In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, the Interceptor mission sits in the second tier of Operation Deadbolt and asks players to hunt down a mercenary convoy in Urzikstan. The assignment is not a simple search-and-destroy task: players must wreck the convoy, eliminate its armored guards, and recover a Mercenary Stronghold Keycard from the fallen mercenaries. For anyone revisiting the mode in 2026, the mission remains a sharp difficulty spike that rewards preparation, coordination, and a little patience. A solo operator can attempt it, but a squad with high-level vests, reliable weaponry, and a few schematics or acquisitions is far more likely to survive the ambush.
Mission Objectives at a Glance
| Objective | What Players Must Do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Destroy a Mercenary Convoy |
| 2 | Acquire a Mercenary Stronghold Keycard dropped by the convoy |
| Reward | Unlock the third tier of Operation Deadbolt missions |
Before players go hunting, they should secure a vehicle. The convoy can attempt to flee, and chasing three trucks on foot is a losing proposition. Any vehicle works, but an armored truck is the better choice: it offers movable cover and can even give players a brief stealth advantage. Because the mercenaries also use armored trucks, they may temporarily mistake a player's truck for one of their own, giving the squad a few precious seconds to reach a strong position. A suppressor and a thermal mid-range sight on an insured weapon are also useful; the suppressor helps with stealth, while the thermal sight makes target acquisition easier against armored soldiers.
Finding the convoy requires attention to the mini-map. The trucks patrol the east side of Urzikstan, near Hamza Bazaar just south of Hadiqa Farms. Players should watch for three enemy trucks moving in unison. Once the convoy appears, the squad should immediately move to high ground. The hill near the bazaar is especially valuable; it provides elevation and a place to park an armored truck as cover. If the convoy is intercepted at the bazaar, players can use the slope to control the fight rather than chasing trucks through open ground.
Combat is where the Interceptor mission earns its reputation. The mercenaries riding inside the convoy are armored and carry sniper rifles and machine guns. Once they detect players, they exit the vehicles and start firing, so the squad must get into position quickly and begin removing enemies. Headshots are crucial. The mercenaries are not undead, and a clean headshot can instantly eliminate an enemy without a helmet while rapidly reducing the enemy count. If players fail to gain control quickly, the convoy's guards can overwhelm and eliminate the squad.
Players who arrive in an armored truck may get a few extra seconds before detection. That window should be used to set up on high ground, deploy cover, and pick off the most dangerous soldiers first. A hidden cache on the hill just south of the convoy spawn is worth checking; it has a high chance of containing a long-range rifle, which can help players who do not have their insured weapon available. The cache is not a guaranteed solution, but it can turn a shaky attempt into a manageable fight.
After all enemies are eliminated, a banner appears on the HUD confirming that an objective has been completed, similar to clearing an aether nest or an encampment. Players should then search the area where the mercenaries died for the Mercenary Stronghold Keycard. This is the critical detail: keycards found elsewhere in Urzikstan do not satisfy the Interceptor mission. Only the keycard dropped by this convoy counts. Once players pick it up, the mission is complete, and the third tier of Operation Deadbolt missions unlocks.
Even in 2026, the advice remains straightforward: bring a squad, bring armor, bring a vehicle, and do not treat the convoy like a normal zombie encounter. The Interceptor mission is a test of positioning and burst damage. Players who scout the bazaar, use the hill, and aim for heads will find that the convoy breaks apart quickly. Those who rush the trucks in the open will discover why the mercenaries are one of the more dangerous non-undead threats in Operation Deadbolt. ๐ฏ๐๐ง