Date & Time: 2nd December 2097 Anno Domini, 0100 hours

Location: Unknown Desert, GST Tzadik

Weather: Clear Sky

Fleet Admiral James Parker fought a throbbing headache as he reflected on recent event again. Maybe, he could grasp something useful to make sense of their current situation.

The First Fleet was supporting the ground forces in repelling Scrin incursion, until came the sudden order to assist an air force squadron break through an aerial ambush. At the time, majority of the First Fleet battlegroups were in Japan for equipment retrofitting to overcome newly discovered Scrin capabilities. Covering two objectives would stretch them thin, which Parker was sure the Scrin would exploit. Naturally, Parker refused the order.

Until FLEETCOM overruled him, informing that the squadron carrying a vital package. A package so important that it could shift the tide to humanity's favor

Parker didn't need to be told that it was the Tacitus. The researchers at Mobius Station insisted to be studied near the Threshold to see if they could reverse the dimensional phasing of the alien tower. The politicians, of course, approved. Whether they did it out of altruism or taking credit in removing the 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over mankind to solidify their political base, Parker didn't judge.

Rather, Parker questioned the operation commander's inability to take into account the disruption of the A-SAT defense grid targeting system. Slack had to be picked up by him by leading a battlegroup in the atmosphere to use his flagship powerful array to manually mark the targets for the defense grid. Price he had to pay was high and immediate. Hundreds of crewmen lost their lives and only his ship was still capable of flight.

Unfortunately, the sacrifice was short-lived when the Threshold displaced them to an endless stretch of desert untainted by the alien green crystal with a pair of moons in the sky alongside the package they had to protect.

Parker was about to bring his flagship in the planet's orbit for survey, but the discovery of an energy barrier encapsulating the entire planet made him reconsider. He didn't disclose the information to the researchers at Mobius Station, since he was certain they would propose for GST Tzadik to examine it closely. Knowing them, they'll eventual notice it sooner or later. In the meantime, he managed to identify a mountainous area that was suited for re-establishing a new base of operation.

It took them another good hour, however, to re-establish communication with the scattered ground elements. The task took the cake in inducing his migraine.

Since sending powerful signals in all directions ought to attract unwanted attention, and not every platoon possessed the means to break through the unknown blanket signal saturating the planet's communications, the scattered Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) was hard at work. They had to account for all units and materials, cross-referencing whether they had fallen victim to the Scrin or other factors, before Parker could use GST Tzadik communication array to contact them to relay the new coordinates to the new base of operation. With the gigantic Mammoth Reclamation Vehicle and the grounded ships, it would honestly be a miracle if the locals failed to notice their movement. Maybe God's grace and E.V.A. played crucial roles in this.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about Brian 'Murdock' Craig.

The pilot opened First Contact communication with autocannon and missiles to save a group paramilitary of healthcare organization. Whether he was acting out of conscience or not, the consequences if the natives found out about an alien military force materializing near their border was worrying.

Reprimanding the pilot was not an option when he lost more than half of his squadron. Parker was also partly to blame for not reestablishing communication sooner. He wasn't there to guide Murdock's actions when he encountered a humanoid capable of summoning flame, which connects to the second source of his headache – supernatural ability. The natives were capable of honest to God…'magic', as if God decided that the Scrin Mastermind was not enough.

Parker shook his head; he shouldn't burden himself with someone else's responsibility. Fatima was doing her job to answer those questions for him.

He popped a mint candy into his mouth. The cold sensation washed down his throat.

For now, his main concern should be supplies. They wouldn't materialize in thin air. Weapons, ammo, and fuel have to be fabricated on-site after the minerals have been extracted from Tiberium in the Refinery or mined from asteroids. Food and water had to imported from the Blue Zone cities or the space colonies.

The problem was; there were no GDI controlled cities or assets on the planet.

The stockpiles aboard the auxiliary spaceship and Colonel Preston's base could only sustain GDI forces for a month. No, a month and a half if they used the onboard fabricators to turn the scraps into something usable. Asteroid mining was not an option.

The only way to survive was to focus on the people living at the bottom of the gravity well. Perhaps, Parker could form a pact of mutual benefits with the locals? He could leverage Murdock's assistance to secure cooperation with this Rhodes Island.

No. They were Rhodes Island was an unknown, but they could monitor them to see if they were viable allies.

"You need rest, Admiral." Lieutenant Charlotte interrupted Parker's train of thoughts.

Fatigue was affecting his performance. Maybe, enough data would accumulate by tomorrow. He would go through it again after a good night sleep.

Parker stood up, "You are right, Lieutenant, I'll be in my quarter for the night."