Mission Briefing

FOXHOUND HQ

Location Classified

-1995

The rookie's eyes were intensely blue behind the endless trail of smoke that was coming off of his cigarette. Cheap old unfiltered Lucky Strikes. It was such a military thing to do. McDonell Miller was a smoker himself, although he would often lecture his new recruits of the danger of it. The truth was, cigarette smoking was almost a necessity among soldiers these days, the stress relief benefits of it were phenomenal on the battlefield. As much as he hated to admit it, Miller knew that at least a miniscule fraction of the reason that the man standing in front of him had much success in the Gulf War was his smoking habit. And what was bad about success in the war zone?

"In ancient Japanese mythology, the snake is seen as a womanly sort of creature. There is a well known tale among school age children of a boy who falls in love with a snake woman and lives with her at the bottom of the sea for three years. The boy begins to miss his home so he asks the snake woman if he can leave the life he has with her, and return to his family. The snake woman allows him to and presents him with a box, proclaiming that if he wants to return to her one day, he mustn't open it. The boy returns to his homeland to discover that centuries have passed, and all of his relatives are dead. Without anything to do, the boy opens the box and immediately grows old, his hair turning gray, and his face falling apart into a skeleton."

The corners of the rookie's mouth turned up into a warm smile. "Hell Master, it's been a while since you gave me one of your 'inspirational' stories." he spoke quietly. His voice sounded gravelly and harsh. A long time soldiers voice. Miller knew that the rookie usually only spoke when spoken to, and even then kept his words short and sweet. The rookie took a final drag on his cigarette and dropped it onto the pavement, smothering it under his boot heel.

They were both standing on the outdoor blacktop of the FOXHOUND Headquarters on a crisp spring day. Several trucks were parked side by side nearby. There was nobody else outdoors besides the two men, giving the atmosphere a haunting silence. The rookie often smoked outside during the day whenever he had a spare moment. He was a clean shaven man with short cropped brown hair. His face was often grim, or simply expressionless. He looked the sort of adult man who children would fear for no reason.

His attire was drab. A plain white t-shirt and brown fatigue pants with combat boots. His physique was incredible, thanks to the years of intense military training that had defined his life. The rookie's real name was "David", although he never thought of himself as it. He had acquired several different code names in his Green Beret days. He simply changed who he was every time he received a new one. His FOXHOUND name was no different.

"Solid Snake." Miller spoke. "You're hardly going to be able to believe what you're about to hear." The man's expression did not change. He remained passive for a moment before speaking. "For a covert mission that takes place in one day, you sure have been stingy on telling me what the hell I'm supposed to be doing." he said, his gruff voice at a normal volume now. Miller scoffed loudly and slapped a hand on Solid Snake's shoulder. "That's what I came out here for Snake. You're about to receive your briefing and dispatch to Galzburg."

Solid Snake's blue eyes suddenly opened wide in surprise. "Galzburg?? You don't mean..." Miller smiled cockily and nodded. "That's right Snake. It's exactly what you're thinking." Snake's expression changed into nervous anticipation for just a brief moment before returning to his inquisitive monotony. "Outer Heaven." He spoke passively. What could possibly have happened there? He knew in a few moments he was going to find out. His hands slightly shaking, he produced the box of Lucky Strikes out of his pocket and shook another out. He began to put the pack back until Miller reached his hand out to him and motioned. "I figure since I may not see you for awhile it'd be nice to have a final smoke. Huh?" Miller said to him. Snake handed the pack over and Miller took one for himself. Snake lit it for him and then did his own. Exhaling his first drag, Snake began to grow worried.

Ten minutes later, FOXHOUND's commander Big Boss was sitting behind the desk of his dark dimly lit office space when Solid Snake entered. Solid Snake had never spoken to Big Boss in the time of his short career in FOXHOUND, as he was never around to be spoken to. The truth was, to Snake, Big Boss was a menacing figure. Often times, when he was in boot camp, training under Master Miller, Snake had seen Big Boss walking around talking to different agents around the HQ. He stood tall and firm for an old man, and his dress was often dark and dreary. He had a black eye patch over his right eye, and Snake knew that almost every member of FOXHOUND was afraid to ask him how he had lost it. For the leader, Solid Snake did not know much about him. He was a very mysterious figure, complete with an impressive previous war career.

Snake stood in the doorway of Big Boss's office now, alone. The only light in the room came from a lamp on his desk. The light did not wash over Big Boss's face, which Snake could barely make out. Both men stared at each other in the room, creating an awkward atmosphere. Snake stood straight, attempting not to seem intimidated. Yet, it was hard when facing one of the greatest soldiers of the 20th century. The tension in the room increased more and more. Both Big Boss and Snake were suddenly locked in a contest of not speaking to each other, neither wanting to be the first. Snake's pulse began to race, and he could hear the blood rushing through his head. He suddenly realized he looked weak and moved his gaze directly into Big Boss's left eye, which was also intensely blue. Both men stared into each other's eyes. Big Boss's left eye seemed incredibly powerful to Snake as if it was burning into his soul. Snake's legs began to shake and he finally diverted his gaze to the side, unable to take the pressure anymore. Big Boss suddenly gave a grim look and motioned for Snake to sit down at the chair on the other side of his desk.

"Solid Snake. Sit down, we have a lot to discuss."