Fandom Command and Conquer: Scorpion Base

[Trektek]

Gunfire lay all around them. It was a genuine bulletstorm from the automated defenses as they hid behind a destroyed tiberium harvester. At least it's partially burned out hull was still useful for something. Jasper was happy that those things were built so big and bulbous for increasing the load of tiberium gathered in each trip back to the base from the local tiberium field. Most of their squadron that he brought along was gunned down by the captured Vulcan cannon or by the nearby cyborgs. Using his rifle, he took a few pot shots around the corner without looking to try to hit the cyborgs that continued to try to sneak up on them. He knew that it would take much more than that, unless he got lucky enough to be facing off against newly converted soldiers that were hastily put onto the front lines.

The entire GDI base was under CABAL's control now, which made their mission just that much harder. The engineer that they brought with them was huddled down low to prevent any stray bullets from lodging into the side of his skull. The base was pulsing loudly from the influx of energy and the rate of production. They needed to take control and shut that thing down before his nearby base was overrun. That was why he was here on the front lines. It was the only shot they had.

He knew that any moment, that cannon would need to take a break due to overheating at the rate of fire that it was undergoing. CABAL was many things, and he liked to over charge whatever he acquired. Which worked well to try to eliminate any threats under his wing as quickly as possible. But it wasn't good for the long term when someone was taking things all careful like.

The bullets stopped and he heard the sizzling sound as the Vulcan cannon was trying to cool down. "Now. Go go go." He charged forward and shot a grappling hook up the wall as the two rocket troopers that he still had with him, let loose their hardware on the two cyborgs that were closing in on their position. He began to open fire on them to finish off their exposed circuitry as the others went up and over on the wall. Once he was sure that their backs were safe, he climbed up and over only to find what was left of his team, sprawled out across the ground, dead.

But how?? A red glowing face appeared in the sky. In a deep booming voice it proclaimed. "YOU HAVE LOST COMMANDER!!"

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General Jasper Heckrym jolted up in bed in a heavy sweat that had drenched his sheets. He was breathing heavily as he awoke and began to take steps to calm himself such as taking short shallow breaths going to long deep breaths to slow down his heart rate. That was the third time this week that he had a nightmare about CABAL. That Demon was long dead and gone by about a year. His core was destroyed and his cyborg armies were destroyed.

He looked to his right arm where it was a stump just below his elbow. A parting gift from CABAL and his forces. At least he made it out of that war alive. He lost many friends that day. At least he was able to get an engineer to retrofit one of those cyborg commando plasma arm cannons to fit as a replacement. Not as powerful as one of the commandos arms, but it'll do the job in a pinch.

Jasper grabbed the mechanical limb with his left arm and began to long process to strapping it in. IN most cases, it would probably be the wiser choice to have it attached at all times, but it just didn't feel comfortable laying on a metal arm, and it got pretty cold during the night. So he kept it off. It took some time to get back on, but it was worth it, for now at least.

His room was a modest one, though it was still bigger than when he was officially with NOD. It had a soft bed, a few shelves that held books on war tactics, Kane, The brotherhood, Tiberium, GDI and even theories on the mysterious crashed alien ship. Everyone had their theory on that one and not even GDI could have covered that up if they wanted to, especially since it had flown and crashed down. Too many witnesses on that one.

After strapping in his arm, he logged into the terminal in his room to access the old EVA unit that they had scavenged up from a trashed GDI base. It was an older model and didn't always work, but it was better than not having any AI unit to help coordinate things. Especially since he didn't have full access to all that he used to. A few clicks and he was logged in.

Welcome back Commander
He got tired of correcting her after the fourth time. If she wanted to call him commander, well, she won that battle.
"EVA, status on Scorpion Base."
Scorpion Base at 45% efficiency
Well, that was better than yesterday at least. He'll have to make due until that shipment from the nearby town that he made a deal with comes through. The nearby town of Settler's Bay made a deal that if they could provide them with protection against the tiberium wildlife and the raiders that liked to attack them, that they would give them supplies and civilian personnel. Who was he to turn down such an offer. After all, both NOD and GDI were still focused on rebuilding and recouping from the Firestorm Incident and that would give people like him, an opening.
"EVA status on convoy"
Convoy onroute and will be arriving at Scorpion Base shortly
"Thanks for the update EVA." He had to shake his head. He really needed a high quality engineer or software tech to get EVA functioning at a better place. Otherwise they might get attacked and not know until after their base is a smoking crater.

Jasper looked out the window of his highrise room, taking up space in what used to be a GDI radar installation. It seemed like a good place to set up shop for the time being. Looking at the horizon, he could see the convoy about to enter to base, pulling up to the gate, guarded by one automated laser and a guard tower with a single guard in it. The gate lowered and the guard waved them through.

His eyes wandered into the distance where he saw a civilian taking potshots at a tiberium vein monster and it releasing puffs of dangerous and deadly tiberium smoke. What an idiot, he thought as he finished getting dressed and headed down to the convoy to see who was coming along with the next shipments of supplies.

The base wasn't much, at least not yet. Entering the base, anyone would see, the large GDI radar installation, the Hand of Nod Barracks, A command center, and armory, a depot for vehicles, and a landing strip. Local signage pointed out some sleeping accommodations other than the barracks for civilians and also a bar for some rest and relaxation.

A few civilians were off loading supplies in crates to a nearby supply depot while someone drives by on an armored bike.

ThatGuyWithSouvlaki , Worthlessplebian

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Mark stared at the ceiling of Nod barracks, his body unmoving except for the occasional blink. The 34-year-old Nod soldier hasn't slept in 26 hours and yet he isn't tired, must be the adrenaline he thought. A gasp then coughing, the soldier's throat is drier than the Sahara Desert; Mark lifted himself up and sat on his bed. The interior of the barracks was dimly lit, the reason for having such low power running to the lights was to conserve energy, Nod pride also had a part in that decision.

Climbing down the ladder from his top bunk, Mark rubbed his face with right hand. He pulled his hand back. The hand's ring finger is entirely gone and the pinky finger is missing the segment where the nail should be, he got this scar from when his squad stumbled upon landmine while storming the Libyan TV station. Turning his hand over to the topside, a large tattoo depicting a scorpion's tail.

After doing his morning exercise routines (and getting something to parch the driest throat in the world.) Mark donned his Nod combat armor paired with the signature crimson-visor helmet. His 'old faithful' as he would call it due to how many times it saved him, the armor was riddled with battle damage.

He stepped outside of the barracks then took in a big breath then exhaled with the same amount of force. Mark saw the civilians from Settler's Bay keeping their deal by bringing them supplies and civvies to help around the base... That's good, this little impromptu base needs all the help. Mark stopped by the armory to check if his M16 Mk.II pulse rifle had been repaired but no such luck, he'll have to check back later. Not wanting to be left vulnerable, he requested that he be armed with a semi-automatic pistol which the armory happily obliged.

Armed with something at least, Mark began a small patrol through out the base. Walking around proved to be fruitful as he encountered a civvie firing potshots at a tiberium vein monsters. He picked up the pace and reached the civvie before he could fire off another shot. Mark pushed down the gun. "Hey! what the hell?!" The civvie proclaimed before gulping at the sight of Mark's crimson visor."The gas' toxic, if you inhaled it we'd have to put you down." He spoke with a calm voice, the civvie started to sweat then turned to vein monster's fumes."S-ssorry!" Running off. Thankfully the wind wasn't blowing today otherwise that cloud would've been a major pain.

Mark continues his patrol.

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

Georgina exercised on her own not far from the barrack. She was doing push ups, showing off by doing them one handed. She was dressed in desert fatigue pants and an olive green tank top. Her long
raven black hair hang in a pony tail fell on her back as she moved her muscled body up and down. Her status as former commando gave her some leeway and independence in this camp as it did in her previous service with GDI. She mostly did what she will as long as she fulfilled some task for the commander. Sometimes, taking guard duty or patrol, some times even helped in the construction of the base. Not exciting compared to her past work but it was just what she wanted at this stage in her life.

She stood from her push ups and began to ran around the base doing laps. As she did she looked around the base, despite staying here for the best part of a couple of weeks she was still not used to the mix of GDI and NOD in the base. Despite the assurances of the general, she could not help feel suspicious of any NOD personnel she saw. More than once her hand went to her pistol at the sight of one approaching her. She could not help it, it was instinctual. During a night in the bar, she almost got into a fight with one after a few drink hit the general stepped it before the blow was struck.

She paused seeing one of the former NOD soldier telling of a civilian. She watched him work smirking a little at the fear in the civilians face at the crimson visor. "I thought civies would know better these days." She said to the soldier as he approached.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Mark usually does patrols around the base without being ordered to do them, in his mind if there was an enemy observing them from afar then unexpected second patrol might catch them if the enemy attempted something bold. He particularly enjoyed the morning patrols because of the serene feeling of the morning. Kane's philosophy and doctrine did not leave much room for self-indulgence but if basking in the quiet bliss of the sun rising over the horizon then Mark is guilty.

Today's morning felt like any other even if he had to 'threaten' a civvie but that comes with the territory and Mark happily fulfills it. A woman with black hair saw Mark intimidate the civvie, at first he thought she was another civilian but as Mark approached her, unintentionally she was just in the way, he realized she was a military personnel."Some do, some don't, like a lottery ticket." The Nod soldier remarks. Upon closer inspection, Mark knew this woman; not who she was but what she was or at least a best guess. He'd heard from captured GDI soldiers about combatants who could take out entire squads or platoons of infantry alone, their signature was the one-handed pushup. The GDI commando, Nod has their own commandos so the obvious conclusion is the GDI have their own. Mark had never seen one, something about only one being present at a battlefield or so the rumor goes."I've seen you around... former GDI right? I know that much because I haven't seen you in the Nod Hand barracks."

 

[Trektek]

As Jasper left the communications station, he nodded at a couple of passing soldiers. There were truly all kinds here. GDI, NOD, and even some members of the Forgotten. They got along together more or less. Obviously some fights broke out here and there, with old vendettas or allegiances flaring up to the surface. That was to be expected, after all, these fights can go back at least a generation or two. It was almost a miracle that there were any working together at all. But to be fair, that was all on CABAL. The monster that he was, at least drove some of them together. Both factions were woefully unprepared for the creature and it's machinations.

He walked over to the trucks, helping out with unloading them. Sure, he had people for that, but he was more of a on the ground with the troops kind of leader and not a sitting in the background type, ordering from afar. Breaking a sweat from the work, but it was still good. He was happy that Settler's Bay was willing to trust Scorpion Base with keeping them safe. With the continued rebuilding of both GDI and NOD, with GDI focusing first on their precious Blue Zones first before branching out into the yellow zones, and NOD having mostly dropped back into the shadows to regroup for a number of years as always after such a loss, he was much more of a forward face in yellow zones such as these, cut off from the power players. It was an opportunity as much as anything.

The General began walking to the Depot as he looked over and saw two of his best soldiers interacting with each other. On the side of NOD, Mark Ostrowski who served on the front lines of Anton Slavik's troops bringing the word of Kane back into the fold against the GDI puppet of Hassan. Jasper had not followed Hassan either, but he didn't rise up until the broadcast to reunify with the full forces of NOD. After that, he had served on the front line against many excursions to GDI bases and operations. It took a certain level of dedication and fighting prowess to be as good of a soldier as Mark was, and he was happy to have him in his side in these trying times.

On the other side was a former GDI commando, Georgina Meropay. He knew her mostly from reputation. After all, she was a one woman wrecking crew and single handedly took out entire platoons and bases using skills, guile, and a heck of a lot of explosives. GDI commandos somehow had the same capabilities as a NOD Cyborg Commando, just without having the endurance and survivability. Of course, you had to get close to them and that was the issues. The day that Georgina joined them was a proud day, that even some members of GDI had become disillusioned with the horrors that had been seen.

He figured it would be a good idea to let the two of them talk for now while he took care of some vehicle related business. The bonding of the troops was always a good idea, especially in such mixed company.

It didn't take too long until he made it to the depot where he could hear the sounds of metal working and welding on an almost continuous loop. They didn't yet have too many vehicles and most of the ones that they did have, were in need of varying levels of repair. He looked over and saw still under repairs: a NOD Buggy, an old GDI Humvee, a Tick Tank, A Wolverine and the pride and joy of the depot, an old Mammoth Tank recovered from an old GDI base that was left over from TW1. It still needed a lot of tender love and care.

Under the Mammoth Tank was their overworked and underpaid mechanic, a curvaceous woman named Tina. A member of the Forgotten, she had been away from their main base when Tratos had been assassinated, so she had a chip on her shoulder when it came to NOD. But he had saved her life during one of the raids by CABAL on a Forgotten outpost during Firestorm. Which was the only reason that she had agreed to come with him to Scorpion Base.

Jasper lightly tapped her foot with his foot before speaking so as to not startle her while she was working on such heavy equipment. "Hey Tina, how goes to repairs on the Tank?"

Tina flung out on her board and stretched up to her full height of 5'5'', coming up to the top of his chest, but still looking as though she could take on an adult viseroid and come out on top. "If I had more parts and a larger team, I could probably get it done in about a week, maybe. As it is, I'm understaffed and undersupplied." She started to poke him in the chest. "And don't get me started on the fact that you picked a location for a base so close to a tiberian vein monster."

The General held his hands up. "This was the ideal base. It was just far enough away from the town that we can keep an eye on it without making the town a target based on us being here. And besides, the framework for the base was already here." She still scoured at him as he spoke. "Besides, we just got a new shipment of parts from the town. Maybe you'll be able to use some of those?"

Her look vastly improved at the mention of further supplies. "Well, why didn't you open with that? You're making me seem all crazy." The tiberium crystals growing on the right side of her face seemed to sparkle with her glee.

Outside the base, a small but growing puff of greyish black smoke could be seen. Something was out there. Something damaged. From the distance it looked as though it was an ambiphious transport. The type that was used by GDI during the war to navigate the waters and infiltrate past NOD defenses. If the two soldiers went to investigate, they would find a dead soldier a short distance away from the vehicle clutching a Pad with a message for the General. The inside of the transport is a wreck and contains another dead soldier and a destroyed cyborg.

ThatGuyWithSouvlaki , Worthlessplebian

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

It was difficult keeping up a friendly demeanor with the nod soldier. He mind kept going back to past battles against his lot, gunfire and death. Oh sure she could take troopers like him by the hundreds but it was not always the case. She was under Nod hospitality more than once in her career and had the scars to prove it. Also she may have survived even overcame nod grunt but she could not say the same to people she fought with fallen victim to cyborgs, nod flamethrower and toxic troopers. Nod soldiers she often encountered were fanatic and cruel with tortures and defilements unimaginable to military and civies alike. And they claim to be the only hope of humanity in this tiberium world they are founding themselves in.

Still she was not one to miss an opportunity. To see and talk to her enemy in a peaceful setting and see what made them tick is an opportunity rarely given. "Ah, it would not be wise to have me in them. I have blow up so many, I might do it in my sleep." She said jokingly, hiding her district and discomfort in the hand of nod structure with bravado. "So tell me, seeing that you are here. Do you now know better huh? Have you won the lottery?" She asked looking at him with the dark brown eyes. Her eyes were piercing as if seeing through the red visor to the man inside.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

The GDI commando seemed friendly but Mark had his doubts about this, she could be putting up a facade to hide her hatred of Nod; not that Mark would blame her for it. Although when Nod cruelty gets brought up, Mark sweats because in his mind he has justified the brutality so in his and others' best interest it is best to dodge that question than answer it. There is no such thing as a clean war however inevitably savagery will be warranted whether it is done by Nod or even GDI, the only answer to that according to Mark is to try to be as emotionless as possible so that when your fellow soldier inhales the toxic fumes or gets blown to smithereens you can stomach the sight and hopefully survive to see the next day.

Back to the present, it's always nice to talk with someone who understands your experiences even if that someone is or was on the other side of the line and can kill you with her hand in a hundred ways. A brief chuckle escaped the Nod soldier at the woman's quip about blowing up the Hand barracks. The piercing gaze she made frightened the experienced Nod soldier, did he say something wrong? Mark thought but training, Nod doctrine and his own-brand of conditioning kept him cool."By standing here, I already won the lottery." He said in a sly tone.

 

[ThatGuyWithSouvlaki]

Georgina chuckled as well at her own remark yet kept her piercing gaze at the the nod soldier. "Have you? Maybe but I wonder of you mean the same lottery. You Nod... Soldiers are a tricky lot." She said pausing when she described Mark as a Nod soldiers. The pause was because she almost called him a terrorist. She quickly that raised her hand to stop him from speaking. "I know I am being unkind, old habits die hard especially having to stare at that mask." She explained herself her expression softening and her regret seemingly genuine.

She smiled more warmly and offered her hand. "Maybe I need to see you as a man than a soldier. Take of your mask and let's introduce each other properly. Georgina." She waited for Mark to return the gesture. "Come on. I am sure there is a handsome face under that, I will fall in love with it immediately... You should be so lucky." She added jokingly giving him a sly wink.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Mark listened intently at Georgina's reply. In a way he understands her, Nod and GDI are/were feuding for a long time, you can't just throw all that hostility away with a snap of the fingers. Reminds him of when he was a young soldier. The seemingly genuine regret for not being able to be kind to him was kind of adorable, could a GDI commando be adorable? Probably not but at least this one was.

The prospect of taking off his helmet was a surprise, most people need time to properly come to terms with someone or something they formerly hate but he guessed this isn't the case for Georgina. At first he hesitated and it wasn't out of disdain for GDI or their former soldiers -- justified wariness or paranoia made him hesitate. Either way, he wouldn't be fair to her if the helm stayed on so the choice was made. He lifted up his gloved right hand, even with the glove on, it is pretty evident the man was missing his ring finger and the top part of the pinky. The hand slipped behind his head and two clicking noises followed. He lifted the helmet off with his hands and snuck it under his left arm."I must admit, you didn't catch me on a good day." The brown haired man said, obviously he meant the large bags underneath the blue eyes."Mark, nice to meet you, Georgina." He shook her hand and smiled softly.