The Winter Offensive phase of Battlefield Season 1 brought a limited time mode to Gauntlet with the Ice Lock modifier and a distinct ruleset.

Gauntlet: Flashpoint is a modified version of the REDSEC game mode where squads are sent to freezing Brooklyn to track down answers connected to Ironshore Logistics. Flashpoint - unlike traditional Gauntlet matches - has a set order of rounds, making the only variable of victory be your squad.

The current focus in the story carries over what was introduced in the prior phase, California Resistance. Retired servicemen banded together when Hunter's Ridge (the Battlefield 6 Eastwood map) came under attack by Pax Armata sleeper agents. They are known as The 323, and they had been preparing for Pax to attack the U.S. again. The 323 used Ironshore to create "prepper stashes" for any future Pax attacks.

The Handler sends an elite squad to New York, which appears to be where Ironshore Logistics is based in, to uncover the truth. Are the rumors of Ironshore being connected to Pax unfounded?

Flashpoint's combat zone for Empire State is called "Frostbite" and has this description:

Intel indicates the SCIFs sent to unwitting preppers were part of a planned attack. Pulling the thread leads to a shadow corp out east. Now, an elite squad arrives to find answers, collecting intel and fighting off those who would prevent them from knowing the truth.

OPENING BRIEFINGS

Shortly before the first round starts, The Handler has unique dialogue setting the stage for why we're here:

• “Get in there and stay alert. A shadow corp armed the preppers under false pretenses. Find out who's behind it."
• "The preppers got duped by a shadow corp with ties to New York. Follow the thread."
• "Intel connected Lyndon Beach to a shadow corp out east, so here we are. Eliminate hostiles and gather intel. Try not to freeze."
• "This is where the intel led us. Stay warm, dig up what you can."
• "Watch yourself, it's freezing out there. Locate intel on a shadow corporation I suspect supplied the misled preppers. Stay warm."

WRECKAGE

The first round tasks your squad with destroying enemy communications so that only yours is still active.

Pre-round dialogue:

• “Remember, threat’s active. Bring your A-Game.”
• “Stay alert. Hostiles will try to compromise the op. Don’t let ‘em.”
• “The enemy will attempt to jam us. Be on the lookout.”

Post-round dialogue:

• “Comms are up, but this is only the beginning.”
• “You locked down the stations. Good start.”
• “Mil comms secured. Solid work out there.”

EXTRACTION

Next, critical intel is to be secured and offloaded back to the Handler via drone.

Pre-round dialogue:

• “Nearby data drives should provide answers. Lock ‘em down.”
• “Intel on those drives will be key. See that they’re extracted, I’ll do the rest.”
• “Next up, target data nearby. Get me those drives.”

Post-round dialogue:

• “Good pull. Should be able to get what I need from these.”
• “Solid work. The data’s ours.”
• “Assets secured. That’ll do.”

DEADLOCK

The final round sees your squad defend the area while the Handler combs through the data.

Pre-round dialogue:

• “While I analyze this intel, secure ground and hold it until we have answers.”
• “Secure key zones while I unpack the intel. I’m counting on you.”
• “Now, take those objectives while I decrypt the data drives. Defend zones to buy me time. You’re up.”

And if your squad succeeds you'll hear any of the following:

• "That's a win. You delivered intel that directly links the shadow corp to Pax Armata."
• "Good work. This proves that Pax used the preppers to smuggle weapons via Lyndon Beach. Way to hustle."
• "That's the link that Pax supplied the Lyndon Beach preppers. I suspected it, but you got the proof."
• “Hey, you got in there and secured the intel we needed. Now we can pin this on Pax. Solid execution.
• “Confirmed: Pax Armata was behind the supplies sent to the preppers. You got it done.”