As we geared up as EU to defend Berlin, we realized several things. 4 of our 6 man squad did not have a mic (myself included- its being 'borrowed' by a friend), including the squad leader. Now I'm bad with names, but I do remember Global Cooling and a (to my knowledge) non-TGer named Red Baron in the squad. The SL was TG, can't remember the name, help me out if you know. So somebody took over and said we'd be defending the south alley. We went half support, half medic. Typical me, I went support and grabbed the biggest gun I could find- The Bianchi, along with the hand scanner and EMP grenades. We moved up the alley unopposed, thinking we were in the win as we reached the first corner. Then our entire squad was hosed by a well placed orbital strike. PAC 1, EU 0.

Immediately as we spawned, we noted a large PAC push over the north hill. Our squad rushed over at the order of our SL and pushed back the invaders. A few frags over the hill from Global Cooling, a few stragglers fell to my LMG, a clutch revive by Baron and no more enemies came north. EU 1, PAC 1

Amid all the confusion, a squad or two of PAC men had managed to sneak through. One of our squadmates took off after them and came back later with a few more kills for his count. Frantically (or as frantic as the in game voice over commands can sound), our SL called to defend the front outpost. A quick check of the minimap and yes, a line of little red dots was moving up the side of the building closest to our front lines. The dots neutralized the CP quickly and we all died of some either really well aimed or really stray APC mortars. We spawned one flag back and charged the outpost as the PAC flag neared the top. Literally our whole squad chucked a frag grenade at once--along with a good portion of the rest of our team-- decimating anything within the cap radius. I fell down in the APC wreckage just south of the flag and opened fire with the LMG at nothing in particular. It was just fun, and it was suppressing the PAC soldiers just out of my view. A PAC APC came around the corner, which our support men pinned with EMP grenades. I moved up, taking down a couple soldiers protecting their vehicle. Of course, we had to lock it while its mortars were facing 10 of our guys. Knowing the APC so well, you can guess the result of that. Being the moron that I can me, I ran to get under it and EMP lock it from there. I amaze myself with my own stupidity sometimes. I managed to go right into (i think it was) Lorax's firing zone and got mowed down. Sorry man, my bad. Thankfully, someone got into the Rorsch (sp?) and took down the APC, and Baron came over to revive me. We then got into a game of cat and mouse with 3 enemy medics around a box. We'd kill 2, the other would revive them and so on. And did I mention that an orbital strike as going on at the time. We finally hosed them all down and moved back to the north hill, where another push was beginning to happen. Forget the cute little score thing I was doing, just know the final was like EU 60 or 80, PAC 0.

Anyhow, I finally got into the rhythm of the game. I hid by a wall like the coward I am, ran the heartbeat detector to locate our hidden adversaries over the hill. My squadmates would proceed to rocket, grenade, shoot, and even Clark 12 (I think I saw one) every little red box. Our SL moved the order to between the hill and the outpost, indicating half of us stay, half go to defend our flag. Well, I ended up there with Baron and Global Cooling. One of them took up a position to the side of the buildings, the other farther back into the hallway. I sat behind my nice wall. I chucked a few EMPs to locate (by hit indicator) where charlie was, then followed each EMP hit with a frag. Remarkably effective method. Between this and my squadmates' rockets, the PAC gave up on the north hill again. Meanwhile, our SL and other two men had held the flag nicely, not to mention covered an apparently EMP locked APC as it tried to retreat. Well, things were about to get ugly. Our SL disconnected.

This was not an ideal situation for me. He had done a great job, especially with no mic, at keeping us organized and where we needed to be. Tough act to follow, and I was first in our squad for points, meaning I got to take over. At first I panicked. What did an SL do again, its been a couple months. Whats going on, where do we need to go??? *Zing- bullet over the head* Crap, who's shooting me?

Then my instincts took over. My questionably insane, usually wrong instincts. I ducked down behind cover and moved the squad order to the north hill, where the PAC men were gathering. No, they were retreating. I moved the order to defend the flag, where it looked as though the entire enemy team was swarming. Global Cooling took the initiative and kneeled down, aiming his gun into the cap zone. The rest of the squad followed suit, kneeling in a half circle around the area. I went prone and threw an EMP grenade at the corner, hoping to disorient my opponents. It seemed to work, as they charged and fell to my squad's guns. A couple more times back and forth from the north hill to the flag and the round was over.

A few other notes with that round. Good job to the two squads who took care of the neutralized second flag and every PAC ninja who got by the front lines. The walker/PAC squads did as well- I think I only saw one of our vehicles go down the whole round. They were only surpassed by the PAC APC crew, who stopped the whole team from going within sight of the main road for about 5 minutes and supported their team in every push, making our lives more difficult. Oh, and I forgot how fun it was to just open fire at anything that moves with a wall of bullets from the Bianchi. Old friend, you were much missed. The PAC offense did well, and had a couple scarily organized efforts, but our team's defense was nothing short of amazing. I'm proud to say no one on our team the whole round went anywhere near the enemy base. Overall, I'd say it was the best round of Berlin where no one fully capped a base I've ever played in. Anything to add, do it, or if you can help me out with names Once again thanks to Global Cooling for remaining ice cold (pun intended) under fire and--if anything could be more dangerous than a bullet--under my brief command. Good job to Red Baron on the revives (nothing beats knowing he's coming, getting defibbed and mowing down two guys as you get up)-- If he's not a current TG member, I hope he joins the community.

Just as a reference, this was directly after the 4-0 ticket PAC victory at Suez, which I'm considering doing an AAR for if I can learn how the beginning went (joined 5 minutes in). There were some pretty insane AA shots and gunship tricks going that round, I'm not sure I could do it justice from my limited 2 man squad standpoint.