The Division: Shattered Command

Chapter 3: The Fallen

The cold grip of night had just begun to loosen as we moved through the ruined streets of New York, the early morning light barely reaching the ground. Our breath fogged in the chill air, the silence of the city more oppressive than any battle. The coordinates we extracted from Keener's commander had led us deeper into enemy territory. But as we advanced, the sense of dread only grew stronger.We were approaching a narrow alley when Hardcase suddenly raised his hand, signaling us to halt. "David, I've got movement," he whispered, his voice tense. His drone hovered above the buildings, its sensors picking up multiple heat signatures. "Fifteen...no, sixteen targets ahead.""LMB?" I asked, already knowing the answer. The Last Man Battalion had been a persistent thorn in our side, a remnant of a once-powerful military unit now reduced to mercenaries and scavengers. But their presence here was unexpected."Looks like it," Hardcase confirmed. "They're armed to the teeth."I clenched my jaw. "I thought we wiped them out months ago.""So did I," replied Hound, his tone grim. "But they're here, and they're not going to let us pass without a fight."The tension hung thick in the air as we prepared for the inevitable. These weren't just any enemies-they were disciplined, battle-hardened soldiers who had survived the collapse of their organization. But we couldn't afford to let them interfere with our mission."We have no choice," I said, my voice resolute. "We take them out, swiftly and quietly. We can't let them regroup."As we moved into position, the narrow alley suddenly erupted into chaos. The LMB soldiers opened fire, their shots ricocheting off the crumbling brick walls. We returned fire, methodically taking down the enemy as we pushed forward, but their numbers and discipline were overwhelming.Suddenly, a cry cut through the din of battle. "David, I'm out!" It was Hound. His rifle clicked empty, and he was pinned down with no cover."Hound, fall back!" I ordered, but there was no time. The LMB was closing in.Hound's eyes met mine, a calm resignation in his gaze. "I'm sorry, David. Extremis Malis Extrema Remedia."Before I could react, Hound pulled the pin from a frag grenade and hurled himself into the oncoming soldiers. The explosion was deafening, a shockwave that rocked the alley and left nothing but silence in its wake."HOUND!" Foxbound screamed, lunging forward, but Hardcase and I pulled her back. There was nothing left but smoke and rubble."We need to move," I said, my voice hollow. "Hound gave his life to buy us time. We can't let it be in vain."With the enemy temporarily scattered, we made our escape, slipping into the shadows of an abandoned building. The walls were cracked and covered in grime, the air thick with the scent of decay. We collapsed against the walls, the adrenaline slowly draining away as the reality of our loss set in."He was a good man," Foxbound whispered, her voice thick with grief. "We wouldn't have made it this far without him.""Damn right he was," Hardcase added, his usually stoic demeanor cracking. "He saved our lives today."Silence settled over us as we tried to process what had just happened. The darkness of the room seemed to press in on us, and I knew we couldn't stay here long. But we needed a moment-just a moment-to honor our fallen comrade."We'll name the team after him," I said finally, breaking the silence. "Hound Squadron. It's the least we can do."Foxbound nodded. "He'd like that."As the others slept, exhaustion finally catching up with them, I stood watch. The city outside was still, but the threat lingered in every shadow. My mind raced, replaying the events of the day, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being hunted.When dawn finally broke, I roused the others. "Time to move. We need to stay ahead of whatever else is out there.""David, the sun's not even up yet," Foxbound groaned, rubbing her eyes."That's the point. We move before they see us," I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. I was on edge, and the loss of Hound had only made things worse. But there was no time for hesitation. We had a mission to complete.The streets were eerily quiet as we made our way toward the coordinates from the commander's watch. We moved in silence, the memory of Hound's sacrifice still fresh in our minds. Every corner we turned, every shadow we passed, I expected another ambush."Silencers on," I ordered as we approached the building. The structure was crumbling, the once-grand facade now nothing but a shell. It was a perfect place for an ambush, but we had no choice.We entered the building, moving cautiously through the debris-strewn hallways. The air was thick with dust, and the only sound was the crunch of rubble beneath our boots. Foxbound led the way, her senses sharp as she scanned for any sign of the enemy."There," she whispered, pointing to the plaza ahead. "Commander's down there. He's got ten more Cleaners with him.""Hardcase, pulse the room," I said.The scan lit up the plaza, revealing the positions of our enemies. They were spread out, using the derelict vehicles and makeshift barricades as cover."We take them out, one by one," I ordered. "No mistakes."We moved in sync, clearing the room with lethal precision. Every shot was calculated, every move coordinated. The Cleaners didn't stand a chance. By the time we reached the commander, the plaza was littered with bodies."David, I've got the watch," Hardcase called out, pulling it from the commander's wrist. He began working on it immediately, his fingers flying over the device."We'll rest here while you do," I said, my eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats.An hour later, Hardcase finally cracked the watch. "I've got the next set of coordinates.""Good. We move now," I replied, but as we gathered our gear, a shadow fell across the entrance.Another agent stood there, shrouded in darkness, his face obscured by the low light. My hand instinctively went to my weapon, but something about this figure gave me pause."Who the hell are you?" I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.The agent stepped forward, just enough for the light to catch the glint of a Division watch on his wrist. But there was something off about him, something that set my nerves on edge."Let's just say I'm here to help," he said, his voice smooth but cold. "But you might not like what I have to say."And with that, I knew our mission had just taken a turn for the worse