12:32:59, The Elysium Checkpoint, Syrian Desert, Iraq, as he promised to his journal, Taylor relieves Hendricks from his duty as Vanguard Squadron 1's TL/CO and takes the position with help and authority from the W.A.S.F. squad protocol book in a private face-to-face. Major Shadi is the first to hear about the news in the Equipment Station as Vanguard 1-2 talks to Kane about it, the mission, and the need to keep Vanguard 1-1, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow on track.
MAJOR SHADI: *picks up note* "Just to keep your combat medic ensemble complete, brother. Got to look out for each other, right? - Shadow." *smiles* Thanks, Shadow. *opens weapon case*
[door opens]
MAJOR SHADI: Taylor. Kane.
TAYLOR AND KANE: Major.
[Major Shadi assembles his new Hades and L-CAR 9]
TAYLOR: Kane, about what happened, what you said.
KANE: Can't focus on that now. I was wrong. I had a moment of doubt. I just...
TAYLOR: Vanguard Squadron 2's motives. The sympathy inside of Hendricks, inside of our teammates, inside of me. How do we stop it?
KANE: All we can do is hope to contain it. If we can stop Stone, Chase and Jackson, you might have a chance. If we get you to the proper authorities in both the W.A. and the C.I.A. We just have to keep your team on track.
TAYLOR: It may not be official, but Hendricks and I have an understanding. He knows I'm the one calling the shots now.
KANE: His heart's in the right place. I think he'll do the right thing and convince the others to do the same.
MAJOR SHADI: (mentally) I get where you are coming from, but I pray that you know what you are doing with Kane, John. Because I understand why Conrad wants to die, I know that putting a C.I.A. supporter like yourself in charge is going to be bad for the unity of Vanguard Squadron 1, and I promise to keep the only family I have left safe from both foreign and domestic threats.
Taylor and Aphrodite do not mind Platinum Hawk 2 the whole time because they believe he is less important than Khalil. While Major Shadi can see their perspective as he pairs it with the fact that Conrad wants to die in order to get the C.I.A. off Winslow Accord Special Forces' back, he also understands that what Vanguard 1-2 is doing is bad for unit cohesion.
So, he silently vows to keep the rest of Vanguard Squadron 1 safe from all foreign and domestic threats. The N.R.C., the Egyptian Armed Forces, Platinum Hawk 1, O.G.A., Kane, and even Taylor himself, if he is completely compromised.
TAYLOR: Hendricks was right. Stone cut a deal with the N.R.C. Right now, he's under their protection in their Cairo stronghold, Lotus Towers. Chase and Jackson's absences are quite... concerning. But I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get there.
HENDRICKS: Vanguard Squadron 1, I deeply regret to tell you that... *sighs* I can't lead you this time.
SARAH, DIAZ, MARETTI AND SHADOW: What?!
HENDRICKS: Due to my past behavior since we interrogated Ramirez, Taylor has all the authority from the squad protocol book to remove me from my post as TL and take it for himself for the remainder of this tour. I understand that I have overstepped. And with that, Taylor is calling the shots now.
DIAZ: But-But-Bu—
HENDRICKS: That's an order, Seb, Peter, Sarah, Tyler.
[Major Shadi, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow bow their heads in defeat]
HENDRICKS: Alright, Taylor. Continue.
TAYLOR: The people of the country haven't given up. We have the Egyptian military and the civilian militia fighting by our side.
KANE: A sudden uprising would catch the N.R.C. off guard. Weaken their grip on the nation.
TAYLOR: Just like their attack on Ramses, we use it as a distraction to get our man. Once Stone, Chase and Jackson are dealt with, we return home and officially call this mission accomplished. Whatever it takes.
COMPUTER: (visually) *shows Major Shadi's ID picture* Major SHADI, Aharon/El-Sa'ka Forces Medical Officer/Mission: Start an uprising in Egypt and capture Vanguard Squadron 2 *shows a picture of Lotus Towers*
15:48:16, Lotus Towers, Cairo, Egypt, with help from the Egyptian Civilian Militia, Vanguard Squadron 1 and Platinum Hawk Team manage to infiltrate the Nile River Coalition's stronghold. The plan to catch Vanguard Squadron 2 will involve assassinating General Hakim, using his death as a signal for The Egyptian People to rise up violently, destroying the N.R.C.'s recently installed D.E.A.D. System with help from Aphrodite, who is in charge of ISR and standing by for control over all of Lotus Towers from the decommissioned Winslow Accord forward operating base, and calling the rest of El-Sa'ka Forces, the Egyptian Army, and the Egyptian Air Force in for an Egyptian uprising.
--
Lotus Towers
Cairo, Egypt
MAJ. Aharon 'Aaron' Shadi
El-Sa'ka Forces, W.A.S.F. Wetworks Division, Egyptian Army, Egyptian Air Force, Egyptian Civilian Militia
February 23rd, 2065 - 15:48:16
--
KHALIL: Once Hakim is dead, we get to the security station. Then we drop the D.E.A.D. System. Then, the uprising will truly begin.
HENDRICKS: I don't give a shit about your uprising!
[N.R.C. footsteps and voices advance]
TAYLOR: Save it! *signals Vanguard Squadron 1 and Platinum Hawk Team to get into position*
HENDRICKS: These amateurs better not get in our way, Taylor.
MAJOR SHADI: They will not. We will be just fine.
[N.R.C. Heavy Assault Troopers breach the doors with their Ballistic Shields]
KHALIL: *raises hands* Please! Please, don't kill me!
[Hendricks punches the second N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper in line to death]
[Khalil punches the first N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper in the stomach]
[Major Shadi finishes the first N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper by snapping his neck]
[Taylor punches the third N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper to death]
[Major Shadi disarms and throws the fourth N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper out the window]
[N.R.C. Heavy Assault Trooper screams]
[thud]
MAJOR SHADI: Platinum Hawk 2 to Aphrodite, we have passed Match Flame. Proceeding to First Wave, over.
KANE: Okay, nearest security station's on the 25th floor. That's our target. Once you're there, I'll overheat the N.R.C. D.E.A.D. network.
[Hades fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[VMP fire]
[Drakon fire]
[KN-57 fire]
KHALIL: Once the N.R.C. realize what they are dealing with, they will bring reinforcements from other parts of the country. We will face heavy resistance every step of the way. General Hakim is giving his speech on the balcony. Remember, the attack must be brutal. It needs to be a statement, a symbol of strength.
MAJOR SHADI: Coming right up.
KHALIL: Egypt waits to attack on the death of General Hakim. Cut the head from the serpent and let its body destroy itself.
[door opens]
GENERAL HAKIM: What? How the hell did you—
[Major Shadi rips General Hakim's genitals out]
[General Hakim painfully screams]
MAJOR SHADI: (mentally) For Alice.
[Major Shadi gouges General Hakim's eyes out]
MAJOR SHADI: (mentally) For my sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews, and nieces.
[Major Shadi lifts General Hakim over his head]
[Molotov Cocktail ignition]
KHALIL: (off loudspeaker) RAH! (on loudspeaker) CITIZENS OF EGYPT! NOW IS YOUR TIME!
[Major Shadi showcases and throws General Hakim off of Lotus Towers]
KHALIL: (on loudspeaker) TAKE BACK YOUR CITY!
[Egyptian Crowd cheers and claps]
[Khalil and Taylor vault over the balcony]
[Major Shadi, Hendricks, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow jump off the balcony]
KHALIL: The N.R.C. are in disarray, but they will soon regroup. BROTHERS, LET US TAKE BACK OUR COUNTY!
MAJOR SHADI: Aphrodite, Platinum Hawk 2. We have passed First Wave, over.
KANE: Acknowledged, Shadi. Passed First Wave.
[ICR-7 fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[VMP fire]
[Drakon fire]
[KN-57 fire]
KHALIL: DRIVE THE NILE RIVER COALITION OUT OF EGYPT!
[VKM-750 fire]
[KN-57 fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-1 fire]
[KN-44 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[Koshka fire]
[Razorback fire]
[MX9 fire]
[205 Brecci fire]
[SG12 fire]
[Egyptian Crowd angrily yells]
Now that General Abasi Hakim has been brutally toppled, Major Shadi, Taylor, Hendricks, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti, Shadow and Khalil have the first wave of riled up Egyptian citizens scattering and disorganizing the Nile River Coalition presence in the AO and latterly clearing a path to the closest and most accessible N.R.C. security station for Kane to work her techno-witchcraft. To be extra careful with the civilians all over the crossfire, Platinum Hawk 2 switches to his ICR-7 since it is automatic for the well-equipped hostiles and has a scope for precise aiming.
The ICR-7 in this remake will have the equip and reload animations of CrossfireX's/Crossfire HD's MAR-1/MSBS-K automatic rifle to avoid the boring feeling of Call of Duty's copy-paste weapon animations. The only way up to the 25th floor is the mobile shop at the uppermost part of the 20th level (the joint task force's current position).
Once it is secure, Platinum Hawk 1 gets on the controls and takes everyone up.
KHALIL: (off comms) Stay on the roof. It will take you all the way. (on comms) Taking us up. N.R.C. reinforcements are flooding the lower levels. Your mission will fail if we do not hold them back.
MAJOR SHADI: Then you better have a solution to solve all our problems. Again, the Americans are not here to fight Egypt's war.
KHALIL: I do. I will fight alongside my people. Take Vanguard Squadron 1 to the security station, Shadi. Deactivate the mobile shops below this level. That will buy you the time you need to capture Vanguard Squadron 2.
MAJOR SHADI: (on comms) Fine by me. (off comms) Vanguard Squadron 1, follow me. I will take us to the N.R.C. security station.
HENDRICKS: (off comms) Right behind, Major. (on comms) Go for it, Boy Scout.
[Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi get off the mobile shop]
MAJOR SHADI: (on comms) We are all on the 25th. Go on! (off comms) Watch for civilians! Careful, they have G.I.U.s and R.A.P.S.es this time!
KANE: They're locking down the floor. I'm scanning for options.
Platinum Hawk Team then splits up with Khalil heading to the upper floors to fight alongside The Egyptian People while Major Shadi guides Vanguard Squadron 1 to the Nile River Coalition's security station.
[C6 Breaching Charge detonation]
[Hades fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[VMP fire]
[Dingo fire]
[R.A.P.S.es explode]
HENDRICKS: Moving through breach point! Find us a path, Kane!
KANE: That air duct leads to the security station.
HENDRICKS: Really?! That's the best you've got?! *groans* Son of a bitch.
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[air duct hatch opens]
TAYLOR: Take it easy, Hendricks. This isn't you. It's Vanguard Squadron 2 getting into your head.
KANE: There. That vent dead ahead.
TAYLOR: (quietly) At least we got the drop on 'em. *kicks the air duct hatch open*
[air duct hatch lands on and kills an N.R.C. Soldier]
HENDRICKS: Enemies on both floors! Spread out!
[Hades fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[Tempest fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Tempest fire]
DIAZ: First floor, clear.
MARETTI: Second floor, clear.
MAJOR SHADI: That monitor-less console is the security station's main terminal. You can get Kane into Lotus Towers' system and the N.R.C.'s automated defense network from there, Taylor.
TAYLOR: *nods* *plants Hacking Module* Kane, I'm patching you through now.
KANE: Confirmed. Khalil, I'm in. System overload in 3 minutes.
HENDRICKS: Hey, Kane. How about you stop showing off for Khalil and start looking for Stone, huh?
TAYLOR: Stay focused, Hendricks.
SHADOW: Kane having to show off for Khalil in the name of diplomacy wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, actually.
TAYLOR: Shadow, knock it off.
MARETTI: Oh, no, no, no. He's right. Trust us, Taylor. If you're looking for that special someone, O.G.A. is like one of the worst places to start.
DIAZ: In her line of work, cheating and infidelity are rife. I give it a week until your relationship is over.
MAJOR SHADI: Ouch.
[Sarah giggles]
[Taylor sighs]
KANE: Got him. Stone's being held in Detention Block 7, 90th floor.
TAYLOR: He could tear his way out of there, no problem. Why doesn't he? What's the play?
HENDRICKS: He's probably waiting for his extraction team. With him being this important to the N.R.C., expect the worst.
TAYLOR: I don't know how much of the real Stone is left. I think he's even more delusional than the others.
SHADOW: Your choice of words can be quite absurd, Captain.
[footsteps advance]
HENDRICKS: BREACH!
MARETTI: THE WALL!
TAYLOR: Kane, I hope those D.E.A.D. Systems are coming down!
[C6 Breaching Charge detonation]
[Hades fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[VMP fire]
[Dingo fire]
KANE: 30 seconds, hold your ground!
[D.E.A.D.S.es explode]
KANE: Colonel Khalil, D.E.A.D. network has been destroyed. You are a go.
KHALIL: Confirmed! Air support moving in!
[Egyptian Air Force VTOL Warships fly by]
[Egyptian Crowd cheers and claps]
Aphrodite succeeds in overloading the N.R.C.'s Direct Energy Air Defense Systems and turning them into fireballs and molten scrap metal and allows the Egyptian Armed Forces to storm Lotus Towers unopposed. With the second wave of angry Egyptian citizens acquired, Taylor, Hendricks, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow get back on the search for Stone, Chase and Jackson with Platinum Hawk 2 as their tour guide.
MAJOR SHADI: Clear! Get inside that mobile shop. It is going to take us to the 90th floor. We will have to cut through the entire detention center since Detention Block 7 is at the very end.
HENDRICKS: Got it. Thanks, Major.
KANE: Watch Hendricks. He could be using Shadi to stop us.
TAYLOR: Copy that.
MAJOR SHADI: Going up.
HENDRICKS: These poor bastards... up against the whole fucking N.R.C. It's like they really think they have a chance or something.
TAYLOR: There's always a chance.
HENDRICKS: 6 months from now, they'll be under a whole new wave of oppression. Mark my words.
MAJOR SHADI: Maybe, maybe not. The only ones in the N.R.C. who love to oppress are the elite leaders. And the only ones who would die for them are the fanatics. They have close connections to the United Nations and their allies.
MARETTI: Yeah, we saw them vacationing in Singapore. The 54 Immortals' base of operations is also a bit of a resort.
MAJOR SHADI: Vacation homes. If I go Absent Without Leave, sneak into the Nile River Coalition's home base in Ethiopia, expose all of the fanatical elitists' deepest, darkest secrets to their whole precious league of nations, kill them, and record their deaths, their average citizens will then want The N.R.C.-Egyptian Conflict to stop.
SHADOW: That is true. I should know. I helped an N.R.C. Soldier who's actually a good guy and has never even met an American before me. And I bet he's one of many.
HENDRICKS: A combat medic's moral duty, yeah?
SHADOW: Yeah, that's the one.
SARAH: Huh, when was this, Tyler?
SHADOW: A day before I came back. I had to stop by Abu Sultan Air Base and steal a J-85B for fast transport in the middle of a hostile takeover. Egyptian Armed Forces fucks wanted to kill me because I was supposed to die by the N.R.C.'s hand. But when the bullets stopped flying, it was just me and a desperate, naive N.R.C. Soldier left breathing. Ironic. Secretary Mason's Winslow Accord and O.G.A. told us to sympathize and support Egypt, but I felt more sympathy for the average Joes of the Nile River Coalition instead.
MAJOR SHADI: Inside jobs. Playing both sides. And Khalil wonders why my patriotism is broken.
SARAH: Pretty demoralizing and devious. And hey, Shadow, hearing the events of that day really got me worried for you.
SHADOW: I'm more worried about the fact that the G-2064 Mothership SecDef gifted to the Egyptian Air Force is no longer in Abu Sultan Air Base. Makes me wonder where it is now.
[explosions]
[mobile shop abruptly stops]
MAJOR SHADI: Huh? *tries to turn the mobile shop back on* Someone or something has locked this mobile shop down.
TAYLOR: Kane, looks like this is our stop. Where are we?
KANE: You're just shy of the 88th floor. Use that roof access to get outta there.
[Shadow boost jump pushes the roof access hatch open]
[Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi climb out of the mobile shop]
KANE: Follow the marker. It'll lead you right to the Detention Block. Stone should be there.
HENDRICKS: Got it. We're on our way.
[Koshka fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[Drakon fire]
Since someone or something got the mobile shop to stop below the 88th floor, Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi has to continue on foot as they run, gun, boost jump, and wallrun their way to the 90th floor and the detention center. Dozens of G.I.U.s, a pack of R.A.P.S.es, one Hardened Sentry Gun, a lone enemy P.A.W.W.S., one A.G.R. Cerberus, and hundreds of dead Nile River Coalition infantrymen and heavy assault troopers later, they breach Detention Block 7 and meet Vanguard 2-1 in the flesh.
[doors open]
MAJOR SHADI: Clear left.
HENDRICKS: Clear right.
TAYLOR: STONE!
[Stone turns to Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi]
TAYLOR: Stone, stand down.
HENDRICKS: Give it up, Dylan. It's over.
STONE: Is it? *equips tactical pad* *orders his N.R.C. Combat Robots to stand down*
HENDRICKS: Your mission's complete already, man. The world knows about Project MK-ASHLEY now. We got the U.N. and O.G.A. by the balls.
STONE: Like we did 6 years ago?
HENDRICKS: No, no, they ain't getting away this time. We do have an exfil plan for you now that the job's done. Right, Shadow?
SHADOW: That's right. It's time to RTB, Dylan.
HENDRICKS: The C.I.A. isn't gonna get anywhere near you anymore. Is that right, Taylor?
TAYLOR: Uhhh... I-I-I-I... uh—
STONE: You love her. You really do love her, John. And with the weapons she has at all times, Alice and I would be dead before we get back stateside. Right?
HENDRICKS: Come on, prove him wrong, John.
[Stone sheds a tear and walks away]
HENDRICKS: John. John, tell him we and O.G.A. aren't gonna kill him! Give him that now, John!
TAYLOR: I can't. Taking him alive is not the C.I.A.'s mission.
KANE: Robots compromised! Stone's controlling them!
MAJOR SHADI: They are detonating! Get back!
[Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi step back]
[N.R.C. Combat Robots self-destruct]
It turns out Stone has planted his Hacking Module in the N.R.C.'s second security station on Lotus Tower Two and gained control of all their Combat Robots in case Major Shadi, Taylor, Hendricks, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow's orders involve killing him. And when Vanguard 1-2 cannot guarantee his safety or promise that he will be treated fairly, he replaces the orders of the G.I.U.s, R.A.P.S.es, Talon-Gs and Talon-Rs with his own to slow Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi down and kill every Nile River Coalition and Egyptian insurgent in their way.
[N.R.C. Combat Robots tear all N.R.C. Soldiers, Egyptian Armed Forces Servicemembers, and Egyptian Civilians within their vicinities to pieces]
[N.R.C. Soldiers frightfully and painfully scream]
[El-Sa'ka Forces Operators frightfully and painfully scream]
[Egyptian Army Soldiers frightfully and painfully scream]
[Egyptian Crowd frightfully and painfully screams]
KANE: N.R.C. robotics have gone rogue. Stone has connected to their collective hivemind and taken control.
[Koshka fire]
MAJOR SHADI: If you have a sniper rifle, use it. They are one-shot killers against General Infantry Units.
TAYLOR: He's killing his N.R.C. partners as well! Is he trying to kill us with just robots?!
[Koshka fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[Drakon fire]
MAJOR SHADI: I think he is trying to slow us down rather than kill us!
MARETTI: It's like the zombie robots of Singapore all over again!
MAJOR SHADI: You fought zombie robots before?
DIAZ: Yeah, and it's a long, spooky story, bro! Remind us to tell you all about it after this!
TAYLOR: Kane, where is Stone?!
KANE: Target spotted crossing the skybridge to Tower Two.
MAJOR SHADI: Okay, we can cut through here to get to the skybridge.
With Stone's moving position closely monitored and consistently reported by Kane, Major Shadi, Taylor, Hendricks, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow pursue. But just as they arrive at the skybridge and things are looking up for Egypt, the N.R.C. is still not ready to lose and shows this by capturing Platinum Hawk 1 himself and four of his fellow El-Sa'ka Forces Operators before their rogue Combat Robots could kill them all.
KANE: Stone entered Tower Two. The N.R.C. has converted it to an armory and installed landing pads on the roof.
TAYLOR: He's headed to the roof. He's getting outta here.
SHADOW: I bet they're gonna use the Egyptian Air Force Mothership they stole. It's the only way to fly through a sandstorm.
HENDRICKS: Help me clear the debris, Taylor. Everyone else, cover us.
[Taylor and Hendricks clear the debris before the skybridge]
EGYPTIAN AIR FORCE AIRMAN: Air support coming into position.
[Koshka fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[Drakon fire]
KHALIL: Ramses 0-1, I need reinforcements at my location! Heavy N.R.C. forces have surrounded us— *static*
KANE: Colonel Khalil, respond!
[static]
KANE: We've lost comms, too much interference.
EGYPTIAN ARMY COMMAND: (Arabic) Colonel Khalil's AO is compromised. We lost communications and visuals. He and four others have been captured by the N.R.C. We are trying to locate.
TAYLOR: Kane, we have to help Khalil. We wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for him.
SHADOW: Speak for yourself and O.G.A., Taylor!
MAJOR SHADI: I agree! Your statement is what you would call "bullshit"!
TAYLOR: Could you have gotten us this far all the same, Shadi?!
MAJOR SHADI: Way sooner than this! It is not hard! It is just that you and Kane keep getting in the way by playing humanitarian! Stupid office politics!
KANE: Shadi, Shadi, stand down and shut up! You are not Khalil! Taylor, I know we wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for Khalil, but we need to kill Stone, Chase and Jackson. I'll monitor N.R.C. comms, find out where he is. Once we achieve our objectives, we'll go get him. I promise.
TAYLOR: Roger that. How long till that sandstorm hits?
KANE: Few minutes tops. Keep moving.
MAJOR SHADI: A VTOL Warship will not be fast or strong enough for this country's sandstorms. You may be right about that Mothership theory, Shadow. None of our air bases nationwide have it.
The resistance that awaits Vanguard Squadron 1 ft. Major Shadi in Lotus Tower Two consists entirely of turned G.I.U.s, R.A.P.S.es, Talon-Gs and Talon-Rs. But with a sandstorm coming to Cairo, zombie robots will become the least of their concerns once at the roof.
HENDRICKS: Okay, we're at Lotus Tower Two. What about Stone?
[C6 Breaching Charge detonation]
[Koshka fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[Drakon fire]
[R.A.P.S.es explode]
TAYLOR: Where is he, Kane?
KANE: Got him. In a mobile shop, ascending.
TAYLOR: Where are we going, Kane?
STONE: Up.
HENDRICKS: Dylan, listen to me. You can stop this.
STONE: It can't be stopped. Project MK-ASHLEY is already operational, and we all know it. The C.I.A. won't stop burying its existence and us along with it. I wish I could tell you to what end. But I only know that it's over for Vanguard Squadron.
TAYLOR: If you go down this path, you'll leave us no choice! We'll pull the triggers ourselves!
STONE: I know Kane will convince you to do so. But could you convince Jacob, Sarah, Seb, Peter or Shadow to do the same? I'm sure not even Aaron can help you do it. Yet, if you won't, the C.I.A. and your precious Special Agent Rachel Kane will without question. How can you love someone like that?
TAYLOR: *angrily grunts* DON'T LISTEN TO THIS REAL ASSHOLE, GUYS! WE DON'T KNOW HIM ANYMORE! PEOPLE CHANGE!
SARAH: YOUR! BEDSIDE! MANNER! SUCKS! TAYLOR!
TAYLOR: (off comms) HAVE IT YOUR WAY THEN! (on comms) STONE! YOU DESTROYED C.I.A. OPERATIONS WORLDWIDE! YOU PUT THE ENTIRE WINSLOW ACCORD ALLIANCE IN JEOPARDY! AND FOR WHAT?! DO YOU EVEN KNOW?! DO YOU HAVE A FUCKING CLUE?! YOU'RE BEING USED BY THE U.N. AND YOUR "FRIEND", SPECIAL AGENT ALISON STONE!
STONE: WE'RE ALL BEING USED! DON'T YOU SEE THAT, JOHN?! Once we put this human technological augmentation shit on our bodies and put this D.N.I. shit inside our heads, we handed over our souls to whoever holds the keys! *cries* They watch our every move! Tell us inside our heads what to eat, what to buy, WHAT TO THINK! We're puppets. Actors playing out our roles. If exposing the truth makes me the bad guy in the C.I.A.'s story, then I am proud of it. I'm the bad guy.
MAJOR SHADI: *opens elevator* This elevator is still working, team! Get in!
HENDRICKS: Copy, coming to you.
SHADOW: Last man.
MAJOR SHADI: *closes elevator* Going up.
KANE: What the hell happened?
TAYLOR: Stone's fucking with our comms.
KANE: He's moving on the roof. Looks like he's signaling an aircraft.
[elevator doors open]
HENDRICKS: Clear left.
MAJOR SHADI: Clear right.
TAYLOR: Move your asses! We can't let him get off the tower!
[doors open]
[elevator doors open]
MARETTI: More G.I.U.s!
[Paladin HB50 fire]
TAYLOR: Oh, shit.
[Drakon fire]
[Koshka fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
HENDRICKS: Dammit. There's too many!
TAYLOR: Hall, Diaz, Maretti, Shadow, Shadi, cease fire! Form up on me!
[VAPR-XKG fire]
HENDRICKS: Captain's orders, team! Go on!
TAYLOR: You gotta hold 'em, Hendricks. I'm going after Stone.
[VAPR-XKG clicks]
[Hendricks starts destroying N.R.C. Combat Robots in hand-to-hand combat]
[doors open]
TAYLOR: Clear right.
SHADOW: Clear left. STONE, DON'T DO THIS! We can stop this! We can keep O.G.A. from touching you again!
STONE: Just hang in there a little longer, Shadow. You'll see what I'm talking about.
[N.R.C. G-2064 flies by]
[Taylor aims his Rampart 17 at Stone]
SHADOW: TAYLOR, WA— MOTHERSHIP'S ABOUT TO FIRE! TAKE COVER!
[AGM-114 Hellfires launch]
[explosions]
[GAU-8/A Avenger fire]
[bullets hit]
The Winslow Accord Special Forces Support Division G-2064 Mothership that was gifted by Savannah to the Egyptian Air Force is confirmed to have been stolen by the Nile River Coalition back in the Abu Sultan Air Base attack as it now fetches Vanguard 2-1 and tries to kill Major Shadi, Taylor, Sarah, Diaz, Maretti and Shadow. But Aphrodite notices this as well and sends four mobile armories to the roof filled with Micro-Missile Launchers, XM-53s, Spike Launchers, Death Machine Miniguns, and ammo to help them shoot it down once its AGM-114 Hellfire missile launcher, GAU-8/A Avenger seven-barrel gatling-style autocannon, and AIM-120 AMRAAM missile launcher are destroyed first.
However, Stone has one more ace in the hole on board the Mothership.
KANE: Stone's on board an N.R.C.-controlled Mothership. I'm sending mobile armories your way. The heavy weapons in them should help level the playing field.
SHADOW: ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE THIS IS TO RUN, BOOST JUMP, AND SHOOT THOSE TURRETS! DON'T RELY ON COVER TOO MUCH OR THE AVENGER WILL TEAR IT AND YOU APART!
[GAU-8/A Avenger fire]
[bullets hit]
MAJOR SHADI: I have a Micro-Missile Launcher!
SHADOW: Same as you, Aaron!
SARAH: Likewise, gentlemen!
[Micro-Missile Launcher fire]
[explosions]
TAYLOR: I got the Spike Launcher!
[Spike Launcher fire]
[Spike detonation]
DIAZ: I got an XM-53!
[XM-53 fire]
[explosions]
MARETTI: I have the Death Machine Minigun!
[Death Machine Minigun fire]
SHADOW: MOTHERSHIP IS ABOUT TO CUT LOOSE! GET DOWN!
[AGM-114 Hellfires launch]
[explosions]
[GAU-8/A Avenger fire]
[bullets hit]
ALISON: (on loudspeaker) Go ahead, Krueger. Make things right for the world. Tell the truth, and I can negotiate your safe transfer to those Americans outside.
STONE: (on loudspeaker) You never stopped, did you, C.I.A. Director Sebastian Krueger?! All the death, all the failure, you just moved the whole damn project to your company's home in Zürich! THE SAME SETUP! THE SAME HUMAN EXPERIMENTS! THE SAME RISKS! AND YOU STARTED THE WHOLE THING OVER AGAIN!
KRUEGER: (on loudspeaker) It was always about control.
KANE: Krueger?! How is this possible?!
KRUEGER: (on loudspeaker) Do you have any idea just how much technology has changed every single aspect of our daily lives?
TAYLOR: Take out that missile launcher first, or we're all dead in an instant!
[Micro-Missile Launcher fire]
[explosions]
[Spike Launcher fire]
[Spike detonation]
[XM-53 fire]
[explosions]
[Death Machine Minigun fire]
[AGM-114 Hellfire Missile Launcher explodes]
SHADOW: FUCKING MOTHERSHIP IS ABOUT TO FIRE! GET DOWN!
[GAU-8/A Avenger fire]
MARETTI: ARGH! I'M HIT! I'M HIIIT!
MAJOR SHADI, SARAH, DIAZ AND SHADOW: PETER!
KRUEGER: (on loudspeaker) You can't begin to imagine the... COUNTLESS strains of research and development WE had to watch over for the betterment and safety of the human race.
KANE: Stone and Alison are making Krueger verify the intelligence leaks on a live stream! You have to shoot them down and stop them, NOW!
TAYLOR: WE CAN'T STOP NOW, TEAM! PETER'S GONE! KEEP FIRING ON THE TWO REMAINING TURRETS!
[Micro-Missile Launcher fire]
[explosions]
[Spike Launcher fire]
[Spike detonation]
[XM-53 fire]
[explosions]
SHADOW: FUCKING MOTHERSHIP IS ABOUT TO FIRE AGAIN! GET THE FUCK DOWN!
[AIM-120 AMRAAMs launch]
DIAZ: Hey, those are AMRAAMs! They're getting desperate! Shoot that other missile launcher!
[XM-53 fire]
[AIM-120 AMRAAMs launch]
[AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile Launcher explodes]
[explosions]
[Diaz painfully screams]
MAJOR SHADI, SARAH AND SHADOW: SEB!
KRUEGER: (on loudspeaker) Every new gimmick and gadget that was embraced by the public, EACH ONE presented NEW WAYS for our enemies to compromise our security.
KANE: DIAZ AND MARETTI ARE GONE, VANGUARD SQUADRON 1! KILL STONE AND ALISON AND SAVE DIRECTOR KRUEGER NOW! THAT'S AN ORDER!
TAYLOR: Yes, ma'am! COME ON! THEY ONLY HAVE THE AVENGER LEFT!
[Micro-Missile Launcher fire]
[explosions]
[Spike Launcher fire]
[Spike detonation]
SHADOW: MOTHERSHIP IS ABOUT TO FIRE! TAKE COVER!
[GAU-8/A Avenger fire]
MAJOR SHADI: I GOT A LOCK! FIRING!
SHADOW: I GOT TONE! TAKING THE SHOT!
SARAH: GOOD TONE! I'M TAKING THE SHOT!
[Micro-Missile Launcher fire]
[Sarah painfully screams]
[GAU-8/A Avenger explodes]
MAJOR SHADI AND SHADOW: SARAH!
TAYLOR: THAT'S IT! MOTHERSHIP'S DEFENSELESS! START SHOOTING THE ENGINES!
[Spike Launcher fire]
[Spike detonation]
KRUEGER: (on loudspeaker) Society doesn't just happen. The people NEED to be protected. If the only way to prevent future attacks is to monitor the thoughts and desires of the population, then the choice is obvious. WE NEED TO KNOW WHO OUR ENEMIES ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING! THAT IS HOW WE SAVE LIVES!
KANE: SHIT! Stone and Alison finished their live stream! They did it! Their data leaks won! Still, all you can do is hit 'em back Vanguard Squadron 1! Shoot their Mothership down and kill them both!
TAYLOR: Roger tha— Standby, they're landing.
Despite the captured G-2064 Mothership being defenseless, it still allowed Vanguard 2-1 and Alison to force Krueger to verify the C.I.A.'s intelligence leaks to the world on a YouTube live stream. However, even though it has the chance to escape since Platinum Hawk 2 and Vanguard 1-6 have already turned their attention to the shot up Vanguard 1-3 and Vanguard 1-5 and the blown up Vanguard 1-4 and Vanguard 1-2 alone is not enough to destroy all engines, the aircraft hovers and opens its main cargo door willingly.
KANE: They could be opening up. Get ready, John. Kill Stone and Alison, save Krueger.
TAYLOR: Roger that, Rachel. *reloads Rampart 17*
[door opens]
[Taylor takes aim]
[AX50 fire]
[Stone and Taylor painfully grunt]
[AX50 fire]
[Taylor painfully screams]
[Rampart 17 clatters]
[AX50 fire]
[Taylor painfully screams]
SHADOW: I KNEW IT!
[AX50 fire]
[Drakon fire]
[bullets ricochet]
SHADOW: Shadi?!
MAJOR SHADI: I am look— WHOA!
[M60E6 fire]
[M249 Para fire]
[bullets ricochet]
[bullets hit]
[Global Risk Counter-Terrorist Warlord and Black List Terrorist Warlord throw Stone and Krueger out of the N.R.C. G-2064]
KRUEGER: *painfully grunts* WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ASHLEY?! I THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL!
ALISON/JOHNSTONE-BRIDGER: What deal?! Me returning you to those Yanks or me inducting you, Coalescence Corporation, and the C.I.A. into the U.N.?! *laughs*
KANE: John?! JOHN! Shadow, Shadi, Special Agent Alison Stone is Secretary-General Ashley Johnstone-Bridger! Kill her! KILL HER NOW!
MAJOR SHADI: I have no shot! I am pinned down!
SHADOW: Yep! Same!
KANE: FIND A FUCKING WAY NOW!
JOHNSTONE-BRIDGER: Like we would ever let even a single American coexist with us! Still, it was a pleasure ruining the United States with you, C.I.A.! Just like old times! Let's go home, boys and girls! *laughs*
[door closes]
[Micro-Missile Launchers click]
MAJOR SHADI AND SHADOW: No. *place Micro-Missile Launchers leaning against the covers*
[Koshka fire]
[Drakon fire]
[bullets ricochet]
[bullets hit]
[N.R.C. G-2064 flies away]
[Koshka clicks]
[Drakon clicks]
Taylor gets ambushed by Secretary-General Ashley Johnstone-Bridger herself in her MI6 Special Agent Alison Stone alter ego shooting her Accuracy International AX50 through Stone's abdomen to amputate the former's arms and left leg and tie up loose ends with the latter simultaneously. Major Shadi and Shadow try to assassinate her, but she gets them pinned down behind cover with her Global Risk Counter-Terrorist Warlords and Black List Terrorist Warlords.
With them suppressed, she also wraps up the business she has with the Coalescence Corporation CEO and Hidden C.I.A. Director as her shock troops throw him out of her Mothership. And as she exfiltrates, Platinum Hawk 2 and Vanguard 1-6 attempt to kill her once again, but to no avail because they are all out of Micro Missiles, the damaged G-2064 Mothership's hull is still bulletproof, and takeoff was quick due to the advanced flight capabilities.
All they can do now is to help Vanguard 1-2 and Vanguard 2-1 survive alongside Sarah, Diaz and Maretti. However, Stone wants to make the newest and hardest decision of his life with assistance from Major Shadi and Shadow.
MAJOR SHADI AND SHADOW: JOHN! DYLAN!
STONE: Help John and Jacob. They need your help more than I do.
SHADOW: I have John, Aaron. Help Dylan.
STONE: NO, PLEASE, LISTEN TO ME!
[Major Shadi stops]
[Shadow instinctively helps Taylor without looking while listening to Stone simultaneously]
STONE: All Vanguard Squadron 2 has ever done throughout this Godforsaken tour is do their duty. Especially when we caught the C-I-fucking-A red-handed. Even if we would find ourselves in their shit list. *painfully groans* I hope God has a sense of humor. Shadow, you should know that Chase and Jackson may have helped us get Krueger, but I made sure we were never seen together. They know what just happened here. They'll evac you all in a bit.
SHADOW: Thank you, Dylan.
STONE: Not a problem, Tyler, sir. Now end me with your Hades and a headshot, Aaron. I prefer to die at the hands of a friend. Finish the Kill Order. Get O.G.A. out of W.A.S.F. Give 'em Hell. *closes eyes*
[Hades fire]
MAJOR SHADI: God watch over you, Dylan.
SHADOW: Take care of his family. Taylor's patched up. Let's get him in here, get back down there, and help Hendricks.
MAJOR SHADI: Okay.
Captain Dylan Stone is terminated by Platinum Hawk 2 in hopes that W.A.S.F.'s usefulness to the C.I.A. will finally run out upon the completion of their Kill Order. After saving Taylor and securing him in Lotus Tower Two's rooftop's control booth with the others, Major Shadi and Vanguard 1-6 move back down to help Hendricks.
[Koshka fire]
SHADOW: Hendricks, catch! *throws Dingo at Hendricks*
[Hendricks catches Shadow's Dingo]
[Dingo fire]
[Drakon fire]
HENDRICKS: Clear. Shadow, you got a GSW (gunshot wound) in your abdomen.
MAJOR SHADI: What?! *checks Shadow*
SHADOW: It's okay, guys. Plate Carrier kept this .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) shot from being lethal.
HENDRICKS: .50 Caliber?!
[doors open]
SHADOW: I'll tell you all about it at base. First, we gotta check in with our incoming evac team.
HENDRICKS: Alright. Is that Krueger?
MAJOR SHADI: Affirmative. We prefer to leave him there.
HENDRICKS: JOHN! SARAH! SEB! PETER!
SHADOW: Mothership hit 'em hard, but they'll live. God bless today's medicine.
HENDRICKS: Oh, thank God.
SHADOW: Manhattan, this is Gold 1. Mission is accomplished and over. Ready for exfil. Interrogative: Are Gold 2 and Gold 3 leading the extraction team as we speak, over?
MANHATTAN: Affirmative, Gold 1. They're fast approaching your last known position now via Razorback VTOL. Mark it with an IR Beacon to turn it into your current position, over.
SHADOW: (on comms) Roger that. Standby for IR Beacon, over. (off comms) I'm heading out to plant an IR Beacon for our Razorback VTOL, gentlemen.
HENDRICKS: The slightly smaller but more powerful and resilient big brother of the VTOL Warship. Good. We're right behind you for cover.
SHADOW: *plants IR Beacon* Set. One landing pad should be plenty. Chase and Jackson will know what to do with Krueger. Let's be ready to move.
[Major Shadi and Hendricks nod]
SHADOW: *starts limping* It's okay. Go on ahead. I'm right... behind...
[thud]
HENDRICKS: SHADOW!
[Major Shadi carries Shadow inside the control booth]
HENDRICKS: SHADOW!
MAJOR SHADI: It is his gunshot wound. Stand clear. *patches Shadow's GSW up*
HENDRICKS: Gold 2, this is Vanguard 1-1! Come in! Gold 2, this is Vanguard 1-1! Do you copy, over?!
CHASE: I copy, Vanguard 1-1. Send traffic, over.
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 1-6 is down! I say again, Vanguard 1-6 is down, over!
CHASE: We're speeding up as we speak, Vanguard 1-1. Just be ready to move, over.
It turns out Shadow was shot by Johnstone-Bridger in the abdomen and has been ignoring it until he passes out from blood loss after confirming extraction courtesy of DEVGRU, the U.S. Navy SEALs, and the USS Donald Trump. 19:31:52, The Elysium Checkpoint, Syrian Desert, Iraq, Platinum Hawk 2, Nightfall, Preacher, Forrester, Smokejumper, Victoria, Huntsman Prime, Alessia, Conrad, and Nomad immediately get to work upon touchdown.
MAJOR SHADI: Okay, Hendricks. The trauma team is down there waiting for us. All you need to do is help Chase and Jackson in getting Krueger out of here and stand clear. We will notify you when updates are available.
HENDRICKS: Okay. Thank you for everything, Aaron.
MAJOR SHADI: You are welcome.
NIGHTFALL: Okay, Sea Sparrow 7-1. Slow. Slow. Careful.
[Sea Sparrow 7-1 gently touches down]
PREACHER: Good! We're good!
JACKSON: Opening cargo bay door! *presses button*
[door opens]
JACKSON: MOVE YOUR ASS, KRUEGER!
KRUEGER: Watch it! Why are you treating me like a prisoner?! I want immunity! I want to speak to a government official and the C.I.A.!
HENDRICKS: SHUT UP AND MOVE!
FORRESTER: Boxer, Midnight, Fortnite, Smokejumper, Victoria, Hoffmann, Wilder, Jackson, Fox, Axel, get Shadow, Taylor, Hall, Diaz and Maretti on the stretchers. I got Taylor. Nomad, you have Shadow. Alessia, Hall. Nightfall, Diaz. Preacher, Maretti.
KANE: Stand down, boys! Krueger's on our side! Hendricks, you're coming with me. We need to brief Langley and Washington on the mission's success.
HENDRICKS: GIVE ME A FUCKING SECOND, YOU BITCH! They'll be okay, right, Rob?
CHASE: It's bad, but Task Force Sentinel has the best medical specialists in the West. They'll make 'em better than new.
MAJOR SHADI: Taylor, Hall and Maretti were torn apart by heavy fire while Diaz was hit by a missile. And Shadow ignored this .50 BMG wound in his abdomen for about 5 minutes until he passed out. They are all losing blood.
FORRESTER: We need to get 'em to the med building stat. Huntsman Prime, Conrad, Pathmaker, Spartan, Chase, be ready for transfer to the gurneys!
HUNTSMAN PRIME: Roger that!
FORRESTER: Okay. Three, two, one, up!
[Task Force Sentinel lifts Shadow, Taylor, Sarah, Diaz and Maretti up]
FORRESTER: Easy, easy. Three, two, one, transfer!
[Task Force Sentinel ft. Conrad and Major Shadi transfers Shadow, Taylor, Sarah, Diaz and Maretti to the gurneys]
FORRESTER: We're gonna need IV (intravenous) Bags and blood bags already set in the med building.
PATHMAKER: Copy that.
FORRESTER: Spartan, get our generator, lights, and all medical electronics up and running. Have our backup generators ready as well. And grab and ready all the heat lamps.
SPARTAN: You got it, Forrester.
FORRESTER: Form up on me! Single file line! Let's move!
[Task Force Sentinel ft. Conrad and Major Shadi forms up in a single file line and moves to the med building]
FORRESTER: The internal and external wounds are bad, but the infection from the sandstorm is also imperative. As long as we move fast, we have a good chance.
23:40:03, Vanguard 1-6 is already resting and recovering quickly while Taylor, Sarah, Diaz and Maretti are stable in medically induced comas awaiting W.A.S.F.'s decision on what to do with them. Major Shadi is the one to give the much-needed update to Hendricks.
[door opens]
[Electrocardiogram Machine beeps]
[door closes]
HENDRICKS: How are they?
MAJOR SHADI: Tyler is resting and on the road to recovery. John, Sarah, Sebastian and Peter are stable in medically induced comas now. Tyler and the others have done everything they can.
HENDRICKS: You as well, Aaron. You and Shadow ensured my teammates made it this far.
[Major Shadi nods]
HENDRICKS: Do-Do you think they're going to—
MAJOR SHADI: Look, Jacob, do not blame yourself.
HENDRICKS: *sighs* I should've secured my position a lot quicker. I should've been a better Operator. Shadow should've healed himself and left me back there.
MAJOR SHADI: Ah. That is not how Shadow or I operate, even with the most unpopular combat medic rule of healing yourself first. Especially since... what happened to Fireteam First Light.
HENDRICKS: Fireteam First Light? You mean Tamara Kozak, Jessica Mason, Valerie Rosa Ramirez, and Eleanor Winters?
MAJOR SHADI: *opens locker* It was just 4 hours after the graduation of Class 001, and Tamara, Jess, Val and Ellie went on ahead to celebrate in the restaurant where Alice and I had our first date. But Khalil, Kareem El-Masry, Abdelaal, Al-Hilli and El-Shenawy were there as well. With no male American Operator to protect them, they seized the opportunity to rape them. And my "countrymen", even the children, cheered my "teammates" on. Tyler, Sarah, Rob, Harold, Alice and I were the first on the scene, but... it was already too late. All we could do was get Tamara, Jess, Val and Ellie back to base and hit Kareem El-Masry, Abdelaal, Al-Hilli and El-Shenawy back since Khalil got away, leaving his best friends behind to face punishment. You already know about the girls suddenly leaving Winslow Accord Special Forces and disappearing off the face of the Earth. But Tyler suspected foul play. And when he saw himself out of Tora Prison, he infiltrated the United Nations Skyscraper Headquarters alone and confirmed and proved his suspicions right. *opens Shadow's locker* His four best lady friends were gone. Kidnapped, raped and murdered by C.I.A., MI6, Global Risk and Black List. But Tyler did not give up. He shed light on Project MK-ASHLEY for the West for the first time, regrouped with Task Force Sentinel here, and came back for you and Vanguard Squadron. Tyler may have lost Tamara, Jessica, Valerie and Eleanor, but he would die before he would lose the rest of you as well. Especially Sarah.
HENDRICKS: *hugs Major Shadi* We are proud to have you as our brother in arms, Aaron.
[Major Shadi hugs Hendricks back]
HENDRICKS: When you leave Egyptian Spec Ops and need a new job at stateside, I'll let you work with me.
MAJOR SHADI: I appreciate that, Jacob. Thank you.
February 24th, 2065 - 09:54:11, over the course of last night, the C.I.A. and W.A.S.F. have declared the joint combat tour and the mission a success since there was not enough evidence to charge Chase and Jackson with collusion with U.N. allies when it was revealed that they captured Krueger from the Coalescence Corporation HQ in Zürich alone and without killing anyone. Recently promoted Lieutenant Commander Jacob Hendricks reports to Commander Leo Moffat, the new and visiting commanding officer of Winslow Accord Special Forces, and tenders his resignation as a member of the Wetworks Division and formal request for transfer to the Support Division, which are accepted.
In light of Vanguard Squadron 2's intelligence leaks and broadcasted confession, Coalescence Corporation wants to disown their CEO and apologize to W.A.S.F. by giving the seemingly permanently debilitated members of Vanguard Squadron 1 a second chance in the form of an experimental idea they call, "Project Prometheus".
A procedure to give badly injured servicemembers a new life in the military with human technological augmentation from head to toe. To make sure Coalescence is a company of its word, Director Kelly Forrester is planning to help fund Project Prometheus and oversee it as it works.
Taylor comes to ahead of Sarah, Diaz and Maretti, hears about all of this news from Kane, and accepts the effort between Coalescence Corporation and W.A.S.F., which the latter calls, "The Cyber Soldier Program". Regardless of what it will do to his current self, old life, and personal future.
KANE: If you go through with this, I can't be with you.
TAYLOR: This is the only way.
KANE: It's going to change you... and quicker than you think.
TAYLOR: I don't have a choice. I have to do this.
KANE: But your old life will... will fade away.
TAYLOR: This is who I am, Rachel.
KANE: Just... don't forget me, John. *leaves her Winslow Accord Scarf for Taylor* Don't forget the person you were.
February 25th, 2065 - 10:16:04, Coalescence Corporation Military Training and Testing Facility, Zürich, Switzerland, Project Prometheus/The Cyber Soldier Program is a success and Major John Taylor, Captain Sarah Hall, Master Sergeant Sebastian Diaz and Master Sergeant Peter Maretti are reborn as Vanguard Squadron 3 in the newly formed Winslow Accord Special Forces Black Cyber Ops Division. 14 minutes before their specifically crafted basic training begins, Taylor gives his journal the biggest update yet.
TAYLOR: (journal entry) Infiltration and Termination. Target K.I.A.: U.N. Defector Delta-Sierra. Mission Status: Closed. February 25th, 2065 - 10:16:04. At this time, Target Stone's termination is confirmed. Targets Chase and Jackson have been exonerated due to the lack of evidence of treason. But although all additional confidential materials concerning the C.I.A. have been retrieved and secured, the intelligence leaks still did their damage along with HVI Krueger's live-streamed confession. Regardless, Operation #61-63-68-75 had been confirmed as closed at this time. Final report. We picked up chatter suggesting that our final target had been taken to Lotus Towers, a residential mega-structure now under the control of the N.R.C. Now acting as their M.O.B. for operations in Cairo, the structure was well-guarded and heavily protected. On concert with the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Egyptian Civilian Militia, Vanguard Squadron 1 infiltrated Lotus Tower One in pursuit of Target Stone. DA proved successful not just for our team but also for Egypt as well, striking a blow for their cause with the elimination of the N.R.C.'s primary commander replacing the late Field Marshal Afework Jula, General Abasi Hakim. N.R.C. operations have been thrown into chaos, leading to a large-scale withdrawal of their forces in Egypt. Despite this victory, our allies suffered significant losses, most notably the capture of Col. Khalil, our principal contact in the Egyptian Armed Forces. Upon cornering Stone on the N.R.C. VTOL landing pads at the top of Lotus Tower Two, Hall, Diaz, Maretti, Shadow, Maj. Shadi and I were involved in a major firefight with him, Special Agent Alison Stone, who was later revealed to be U.N. Secretary-General Ashley Johnstone-Bridger in her preferred alter ego, her Global Risk Counter-Terrorists and Black List Terrorists, and the Egyptian Air Force's G-2064 Mothership, which was stolen by the N.R.C. a day before this joint combat tour started, that resulted in significant damage to the surrounding structures. It was at this time that Hall, Diaz, Maretti and I were incapacitated after sustaining serious injuries after disarming the Mothership and forcing Johnstone-Bridger to throw Target Stone and HVI Krueger out of her possession. We were saved only by the intervention of Shadow and Shadi, who kept Johnstone-Bridger from finishing us off and got her to exfiltrate and, despite all their prior doubts, were the ones who finally terminated Stone. After the operation, Hendricks mourned the deaths of our late former teammates, paid his respects, and requested transfer out of the Wetworks Division. A request that I fully understand given what he's been through. I have written a letter of recommendation, stating that it's been an honor to train under him, work with him, and learn from him. Regarding the reassignment of Hall, Diaz, Maretti and myself, the extent of our injuries required urgent non-consensual surgical reconstruction and cybernetic augmentation at Coalescence Corporation's HQ in Zürich. Following a successful period of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, we were offered a chance to join an experimental program, the newly formed Winslow Accord Special Forces Black Cyber Ops Division. Personal Comment: My relationship with our former LNO, Rachel Kane, is over. Our fundamental disagreements about our respective futures in the military closed the door to any future we might have had. It may not have worked out, but I have no doubt that I have made the right decision. I look forward to continuing to serve my country and her allies. Also, Shadow, sir, Diaz, Maretti and I know you stayed by Hall's side the whole time since Lotus Towers. Just don't negatively affect her combat effectiveness. I'm her CO now. But don't worry. Your job of protecting her, of protecting us, of protecting W.A.S.F. from the corrupt elements of the C.I.A. is done. Hall will be safe with us. Taylor, out.