Chapter 10 Fire In The Sky

in Kazakhstan, the winter soldiers took the position as two Guards patrolled the area, they looked down to their sights and pressed the trigger to kill the guards, Zane signaled his troops to advance and stop once again to murder another Soldier on patrol, the snowstorm is getting the chance to hinder their sights but they can still see thanks to unmanned drones in the air.

before they were deployed, the Phoenix Company are asked if they can watch the Pariahs World Tour Concert while providing security during the concert in the capital to Amethyst Grove, it's their third world tour after their successful 2025 Euro-Asian Tour and 2023 World Tour. they started as a school rock band from in Detroit and dominated the world stage. the Basswood Leg was set after their tour in Canada, their next destination is Paris and the other to Dubai.

in most singers and musicians can't get away with controversy but it lasted a week or four, someone accused of cultural appropriation to the band due to dressing up in their kimonos during their Euro-Asian Tour leg on Budokan Stadium in Japan, despite the band member was the only Japanese and the others aren't, they were able to sold out the performance, then their music video collaboration with Black Knights of Music in Germany, the music video seemed to resembled a totalitarian government that control the music of the people while the band (posed as the Resistance Fighters), decided to overthrow them as they were fed up with their rules, but they gained another controversy due to mistaken resemblance of the military uniform adorned by the Germans during WW2, the BKM said it was based on the Italian Carabinieri, too bad someone actually jumped into the conclusions way too early and accused them for Fascism, the former Carabinieri got a thumbs up for nailing it, they said it was inspired from the We Will Rock You Musical but the outfits were altered to avoid copyright infringement

back to Kazakhstan, the group split up while the storm is brewing up, Henrietta provided Sniper cover above the base despite zero visibility. one by one, Zane and the rest took the guards down like it's too easy. they didn't use smoke bombs as the blizzard got them cover, Henrietta finally take the last shot at the guard after Zane took another one down to avoid blowing up their cover, they set up the rendezvous point at the warehouse to check on the intel, while others are setting up explosives at the fuel tanks where the Jets and Gunships took rest.

Rachel, David, and Viktor are searching for possible intel, turns out the Ghosts staying in Kathmandu was a trap, the reallocation is in Portland, Oregon USA, it was meant to confuse the Phoenix Battalion while being ready for their future attack in New York City.

"Sir! we got multiple vehicles are coming over to your location, they're not going to be happy to see this shit," Henrietta said

"copy that, we need to go now!" Zane barked at his unit

"what the fuck's going on, dude?" Kevin asked

"there's no time! grab the intel and we're hauling ass!" Zane replied

everyone did as he intended to be and tried to bail out, they were caught by the remaining Ghost Army that came out from the harshest snow, a unit and their Superior, armed with a megaphone while his unit aimed down to their sights, Viktor also have the detonator for the explosives from earlier, they had their hands raised in the air while concealing the remote

"crap, we got Company" he murmured

"This is Major Vickers! we have you surrounded! stand down to your ground and surrender" Major Vickers said through the megaphone

"you got one job, Viktor, do it" Zane quietly commands Viktor

"five"

Viktor secretly set the remote to active with one arm while raising both hands

"four"

armed buskers that were clueless enough to see the hidden explosives at the end of the runway while the hanger was a few inches closer to it

"three"

Henrietta was left unnoticed by the Ghost Army but she's getting the sniffles from the weather, good thing she already packed up with heating pads that are automatically on during a Cold environment, she aimed down at her sights down to the warehouse window to end Major Vickers' misery

"two"

Viktor looked at David and nodded to him, he clenched his fist detonate the C4 to get home in one piece, the bomb went off like New Year's Day Fireworks as it reached zero, multiple aircraft that were lined up on the runway are blown up by the chain reaction of the fueling station through the first jet, armed with missiles. Major Vickers and his unit were overwhelmed by the reaction while the Phoenix Battalion pulled out their rifles and smoked them out

"head to the cliff, the LZ's fucked! we need another spot to get off, Henrietta come down here! we gotta go now!" David yelled through the intercom

"Motherboard, we need a new LZ, it's been compromised and we need to haul ass!"

"copy that Phoenix, Backup is on your way, ETA 50 minutes"

"we'll be dead in 50 minutes!" Viktor exclaimed

"you'll live, Jackass!" Henrietta also said

Zane took cover to reload his rifle, a random Soldier tried to stab the Assassin with the Bayonet attached to his rifle but failed to do so, another tried to help his fallen comrade and failed miserably with the same bayonet he was supposed to be Killed with, fired a couple of rounds to suppress the upcoming enemy troops until he was wounded by the enemy sniper.

his left arm was destroyed from the 338. Lapua Magnum, Henrietta took caution to take down the sniper after entering the base while realizing her Superior was shot, then, a speckle of light coming from the enemy sniper's scope lenses compromised his position while Henrietta squeeze the trigger, the bullet entered the scope and killing the sniper instantly, Zane hissed in pain but it was audible due to gun fires all over the area, which he continued to fight despite a powerful bullet caliber nearly amputate him

Viktor meanwhile, hijacked a nearby enemy Gunship (he was a cadet in the Air Force and a fast learner), used the weapons of the aircraft to buy some time until Backup arrived, the cadet warned the pilots to hold their fire as the enemy Gunship had a friendly soldier maneuvering the turrets, the Assassin was sent to the nearest hospital ship in the Bearing Strait, his arm was later amputated due to the severity of the wound while the Identity Ripper was taken away and returned to the owner.

Zane felt defeated by the results but he kept his head up as he's not dead yet, the Assassin was later sent to a hospital in Tokyo, Japan to install a prosthetic arm to continue his duty as a soldier while adapting his new arm into everyday use and combat as soon as he returned to Base, eventually, Zane is going to watch the concert as a reward for the hard work he earned.

not only he got front row seats for the show, but even backstage passes are also available for those who can whip out a few bucks for it, the concert takes place in the newly rebuilt Live Aid Stadium and the security of the event was none other than the Phantom Forces and the Royal Guards Alexandrite Unit, they are assigned to be in high alert whenever the Ghosts are planning to thwart the concert to gain the fear of the population and its safety.

the venue was pitched black and the concert-goers are anticipated for the upcoming events, and then the lights came back in and the Pariahs appeared right before their eyes, everybody lost their shit as the infamous band finally get to visit Novergrad after the bitter war

"hello Novergrad! are you ready to rock!?" the vocalist yelled at top of his lungs

"yeah!" the crowd answered back

"Alright! let's do this shit!"

they started the music and Stone Cold Crazy erupted the speakers as the vocalist sang the lyrics while using the beat that Metallica added Metal to the Queen hit, next was Requiem for Nicholas, the band's Guitarist, Gerald Lee, sung the piece while the Vocalist, Masahiro Kishinuma played the piano, it was in the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks prior as the song was aimed at the former band member who died in high school and his dream was about to reach the world stage with his friends but someone ruined it for him.

as the Captain tried to sip on his soda (in his prosthetic arm), he saw Major Deacon and his unit. they also have the same tickets for the concert and the same backstage passes too. the venue also has a Jumbotron and they have to do something to get a whirl of attention.

Deacon decided to carry Zane to the crowd surf as another song called Burnout Avenue came in, as soon as it reached the guitar solo, Zane was carried out by the concert-goers, amidst the crowd, there's even a dude in a wheelchair decided to the same as the amputee and Masahiro took out his hand and high-five the Assassin while the crowd was pumped up to the next level

the Rhythm Guitarist decided to crowd surf too but he already did it on the last show, they continue to play Hits like Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow, Hellcat In The Dark, Ozone Dreams, and Stoned But Smited. as the concert has ended, they meet up backstage, the Phoenix Battalion received autographs from the band and a selfie for a quick souvenir too, and they grab a bite to the nearest fast food restaurant called Sheer Heart Failure Diner, It's like the Heart Attack Grill but it has more food options and and the rate of fat and cholesterol levels are the same as the average burger and fries meal, they ordered a fair share of burgers that were grilled into perfection, stacked with crunchy Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes, The Secret Sauce, and melted cheese, fries that are fried just right with a side of savory chili and melted cheese, cold and refreshing soda on a biodegradable cup and straw, and lastly, a freezing cup of Vanilla Sundae, dredge with a delectable chocolate fudge, the staff of this restaurant wore hospital uniforms like Cashiers as Nurses (both male and female), waiters are doctors, the cooks are surgeons, and Janitors are still Janitors but Hospital grade.

The Assassin tried his best to eat with his prosthetic arm until Henrietta fed him as he's struggling with the new arm he already has, until a random person who had a permanent scowl on his face, turns out the person who "reserved" his table with a pocket knife etched underneath the table, the man stepped back as he saw a concealed pistol and started to call the police, they rolled up and the beer belly told that they decided to hold him that they are going to rob the place but everyone isn't going to buy his bullshit.

"Hey, you got something in your hair," Zane said

"what?" the Heckler slurred

the Assassin smacked the beer belly's face and send his face to the table, right next to Specialist Jenkins' Double Bacon Cheeseburger with inhouse hot sauce, which his eyes made contact and he's screaming like it's murder, Police were called in, the Heckler was arrested for Drug Possession and Alarming Scandal, they found a bag of what it seems to be blue powder, it looks like Meth and Cocaine had a love child with LSD, while he's being transported to Novergrad Police Department, he nearly spat the assassin on the face but missed due to hot sauce and Zane hold back as the beer belly was sent to the police, but they had something to do with the new drug in town, something that Walter White would make if he worked with the Cartel.

the only thing left was to go home and hit the hay, Before they split, they received Free food for the Assassin and the group with a cup of chocolate cake shake on the go, and it's the best thing that Zane ever had in his life, it's like he's been to Chicago again and try out Portillo's Chocolate Cake Shake.

not long after he took a rest, the Assassin woke up with an impromptu call from the Nest, it's additional information about their upcoming mission and the location was in the Philippines, however, there's a typhoon that struck the said location down south of the province. they're going to send Zane and his trusted soldiers to the Philippines.