Cartel Protection/Transcript

== Cutscene ==
A computer image of the United States/Mexico border is displayed and shifts between images of Hassan Zyani and Kate Laswell, a cargo container pier, a cargo container, and schematics of a ballistic missile.
Laswell: Hassan was taken back into cartel protection in Las Almas. Mexican Special Forces confirmed. Hassan is moving something sizable towards the US. The cargo could be containers housing missiles. We don't know how many and we don't know the targets.
General Shepherd's image displays next on the computer.
Shepherd: To find out, we need to capture Hassan and bring him in for interrogation.
Images of Soap and Ghost are displayed next, along with Colonel Vargas and Los Vaqueros. The computer zooms in on the area of Las Almas.
Shepherd: We'll send Soap and Ghost to link up with the Mexican Special forces in country along with all the manpower they need.
Laswell: We can't start a war in Mexico, General.
The computer displays images of Phillip Graves and Shadow Company.
Shepherd: Certainly not- I'll task Phillip Graves and his Shadow Company PMCs to assist. 
A computer image of a military document reveals the rules of engagement with certain paragraphs covered in black ink.
Shepherd: Their rules of engagement can help us cut some red tape and get this done.
Laswell: Understood, sir. Let's find Hassan.
The final computer image displayed is of the area of Las Almas.
The scene shifts to Soap and Ghost inside a military transport plane as the doors and ramp open up. They walk out onto a Mexican military base belonging to Los Vaqueros and greet Alejandro, who walks up to them.
Soap: Alejandro...
Alejandro: Sergeant MacTavish.
Soap and Alejandro shake hands.
Soap: Call me Soap.
Alejandro looks at Ghost.
Alejandro: Lieutenant... Laswell says they call you Ghost.
Soap: Actually, I believe he prefers to be--
Ghost: That'll do.
Alejandro: Welcome to the "city of souls."
Alejandro leads Soap and Ghost to their convoy of jeeps.
Soap: I've never been to Mexico.
Alejandro: This isn't Mexico... This is Las Almas.
Ghost: Shepherd's contractors are inbound to reinforce. They're bringing hardware, they'll need room.
Alejandro: My base is your base.
Ghost: Good. Now, where's Hassan?
Alejandro: Cartel safe-house, ten clicks from here. Get in. 
Soap and Ghost enter the lead jeep and Alejandro calls out to his men in the other jeeps.
Alejandro: Vamos! Moverse! (C'mon. Let's move!)
Alejandro enters the jeep. Sergeant Major Rodolfo Parra is in the driver's seat and takes a quick glance at Ghost.
Alejandro: This is my second in command, Sergeant Major Rodolfo Parra.
Rodolfo: Tengo miedo de los fantasmas. (I'm afraid of ghosts.)
Alejandro smiles and looks over at Soap.
Alejandro: You know Spanish?
Soap: No.
Alejandro: You will...
The jeeps exit the checkpoint and drive off the base.
The scene shifts to Los Vaqueros and TF-141 driving through the streets of Las Almas. A white truck with armed men drives past the lead jeep.
Soap: White truck, four armed in the truck.
Soap goes for his M4 rifle, but Alejandro stops him.
Alejandro: Hey - tranquil. Easy-- that's normal here. Guns on the street is jurisdiction of the police.
Ghost: Where are the police?
Alejandro: Well, Las Almas is a very serious problem. There are few here to uphold the law. And many of those who resist corruption... Disappear.
Soap: What about the military?
Alejandro: Well, because we are well trained, soldiers are recruited by narcos...
Ghost: Why not you?
Alejandro: We grew up here. They call us Los Vaqueros... Cowboys. We love this place. And we will die fighting for it.
The TF 141-Mexican soldiers drive past a street vendor giving out balloons to a mother and her son as armed men stand guard. Soap notices and looks at Ghost.
Soap: Kids, guns and balloons... That's a new one. 
Alejandro: Narcos use generosity to win over the people.
Soap: Even the children?
Rodolfo: Especially the children.
The jeeps stop by a cordoned off crime scene involving two bloodied bodies covered in white sheets with text on them and a huge banner hung on the back of a truck.
Soap: What's on those sheets?
Alejandro: Narcomantas...
Rodolfo: Cartel cloths.
Alejandro: Messages from El Sin Nombre. Warnings, marking territory. Our streets are laced with death.
The vehicles resume driving.
Ghost: Who's Sin Nombre?
Alejandro: El Sin Nombre. The Nameless... The leader of the Las Almas cartel.
Soap: Where can we find him?
Alejandro: You can't. No one knows who is he is. But he is everywhere...
The jeeps drive past a large mural with "El Sin Nombre" written on it amid roses and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Alejandro: And this is a challenge... (chuckles) But Los Vaqueros like challenges.
Rodolfo looks at Ghost through his rearview mirror.
Rodolfo: With your mask, you will fit in well here, Ghost.
Alejandro: Ay, calmada... (Hey, easy...)
The jeeps approach a military checkpoint manned by Mexican soldiers.
Alejandro: Checkpoint. It's the army. Turn right, we'll go around.
Rodolfo nods and leads the jeep to turn right.
Soap: Why?
Alejandro: Some troops are in the pocket of El Sin Nombre. Like I told you, he is everywhere... Cartel is hiding Hassan in the village across the village. Let's hope he's still there.
The jeeps continue driving through the city. Cut to black.
== Gameplay ==
JOHN "SOAP" MACTAVISH - TF-141, LOS VAQUEROS
CARTEL PROTECTION
LAS ALMAS, MEXICO
30 OCT 2022, 1000
The Mexican Special Forces jeeps park at the outskirts of the village as Los Vaqueros and TF-141 dismount from their vehicles.
Alejandro: Team leaders, circle up on me...
Rodolfo: Copiado, Coronel. (Copy, Colonel.)
Alejandro: Weapons hot, Vaqueros.
Victor 2-1: Let's move.
Alejandro, Roldofo, Soap, and Ghost rally up.
Soap: Where are they holding Hassan?
Alejandro: White two-story building. Back of town.
Alejandro and Rodolfo fist-bump each other as the entire team prepares to move out. Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro stack up at a door and prepare to breach.
Alejandro: ¡Todos Victors, estén listo... tres, dos, uno...entran, entran! (All Victors, stand by... 3, 2, 1...execute, execute!)
Ghost opens the door as the team moves through the village.
Alejandro: Clear. Move.
Soap: Civilians?
Alejandro: Gone. Cartel took over. It's a hideout now.
Soap: Good place to keep Hassan.
The team reaches another gate as they hear Spanish voices shouting on the other side. Ghost opens the door.
Alejandro: Move.
The team encounters armed cartel members on the other side.
Cartel Member 1: (in Spanish) Guys, here they come! Let's fuck them up!
Alejandro: Contacto- todos Victors avancen. (Contact- all Victors move in.)
Rodolfo: ¡Dos está moviendo! (Copy. 2's moving!)
Cartel Member 2: ¡Hijos de puta! (Motherfuckers!)
The team shoots the cartel members down.
Alejandro: They're down. Push up.
Cartel Member 6: Preparados. (Get ready.)
Cartel Member 7: (in Spanish) Let's fuck 'em up...
Soap moves through the alleyway outside a house, shooting any cartel members he encounters until the last enemy is dead.
Soap: Clear.
Alejandro: Secure this house, then we go for Hassan.
Ghost: Cartel will move him fast.
Alejandro: Then we move faster.
The team approaches the house and prepares to assault.
Cartel Ambusher 1: Silencio- Cállate, están aqui... (Quiet- Shut the fuck up, they're here...)
Cartel Ambusher 2: Mira las ventanas y puertas... Ya vienen... (Watch all the windows and doors... They're coming in...)
Alejandro: Heads, they're ready. Take the door.
Soap bashes open the door and enters the house. He encounters a cartel ambusher outside a door.
Cartel Ambusher 1: ¡Muere, hijo de puta! (Die, motherfucker!)
Soap kills the enemy guard and approaches a partly opened door.
Alejandro: Doorway, right side.
Another cartel ambusher hides behind the door and opens fire, but Soap shoots him dead.
Soap: Room clear.
Alejandro: Good shots, hermano.
Soap: No sign of Hassan.
The team enters an empty living room and kitchen.
Soap: Clear. What happened to the families here?
Alejandro: The cartel brings violence, so they leave. Get ready to move.
Soap approaches the door and unlocks it, but Alejandro stops him from opening it.
Alejandro: Stand by...
Alejandro gets on the radio to his team.
Alejandro: Victor Dos, este es Uno-Uno. Despliegue el humo. Estamos movando al exterior. (Victor-2, this is 1-1. Deploy smoke. We're moving external.)
Victor 2-1: (in Spanish) Copy. Smoke out.
Soap: Where's your family, Alejandro?
Alejandro: I keep that a secret, hermano... To protect them.
Outside, the smoke grenades are deployed.
Ghost: We have concealment.
Alejandro: Let's move. On me, Soap.
Alejandro opens the door leading outside. Soap and Ghost follow him across a yard to the next house.
Alejandro: This is where they were hiding Hassan. Expect resistance. (in Spanish) All teams, set containment, Prep for breach. Go! Go!
The team reaches a door which one of Alejandro's men breaches with a shotgun. Alejandro tosses a flashing grenade into the house and the team enters. They shoot any cartel members inside until the house is clear.
Alejandro: ¡Espejado! No Hassan. (Clear! No Hassan.)
Ghost: Second deck.
Alejandro: Si. Vamos. Let's move upstairs and get Hassan.
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro move up a flight stairs to the second level. Suddenly, shots fire and nearly hit Alejandro, forcing him to duck and return fire. They enter a room.
Alejandro: If Hassan's here, he's in this room.
The team comes under fire from two cartel members hiding behind furniture.
Alejandro: Secure the room. I'll cover.
(If Soap hesitates...)
Ghost: We got Hassan cornered. Get in there. 
Soap bashes open the door into the bathroom and finds it empty.
Soap: Clear. No Hassan.
Alejandro: Todos Victors, edificio está seguro. Negative con Hassan. (All Victors, target building secure. Negative on Hassan.)
Rodolfo: Entendido. (Roger that.)
Ghost goes to a desk and finds a binder that he looks over. A Quds Force flag is draped on a wall above the desk.
Alejandro: (sighs) They must've moved him.
Soap: When?
Alejandro: Recently.
Ghost: Quds Force. That's his flag.
Alejandro: He was here.
Soap: Alejandro's intel was good.
The team hears the sound of vehicles approaching the village.
Rodlfo: ¡Comandante! ¡El ejército está aqui! (Commander! Army is rolling in!)
Alejandro: ¡A la verga-! (Shit-!)
Ghost: What is it? 
Alejandro: The army.
Soap looks out the window and sees Mexican Army vehicles approaching with soldiers.
Soap: We got reinforcements.
Alejandro: Negative. ¡Cero-Tres, retrocedan, ya! (0-3, fall back! Fall back, now!)
Rodolfo: ¡Entendido! (Copy that!)
Ghost: What're we doin'?
Alejandro: Covering my men. Once they're clear, we fall back.
Soap: You want us to engage the fucking Mexican Army?
Alejandro: No carnal. These troops are paid by the cartel. They're helping the cartel protect Hassan.
The Mexican Army vehicles drive closer to the team's position.
Alejandro: Hold your fire. We'll dig in until my men are clear.
Ghost: Multiple vehicles... Troop transports. Light-armor.
The Mexican Army vehicles stop and off-load the soldiers who use smoke grenades to cover their advance.
Alejandro: Hold fire. Let them get close.
The team holds fire and waits. Mexican soldiers with riot shields appear and cover their comrades advance.
Mexican Army Officer: (in Spanish) They're moving east! Attack them!
The Mexican soldiers open fire on TF-141 and Los Vaqueros, forcing the team to defend themselves.
Alejandro: Weapons free!
(If Soap fires before Alejandro gives the order...)
Alejandro: (in Spanish) Fuck it!
Soap fires on the troops and finds that they are wearing body armor.
Soap: They're armored!
Alejandro: Target the helmets! They're weak!
Ghost: They're using shields!
Alejandro: Use grenades!
Soap uses his M203 grenade launcher to kill the riot shield soldiers.
Rodolfo: (in Spanish) Commander, we're clear!
Alejandro: (in Spanish) Copy! Rally at the safehouse! (in English) Okay! My men are clear!
Soap: Then we need to move!
Alejandro: Fall back! This way!
The Mexican soldiers deploy tear gas against Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro. The trio runs to a window in the back and breaks it open, before jumping out to the other side. They run down the hills with Rodriguez AKA Victor 1-4 to escape the Mexican Army.
Soap: Army's right behind us!
Rodriguez: ¡Copiado! ¡Avanzado! (Copy! Moving!)
Alejandro: Down the hill! We'll lose them in the mountains! Fan out and stay close.
Rodriguez: ¿La antigua ruta? (The old route?)
Alejandro: Straight to the bridge.
(If Soap doesn't move immediately...)
Ghost: Down the mountain, Soap! Move!
Rodriguez is shot from behind by the Mexican soldiers and falls to the ground.
Alejandro: Rodriguez!
Soap: Army's on us!
Alejandro drags Rodriguez to cover behind a large boulder.
Alejandro: Cover! Cover!
Ghost: Get to cover and return fire!
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro take up defensive positions behind cover and fire back at their pursuers. Alejandro checks up on Rodriguez.
Alejandro: ¿Donde te han herido, carnal? (Where were you hit, brother?) 
Rodriguez: (in Spanish) Back plate. I'm good. 
Rodriguez notices Sanchez has been hit.
Rodriguez: Shit-! Sanchez is down!
Ghost: Engaging!
The team eventually takes down their pursuers. Alejandro helps Rodriguez to his feet.
Ghost: Are we clear?
Alejandro: For now. We gotta move! Go!
TF-141 and Los Vaqueros resume running down the hills.
Soap: You know these trails?
Alejandro: Very well, but so does the army...
Ghost: We can't hold off an army. We need extraction.
Alejandro: Rodriguez, pida la extracción. (Rodriguez, call for extract.)
Rodriguez: Si, comandante. (Yes, Commander.)
Private Garcia AKA Victor 2-4 is shot and killed form behind.
Ghost: Contact!
Alejandro: All guns, hold here- take cover.
Rodriguez: Si, coronel...! (Yes, Colonel...!)
Alejandro: Ghost, Soap-- Get behind the rocks... We suppress by fire, then we advance... 
The team takes cover behind the rocks and returns fire at the pursuing Mexican Army soldiers.
Alejandro: ¡Disparen! Light them up-! Rodriguez, get comms up!
Rodriguez talks over the radio.
Rodriguez: ¿Control, Victor Uno, solicita extracción inmediata al Puente del RIo en Las Almas, copia? ¿Control, escuchen? (Control, Victor 1, request immediate extraction at Soul River Bridge, how copy? Control, do you copy?)
Eventually, the team dispatches the second round of pursuers.
Ghost: We clear?
Alejandro: For now, they'll be more. Vamos.
The team continues running down the hill.
Alejandro: ¿Alguna noticia de Rodolfo? (Any word from Rodolfo?)
Rodriguez: No - perdimos communicacion. (No - we lost comms.)
Alejandro: Puta... Let's keep it moving. Through here. The mountain's blocking comms.
Ghost: Your man get the call out? 
Alejandro: Let's hope so.
Soap: What's the plan?
Alejandro: There's a bridge at the river. Extraction will be there.
Soap: And if it isn't?
Alejandro: Que Dios nos apare. (God help us.)
Suddenly, an RPG fires and kills one of Los Vaqueros. 
Ghost: Contact! RPG!
Alejandro: Army on the ridgeline!/On the ridge!
The team takes cover once more and fires back at the pursuing Mexican Army soldiers, until the last of the pursuers is dead.
Alejandro: Anyone hit?!
Ghost: Negative!
Soap: Good to go!
Alejandro: Copy. On me!
The team continues its escape from the cartel and Mexican soldiers as they reach a trail overlooking a large vista. A large gap separates the team from another trail.
Alejandro: We'll have to jump here.
Soap: Can we make that?
Alejandro: Haz o la muerte, hermano. (Do or die, brother.)
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro leap across the gap and slide down the trail to solid ground.
Alejandro: Pinche cabrones aren't far behind.
Soap: Where to, Alejandro?
Alejandro: Soap, push forward. Rodriguez, keep working the radio, rest o' you watch for snipers. Use that ledge. There will be a way up the mountain.
Ghost: Got anything?
Alejandro: They're out there...believe me...
Rodriguez calls for help on the radio.
Rodriguez: ¿Control, habla Victor Uno, me escuchen? ¿Victor Uno a Control, me escuchen? (Control, this is Victor-1, do you read me? Victor-1 to Control, do you read?
(If Soap hesitates...)
Alejandro: You'll have to jump down, Soap.
(If Soap doesn't immediately climb up the ledge...)
Alejandro: Grab that ledge above you, hermano.
The team moves up the ledge as they ascend the mountain.
Alejandro: ¿Rodriguez, alguna señal de radio? (Rodriguez, any radio signal?)
Rodriguez: Negativo. (Negative.)
Alejandro: We need to get to the river,
Soap finds the trail leading up the mountain.
Soap: Found it.
Alejandro: Escucha... (Listen...) You hear that? 
The team listens to the sound of an incoming helicopter.
Soap: Incoming heli...
Alejandro: Si. Get to a firing position. We'll take them by surprise.
Ghost: Which way to the bridge?
Alejandro: Straight ahead. Past the helo. They'll try to cut us off.
Soap: We'll have to go through them.
(If Soap doesn't get to a cover position...)
Ghost: Ready to engage, Soap. Get up here.
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro take cover and set up their firing positions. Enemy soldiers appear ahead on the ridgeline and open fire.
Alejandro: Weapons free!
Ghost: Enemy reinforcements!
The team engages the Mexican Army soldiers.
(If Soap runs low on ammo...)
Soap: Low ammo!; Almost out!
Alejandro: I've got ammo!; I have ammo here! 
Ghost: Secondaries!
Soap helps his team to hold off the Mexican Army soldiers until the last one is shot dead.
Ghost: Clear!
Rodriguez: Clear!
Alejandro: Up the hill! The bridge isn't far! 
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro lead Los Vaqueros up the hill until they reach a vista of the mountain and the bridge over the river.
Alejandro: They may position shooters out here. Watch your backs. 
(If Soap doesn't start moving immediately...)
Ghost: Top o' the hill, Sergeant! We're moving!
Alejandro: There's the bridge.
Soap: No visual on extraction.
Rodriguez: Comms didn't get through. Hijo de puta. (Motherfucker.)
Alejandro: We'll radio when we're down there. This way.
(If Soap doesn't jump down immediately...)
Alejandro: Jump down, Sergeant.
Alejandro leads the team down the trail where they jump off ledges and leap across gaps to reach safety.
Alejandro: Watch your footing here.
Rodriguez: Estos acantilados son peligrosos. (These cliffs are dangerous.)
Ghost: You know your way.
Alejandro: We used to cut school and play here.
Soap: Until the cartels moved in?
Alejandro: Exactly. The narcos changed everything.
The team carefully shimmies across a narrow ledge overlooking the river. 
(If Soap doesn't start moving...)
Ghost: Keep it moving, Sergeant.
Suddenly, an enemy sniper fires on the team's position from across the river.
Ghost: Sniper! Move!
Rodriguez is shot and falls off the ledge to his death.
Alejandro: Rodriguez!
Soap makes across the ledge just as Alejandro snipes the enemy shooter.
Alejandro: Sniper's down!
Ghost: Bloody good shot, mate!
The team continues its escape to the river as they hear Mexican soldiers, one of them called Nunez, nearby.
Mexican Army Officer: (in Spanish) Hey! Move your team north! They can't be far!
Nunez: (in Spanish) I'll take three men, search west and check the ridge.
Soap: Army's still trailing us!
Alejandro: We'll gain some ground-!
(If Soap doesn't move...)
Ghost: Move, Sergeant!
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro descend further down the mountain until they reach a cliff leading down to the river below.
Ghost: You led us to a dead end, mate.
Alejandro: We jump from here! Don't lose your weapon!
Alejandro jumps off the cliff and into the water. An enemy sniper fires and misses Ghost.
Ghost: Your turn, Sergeant!
(If Soap doesn't jump)
Ghost: Soap, we stay here, we're dead! Now jump!
Soap jumps off the cliff and into the water with Ghost following behind. Both men surface and reach Alejandro.
Alejandro: You good, hermanos?
Ghost: Affirm.
Alejandro: Soap?
Soap: Breathing.
Alejandro: Move down river to the bridge. Use the rocks for cover.
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro swim down the river.
Alejandro: All stations, this is Victor 0-1- How copy?
Phillip Graves' voice crackles over the radio.
Graves: --dow 1! Do you--? -ay again, -o you're--?
Soap: Radio's picking up somethin'.
Ghost: Sounds American.
The Mexican Army arrives on the other side of the river and opens fire on the trio.
Alejandro: Here they come. Weapons free!
Ghost: Contact front!
The trio dives under and swims to a nearby boulder for cover. They surface and return fire on their pursuers.
Ghost: Use the rocks for cover!
Alejandro: Army reinforcements rolling in!
Another Mexican Army truck arrives with more soldiers. The trio continues to defend themselves from the attacking forces.
Alejandro: Keep pushing up river.
The team swims to the next boulder up the river and takes cover before checking for enemy soldiers.
Alejandro: Move up river! Go!
The team swims further upriver and encounters more Mexican Army soldiers.
Ghost: Enemy vehicles! Right bank!
The trio takes cover and opens fire on the enemy soldiers.
Ghost: The river's slowing us down, mate!
Alejandro: It gets shallow up ahead! Swim up! Keep moving!
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro swim further upriver and reach the bridge. They see several Mexican Army vehicles drive on the bridge. 
Ghost: Vehicles on the bridge!
Alejandro: They're not ours! Fuck-! It's the army!
Ghost: Get to cover!
Alejandro: We have to hold here and get extraction.
Soap: We can't do shite against that armor!
The trio takes cover behind some rocks and exchanges fire with the soldiers on the bridge. Graves' voice sounds out over the radio.
Graves: This is Shadow-1! Engaging the bridge north of your position. Danger close!
Alejandro: Who the hell is that?
Ghost: Commander Graves, Shadow Company. They're with us.
Shadow Company's AC-130 Spectre gunship arrives and fires on the bridge, destroying the enemy vehicles and killing the soldiers. The bridge collapses under the firepower.
Ghost: Shadow-1, Bravo 0-7! Good shots! Fire for effect!
Graves: All stations, no enemy movement detected. You're clear. It's good to see you boys.
Ghost: Likewise, mate.
Alejandro: This way!
Alejandro leads Soap and Ghost out of the river and unto dry land. They reach an unoccupied Mexican Army vehicle.
Ghost: Graves, we've located a vehicle for exfil.
Graves: Roger that. Be advised, we got a possible hit on Hassan, two klicks north of your position.
Alejandro: That's cartel land. They have a compound there.
Ghost: Load in! Shadow-1, stand by...
Soap: Let's roll.
Soap, Ghost, and Alejandro get into the vehicle.
Alejandro: I'll drive!
Graves: You boys good to roll up Hassan with some fire from the sky?
The trio nods to each other.
Soap: Let's wrap this fucker up, Graves.
The trio starts the vehicle and drive off to Hassan's location.
Graves: Solid copy. We are pushing to the target di-rectly. Shadow-1 out.
The camera pans up to see Shadow Company's AC-130 Spectre gunship in the air.
Cut to black. End of level.
Category:Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Transcripts