Chapter 15

"We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita: Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and, to impress him, takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that, one way or another."
- J. Robert Oppenheimer

Cairo, Egypt

December 3rd, 2030

0700

The world was in flames, as a thousand different battle were currently taking place across the globe. North and South America were still divided by both sides, with neither gaining much ground. Asia had received little of the carnage of the Second Tiberium War, but still, Nod and GDI clashed. Even the Tiberium devastated Europe was the heart of the greatest conflicts of the war. But it was in Africa, that this war would come to an end.

GDI forces had made little headway in taking territory in the continent. Africa had been staunchly loyal to the Brotherhood since the First War, perhaps even longer. So for McNeil and his joint band of renegades to get into Egypt, had been no easy task. The Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas were firmly held by the Brotherhood Navy, and the most elite forces were stationed in Northern Africa, all to defend their Messiah. But McNeil had done the impossible: he had gathered his forces right on Kane's doorstep, and it had only taken flying through one of the worst Ion storms in years. He was lucky he hadn't lost any ships; a few minor scorch marks were nothing short of a miracle.

But miracles would not be enough to win this battle. Stretched out in front of the Kodiak was the combined forces of the 22nd Airborne, 19th Mechanized, 41st Enforcer Brigade, and the Forgotten. It was an impressive, if ad-hoc force. But the enemy defences were formidable, and the clock was working against them. This was going to be the most difficult fight of McNeil's life, and even if he won, it would be his last because his decision to disobey Solomon would end his career – that is, if he wasn't executed for treason.

"Ready to save the world?" Mark asked.

McNeil just scoffed as he followed the older man to the holographic table. Chandra, Umagon, and Cassandra Anvil were already there, looking over the massive base that defended Kane's pyramid HQ. McNeil noted three spots around the base marked in red. Those were the ICBM launchers that would destroy the Philadelphia in less than twelve hours. They were all well defended by elite Black Hand soldiers and the forces of Nod's 2nd Army.

"So, Michael, how do you want to do this?" Anvil asked as she crossed her arms.

"If you Blunts take out those launchers and distract Kane's forces, my Forgotten and I can get into the pyramid and finish this." Umagon stated, casting Anvil with a suspicious eye.

"Not going to happen. We have to work together on this one. Cassey, I want you and Umagon to lead an attack on Objective November. That's the most heavily defended, and gives us a clear shot at the main base. Your heavy armour and the Forgotten warriors should be more than enough to deal with Nod. I'll take the 22nd and what we took from the 41st Brigade, and attack Objective Oscar. Once those two are dealt with, we will launch a combined attack on Objective Mike. Any questions?"

"Yeah, when do we go and crush some Noddie skulls?" Anvil asked enthusiastically.

"Orca Bombers are doing a run now, to help soften up enemy defences. Return to your respective units, and wait for my signal."

"You got it, oh great and mighty general." Anvil said sarcastically.

"Good luck Blunt- I mean, good luck, McNeil."

Both women left the bridge, and McNeil let out a long sigh. Both Mark and Chandra gave him a smug smile.

"Very popular with the ladies, aren't you?" Mark chuckled to himself.

"Watch yourself old man." McNeil warned, but with a joking tone.

"Sir, bombers are coming in for their run now." Chandra reported, instantly becoming serious.

McNeil changed the holographic display to show a live feed of the bombers. Twenty of the heavy craft flew towards the base, ready to rain destruction onto the enemy. A single squadron of Raptors also flew just behind, ready to engage any Nod flyers that they may send.

"Uh, sir? Incoming transmission. From the pyramid." Brink reported.

McNeil had a feeling Kane would call, no doubt to try and get into his mind and undermine him somehow.

"Put it up."

The main screen was filled by Kane, located in the pyramid's main control room. He had his usual predatory grin on his face, as his officers worked behind him.

"Ah, Commander McNeil. You should have called first; I would have prepared a party for you."

"Its over, you bastard. We are here to kill you."

"Oh, I hope you do a better job than your old friend Lancaster. Perhaps if he had actually killed me, millions of people wouldn't be dead."

McNeil heard Mark growl behind him, but he kept talking to stop the man from losing his temper.

"You are going to answer for all of your crimes."

"And what about you? Are you willing to accept your crimes? Like betraying your General Solomon? Going rogue and killing your own brother?"

"Jake's death is on your hands. And besides, I was never big on following orders." McNeil flashed his own smile, to show Kane could not get to him.

"So it would seem. To be truthful, I am glad you came. Now you can witness my victory. After I decimate your forces."

The transmission ended, and McNeil turned back to his crew. Kane had just suffered his first defeat of this battle, as he failed to rattle McNeil's resolve. Maybe he would keep the maniac alive long enough to see that damned smile wiped off his face.

"Sir! Incoming Banshees, and lots of them!" Chandra shouted.

McNeil looked back to the live feed of the bombers. Sure enough, his Raptors were racing out to meet the Nod aircraft. Only there were three times as many Banshees as his own fighter jets. McNeil didn't think the Brotherhood had that many Banshees, after they had destroyed the prototype factory.

The Banshees and Raptors crashed into each other, forming a grueling dogfight. Missile and autocannon fire conflicted with green bolts of plasma, and soon it was all added by the flashes of destroyed jets. The Banshees cut through both the Raptors and Orca Bombers with ease, with the latter never being able to drop their payloads.

"Damn. Okay, we have to do this the hard way. Brink, bring our point defences up, and deploy all our AA to the field. EVA, send warning to Anvil and Umagon."

"Yes, sir." Both human and machine replied.

"Chandra, get more Raptors in the air. We need to thin out those Banshees."

"Yes, sir!"

"Is your friend in position?" McNeil asked, turning to Mark.

"Yes, let's hope we don't need him though."

McNeil nodded, then turned back to the table, which now displayed the entire battlefield. His forces were ready, and so were Nod's. It was now or never. McNeil turned on the comms that would let him speak to every soldier under his command.

"All units, commence the attack!"

… … …

Sergeant John Lancaster was tossed against his restraints, as the AAPC raced into the battlefield. Explosions and gunfire sounded out all around them, muffled through the vehicle's armour. The machine gunner at the top never stopped firing, and casings now rolled around on the floor. Zemerik and Prevost sat across from him, ready as they would ever be. John wished Xhaferi could be here, but it was up to him now to get his friends home alive. He already failed West; he would not fail the others.

"This is it! No backup, no orbital support, just McNeil and his crazy schemes!" Prevost shouted.

"I'm sure my father had something to do with this too!" John yelled back.

"Think we'll survive this one!?" Zemerik asked as he clung to his restraints.

"So long as we kill Kane before we die, then who cares!?" Prevost countered.

"First one to kill Kane, gets free beer for life!" John boasted.

The men smiled at that, but they faded quickly as the AAPC came to a halt. The ramp lowered, and the men rushed out. The sounds of battle grew in intensity, and already John was assaulted by the sounds of men dying. John led his squad up to the front, where more soldiers from Alpha Company were already engaged with Nod forces. They took cover behind a fallen Titan, and immediately began picking off targets. There was no shortage of Nod infantry, now ranging from basic riflemen, to cyborgs and elite Black Hand.

Wolverines took up position behind the lines of infantry, hosing down the enemy with sheer volume of fire. Further down the line, Aegis tanks and more Titans tried to push past the overwhelming number of Tick and Scorpion tanks. But now they had more Disruptors on their side, and their powerful sonic attacks easily blasted apart the enemy armour.

GDI undoubtedly had the firepower advantage; only problem was, Nod had the numerical advantage, and it was a very large advantage.

"Black Hand squad! On the left!" Zemerik called out.

"Shift fire, focus them down!" John barked.

The three men focused their fire on the Black Hand squad, their bullets doing little more than denting their armour. The Nod elites returned fire with laser rifles, sending ruby bolts of light sizzling past them. John fired a burst into the lead soldier's chest, finally cracking the armour. Prevost followed up with two more bursts, which put the man down. The other four shrugged off their bullets, and filled the air with laser fire.

John ducked down to avoid being disintegrated. He needed to find some way to deal with the Black Hand and their heavy armour.

"Prevost, toss a frag!"

"Got it!"

John and Prevost both tossed their grenades, which landed at the Black Hand's feet. One attempted to kick the grenade away, but both grenades exploded, killing two Black Hand outright and sending the other two falling backwards. John and his squad then fired on the downed enemy, killing them where they laid.

Several Flame tanks and Reckoner APCs drove up to the front, safe behind Nod lines. The APCs disgorged more infantry, and they followed behind the Flame tanks as they rolled forward. A Wolverine was caught out in the open, and was engulfed in the flames of two Flame tanks. The intense heat caused the walker's light armour to turn into smoldering slag, its driver no doubt cooked alive. Nearby, Aegis tanks turned to face the fearsome enemy vehicles, but the charging infantry would be left to John and the others.

"Focus on Flame troopers and Confessors! They're the biggest threat!" John warned.

His friends gave mute replies, as they continued to fire on the enemy. There was little else to do but point and shoot his gun. The Nod soldiers continued to run into the bullets, seemingly far more fanatical than any soldier John had faced before. But he supposed that made sense, as these were Kane's most loyal soldiers, and he certainly had no lack of them.

John had just killed a Confessor, easily identified by their iconic conical helmet, when three GDI soldiers arrived, all armed with LMGs. As they extended their bipods and deployed their weapons along the Titan's twisted leg, the lead sergeant leaned in closer to John and shouted:

"Lieutenant Ghaani wants you guys to move up to that downed Orca Bomber! We'll cover you!"

"Understood, but what happened to Tennant?"

"Dead before he even got off the APC. Now go!"

John relayed the orders to his squad, then bolted just as the guns opened fire. Scores of Nod soldiers were chopped down like wheat, but still more came. The three men narrowly avoided being shot as they reached the still smoking bomber. The cockpit was completely shattered, and the blocky frame twisted beyond repair. But it offered good cover, and John and his squad resumed firing. Several Nod soldiers were caught off guard, but a nearby fireteam of cyborgs turned their attention towards them.

"Zee, load up a grenade. Prevost, soften one up for him, I'll focus on the other one."

"Got it!"

John and Prevost unloaded their magazines on the machines, blowing away chunks of flesh and denting bits of armour. The cyborgs opened fire with their machine guns, their bullets pinging off the bomber's frame. Zemerik stood up to fire his grenade, which caused one cyborg to get ripped apart like a tin can. Zemerik ducked down to reload, as John continued to fire on the second one. He managed to cause the cyborg to stumble backwards, but it swung its gun back to face him and fired a string of bullets. John ducked just in time, as Zemerik fired once more, putting down the remaining cyborg for good.

The three men reloaded their weapons, and readied to face down more enemy forces. It seemed like GDI had made no progress, other than the mounting wall of dead soldiers. John could even see their target, just past the Nod line. The ICBM launcher was guarded by SAM sites and laser turrets. But what had John concerned, was that the missile had been raised into a firing position. They still had ten hours: why was Nod getting it ready to fire now?

Ultimately, it didn't matter, as they still had to destroy it. But getting to it was becoming harder by the minute. John noticed a sudden drop in friendly fire, and spotted the LMG squad reloading, while another riflemen squad covered them. However, a enemy squad of Black Hand acolytes was moving forward to engage, and seemingly had avoided their attention. John fired a short burst which killed the lead acolyte, and caused the others to dive into cover. The remaining acolytes immediately shifted their attention onto John and his squad, allowing the LMG squad to finish reloading and resume firing, but unfortunately that meant John now had to deal with some pissed off acolytes.

Two were almost immediately cut down by fire from the LMGs, but the other three did something completely unexpected: they all armed grenades and began charging straight towards John! Zemerik and Prevost easily shot down the suicide bombers, and a split second later, they exploded in a shower of gore. John was slightly perturbed by the sight, but he pushed it away and kept fighting.

Progress was finally made, as a trio of Aegis tanks rolled forward. Their cannons blasted apart Nod light vehicles, while turret mounted and coaxial guns help cut through the infantry. The LMG squad from earlier redeployed to the down bomber, and John took his squad into the battlefield. They pushed towards the ICBM launcher, but the wall of enemy forces was still standing in their way.

John led the squad into cover by a wrecked Attack Buggy. The Aegis tanks came to a halt, unable to move any further. More infantry took up position around the tanks, and tried to fight through the overwhelming enemy force. John spotted another cyborg fireteam, and focused his attention on them. However, before John could do anything, the cyborgs were cut down from above, and John looked up to see Jump troopers from Zulu Company descending towards them. A few squads remained in the air, picking off groups of cyborgs or Black Hand, while the rest landed to support the infantry of Alpha.

"Hunter 2-6, this is Ravager 1-1. I need you to escort a heavy weapons team. EVA is giving you the marker now." Lieutenant Ghaani ordered.

"Hunter 2-6 copies all. Let's go!"

John and the others moved towards the nav marker on their HUDs, passing behind the line of soldiers and tanks as they continued the uphill battle. Eventually, John could see a Wolverine laying down a wall of fire, and a squad of riflemen and rocket troopers huddled just behind. Upon seeing John and his squad, the heavy weapons team began to move forward, closer to the enemy lines. The Wolverine stomped ahead, cutting down any Nod foot soldier that got in the way.

A new marker appeared that pointed to a Tiberium crusted dune. John guessed the team planned to try and get a shot on the ICBM from there, rather than trying to push through the enemy. Unfortunately, the Brotherhood also seemed to have guessed the same thing, as a Buggy and several squads moved to intercept them.

"Take out that Buggy! Squad, cover them!" John barked.

John and his squad crouched low and began picking off the Nod soldiers, as the heavy weapons team readied themselves to fire on the Buggy. The Wolverine swiveled around to help, but it was blown apart by a barrage of RPG fire. John spotted one of the Nod rocket troopers, and fired a burst into his chest, sending him collapsing to the ground in a heap.

The Nod Buggy began raking its machine gun back and forth, chewing apart the ground, as well as one of the GDI soldiers carrying the team's machine gun. But at the same moment, another GDI soldier fired her rocket, which obliterated the Buggy. The Nod riflemen continued to try and shoot down the rocket troopers, but John and the others kept them pinned down.

"Ravager 1-1, this is Picon 6-6. We have a clear shot on Objective Oscar, say again, clear shot on Objective Oscar." One of the GDI rocket troopers reported.

"1-1 copies. Take the shot!" Ghaani shouted.

"Backblast clear!"

"ROCKET!"

John watched the rocket fly through the air, over the head of the Nod troops. The rocket barely made it above the line of lasers and SAMs, before exploding harmlessly behind the ICBM launcher.

"Missed!"

"Fire again!" John urged.

Another rocket was fired a moment later, again barely clearing above the Nod forces. This time however, the rocket exploded at the base of the missile. The explosion ripped apart the launcher frame, and the missile toppled over, while the vehicle itself buckled and tipped over from the sudden shift in weight.

The Nod forces were very clearly pissed, as several more Buggies and infantry squads instantly came bearing down on John's position!

"Ravager 1-1, target eliminated. But we are now under heavy fire and cut off! We need help!"

"Hang tight, Picon 6-6, Hunter 2-6. Help is on the way!"

"All units, this is Command. Everyone is to fall back to rally point Delta. All units fall back to rally point Delta. I say again, fall back to rally point Delta!" Chandra's voice was calm, but John could detect the urgency hidden beneath it.

The heavy weapons squad had retreated back to John's position. Having now ditched their heavier ordnance for rifles or submachine guns, they tried to hold off the enemy, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Buggies from cutting them all to ribbons in seconds. Fortunately, before that could occur, an Aegis arrived with guns blazing. It blew apart one of the Buggies, before its machine guns kept the infantry suppressed.

"Let's go! Fall back!" John barked.

Everyone began a mad dash to join back up with friendly forces. Only they were all headed towards the Nod base, where the 19th and the Forgotten were battling it out with Nod forces. Most of the infantry had managed to get back onto APCs, or rode on the sides of tanks. But John and others were stuck running on foot. He risked a glance behind him, only to see the Aegis that had saved them had been destroyed. Numerous Titans were also being destroyed, as the slow moving walkers simply couldn't keep up with the rest of the unit.

John felt sorry for those men and women, but right now all he could focus on was running and staying alive. Prevost and Zemerik were running just a few feet ahead of him, when they abruptly dove for cover. John didn't question it, and followed suit. He landed hard on his shoulder, just beside Zemerik, when two Buggies managed to cut off the retreating GDI soldiers. John watched in horror as dozens of friendly troopers were torn apart.

"Contacts! Rear!" Prevost shouted.

John turned to see the pursuing Nod infantry were killing anyone the Buggies had missed. And soon they would find John and his men. They were effectively cut off, with no chance of reinforcements.

Think, damn it! How would Val get us out?

John simply could find no solution to escape, but thankfully, it would seem the universe would provide one for him. A Pitbull came racing towards them, firing two rockets from its twin launchers. Both Buggies were destroyed, and the Pitbull pulled over just in front of the wrecks. The driver leaned out, and frantically waved towards John.

"HURRY UP! GET IN!"

John didn't need to order his men to run, as they were already racing for the Pitbull. All three men piled into the back, and the vehicle sped off. Bullets pinged off the armour as the vehicle sped to catch up with the others.

"Thanks for the rescue! I owe you big time." John said breathlessly.

"If we live through this, I'll hold you to it!" The driver replied.

More bullets pinged off the vehicle, andZemerik and Prevost lowered the windows to stick their rifles out to fire. John was somewhat helpless, as he was crammed into the middle, so he decided to listen in on the radio.

"-again! We can not reach Objective November! Too many Noddies in the way, and the Forgotten can't break through!"

"Affirmative, Wendigo 3-7. We have heavy support moving to the front, but it will take time, over?"

"Yeah, I hear you!"

"Ravager 1-1 to Odin Actual. Be advised, we are passing through rally point Delta and are almost in your AO. We are coming in hot, how copy?"

"Odin Actual copies all. Moving support to you now. Advise all units proceed to rally point Echo."

"Hey! Did you catch that!? Head to RP Echo!" John asked over the radio chatter.

"Yeah, I heard! Just- oh fuck!"

The Pitbull abruptly swerved hard to the right, just as a tank shell exploded a few feet away. John peered out the front window, and saw a Scorpion tank had them targeted. The Pitbull swerved again, but it proved useless as another tank shell sent the vehicle flipping over forwards. The crash jostled everyone around, causing John to smack his head against Prevost's. As the vehicle settled, John shook the stars from his vision, then pushed on Zemerik, urging the kid to get the door open.

The three men, plus the driver and gun operator, crawled out of the Pitbull, only to come face to face with the Scorpion and a squad of Nod soldiers.

"Drop your weapons!" A Nod confessor commanded.

John had no intention of doing that, as he didn't want to end up in a conversion camp. He tensed his body, ready to snap up his rifle in a instant. The two sides eyed each other for little more than a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity to John. He was about to give the order to open fire, when the Scorpion exploded. A piece of shrapnel embedded itself in the confessor's head, causing him to fall forward. John and the others wasted no time, and cut the other Nod soldiers down before they could properly process what had just happened.

With the immediate threat dealt with, John turned to see who had saved him. And was shocked as he watched Forgotten warriors charge into the Nod forces. The mutants easily overpowered the Nod infantry, causing them to beat a hasty retreat. Old Crusader tanks, now painted with Forgotten symbols, began pushing back enemy armour.

The mutants continued to chase the Nod forces back, but one mutant walked over to John.

"Come, your warriors and our brothers continue the fight! We must hurry."

John nodded at the Forgotten before turning back to address his squad and their new add-ons.

"Come on. Let's find the LT." John urged.

The five men jogged towards friendly lines, where the two GDI forces had now merged together. Infantry were busy at work fortifying their position, creating shallow foxholes or sandbag dugouts. There was a clear siege line, where Titans and Juggernauts were bombarding the thick walls that surrounded the main base, along with the rows of Obelisks. John could also see a graveyard of GDI and Nod tanks, stretching from the siege line to the entrance of the base. The 19th had attempted to push through, and had failed, and were now setting up for a prolonged bombardment.

John was no great strategist, but he knew that they could not afford a lengthy siege. But he pushed those thoughts aside as he led the squad to where other members of the 22nd had gathered, listening to platoon leaders shout out new orders. He eventually found familiar faces from 1st Platoon, who were now getting their orders from Beta Company's Lieutenant Ghaani.

"Good work boys and girls! First objective has been eliminated, but we've definitely kicked the beehive now. Nod is throwing everything they got at us, and its taking everything the 19th has just to keep 'em back. New orders are as follows: heavy armour is going to push up and try to crack open the front door. Airborne and Forgotten infantry will push up with 'em to give the tanks cover. Time is ticking!"

The soldiers quickly dispersed, moving towards the front where the mutant soldiers were already waiting. John led his squad- which still included the Pitbull crew- towards a Forgotten El Diablo light tank, and the squad of Forgotten warriors who stood nearby. Zemerik stopped short of the squad, and John traced his hesitation to the large Tiberian Fiend that sat near one of the mutants, its tongue hanging out of its mouth like it was a domesticated dog, and not a vicious mutant creature.

"Try not to get in our way, Blunts." The beast master growled.

"Just make sure your…pet, knows who the bad guys are." Prevost countered.

Further argument was cut off by the rumbling of massive engines. The two squads turned to locate the source of the noise, and John couldn't stop the wild grin that spread across his face. Three Mammoth tanks rolled forward, twin barrels already firing at the distant defences.

"Fuck yeah! I have always wanted to see one of those!" Zemerik cheered.

"Forward, advance!" John shouted, trying to hide his own excitement.

The GDI squad moved forward, and the Forgotten followed a second later. The El Diablo moved in front of them, but it looked like a child's RC car compared to the Mammoths. The massive tanks easily dispatched any Nod vehicle in their way, their cannons thundered across the battlefield, while side mounted missile pods rained salvos of rockets onto enemy infantry. The joint GDI and Forgotten force had little problem dealing with the stragglers, as they moved to the Nod base.

The Mammoths had nearly reached the halfway point, when they were suddenly struck by heavy fire. John tried to see where the shells were coming from, but they looked as though to be coming from thin air. It wasn't until he spotted the dome like structure, that the cold realization hit him.

"Ravager 1-1, I have eyes on a Nod stealth generator. On the ridge about west, north west of the Mammoths. I think its hiding enemy AT bunkers, over?"

"Understood Hunter2-6, 1-1 copies all, thanks. Break. Ravager 1-1 to Crown 3-3, be advised, infantry have eyes on Nod stealth generator. EVA uploading coordinates."

"Copy that. Targets are locked, thanks for the heads up, Ravager."

One of the Mammoths turned its massive turret, just as another shell glanced off its armour. It fired both barrels simultaneously, and the stealth generator exploded. Four concrete bunkers soon materialized into existence, and more cannon fire erupted, along with streams of machine gun rounds that now rained down on the infantry. The lead Mammoth took the brunt of all four shells: three exploded harmlessly against the thick armour plates, but the final one pierced through and destroyed the left front treads. The Mammoth ground to a halt, unable to move, but that did not stop it from firing back with both cannons and missiles.

"Alpha Company, advance on those bunkers! We need to clear them." Captain Mitch ordered.

"You heard the man, let's go." John said. His squad began climbing the ridge towards the bunkers, but John turned to the mutants still following the El Diablo. "Beast Master, I could use your help up there."

"We have our own orders, Blunt. We do not follow you." The mutant snapped.

"We should work together on this. Besides, taking out those bunkers are the only way we get in. You can see the amount of machine gun fire coming from them."

The mutant growled to himself, but after a moment, reluctantly nodded.

"Fine. Warriors! With me!"

John led the mutants up to his squad, and together the two units moved towards the bunkers. Other squads and platoons from Alpha Company approached from multiple directions, but they all headed towards the same objective. The bunkers continued to pour weapons fire down on the GDI force, and John could see the immobilized Mammoth would not be able to last for much longer.

"1st and 2nd Platoon, listen up! We are going to take out the bunker designated Lima Alpha. Go, go, go!" Ghaani shouted.

John led the two squads towards the bunker that the Lieutenant had just indicated. Black Hand infantry, along side more cyborgs, rushed forward to engage the GDI and Forgotten troops. Machine gun fire and lasers scythed through the joint force, and John quickly led his team into cover behind a low concrete wall. Five GDI soldiers, and six Forgotten warriors, fired in unison at the Nod forces. Black Hand and cyborg troops were torn apart by the fusillade. But more enemy soldiers simply rushed in to fill the gaps, and light vehicles quickly entered into the fray.

The Forgotten El Diablos, and a handful of Wolverines tried to combat the rush if of Attack Bikes and Buggies, but it still prevented the joint force from advancing any further. The bunkers fired another salvo, and the Mammoth could no longer hold off. The large tank exploded, shaking the ridge. The other two Mammoths began to fall back, trying to get out of the gun's range.

"Christina! No!"

John lowered his rifle to see what the sudden commotion was about, and was nearly knocked to the ground by the Forgotten Beast Master. The mutant's Fiend had rushed out into the thick of battle, leaping onto Nod soldiers and ripping their throat out. A cyborg attempted to fire on the Fiend, but the creature perforated the machine full of Tiberium shards.

John was stunned by the creature's ferocity, and even more so by its master's desire to protect it, even that meant running out into the open. Man and beast fought as one, but unfortunately, they were both torn apart by a Buggy. John felt sorry for the two, but he pushed those feelings aside, and shouted to one of the other mutants.

"Get that tank firing on those Buggies!"

The mutant nodded, and moments later, the El Diablo destroyed the Buggy. John was ready to order his team forward, when the ground began to shake. Instinct kicked in and he was already ordering his men to fall back, when the Flame tanks emerged from underground. Six of the fearsome tanks burst onto the surface, and Tiberium fueled flames spewed over the battlefield. GDI and Forgotten infantry had already fallen back, but a few stragglers were instantly turned to blackened bones.

GDI grenadiers and Mutant heavy weapons teams began firing on the Flame tanks, trying to halt their advance, while joint infantry squads continued to lay down walls of fire on the Nod troops. It seemed as though they would never break through, as Harpy gunships hovered above the bunkers, allowing more Black Hand to repel down.

John fired a burst at a Black Hand soldier armed with a laser rifle, and managed to kill the woman, at the same moment a loud thunderclap went off in his ear. It took his brain a moment to process what had just happened, but in that same instance, one of the bunkers had been destroyed. Just as his hearing began to recover, another thunderclap went off, and another bunker was annihilated.

"What the fuck is that!?" Zemerik asked excitedly.

John turned to see what he was talking about, and felt his jaw drop in awe. A colossal walker was slowly moved forward on four legs, supporting a large, rectangular body. Strapped to both sides of the monstrous vehicle were two powerful rail guns, along with numerous missile pods on top of the main structure. The thing looked somewhat like a giant, metal camel, and it fired one of the rail guns again, and the third bunker was obliterated.

"That is the pride of GDI! The Mammoth Mk II!" Prevost explained.

The Mammoth walker took a long, lumbering step, then fired once more. The final bunker was reduced to rubble in a flash, and Nod forces began retreating into the base.

"All units, this is Viking. Knocking down the door!" The Mammoth Mk II pilot reported.

The Mammoth walker fired both rail guns simultaneously, and both the large gate and one of the Obelisks were annihilated.

"All units! Advance into the base!" Commander McNeil ordered.

The entire joint GDI/Forgotten force rushed into the Nod base, as the Mammoth walker and other armoured vehicles began pounding away at the defences. John led his squad into cover, and began blasting away at the Nod soldiers. The Mammoth walker walked into the base, and fired on the ICBM launcher located on an artificial platform. The launcher was reduced to shrapnel, and the GDI forces began marching towards the pyramid.

"Forgotten warriors, divert to Objective Mike." McNeil said, barely audible over the roar of battle.

"Forget it, Blunt. Kane is mine." Another voice retorted, no doubt the Forgotten leader, Umagon.

"Damn it! We don't have time for this. We-"

The radio cut out as the ground tremble once again from emerging subterranean vehicles. Only this time, it was much stronger, and moments later, dozens of APCs burst to the surface. Hundreds of Nod soldiers and cyborgs rushed out to join the front lines. However the shaking didn't stop, not until the massive frame of the Montauk erupted forth. John could feel their victory slipping away; with this many reinforcements, and the arrival of Slavik, they would have no chance of getting to Kane.

"INCOMING!"

John reflexively dove to the ground, just as a trio of Banshees passed by overhead. They fired on the Mammoth, blowing massive chunks of armour off the walker. However the colossal beast still stood, and fired back with a flurry of rockets, and one Banshee was hit, spinning out of control before crashing into the pyramid.

"All forces, hold your ground! We have to fight through!" McNeil barked.

John and his squad kept firing, killing scores of Nod forces. He looked at his friends, and he felt guilty, guilty that he couldn't save them.

"Give them hell! If we die here, we take as many of them with us!" John said, trying to sound encouraging.

They didn't reply, they kept fighting, and that was all John could really ask for.

… … …

"There's no way we can reach the last launcher in time. Not with this many forces blocking our way." Mark stated.

McNeil didn't respond: he was too focused on the holographic image of the Montauk. Slavik had showed up, and he was finally within reach. He could get vengeance for Jake's death.

"Mack! What are your orders?" Mark asked, breaking McNeil from his thoughts.

He knew he could use the Peacemaker cruise missile to kill Slavik, but the blast would probably kill his own men. As much as he craved vengeance, he knew what he had to do.

"EVA, send a message to Captain Knight. Tell him it's time." McNeil said.

"Affirmative, Commander."

Mark smiled, but McNeil had already returned his attention to the Montauk.

"I'm coming for you, you bastard." McNeil said, not caring if anyone heard.

… … …

Mediterranean Sea

Onboard the GDS Freedom Maker

1100

The GDI nuclear submarine glided through the water, careful to keep silent as it moved underneath the Nod fleet. Below the sub, were the corpses of countless warships, sent to a watery grave during both Tiberium Wars. The GDI Navy had control of the Strait of Gibraltar, but Nod firmly held onto the waters that protected Italy, Eastern Europe, and Northern Africa.

But still, Captain Knight had managed to sneak his vessel through, and was now almost in position.

Lancaster was going to owe him big for this one.

"Captain! Message from McNeil's EVA. Coordinates for Objective Mike." Knight's XO reported.

"Understood. Take us up to firing depth! Launch missiles one and four, then immediate dive back down to cruising depths! I want to make this quick and clean."

"Aye, aye, Captain! Raise to firing depth! Fire missiles one and four!" The XO repeated.

The Freedom Maker began to rise, making it vulnerable to Nod anti-sub weapons. But hopefully the enemy would be too surprised to react in time before they launched and dived back down.

"Missiles one and four, ready!" The weapons officer reported.

"Fire missiles!" Knight barked.

"Aye, fire missiles!" The XO repeated.

The submarine shuddered as both Peacemaker missiles launched from their tubes, knifing through the water before launching towards the distant target miles away.

"Missiles away Captain!"

"Bring us back down! Ready Harpoon torpedoes."

"Aye, aye! Bring us down to cruising depths! Ready anti-sub Harpoons."

The Freedom Maker began a steep dive, forcing the crew to hang on tightly. No doubt the Nod ships would react quickly, firing their own torpedoes, and deploying smaller attack subs to chase them. With a great deal of luck, the Freedom Maker would be long gone, and back to friendly waters.

"Should we run silent, sir?" The XO asked.

"Negative. Get us the hell out of here."

"Yes, sir!"

"EVA, send a message to Lancaster. Tell him this more than makes up for Tokyo."

"Affirmative, Captain."

The GDS Freedom Maker once more glided through the deep waters, racing away from the Nod fleet. Their job was finished, now it was up to McNeil to end it.

… … …

Cairo, Egypt

Onboard the OCV Kodiak

1125

The two cruise missiles struck their target, and destroyed the large auxiliary base in a flash of fire and death that sent tons of debris cascading through the air. There was nothing left but a large crater, and now all three ICBMs were destroyed. All that was left was to kill Kane.

But that was proving to be harder than McNeil had thought, and he already thought it was impossible. Slavik and the remnants of the 1st Army had arrived, and were already pushing his forces out, even with the Mammoth. He had no other forces to call on, no Ion Cannon or other submarines to utilize.

"Perhaps we should consider retreat? We could link up with General Harkin's forces. The immediate threat has been dealt with." Chandra whispered to McNeil.

"The immediate threat is not dealt with. So long as Kane is alive, we are all in danger." McNeil replied.

"Take a page from your own playbook. Use the EMP pulse to disable the Montauk, and all Nod forces." Mark stated.

"No, that would disable our forces as well." McNeil retorted.

"It's the only way to get into the pyramid."

"Our men would get slaughtered. It's too risky!" Chandra blurted.

McNeil waved for Chandra to stand down, but he never took his eyes off of Mark.

"I'm not going to risk my men, not like this."

"You know what needs to be done. You told me you would do anything to win. Some of our forces will die, but we can kill Kane!"

"It's too risky!"

"Damn it, McNeil! I am not going to let the bastard get away again. We kill him, here and now!"

McNeil shook his head. He didn't want to throw his men away like this. These men and women had been through Hell, and now he was expected to leave them to die? But Mark had a point: Kane was within reach, as was Slavik. He could kill both of them right now.

Saving GDI, is more important than saving you.

Jake's words still haunted him. Telling him what needed to be done, like he had done from the start. Using the Forgotten, driving his men to the breaking point. Chasing after Vega, then Slavik. Like sacrificing his men to get to Kane now.

"Chandra…arm the EMP pulse."

"Yes, sir." Chandra said through gritted teeth.

Mark smiled and nodded his head sagely.

"Our forces will know what to do. They can fight their way to the Montauk. But we will need to lead a force to find Kane."

"You, aren't going anywhere. You are staying on this bridge." McNeil growled.

"EMP is ready, Commander." EVA reported.

"Good. Now, target the pyramid."

"No. That won't reach all of the Nod forces." Mark protested.

"I know. Fire the pulse, then bring the Kodiak down. I'll lead a team and find Kane."

"What about Slavik? If you let him escape, then this war will continue! McNeil, don't be a fool!"

"Thank you for your counsel, Mr. Lancaster, but that will be all." McNeil said dismissively.

Mark's face hardened in anger, but McNeil turned away from him. Chandra smiled and gave a silent 'thank you.' McNeil merely nodded, before commanding,

"Fire the pulse!"

The Kodiak shuddered as it fired the EMP pulse. The effect was instantaneous, as the entire pyramid lost power. Defences shut down, lights went dark, and Nod vehicles ceased to function. The radios became flooded with chatter, as the various GDI forces renewed their attack.

The Mammoth MK II began firing on the Montauk, ripping open wounds all across the massive vehicle. Nod forces fumbled as they lost connection to their command, but they still managed to hold off McNeil's troops. It would be difficult to reach Kane without their help; in fact, McNeil knew he may not even come back.

Saving GDI, is more important than saving you.

Thanks Jake. I finally get it now.

"Prepare to bring the Kodiak down. And get an assault team ready to-"

"Sir! The mutants are heading for the pyramid!" Brink suddenly reported.

McNeil rushed over to her station, only to see Umagon leading her forces into the pyramid, rather than the Montauk. Mutants were even actively abandoning their GDI compatriots, just to help Umagon get inside.

"Damn that woman! What the hell is she doing!?" McNeil exclaimed.

"Mack! The Montauk, its powering up!" Chandra exclaimed.

"What!?"

McNeil raced back to the table, only to see the Montauk beginning to bore back into the earth. McNeil couldn't believe that Slavik was fleeing, but this would only further throw Nod forces into disarray.

"Order our forces to keep pushing. We need to secure the pyramid's perimeter." McNeil ordered.

"You're still going down there?" Mark asked.

"Yes, I am."

"And I'm coming with you. You need someone to watch your back." Chandra said.

McNeil wanted to argue, but he knew he didn't have much time.

"Glad to have you. Brink, you have the bridge. If things get too hairy up here, order a full retreat. Don't wait for me."

"Yes, sir."

McNeil nodded to his crew, proud to have served with them. He and Chandra quickly grabbed their gear, then made for the door. But Mark called out to McNeil, and he turned to face the old Commander.

"Mack…make sure he stays dead this time."

"I will."

And with that, McNeil and Chandra left the bridge. They made their way down to one of the hangars, where they could take one of the smaller shuttles. A squad of specialist paratroopers joined them on the way, to act as McNeil's strike team. They all hastily loaded into the shuttle, and dropped away from the Kodiak, flying over the ongoing battle and heading for the darkened pyramid.

"Think Umagon can clear the way for us?" Chandra asked.

"I just hope she hasn't gotten herself killed."

The shuttle landed a few moments later, right outside the front entrance. The bodyguards hopped out, to secure the area. But it proved unnecessary, as the entrance was littered with dead Black Hand and Forgotten warriors. McNeil led the team into the pyramid, moving quickly so they could catch up with Umagon.

He had expected they would have to fight their way through Kane's most elite guard, but the Forgotten had already cleared the way for them. However, there were just as many dead Forgotten as there were Nod. Meaning Umagon was loosing men, and may not have enough to reach Kane. McNeil ordered the team to hurry even faster, as they descended even deeper into the pyramid.

They passed by more dead Nod and mutant soldiers. With each minute that passed, the more likely it was Umagon was dead and Kane would escape. In his haste, McNeil almost didn't notice the squad of cyborgs guarding a large door until they opened fire. He quickly ducked into an alcove, just as machine gun fire ripped down the hallway. The GDI troopers also got into cover, and began firing back.

"Attention. World Altering Missile will fire in T-minus five minutes." An AI reported over the loudspeakers.

McNeil cursed as he peered out to fire a burst. Kane still had one dirty trick up his sleeve, which meant McNeil didn't have time to get stuck in a prolonged firefight.

"Brink! Lancaster! Kane's going to fire another missile! Bombard the pyramid with everything you've got!"

"But sir! You're still-"

"Just do it Brink!"

"Yes, sir."

McNeil fired another burst, and one of the cyborgs went down from concentrated fire. But the others continued to block the way, and the pyramid began to shake violently from the GDI forces pounding away outside.

"Mack, go! We'll hold them off!" Chandra shouted.

McNeil reluctantly nodded his head. He dropped his rifle, and pulled out his sidearm. Once Chandra gave the signal, he bolted down the hall at the same moment Chandra and the paratroopers opened fire. The cyborgs were staggered by the intense barrage, and McNeil was able to run past the cyborgs. He pushed through the door, and ran down the dimly lit hallway, leaving Chandra and the others behind.

A thin green mist began to fill the hall, and his suit warned him of the small amounts of Tiberium radiation. Not enough to kill him, but enough that he didn't want to be down here for too long. He heard muffled voices from up ahead, and slowed, bringing up his pistol. He eventually came onto a large chamber that overlooked a missile silo. Kane was standing in the center, holding Umagon captive.

"Its over Kane! Let her go!" McNeil barked, weapon pointed at the maniacal Messiah.

Kane turned around, his own weapon pointed to Umagon's head, and his signature grin etched on his face. But McNeil couldn't help but reel back in shock, a motion that made Kane smile even more. For half of Kane's head was covered in an ornate mask, clearly covering severe burn marks that stretched out from under the mask.

"A little reminder from Lancaster's previous attempt to kill me." Kane explained, tentatively touching the mask. "It would not do for the faithful to see their Prophet…like this."

"Drop the gun, Kane!"

"You only delay the inevitable! I have the Tacitus, I am invincible!"

"You aren't God!"

"No, I'm not God. But I am a close second."

The ground shook as GDI forces continued to bombard the pyramid. Kane stumbled, which allowed Umagon to break free of his hold. McNeil charged at Kane, and knocked him off the platform. The two fell to the next floor, landing hard on the platform below. McNeil groaned as he got back to his feet, only to be kicked back down. Kane stood over him, his smile now replaced by a disgusted sneer. Kane began walking away, back towards the platform above.

McNeil grabbed his pistol and fired three shots, each one punching through Kane's back. But he kept walking, as if the bullets were little more than thrown pebbles.

"You can not stop me, McNeil. I shall have my Ascension!" Kane shouted.

McNeil got back to his feet. He didn't know how Kane survived being shot, but he still had to stop him. He quickly glanced around the platform, which looked as though it had served as some sort of ritual altar. Dotted all around were poles topped with Tiberium crystals. McNeil hastily grabbed one, and pulled it from its pedestal.

He raced back to the top platform, where Kane now clutched onto the Tacitus. He stood over Umagon, his arms spread wide, as he began preaching,

"The Tiberian Sun has risen! I have ushered in a new age!"

"Not on my world!"

McNeil mustered all the strength he had left, and thrust the spear through Kane's heart. The man looked at McNeil in shock, before McNeil yanked the spear out. Kane stumbled backwards, spilling blood everywhere. He continued to step backwards, before he once more fell off the platform. McNeil rushed over to the edge to see where he had fallen, but the green mist was too thick.

"McNeil!"

McNeil turned back to Umagon, who now held the Tacitus. She waved for him to hurry, and McNeil noticed the pyramid was beginning to fall apart. The two ran back down the hall, just as chunks of the ceiling and large support struts began to fall down. They made it outside the chamber, where Chandra and the paratroopers waited. Without wasting time to say anything, McNeil simply waved for them to go, and they all ran as fast as they could back to the surface.

"Brink! Cease fire! Cease fire! We're coming up!"

McNeil didn't receive any reply, but the shaking came to a stop. However, the pyramid was still falling apart, and it wasn't until McNeil and the others reached the ground floor of the pyramid did they finally escape the falling debris. They all stopped to catch their breaths from the frantic run, and it wasn't until that moment that the realization finally hit him: Kane was dead.

"We…we did it." McNeil stated breathlessly.

"Yeah…we did…not bad for a Blunt." Umagon teased.

The pyramid abruptly began to shake again, only this time far more violently. It felt as though the entire planet would split in two, and McNeil had to duck to avoid falling debris from the high vaulted ceiling. Then, everything became calm, and everyone exchanged glances.

"What the fuck was that?" Chandra asked.

"Probably the missile going off. Just be thankful it wasn't primed, or else we'd all be little more than dust." Umagon answered.

"There's no way he could have survived that." McNeil stated.

"That's what you Blunts said last time."

"Good point. We'll need to go back down, and search for the body. No point taking the risk."

Figures ran into the pyramid, and McNeil whirled around, expecting to have to fight off angered fanatics. But his shoulders sagged in relief, as GDI soldiers poured into the pyramid.

The battle was over, and somehow, against all odds, GDI had won.

… … …

Epilogue

Cairo, Egypt

December 5th, 2030

1300

The engines of the Orca transport began to whine as it powered up. Wounded soldiers marched up the ramp, eager to finally go home. John walked with his father to the base of the ramp, remaining silent as neither of them seemed to know what to say.

The battle was over, and GDI had managed to drive off the last of the Nod defenders. Though that could also have been due to the intercepted retreat order from Slavik. But all the same, the Nod capital was secured, and Kane was dead, something that would no doubt send shockwaves through out the entire Brotherhood.

"Son." Mark said suddenly, breaking through John's thoughts.

"Yes, sir?"

"You did an amazing job out there. You have proven to be a natural born leader, and…I'm proud of you, John."

John looked at his father, and saw something he hadn't seen since his mother had passed away: love. John smiled at his father, and offered out his hand. Mark shook it, before bringing him in for a hug. John was shocked for a moment, but returned the embrace. Mark broke away after a moment, and began to ascend the ramp. He stopped halfway up, and turned back to John.

"Stay safe, son. And…for what it's worth, I am sorry. For everything."

"Its okay, dad."

"And please tell your brother to call me. I would like to congratulate him.

"I'll…try."

"Thank you."

Mark Lancaster walked up into the transport. John stepped back and watched it lift into the air, and whisk his father away. Much to his surprise, John felt sad to see him go, and even had to wipe away a tear. As the transport disappeared over the horizon, he began to walk towards the GDI base, set up inside the ruins of the Nod one. His friends and squadmates were waiting for him, and fell in just beside him.

"So, Sarge. What are our orders?" Zemerik asked.

"Patrol duty, north side of the base." John answered.

"Patrol duty? Come on, that's boring!"

"We just fought in what was undoubtedly a suicide mission, and you're complaining that you want to see more combat!?" Prevost asked incredulously.

"Hell yeah! I want to kick more Nod ass!"

"Enjoy the down time, kid. I have a feeling we're going to be thrown right back into Hell."

The three men walked off, and John couldn't help but sigh. They still had a long war ahead of them.

… … …

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

1700

The bridge of the Montauk was silent, as Slavik sat alone on his throne. Outside, people worked away at constructing a new base of operations. Slavik had managed to gather the forces of both the 1st and 2nd Armies here, where he intended to rebuild their strength.

Kane was dead, and it was now up to him to lead the Brotherhood to victory. He had finally seen his chance to usurp Kane, and he had taken it. McNeil had done the deed for him, and no one would dare challenge his rule as heir to the Brotherhood. Now he had to repay McNeil for his service, by killing the arrogant bastard.

There was still a lot of work left to be done, as the war would need direction now that Kane was gone. And with CABAL's destruction, he was without a vital asset. But these were all things he could remedy, and soon he would have the world grasped by the throat. Slavik smiled, as visions of empire filled his mind.

The door to the bridge suddenly opened, and Slavik got up to see who would disturb him. A dark skinned man in priests robes walked over to him, and gave a shallow bow. Slavik returned it out of formality, but made no attempt to hide his scowl.

"Grand Confessor Marcion. What brings you here?"

"You made summons for all Black Hand to join you here, in Sarajevo." Marcion answered.

"Don't be coy with me. Why do you disturb me?"

"I come, so that I may understand your vision for the future of our Brotherhood. With Kane gone, we now lack direction."

"I have direction. I shall end this war by conquering the infidel's precious cities. I shall drag their blasphemous leaders through the streets, and anoint the new world with their blood." Slavik stated.

"That is all well and good…for the masses. But you have to have more, or else the Inner Circle will never follow you."

"Yes, I know. We need time to recuperate from Kane's death. Once we rebuild our forces, we shall drive GDI out of Africa and Europe. The rest of the world will follow soon after."

"Kane is not dead. And you only rule in his absence. Remember that, Slavik."

"As you say, Grand Confessor."

The two men walked over to the window in silence, watching over the Nod forces gathered before them. Marcion was right about exercising patience, but there would be nothing that would stop Slavik from obtaining what he desired.

… … …

Cairo, Egypt

Onboard the Kodiak

2000

"You are one lucky son of a bitch. You should be court martialed and tried for treason. But instead, you will be returned to Reykjavik as a God damned war hero."

McNeil stood patiently as Solomon berated him. The old General shook his head as he sighed, like a disappointed father.

"The Directors may want to parade you around for killing Kane. But I'll be damn sure to see that you never command a single soldier ever again! Now then…General Harkin is still pushing his forces to you. Once he arrives, he will be assuming command. You will go to Reykjavik, and the 22nd will be sent home to recover. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Good."

Solomon ended the transmission, and McNeil ran a hand through his hair. He had expected to be chewed out by Solomon, and probably have his command stripped away. But he hadn't planned on the Board of Directors wanting to parade him around. But he guess it made sense, as a propaganda thing.

"Got a good ass kicking from Solomon, eh?"

McNeil turned to see Anvil standing nearby, with a sad smile on her face.

"Guess you got a similar one too?"

"Yeah. General Harkin wasn't too pleased I went AWOL, and took the Mammoth with me. But I think I got off easier than you. I still get to keep command, only, I'm being relegated to rear echelon duties for awhile."

"I'm just glad I didn't ruin your career."

"Don't sweat it. We did save the world, after all."

"Thanks Cassey."

Anvil smiled, before giving a quick salute. McNeil returned it, and watched as she left the bridge. However, as she was leaving, Umagon brushed past her as she walked onto the bridge.

"McNeil." Umagon greeted.

"Umagon." McNeil greeted in kind.

"I just wanted to thank you. With Kane gone, my people finally have vengeance for all the atrocities he committed. It has been an honour fighting with you."

Umagon bowed, and McNeil followed suit. They two shared a smile, and McNeil even flashed her a cocksure grin. Umagon simply laughed and shook her head, as she walked off the bridge.

"See you around, Blunt."

McNeil sighed and set about shutting down the bridge, as he planned to head down to the officers' mess. Saving the world could really cause one to build up an appetite.

… … …

Deep below the pyramid, in a hidden series of tunnels, Kane stumbled through the darkened halls. Blood continued to pour from his wounds, even after his heart had stopped beating. He grunted in excruciating pain, but in time, the wounds would heal. He kept pushing, trying to reach the underground transport up ahead. But the shadows dogged at his heels, and he continued to mock him.

"I have not failed yet. This…is merely…a set back." Kane hissed at the shadows.

"CABAL!"

A holographic image of CABAL appeared before him in the gloom, but it was already starting to fade.

"Primary core damaged. Re-re-rerouting to secondary core." CABAL's fractured voice reported.

"The Tacitus must be retrieved. I will not be denied again."

"Aff-ff-firmative. Up-updating primary protocols. Activating secondary nodes. The Marked shall do as you command."

"Excellent. And CABAL? I need time to rebuild."

"Understood. They shall lament to the sounds of their own extinction."

CABAL faded away, once more leaving Kane in the darkness, with only the shadows as company.

He would not he denied, not again.

Ascension awaited.

… … …

Author's note: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the end of Part Two. Thank you to everyone for reading! And as always, a tremendous thank you to IanOtter for editing my work. Without him, this project would not be where it is now. So please be sure to check out his amazing stories!

And with the completion of Part Two: Sun, we have now finished 3 out of 5 stories. Next up will be the short story Firestorm. Now this will only be 6 chapters, as it chronicles the Firestorm expansion, and leads us into Part 3.

I'm excited that we are nearing the end. But don't worry, there are many more ideas planned for the future.

Until next time.

Through the Technology of Peace!