A/N

This stemmed from a challenge where I had to write a poem involving the words "bone," "cloak," and "cologne." Admittedly stretching it a bit by using Cologne the city, and "bones" rather than "bone," but...well, meh.

Cologne

Under cloak of darkness,

We're landed in Cologne.

The rain is falling softly,

Dread penetrates my bones.

…

As one we all move forward.

The city stands a ruined husk.

I smell the scent of burning flesh,

Breather can't mask its musk.

…

Aliens, they come and go,

We shoot them where they stand.

In the sky their ships drift by,

In distance, some of them land.

…

"Aliens, they freak me out,"

I hear a trooper say.

And silently, I agree with him,

On this rainy, darkened day.

…

Some wax nostalgic for the Noddies,

A point I do contest

Though the Brotherhood were still humans,

Albeit ones we detest.

…

We guard one of our engineers,

As he repairs a power plant.

The base follows, returns to life,

Yet the hope it brings is scant.

…

We've still got a city to save,

To beat invaders back.

No time for rest, no time to lapse,

Must go on the attack.

…

Take back the city, take back the world,

That's what our mission states.

To send our foes back into Hell,

And close Hell's burning gates.

…

Yet I see the ruins, tiberium,

Fouled by actions so depraved.

I ask myself as we move out,

What's there left to save?