23:59:41, back in the present, Ramirez, Graves, Chemo and Bishop end up getting split up by flanking Task Force Los Vaqueros Operators as they barely escape into Nuevo Laredo after witnessing Roach's death. As he processes the betrayal after finding an alley to hold for a bit, Hunter 2-4 is already getting cries for help from hiding, fleeing and desperate Shadow Company Mercenaries.
Ramirez: (quietly) Oh, God, I can't believe they're gone. They're actually gone. Meat, Royce, Rook, Knight, Foley, Dunn, Allen, Dipaolo, Erikson, Vance. Meat, Knight, Foley, Dipaolo, Erikson and Vance had kids. They didn't deserve that fate. They didn't deserve it. But who failed to protect them from it, huh? *punches wall* Some Ranger you turned out to be, James. *breath trembles* It should've been me dead back there, not them. I should've seen it coming the moment I saw Soap take aim at me. *sniffles* Oh, God, why do I get to survive and not everyone else? Why am I still here? What do you need me to do, God?
[gunfire echoes]
[Shadow Company Mercenaries painfully grunt and scream]
Shadow 4-4: HELP! ANY SHADOW OUT THERE! PLEASE HELP US!
Shadow 7-4: HELP US! WE'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG! IS ANYONE OUT THERE?!
Ramirez: *wipes tears* I'm here. *controls breathing* I'm here. And I'm on my way.
--
The Western Hemisphere Standoff
November 3rd, 2022 - 00:00:09
SSG. James Ramirez
Task Force 141
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
--
Due to the situation and his state of mind, Ramirez's gameplay is significantly faster and deadlier than every other playable character before. As his movements while standing, crouching, in the prone position, and aiming down the sights are speedier.
His hip fire crosshair is super narrow and does not broaden ever, even while running and gunning, his recoil control is elevated, his ADS (Aim Down Sights) speed is high, and his weapon sway while in the sights is low. And his sprint, which has the sprint animation of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) in the first-person perspective, is way quicker than the regular sprint and the "Tactical Sprint" everyone else has.
The more detailed explanation behind these enhancements is that he is bringing his entire skill set to the table in order to regroup with and extract Shadow 1, Night Owl 1, Bravo 4-1, and any other friendly survivors he can find and save. Now, as he cuts through the streets, he encounters and kills four Mexican Army Soldiers, three Los Zetas Narcos, two Task Force Los Vaqueros Operators and four civilians helping the enemy combatants hunt with kitchen knives and revolvers, and rescues the last living member of Shadow Team 7 in an apartment complex.
[M240B fire]
Ramirez: Hold fire! It's okay.
Shadow 7-4: Rami—
Ramirez: Shh! No real names. Don't want them to send sleeper cells to our homes' doorsteps. Are these civilians really helping the enemy?
Shadow 7-4: Yeah. We couldn't believe it either. That's how my friends got killed. God, I'm so stupid.
Ramirez: Don't beat yourself up. There's no way you could've seen this coming. Stay close to me, and we'll make sure we don't get paraded by some violent children in another God damn Mogadishu.
Shadow 7-4: Roger that, Hunter 2-4. On you.
Ramirez: You picked the wrong choice, Mexico. In the end, there will be only chaos.
The party of two then becomes a party of four after bailing the two remaining Mercenaries of Shadow Team 6 out of deep trouble by a fountain.
Ramirez: Don't waste time being sneaky. There's already a war going on here. Take 'em.
Shadow 7-4: Thank you, 2-4.
[M240B fire]
[P90 USG fire]
Shadow 6-1: Holy shi—
Shadow 7-4: No real names, boys. We can't risk them getting any sick ideas at home.
Shadow 6-2: Fuck. Okay, okay. Thanks, by the way, Sta— Hunter 2-4.
Ramirez: Don't mention it. Any other friendly here?
Shadow 6-1: Both of us are it, unfortunately.
Ramirez: Alright. We'll come back for the dead. But right now, we are leaving.
Shadow 6-1: Copy. Damn, quite the chaos you caused, boss.
Ramirez: If The Mexican People aren't gonna give a quarter, neither should we. An enemy combatant is an enemy combatant. Age is irrelevant.
Shadow 6-2: Shit. Rangers Lead The Way.
Shadow 7-4: Hooah.
Unfortunately, the four-man fireteam was too late to save Shadow Team 5 in a coffee shop. Who were trying to fight for their lives like everyone else until a swarm of children shut them all up with scissors, screwdrivers, and an AKS-74U.
[AKS-74U fire]
[Mexican Male Children laugh]
[screwdriver hit]
[scissors hit]
[Mexican Female Children laugh]
Shadow 7-4: Oh, my God. *covers mouth* Shadow Team 5.
Ramirez: Twisted children. Kill 'em all.
[M240B fire]
[P90 USG fire]
[Glock 19 Gen 5 fire]
[MK18 fire]
[Ramirez heel kicks and stabs a Mexican Female Child with her own scissors]
Ramirez: (Spanish) Fuck Los Zetas all the way to Hell. (English) Coffee shop's clear.
Shadow 6-2: Now we know why the shooting here suddenly stopped. Little fucks. *removes scissors and screwdrivers* *closes Shadow Team 5's eyes*
Shadow 6-1: Well done, kids. You just made us hate Mexico.
Ramirez: Mexico will get it soon enough.
Shadow 7-4: *wipes tears* We need to move on, Shadow 6. Come on.
Shadow 6-1: Okay.
Shadow 6-2: Yep. On you guys.
But they are able to save Shadow Team 4, Graves, Chemo, Bishop and Shepherd from a massacre in a church.
Ramirez: Church is clear! Shadow 7-4, let 'em know who's here.
Shadow 7-4: Shadow Company! Shadow Company coming in!
Graves: Hold fire! Hele—
Shadow 7-4, Shadow 6-1 and Shadow 6-2: *hush* No names, sir! No real names.
Ramirez: You've seen Sicario and Six. You don't want their sleeper cells taking our homes away.
[Graves tilts his head in reply]
Shadow 4-1: Shadow 7-4? Shadow Team 6?
Shadow 7-4: Hey.
Shadow 6-1 and Shadow 6-2: Hey.
Ramirez: Shadow 1, Chemo, Bishop, y'all okay?
Bishop: Yeah, mate.
Chemo: Still here, aren't I?
Graves: Yeah, barely.
Ramirez: Sorry to hear that. And for getting lost and being late. How many?
Shadow 4-4: Eight of us, Hunter 2-4. Gold Eagle is here.
Shepherd: Staff Sergeant. Thank God you're still standing.
Ramirez: Likewise. How are you?
Shepherd: Fine, despite the close calls. And thanks to Shadow 4-4.
Ramirez: Good girl. Well done, 4-4.
Shadow 4-4: Tango Mike, 2-4.
Ramirez: You found a way out of here?
Chemo: *sighs* Negative. We were too busy trying not to get killed.
Bishop: They were using children to fuck with us. That's how we got trapped here.
Ramirez: Los Zetas really twisted them with their generosity and propaganda. And the Mexican Army and Task Force Los Vaqueros have no problem with using them to their advantage. Shadow—
Shadow 4-2: Try to take it easy on the boss, 2-4.
Shadow 4-3: Yeah. He already feels like shit from believing he's a terrible leader.
Ramirez: Okay. Shadow 1, you still with us?
Graves: Did I ever tell you how hard it was to create Shadow Company and make it the PMC it is now? I wanted to give our veterans an opportunity to become better warriors without all the government bullshit. You know, I always hated cocky, successful spec ops dipshits like 141 and Los Vaqueros. I didn't trust easily. I doubted a lot for the sake of my team. And the one time I decided to be nice to some of them, it turned out they were using us. God DAMMIT! I already lost *kicks dead Task Force Los Vaqueros and Mexican Army bodies* MOST OF MY SHADOWS! Good men and women who never committed a war crime no matter what the God damn mainstream media says.
Ramirez: And that is why these surviving Shadows would still go through Hell and back for you. I haven't known them for a lifetime, and yet I already know that they would without hesitation.
Graves: Would you?
Ramirez: Yes. Because despite the mistakes, you still didn't stop being a good leader. You're not the first to feel like a terrible one, and you won't be the last. It's okay to punch and kick stuff in frustration. But we need you to do that at another time. Right now, we need you.
[Chemo wipes his tears away]
[Shepherd bows his head]
Graves: Okay. Okay, guys, I'm still here. You got any ideas? Speak up. We're listening.
[Shadow Team 4, Shadow Team 6 and Shadow 7-4 look at and quietly talk to each other]
Ramirez: Is your long-range comms still intact?
Graves: Yeah. Why?
Ramirez: Shadow Company HQ can organize emergency extraction, yeah?
Graves: Yeah, of course.
Ramirez: Call for it. We're not gonna die here. Shadow 7-4, you come with us. We need to establish an observation post on the bell tower and find a good place to evac. Everyone else, prepare to move out and keep Gold Eagle out of harm's way.
Graves: You heard the man. Get to it.
Shadow 7-4: You got it.
Bishop: Hey, Hunter 2-4. You made me real proud back there. You'd make a great leader one day.
Ramirez: Thanks, Bishop.
Ramirez: (quietly) Phillip. *gives Ops-Core FAST Carbon High Cut Helmet back*
[Graves nods]
At the top of the church's bell tower, Shadow 1 calls his HQ while Ramirez and Shadow 7-4 find a good place to get extracted.
[explosions]
[gunfire echoes]
[MH-60Ls fly by]
Shadow 7-4: Holy shit, the view is worse than I thought.
Ramirez: Shadow Company's losing ground fast. But it looks like they were able to call in some air support and evac.
Graves: Oxide, this is Shadow 1. I have friendly survivors and Gold Eagle under my watch. Interrogative: Can you organize emergency extraction, over?
Shadow Company HQ: Holy fucking shit! Shadow 1, sir, we hear you Lima Charlie (Loud and Clear). We're trying to direct some of our air assets to extract. Find a good rally point and let us know where you are holding. We'll wait for your mark, over.
Graves: (on comms) Roger that. Standby, over. (off comms) We got that evac, Hunter 2-4.
Ramirez: Good news. Here's some more. We can evac on the top of that tall building at the end of town. NODs on, and you'll see it.
Graves: Yep, I see it.
Shadow 7-4: So do I. That's gonna be one hell of a fight, Hunter 2-4.
Ramirez: Yeah, well, that's what we get paid for. Let's head out.
With a date with Shadow Company HQ planned, the "treasonous" element of Task Force 141 leaves the church and fights to the tallest building at the edge of the city. They cut through every attacking Los Zetas Narco, Mexican Army Soldier, Task Force Los Vaqueros Operator and Mexican male, female and child civilian without hesitation thanks to Ramirez's lead.
Five minutes of fast-paced, brutal urban guerilla warfare later, Hunter 2-4 manages to take the team to his designated evac building without losing anyone.
Chemo: Roof's clear! Roof's clear! Come on up.
Shadow 4-4: Jesus. I can't believe we're gonna make it.
Ramirez: You did well, but don't let your guard down. We're not out of the woods yet. Everyone load up. I want this evac building secure. Shadow 1, call it in and get the radio behind cover. Shadow Team 4, get low and keep Gold Eagle safe. Shadow Team 6, cover the north and east. Shadow 4-4, the south. Shadow 7-4, the staircase. Bishop, Chemo, on Shadow 1 and I. Most of the heat is gonna come from the west. Marking our position with an IR beacon.
Graves: Oxide, this is—
[DD M4A1 fire]
Ramirez: Hell of a shot. Keep your gun up. She probably reported our position already. I'll get on the comms.
Graves: Okay.
Chemo: You heard him. Prepare to get hit again real soon.
Ramirez: Oxide, this is Hunter 2-4. Gold Eagle and all Shadows and friendly Task Force 141 Operators, which includes myself, have found a rendezvous point and marked it with an IR beacon. Ready and waiting for immediate evac, over.
Shadow Company HQ: Roger that, Hunter 2-4. We see your beacon. Evac choppers are en route. ETA is still unknown at this time. So hang in there, over.
Ramirez: (on comms) Roger that. We'll fight till sunrise if we have to, over. (off comms) There they are! Engage!
[M240B fire]
[DD M4A1 fire]
[C7A2 fire]
[M4V7 fire]
[MK18 fire]
[Glock 19 Gen 5 fire]
Shadow 7-4: Flankers at the bottom of the stairs! Engaging!
[P90 USG fire]
[M4A1 fire]
[AK-47 fire]
[Uzi fire]
[Glock 17 Gen 5 fire]
Ramirez: Everything you've got!
The "treasonous" element of Task Force 141 is able to defend themselves and their RV for the next three and a half minutes. But when the Shadow Company MH-60L Black Hawks and Humvees start leaving Nuevo Laredo without even noticing them, that is when bad news comes in.
Shadow 4-4: They're falling back!
Bishop: I've seen this move before! They're not retreating! They're regrouping!
Graves: Hey, those are our Black Hawks and Humvees! Why aren't any of them stopping for us?!
[RPG-7V2 fire]
[Minigun fire]
Ramirez: Save your energy! They probably got their hands full! I'll get some answers!
[bullets ricochet]
[bullets penetrate]
[bullets hit]
Ramirez: OXIDE, HUNTER 2-4! WE GOT A PRAIRIE FIRE DOWN HERE! WHERE'S OUR DAMN EVAC?!
Shadow Company HQ: All Shadow Company forces in Nuevo Laredo are falling to the locals! They're taking our birds and armored convoys out of the fight! You're not the only ones trying to get out!
[explosions]
[Humvees explode]
Bishop: NO!
Ramirez: WE HAVE A PRIORITY ONE PACKAGE TO EXTRACT! WE NEED THAT EVAC!
[MH-60Ls crash]
Shadow 7-4: SHIT!
Shadow Company HQ: We'll find another way! Hold your position!
With all Shadow Company elements in the city past the breaking point, Oxide improvises by making some calls all the way to Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
Shadow Company HQ: Hunter 2-4, check your six. We have a Marine Corps Osprey on its way, over.
Ramirez: Roger that! Not too soon, over!
Shadow Company HQ: Direct fire support will cover your egress. Star Squadron 1 is en route, over.
Ramirez: (on comms) Got it! Tango Mike, Oxide! Hunter 2-4, out! (off comms) Team, we got a Marine Corps Osprey coming to our east! We also have air support en route to cover our escape!
Shadow 6-1: Roger that!
Shadow 4-4: Got it!
Shadow Company's Star Squadron 1 is then revealed to be a flight of four McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles ready to light Nuevo Laredo and all its attacking inhabitants up like a Christmas tree. With that, Ramirez coordinates with them, marks the enemy's position with his Air Support Marker, and gets the others ready for what is coming and what might come next.
Star 1: Hunter 4, this is Star 1. Flight of four Shadow Company F-15s. Do you read me? Hunter 4, this is Star 1. Come in.
Ramirez: Star 1, this is Hunter 4! Go!
Star 1: What do you got down there, 2-4?
Ramirez: We got Mexican Military, cartel AND civilian bad guys all over the town! Marking their position with smoke! *throws Air Support Marker*
[5:46 into Tears of the Sun Soundtrack's Cameroon Border plays]
Bishop: Well, I didn't expect today to end like this, mates!
Chemo: None of us did! But if we're really signing off, then this is quite a way to do so! Let's Tears of the Sun this shit!
Graves: That's just what Roach would say!
Ramirez: Then let's make this one for Roach!
Star 1: I got purple smoke, 2-4.
Chemo: For Meat and Royce!
Bishop: For Rook and Knight!
Graves: For all fallen Shadows!
Shadow Team 4, Shadow Team 6 and Shadow 7-4: Yep, yep!
Shepherd: Do it, son!
Ramirez: Let it rip, Todd! Danger close!
Star 1: Roger that. Coming in hot.
Outlaw 2-5: Hunter 2-4, this is Outlaw 2-5. We have visual on you. Moving in for pickup now, over.
Ramirez: Roger, Outlaw 2-5! You're a damn welcome sight!
[MV-22B flies by]
Shadow 6-2: Osprey's here!
Shadow 4-1: Shadow 4-4, regroup! Cover Gold Eagle!
Ramirez: Go on! I'll cover!
[M240B fire]
Graves: Get in, Ramirez!
[AGM-65 Mavericks launch]
[explosions]
[Mexican Crowd painfully screams and cries]
[F-15Es fly by]
[music stops]
Bishop: We're all on board! Go!
Outlaw 2-5: Okay, we're outta here. Oxide, Overlord, this is Outlaw 2-5. We got 'em. En route to Shadow Company HQ. Out.
And then, luckily, more good news arrives in the form of an MV-22B Osprey from Outlaw Squadron 2 arriving and hovering around to pick everyone up. Once ready, the "treasonous" element of Task Force 141 hops on board.
With Ramirez jumping in last just as Star Squadron 1's AGM-65 Mavericks set the city on fire behind him while midair.