July 10th, 2054 - 04:45:56, USMA Swordbreaker, Seoul, South Korea, after spending five days in Rest and Recreation, Sentinel Team prepares to insert with recently formed Marine Raider Regiment Badger Teams 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and a few more squads from the 1st Bn., 1st Marines for the final battle of the Korean War. But Knox will not be coming because his legs will need more time to heal and function normally again.
While readying up for war, Preacher notices Mitchell multitasking with his equipment and journal.
Mitchell: (narration) We come into this world with our eyes closed. And most of us choose to live our whole lives that way. We blindly follow anyone who will lead us... giving ourselves over to anything that provides us with a sense of purpose. For me, it was the Marines. Back in 2052, I joined the Marine Raider Regiment, planning to have a brief stint. But six months in, I stayed longer than expected thanks to the friends I made there: Will and Don. Now we are half a world away, being deployed into South Korea. Yesterday, they were my friends. Now, they are my brothers in arms. No matter how bad it got for me, I could always count on them to keep me in line. (real-time) *removes Half Balaclava* *controls breathing*
Preacher: *nudges Mitchell* Cheer up, Mitchell. It can't be all that bad.
Mitchell: I guess it's just finally started to sink in.
Jackson: Really? Well, I guess two years is better than never. Especially with you still not telling us why you joined even though you hate the U.S. Military.
Mitchell: Hey, I already told you, I don't hate it. It's just that... eh, my old man was a leatherneck and a massive asshole. But you know military families and their long histories of service. So I didn't really have much of a choice. Least I could do is reach the bare minimum to get him off my case.
Preacher: Hey, don't worry about him. He ain't here, is he? You got Don and I.
Mitchell: Thanks. Hey, you still haven't told us why you joined as well. You gonna tell us or what?
Preacher: Well, since you guys see me as me and not as an Irons to endlessly shit on, I shall. At first, I was planning on joining ATLAS because of family trade. But witnessing the Federation ODIN Attack On The United States, growing up during the Federation-American War and learning firsthand what it's done to America made me realize how much she needs men like us. I wanted to save our home from the brink of collapse. After that, I now want to help people as an American and convince our countrymen that it's okay to be Americans again. And I know help and safety are never guaranteed, but I know someone else is working to make the world a dangerous place. And that someone is still out there.
Jackson: Must be hard for you to do all that with the irremovable stain your grandpa gave your family name.
Preacher: Yeah, it was never the same again when ATLAS and my family sold out. But like I said before, there's no need to feel sorry for me. While I do miss the great things that came with being a Marine such as camaraderie, I'm more than happy to continue serving our country and her people in what I do best. Even though everyone around me hates me for it.
Mitchell: Wow. Honestly, I kinda envy you. 'Cause that can never be me. But hey, not everyone in the U.S. Military hates you. You got us, Rogue, Mako, SCAR Team, Lennox, Tyler, Beratrix, Falcon, Thompson, Stash, you know. *smiles*
Jackson: Cormack and Knox, too, even though they're our COs and not exactly what we can call "friends". *smiles*
Preacher: *laughs* Thanks, Jack, Don.
[elevator descends]
Cormack: Alright! Alright, listen up! We have a century old war to win. Which means we have orders that will help our friendly South Korean hosts. Insert at Staging Area Epsilon and conduct advanced search and destroy ops on hard North Korean targets. Down and dirty, just like we taught you. Everybody know what's going on? Everybody know where they're going?
Marines: OO-RAH!
Cormack: Everybody ready?!
Marines: OO-RAH!
[alarm blares]
Cormack: Let's do this! Jackson, Mitchell, Preacher, lead out!
Jackson: Yes, sir!
Mitchell: Let's get it done.
Preacher: It's what we do.
Mitchell: (narration) North Korea has invaded Seoul... and deployed enough of its military to establish another DMZ in the middle of South Korea.
Jackson: First in, last out, Marines!
Mitchell: (narration) We had to push them back. This wasn't just a mission. It was an initiation.
Marine Raider Regiment
Preacher
--
Induction
July 10th, 2054 - 05:00:06
SSgt. Will 'Preacher' Irons
Marine Raider Regiment
Seoul, South Korea
Exo Type:
Assault
Boost Jump: Activated
Sonics: Activated
Land Assist: Activated
--
While Battle Commander may have organized the search and destroy operations, Colonel Spencer 'Spaceman' Collins (just "Spaceman" in the original) will be the one handling ISR, which has been provided by the U.S. Space Force. At this time, Sentinel Team's job is to provide fire support for Badger Team 1 ("Badger Squad, 227th"/"Demo Team One" in the original) as they surgically find and demolish heavy North Korean weaponry.
Sledgehammer Games Presents
Spaceman: All units, all units, this is Spaceman. Commencing drop in 30 seconds.
Cormack: Sentinel Team, standing by.
In Association With
Raven Software
High Moon Studios
Battle Commander: All Drop Pods, set to engage.
Spaceman: Roger, dropping at grid 3-1-5-niner. I say again, 3-1-5-niner. Cross checked and verified.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
[Drop Pod engine starts]
Battle Commander: Be advised, enemy contact at 20,000 feet, five degrees west of drop point.
Cormack: Everyone hold tight. Here we go.
Preacher: Just like in training, guys.
Spaceman: All Pods ready. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, deploy, deploy, deploy.
[Drop Pod launches]
[explosions]
[MiG-29s fly by]
Jackson: God damn! Interceptors!
Cormack: 30 seconds to insertion point.
Preacher: Hey! See you on the other side.
Mitchell: See you on the other side. *puts Half Balaclava on*
[explosions]
Cormack: Spaceman, we're seeing heavy AA fire in our drop path, over.
Spaceman: Roger that, Sentinel 1, adjusting your trajectories. Battle Commander, get on those controls with me.
Jackson: What the hell? That building's not our drop point!
Cormack: Brace yourselves!
[crash]
In order to keep Sentinel Team alive, Battle Commander had to control their Drop Pod erratically to the point where he had to crash them into a building.
Five Minutes Later
Preacher: You still in one piece?
Mitchell: I think so.
Preacher: Okay... I'll get the door. *kicks door open* Shit! We gotta get off the Pod, now!
[crash]
Jackson: Damn.
Spaceman: Sentinel Team, the North Koreans are attempting to flank Staging Area Epsilon. Watch out for fireteams near your LZ, over.
Cormack: (on comms) Roger that, Spaceman. (off comms) Okay, we need to get our feet on the ground and link up with Badger Team 1.
Preacher: Yes, sir.
Five minutes after impact, Preacher, Cormack, Mitchell and Jackson come to and leave their Pod just before it falls off. Six dead North Korean Soldiers later, they get down to the building's lobby with help from their Exo Suits' Land Assist ability.
And sitting in the middle of the intersection outside is Staging Area Epsilon. But with Badger Team 1 nowhere to be found, the Major checks in with the outpost's commander: Lieutenant Colonel Paul Thomas Daniels IV (just "Daniels" in the original).
Daniels: Who the hell are you guys?
Cormack: Sentinel Team, Marine Raider Regiment. Providing support for Badger Team 1.
Daniels: They're already on the move. Thought you guys were fragged.
Cormack: What's their position?
Daniels: *points* Two clicks northwest at grid 7-7-5.
Cormack: Alright, we're moving.
Preacher: Thanks for the tip, sir.
Daniels: No problem, kid. Get out there and kick ass.
Spaceman: Sentinel 1, be advised, we are tracking a Drone Swarm heading your way, over.
Cormack: (on comms) Roger that. (off comms) Everyone, keep your eyes open.
[T-600 walks by]
Preacher: Watch your heads!
With support from the 1st Bn., 1st Marines in the area and their A.S.T.s and T-600 Titan treads/legs main battle tank hybrid, Sentinel Team clears out the north side of Staging Area Epsilon. Once the Korean People's Army Ground Force's Drone Swarm arrives, Mitchell grabs a car door and goes for an abandoned U.S.M.C. MD Turret, for it has an EMP countermeasure system that can destroy the enemy UAVs.
Jackson: Here it comes!
Cormack: Drone Swarm! Everyone get down!
Mitchell: Preacher, get a car door! Let's go for that MD Turret!
Preacher: Good idea, Mitchell! Go! Now!
Mitchell: I'm on! EMP's charging! Gonna buy some time!
[MD Turret fire]
Preacher: Covering!
[XM250 fire]
War Hound 8-4: Any station, this is War Hound 8-4! We need assistance! Enemy Drone Swarm is all over us, over!
Preacher: This is Sentinel 4, hang in there, War Hound 8-4! MD Turret EMP is charging up, over!
Mitchell: Come on! Come on! COME ON! EMP's at 50 percent and charging fast!
War Hound 8-4: We can't get a lock!
Mitchell: EMP is charged!
[MD Turret EMP detonation]
[Drone Swarm crashes]
[explosions]
War Hound 8-4: Thanks for the help, Sentinel Team. We owe you one, over.
Preacher: Not a problem, War Hound 8-4. We're Oscar Mike. Sentinel 4, out.
Cormack: Good work, Marines.
Jackson: Great save, Mitchell.
Mitchell: Tango Mike, Don.
After saving Staging Area Epsilon and everyone in it, Sentinel Team cuts through a hotel en route to Badger Team 1's position.
[XM250 fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
Mitchell: Clear for now!
Cormack: We need to cross over to the other side. Get your Land Assist ready.
Preacher: You only live once.
Cormack: You're up, Mitchell.
Mitchell: Crossing.
Jackson: God bless jetpacks.
Preacher: Nothing like boot camp or selection, huh Mitchell?
Mitchell: Hell no, dude.
Once overlooking what used to be a street, they find Badger Team 1's target: a Korean People's Army Ground Force Havoc Launcher. Which is used to knock out friendly air assets and Drop Pods before they could do their jobs.
While working their way around the sinkhole, Cormack establishes contact with their Badger counterpart. Who is at the Havoc Launcher's designated refueling and rearming outpost.
Cormack: Badger 1-1, this is Sentinel 1. Are you there, over?
Badger 1-1: We hear you, Sentinel 1. We're approaching the Havoc Launcher Outpost. Sending you vidlink (video link) coordinates now, over.
Cormack: Roger, we are receiving. We are proceeding on foot. ETA: fifteen Mikes, over.
Badger 1-1: Roger that. We are strongholding our position, over.
Cormack: Okay, let's hustle, Sentinel Team.
On the other side, Sentinel Team passes by a demolished underground railway and kills three North Korean fireteams there. Then, they go through a subway station and encounter dozens of dead civilians and an unexpected rescue force.
Preacher: Shit, a civilian execution.
Cormack: Stay focused. Nothing we can do for them now. Mitchell, get that gate open.
Mitchell: On it.
[explosion]
Mitchell: *raises HBRa3* Contact!
Preacher: *lowers Mitchell's HBRa3* Hold fire! Blue! Blue! Hey, Gideon, Joker, Baron, Drelick.
Gideon: Preacher? Heh, good to see you, mate.
Joker, Baron and Drelick, Hey, Preacher.
Cormack: ATLAS PMC rescue force?
Gideon: Affirmative. *opens gate* We're extracting the president of South Korea himself.
Jackson: Holy shit, guys.
Cormack: How's the weather in the Commercial District?
Gideon: It's a fucking mess. Better odds taking the east tunnel out.
Cormack: Copy that.
Gideon: Good luck. Let's move!
Jackson: Let's go, team. Commercial District's up here.
Cormack: Patrol. Drop 'em.
[XM250 fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
After reconnecting with Gideon, Joker, Baron and Drelick for a bit, Preacher, Cormack, Mitchell and Jackson surfaces and starts shooting their way through the Commercial District. But then, Badger Team 1 gets discovered and urgently calls Sentinel Team for backup halfway through.
Badger 1-1: Sentinel 1, we're compromised! Where the hell are you?! We're getting torn up! Need fire support now—
[static]
Cormack: Badger 1-1?! Badger 1-1, come in!
[static]
Cormack: Shit, we gotta move it!
[Smoke Grenade detonation]
Mitchell: Tossing Threat!
[Threat Grenade detonation]
[HBRa3 fire]
[MORS fire]
Preacher: Commercial District, clear!
Now on the third floor of a restaurant and bar that has a bird's eye view of the Havoc Launcher Outpost, Preacher, Cormack, Mitchell and Jackson find some good news and bad news.
Mitchell: Havoc Launcher Outpost, dead ahead. Tactical Binos.
Jackson: *grabs and gives Tactical Spotter Binoculars to Mitchell* Here.
Mitchell: Thanks.
Cormack: There's the Havoc Launcher. Badger Team 1 should be nearby.
Preacher: 2 o'clock. *sighs* Shit, we're too late. They're KIA.
Mitchell: Okay, okay. But I can see their C4. If we can grab 'em, we can finish their mission.
Jackson: Disobeying orders again, sir?
Cormack: You're right, but Mitchell's right, too. We wait for Badger Team 3 or 5, and the Havoc Launcher is gonna move out.
Preacher: Then give me cover while I get the C4 and plant it on the Havoc.
Cormack: You sure, Will?
Preacher: Yes, Major. I can make it.
Mitchell: I'll go with. If you go down, I can finish the job.
Cormack: Okay. Mitchell, Preacher, get the C4 and finish Badger Team 1's mission. Jackson and I'll cover.
Preacher: Take my MORS, Don. You'll need it.
Jackson: *takes Preacher's MORS* Got it.
Mitchell: Let's do it.
[HBRa3 fire]
[MORS fire]
[XM250 fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
With Badger Team 1 killed in action, Sentinel Team attempts to complete their mission by grabbing their C4 Explosive Charges and destroying the Havoc Launcher. After testing its hull integrity with the MORS, Jackson gives Preacher a SITREP.
Preacher: Got the C4 sandwiches. Now, let's make sure our men didn't die for nothing.
Jackson: Sentinel 4, be advised, the Havoc Launcher is heavily armored like a main battle tank. You're gonna have to find an access panel and plant the charges inside it, over.
Preacher: Understood, Sentinel 2. Thanks for the tip, over.
Then the Staff Sergeant and the Gunnery Sergeant get some close air support from a Razorback VTOL belonging to U.S.M.C. Defender Squadron 2 for only a bit before it has to fall back because of the Havoc Launcher.
[Razorback VTOL fire]
Defender 2-3: All friendly units in the Havoc Launcher Outpost, this is Defender 2-3. We're coming in to assist, over.
Preacher: This is Sentinel 4, you're a damn welcome sight, Defender 2-3! Interrogative - can you level the Havoc Launcher as well, over?
Defender 2-3: Affirmative, Sentinel 4. Switching targets, over.
[Havoc Launcher fire]
Defender 2-3: We're taking fire. Moving position, over.
Preacher: Stay out of its line of sight, Defender 2-3! I'll personally deal with it instead, over.
Spaceman: Sentinel 1, this is Spaceman. That Havoc Launcher is tearing us and incoming friendly reinforcements up. Can we get a SITREP on Badger Team 1, over?
Cormack: Badger Team 1 is KIA. We're attempting to complete their mission ourselves, over.
Spaceman: Understood, Sentinel 1. We'll maintain ISR, over.
Five dead North Korean squads and four shot down hostile Aerial Assault Drones later, Preacher and Mitchell reach the Havoc Launcher and plant Badger Team 1's C4 Explosive Charges inside its engine compartment. But then its door suddenly closes on the right wrist mount of the Staff Sergeant's Exo Suit, leaving his right arm stuck.
Preacher: Engine compartment. This is good. *opens door* Planting. Okay, charges are set. Detonation in T minus 30. Let's—
[door closes]
[metallic clang]
Preacher: WHOA!
Mitchell: Preacher!
[Havoc Launcher engine starts]
Preacher: It's okay. It caught the wrist mount, not my flesh and bone. You pull the door a little open, and I'll pull my arm out.
Mitchell: Okay, pull! *struggling*
Preacher: *struggling* Don't worry about those timers. One more time. Pull! *struggling*
Mitchell: *struggling* How strong is this door?!
Preacher: We're lifting off. You gotta go, now!
Mitchell: No! You're almost free! Come on, pull! *struggling*
Preacher: HEAAAAAAAH!
[thud]
Preacher: I'm free! JUMP!
[explosions]
[thud]
Mitchell: Get cover—
[Havoc Launcher crashes]
[explosion]
[thud]
[metallic clang]
Mitchell: *screaming in pain*
Preacher frees himself, and the Gunnery Sergeant jumps off safely before the C4 Explosive Charges detonate. But then, the Havoc Launcher's explosive shock wave upon crashing throws the both of them back, and a sharp piece of debris lands on Mitchell's left arm, cutting it completely.
Preacher: Jack?! JACK! Don, DeSean, get over here! Mitchell's down hard!
Cormack: Shit! Spaceman, this is Sentinel 1! Sentinel 3 is down! I say again, Sentinel 3 is down! We need an immediate MEDEVAC, over!
Spaceman: Roger that, Sentinel 1. Defender 2-3 is en route, over.
Jackson: Popping smoke!
Preacher: Hold on. Stay with us. You're gonna be alright. *removes debris*
Mitchell: Argh! *breathes heavily*
Jackson: There's Defender 2-3! Let's go!
Preacher: Jack's patched up. Nice and easy now.
Cormack: We're gonna get you home.
Mitchell: Oh, no. My arm.
Once Defender 2-3 arrives and the Gunnery Sergeant's wound is momentarily sealed, Preacher, Cormack and Jackson help him get on board, with his severed left arm dangling by the left wrist mount of his Exo Suit. July 24th, 2054 - 09:30:46, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, United States of America, after fourteen days of recovery at headquarters, the Staff Sergeant is suddenly called to report to Battle Commander in his office just as he finishes helping Mitchell write a new entry in his journal.
Preacher: That's it?
Mitchell: Yeah. Thanks, man.
Preacher: I got you.
PA: Staff Sergeant Will Irons, report to Colonel Littleton's office immediately. I say again, Staff Sergeant Will Irons, report to Colonel Littleton's office immediately.
Preacher: I'll be right back.
He then gets uneasy as he sees the leaders of Badger Teams 2, 3, 4 and 5 and his bags sitting on two benches by his CO's doorway.
Preacher: *salutes* Sir.
Battle Commander: As you were. How's Mitchell?
Preacher: Recovered. I'm planning to buy him a prosthetic arm from ATLAS Corporation. He's gonna need it in his lifelong dream of becoming a world-class chef. The likes of which America has never seen before.
Battle Commander: Very good. But how about you?
Preacher: No need to worry about me, sir. Doc cleared me thirteen days ago.
Battle Commander: Still, I can't imagine what Mitchell must be feeling right now. Take some time off. Be with him. Whatever he needs.
Preacher: I appreciate that, sir. But if Sentinel Team gets another op—
Battle Commander: Oh, don't worry about that. You won't be going with them anymore.
Preacher: Sir?
Battle Commander: *reveals Preacher's medical discharge papers* You're out. Expired. Medically discharged. You won't have to report back ever again.
Preacher: But, sir, the doctor saw nothing wrong with—
Battle Commander: And some stupid-ass corpsman doesn't outrank me in peacetime. You're not a Staff Sergeant or a Marine Raider anymore. The reality is, you never were. That is all, Irons.
Preacher: But, sir—
Battle Commander: *points to the door* That. Is. All. Irons.
With Battle Commander having all the cards, Preacher takes his forged medical discharge papers and bags and leaves Camp Lejeune quietly. But Badger 2-1, Badger 3-1, Badger 4-1 and Badger 5-1 stop him to give their goodbyes first.
Badger 2-1: I suggest giving back your medals and burning your uniforms, Preacher. You lost the privilege to be a U.S. Military serviceman the moment your family sold out to the Latin American Federation. This is for Badger Team 1. *roundhouse kicks Preacher's head*
Preacher: Ahh!
Badger 3-1: This is for Task Force Grizzly! *knee strikes Preacher's stomach*
Preacher: Argh!
[thud]
Badger 4-1: This is for Major Laura Burnett! *stomps Preacher's groin*
Preacher: *screaming in pain*
Badger 5-1: This is for your Mitchell! Your "best friend"! *stomps Preacher's chest*
Preacher: *screaming in pain*
Badger 2-1: Get him!
The TLs of Badger Teams 2, 3, 4 and 5 proceed to beat the Staff Sergeant up for seven minutes before leaving him on the walkway and letting the oncoming service members walk over him until he picks himself up. But despite everything, Preacher had no intention of fighting back and would then just dust himself off, grab his bags, limp away and cry as unnoticeably as possible.
Badger 4-1: *laughs* Piece of shit Irons.
Preacher: Ugh. *strains* It's okay, *breath trembling* don't let me bother you. *wipes off tears* *grabs bags*
Battle Commander: Most epic thing I've seen in a while. Remember that day? Better hope you do 'cause you'll never see something like that again... Irons *laughs*
--
MISSION COMPLETE
Induction
Sentinel Team has helped to wipe North Korea off the face of the Earth. South Korea is saved, but at a great cost. Mitchell has been terribly wounded, and Preacher is discharged by false pretenses.