February 27th, 1975.

"Boss, we have a problem!" said Miller.

"What is it?" asked Snake.

"The IAEA is coming here for the nuclear inspection," Miller informed him.

"What?" Snake replied in a surprised tone. "I thought we sent a letter of refusal."

"Well someone sent told them that we had a 'change of heart,'" Miller explained.

"Who did that?" asked Snake.

"I'll give you 3 guesses," said Miller.

Meanwhile in ZEKE's hangar, Huey looked over his blueprints to ZEKE until Snake and Miller walked in.

"Hey guys," Huey waved. "I'm glad you're here. I have some news to share about ZEKE."

"Huey…" Snake started.

"We finished ZEKE's waterproofing reinforcement yesterday," said Huey. "The day after tomorrow we'll be done installing the main depth control tank, the compressed air tank, and the attitude control propeller pod."

"Huey…" Miller started.

"If the underwater test goes well, next week we'll try the 300-foot seabed depth," Huey continued.

"Drop the act, Huey," said Miller. "How did we end up agreeing to the nuclear inspection?"

"...Because after you sent that letter I told them, 'After careful reconsideration we agree to your request.'" Huey nervously replied. "And frankly, we should be inspected. This is our chance. If they come and go without discovering the nuke, we can tell the world we're clean. Of course it's risky, and we'll have to make sure everything's perfect. But it'll be worth it."

"Huey, can they do an inspection without going through the Board of Governors?" asked Snake.

"We contacted the IAEA's admin branch, and they said there's no record of us being brought up at any of the Board's meetings," said Miller.

"I'd say... probably a preliminary inspection to determine whether we should be referred to the Board," Huey explained. "So it's bound to be a small inspection team, and they won't be here that long. Don't worry, leave everything to me."

"Has the media gotten wind of this?" asked Snake.

"Yeah," Huey grinned. "Two major Western networks want to do stories on us. I'd planned on saying yes."

"What?!" Miller exclaimed. "You want to broadcast this place to the world?"

"That's why I agreed to the inspection," Huey replied. "This is a golden opportunity. We can use the media to prove to the world we don't have a nuke. Besides, even if we said no, it would just be delaying the inevitable."

"Kaz, our hands are tied now," Snake relented. "Start getting the place ready."

"Thanks, Boss," said Huey.

"Don't get the wrong idea," said Snake. "You've set it up so that any more 'changes of heart' will arouse suspicion, that's all."

"ZEKE stays, but we'll have to move all other AFVs to shore," said Miller. "Any potential troublemakers can go with them for some mandatory R&R. Sound good, Boss?"

"Just do it," said Snake.

February 28th, 1975.

"About the inspection… what do we tell the men?" asked Snake.

"The truth – what else?" Miller replied. "The one thing we don't need to worry about is anyone here spilling the beans about ZEKE."

"Good point," said Snake. "What about the Sandinistas? There's still quite a few of them left on the base."

"I hate to say it, but it won't look good having Soviet Bloc personnel here..." said Miller. The problem is, moving a group that size in a hurry would look even worse."

"At least Amanda's on assignment in Cuba," Snake sighed. "They'd recognize her. She should stay put for now."

"All civilians, save Huey, will have to return to their countries," said Miller.

"Even your Parisienne?" Snake smirked.

"Of course. We'll get her whatever papers she needs." Miller grinned. "Dr. Strangelove's departure came at a perfect time. The less ZEKE-related staff here thebetter."

"Wait, she left?" asked a surprised Snake.

"That's right, you were away on a mission," Miller remembered. "She left last week. There's nothing cooking in AI weapons research, and ZEKE is complete. There was really no reason for her to hang around."

"I'm surprised Huey let her go that easy," said Snake.

"Yeah, his crush on Strangelove was never much of a secret, huh," Miller chuckled. "He followed her everywhere while ZEKE was in development. Boy, would she get pissed. But he does have a lot on his mind right now. 'I've got bigger issues to deal with'... That's what he said."

"That's the spirit, Huey," Snake grinned.