Author's Forward: A special greeting to all of my fans and readers. I'm pleased to be starting a sequel to my previous fan fiction story - Resident Evil: Vengeance. I want to thank all of you for your views and comments on my previous works and hope that you enjoy Part 2 of my Ambrosia Chronicles series. Please enjoy! - BGShepard
This first section titled "Beginnings" serves as a bridge between Vengeance and Legacy.
Resident Evil: Legacy
Beginnings
Russian Bio-Weapons Research Base
Codename: "RED OCTOBER"
Russian/Georgian Border
Caucasus Mountains, RUSSIA
May 20th 2015
09:53 MST
"Impressive…"
He had reviewed the briefing packet nearly two dozen times and was still in awe at what lay before him. The new biological weapon described within its pages was elegant, cohesive… and altogether deadly if used effectively. With that, Colonel General Pavel Sergeyevich Petrovsky turned his attention away long enough to light his Cuban cigar and take a deep drag. After exhaling a long puff, he closed his eyes and smiled.
For the past two decades he had been the Motherland's leading authority in biological research for new and advanced weaponry. He'd seen much… and presided over much worse within the walls of this facility. However, despite everything his nation had accomplished in their secret partnership with Umbrella and his own dealings with Albert Wesker, he had never seen anything quite like this.
Glancing back down at the document, he traced his index finger over one word emblazoned with capital letters: AMBROSIA
The drink of the gods…
Truth be told, it really hadn't come as a surprise when the Defense Minister had personally debriefed him the day prior. Not just on the weapon sitting before him but also the nation who was providing it – The Eastern Slav Republic. Long before the woman had spent her exile years in Moscow, Svetlana Belikova had been a trusted ally and partner in the realm of biological research. After all, it had been he whom she had sought out in supplying her with B.O.W.s to deal with her own nation's armed rebellion, and the opportunity had given him the chance to field test some of his team's latest creations. Even though those events had eventually led to her forced resignation, it had done her well to maintain certain "friendships". And with a little help from his nation's political leadership, she was now back in power and returning the debt by providing him with this new weapon.
Politics – it was a ballet of power that he despised with a passion. There was too much hand-holding and pretty words exchanged to invoke any real trust. How could one put their faith in such obvious cowards who had never once served on the field of battle? For his nation however, their alliance with the E.S.R. was beneficial two fold. Not only did the Russian Federation have a loyal ally in President Belikova, but they also had a new base of operations for their western expansionism. That was what he wanted – to be a part of the renewed glory of the Russian Motherland.
When his father had served in the Politburo decades ago, the borders of the former U.S.S.R. had stretched from the Pacific Ocean all the way to Eastern Germany and as far south as the Black Sea. Now, his nation was an anemic shadow of its former glory as it continued to chafe under the sanctions placed on it by the Americans. The economy was facing ruination; the ruble having even less value than the shit he'd taken in the privy earlier that morning. His country's fortunes would need to change and soon… and this new weapon might just provide the opportunity it so desperately needed. But first, he would need to see more.
A knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. Looking up from the papers, he saw his aid standing in the doorway at attention.
"General Petrovsky, sir," the man said as he saluted. "The 'representative' has made her arrival."
Punctuality was a strong quality of Belikova and her people, and he was glad to see it translate here as well. Standing from his desk, Petrovsky donned his general's jacket and let his aid escort him to the conference room that had been prepared for today's meeting. When he entered the room, he found the woman and her counterpart standing next to the long table awaiting his arrival.
He'd already read the file sent to him by NKVD on his guest. A former French Special Forces commando, she had joined on with Umbrella's UBCM division before the company's decline back in the late 90s. She was a highly skilled and trained killer – an individual whom he could respect. Now it seemed as if she had found employment within Belikova's ranks.
"Miss LesProux," he said with a smile. "It is a pleasure to welcome you to The Russian Federation. I trust your trip met with no problems?"
The woman arched an eyebrow before a noticeable smirk flicked at the corner of her lips. "Even in May, the Caucasus Mountains are a bit cold for my taste, General," the woman replied evenly. "You may call me LUPO for the duration of this meeting. President Belikova sends her regards along with her promised prizes." The woman then set a large metallic case on the table and her associate did the same.
"May I introduce you to her field representative that will integrate himself under your command?" The woman then motioned toward her counterpart.
This was the first time Petrovsky had taken a full look at the man whom Belikova had sent as her advisor. While he would be reporting to her on the results of the Ambrosia Virus, the man would also integrate under his command structure. Initially, Petrovsky had been surprised when Russian Intelligence had found virtually no information on him except for an obscure nickname he was known by – "The Devil". From his build, the man was obviously young and was dressed in full tactical gear. He also had a proud way in which he held himself. It was the mark of an individual who had been a devout soldier in the past. However, the feature which made him stand out was that he was wearing a full special operations mask over his entire face to which only his eyes could be seen – and one of them was grey and lifeless.
His attention then shifted back to his guest when LUPO began to speak.
"Everything else you were promised concerning the virus is here in these two cases." She had opened the lid to the first; revealing three large vials with a yellowish hue. "Dr. Carson informed me that you have the proper facilities to manufacture on a large scale, yes?"
That was part of the "arrangement" that Belikova and this Dr. Linda Carson had struck with his government. The two of them would provide access to this weapon in exchange for Russia's manufacturing capabilities.
"My nation has already agreed to the terms that were set forth," he replied. "However, in order to attest the viability of this new virus, I must see its effects first hand. After that, we may proceed as planned."
With that, he signaled to his guards who were standing watch by the doors. They immediately opened them; allowing two men in full biological containment suits to enter the room. After they had secured the Ambrosia vials, Petrovsky turned back to his guest.
"We have the proper facilities within this complex to conduct experiments and manufacture all types of biological agents. My people shall set everything in motion to test this Ambrosia Virus." He then motioned toward her. "I trust you will accompany me and my men to the testing chambers to witness the effects of this new weapon, Miss DesProux… unless of course you find this part of your employment…" He paused for effect. "… distasteful?"
He was intentionally putting her on the spot; checking to see what sort of response he would receive. A person could tell a lot about his friends or enemies by the way they reacted when pushed. Having four heavily armed guards standing in the room would only add to this effect. However, all of it was done with a purpose – to ascertain the confidence level Belikova and her people had with this new weapon.
The woman smiled coolly before responding. "Of course, General. Please lead the way."
The "Red October" complex had been in existence as far back as the early 1990's when the U.S.S.R. began to invest in the idea of bio-organic weapons to be used in battle. It was during this time that the KGB had been hearing whispers that the Umbrella Pharmaceutical Corporation had been working covertly with the American government to create "super" soldiers to be used as front-line shock troops. It had been a discovery which had merited further investigation, and as such he had infiltrated Umbrella's ranks with his own protégé, Colonel Sergei Vladimir to ascertain exactly what was transpiring between the two. What the man had discovered had completely changed the way modern warfare would be conducted.
Weapons of untold power were being developed within several key research bases inside the United States and Europe – weapons in the form of biologically enhanced creatures. With a little political influence from his father and other allies within the Russian government, they had been able to convince Umbrella executives to set up shop within the Caucuses at an abandoned chemical plant. And with that, Vladimir had continued his role in sending detailed plans for several bio-weapons back to Red October. With his shadow lab here in the Caucuses Mountains, Petrovsky and his own team had been able to duplicate the experiments; giving them access to these new weapons. While the weapons held untold power, they were also unstable.
However, the relationship between the Russian government and Umbrella began to sour once the pharmaceutical giant has been implicated in the biological disaster that had ravaged the American town of Raccoon City. Vladimir had also become a dangerous liability to his work as the man's obsession with Umbrella and its owner, Oswell Spencer, began to threaten all that his nation had worked so hard to achieve. And in a final act of rebellion, Vladimir eventually abandoned Mother Russia in pursuit of his own biological creations. Petrovsky had then been left with little choice – his friend and colleague had to die.
To his good fortune, whispers had reached him that an opposing agent by the name of Albert Wesker was also in pursuit of Vladimir which had presented him with the perfect opportunity. Not only could he remove Sergei from the picture, but he would be able to plunder the traitor's secret Umbrella lab of all its creations. With a new alliance cemented between them, Wesker had then killed Vladimir and shared the secrets of the Red Queen, and in return Petrovsky had provided the rogue operative with protection within his nation's borders. It had been a mutually beneficial deal between them until Wesker's death in Africa back in 2009. While a useful ally had been snuffed out that day, another had risen in the form of Svetlana Belikova.
As they headed into the testing labs, Petrovsky could see his scientists were already in the final stages of preparation. The testing chamber itself was a sealed glass enclosure in the shape of a large box that measured five meters on all sides and ten meters high. Inside, were the three test subjects – two men and a young woman.
"Who are these individuals?" LUPO asked. "Criminals?"
He turned to face her. "There are many individuals whom my government provides to this facility for experimentation – criminals, political enemies, malcontents… and those who ask the wrong questions," he replied with a smile. "Regardless of their past misdeeds, these people will right the wrongs they have committed by advancing the cause of their homeland."
Petrovsky then turned his attention to the lead scientist.
"Are we ready, Doctor Borodin?"
The doctor lowered his mask. "Yes, Comrade General. We may commence at any time."
"Then by all means begin," he replied. "I wish to see what this weapon can do."
The chamber soon grew deathly quiet as the machines hummed to life. The subjects inside the chamber began to panic by banging on the glass and pleading for their lives – offering whatever they could to atone themselves. It meant nothing to him for he abhorred traitors. They were useless leeches to a renewed Russia and served no purpose beyond depleting his nation's already meager resources. At least here they could be of some use. Progress required sacrifice, and there was no sacrifice too great for the glory of his motherland.
His eyes soon fixated at the top of the chamber when he saw the yellowish gas began to seep in through the vent. The experiment was underway…