Stronghold — Red Advance

  Jeff is on comm with Jawson while moving.

  “Jawson, listen carefully,” Jeff says, breath steady despite the sprint.

  “We hit from the right. Blue’s inside the control room. Another team’s pushing from the left. You flank the left side and collapse them.”

  Jawson doesn’t hesitate.

  “I’m on it.”

  He turns to his men.

  “Move! We flank left!”

  They break into the storm.

  Corridor — Red Movement

  Jeff’s unit moves fast toward the right entrance.

  Snow blows through broken windows.

  Boots hit metal floors.

  Lardes glances behind him.

  He slows slightly.

  “…Jeff.”

  Jeff doesn’t stop running. “What?”

  “Sagoya’s gone again.”

  Jeff looks back quickly.

  He’s right.

  Sagoya is missing.

  Jeff’s jaw tightens.

  “…You’re right.”

  A beat.

  “Maybe something’s wrong. Maybe he needs help.”

  Lardes’ eyes narrow.

  “I’ll drop back.”

  Jeff looks at him.

  “Be quick.”

  “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Lardes says, already turning.

  Jeff nods.

  “Alright.”

  Lardes runs in the opposite direction.

  Interior Hall — Blizzard Echo

  Lardes slows.

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  Snow blows through a cracked side corridor.

  He hears something.

  A voice.

  Low.

  He turns back into the hall.

  It’s quiet now.

  Then—

  A familiar voice behind him.

  Cold.

  “You know…”

  A pistol presses to the back of Lardes’ head.

  “You are so fucking annoying.”

  “Always putting your dumb head in places it doesn’t belong.”

  Lardes doesn’t move.

  Before he can answer—

  CUT.

  Stronghold — Jeff’s POV

  Jeff reaches the right corridor entrance.

  “Now!” he shouts.

  Red pushes in—

  Two Red cadets drop instantly.

  Freeze rounds.

  Blue was waiting.

  Jeff freezes in confusion.

  “How the fuck did they expect us?”

  Red pulls back into partial cover.

  One cadet shouts, “Did we make too much noise?!”

  Jeff shakes his head.

  “No. There was too much chaos on the other side.”

  He looks at the entrance.

  “…Something isn’t right.”

  Jeff turns sharply.

  “Jason. Vale.”

  They step forward.

  “You two. Are my strongest men.”

  He points.

  “You’re penetrating their defense.”

  The others stiffen.

  Jeff continues:

  “The rest of us provide cover.”

  “We’ll lose men—”

  Jason interrupts.

  “No one’s dying. It’s freeze rounds.”

  Jeff looks at him deadpan.

  “Let me be dramatic.”

  Jason backs off.

  Jeff continues:

  “Be proud of what you’re about to do.”

  “This might be the last push we need for Red victory.”

  He raises his rifle.

  “Charge!”

  Control Room Push

  Jason and Vale break forward.

  Cover fire explodes behind them.

  Three Red cadets freeze.

  One Blue drops.

  Vale makes it in.

  Jason gets tagged in the left shoulder.

  “Shit!” he snaps, sliding into early cover.

  Vale keeps moving.

  He’s carrying two pistols and his sniper.

  He pulls one pistol.

  Sniper in the other hand.

  No-scopes a Blue to the right.

  Three rapid shots from his pistol to the left.

  Two Blue freeze instantly.

  Now he’s the main target.

  Blue unloads on him.

  Wider Chaos

  Jeff sees Orange pushing harder from the left side.

  Maximus inside the control room looks close to panic.

  Blue is trapped.

  Then—

  Green bursts in from the staircase.

  They open fire on Orange.

  Orange retreats slightly.

  Jeff was about to push in with more men because of Orange’s pressure—

  That window closes.

  Blue stabilizes.

  Now Blue can focus fully on Red.

  Jeff grits his teeth.

  “Fuck.”

  Back to Lardes

  The Person still has the gun to Lardes’ head.

  Lardes speaks calmly.

  “You scum.”

  “You abused our trust.”

  “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”

  “I only did because Jeff did.”

  Sagoya smirks.

  “You’re a tricky one.”

  He shifts slightly.

  “I told Andreas not to take you.”

  “Said you’d be a threat to his position.”

  “And we both know how paranoid he was about leadership.”

  A beat.

  “But that bastard Jeff talked him over.”

  Lardes moves.

  A sudden back kick into Sagoya’s stomach.

  Sagoya fires — the shot misses as Lardes tilts his head.

  Lardes drives a right elbow into Sagoya’s face.

  The pistol drops.

  Lardes reaches for his own pistol — faster than his AR—

  Sagoya is already moving.

  He rushes forward and dropkicks Lardes.

  Lardes slams down.

  Dropping his Pistol and AR Slides of.

  Sagoya turns for the fallen pistol—

  Lardes leg-swipes him hard.

  Sagoya crashes.

  Lardes kicks up to his feet and lunges toward the weapon.

  He runs past Sagoya—

  Sagoya grabs his leg.

  Lardes falls—

  But mid-fall he cracks Sagoya in the face with the back heel of his other foot.

  Both scramble up instantly.

  They circle.

  Snow blows through broken walls.

  Sagoya wipes blood from his lip.

  “Let’s not be pussies.”

  “Fight like men.”

  Lardes smirks.

  “Funny.”

  “That coming from a bitch.”

  Sagoya’s face drops.

  He charges.

  Strike after strike after strike.

  Lardes parries clean.

  Sagoya lands one solid hit to Lardes’ face.

  Lardes kicks him back hard.

  “So who are you working for?!” Lardes shouts.

  Sagoya laughs.

  “What does it matter to you?”

  “Wanna-be detective.”

  They rush each other again.

  CUT

  Jackson Walks into the Stonghold.