Metal Slug 6: Story and Levels
Months passed as the Ptolemaic Army's significance slowly faded into obscurity ever since their final battle and last stand in Chongqing, China. Although the scattered and splintered factions of their paramilitary units remained at large even after months the war ended, they were gradually apprehended or eliminated by the mopping-up squads that the Regular Army deployed immediately - their officials were not willing to let them rebuild their numbers like how the Rebellion Army did in the third war. As the last supposed faction of the secret society was decimated by an assault led by the Ikari Warriors Mercenary Unit, we can only hope that the fanatics will only exist in the books of history itself.
The wars against the Ptolemaic Army has allowed us to incorporate confiscated technology from their militaries - the Slug Gunners and Slug Armors, being only working prototypes forced into service from the previous conflict, were significantly improved over the months thanks to new types of supplemented materials, such as specialized alloys and advanced computer systems, being integrated into the already working models. We can expect them to be delivered to our armor divisions within the next six months. We should feel grateful that Kanegawa Military Industries was able to greenlight the project on a worldwide scale, as we received bad news from one of our Saharan Outposts in Africa just a few hours ago.
It shouldn't be major news that the Rebellion Army is back. While their significance and threat level cannot be compared to their years of activeness during the first three wars we fought against them, we believe that their resurgence in Africa may be a sign that they may be rearming for a return of some sort. Approximately a week ago, satellite reconnaissance images have shown a small rebel division meeting with members of the Mars People on the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong, collaboratively retrieving something from the bay below the overpass. We were unable to trace out what they were exactly salvaging, but the bridge itself immediately came under attack from unidentified creatures. Though they were absolutely merciless against the rebel troops, what terrified us was how they seemingly devoured the Mars People alive. The UNSOC will investigate this matter as time passes, but for now, a new mission is at hand.
The Ikari Warriors Mercenary Unit - an organization based in the US that specializes in providing soldiers-for-hire (mostly for peaceful purposes, such as VIP protection, assistance in peacekeeping operations, and large-scale riot suppression) - has provided two of their finest soldiers for the commando team. Ralf Jones and Clark Still, both former US military soldiers with enough expertise in combat to match an entire division of equally well-trained Regular Army combatants, have been integrated into the unit. Though the higher-ups of the Regular Army has somewhat objected to the idea of utilizing soldiers provided by a private military company, the supplying mercenary unit has deemed it as an opportunity to demonstrate the positive side of a PMC, while hopefully strengthening ties with the Regular Army.
Kanegawa Military Industries is also proud to present us with a new handheld weapon for the commando team: the Zangestu Sword. While it may be an ordinary-looking combat knife at first sight, it is capable of generating shockwave attacks that will neutralize projectiles and shred even the toughest main battle tanks apart. Its range is extremely short, so keep its limitations in mind.
The Peregrine Falcons, SPARROWS, Marines, and Ikari Warriors will be immediately deployed to a small rebel outpost in the Saharan regions of Africa. Said Regular Army outpost has already been subjected to harassment by the Rebellion Army via mortar bombardment and sniper attacks, providing us with a reason to openly declare battle against them once again.
But the hardened warriors are about to realize that there is an even bigger enemy, a threat that makes Morden and the Mars People seem miniscule, lying in wait...
Mission 1: Sub-Saharan Africa, the Border of Chad and Sudan: A Regular Army outpost operated by peacekeeper units, deployed to the region after a civil war broke out in the area, has requested for immediate assistance after members of the Rebellion Army instigated attacks on the relatively under-equipped military force. Though our peacekeepers are suited for riot duties and small-scale battles, we fear of an eventual Rebellion attack that may decimate them. This is where your team comes into the equation. Thankfully, this region is less arid than the more extremes areas of the African desert, so your operations in this area shouldn't be too heavy in terms of having to deal with the brutal climate.
All four teams will be deployed via paradrop - the combined arms tactics of all four units should prove to be overkill to the Rebellion forces. Their current base of operations is a small village-like area that was abandoned by its former inhabitants but later claimed by the invaders. The task shouldn't prove to be too difficult as both armor and air support is minimal on their part.
We have also received wind that a large military land train, built and modeled after a giant mechanized caterpillar, has been spotted in the area. It appears that the vehicle made its departure as soon as the paratrooper team made its initial landings, so we have our suspicions that the transport may be carrying vital supplies for other cells of the Rebellion Army that may be active in the area. As its armor is made of a material that cannot be possibly penetrated by small arms, our recommendation for your team is to sufficiently damage its exterior as it makes its fallback. This should put it out of service for a good two to four weeks for repairs.
As you have an entire unit of eight highly-skilled soldiers, each combatant can operate whatever role they fancy at this point. We still advice the usage of the buddy system, as a lone trooper, no matter how experienced, can be rendered easy prey by a lucky rebel bazooka soldier/marksman.
There is a mining site close to the nearby mountain range. Rebellion Army activity has been corroborated, though once again, in minimal numbers. We ask you to raid the mines and destroy their mining equipment in order to hamper their operations in the area. Since they are excavating the area for anything that might be of value to their forces, shutting down their facilities should hamper their ability to fund/resupply their forces with much-needed materiel. Elimination of the Rebellion Army in the area will ease off the workload that our peacekeepers have to handle. Keep one important note in mind: the locals in this area aren't exactly too friendly to your unit, and since we do not want to incite war against militias, do not engage - back off and retreat should you come under fire from local armed civilians. You can even exploit their hostility towards outsiders to your advantage by luring the rebels to fight them, so make good use of that!
Mission 2: Jungle and Swamp Area, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Your assault against the Rebellion troops at the border of Chad and Niger has led to another discovery: an equally-sized cell of soldiers operating in the jungles in the Congo. However, reports of them cooperating with the Mars People in the area means that they have anticipated your presence to the hideout. Regardless, this group must be eliminated before they can pose a significant threat to the smaller villages that surround the area.
The only problem is that the Rebellion Army and the Mars People will not be your only opponents. The local villagers have somehow been enticed to take up arms against your commando squad and while they are armed with nothing more than butcher knives and homemade dynamite sticks, their effectiveness against infantry should not be underestimated. They also seem to be quite adapt at certain tactics, as instead of making head-on reckless charges, these villagers prefer to hang back while tossing explosives to flush out dug-in targets. Though once the opportunity arises, they will make swift movements and strike with their (possibly filthy and infectious) meat cleavers at melee range. The Ikari Warriors should be especially wary of this, as their tactics revolve around all-out close quarters combat. The SPARROWS and Marines are equipped with disinfectants in their medical kits to treat any infections that might be caught, so make good use of that.
Mars People aircraft in the form of UFOs, flying saucers, and other vague-looking aircraft will harass your team as they make their way through the jungle and swamps, so use the dense cover of trees to prevent them from constantly badgering you from the skies. Though they can be always shot down swiftly, the weapons carried by these spaceborne vehicles are much faster than a human-manufactured bullet, so we highly do not recommend prolonged firefights with the airborne menaces.
A Rebellion Army vehicle, resembling a World War 2-era railgun artillery, has been spotted positioned in a hillside area on the far side of the forest. Though it may look primitive and an easy target practice for the Regular Army Air Force, the Congolese government has not granted us the necessary permission to allow our military aircraft to fly into the area. We will not jump to baseless accusations, but it could be possible that the Rebellion Army may be trying to sell this artillery piece to a potential customer in the area. Infiltrate the jungle and destroy it. This behemoth is equipped with medium-ranged cruise missiles and its own artillery cannon for close-ranged defense, so use its limitations to your advantage. Critically damaging it will cause it to derail and crash into the jungle while eliminating any possibilities of salvage and repair.
Mission 3: Hong Kong Kowloon District, China: So it seems like General Morden is up to his no-good antics again, but the rebel attacks he instigated in Africa were only acts to get our attention; why he didn't simply come up to us at front and inform us of the current situation is something that we don't have an answer for. As if the Mars People wasn't bad enough news (even though they have requested an alliance with us like the Rebellion Army), it appears Earth has been under siege from an aggressive alien species called the Plutonians since the final days of the Ptolemaic War. Having infiltrated the more remote corners of our world and remained underground until recently, this new discovery has convened an immediate emergency conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on how to fight these invaders.
The Plutonians are a race of extraterrestrials that might as well be created straight from our deepest nightmares. While the Mars People were unfriendly, they were nowhere near as barbaric, violent, and most significantly, voraciously carnivorous. These aggressive entities feed not just on humans, but also the Martians - it seems like the latter are their natural prey and ever since the destruction of the Rugname and Rootmars at our hands, the remnants of their society have been scattered across our planet without a leader and any form of guidance. This made them an easy source of sustenance for the Plutonians as they were systemically decimated without any form of mercy or remorse from their predators. With the possible extinction of the Martians and the endangerment of an infestation of our planet from these spaceborne horrors, we have no choice but form two ad-hoc alliances and wage a war against the Plutonians.
One of the first cities that the Plutonians began to invade on a massive scale was Hong Kong. While it was still undergoing restoration due to the damages acquired during the second war, most of the Kowloon District is still under scaffolds and is relatively abandoned in terms of local inhabitants. Although the Chinese Military advanced upon the area to cleanse the area of infestation, they have failed miserably and a good majority of their troops are either killed in action or in a full retreat. The Metal Slug commandos have been called up to the task to finish what they started days earlier.
All four teams can expect to battle in the same environment that Marco, Tarma, Eri, and Fio did in the second war with some minor adjustments. The city is crawling with flesh-thirsty aliens that are dying to sink their fangs into your body, so work efficiently and don't give them any chances. The Kanegawa Military Industries office in the area was, unfortunately, destroyed by a crashing Plutonian warship that was shot down by an air patrol, meaning you can't access the building for any supplies. Make your way to the end of the city where two possible paths have to be liberated before the mission will be a success: a lower level where a prototype power plant is located, and upper levels where the streets are infested with Plutonians. We recommend a member from each unit to split up form two groups of four; each soldier will have to contribute for the upcoming battles in these areas.
A mechanized monstrosity, according to reports from Chinese troops, has been lurking in the sewers of the city. We don't know what the true intentions behind this Plutonian-manufactured machine of war is capable of, but we need you to eliminate it. A Slug Armor will be provided to you prior to your entry into the sewer's deepest levels. Being a far superior version to the LV Armor and Armored Assault Powersuit, use it to your greatest advantages. That, and we're sure you'll appreciate not having to wade through the raw sewage throughout the tunnels...provided you don't have to bail the vehicle during the battle.
Mission 4: Tsing Ma Bridge and Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong: Destruction of the Brain Robot and a good portion of the Plutonian occupiers has allowed Regular Army troops to perform clean-up operations in the area at a much easier and swifter pace. Thankfully, the area where Morden claimed to have recovered Rootmars's corpse happens to be in the Victoria Harbor Bay of the city; he explains that the Martians need his presence in order to launch a successful counteroffensive against the alien invaders. The ancient extraterrestrial should be lurking in the depths of the harbor inlet below the ruined bridge ever since his natural enemies forced him back into hiding; we do not have any other options. Get the Plutonians off Rootmars's back, and hope what Morden has said aren't simply baseless facts.
The Tsing Ma Bridge sustained heavy damage when the Plutonians laid siege to the city a while ago. The connection between the main sectors of the city and the Chek Lap Kok International Airport is only accessible via this bridge, so it's safe to assume that the hostiles are adapting to conventional human military tactics. The same forces that thwarted the Rebellion Army's recovery operation of salvaging Rootmars's devastated remains infest the bridge like a pack of plagued rats - tread lightly as you make your way across the bridge. The heavy damage inflicted means that it is not exactly stable, and the defenders on the bridge will be aware of this advantage on their side. If you can clear the bridge, this will allow Regular Army reinforcements being flown into Hong Kong's airport to make repairs to the bridge, provide relief for our allies in the city, and finally, use the city as a launching station to cleanse the Plutonians hiding elsewhere across Asia. There are several abandoned Slug Flyers on the bridge; use these to make your way towards the outer sectors of Victoria Harbor, where a stranded Rebellion U-Boat has been requesting for immediate assistance after being attacked by a worm-like creature.
What a surprise - not only is Rootmars willing to ally with us against a common threat, but the leader of the Martians has offered himself to act as an aerial ride for your team! This solves the problem of lacking enough Slug Flyers for the commandos; we recommend the Ikari Warriors, Tarma, and Mack to take the airborne vehicles, as all of them are experienced pilots. The rest of the team will have to hitch a ride on our new neighborhood friendly and ancient Martian. Don't be fooled by his lack of armaments outside of four 10mm Vulcan cannons that use his mental cognition abilities as ammunition. He possesses a devastating psychic attack capable of eradicating all hostilities within a wide radius, but use it well! Rootmars has assured us that he won't harm any friendlies, but he can only use it so much before his brain requires extensive rest.
Rootmars may be an ancient being that might as well be a literal deity of some kind, but he is not invincible - though he'll shrug off all conventional fire thrown at him, the Plutonians will take note of this and target the commandos riding on his arms and main body. There is no available cover for the human soldiers, so it is up to the squadron of Slug Flyers to provide air support and covering fire in the event any of the carnivorous entities get too close for comfort. Enjoy the view of a panoramic Hong Kong while you're at it!
Your destination is, as we mentioned earlier, a Rebellion U-Boat grounded outside Victoria Harbor. Something that the rebel troops call the Sea Worm is currently transforming the helpless submarine into a breeding ground - lay waste to the Plutonian monstrosity, but beware of its acidic attacks that can dissolve skin and melt armor in a matter of seconds upon contact.
Mission 5: Plutonian Headquarters and Meteor Impact Site, Ayers Rock, Australia: As our forces, united with the assistance of the Rebellion Army and Martians, drive a common foe from the stars to extinction on multiple fronts, the time has come at last to execute a final and full-scale assault against their headquarters. This will possibly be one of the most difficult missions that your commando unit will ever have to participate in, even more so than the attack on the Rugname in the third war. The Plutonians have fallen back to this desolate region in the Australian Desert, where their underground hive and lair runs for miles below the surface. Rootmars has informed us that an alien of an equally ancient age as him, only referred to as the Plutonian Queen, is the mastermind behind their operation of subverting Earth to a habitat of their own liking. Having arrived on a meteor back in the 1950s, the site was left relatively undisturbed until a group of park rangers filed a report of vague creatures - along with horribly dismembered corpses of the local fauna - in the area. We now know that these are the workings of the Plutonian aliens.
The local inhabitants in the area have been evacuated to a safer location until the operation is deemed a success. Your team will be airdropped from the V-22 Osprey directly above the crater; a tunnel located close to the meteorite will lead into the lower sanctums of the hive. The Peregrine Falcons, Marines, and a large force of Rebellion and Regular troops have already begun the initial assault. The SPARROWS and Ikari Warriors will follow suit as members of the clean-up party, as we have to ensure that every one of the aliens must not be allowed to live. Even a single maggot regurgitated from a dying drone can eventually spawn and molt into a new warrior - this one example shows just how capable they are of infiltrating an ecosystem undetected. This area is overwhelming with Plutonian defenders, ranging from basic drone workers to biomechanical tanks that dwarf our SV-001s in size.
Battle your way to the deeper ends of the entry point and a different model of the Drill Slug - the Slug Digger - will have been set up by the entry teams. These vehicles will be the only available method of accessing the core areas of the Plutonian hive. Be wary of where you dig as you make your descent - hostile scavengers patrol this route and unstable seismic activity has caused heated and high-pressured pockets of steam to be stored in this area. The Slug Digger is lightly armored, so avoid confrontations and natural hazards if you can help it.
Conquer this route and you'll be at your destination at last: the deepest levels of the hive where the breeding grounds are located and where the most prominent members of the Plutonian Alien Army reside. The Plutonian Queen directing their operations will certainly be nearby, but just as you made your way into the lower sectors the hive, we lost contact with the Peregrine Falcons and Marines. All attempts to contact them have failed, so we fear the worst for our soldiers. Locate the teams and report the whereabouts before you tackle the final target in the area. Don't expect an easy battle, as never-before-seen adversaries stalk this area, seeking your demise. Supersized biomechanical tanks, elite drones, and arachnid-like beasts lurk these disgusting passageways from the shadows, and none of them will give any second thoughts of transforming your squad into suitable materials for consumption.
Martian prisoners of war, locked away in specialized vats and used for nefarious purposes later by their captors, are scattered in the primary levels of the hive. Free them if you have the opportunity, as Rootmars will probably appreciate their safe return.
That explains why we lost contact with the earlier teams...they have been rendered to nothing more than mind-controlled slaves for the Plutonians! A neural parasite of some kind, similar to the ones we encountered back in Hong Kong that was manipulating the Chinese Military soldiers, is acting as a puppeteer for our captured commandos. Even worse is how they all have access to some of our heaviest weapons, as the entry squad was required to take point and clear a path into the hive...the situation couldn't have gotten any worse. We personally selected these four combatants for a reason: their discipline, mentality, and strong will renders them resistant to most forms of mind-control and persuasion. There are no alternatives possible. You will have to inflict grievous damage to your former compatriots to the point where they will no longer be able to fight, at least temporarily - the massive pain they will undertake will overload the parasite that is controlling them, thus breaking our soldiers from their diabolical grasp. This means they will be unable to join you in the fight against the Plutonian Queen, but they should be able to provide you with some handy gear once they're freed. A quick visit to the military hospital will render them ready for the battlefield in no time.
Take note of each characters' fighting traits. Marco and Leon both place emphasis on automatic firepower. Tarma and Mack rely on shotguns. The SPARROWS operatives and Ikari Warriors will have to formulate a strategy to efficiently eliminate all four of them at once, but watch out for Mack's BFG9000. This supremely destructive plasma weapon can disintegrate your entire team in a flash if you give him the chance to fire it!
Defeating the captured soldiers will grant the vehicles that were stolen from them while they made their way into the hive. Use them and prepare for a final confrontation - the Plutonian Queen is a vicious foe that takes no mercy or quarter. Relying on plasma attacks, acidic projectiles, and instant-striking lasers as her primary techniques. Her head is protected by an armored carapace that acts as a shield for her fragile and vulnerable brain - focus on this with all the heaviest weapons you've collected and saved up during your approach. Even in a mortally wounded state, she'll attempt to drag your team down with her to an explosive grave. Perseverance, superior strategies, impeccable reflexes, and trust in yourselves will be the keys to your survival here. We hope.
Destroy the Plutonian Queen, and put an end to a conflict against an enemy that might as well have brought extinction upon the biosphere of planet Earth. Rootmars and Morden have promised to save your team somehow...we have to place our trust into them, as outlandish and crazy-sounding as that may be. But if they do take this as an opportunity to end your lives, no one said anything about not allowing the prospect of taking them down with you...
