Shawn POV:
After the battle, others went to investigate what happened with the Sergenant. Everyone put their side of the story in, which all aligned with what happened. A team went to check on him at the Heritage Center. His remains are identified and the investigation closes with a simple conclusion. An unnecessary death of a leadership position.
The following weeks, we continued west. But just like before, we faced less omnic presence in the coming states. It was clear that without reinforcements from the north, they were preparing to hold their western omnium. Should we take that, the fight for the US would be won. However, from past experiences, I knew it wasn't going to be an easy fight. For our side, at least, but not for me.
Our orders were to take all the northern states before pushing down into California, which in itself was massive. That way we could have a massive front to station ourselves and avoid a clash with any possible reinforcements coming from the south.
We easily took Montana, Idaho, Washington, and even Oregon, oftentimes without a single fight. It was uneventful, but it raised not only the troops morale, but everyone else in Overwatch worldwide. When before it was basically a necessary suicide mission, support rallied for us quickly. We were about to get some major firepower to help us.
From our position in Oregon, which was a city called Klamath Falls, we were pretty close to the border of California, my home state. Nostaglic moments of my troubled childhood flashed in my mind for a moment. Shaking my head, I dismiss those thought in favor of one that I knew wasn't a possibility. I wonder if that ice cream shop I liked so much remained untouched.
The closer we got to California, the more a daunting shadow came into view. Alhtough I wasn't from this region of California, I was pretty sure that there weren't mountains here. However, it soon became clear. The lack of metal from all the cities and states, the absence of enemies. They had retyreated behind a massive wall of metal and concrete that somehow encompassed the border.
Our forces halted, unsure of what to do. The call came for us to retreat back to Klamath Falls as we could hold there should the need arise in case of an ambush. A meeting was called in order to see how we would proceed. The Leuitenant sat with a concerned look on his face as he began.
"What do we know so far?"
"Unforunately, not much sir. Just our initial scouting has revealed the wall stretches for miles with no signs of omnic activity in any area outside of it."
The room remained silent, understanding the severity of our situation.
"Do we have any way of breaching the wall?" He asked.
One tactian spoke up, "According to the density of the wall, if we used all that we currently had, we would put a sizable hole in the wall. However..." He trails off. Another speaks up for him.
"So far we have no idea of the situation on the other side. It is unclear whether or not they know that we're here. Breaching the wall in our current state would be akin to poke the hornets nest and bears coming out of it."
"I understand reconnaisse is the course of action, but how could we go about that?" The Leutinenat asks out loud.
Before anyone could respond, a beeping noise interrupts the meeting. The Leuitenant leans forward, pressing a communication device and Madame Adawe with three other important looking officials appeared in a hologram.
Everyone rises to their feet instantly, saluting. "At ease." One of the officials says. Everyone sits back down, not a sound escaping them.
"Fellow Overwatch operatives. For the past month, you have tolled and fought for the land that your parents and your families have lived on. Now the final obstacle stands in your way. But worry not, for your own efforts have validation to them. With the approval of General Rowe on my left and General Hudson on my right, you are not alone in your endeavor."
As she says this, the ground begins to rumble. On the communicator, the comms lights up with activity.
"This is Alpha 1, reporting in."
"Albatross 1, coming in."
"Phoenix, here and ready to scrap some metal."
I couldn't help but smile and applaud Adawe at her theatrics. In the words of a certain someone, 'The calvary was here.'