3rd Fleet now.

Before they destroy the 3rd Fleet, Icarus Team 1 receives an unexpected fire mission from Merrick.

Merrick: Icarus 1-1, do you still have eyes on the northeast train?

Maj. Collins: Bonnie?

MSgt. Ramirez: Yes, sir. It's stopped northwest of Thompson's targeting area. Two miles away from The Elysium Checkpoint.

Maj. Collins: Affirmative, Deep Blue. We still have eyes on, over.

Merrick: Belay previous order. Target the train and fire on it.

Maj. Collins: But sir, there are Ghosts on that train.

Merrick: The order comes from the Ghosts. You're confirmed! Say again, confirmed! Fire on that train now!

With the order to engage loud and clear, Ramirez fires on Rorke and Admiral Leonor's train. Despite Logan and Hesh still being on board.

Maj. Collins: Ramirez, fire when ready.

MSgt. Ramirez: Firing. You sure about this, sir?

Maj. Collins: Orders are orders, Master Sergeant.

Kinetic Rod launches*