Winslow Accord Special Forces Black Cyber Ops Division's basic training only takes exactly 15 minutes in real time despite the fact that it lasts 13 weeks in the D.N.I.'s virtual world. That is because the Direct Neural Interface allows the human brain to pick up, familiarize, and master any and all kinds of information in a short period of time in the real world even though it looks and feels like a time-consuming process in VR (virtual reality), making its ability to create specialists much faster and more cost-effective than that of a Combat Immersion Setup.
And this quantum leap in human technological augmentation has allowed Vanguard Squadron 3 to conduct their first ever mission and field test. Which is a search and rescue op the C.I.A. and the Egyptian Armed Forces call Operation Real Hero.
But W.A.S.F. knows that real-world experiments have to be conducted slowly and steadily. This is why the recovery operation will be led by Winslow Accord Special Forces Support Division and their fresh and promising fireteam named Vanguard Squadron 4.
With Hendricks being the five-man squad's commanding officer and primary rifleman. His second in command and enlisted man TL will be Staff Sergeant Perry Osman, callsign: Player (third row, second column male face model in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign character select), a 75th Ranger Regiment sniper, weapons specialist, and tech support who got the nickname and callsign "Player" for being a favorite of the ladies and falling in love and successfully and happily marrying the youngest and most attractive female General in the United States Army's history.
The Operator behind him will be Sergeant Cathy Mason (third row, first column female face model in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign character select), a United States Marine Corps 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines rifleman and corpsman. Vanguard 4-4 will be Petty Officer Second Class Tate Caracal (second row, third column male face model in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign character select), Vanguard Squadron 4's primary support gunner and a demolitions expert from SEAL Team 7.
And Vanguard 4-5 will be Staff Sergeant Dante Kantor (first row, second column male face model in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign character select), the team's secondary support gunner and Combat Crontroller from the United States Air Force Combat Control Team. Together, they will infiltrate the N.R.C.'s base of operations known as Fort Hunter Killer, which is sitting in Ethiopia's Simien Mountains, with enemy uniforms, find and free the recently captured Prime Minister of Egypt, Ahmed Said, and bring him back home with help from W.A.S.F. Black Cyber Ops Division.
15:58:40, Vanguard Squadron 4 watches the Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 "Ember" Tease (which, in this story's world, is a creative yet informative YouTube video the N.S.A. made and posted upon Forrester High-End Corporation's first collaboration with the Coalescence Corporation a day ago) to kill the remaining time before the briefing.
[Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 "Ember" Tease plays]
N.S.A.: MANKIND'S GREATEST MISTAKE WILL BE ITS INABILITY TO CONTROL THE TECHNOLOGY IT HAS CREATED.
1998
2000
2011
2015
2020
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2028
2041
2051
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2065
[Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 "Ember" Tease ends]
HENDRICKS: My name is Lieutenant Commander Jacob Hendricks. I'm your new CO. This is Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Said. Taken hostage by Nile River Coalition forces two days ago. After the uprisings in Egypt, they may want to make an example of him. Punish him. We're not going to let that happen. Just so we're clear, if this goes wrong, you never existed.
COMPUTER: (visually) *shows Player's ID picture* Staff Sergeant OSMAN, Perry/W.A.S.F. Team Leader/Mission: Rescue Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Said *shows Prime Minister Said's dossier*
February 26th, 2065 - 01:00:00, Fort Hunter Killer, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia, what Winslow Accord Special Forces does not know before deployment but notice once in the AO is that there is an internal joint DEVGRU/El-Sa'ka Forces op to share the Nile River Coalition's leaders' heavily redacted secrets to the world and assassinate said leaders the moment they scramble to get out of their own home for asylum in the United Nations. The classified documents show the N.R.C.'s fanatics and elitists playing both sides of The N.R.C.-Egyptian Conflict as they visited the Egyptian Government like old friends, created Winslow Accord-sponsored massacres and genocides in TV studios in all Nile River Coalition countries, and took their own ordinary citizens for their selfish desires from sex slavery to forced labor to organ harvest and trade.
But even though this intelligence leak has got almost everyone in the N.R.C.'s base of operations running around for futile solutions to the problem, W.A.S.F. believes they need a much bigger distraction. That is where deep undercover Vanguard Squadron 4 comes in as they hack Fort Hunter Killer's D.E.A.D.S. network from the air traffic control tower and direct an approaching Nile River Coalition Air Force Antonov An-225 Mriya strategic airlift cargo plane to their trap.
--
Vanguard
Fort Hunter Killer, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
SSG. Perry 'Player' Osman
W.A.S.F. Support Division, W.A.S.F. Black Cyber Ops Division, DEVGRU, El-Sa'ka Forces
February 26th, 2065 - 01:00:44
--
HENDRICKS: The N.R.C. are gonna be here soon. We got about 1 minute to create the mother of all distractions.
N.R.C. EMERGENCY RESPONDER: Tower, I need all traffic diverted from Runway 1-9.
HENDRICKS: Copy that, diverting traffic to Runway 1-1. Cargo 4-0-1-niner, we have a fuel fire on Runway 1-9. Divert course for landing to Runway 1-1. Please confirm.
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Hey! Why is this door locked?!
CARGO 4019: Confirmed. On final approach for Runway 1-1.
HENDRICKS: Alright, Player, you're up.
PLAYER: Okay, Hacking Module in place. Recalibrating D.E.A.D. System targeting.
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Rashid! Amir! What is going on in there?! Open this door!
HENDRICKS: We got company.
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante check their weapons]
MAIN COMPUTER: D.E.A.D. Manual Override. Please select target.
[Hendricks gives Player the thumbs up]
[Player targets Cargo 4019 with the D.E.A.D.S.]
MAIN COMPUTER: Input confirmed. Targeting parameters accepted.
CARGO 4019: Tower, we are showing us as target locked. This is an N.R.C. friendly coming in.
HENDRICKS: (normally) (on comms) All is good down here. Possible malfunction at your end? (quietly) (on comms) Fire now!
PLAYER: *fires D.E.A.D.S.* Firing.
MAIN COMPUTER: D.E.A.D. System engaging target. Firing.
[D.E.A.D.S. fire]
CARGO 4019: ABORT LANDING! PULL UP—
[Cargo 4019 explodes]
N.R.C. SOLDIER: OPEN THIS DOOR!
HENDRICKS: Oh, shit! GET DOWN!
[Vanguard Squadron 4 takes cover]
[Cargo 4019 crashes]
HENDRICKS: Let's get this done!
[doors open]
[SDM fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
PLAYER: Clear left.
TATE: Clear right.
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 3-1, this is Vanguard 4-1. Diversion is in play. Bird is down, over.
TAYLOR: Confirmed. Sentries are leaving their posts to respond to the crash. Proceed to the package and make the grab before it breaks or gets broken, over.
HENDRICKS: We're on it. See you at the RP (rendezvous point), over.
TAYLOR: Roger that, over.
HENDRICKS: While they're busy dealing with the crash, these uniforms should allow us to slip by unnoticed.
DANTE: So long as we don't have to talk to anyone.
HENDRICKS: So keep your mouths shut. Security station's across the way in the tunnels. Once there, we'll be able to pinpoint the Prime Minister's exact location. Heads and weapons down. Keep it cool till we make the grab.
CATHY: We'll follow your lead.
[Hendricks nods and opens the doors]
[sirens wail]
[N.R.C. Soldiers painfully scream]
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Hurry! Come quickly! We need to get our people out of here!
[explosions]
Thanks to Cargo 4019's crash, the N.R.C. is even more distracted as they split up to end the data breach and respond to what they believe is an accident caused by friendly fire. This move leaves the security station and the cell block protected by only a handful of soldiers and heavy assault troopers without Ballistic Shields.
HENDRICKS: (quietly) Vanguard 4-1 to Vanguard 3-1, we're at the security station. Moving to secure, over.
TAYLOR: I hear you, 3-1, over.
HENDRICKS: (quietly) Let's do this.
CATHY: Ready when you are.
[doors open]
[RK5 fire]
[doors close]
HENDRICKS: I'll kill the alarms in here. Player, get plugged in and locate the Prime Minister.
[Tate and Dante drag the dead N.R.C. Soldiers to the side]
PLAYER: Eyes on.
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 3-1, this is Vanguard 4-1. Scanning for package now. Waiting for hit on facial recognition, over.
[El-Sa'ka Forces Operator sits on the floor, rocks himself, and cries]
PLAYER: Other hostages. We thought it was only the Prime Minister.
HENDRICKS: So did I.
[two N.R.C. Soldiers whack a hanging and alive El-Sa'ka Forces Operator like a piñata]
HENDRICKS: Poor sons of bitches. The fanatics and elitists of the N.R.C. are known for their brutality.
[two N.R.C. Soldiers let their two N.R.C. Attack Dogs chew on an El-Sa'ka Forces Operator]
[El-Sa'ka Forces Operator frightfully and painfully screams]
HENDRICKS: 4-1, 3-1. Interrogative: Did you know there were other prisoners, over?
TAYLOR: The Prime Minister is the only priority, over.
HENDRICKS: (on comms) Understood, over. (off comms) Check the next feed.
[two N.R.C. Soldiers electrocute a hanging Khalil with Stun Batons]
[Khalil painfully screams]
PLAYER: Are we just gonna leave 'em to be tortured?
HENDRICKS: We have our orders.
CATHY: Shit, sir.
[N.R.C. Soldier burns an El-Sa'ka Forces Operator's back with a blowtorch]
[El-Sa'ka Forces Operator painfully screams]
TATE: Jesus, I knew it!
HENDRICKS: No match.
[two N.R.C. Soldiers rape Prime Minister Said]
DANTE: Gay fucks.
HENDRICKS: That's him. The PM.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: PLEASE, NO MORE! I AM NOT GAY! I CANNOT BE GAY!
N.R.C. SOLDIER: SHUT UP, GAY MINISTER! YOU ARE COMING WITH US! Cell! Open!
[cell door opens]
HENDRICKS: He's being moved. We have to find out where they're taking him.
[N.R.C. Soldiers take their N.R.C. Attack Dogs away and gang up on the recently mauled El-Sa'ka Forces Operator]
PLAYER: He's in the interrogation room now.
HENDRICKS: Bingo. Match confirmed. Moving to interrogation room.
TAYLOR: ETA?
HENDRICKS: 2 minutes.
TAYLOR: 2 minutes. I'll be timing you.
HENDRICKS: (on comms) Roger that. 4-1, out. (off comms) Son of a bitch was never funny.
CATHY: *giggles* You sound like the voice of experience.
HENDRICKS: Trust me, I am.
[door opens]
[SDM fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
Exactly ten deceased Nile River Coalition security guards later, Player, Hendricks, Cathy, Tate and Dante make it to the cell block of the N.R.C.'s base of operations. Vanguard 4-2 and Vanguard 4-4 will breach the observation room for recon and flanking while Vanguard 4-1, Vanguard 4-3 and Vanguard 4-5 stack up on the interrogation room.
[door opens]
HENDRICKS: Cell block ahead. On me.
KHALIL: Don't leave me!
TATE: We wish we couldn't, buddy.
HENDRICKS: Cathy, Dante, stack up on me. Player, Tate, breach observation.
[Player breaches the observation room with his Door Lock Laser Cutter]
TATE: (quietly) Clear? Nice.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: You invaded our home. We only did what we had to do.
PLAYER: (quietly) Interrogator has his back to the door. Two sentries inside. Their guard's down.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: I cannot... I will not... betray... my people.
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Starting an uprising in your country and forcing us out was not part of our deal! Not the Winslow Accord's! Not the United Nations'! You are a coward for trying to play good guy! Remember, you think only of yourself!
HENDRICKS: On my mark.
N.R.C. SOLDIER: But if the United Nations still want you, your people are the only ones who are going to suffer.
HENDRICKS: Three, two, GO!
[SDM fire]
[glass shatters]
PLAYER: Clear.
[door opens]
TATE: Damn, Player. Save some for us.
[Player chuckles]
HENDRICKS: Prime Minister Ahmed Said, we're Winslow Accord Special Forces. We're here to get you home.
However, just as Operation Real Hero follows its timing, Prime Minister Said delays it by identifying the other hostages as El-Sa'ka Forces Operators with Khalil himself among them.
HENDRICKS: Do as we say, and you'll make it through this.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: What about Colonel Zeyad Khalil and the others?
HENDRICKS: Sorry. No time.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: Khalil was a hero of the Egypt Uprising. You know that makes him a valuable asset for their propaganda. They WILL make an example of him.
HENDRICKS: FUCK! Alright, let's go!
PRIME MINISTER SAID: *points* Here, this one.
HENDRICKS: Get the door, Player. I'll cover.
PLAYER: *opens cell door* Clear left.
HENDRICKS: Clear right. I'll cut the poor bastard down. Maintain security, team.
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante establish defensive positions]
[Hendricks cuts Khalil free from his restraints]
KHALIL: (Arabic) Prime Minister Said.
PRIME MINISTER SAID: *helps Khalil up* Khalil.
KHALIL: Hendricks.
HENDRICKS: Can you fight, Khalil?
KHALIL: *nods* Always.
HENDRICKS: The locker room is just up ahead. We'll grab you and the Prime Minister weapons.
[alarm blares]
HENDRICKS: Sounds like they're finally onto us. Let's move!
PLAYER: On the door to the locker room, guys.
[Vanguard Squadron 4 stack up on the double doors]
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 3-1, Vanguard 4-1. Package, plus one, secure and inbound, over.
TAYLOR: Plus one? Your orders were to extract the Prime Minister ONLY, over.
HENDRICKS: His name is Colonel Zeyad Khalil. Sound familiar, over?
TAYLOR: Get moving. *sighs* We'll see you topside, over.
HENDRICKS: Locker room and depot ahead will be heavily guarded. Tate, Dante, stay with the PM and Khalil. Player, Cathy, with me. We're clearing the path. Clear?
PLAYER, CATHY, TATE AND DANTE: Clear.
[doors open]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[SDM fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[VKM-750 fire]
[KN-57 fire]
With the HVI and his additional package free and secure, Vanguard Squadron 4 stops by the locker room to give them weapons and move up to clear the depot ahead and take its elevator back to the surface. And while Prime Minister Said and Khalil are worried about the additional Nile River Coalition reinforcements waiting for them at the top of the shaft, Player, Hendricks, Cathy, Tate and Dante are not.
[9-Bang Grenade detonation]
[SDM fire]
PLAYER: Elevator's clear. Everybody, in.
[Khalil closes the elevator]
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Drop your weapons! Lower them, NOW!
KHALIL: We are dead if we do.
HENDRICKS: Trust me, we're dead if we don't. *lowers Khalil's VKM-750*
[XM-53 fire]
[explosion]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
N.R.C. SOLDIER: Drop them— Move forward! *painfully grunts*
[XR-2 fire]
[VMP fire]
[MR6 fire]
DIAZ: HELL YEAH!
[Concussive Wave detonation]
[Titan fire]
[Vanguard Squadron 3 deactivate Optical Camo]
[Khalil lowers Prime Minister Said's KN-57]
TAYLOR: You're late. *holsters MR6*
HENDRICKS: Your imaginary watch is fast.
TAYLOR: *equips Rampart 17* Nice to see you, Jacob.
HENDRICKS: You too, John. You look... look different. *gestures at Kane's Winslow Accord Scarf on Taylor's left arm* Still seeing Rachel?
TAYLOR: That didn't work out.
HENDRICKS: That's a pity.
TAYLOR: Mmm. New blood? Gonna take care of 'em as well as you did us? *smirks*
[Sarah shakes her head]
HENDRICKS: That's not funny, man. We still set on our exfil?
MARETTI: Charges are set.
TAYLOR: Alright, good to go. Exfil in 10 (minutes)! Diaz, you're on babysitting duty. Let's roll!
[Taylor, Sarah and Maretti activate Optical Camo]
DIAZ: Stay close.
After regrouping with Vanguard Squadron 3, Winslow Accord Special Forces get out there for extraction via VTOL Warship carrying an escape pod. Diaz puts on a show for Vanguard Squadron 4 along the way with his augmented body's Cybernetics Core abilities like Mass Sensory Overload, Blinding Firefly Swarm, and Concussive Wave.
[Diaz uses Mass Sensory Overload]
[N.R.C. Soldiers painfully scream]
[Annihilator fire]
DIAZ: Move into the next hangar. *boost jumps* *breaks hangar window open* Jacob, Cathy, Tate, Dante, stay low with the HVIs. Player, on my position. Let's take the high road.
HENDRICKS: Got it, Seb. *opens doors*
PLAYER: Right behind you, Seb.
[Titan fire]
[SDM fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[Diaz uses Blinding Firefly Swarm]
[N.R.C. Soldiers painfully scream]
[SDM fire]
DIAZ: They don't know what hit 'em! You're a natural!
N.R.C. SOLDIER: *opens doors* Fall back! Fall back! We need to regroup! *painfully grunts*
TAYLOR: Get to exfil! I got these guys! Go!
[Rampart 17 fire]
HENDRICKS: Our weapons are no good against that APC! We gotta bring down that VTOL! Aim for the missiles!
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[Cluster Grenade detonation]
[AGM-114 Hellfires drop]
[explosions]
[N.R.C. Soldiers painfully scream]
HENDRICKS: APC is down!
SARAH: Vanguard 3-2 to Vanguard 3-3, I'm in position. Copy that, over?
DIAZ: (on comms) Copy that, 3-2, over. (off comms) Hendricks, rendezvous with Hall on the other side of the hangar. HELL YEAH!
[Concussive Wave detonation]
[doors open]
[SG12 fire]
[Sarah pushes the N.R.C. Soldier against the armored crates]
[Anti-Personnel Combat Knife hit]
SARAH: Try and keep up, alright?
TATE: Oh! Alright, baby, we're behind ya!
[Hades fire]
[Maddox RFB fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Saug 9mm fire]
[VKM-750 fire]
[Swordfish fire]
[SG12 fire]
[Outlaw fire]
[bullets ricochet]
SARAH: That technical's mine! Gimme some cover fire!
[SDM fire]
DANTE: Yes, ma'am! Suppressing!
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[Sarah wallruns, smashes the N.R.C. Gun Truck's gunner's face in with a jumping right hammer fist strike, and takes the Hades]
SARAH: Get to the bridge. I'll keep 'em busy.
[Hades fire]
[An-225 explodes]
DANTE: Whoo! Oh, yeah!
SARAH: Peter's got you from here.
TAYLOR: Better hustle. Pickup's 5 (minutes) out.
[Paladin HB50 fire]
MARETTI: On me! On me! Exfil is across the bridge up ahead.
HENDRICKS: They'll still be right on our ass.
MARETTI: We've set charges all across the base to cover our exfil. We detonate as soon as we're across the bridge. No one follows us.
HENDRICKS: Those two Gun Trucks are blocking our route to exfil.
[Cluster Grenade detonation]
[N.R.C. Gun Truck explodes]
TATE: Got one!
[SDM fire]
[N.R.C. Gun Truck explodes]
PLAYER: That's two!
HENDRICKS: Reinforcements coming over the bridge! What's the plan?!
MARETTI: Ah, fuck it! Plan B. Blow the bridge. We're moving to secondary exfil.
[C4 Explosive Charge detonation]
[N.R.C. APCs explode]
[N.R.C. Gun Trucks explode]
MARETTI: Vanguard 3-4 to Vanguard 3-1, primary exfil is compromised. Moving on to secondary, over.
TAYLOR: Roger that. Rendezvous at secondary exfil. We'll use the APCs, over.
Even more enemy backup crossing the bridge to the primary extraction point forces W.A.S.F. to literally burn it and switch to the secondary exit plan. Before the depot filled with APCs for the escape are a comms building packed with additional hostiles inside and the mentioned backup catching up to them on the other side.
[VMP fire]
[SDM fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
MARETTI: Disabling tactical feed.
[doors open]
[N.R.C. VTOL Warship flies by]
KHALIL: Now what?! VTOL has got us pinned down!
TAYLOR: Easy, hold your fire! He's mine. *boost jumps*
[GSh-30-1 fire]
[Taylor breaks the windshield open, pulls the N.R.C. VTOL Warship's pilot out, and safely boost jumps off]
[N.R.C. VTOL Warship crashes]
[SDM fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
HENDRICKS: *laughs* Comes easy now, doesn't it, Taylor?
TAYLOR: Extract is the satellite tower. We'll commandeer a vehicle and get you to extraction.
HENDRICKS: You didn't answer me, John.
MARETTI: Keep up. Secondary route's just ahead.
[footsteps advance]
MARETTI: You guys hear that?
DIAZ: You hearing things, Peter? That itchy finger of yours is infectin' your ears. *chuckles*
MARETTI: Hey. Fuck you.
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante signal to Hendricks that they hear what Diaz is hearing]
HENDRICKS: Shut up. We hear it, too. Listen. Holy shit!
MARETTI: Contact! CONTACT!
[Maddox RFB fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Saug 9mm fire]
[VKM-750 fire]
[Swordfish fire]
[SG12 fire]
[Outlaw fire]
[bullets ricochet]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[XM-53 fire]
[explosion]
[Titan fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
DIAZ: N.R.C. assault robots movin' in! A shit load of 'em!
HENDRICKS: We need these doors open now!
TAYLOR: Give us some cover fire, Vanguard Squadron 3!
[doors open]
TAYLOR: Vanguard Squadron 4, get inside! Go! Go! Go!
MARETTI: Get to the extract! We'll deal with the robots!
Once at the Armored Personnel Carrier garage, Hendricks brings up a suggestion that turns out to be up for debate despite the orders.
HENDRICKS: Taylor, we're in the clear. We can take it from here. Those other hostages you saw. You could get them out.
TAYLOR: They're not a mission priority.
HENDRICKS: They may not be a mission priority, but they're still people, dammit! Or have you changed so much that you've forgotten how that feels like?
TAYLOR: Alright, change of plan. Vanguard Squadron 4, you will escort the Prime Minister to the extract. Vanguard Squadron 3 and I'll go back to get the other hostages.
HENDRICKS: More robots.
TAYLOR: Ah, don't worry about them. We're built to handle 'em. Go on, get out of here. Go!
While Vanguard Squadron 3 turns around to rescue the four captured El-Sa'ka Forces Operators back in the cell block, Vanguard Squadron 4 drives and shoots their way to the satellite tower of Fort Hunter Killer for aerial exfiltration.
[VKM-750 fire]
[War Machine fire]
[explosions]
TAYLOR: Vanguard 3-1 to Vanguard 4-1, additional primaries secure. Get the Prime Minister outta here. Moving to secondary rendezvous with plus four packages, over.
[N.R.C. APCs explode]
[N.R.C. Gun Trucks explode]
HENDRICKS: (on comms) Roger that. (off comms) Going off-road. Exfil in sight. Fuck! We're coming in too fast!
[APC crashes and rolls over]
[Vanguard Squadron 4, Prime Minister Said, and Khalil painfully grunt]
Throughout the explosive high-speed chase, the N.R.C.'s leaders witness a mass of rural, suburban and urban Ethiopians marching, driving and flying in and quickly turning into an angry mob. Because of this and the belief of Winslow Accord Special Forces having their base of operations ready to blow via either hidden charges or an airstrike looming around, they begin evacuating with their heavy assault trooper security team.
Unfortunately for them, Gold Squadron has been waiting for them with Shadow in their VTOL Warship's cockpit, Major Shadi and Chase behind their single file line, and Jackson rappelling upside-down after eliminating the snipers. Ready to stop them dead in their tracks before they could leave their command center's aircraft warehouse.
N.R.C. HEAVY ASSAULT TROOPER: Sirs, madames, wait. *signals to hold position*
N.R.C. OFFICER: What is it, Colonel?
[Shadow waves at the N.R.C. Heavy Assault Troopers and N.R.C. Officers]
N.R.C. HEAVY ASSAULT TROOPER: That is not our pilot.
N.R.C. OFFICER: Winslow Accord.
[KN-57 fire]
[VKM-750 fire]
[Outlaw fire]
[N.R.C. Officers and N.R.C. Heavy Assault Troopers painfully grunt]
MAJOR SHADI: You are welcome, Egypt. *ends vest cam recording*
[Ethiopian Crowd cheers and claps]
[Major Shadi, Chase and Jackson board Shadow's N.R.C. VTOL Warship]
JACKSON: Time to fly outta here in style?
SHADOW: Yeah, but more styling first. Vanguard Squadron 3 is gonna have a lot of company standing between them and the satellite tower. Chase, you're my co-pilot.
CHASE: Sweet.
SHADOW: Jackson, Aaron, side Death Machines.
JACKSON: Oh, hell yeah.
MAJOR SHADI: Lots of fun.
SHADOW: To avoid friendly fire, lose the headgear. And keep an eye out for enemy air support.
After leaving the Nile River Coalition finished and leaderless, Gold Squadron flies the gunship to support Taylor, Sarah, Diaz and Maretti as they make their way to W.A.S.F.'s secondary exfil with all of the other prisoners. And Vanguard Squadron 3 is actually lucky because a target rich environment is not good for hostages.
TAYLOR: Vanguard 3-1 to Vanguard 4-1, additional primaries secure. Get the Prime Minister outta here. Moving to secondary rendezvous with plus four packages, over.
HENDRICKS: Roger that.
MARETTI: Get down, guys! Shit!
DIAZ: That's a lot of enemy reinforcements heading for the satellite tower.
TAYLOR: We're gonna have to multi-task. Hall, keep the hostages safe. No one gets past you, clear?
SARAH: No one will, sir.
TAYLOR: Diaz, Maretti, on—
SHADOW: Vanguard Squadron 3, this is Vanguard 1-6 coming in hot with a seized enemy gunship. Watch your fire, over.
[AGM-114 Hellfires launch]
[explosions]
[N.R.C. Gun Trucks explode]
[N.R.C. APCs explode]
[N.R.C. Soldiers painfully scream]
[GSh-30-1 fire]
TAYLOR: Holy shit.
SARAH: Vanguard 3-2 to Vanguard 1-6, Shadow, Shadow, is that you?!
SHADOW: In the flesh, Sarah. Aaron, Chase, and Jackson are with me as well, over.
[Jackson and Major Shadi open the N.R.C. VTOL Warship's side doors]
[Death Machine Minigun fire]
DIAZ: *laughs* Give 'em Hell, Gold Squadron!
MARETTI: (normally) WHOO! Covering for any hostile anti-air. Hey, Sarah. (in sing-song) Tyler!
SARAH: Shut the fuck up, Peter.
[Maretti and Diaz laugh]
TAYLOR: Roger that, Vanguard 1-6. Glad to have you boys on board. Interrogative: What are you doing out here, over?
SHADOW: An internal joint op between Gold Squadron and Aaron to eliminate the N.R.C. leadership council. Our mission's complete. We saw you and this enemy company heading for the satellite tower and decided to lend a hand. Our sweep's almost done. Hang on, over.
TAYLOR: Roger—
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 4-1 to Vanguard 3-1, my team is still at exfil! More N.R.C. Combat Robots moving in, over!
TAYLOR: Inbound, 2 minutes. Hang tight, Vanguard Squadron 4, you're not dying today. Vanguard 1-6, we need to get to our secondary rendezvous now! Vanguard Squadron 4 got left behind and are about to be swarmed by N.R.C. Combat Robots!
SHADOW: Roger that. Touching down. Be ready to fly in 15 seconds.
[Gold Squadron touches down]
TAYLOR: Vanguard Squadron 3, get on board! Get on board now!
[Vanguard Squadron 3 boards Gold Squadron's N.R.C. VTOL Warship]
TAYLOR: Last man!
Moonlight 1-2 has to drop the escape pod first and go around for a second pass and an attack formation because the satellite tower is crawling with whatever is left of the fanatics and the elitists of the N.R.C. But the crowded LZ and the dangerous airspace could not even let them complete the extraction process as...
[Vanguard Squadron 4 gets back up and helps Prime Minister Said and Khalil out of the APC]
HENDRICKS: There's our ride.
MOONLIGHT 1-2: Exfil pod first pass en route. Hang tight down there. *detaches escape pod*
[thud]
MOONLIGHT 1-2: Pod detached. Exfil airspace nonviable. Moonlight 1-2 sweeping around for second pass.
[SDM fire]
PLAYER: N.R.C. reinforcements coming from the left! Take cover behind the rocks in front of the escape pod!
[VKM-750 fire]
KHALIL: Prime Minister, are you alright? Can you move?
PRIME MINISTER SAID: I am fine. I am fine. Please, just... get me out of here!
[Hades fire]
DANTE: Move! Move! Move!
[ICR-7 fire]
CATHY: We gotta move! Let's get outta here now!
[Titan fire]
TATE: Hold 'em back! We're getting the PM into position!
MOONLIGHT 1-2: Moonlight 1-2 concentrating fire on multiple targets. Let's wrap this up, boys.
[GAU-22/A fire]
[AGM-114 Hellfires launch]
[N.R.C. Gun Trucks explode]
[N.R.C. APCs explode]
[satellite tower collapses]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
HENDRICKS: Keep 'em back! We're almost outta here!
[SDM fire]
[VAPR-XKG fire]
[ICR-7 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Hades fire]
HENDRICKS: PM is about to be secured! Keep those N.R.C. bastards busy!
MOONLIGHT 1-2: *attaches escape pod* Moonlight 1-2 is in position. Ready for pickup.
HENDRICKS: Secure! Get your asses over here now!
[XM-53 fire]
[explosions]
PLAYER: *helps Cathy, Tate and Dante back up* Get your asses on board now! Move! Move! Move!
[BRM fire]
MOONLIGHT 1-2: Moonlight 1-2, ready for takeoff. Evac window is closing.
HENDRICKS: No, wait!
MOONLIGHT 1-2: Negative, airspace is compromised.
PLAYER: Cathy, go! Tate, go! Dante, go! Last ma—
HENDRICKS: *fails to grab Cathy* No! No! No! FUCK! GET TO THE APC! GET OUTTA THERE!
PLAYER: Back to the—
CATHY: PLAYER—
[N.R.C. Combat Robots throw Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante down the hill]
HENDRICKS: Vanguard 4-1 to Vanguard 3-1, my team is still at exfil! More N.R.C. Combat Robots moving in, over!
TAYLOR: Inbound, 2 minutes. Hang tight, Vanguard Squadron 4, you're not dying today.
Player finds himself, Cathy, Tate and Dante surrounded and approached by one N.R.C. Combat Robot each.
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante left cross their approaching N.R.C. Combat Robots]
[N.R.C. Combat Robots catch Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante's left arms and rip them out]
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante painfully scream and right heel kick the N.R.C. Combat Robots]
[N.R.C. Combat Robots catch Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante's right legs and break them]
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante painfully scream]
[N.R.C. Combat Robots punch Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante in their chests twice, grab their right arms, and rip them out]
[Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante painfully scream]
[N.R.C. Combat Robots start beating Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante to death]
When all looks lost for Vanguard 4-2, Vanguard 4-3, Vanguard 4-4 and Vanguard 4-5, Taylor, Sarah, Diaz and Maretti drop in guns blazing and save them seemingly in the nick of time.
[Death Machine Minigun fire]
[Rampart 17 fire]
[XR-2 fire]
[Titan fire]
[Paladin HB50 fire]
TAYLOR: Hey! Hey.
SARAH: Patching you up now, guys.
TAYLOR: You're gonna be alright. Just hang in there. Hold on.
05:30:41, M.O.B. Ramses Station, Cairo, Egypt, Player, Cathy, Tate and Dante's life-threatening injuries demand immediate medical attention and a fast and short trip to the nearest friendly military installation: the recently retaken Main Operating Base Ramses Station. And because they also need the lifesaving procedures of The Cyber Soldier Program, Winslow Accord Special Forces and Coalescence Corporation sanitized the installation's infirmary and installed the instruments for the job throughout the 3 hour and 50 minute flight time.
However, due to the fact that M.O.B. Ramses Station is not Coalescence Corporation HQ and the apparatus prep work was rushed and incomplete because of human error, the D.N.I. operations were a success, but the human technological augmentation surgeries were not, and Staff Sergeant Perry 'Player' Osman, Sergeant Cathy Mason, Petty Officer Second Class Tate Caracal and Staff Sergeant Dante Kantor die on their hospital beds together.
The only thing that can be done is to give them a journey in the Direct Neural Interface's digital world in Vanguard Squadron 3's shoes during Operation #61-63-68-75 (the original Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Campaign) so that they can find comfort and closure before death. At least this procedure is less taxing and actually successful as they fade away peacefully.
For the first time in his life and career, Vanguard 3-1 experiences the depressing and hopeless loss Shadow did when he lost Fireteam First Light and writes about it in his journal.
TAYLOR: (journal entry) Search and Rescue. Target secured. Mission Status: Closed. February 26th, 2065 - 05:46:04. At approximately 1600 hours, we received confirmation that HVI Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Said had been located at the N.R.C.'s base of operations in the Ethiopian Simien Mountain Range. Following the N.R.C.'s recent defeats in Egypt, W.A.S.F. and the C.I.A. had reason to believe the Prime Minister was to be made "an example of" in retaliation. The mission priority was to extract the Prime Minister via a VTOL Warship carrying an escape pod located outside the principal AO. The airspace window was limited, and mission success relied on the hacking of the fort's D.E.A.D. Systems. We moved in at 0100 hours. The operation was coordinated between two teams. Primary was the W.A.S.F. Support Division's newly formed Vanguard Squadron 4, led by Lieutenant Commander Jacob Hendricks and a bunch of new faces named Staff Sergeant Perry 'Player' Osman, Sergeant Cathy Mason, Petty Officer Second Class Tate Caracal and Staff Sergeant Dante Kantor based on a quick D.N.I. facial recognition scan. Secondary but leading was my team, W.A.S.F. Black Cyber Ops Division's Vanguard Squadron 3, comprised of Captain Sarah Hall, Master Sergeant Sebastian Diaz and Master Sergeant Peter Maretti. The plan was that my team would keep the N.R.C. occupied while W.A.S.F. Support Division moved to secure the HVI for extraction. Personal Disclosure: This operation was my first time working with Hendricks since #61-63-68-75. He noticed the scarf on my left arm and asked about Rachel. I guess he hadn't heard about our separation. As you no doubt already know, the operation did not go as planned. W.A.S.F. Support Division discovered five additional hostages on site. Among them was Col. Khalil, who was captured by the N.R.C. at Lotus Towers and previously assumed K.I.A. Initially, I stuck to protocol and denied Hendricks' request to extract. With our limited window for extraction, I did not believe we had sufficient time to secure both the Prime Minister and the additional hostages. However, after some deliberation and plenty more time bought by an unexpected internal joint DEVGRU/El-Sa'ka Forces op to expose the N.R.C.'s leaders' deepest, darkest secrets to their whole coalition and assassinate all of them during their own extraction, which was conducted by Commander Tyler 'Shadow' Powers, Major Aharon 'Aaron' Shadi, Lieutenant Commander Robert Chase and Lieutenant Commander Harold Jackson, I changed my mind. I made the call to return for the other captives while Vanguard Squadron 4 moved to exfil. Though the VTOL Warship was able to secure the Prime Minister and Khalil with its escape pod, the others were not so lucky. Hendricks' VTOL Warship was forced out of the airspace with his team still on the ground. Though they tried to fight back, they were quickly surrounded and brutally overwhelmed by N.R.C. Combat Robots. I'd like to state for the record that the responsibility for this outcome lies solely with myself. No blame should be apportioned to Hendricks, even though he directly challenged my orders. I was the one who decided to break protocol and return for the other hostages. Hall, Diaz, Maretti and I were just lucky to have DEVGRU and El-Sa'ka Forces divert and neutralize most of the N.R.C. forces in the AO. Even in light of the tragic consequences of my decision, I do believe that trying to save the lives of our allies was indeed the right thing to do. The mortally wounded members of Vanguard Squadron 4 were taken to Coalescence Corporation's makeshift facility in the recently liberated and restored Main Operating Base Ramses Station to undergo emergency lifesaving procedures. After being stabilized, they were quickly identified as potential candidates for the expansion of The Cyber Soldier Program and fitted with D.N.I.s. Prior to limb replacement surgery and full-body augmentation, Hall, Diaz, Maretti and I personally interfaced to assist with their integration, acclimation and training. They had potential. Unfortunately, complications arose during the procedure. They were pronounced dead shortly thereafter. So this is the pain Shadow went through when he lost Fireteam First Light. I believe I could understand it now. Shadow, I am so sorry. The next time we hang out, steak dinner's on me. Taylor, out.