It had been weeks since Bernie was removed from active duty and Kovach had been killed, but it made little difference to the overall war. The Blackwatch leadership had shifted to a less capable, but just as fanatical commander and the operation to seize the stadium had little effect on the UEF Army.

The front lines were beginning to collapse as entire sectors were overrun, and many areas risked being completely cut off. Sierra team had been absorbed as a “specialist” attachment of Thatcher team and was placed under the direct control of Thatcher-One.

UEF artillery pounded around their temporary holding zone, Thatcher was waiting for an urgent message from a runner.

“I still can’t believe Kovach is dead and nothing has changed.” Robin muttered bitterly.

“All those men lost… seemingly for almost nothing.” Boris added.

Emil walked over to the two after finishing his conversation with a few of Thatcher’s men.

“Including Bernie.”

Both Boris and Robin tensed slightly upon hearing his name. The three stood in silence for the next while, ever since Bernie had been shot, none of them ever adjusted to being without him.

“Thatcher-One! The runner from Captain Orland is here!” a man yelled as he came sprinting into the large, but blown-out room.

Thatcher came out of a side room and quickly approached the runner.

“Lieutenant, a message from Captain Orland. The UEF has launched an attack in the Finance District to our direct front… and Blackwatch groups have invaded the Education District directly south of us.” the man said, his voice shaky, but stern. “That means a two-front defence.”

Growing levels of agitation and grief were apparent on Thatcher’s face.

“A-TAC is pulling the Fourth Tank Division south to attempt to prevent any type of breakthrough, the air force has no fuel left to perform aerial support.” The runner continued.

Visibly shaken by the news, Thatcher paced slightly, then turned to the runner.

“We need urgent reinforcements.” He said to the man, his voice pained after fully realizing their situation.

The runner looked down for a moment, then looked back up at Thatcher. “I’m sorry.”
“Then we’ll never defend this city.” Thatcher replied sharply.

“Listen, rest until tomorrow… but your orders remain to take and hold the communications centre.” the runner replied.

He began to walk away as Thatcher stood there, baffled.

“The Academy has just been given up… and my men are being sacrificed for a stretch of road!” Thatcher screamed as the runner left the building. He looked around and noticed all his men staring at the scene that had just played out before them.

He looked around at everyone with a very demoralized look on his face as he turned around and walked back into the separate room. Not a single person said a word as they all looked back at each other.

Night had fallen, and Thatcher was sitting in a chair away from the rest of the men as he stared up at the ceiling. Boris returned from sentry duty and put his kit onto a crate.

“You were right,” Thatcher said, breaking the silence.

Boris only turned his head to the side as he continued unclipping his gear.

“It only brings out the worst in us.” Thatcher continued.

“Yeah, I know.” Boris said almost sarcastically. “But it doesn’t change the fact that we’ll be out there fighting again tomorrow.”

“Until no one is left.” Thatcher said beginning to sound slightly distressed.

“That’s right.” Boris said, now sounding annoyed. “Until no one is left. How many have died now over these past two months?”

Thatcher looked up in anger as Boris began listing off the names of their fallen team members.

“Grey, Echo, Fulkrum… Bernie.”

Thatcher shot up from his chair and shoved Boris back with a scream. “Stop it!”

“It won’t end until it’s over! Don't you understand that!?” Boris screamed back, putting himself back in Thatchers face. “We’re just animals for the slaughterhouse… today we’re heroes, tomorrow we’re pigs!”

He began walking away when Thatcher once again began yelling.
“What’s the point then!?”

Boris once again turned back around, but this time he stormed across the room, grabbed onto Thatcher and shook him.

“There is no point! God has abandoned us! There’s just us! No Captain, no General, no A-TAC, just us!” Boris screamed while pointing towards the room full of men. “Those men out there.”

Thatcher stared at him silently.

“And if we die tomorrow, then so be it, but I expect you to lead us.” he finished, giving Thatcher a small hit on the chest as he walked past him to the next room.

---

The morning had come and the fighting opened fiercely. While only a very small skirmish, both sides were suffering terrible casualties. Thatcher was trying to lead his men up the street towards the communications post when a small UEF patrol came across them and engaged.

“Rocket!” a man screamed as a projectile flew down the street, slamming into the base of a large, but horribly damaged building. A large section of wall came crashing down on top of many of the men, killing them instantly.

Thatcher looked up after the flying debris had cleared and saw Boris lying on the ground, motionless and buried in the rubble. A fleury of emotions exploded through him at the sight, he began screaming and rounded the corner he was using as cover and sprayed down the street with his rifle. Seeing this, the three UEF riflemen in the street stood from their cover in a panic but were killed.

Robin gave chase after Thatcher who continued to sprint down the street, reloading his rifle and getting ready to fire again. He bolted through a blown out wall that lead to a stairwell, as he entered the breech, he fired wildly and aimlessly as he continued screaming.

Running down the stairs and out the back of the building, he fired into every room he passed, empty or not. Stacking up on a door that lead out the back of the building onto another street, Robin quickly caught up to him and the two bolted out into the street Thatcher completing another reload.

The two reached the communication centre from the back street and as Thatcher kicked the door in and sprayed wildly with his rifle again, he stopped upon seeing what his men had fought and died for.

Thatcher smiled and began to laugh as Robin stood near the door catching her breath. Thatcher began pacing in a circle around the room as he continued to laugh.
“For this?” He said.

He continued to pace around the room, throwing his rifle onto one of the many tables.

“For this!?” He said beginning to once again sound incredibly angry

He kept shifting his hands over his mouth as he continued to pace around the room, Robin just stood and watched silently, disgusted at what little their sacrifice meant.

The room was nearly empty save for a few stacks of unimportant documents and broken radios, the bodies of a few UEF soldiers were scattered around.

Thatcher began kicking the chairs and throwing the radio sets around the room.

“For this!?!” he screamed as he began to almost weep. “My God.”