As Hoffman's Raven took off, another wave of Locust emerged from the building.

Marcus: "Enemy reinforcements!"

Kim: "Take cover!"

Delta Squad took cover behind sandbag barricades as a King Raven thundered overhead, its guns shredding through the Locust horde.

KR Pilot: "That one was on the house. Good luck, Delta."

Kim: "Get up those stairs! Alpha is waiting!"

Delta Squad rushed up the stairs.

Dom: "Okay, guys, here we go. You still got it?"

Marcus: "I guess we'll find out, huh."

Maverick: "Did you not see what I was doing at the prison?"

Delta Squad exited the hallway into a small courtyard, where more grubs appeared.

Locust Soldier: "For RAAM!"

Maverick moved first, snapping his Retro Lancer up with lightning speed. His shot tore through the first drone's skull, its head erupting in a grisly explosion.

Without hesitation, he surged forward, ramming his Retro Lancer's bayonet deep into another drone's chest. The lifeless body crumpled as Delta Squad eliminated the last enemy with ruthless efficiency.

Anthony: "Holy shit, that was awesome."

Kim: "Move up!"

Maverick's foot caught on something, stopping him in his tracks. Glancing down, he spotted a lone COG tag half-buried in the debris, its surface worn and scarred. He crouched, picking it up with a solemn expression, recognizing it as a fallen Gear's tag. Turning it over in his hand, he silently honored the soldier who once wore it.

Maverick: "I'll make sure these get back to your parents, Jace Hunt."

As they moved up the stairs toward the mausoleum, more Locust emerged, accompanied by a couple of sinkholes.

Dom: "Grubs!"

Maverick: "Anthony, with me—we'll flank them."

Maverick and Anthony moved swiftly, circling around the Locust while Delta Squad advanced methodically, moving from cover to cover. Their precise shots dropped enemy after enemy, the flank giving them the advantage.

As they approached the mausoleum and crossed the bridge, their progress slowed. Scattered across the ground were lifeless bodies—remnants of a brutal skirmish—lying near the edge of a massive sinkhole. Nearby, the wreckage of a crashed van added to the grim scene, a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.

Kim: "Control, this is Delta. We have a visual of Alpha. Possible KIA. No sign of the Resonator."

Control: "Roger that, Delta. Keep looking."

They pressed on toward the mausoleum, stopping at a locked door.

Kim: "I'll open the door. I've got the code."

Kim entered the code, and the heavy door groaned as it swung open. The squad stepped inside, only to be met by a Locust Drone lying in wait.

Before it could raise its weapon, Anthony reacted instantly, drawing his snub pistol and firing with deadly precision. The shot struck home, and the Drone collapsed in an instant.

After clearing the mausoleum of the remaining Locust, Delta Squad regrouped and made their way toward the exit. As they neared the doorway, Maverick's sharp eyes caught a glint near the rubble.

He paused, bending down to retrieve another set of COG tags. With a quiet nod, he pocketed them before stepping outside to rejoin the team.

Maverick: "I'll make sure these get back to your parents, Damien Russel."

Dom: "I hope that's not Rojas down there... His little boy just turned two last week."

They approached the massive pit, and Maverick assumed it was the work of a Corpser.

Kim: "Well, it could be Alpha."

Marcus: "COG tags are gone."

Anthony stepped toward a fallen soldier, kneeling to retrieve a device from his hand. He examined it carefully, Kim watching over his shoulder.

Kim: "Is that the Resonator?"

Anthony: "Nah."

Marcus: "Now what?"

Kim: "Let's get that Resonator."

Dom: "Marcus, Maverick. What do you guys think?"

Marcus: "What do I think? Could be Alpha... or it could be the Locust setting a trap. There's only one way to know for sure."

Maverick: "I hope it's an ambush. I love being part of ambushes, even if I'm not the one ambushing." [smirks]

Dom: "You're insane, dude."

Maverick: "What? Anya's the cool-headed one who thinks rationally, and I'm the insane one who loves fighting. We're the perfect sibling duo." [smirking]

Dom and Marcus shook their heads with smirks, knowing he was right.

"Inside the House of Sovereigns..."

Kim: "Our next target is House of Sovereigns. Straight ahead. Move!"

Anthony took one last look at the device in his hand, his expression unreadable, before casually tossing it over his shoulder into the pit. Without a word, he turned and walked away as the squad prepared to move out.

Their progress was quickly interrupted as more Locust emerged, weapons blazing. Maverick reacted instantly, taking down a charging grub with a well-placed shot before it could reach the Troika. Seizing the moment, he hurled a grenade into the thick of the enemies, the explosion wiping them out before they could regroup.

Pushing forward, Delta Squad finally reached the fountain, but their respite was short-lived. The ground beneath them trembled ominously, heralding the arrival of more Locust.

The courtyard erupted into chaos as an all-out firefight broke out. Locust poured in from every direction, their relentless assault testing Delta's resolve. Despite the overwhelming odds, the squad held their ground.

After what felt like an eternity, the battle ended. The smoke cleared, revealing the courtyard littered with the bodies of fallen Locust.

Marcus: "I think we're good. Let's grab some ammo."

Maverick: "That was fucking fun!" [laughs] "Give us another ambush!"

Delta Squad stared at Maverick like he was crazy.

Anthony: "What the hell, man? Those holes could pop up anywhere!"

Marcus: "You'd think we'd have figured out some kind of goddamn defense by now."

Dom: "Yeah. Command's tried everything, but nothing works. If the Locust wanna come up, they come up."

Anthony: "I used to have nightmares about those things when I was a kid."

Dom: "Shit... I still do."

Delta approached a tunnel with two paths ahead.

Kim: "Looks like we need to split up. Fenix, you, Carmine, and Stroud will go left. Dom and I will go right."

Marcus: "Yes, sir."

Marcus led Anthony and Maverick cautiously through the dimly lit tunnel, their footsteps echoing off the cold, damp walls. As they rounded a corner, the unmistakable roar of a Troika gun erupted, bullets tearing through the air.

Marcus and Anthony instinctively dove behind cover, while Maverick dropped into a low crouch, narrowly dodging the hail of gunfire. The oppressive barrage continued for what felt like an eternity, forcing them to remain pinned down.

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the tunnel, silencing the Troika's relentless fire.

Dom: "Clear!"

Anthony, Marcus, and Maverick rose from cover, cautiously making their way toward the now-silent Troika. Spotting a green button on the wall near a heavy door, Anthony pressed it. With a mechanical hiss, the door slid open.

Stepping through, they reunited with Kim and Dom, exchanging quick nods before regrouping.

Their reunion was short-lived as another wave of Locust ambushed them. Reacting with practiced precision, the team engaged in a brief but intense firefight, swiftly cutting down the enemies.

With the immediate threat eliminated, they pressed onward.

Kim: "Control, this is Delta Squad. Any word from Alpha?"

Control: "Negative, Delta. We still have radio silence, over."

Kim: "Roger that. Dom, Fenix, Stroud—you three look for a way in. Carmine and I will stay back and suppress."

Marcus: "What about Alpha?"

Kim: "We'll save 'em if we can."

Maverick: "Let's get it!" [laughing maniacally]

Maverick delivered a powerful kick to the door, sending it crashing off its hinges with a loud clang. The team marched out into the open, weapons at the ready.

Marcus's sharp eyes scanned the area, catching movement to the left. He spotted a pair of Reaver's swooping low, their shadowy forms gliding ominously down the road ahead.

Maverick: "Always wanted to ride one of those."

Delta Squad pushed forward but soon found themselves pinned down by another Troika.

Maverick: "Anthony, let's flank them!"

Anthony: "Right behind you!"

Maverick and Anthony moved cautiously along the side of the building, their steps calculated, weapons ready. After swiftly taking down a Grenadier, the ground ahead rumbled ominously as an E-hole burst open, forcing them to dive for cover.

Locust Soldier: "For RAAM!"

Without missing a beat, Anthony yanked a grenade from his belt, armed it, and hurled it into the gaping hole.

The explosion was deafening, sending a spray of rubble, blood, and Locust remains into the air. The E-hole collapsed in on itself, sealing the threat in a gruesome mix of destruction.

Maverick: "Damn, kid, that was impressive."

They pushed forward, moving with precision and purpose. Maverick's eyes locked onto a Locust manning a Troika ahead. Without hesitation, he charged, closing the distance with deadly intent.

His blade found its mark, plunging into the Locust's back. With a burst of strength, Maverick lifted the creature off its feet before slamming it to the ground with a triumphant yell, his adrenaline fueling the moment.

Kim: "Form up!" [Looks at Anthony] "You good?"

Anthony: "Yeah, but I got a problem." [grunts, trying to fix Lancer] "Something's wrong with this thing." [grunts again] "It keeps jamming." [stands and holds it up to show Kim] "See?"

A persistent voice echoed in Maverick's mind, urging him to pull Anthony down. At first, he was confused, instincts on edge. Scanning his surroundings, his eyes quickly locked onto a Locust sniper perched in the distance, a Longshot aimed directly at them.

Realizing the imminent danger, Maverick reacted without hesitation.

Maverick: "Down!" [tackles Anthony just as a Longshot bullet fires]

The Locust sniper let out a frustrated roar after missing its shot, its anger echoing across the battlefield. Seizing the opportunity, Delta Squad opened fire, riddling the sniper with bullets and silencing it for good.

Maverick and Anthony got to their feet, miraculously unscathed. As they regrouped, Maverick grabbed Anthony's Lancer, giving it a once-over. Noticing the weapon's battered condition—scratches, dents, and wear from countless battles—he shook his head in disapproval.

Maverick: "A damaged fucking Lancer? Are you kidding me? Is this some kind of prank to get you killed?" [shakes head] "Kid, back in boot camp, what were you voted most likely to be?"

Anthony: "I was voted most likely to get shot in the head back in the academy... they stuck a COG bullseye sticker on the back of my armor as a joke."

Maverick turned to Kim, disbelief etched across his face. Kim met his gaze and shook his head, a silent acknowledgment that even he wasn't aware of the kind of chaos that unfolded back at the academy.

Shaking off the moment, Delta pressed onward, their focus sharp. They encountered and swiftly took down several more Locust before breaching the east side of the building, ready for whatever awaited them inside.

Kim: "Control, this is Delta. Come in?"

Nothing but static came through the comms.

Marcus: "Nice."

Dom: [sarcastically] "Military equipment. Always works."

Maverick tossed Anthony's beat-up Lancer aside, grabbing a Hammerburst off a dead grub and handing it to him.

Maverick: "Here. It's better than that piece of shit Lancer. I'll find you a new one later."

Anthony: "Thanks, Maverick."

Maverick: "Kid, please. We're practically family now. You can call me Mav—almost everyone does anyway."

Anthony: [nods] "Thanks for saving me, Mav."

Maverick: "No problem, kid. Just promise me next time you need to show any of us something—keep your damn head down."

Anthony: [nods] "Promise."

Kim: "I'll open the door. I've got the code."

Cole: "Yeah! Whoo! Bring it on, baby!"

Marcus: "I think we just found Alpha."

Kim: "Move."

Dom: "Somebody's havin' a good time up there."

Cole: "You wish, baby!" [more gunshots] "You missed! You need glasses, sucker! Damn! Oh, you can't see straight? Well, let me help you with this!"

Delta approached the ledge, peering down to see a sleeveless Gear fighting several Locust on his own.

Dom: [shocked] "Holy shit! It's one guy."

Anthony: "He looks kinda familiar..."

Before Delta could even process the situation, Maverick let out a wild, maniacal laugh and leaped into the fray.

Joining the sleeveless Gear already in the fight, the two warriors tore through the Locust with unrestrained ferocity, dispatching enemies left and right.

Delta Squad hung back, momentarily stunned, watching the chaotic yet oddly synchronized destruction unfold. The pair seemed to revel in the battle, their movements in perfect sync.

Minutes later, with the last of the Locust lying lifeless on the ground, the chaos finally subsided.

Maverick and the sleeveless Gear exchanged a brief nod of satisfaction as Delta Squad descended the stairs.

Maverick: [turns to the sleeveless Gear] "Let's go again, baby! Woo!"

Unknown: [laughs] "I like you already, baby!"

The sleeveless Gear turned toward the rest of Delta Squad.

Unknown: "Yeah, that was beautiful, baby!"

Kim: "State your name, soldier."

Cole: "Private Augustus Cole. Alpha Squad, sir." [nods]

Dom: [shocked] "Cole? As in the Cole Train?"

Cole: "Yeah, that's right."

Maverick: "Well, I'll be damned. Honored to meet a Thrashball superstar."

Anthony: "Thought I recognized you."

Marcus: "Where's the rest of your squad?"

Cole: "They're sittin' tight over in the tomb."

Kim: "We're Delta Squad. We're here to retrieve the sonic device."

Marcus: "And to get you guys outta here."

Cole: "Well, hell yeah. We've been waiting for the chopper, but the radios don't work for shit, sir."

Maverick: "We've noticed."

Anthony handed a Lancer mag to Dom, Cole, Maverick, and Marcus, each of them giving him an appreciative nod.

Cole: "It's the Seeders. They're jammin' our transmissions."

Marcus: "Then we have to make those Seeders our top priority, sir."

Kim: "Agreed. We need to re-establish radio contact with Control—ASAP."