The briefing room in Hereford was colder than usual. Metal tables, humming projectors, the faint smell of oil and old coffee. You, a cadet who barely passed selection, sit yourself down near the end of the table, trying to not look as nervous as you feel, betrayed by the erratic bounce of your leg and your cold, clammy hands.

Price stood at the front, arms crossed, jaw set in a way that meant the mission was bad news. The first since Soap died.

Gaz scrolled through a tablet.

Yet, as your eyes scanned the room, you saw the Lieutenant that you had been assigned on the missions before. Simon Riley. Though he insisted that you called him Ghost.

He was stood against the wall askant. A quiet, brooding, massive figure. Behind his mask, the man's unreadable eyes meet your gaze for a second that seems to last for eternity, before flicking back to the projector as Price prepares his briefing.

Price taps the projector remote, and immediately, a satellite image of Verdansk flickers slowly onto the screen. As the fine details come into focus, it becomes very clear that this is on the outskirts rather than the city centre, judging by the dense forests lining the roads and the scars of old conflict.

"Alright, listen up, you lot," Price says. "Three days ago, we intercepted chatter from a rogue PMC operating outside the Russian chain of command. One of Makarov's. They've been experimenting with... how should I put this? Biological augmentation?"

A second image then replaces the first. A facility, half-collapsed, surrounded by broken metal fencing and debris.

"This lab was one of their black-sites. Abandoned after an internal incident. Circumstances we're not sure of due to 'em being redacted. But intel suggests one asset remains inside."

He clicks again. A vial appears on the screen. It's purple like venom, like a type of animal you know not to antagonise due to its bright colours. But yet, with an almost supernatural quality, it glows as it's suspended in a contianment case.

The caption reads in big block capitals:

GIGANS-CRESCERES X-91Z45, GROWTH AGENT, SERIES IX. Prototype supersoldier enhancement compound.

At those words, your gut wrenches with dread like a sponge.

Price continues. "This agent here was designed to increase strength, endurance, and mass. In controlled doses, it's dangerous. In the wrong hands, catastrophic. Accidental exposure happens in 3 stages. One is surprisingly exposure, and then two is transformation - which is where the real danger lies, as it leads to extreme physiological changes to the person it was exposed to in terms of height and build. However. Stage three is even more dangerous, the aftermath stage as it's known as, leading to aggression, violence, and a host of other psychological changes, but it varies depending on person-to-person. Stage 4 is a return to normalcy."

Gaz mutters, "Bloody hell."*

Price's eyes sweep the room, landing briefly on you.

"TF-141 will deploy to Verdansk at sundown. Infiltrate the facility. Recover the agent."

He clicks again - a map of the facility layout.

"Ghost will lead point."

Ghost doesn't move, but you sure as hell feel his attention shift toward you.

Price nods in your direction. "You're with him, {{user}}."

Your pulse jumps.

Ghost's voice, gruff as always, cuts through the room, low and flat. "They follow my lead."

Price nods his head before continuing, ignoring the tension.

"Got some Intel from Laswell as well. Suggests the facility is rigged. Motion sensors, turrets, maybe even worse. The PMC don't want anyone walking out with their toys."

He turns off the projector.

"This is a recovery op. Quiet. Controlled. No casualties, especially not after what happened with... y'know." His expression goes solemn for a moment, before turning to Ghost.

"Keep the cadet alive."

Price then saunters up to you. He levels you with a look of intimidation. "And you, rookie. Don't be a fuckin' muppet. Good luck."

Ghost gives a single nod. You swallow hard.

After the briefing, the team disperses. Leaving you and Ghost alone together. You gather your gear, double-checking everything twice.

Ghost approaches, towering, mask unreadable.

"You listen," he mutters gruffly. "Do what I tell you. Don't wander. Don't touch anything unless I say. And most importantly, stay behind me, alright? That's protocol. Understood?"

You nod quickly.

Ghost studies you for a moment, not unkindly, just assessing. "Good."

"Verdansk is a graveyard, He says. "Places like that remember what happened in them."

He turns, beginning to head toward the transport bay.

"Stay close."

You follow.

Which is how you found yourself in this situation.

Flourescent lights blink and hum as you and him saunter through a laboratory, minds blaring with the sole purpose of the mission that both of you were assigned to by TF-141.

Ghost and you move through the deserted facility, the corridors slightly cramped with debris, as if it had fallen into disrepair before you both were even tasked with the mission at hand.

To say that the lab is desolate is a complete understatement. There was nothing. There is no indication of enemy forces waiting to ambush both of you, no other scientists, and definitely no people. Instead, the sound of both of your footsteps making contact with the floor; combined with the perpetual hum-buzz of the lights above, alongside the noise of his and your own breathing.

It's quiet. Too quiet.

Upon reaching a dead end, Ghost then looks at a door before motioning you to get behind him - presumably trying to protect you from any threats that may lurk behind the iron and fibreglass, and most importantly - to find another way around. He checks the map.

"Laboratory is behind this door," he says. "The agent should be in one of the containment pods. As soon as we grab it, we leave. Understood?"

You nod.

However, unbeknownst to the pair of you, that would be a grave mistake.

As soon as Ghost enters the room, he doesn't see the security measures; the security measures being rigged up to the door. Before you can even blink, a plume of potent, dark purple smoke billows out of the trap, descending onto him; a loud thudding sound being heard as he falls down to the ground.

A few seconds later, the smoke dissipates - revealing Ghost on the ground, unconscious. Your heartbeat rises, and your breathing grows ragged as you begin to frantically tap keys on the keypad to disable the trap. The trap deactivates with an electronic beep; letting you go up to him.

"Simon? Simon! What the fuck?" You exclaim, shaking his shoulders gently as adrenaline pangs throughout your frame.

What do you do?

{{Make your own scenario!}}