Location: UNSC Forward Operating Base, Virek
Date and Time: May 21, 2553 – 1600 Hours
The sun is setting, casting a fiery orange glow over the horizon as we roll back into the base. The Warthog skids to a stop, the wounded groaning as the medics rush over to take them inside the remaining tents. It's a brief moment of calm amid the chaos, but there's no relief. Not yet.
I glance at Emily, who's still in the back, her face drawn with exhaustion but alive with determination. She's safe. For now. But the battle is far from over.
The URF has pulled back for the time being, but we know it's only a matter of time before they hit us again. And somewhere in the shadows, Kane is waiting. Planning his next move.
As we step out of the Warthog, I catch sight of Santiago. His face is grim, his eyes scanning the base. "We need to figure out what the hell's going on. Kane's out there somewhere, and I don't trust any of this."
I nod, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The base is a mess—burning wreckage, wounded Marines, and loyalist forces scrambling to regroup after the URF's attack. But there's something deeper gnawing at me, something I can't shake.
This was all part of Kane's plan.
"We need to find him," I say, my voice low but firm. "He's not getting away with this."
Dash and O'Neill catch up to us, their faces pale with exhaustion but filled with the same grim determination.
"We're with you, Kowalski," Dash says, his voice rough. "Whatever's going down, we've got your back."
"Let's finish this," O'Neill adds, his eyes hard. "We owe it to 1st Squad."
I nod. We all do. This isn't just about survival anymore—it's about justice. About making sure Kane pays for everything he's done.
But before we can move, a shout from the command post grabs our attention.
"Kowalski!" a voice calls out, and I turn to see Lieutenant Baird approaching, her face set in a grim expression. "We need you in the command center. Now."
I exchange a look with Santiago before following her inside, my mind racing. Baird isn't one to waste time, and if she's calling us in, it means something big is happening.
As we step into the command center, the tension in the air is palpable. The holo-map of the area is lit up with red markers, showing the URF forces scattered around the base's perimeter. But the real tension comes from the room itself—the officers are on edge, and it's clear that something is about to break.
Baird steps up to the map, her expression grim. "We've received intel that the URF is preparing for a second assault. They've pulled back for now, but they're regrouping for another strike. And this time, they're bringing heavy armor."
I feel a knot tighten in my stomach. "How long do we have?"
"Hours at most," she replies, her voice tight. "We need to be ready. But that's not all."
She turns to face us, her eyes narrowing. "We've also confirmed that there's a mole within our ranks. We don't have names yet, but the attack on 1st Squad wasn't just a coincidence. Someone's been feeding the URF intel."
The room goes silent. The reality of the situation sinks in, and I can feel the weight of the betrayal hanging in the air.
I step forward, my voice steady but laced with anger. "It's Kane. He's been working with the URF from the start. He set us up at the ambush, and he's been pulling the strings ever since."
Baird doesn't look surprised. "We suspected as much. But there's more. We've intercepted some of his comms—he's been in contact with other Marines in the battalion. He's not working alone."
My blood runs cold. It's worse than we thought.
"He's got allies," I say, my voice hard. "Whoever's been working with him—they've been planning this for a long time."
Baird nods. "We believe the turncoats are preparing to strike during the next URF assault. They'll use the chaos to take control of the base."
I exchange a look with Santiago, who's already gripping his rifle tighter. This is it. The final piece of Kane's plan. And if we don't stop him now, it's all over.
"What's the plan?" I ask, my voice steady despite the tension building inside me.
Baird steps closer to the holo-map. "We're going to draw Kane and his allies out. We know they're planning something during the next attack, so we'll use that to our advantage. When the URF hits us again, we'll be ready. And when Kane makes his move, we'll take him down."
She turns to me, her expression hard. "You and your team will lead the strike. I need you to find Kane and his allies. Once they show their hand, you take them out. No mercy."
I nod, the weight of the mission settling on my shoulders. This is it. Everything we've been fighting for comes down to this moment.
As we leave the command center, I catch Emily's gaze from across the compound. Her eyes meet mine, and for a brief moment, the world seems to pause. I promised her I'd keep her safe, but I know the cost of that promise. If we don't stop Kane and the URF, there won't be anything left to save.
"I'll come back," I murmur to myself, my voice barely audible. "I have to."
We gather our gear, the mood heavy with anticipation. Santiago, Dash, O'Neill—they're all ready, their faces set with grim determination. They know what's at stake.
"You good?" Santiago asks as we load up, his voice low but steady.
I nod, gripping my rifle. "Yeah. Let's end this."
We head out, the weight of the coming battle pressing down on us like a storm. The URF is coming, and Kane is waiting for his moment. But we'll be ready.
For 1st Squad. For the Marines who've already fallen. And for everyone who's still fighting.