Canon is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

[thepriceisright]

I bet you think the username's clever.

If you're serious about playing me, you'll need a plan. More icons, for one - look into a suitable PB. You'll also need to do some reading on the Regiment. We do things differently across the pond.

Get to it.

Comments

[norussian]

Falling behind as usual, Captain Price. My lack of surprise is almost nauseating.

[thepriceisright]

Makarov.

[His teeth grit. His hands clench into fists.]

Enjoy what's left of your days. You don't have many.

[norussian]

Your words reek of false conviction. I'm sure your fallen brothers can attest to that. Whereas you have yet to succeed in your thinly veiled threats, I have maticuliusly followed through with and executed each and every one of mine.

My days may be numbered but they will seem like an eternity in comparison to the mere seconds it will take to burn the west to the ground.

[thepriceisright]

Don't count on it staying that way. You're running out of friends and resources. Most importantly, you're running out of places to hide.

I've got nothing but time, Makarov. You'll see that soon enough.

oh my god it's a price

[speedofdeath]

Puns happen. [A beat. Then, automatically:] Sir.

First time I've heard someone ordering a mun to do things. Usually winds up the other way 'round.

I got nostalgic and watched some CoD4 walkthroughs the other day and the next thing I know...

[thepriceisright]

If he knows what's good for him, he'll know better than to try. I've seen what can happen when they let themselves think they're in control. I want no part of it.

To his credit, he's not trying to force me into games where I wouldn't fit.

Those games are so good. Price and Soap and Yuri and Sandman and...

[speedofdeath]

Heh. Sounds like you got one of the good ones, jefe. Or at least one that won't yank your chain for shits and giggles.

Beats being shot at, right?

And Gaz and MacMillan...

[thepriceisright]

You do the job right, it's the tangoes who get shot at, not you.

[But yeah, it does. And now, since he's curious...]

What's your unit, soldier?

And Foley and Ramirez and poor duped Pvt. Allen

[speedofdeath]

Doesn't always go as smooth as silk.

[Maricruz straightens her posture, but there's a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.]

XCOM Project, sir, Strike-One squadron. Spec-ops and front-line specialist.

RAMIREZ! DO EVERYTHING!

[thepriceisright]

Hm. Haven't heard of it.

[But he's not doubting her.]

22nd Special Air Service, B Squadron. I imagine your day is much the same as mine.

Ramirez! Take down that AC-130 with a knife!

[speedofdeath]

Classified information, sir, that's not surprising.

[And it'd be really hard to explain without sounding crazy.]

Yeah. The tangos we face punch a bit harder than yours, jefe, but they're just as ugly. [A muted chuckle.] Probably just as ugly as your Russian friend up there.

RAMIREZ! DIVIDE BY ZERO!

[thepriceisright]

[His tone is humorless.]

Makarov's no friend of mine. He's a sociopath with an ultranationalist agenda and a private army of fanatics at his back. We'd both do well to remember that.

[A beat.]

I'd wager he's one of the most dangerous men our species has produced.

RAMIREZ! WE ARE OSCAR MIKE!

[speedofdeath]

[Just as flat:]

Sounds familiar. A bit too familiar. We've dealt with fanatics like that before.

[Maricruz's smile turns very very sharp.]

Killed our fair share of 'em, too. Man like that, he'll punch his own card eventually.

RAMIREZ! STOP THAT NUKE WITH YOUR RIOT SHIELD!

[thepriceisright]

[All true, but:]

Her Majesty's Government would like a more solid timetable than "eventually". We're making progress, but it's not like hunting quail. Bastard's wilier than he's any right to be.

Not that it would have helped Jackson any.

[speedofdeath]

War's an ugly business. Doesn't matter if it's for a government or for the whole shabeen. ...And trust me. I'd trade my white whale for yours in a heartbeat.

[Easier to hunt one man than a group just as cunning as XCOM.]

[thepriceisright]

Don't doubt it.

[A beat.]

It's ugly, sure. But there are uglier things. You ever read Flecker?

[speedofdeath]

It's on my book club list, right under the Joyce. [Sarcasm!]

...Probably not asking that on a whim, are you?

[thepriceisright]

[He shakes his head.]

Regiment's inscribed some of his work on the base of the clocktower in Hereford, where we record everyone we've lost.

[A beat, as he scratches his beard - it takes a few seconds for him to recall the exact wording, but:]

We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go
Always a little further; it may be
Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow
Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

It's not quite the interpretation the Regiment - or Flecker - was going for, but it helps remind me that no matter how good or bad things get, there's always another mission, another job. When your mates are out there with you and you've got lives on the line, it doesn't do to bring anything but a good rifle and a level head.

[A beat.]

Of course, it helps to have close air support.