09:00:02, United Nations Headquarters, Beijing, China, shortly after word gets out that ATLAS Corporation has attacked the United States and the U.S. Navy's 3rd Fleet, Jonathan and Aurora address this live on international television. And Task Force Sentinel is the first one outside the U.N. to watch.
Task Force Sentinel
Preacher
[News Reporters chattering]
Aurora: The world is asking one question: "Why did we attack the United States?"
Jonathan: The United States has had the world in the most violent and constant state of war since abandoning their responsibility as humanity's caretaker. We may have been at war when the United States was the world police. But we are in even more chaos and disarray without the United States being the world police.
Aurora: Time and again, we have seen the catastrophic results of this reckless, apathetic policy. Their peacetime by leaving everyone alone has not led to resolution or peace for the world. Their peacetime has only led to more wars. The United States has remained inactive because they are a superpower that no other nation would dare attack. Well, no more. If The American People will not resume their perpetual yet sacred and obligatory duty of maintaining global balance and do a better job than before, then they must be terminated.
Jonathan: Attacking the United States of America is not the beginning of a new war. It will be the end of all wars.
December 18th, 2058 - 09:55:50, The Elysium Checkpoint, Syrian Desert, Iraq, as the Winslow Accord kicks ATLAS Corporation out of their most critical infrastructures and goes to war in less than 24 hours, the U.S. Military, the Australian Military, and the Korean Military set up The Elysium Checkpoint in the part of the Syrian Desert that Iraq holds. While the PMC mobilizes all of its military forces from around the world and even the Iraqi Armed Forces itself to protect ATLAS Corporation West Asia Headquarters because that is where the CEO and the CFO have embedded themselves in.
Preacher writes all of the events leading up to this point in Mitchell's journal in a way that makes the reader believe that the late author is still alive and is the one composing.
[F-52 flies by]
Preacher: (narration) After San Francisco, the entire Winslow Accord turned against ATLAS. Jonathan and Aurora entrenched themselves at their headquarters in New Baghdad. All communications ceased. Both sides knew what was coming. As the First Wave, our mission was to fly in with the U.S. Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Air Force during the initial shock and awe campaign. From there, we would break off and infiltrate ATLAS Corporation West Asia Headquarters with the U.S. Spec Ops component of Task Force Sentinel, smashing the defenses and rescuing Cristy, Prophet, Lilith, Oz, Decker and Kahn. Once they're down and safe, the Second Wave will join us, seizing all Manticore present and taking out Jonathan and Aurora Irons. For the two of them, it was their rite of passage into the United Nations. The letter and the spirit. For Cormack, it was the end of a journey. He'd been waiting four years for this day.
Kingpin: Last minute change of plan. You'll be flanking around from the east and the north covering the First Wave on their sortie over the AO. *nods at Preacher, Knox, Gideon and Joker*
[Preacher, Knox, Gideon and Joker nod back to Kingpin]
Cormack: Yes, sir. Guess I've got the soft option.
Chaos: There are no soft options this time. With the Manticore threat still lingering around, we don't want all our assets in play at once. Especially since most of us aren't immune from the bio weapon. We're only gonna have one shot at getting the fuckheads.
Cormack: It's all we need.
Nightfall: We know it. Just stay alive. If we're dragging their asses in front of the Supreme Court, you'll be our star witness.
Cormack: Looking forward to it.
Kingpin: Alright, good luck.
[Preacher, Knox, Gideon, Joker, Cormack, Don, Nightfall and Chaos shake hands]
Preacher: (narration) There was nothing more to say. We all knew what had to be done. This was the beginning of the end... for one of us.
--
Throttle
December 18th, 2058 - 10:00:54
2ndLt. Will 'Preacher' Irons
Task Force Sentinel
25 Miles Southwest of New Baghdad, Iraq
Exo Type:
Assault
Boost Jump: Activated
Sonics: Activated
Grapple: Activated
Land Assist: Activated
Stim: Activated
--
Knox: Kingpin, Ranger Team 2 approaching city limits defenses at Angels-Five (5000 feet), over.
Kingpin: Roger that. Maintain a low level flight from there to New Baghdad. Kingpin, out.
Knox: Ranger 2 Flight, fence in. Engage anything that doesn't have a Winslow Accord beacon.
Preacher: Ranger 2-2 copies.
Gideon: Ranger 2-3 copies all.
Joker: Ranger 2-4 solid copies.
Preacher: Oh, man. We got hostile Cosmic Hornets, Thunderbolt IIs, Havoc Launchers, Paladins, Phalanxes, a Stinger M7 brigade, and anti-air firepower I haven't seen since military history. Target rich environment, gentlemen! Let's make Maverick proud! Ha ha!
[Vulcan fire]
[Sidewinders launching]
[F-52s crashing]
[A-10Ds crashing]
[Havoc Launchers crashing]
[Phalanx Drones crashing]
[explosions]
Preacher: Two canyons ahead. Take whatever you want.
Knox: Approaching the Hydroelectric Dam. Lock on to those defenses and hit 'em with your missiles.
[AMRAAMs launching]
[explosions]
[Hydroelectric Dam collapses]
Joker: Payback's a bitch, ain't it?!
Gideon: Direct hit! Watch out for the debris.
Knox: Watch your heads.
[hoodoos collapsing]
The first step in softening up New Baghdad is to take out the defenses on the outskirts of the city with the U.S. Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Air Force. This consists of enemy Cosmic Hornets, hostile Fairchild Republic A-10D Thunderbolt IIs (a VTOL capable variant of the Thunderbolt II) (fictional), Havoc Launchers, developmental Paladin Defense Motherships, Phalanx Drones which are used primarily for aerial security, Stinger M7 platoons, and older anti-air weapons.
But Ranger Team 2 and the Winslow Accord still manage to destroy all of them as they fly low through the canyons and destroy a hydroelectric dam, making ATLAS and its supporters feel what America felt back in San Francisco. Once past, Preacher, Knox, Gideon and Joker break off from the joint air wing, give their jets to the fighter pilots remotely controlling from The Elysium Checkpoint, deploy their Driveable Escape Pods, and continue to New Baghdad.
Knox: Kingpin, Ranger Team 2 is on final approach to New Baghdad, over.
Kingpin: Roger, 2-1. Enemy urban air defense perimeter is 1.5 clicks.
Knox: Commencing drop sequence. Autopilot engaged. Ranger 2-1 away.
Preacher: Ranger 2-2 away.
Gideon: Ranger 2-3 away.
Joker: Ranger 2-4 away.
Knox: D.E.P. deployment successful. 1,200 yards to target. Minimizing system power. Switching over to low detection.
Kingpin: Copy all, 2-1. Your squad is off the radar.
U.S. Airman: Ranger Team 2, we're bearing 3-1-5 magnetic at Cherubs-Four (400 feet). Distance: two nautical miles from the AO, over.
Knox: Connecting the Heads Up to the battlefield network. Our main target is ATLAS Corporation West Asia Headquarters, where Power Player and Ace Attorney are directing the war effort from deep inside. Multiple MD Turrets have been placed as air defenses around the city. And packs of A.S.T.s and T-600 Titans have been on patrol since we got here. We need to take them out in order to go internal. Distance to target: 200 yards. Switch off Heads Up and prepare for touchdown.
10:05:28, New Baghdad, Iraq, immediately upon arrival, Task Force Sentinel links up and coordinates with none other than Battle Commander in the flesh on the front line and his four six-man Badger Teams. But Preacher does not personally pay them any mind and just focuses on taking the heat off the First Wave once cleared to move out.
Preacher: Lots of high ground, so keep your Land Assists on! No one has to break their legs!
Knox: Battle Commander, give me a SITREP!
Battle Commander: Task Force Sentinel! Preacher?! Son of a bitch!
Badger 2-1: Oh, come on! He's gonna get us all killed!
Knox: Cry us a fucking river after this, Marines! SITREP!
Battle Commander: We're trying to advance, but those MD Turrets are tearing up our air support! And those A.S.T.s are keeping us out! No sign of the Titans yet!
Knox: Roger that! Keep trying! We'll handle the heavy weapons! Ranger Team 2, move out!
Preacher: Spread out! Take whatever target you like!
Gideon: Copy, I'm on it!
Joker: With pleasure!
Badger 3-1: Don't get any funny ideas, Preacher!
Badger 4-1: Or we WILL put you down and make your little girlfriend a stripper for our club!
Badger 5-1: An Irons makes promises?! So do we!
The Second Lieutenant ignores all the insults of his old commanding officer and fellow Marine Raiders by enjoying himself in the slaughter of the Mercenaries and Iraqi Soldiers ahead. As he uses his Grappling Hook Launcher to forcefully remove A.S.T. pilots out of their suits from behind and squash them, pull infantry toward him so he can palm strike them and snap their necks from a front-facing position, jab them, pull the pins of their Frag Grenades, heel kick them away, quickdraw their legs and let them explode, knee strike their faces in with one Exo Suit-boosted blow, and stab them in the throat in a lightning-quick fashion.
Basically Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's space grapple takedowns but on terra firma, with oxygen and gravity, and having different variations each when snatching from the backs of enemies. Fifty plus KIA Mercenaries and Iraqi Soldiers, four ripped out A.S.T.s, and two seized MD Turrets later, the ATLAS T-600 Titans finally show up to reinforce the remaining outside defenses.
Preacher: Ranger 2-2 to all units, external playground is clear of A.S.T.s and MD Turrets! With fifty give or take EKIAs (Enemy Killed In Action) all around, over!
Knox: Outstanding, Ranger 2-2! We're advancing to the front door now, over!
Battle Commander: *scoffs* We could've done that!
Joker: Here comes the Titans! Grab cover!
Knox: Gideon, give me cover fire! We have ATLAS Stinger M7s at our 11 o'clock!
Preacher: Ranger 2-2 moving to assist, Ranger 2-1!
Gideon: Roger that, Knox! Go on, I'll cover!
Joker: Drawing fire! Hey! Wanna kill a traitor like me?! Joker's nice this time of year!
But just as Preacher and Knox try to bring the Titans down, ATLAS Corporation initiates a desperate measure.
Knox: Drone Swarm!
Preacher: Wait, what kind of— *gasps* EVERYONE FALL BACK NOW—
[Drone Swarm self-destructs]
Knox: *groans* God damn, he did it! He fucking did it!
Preacher: KNOX! NO!
[Razorback VTOLs crashing]
Joker: Aw, shit! Is this what I think it is?!
Gideon: Ranger 2-1 is down! I need immediate MEDEVAC on my location—
Knox: No, it's Manticore. We gotta pull back! GET EVERYONE OUT! (the last breath)
The company unleashes Manticore on the First Wave, with Captain Malcolm Knox dying to it, and Battle Commander, Badger Team 2, Badger Team 3, Badger Team 4, Badger Team 5 and the 160th SOAR Razorback VTOLs in the AO joining him. Only the Second Lieutenant, Gideon, Joker, and a crowd of fleeing harmless ATLAS employees are spared.
But that changes instantly.
[ATLAS Employees fleeing, screaming and crying]
Preacher: *closes Knox's eyes* *looks around* Oh, no! We're the only ones left!
Gideon: This is all going to Hell real fast! We need to—
[bullets whizzing]
[bullets ricocheting]
Preacher: CONTACT!
[MORS fire]
[IMR fire]
Gideon: RETURN FIRE! *drags Knox to cover* *painfully grunts*
[HBRa3 fire]
Watterson: You can't save everyone, Right Hand Squadron! You can't save anyone! You can't even save yourselves! *laughs*
[Explosive Chain Gun fire]
Preacher: Watterson's got an Explosive Chain Gun! FALL BACK! FALL—
[VRAP explodes]
[Ranger Team 2 grunts]
[thud]
Watterson blows up a nearby VRAP with his A.S.T.'s Explosive Chain Gun, launching Ranger Team 2 in the air with the shock wave, knocking them out upon landing. One minute later, Preacher comes to, hears and sees Jonathan and Aurora broadcast a speech on the city's jumbotrons and electric billboards, and helplessly watches an already fading Colonel Dexter 'Battle Commander' Littleton get executed and Gideon and Joker get taken away.
Just before Left Hand 2...
Jonathan: (muffled) Citizens of New Baghdad, hold strong. Victory is within our grasp.
[Preacher coughs]
Aurora: (muffled) Look around you, and you will see our enemies fall one by one.
Jonathan: Each and every one of you can be agents of change.
[Preacher crawls to Gideon, Joker and Battle Commander]
Aurora: Yes, we will suffer losses. We will suffer setbacks. But make no mistake, we will win.
[Bal-27 fire]
[Battle Commander grunts]
Preacher: *reaches out* No.
Jonathan: The security that you desire, the security that you deserve, is within our reach. But, it can only be claimed if you are willing to fight for it. Fight for it.
Watterson: *grabs Preacher by the neck* Where do you think you're going, Preacher?! This is for Left Hand Squadron!
[Glock 19 Gen 5 fire]
[bullets ricocheting]
[Watterson laughs]
[Preacher chokes and reloads]
Watterson: Jonathan and Aurora made you, and they will be your END!
[Glock 19 Gen 5 fire]
[bullets ricocheting]
[Preacher passes out]
[Glock 19 Gen 5 clatters]
[Watterson throws Preacher in a body truck]
2 Minutes Earlier
--
Throttle
December 18th, 2058 - 10:15:56
1st Lt. Cristy 'Chess Queen' Weston
ATLAS Corporation - Disavowed
ATLAS Corporation West Asia Headquarters, New Baghdad, Iraq
--
When the WMD was deployed, the non-combatant ATLAS Employees reacted with so much fear that all of them opted to run away and reconsider their life choices. Because of this, Will and Cristy's Friend Circle ft. Prophet agreed to help them escape to Baghdad International Airport by killing the guards who have ATLAS Corporation West Asia Headquarters locked down.
[ATLAS Employees pleading and crying]
Cristy: All these people. We can't just leave them like this!
Prophet: Then we take out the guards. Are y'all ready for a gunfight?
Oz: Hooah!
Lilith: Always wanted to shoot some dicks!
Decker: I've been waiting for this day since signing up.
Kahn: Let's get them to Baghdad International Airport. We can steal a plane and fly to The Elysium Checkpoint.
ATLAS Guard 8: GET BACK! EVERYBODY GET BACK OR WE WILL KILL YOU!
Prophet: Okay. Light 'em up!
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
[CEL-3 Cauterizer fire]
[HBRa3 fire]
[ATLAS 45 fire]
[ATLAS Employees fleeing and screaming]
Kahn: EVERYONE! RUN FOR BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT! WE CAN STEAL A PLANE TO THE WINSLOW ACCORD!
But the makeshift rescue plan was immediately shot down the moment the ATLAS Employees met the Mercenaries outside.
[ATLAS Guards firearm melee striking ATLAS Employees]
[Bal-27 fire]
[IMR fire]
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Cristy: Take the heat off of 'em!
Prophet: There's too many! We gotta run for the combat zone! Ranger Team 2 has gotta be there! Lily, Oz, Jim, Kahn, get into position!
Cristy: Wait, WHAT?!
Prophet: We'll hold 'em off, Cristy! Find Ranger Team 2! Will needs you!
Cristy: I can't just leave you guys!
Decker: You're not! We're just covering your escape! Say "Hi" to Will for us! TAKE THAT YOU ATLAS SHITS! WHOOO! *smiles*
[HBRa3 fire]
[Frag Grenade detonation]
[ATLAS Guards painfully grunting]
Kahn: Will needs you more than we do, Cristy! We're gonna miss you! Go on! *smiles*
[ATLAS 45 fire]
Lilith: You're the only sister I got, Cristy! Get out of here with your man! Look after Will for us! *smiles*
[HBRa3 fire]
Oz: Get out of here, regroup, and take the fight to ATLAS, sweetheart! You and Will got this! Take care of each other, Cristy! *smiles*
[CEL-3 Cauterizer fire]
Prophet: I'm very proud of you for surpassing me, Cristy! Now it's time to go home! You know where that is! Now move! *smiles*
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Cristy: *cries* I love you, Lilith, Ozzy, Jim, Kahn, Jerome! I'm gonna miss you guys! *wipes tears* *controls breathing* *falls back*
[HBRa3 fire]
Cristy retreated and tried to find her boyfriend and his squad while Prophet, Lilith, Oz, Decker and Kahn made their last stand to cover the disavowed female First Lieutenant. They were lucky to have befriended each other, but their luck was running out as fast as their simple ammo reserves.
Lilith: Taking heavy fire! We got troops—
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
[Lilith painfully grunts]
Decker: LILITH! GET OFF OUR BACK, MOTHER—
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Kahn: JIM! Yeah?! YOU WANNA A PIECE OF ME, MAGGOTS?! COME ON!
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Oz: You still got your fists, Prophet! *firearm melee strikes Archie* And your teeth! *bites Archie's neck*
Archie: *screaming in pain* BLOODY WANKER! *kicks Oz's legs broken*
[Oz painfully grunts]
Archie: *controls breathing* What inspired last acts. Too bad Delta Force is just a cheap knock-off of the British S.A.S.
[Oz spits at Archie's face]
Archie: And DEVGRU isn't half as good as the S.B.S. neither.
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
[Prophet yells and firearm melee strikes Archie and ATLAS Mercenaries]
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Prophet: FOR AMERICA!
[Bal-27 fire]
[IMR fire]
[Prophet painfully grunts and falls to knees]
Archie: *spits out blood* TRAITOR!
[ATLAS Ameli fire]
Archie murdered ex-I.T. Specialist Lilith Swann, Major (ret.) Ozzy 'Oz' Pierson, once Captain Jim Decker, former Executive Kahn Omar and disavowed Brigadier General Jerome 'Prophet' Norton consecutively. And Cristy found Preacher when he was already being thrown in the body truck by Watterson.
Cristy: WILL! NOOOO!
[HBRa3 fire]
[bullets ricocheting]
Archie: Touching, Chess Queen! Quite touching!
[Cristy turns around to kill Archie]
[Archie catches Cristy's HBRa3]
[HBRa3 fire]
[Archie palm strikes Cristy's HBRa3 away]
[Cristy equips ATLAS 45 and MTech USA MT-575 Fixed Blade Knife]
[Archie front kicks Cristy's ATLAS 45 away]
[Cristy swings her Fixed Blade Knife]
[Archie parries and dodges Cristy's strikes]
[Cristy yells and tries to stab Archie in the eye]
Archie: *catches Cristy's right hand and Fixed Blade Knife with left hand* Fight to the last breath. *heel kicks and disarms Cristy concurrently* For a glorified cartographer, you are one hell of a trooper. I can see now why I'm in love with ye.
The disavowed female First Lieutenant tried to combat roll to her Fixed Blade Knife, only for Left Hand 4 to catch her, kick her to her right knee, and strangle her unconscious in a headlock.
Archie: *gropes Cristy's breasts with right hand* Oh, I've missed your beautiful tits already, Cristy.
[Cristy chokes and tries to elbow strike Archie]
Archie: I told you you were fucked. Archie told ye.
[Cristy passes out]
[Archie carries Cristy into the body truck]
--
MISSION FAILED
Throttle
Jonathan and Aurora Irons have unleashed the Manticore virus against the entire First Wave. Preacher, Cristy, Gideon and Joker were spared from the attack because of their inoculation as former ATLAS personnel. But the four of them have lost all their teammates and friends and have been captured.