Project Genesis

Part 3:

Ascension

Author's note: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the finale! After nearly 2 and a half years, we have finally reached the third and final part of this Command and Conquer series. And I must say that I am incredibly excited, but also a bit sad, that this series is nearing it's end.

This story will be a novelization of Tiberium Wars, but altered to serve as the grand finale that C&C deserved. And as is the case with all of my stories, expect some fun twists and changes.

I feel as though there is something important I must address, and that is Peptuck's Tiberium Wars story. Now, since both my story and his are novelizations of the same game, there will obviously be similarities in locations and characters. But obviously, our writing styles and ultimate visions are vastly different. I just felt the need to acknowledge that, yes, Peptuck's story was a huge inspiration for this entire series. And, if by some bizarre reason you haven't read his incredible story (which is sadly unfinished,) well…what the hell are you doing? Go read it!

Secondly, the "official" Tiberium Wars novel…it's garbage and a disgrace to C&C. I almost recommend people go read it to see how NOT to do C&C fanfiction. And it is sad how that was our only expanded universe material. Ifyou want a full breakdown on why it sucks, check out Peptuck's Tiberium Wars.

Lastly, and as always, a big thank you to IanOtter, my friend and editor. If you still haven't checked out his awesome Halo stories, I highly recommend it.

Now without further delay. The finale of Project Genesis!

Prologue

Rio de Janeiro

Yellow Zone Y-5

May 11th, 2034

0800

Once, long ago, before the age of Tiberium, the city of Rio de Janeiro was divided between the modern streets of the city proper, and the vast expanse of the favela that stretched beyond the city limits. But now, after two world wars and the devastation wrought by Tiberium, the city of Rio was nothing more than decayed ruins and an all-encompassing slum. Only a very small section of the city remained clean and pristine, jealously guarded by the Global Defense Initiative.

Millions of people lived in these slums, starving, sick, and angry, while GDI and the wealthy elites enjoyed the luxuries of clean water and uncontaminated food. The people of Rio were ready to revolt, to finally throw off the shackles of their oppressors.

A powder keg of rebellion ready to ignite.

A man wearing a poncho made of discarded cloth and garbage bags looked up as a convoy of vehicles made their way down the dirty road. A Pitbull reconnaissance vehicle was in the lead, followed by a Guardian APC, it's Vulcan cannon swiveling back and forth. Behind that was an armored limousine, and the man knew that inside was Director Joseph Jordan, the Director of Rio and all of Y-5.

The man watched the limo glide past, followed by a second APC. The convoy was well protected against potential looters, though no one was that stupid to try. Up ahead, people crowded the streets, trying to peddle wares or find scraps of food. But when it was clear that the Pitbull would not stop, the people scattered, pushing each other out of the way to avoid being run over.

The vehicles pushed past the crowd, ignoring their angry shouts and desperate cries. However, the Pitbull crew didn't appear completely heartless, as they did slam on their breaks as a woman walked into the street pushing a baby stroller. A soldier jumped out from the Pitbull, rifle raised as the woman pushed the stroller towards the vehicle.

"Stop! Put your hands in the air, now!"

"Please! My baby is sick! I need help." The woman cried.

"Move out of the way!" The soldier yelled back.

The woman moved even closer, despite the soldier pointing his rifle in her face.

"I said stop!"

"PEACE THROUGH POWER!"

The woman and her stroller abruptly exploded, creating a brilliant fireball that engulfed the Pitbull. The people crowded on the sidewalks scattered, screaming in fear, but another cry began to rise above the terror, one of liberation.

"IN THE NAME OF KANE!"

People, armed with a variety of weapons, surged into the street, firing on the APCs that were now stuck in the open. Not that it mattered much to the heavily armored vehicles, as their Vulcan cannons tore into the angry mob with ease. But the revolutionaries were not finished.

The man wearing the ragged poncho ripped it off, revealing the battered Nod combat armor beneath. Karsten Malich, leader of the revolution, smiled viscously as he gave his next order.

"Martyrs of the Brotherhood. Attack!"

As the APCs continued to chew apart the mob, a swarm of people rushed out from the buildings. Both men and women, some old, some young, all with Tiberium laced explosives strapped to their chests, rushed towards the APCs. They cried great litanies of hate, as they ran into the armored vehicles and exploded. The APCs went up in flames, and the men inside burned alive.

All that was left now, was the limo, and the Director. Malich walked towards the limousine, as people were already beating on the armored windows, trying to break in. Malich merely waded through the throng of angry people, and reached the rear passenger door. With a theatrical flourish, he placed a small thermite charge on the door, and stepped back as it ignited.

The armored door collapsed to the street with a heavy thud, and the quivering, fat blob of Director Jordan was yanked out into the street.

"Please! Have mercy! I-I-I'll give you whatever you want!" The Director pleaded pathetically.

"The people of Rio demand freedom! We demand retribution!" Malich shouted, though more for the crowd than any actual anger towards Jordan.

The crowd chanted their agreement, and the streets shook with their fury.

"Please, I can give you anything! Money, power!"

"These people are starving, and you offer them power? What power could you offer that they have not already taken?"

"I beg you, spare my life!"

"Rio belongs to the Brotherhood now."

Malich pulled out a knife, and slit the Director's throat as he cried. Thick blood poured down onto the filth strewn streets, and the people cried out in joyous blood-thirst.

"Our revolution is not done! It has only begun! Now, take your anger to GDI! Burn down their administration buildings! Loot their stores and ravage their homes! Rio shall be cleansed in fire and blood!"

"FOR THE BROTHERHOOD OF NOD!"

"Peace through power!"

"PEACE THROUGH POWER!"

Karsten Malich laughed as the very city shook with the cries of the angry, downtrodden people. He felt euphoric, as the militias burned down homes and stormed the fortress like administration buildings. And he prayed to Kane, as the GDI garrison was overwhelmed and routed.

The great Rio Insurrection had begun, and the Brotherhood of Nod had been restored within it's flames. Like a mythical phoenix rising from it's own ashes.

… … …

Chapter 1

"The Global Defense Initiative began as a secret military alliance of advanced nations under the United Nations' umbrella. GDI's mission: To contain Tiberium, reverse its spread, and fight the sinister Brotherhood of Nod.

Over time, power and sovereignty have been gradually ceded to GDI and the national identities of the participating countries have faded. In 2047, that process has reached its final stages: while there are still technically individual member nations, the reality is that GDI has become a unified political and military super-state.

GDI controls the only areas of the Earth that have not been significantly compromised by Tiberium infestation. The crystalline alien substance is slowly consuming the rest of the planet, causing an environmental cataclysm that has made 30% of the Earth uninhabitable and another 50% of the Earth's surface exceedingly unfriendly to civilisation. GDI's home territories are known as "Blue Zones" since they are mostly clear of Tiberium and have been relatively untouched by war (in contrast to the ecologically ravaged and war-torn "Yellow Zones" and the Tiberium infested hellscapes designated as "Red Zones").

The clash between GDI and Nod has escalated into full World Wars twice before - the First Tiberium War (TWI) erupted when both powers were in their formative states and that terrible war was followed by another worldwide firestorm several years later." -Intel Database: The Global Defense Initiative

Washington D.C.

Blue Zone B-2

June 15th, 2047

1030

Washington D.C. had been the capital of one of the world's most powerful nations. Today though, the city no longer held that title, but it was still vital to the Global Defense Initiative. Maintaining that importance kept the city's pride, and from that, Washington had become one of GDI's most prestigious cities.

Despite the overpopulated nature of Blue Zones, Washington managed to maintain a spacious layout, with tall habitat buildings and wide open parks.

It was the crown jewel of B-2, and the location of one of GDI's most important military commands: the Pentagon.

And that was exactly where Battle-Commander John Lancaster was currently headed as he slowly made his way through the dense traffic, while sipping on his thermos of herbal tea. John had never developed the addiction to coffee that his late father had, probably due to the fact that coffee beans were considered an extinct commodity. That still didn't stop people from downing unhealthy amounts of highly caffeinated synth coffee though.

The computer strapped to his wrist, the Tacpad, vibrated, indicating a message from his Electronic Video Assistant.

"Commander, your meeting with General Granger has been moved from his personal office, to Tactical Operations control room 1." The feminine AI reported.

"Thanks EVA. How long is this traffic going to last for?"

"Traffic estimates predict another one hour and forty minutes. However, your route will be clear after your next right turn."

"Thanks. And EVA? Change the station to W3N, please."

"Of course, Commander."

The radio station changed from a classical rock station, to the State run W3N news station. William Frank was already on air, talking about the upcoming energy summit on the space station Philadelphia. The summit would see GDI funding changed from defence, to ecology, namely the eradication of Tiberium. Many within the Board of Directors, and the military, saw this as a negative thing, including some famous names like General Mitchell of the Steel Talons, and retired commando Nick "Havoc" Parker.

But John supported this change. Kane was dead, and Nod hadn't been a serious threat in over 16 years. He still remembered the brutality of the short, but devastating, Second Tiberium War. And while there had still been conflicts in the years following - such as the B-6 food riots, Mutant raids, and the Rio Insurrection - GDI had enjoyed nearly two decades of relative peace.

No, it was high time they dealt with the real threat, the one consuming the Earth and threatening mankind with extinction.

John finally broke free from the traffic jam, and turned onto the road that would lead him directly to the Pentagon. He could already see the power plants that allowed the building to be separate from the city power grid. And the blocks of apartment buildings that were spreading around the Pentagon like rampant weeds. But perhaps most impressive was the concrete wall that surrounded the entire perimeter, lined with guard towers and automated Vulcan Watch Towers.

John pulled his 2039 Otani-Lincoln pickup truck to the front gate, and began the arduous and painfully boring procedure of going through the Pentagon's multiple layers of security. Many people liked to joke that GDI was overly paranoid, but it paid to be when Nod terrorism was still a constant threat, even if the Brotherhood was no longer a credible military power.

John just sighed and drank his tea, as GDI Military Police scanned his truck for hidden weapons or Tiberium contamination.

It was going to be a long morning.

… … …

After two hours of passing through various levels of security, John finally reached the subterranean level where General Jack Granger controlled GDI command. He reached the main office, but was stopped by two riflemen. John mentally sighed at having to go through one final checkpoint, but thankfully this one was much more lax than the others. They only patted him down for hidden weapons, scanned his face and retinas, took a sample of blood- the seventh taken today- and subjected him to a series of pass codes.

When that was finished, John made his way through row after row of desks, all occupied by officers of various ranks, and reached the far end of the room. A window looked out onto the vast underground bunker of GDI command, but in front of this window was a large desk, where General Jack Granger was currently standing by, studying a large screen.

John strode over to the General and snapped a salute, before barking out,

"Commander John Lancaster, reporting as ordered, sir."

Granger turned to face John, and returned the salute. The General gave a small smile, as he said,

"At ease, Commander. General Jack Granger; good to have you on board."

"Good to be here, sir." John replied.

"These are…interesting times." Granger continued, as he turned back to the screen. "I don't know if you know it, but InOps has downgraded Nod's threat level to low. With Kane apparently dead, Nod has been fractured by internal power struggles. Recruitment's down by 25%, and they've abandoned four bases in the last year."

John nodded politely: he had read the same reports. It was just further proof Nod was no longer a threat. The Brotherhood of Nod died with Kane and Anton Slavik, the last few holdouts and terrorist cells were just the dying breath.

"The prediction," Granger said, cutting through John's thoughts. "is another decade of peace. Me? I say it's the calm before the storm."

John had to mentally scoff at that remark. He simply could not agree with the current mentality that some within GDI held: that the Brotherhood would somehow magically re-emerge as a potent super power. After the First Tiberium War, Nod still had tremendous amounts of resources and support of numerous nations. But following the Second War, their resources were diminished. Their national support was gone due to 80% of the world laying in total ruin. Nod simply could not be a military power anymore. So, for people like Granger, or John's own father, Mark Lancaster, to be so paranoid felt unfounded.

But John kept those opinion to himself, and merely asked,

"How so, sir?"

Granger stepped back over to his desk, before he resumed his tirade.

"After 28 years of fighting Nod, there is one thing I can say with absolute certainty: so long as there is Tiberium on Earth, Nod is a major threat. If our intel says otherwise, its 'cause Nod wants us to take them off our radar."

"With all due respect, sir, without Kane or any centralized leadership, I fail to see how they could be any threat. Outside of random terror attacks or colony raids, they have no military infrastructure." John remarked.

"Nod has come back swinging twice now, Commander. Never underestimate your opponent. Nod's religion may make them fanatical at points, but it is also a powerful tool to maintain unity. They have the manpower, the faith, and the Tiberium, to continue to pose a threat to global security." Granger replied sternly.

He paced back to the video screen, and John had to admit his first impressions were wrong. Jack Granger didn't reach his position on political grandstanding, or from family name. He clearly earned his stars through hard work and blood. And if Granger was a veteran of the Second War, then the man must have shed a great deal of blood, like John and his comrades had.

John broke from his thoughts as he noticed Granger was now playing a video on loop. A transport truck was stopped at a security checkpoint, before abruptly exploding.

"That's why I want you to go to Carolina. Zone security stopped what looked liked a produce delivery truck yesterday. But, turns out it was a Nod vehicle. Before it could be searched, the driver blew it up, himself along with it. I want you to take some troops down there, see what you can turn up. Hopefully I'm wrong and this is just a false alarm."

John watched the video loop, each time clenching his fist when the truck exploded. John had to admit this was concerning, but chocked it up to a particularly well organized terrorist cell, though that may just be wishful thinking.

Both Granger and John turned as a woman of Asian descent walked into the room. She nodded at Granger, before flashing a smile at John, and he was quick to squash any inappropriate thoughts that appeared.

"This is Lieutenant Sandra Telfair, she's from InOps. The Lieutenant will give you all the details on the mission. Lieutenant."

Granger gave a curt nod to John, then walked deeper into the control room, checking on other officers. John turned his full attention to Lieutenant Telfair, as she sat down at a small desk.

"Good morning, Commander. After the delivery truck incident, we turned our Skysentry onto the area, and bingo. We picked up a high output, sub-terra energy grid in the middle of nowhere. Obviously Nod is up to no good."

John couldn't stop himself from raising his eyebrows in shock. Based off the energy grid, they were looking at a massive base, easily able to hold a full battalion, possibly an entire regiment. How the hell was Nod able to keep such a base hidden?

"I'm not sure I agree with 'middle of nowhere', Lieutenant. This is pretty close to the Zone border." John remarked.

"Exactly why we need to check it out, sir."

"So, what resources will I have for this? This feels like it will need more than a few squads of recon troops."

"The General has already ordered your unit to prepare for mobilization. However, your ace in the hole is an old base we have in the region. We abandoned it several years ago, but all indications are that the facility is still intact. Bring it back online and you should be able to recon the entire area." Telfair reported.

"Excellent. Then I best get a move on, I don't like having Nod on our front lawn."

"I agree sir. I'll have someone drive you down to Andrews, that's where the General has moved your unit. Lieutenant Kirce James over at TheatreOps will provide in the field support. Best of luck, commander."

John gave Telfair a smile, then proceeded to make his way out of the underground complex. It felt good to have a mission, even if it was one concerning a secret Nod base. He still felt sure it was little more than terrorists and militia, but he also couldn't deny the fact that it could be something much worse.

Whatever it was, John Lancaster would deal with it.

… … …

Andrews Air Force Base

B-2

1500

The small Pitbull reconnaissance vehicle brought John from the Pentagon, to Andrews AFB. It was a pleasant drive, and the young officer who drove John there was decent enough company. But John could not help but gawk in pure shock, as he stared at an Orca Command Vehicle. There were only five of the original seven left, and John hadn't seen one since he had served aboard the Kodiak, under the command of Michael McNeil and the 22nd Airborne.

To think Granger would give John his own OCV, was mind boggling. He never dreamed he would command his own Division from one. This either showed Granger's trust in John, or his intense paranoia about Nod. Either way, John couldn't be more excited.

"She's a thing of beauty, ain't she?" The officer asked.

"That she is." John replied breathlessly.

The Pitbull pulled up right to the massive ramp that led into the belly of the OCV. On their drive up, John caught the name of the ship, the Huron. He already noticed his men loading up into the Huron, as forklifts carried supplies.

With military budget cuts, many units were disbanded or mixed into new units. After John was promoted to Battle-Commander, he was given control over one of the newer mixed units, and GDI had decided to name them for his father, and the legendary Division that had saved the world more than once: the 7th Infantry Division.

John got out of the Pitbull, thanked the officer, and made his way into the Huron, his ship. He took his time making his way to the bridge, stopping to check on soldiers as they walked by, or to simply appreciate the vessel. After he finally made it to the bridge, he spotted the flight crew already at work, and a familiar person sitting in the command chair, his command chair.

"Colonel Miles, I believe you are in my chair." John said sternly.

The woman jumped to her feet and saluted, before waving towards the chair.

"it's all yours, sir. The 7th is loaded up and ready to depart, we are simply waiting on your orders."

Athena Miles was John's aide-de-camp, and had been with him from the start. John knew he couldn't run the Division without her: she was smart, loyal, and could hold her own in a firefight.

"Very good, Colonel. I need you to pick out two squads for recon duty. There's an old base we will be using as our FOB."

"Already done, sir. Two squads from Rubicon Company."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get her in the air. I want to be back before dinner time." John commanded confidently.

"Aye, sir!"

TheHuron slowly lifted into the air, rising above Langley. John could feel his excitement rise the higher the Huron got, before the ship blasted away from the AFB, and towards the border wall, towards the Yellow Zone.

… … …

North Carolina Badlands

Yellow Zone Y-6

1645

Sergeant Autumn Burke hardly felt the V35 Ox transport lift off from the Huron's hangar, nor did she notice the sharp dive as the Ox brought the two squads down to the ground. She was focused on the worn picture in her hand, smiling at the image of her wife on their wedding day. It always calmed her, before a mission, to look at that picture. She smiled as she remembered her wife's worry when she told her they were deploying.

But, with some reluctance, she put the picture away and readied her GD2 rifle. They would be touching down any second, and she would need to get her squad moving. Orders were to recon some abandoned GDI field base, but who knew what might have set up shop in the intervening years? Could be Forgotten, or squatters, or Noddies. Though in the end, it didn't matter, they all died the same.

"Ten credits says West gets his head blown off."

Burke looked down the aisle at one of her men, Private James Haley. He and Specialist Patricia Ramirez were mocking another member of her squad, PFC Bill West. The kid came from a large family of dedicated GDI soldiers, but he couldn't be farther from a warrior. He was scared, quiet, and constantly complained about the mandatory service time for every GDI citizen. He was a shit soldier, but he was her shit soldier.

"Ramirez, Haley, knock it off!" Burke barked.

The two fell silent, and West just sighed in relief. Burke shook her head, before turning to the last member of her squad.

"Why did I get stuck with these assholes?" Burke asked.

"Because you did something horrible and evil in your past life. Or maybe someone just doesn't like you in this life." Corporal Amir Yusseif laughed.

Burke punched him lightly in the shoulder, just as the pilot spoke over the radio.

"Drop off in thirty seconds. Weather is dry and clear, good hunting."

"You heard the man. Lock and load, keep your eyes and ears open. Let's kick some Nod ass!" Burke ordered.

"Hooah!" The GDI soldiers chanted in response.

The Ox landed in the middle of a dilapidate town, lowering the ramp and allowing the ten GDI soldiers to disembark. They immediately fanned out to secure the ruined buildings and broken streets, as the Ox lifted back up towards the Huron, hidden within the clouds.

When it was clear that the town was as dead as everything else in the area, Burke ordered the two squads forwards.

The GDI base wasn't too far up the road. She could already see the ruined guard towers and crumpled walls that marked the base perimeter.

"First squad, head through the broken segment of wall, down by the river. I'll take second squad through the main gate. Meet by the comms building." Burke ordered.

"Copy that. See you soon." Sergeant Freeman replied.

Burke watched Freeman and the other GDI squad make their way down to the river, before leading her own team to the front gate, well, where a front gate would have been. As they entered into the base proper, Burke's suit suddenly gave a shrill alarm, before flashing a warning over her HUD. Tiberium radiation, emanating from a Tiberium field located within a small depression in the cliffs. It must have been a new patch, or else it would have eaten through the entire base already.

"Watch your suits people, don't need anyone getting Tib' lung on me."

"Sergeant, 12 o'clock. By the truck." Specialist Ramirez whispered.

Burke motioned the squad into cover behind a rusted Amphibious Armoured Personal Carrier, before she brought up her rifle's scope. She spotted the civilian transport truck, and noted a bunch of men offloading supplies. They were dressed in simple civilian clothes, but they all carried Nod Excalibur rifles or older GDI M16 MK IIs.

"Squatters?" Haley asked.

Burke was about to reply, when she noticed another figure walk out from the abandoned command center. While the others were dressed like normal civvies, this man wore the unmistakable uniform of a Nod officer. Burke smiled viscously as her wildest dream just came true.

"Command, this is Wolf 1-6, come in?"

"We hear you 1-6, send traffic."

"Confirmed Nod presence in the base. Request permission to engage, over?"

"Affirmative 1-6. Take 'em down."

"Freeman, you hear that? You hit the guys on the truck. We got the Com building."

"Loud and clear, Burke."

"Alright boys, go loud."

Burke and her men stood up from their cover, and opened fire. Several Nod militiamen were caught by surprise and went down in a spray of blood and bullets. The Nod officer managed to dive into cover, as he barked for his men to return fire.

Roughly fifteen Nod militiamen fired on the GDI squad, their bullets chewing into the rusted armour of the AAPC. But the enemy was just an undisciplined group of thugs, and were no match for well trained GDI riflemen.

Burke and Yusseif peered out from cover and fired on a trio of militiamen, killing them before they even knew they were being shot at. Haley and Ramirez like wise took out several militiamen, while West simply screamed out a warning.

"On the truck! Enemy rocket launcher!"

Burke quickly glanced at the truck, and spotted a proper Nod soldier in full combat gear. He readied a rocket launcher, before he was abruptly perforated by a hailstorm of bullets, and fell off the truck.

Freeman and his squad rushed forward, catching the Nod forces in a pincer. Burke ordered her own team forward, and together they eliminated the last of the Nod force, with not a single casualty.

Burke walked over to the Nod officer, and kicked the corpse in the head, causing a fresh wave of blood to spurt out from where his left eye should be.

"Fucking Noddies. Looks like they were trying to take over, no doubt use the old refinery for the Tib'." Burke guessed.

"Maybe this ain't some big base after all. Maybe its just some shitty little colony they've kept hidden." Haley ventured.

"Maybe." Burke replied distractedly. "Command, this is Wolf 1-6. Base is secure and you are clear for landing."

"Copy 1-6. Standby for reinforcements."

Burke moved over to the Nod truck, before sitting down behind some of the crates. The others took up defensive positions around the truck, waiting for either the reinforcements to show up, or more Nod troops.

"West, your bolt is open." Yusseif commented.

"What? Oh shit!"

West quickly clicked his rifle over, and his face turned bright red. Haley and Ramirez laughed at the blunder, but Burke just shook her head. Stupid kid.

Moments later, two more Ox transports landed, disgorging more riflemen and engineers. The engineer teams immediately went to work restoring the command building and the power, while GDI soldiers moved to secure the ruined walls.

Beyond the base was a dirt road that led down to the river, and according to intel, a bridge over to the other side. Burke knew they would be moving out soon, but they had time before the engineers finished dicking around with dusty and rusted computers.

"West still has his head, time to pay up Haley." Ramirez said.

"What!? There's still a full day left for West to get shot!" Haley blurted put.

"Guys, can we please not bet on when I'm going to get shot?" West protested.

"Haley, Ramirez, shut the fuck up!" Burke growled.

"Oh come on Sergeant. I'm just having some-"

"Contact front!" Yusseif suddenly warned.

Everyone snapped to attention, rifles at the ready, when two squads of Nod militia began rushing the base, followed by an Attack Buggy.

"Pick your targets and light 'em up! Don't let them get in!" Burke shouted over the roar of rifle fire.

Following her own orders, Burke sighted a militiaman carrying an LMG, and fired a single burst. The man fell face first into the pavement, and didn't get back up.

However, the Attack Buggy had reached the walls, and was now firing scything streams of bullets at the GDI troops. Burke cursed as she saw GDI soldiers be cut down, while others hunkered deeper into cover. This allowed the Nod forces to inch into the base, but Burke would be damned if she let these Nod fucks win. She stood up to fire again, joined by Yusseif and Ramirez. Even West was firing his weapon now, though he still looked terrified.

Nod militiamen were dropping like flies, but the Buggy still posed the biggest threat. The Buggy's gun suddenly turned towards Burke and her men, forcing her to duck down, as a stream of bullets chewed apart the Nod truck. Glass rained down on Burke, resulting in her listing off every curse word she knew.

"We need to take out that fucking Buggy!" Burke roared.

"We need a rocket launcher, or something!" Ramirez yelled back.

"Wait. What about the one that Nod soldier had?" West asked.

"Good thinking, kid. Now go find it." Burke ordered as she reloaded her rifle.

"M-me?"

"Yes, you! Haley, cover him."

West gulped nervously, but followed his orders. He searched around the truck, before apparently finding the discarded weapon, as he dashed away from the vehicle. Burke and the others kept firing when they could, but the Buggy kept them mostly pinned down.

A rocket suddenly swooshed by, missing the Buggy by mere inches, before exploding harmlessly behind it. Burke thought that West had missed, but realized it was another GDI trooper with a FGM missile launcher. The Buggy swiveled its gun to face the new threat, but West brought the Nod RPG to bear and fired. The Buggy exploded into a shower of shrapnel, sending the militia running. Burke and the others merely shot them as they ran.

"Fuck me. Nice shot, West." Haley complimented.

"Uh…yeah." West replied lamely, seemingly in shock at what he had done.

"Rubicon Company, move forward and eliminate all hostiles. We need to secure this side of the river." Commander Lancaster ordered.

"Come on 1st Platoon! Let's move!" 2nd Lieutenant Hamilton barked.

Burke led her squad along with the rest of the Company past the base perimeter. They walked back out into the desolate badlands, following the river down stream. It didn't take them long to find where the militia had come from, and Burke audibly gulped when she caught sight of what was in front of them.

A Hand of Nod jutted out from the barren field, clutching a glass globe in its hand. It was visually reminiscent of the old design from TWI, but still served the same purpose as every variant. It was a barracks and church, and was where the militia were gathering for another attack.

Burke ordered her squad into cover, just as the shooting began. The militia were more prepared for them this time, but they were still no match for GDI riflemen. Burke and her team hid behind some scraggly shrubs, firing on the enemy. Ramirez was laying prone on the ground, firing her GD2 in a DMR configuration. Burke watched with satisfaction as Nod militiamen died in droves.

"3rd Platoon, secure the Hand! 1st Platoon, move up and secure the Emissary!" Rubicon Company's commander, Captain Xiao Ri, ordered over the radio.

Burke looked around the battlefield until she spotted their new objective. A large, six wheeled vehicle was deployed behind the Hand of Nod. The vehicles were used for reconnaissance or spreading Nod propaganda, and could be used as a quick FOB. On its own, it posed no threat, but this implied that it wasn't brainless militiamen in charge of this operation.

"Burke, take your men and secure the Emissary. We'll cover." Lieutenant Hamilton said.

"Copy. Ramirez, watch our backs. Yusseif, West go left. Haley, you're with me."

The squad moved out from cover and dashed across the dusty field. The militia seemed more occupied with keeping GDI out of the Hand, but a few enemy fireteams turned to face Burke and her men.

Burke fired a wild spray, catching one militiaman in the chest and sending the others diving for cover. Ramirez began picking off the enemy with precise shots, while West and Yusseif booked it harder to the Nod Emissary.

Burke crouched down to one knee, firing on Nod troops as they grew increasingly disorganized. Haley stood right behind her, firing over her shoulder, and together the two managed to kill scores of Nod infantry.

Burke risked glancing over to the Emissary, and spotted Yusseif and West storming into the vehicle. A few muzzle flashes from inside told her that they had secured the objective.

"Command, enemy forces are retreating across the bridge. Do we pursue?" Xiao Ri asked.

"Affirmative. Proceed with caution, Rubicon Company." Lancaster replied quickly.

"Company, advance!"

"Ramirez, fall in. Squad, on me!" Burke barked out as she moved to catch up with the rest of their platoon. Ramirez quickly jogged over, while Yusseif and West fell in beside Burke and Haley.

"Sergeant, bad news. More Nod officers, and they got a message out to someone." Yusseif reported.

"Good work, Corporal. Pass it up to the LT."

The GDI forces reached the small bridge that spanned over the river. More of the flat and brown badlands stretched on into the horizon, but Burke quickly spotted a Tiberium Spike jutting into the air. They were a common sight in Blue Zones and GDI held Yellows. Owned and operated by civilian mining companies, they could harvest underground Tiberium deposits without letting the alien crystal spread. But given the ruined and clearly abandoned buildings around it, who was controlling it?

"Command, we have a Tib' Spike up ahead. Militia seem to be taking cover by it."

"Grab the corporation name, we'll pay them for damages later. Proceed and eliminate those Noddies, Captain."

"Copy Command."

The Nod forces once again dug in for another firefight. This time though, they had a concrete wall to provide cover, and the Tib' Spike itself. But the GDI troops now outnumbered the militia, they could easily steamroll over them and-

"Contacts! 10, 11, and 12 o'clock!"

"Attack Buggies! Two- no, three of them!"

Burke whirled around in shock, as more Nod forces appeared seemingly from nowhere. They quickly rushed towards the GDI troops, and their arrival emboldened the militia.

"Fall back to the bridge! We will hold there!" Xiao Ri hastily commanded.

Burke didn't waste any time, and began running back to the bridge. As the GDI forces fell back, more Nod troops seemed to just appear from thin air.

"Fuck! Those are Nod soldiers! Look at the armour." Ramirez stated as she ran.

Burke looked back and grimaced. Ramirez was right: these weren't the militiamen from earlier, these were actual trained soldiers, and they were bearing down on Rubicon Company.

"Over there, by those pipes! Take cover and open fire." Burke ordered.

Her squad and two others took cover by the rusted pipes of an old water purifier. They immediately opened up on the advancing Nod forces, catching the enemy in the open. But with the addition of the militia, the Nod force now doubled that of the GDI company.

"Command, we are outnumbered by enemy reinforcements. Requesting air support now!"

"Copy that Captain. Orcas are inbound, just hold out!"

Burke cursed as she fired a burst towards the enemy. She hated it when she was told to wait for backup. Last time that had happened, a horde of angry mutants had been charging her bunker, and the damned Wolverine walkers showed up at the last second. But maybe the Orcas would be more timely.

The Nod forces were pushing even more forward, using the Buggies for cover. Most of the GDI soldiers were positioned around the bridge or on the bank of the river. They couldn't fall back now, as those Buggies would rip them to shreds, so instead, the GDI forces dug their heels and kept fighting.

In response to the Buggies, GDI grenadiers began lobbing magnetic grenades at the enemy vehicles. Two went up in flames, and without their cover the Nod troops were exposed. But more enemy forces continued to arrive, coming from just beyond the small ridge. Burke had no idea where so many Nod forces were coming from, as all she could see was empty terrain and Tiberium fields.

"I'm getting low on ammo!" West cried out.

"Fuck! Me too!" Haley added.

"Ramirez, hand out your spares, and focus on priority targets."

"You got it, Sergeant." Ramirez acknowledged.

"Yusseif, see if Lieutenant Hamilton can't spare us some ammo."

"On it!"

Burke nodded in satisfaction as her orders were carried out, then she resumed firing on the endless tide of Nod soldiers. A grenadier moved closer to Burke's squad, to get a clearer shot on the third Buggy, but the man's entire upper body exploded in a shower of blood and gore.

West fell backwards as he was coated in the grenadier's blood, and West's face turned a ghostly white.

"Stay with me kid! Keep shooting!" Burke quickly said.

"Jesus! He…he…"

"I said stay with me! Get back on the line!"

"Fuck this! I don't want to die!"

"Damn it kid!"

Burke flinched as a burst of bullets impacted near her head. She quickly returned fire, but noticed West still was not firing.

"Haley, get West back on the line!"

"Trying to, Sergeant!"

Burke just cursed as she killed a Nod soldier, then quickly fired another burst at a second. She couldn't afford to have one of her men breakdown, they needed everyone they had holding the line.

"Where are those fucking Orcas!?" Burke asked angrily.

"All platoons, be advised we have more enemy Buggies incoming." Captain Xiao Ri warned.

Burke spotted two Nod Buggies crest cresting the ridge, followed by more squads of infantry. The Brotherhood forces would overrun the GDI company any second now. Burke just thought of her wife, and mentally apologized to her; it looked like she wouldn't be going home this time.

But just as the Nod troops were about to overtake the bridge, the Nod Buggies abruptly exploded into balls of fire and metal. More missiles suddenly impacted into the swarms of Nod troops, and the roar of autocannons turned enemy infantry into bloody piles of minced meat.

Burke glanced up and breathed in relief as she spotted four GDI Orca VTOL attack craft hovering above them. The Orcas quickly broke the enemy advance, which allowed the GDI infantry to start pushing back themselves.

Grenadiers launched a volley of grenades, further driving the enemy back. And platoon leaders ordered the counter attack. Soon GDI troops moved away from the bridge, and back towards the Tiberium Spike.

"Command, this is Ares 1-1. We have visual on a Nod object. Looks like…like a small radar tower? Three prongs and a central body. Never seen anything like it." The Orca squadron leader reported.

"Copy 1-1, we see it too. EVA has no intel on it, could just be a monument or landmark. Either way, take it out." Commander Lancaster stated calmly.

"Wilco, Command. Ares 1-1, rockets out!"

Burke broke her stride towards the Spike in order to watch the Orca destroy the strange object. The missile impacted directly with it, and blew it apart like a glass vase. As soon as the object was destroyed, the air shimmered briefly, before a stealth field dissipated.

Burke stared in slack jawed horror, as an entire Nod base materialized in the middle of the badlands. It was massive! With rows of Hands of Nod, entire warfactories and power plants, and a full command center and Tiberium refineries, as well as housing buildings, training facilities, and Nod temples. And in the midst of it all, an entire Nod battalion.

"Definitely not squatters." Haley remarked beside Burke.

"Sweet mother of God." Burke replied in equal amounts of shock.

Then, the Nod forces surged forward.

… … …

John watched the Orcas destroy the strange object, relaying the feed to Lieutenant James at TheatreOps for study. But when the object was destroyed, and the stealth field dissipated, it became abundantly clear what it had been.

Now John stared in open shock at the massive base that sprawled out where once there had been nothing. There was no denying it now, no being hopefully optimistic and blaming others as paranoid. The Brotherhood of Nod was back, and they were about to wipe out one of his companies.

"Recall our forces now! Get those Orcas to cover them!" John barked.

Before Miles could even relay his orders, the Orcas were shot down as a sudden volley of SAMs tore into them.

His infantry retreated across the bridge, but more Nod Buggies gave chase, followed by boxy half tracked Reckoner APCs. John was going to need a full armoured unit to deal with this base, but there was no way he could get reinforcements in time.

"James! I need options here!"

John shouted at the view screen, willing the woman on the other side to hurry. Lieutenant Kirce James typed away on her terminal furiously, before turning back to John.

"I've just granted you authority to use the Ion Cannon. Blow that base off of the Earth."

John was stunned. He had seen the Ion Cannon be used twice before, both times during the Second War. Each time he had been left speechless as to the destructive power unleashed, and now he had that power at his fingertips. It was almost…intoxicating.

"Understood Lieutenant," John said, breaking from his thoughts. "Inform General Granger of what's going on. Tell him he was right."

"Yes, sir."

The video call ended, and John wasted no time ordering the strike. He watched with bated breath as the Huron's EVA began the count down process. All the while his troops continued to fall back to the abandoned base below.

"Ion Cannon in position over Eastern Seaboard of North America. Firing in 3…2…1."

John watched through the bridge window, but had to shield his eyes as pillar of white light descended from the sky. It slammed into the Earth like a spear thrown by God from Heaven, and a plume of blasted dirt and blackened glass shot into the air. John then turned to the holographic display table, and noticed the entire Nod base disappear from the destructive blast. Nod forces near the epicenter were caught by the concussive force, leaving only a small unit left across the bridge still giving chase.

But when both sides took note of the raw power of the Ion Cannon, the Nod troops quickly broke rank and ran.

GDI was victorious, but the victory felt hollow. There was no denying Nod's return now. And now the question was: what was Nod planning?

… … …

A few hours later, as the sun slowly began to set, the GDI soldiers of Rubicon Company were resting in the old dusty barracks. The men and women were attempting to relax from the hectic battle, before they would fly back up to the Huron. But many were still rattled from the fight, and from witnessing the Ion Cannon strike.

John, meanwhile, was alone on the bridge along with Colonel Miles. They waited patiently for the video call with Granger to go through, as they too were still trying to process the events of the battle that had just taken place.

After a moment, the call connected, revealing Granger was still in the Tactical control room within the Pentagon.

"Lieutenant Telfair informs me you used an Ion Cannon? Given the size of that base and it's garrison, can't say I blame you. But General Cortez is going to chew me out for that one." Granger grumbled.

"It couldn't be helped, sir. But sir, you were right! Nod is up to something big, and we need to respond."

"I agree entirely. That's why I called for an emergency D9 briefing. But the timing couldn't be worse, all the Directors and senior military staff are onboard the Philadelphia for that damn energy summit. God knows-"

"General!"

Granger turned to face Telfair as she came running from somewhere off screen. John immediately felt a pit grow inside his stomach, as he noted the absolute fear in her expression.

"Sir, I've just been informed. There's been an attack on Goddard Space Center in Maryland. We should be getting a visual data now."

Telfair turned to computer screen behind Granger, and soon a video of black smoke and raging flames began to play. The same video played on another screen beside the one John was using for the video call, and he felt his blood turn cold.

"Good Lord. You realize what they've done? Nod has just taken out the entire northeastern ASAT defence system. All our anti-missile capabilities..."

Granger stopped mid sentence as he shared a look with Telfair.

"The Philadelphia." Telfair breathed.

"Sir! We are ready to go, where do you need us?" John quickly cut in.

"Commander, I need-"

The video call abruptly ended, replaced by static before the screen cleared to display the diving eagle sigil of GDI. John was already storming back to the command chair, barking orders as he did.

"Athena, recall all our troops! We need to get moving ASAP!"

"Yes, sir!"

"EVA, get the bridge crew in here now. I want the Huron back in D.C. now!"

"Affirmative Commander."

John struggled to keep his panic under check. Whatever Nod was doing, he would put a stop to it. But first he needed to get back to D.C. and make sure the Pentagon was still in one piece.

He felt almost confident, until he spotted the giant fireball in the sky.