Cutscene[]
A convoy of military vehicles consisting of cargo trucks and SUVs drives down a desert road at night in Al Mazrah. Laswell narrates over the flashback.
TWO MONTHS AGO
Laswell: I uncovered redacted intel regarding a black bag operation. Conducted by General Shepherd and carried out by Shadow Company.
The convoy continues driving down the road.
Gameplay[]
Inside one of the SUVs, three members of Shadow Company follow closely behind one of the cargo trucks. Their names are Erikson, Vance, and Sergeant Dipaolo.
SGT. DIPAOLO - SHADOW CO.
HINDSIGHT
AL-MAZRAH, U.R.A.
12 AUG 2022, 0300
Laswell: They were transacting American made ballistic missiles to our allies fighting Russians in the Middle East. The mission did not go as planned...
Erikson: What are we carrying this time, Graves?
Graves: (over radio) If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya...
Vance: I bet he'd do it, too.
Graves: This's nothing but a milk run, boys. Guns for the good guys -- You'll be back at HQ for breakfast. Don't shit the bed and there'll be bonuses all around. Find me when you're back...
Dipaolo, Vance, Erikson: Yep, yep.
Vance and Erikson trade fist bumps.
Graves: Shepherd's waiting' for a sitrep, don't leave him hangin'. Out.
Vance: Three containers...
Dipaolo: That's a lotta fuckin' milk.
Erikson: Thirsty friends... Shadow-2 to Gold Eagle Actual.
Shepherd: Send traffic, 2.
Erikson: Three Shadow victors exiting highway 7-Zulu, no issues, Actual.
Shepherd: Copy. Get that cargo delivered on time... do not fail... Eagle out.
Vance: Do not fail...? Told you this shit was important.
The convoy comes to a stop.
Dipaolo: What's this?
Erikson: 3, this is Erikson, what's up?
Shadow 3-1: Got a vehicle in the road.
Erikson: Stand by, comin' to ya.
Erikson drives the SUV around the cargo truck and moves up through the convoy.
Vance: Graves, Vance- Be advised - we're held up, sortin' it out now.
Graves: Handle it -- Keep the line movin'.
Vance: Roger that.
Laswell: (voiceover) Reconnaissance said the route was clear of enemy activity. The reports were wrong. The shipment was spotted before it arrived at its destination.
The SUV reaches the front of the convoy where Shadow 3-1 tries to move a suspicious vehicle out of the way by reasoning with its driver.
Shadow 3-1: Yalla, yalla, you gotta move... sir, you need to move... Yataharak. Ya- Yataharak.
Erikson: I don't like this.
Vance: His Arabic is atrocious.
Shadow 3-1: Min Fadlik, min fadlik...
Erikson: Dipaolo - lean out and cover him.
Dipaolo: On it.
Dipaolo's leans out of the SUV's passenger side window and deploys his M4 carbine to cover his teammates.
Shadow 3-1: We need a 'terp out here, what's the call, sir...?
Erikson: Vance, Dipaolo, go help him out.
Suddenly, a gunman erupts from the truck's hatch and opens fire on Shadow Company. The truck driver shoots and kills Shadow 3-1. Several more gunmen emerge from hiding and attack the convoy.
Vance: WHAT THE FUCK?!
Erikson: CONTACT!!
Vance: 3-1 is down...!!
Erikson: Light 'em up, Dipaolo!
Vance: Who the fuck are these guys?
Erikson: Not Al-Qatala!
Another truck filled with gunmen drives in front of Dipaolo's SUV and opens fire on Shadow Company.
Vance: Back up, back up!!
Dipaolo provides cover fire for his comrades while Erikson backs up their SUV.
Erikson: All stations -- troops in contact! Taking effective fire. Multiple casualties!!
Vance: Contact -- rear!
Graves: Eliminate that threat, Shadows!
Shepherd: This is Gold Eagle Actual. DO NOT LOSE THAT CARGO!!
Erikson brings the SUV to a stop at the rear of the convoy as more gunmen appear and attack the convoy.
Vance: Eyes high, watch those buildings!
Erikson: On the roof!
Vance: RPG!
An RPG fires and destroys an SUV, killing the Shadows around it.
Erikson: We gotta move!! Let's go!!
Erikson drives their truck through the firefight looking for a way out.
Vance: We're surrounded!!
Erikson: They're everywhere!!
Vance: Who the fuck are they?!
Graves: Actual, requesting QRF...!
Shepherd: Negative - we fight with the guns we have.
Graves: General, they need help.
Shepherd: You are my help! Now fix this!
Another enemy truck filled with gunmen arrives and blocks off Dipaolo's SUV's escape route. Dipaolo helps his mates defend their vehicle.
Vance: These guys are Russian PMCs!!
Erikson: The fuck are they doin' out here...? All stations - We got Russian PMCs out here.
Graves: Repeat Russian?
Erikson: Enemy troop is Russian.
Erikson puts their SUV in reverse and tries to drive away from the Russians.
Shepherd: Goddamnit, Graves-!! You said the route was clear!
Vance: There's too many of them!
Erikson: Graves, we need reinforcements!
Graves: Actual, my boys are gettin' stitched up, they need air support.
Shepherd: We can't do that, Graves, and you know it...!
Another RPG fires at Dipaolo's SUV.
Vance: Fuck -- Get down!!
The RPG hits Dipaolo's SUV and sends it tumbling as the screen cuts to black.
A short time later, the sounds of injured breathing are heard as Dipaolo comes to and sees Erikson and Vance's bodies lying lifelessly in their vehicle.. Graves' voice is heard on the radio.
Graves: All Shadows - report... Any station, this net, this is Shadow Actual - what is your status?
Dipaolo: Erikson... Vance...
Dipaolo looks out the window of their upside-down vehicle and spots the Russian PMCs searching the area for stragglers.
Dipaolo: Fuck.
Graves: Erikson, it's Graves, what's your location...? Fuuuuck... Vance, Dipaolo, do you copy...?
Konni Captain: (in Russian) Double-tap them. They might be playing dead.
Konni PMC 2: (in Russian) Yes, sir.
Konni PMC 1: (in Russian) Security rounds - don't leave anyone out.
Konni PMC 2: (in Russian) 3 containers, captain. American ballistic missiles.
Graves: General, I need an armed bird up now for visual - my men are in trouble, sir...
Dipaolo sees a pistol lying in front of him and crawls out of the vehicle to grab it. Just as Dipaolo puts his hand on the pistol, a Konni PMC stomps his boot hard on Dipaolo.
Dipaolo: Argh.
Shepherd: I want this situation contained. That means this operation will not-be-reported.
Another Konni PMC grabs a walkie-talkie on the ground next to the pistol and listens in on it.
Dipaolo: Graves-!
Graves: General, my men are taking fire from Russian PMCs -- This situation is not yet under control--
The Konni PMC aims his rifle at Dipaolo's head.
Dipaolo: They've got the radio-!
Shepherd: The identity of the enemy has not been confirmed. Do you copy?
The Konni PMC fires and kills Dipaolo. Laswell narrates in voice-over as the Russian PMCs move out.
Konni Captain: (in Russian) Move out...
Laswell: The Russians executed the entire squad and got a hold of Shadow's comms.
Graves: Shepherd, this was a direct firefight with Russian paramilitary--
Shepherd: --That is precisely why there will be no response-
Graves: General, we are losing this cargo--
Shepherd: There was no-cargo -- This mission does not and did not exist.
The Russians take the cargo trucks and drive away from the area.
Laswell: They learned Shepherd was behind it. Russia gave the missiles to Hassan. Shepherd's intentions were good, but the shipments were illegal and off the books. He and Graves buried it. The cover up is always worse than the crime. We were getting too close and they weren't gonna let that happen. Three missiles were stolen. We've only found two. Hassan's got one more - we need to find it...
Cut to black. End of level.
| |||||