Chapter 7
Operation Snake Eater
Three hours later, Solidus Snake, after swimming ten miles under sub-zero Alaskan waters arrived at the Shadow Moses facility. More specifically he arrived at the lower dock specially made for military patrol boats. About twenty feet away from the dock, from the cold icy waters, Solidus poked his head up and took a look around, he searched for a place to climb out and remove his scuba gear.
From his vantage point, he saw three ports for a total of three ships to dock at with the usual set up. There was space for several crates containing supplies and weapons scattered around the dock, Solidus spotted a forklift near a large freight elevator. Lastly, but not unexpected, he saw a couple sentries patrolling the dock.
They wore high quality body armor, along with white battle uniform dress designed specially for use in cold weather to keep them from freezing to death out there. The weapons they carried were no doubt assault rifles with a pistol as a side arm, or at least that is what Solidus expected them to have, but he wouldn't know what type until he could get a closer look.
He ducked back down underwater and swam towards the far left hand side of the docks were he saw a stack of crates near the edge of the water that he could use to remove his scuba equipment from so he could begin utilizing his Optical Stealth Camouflage. Solidus knows he wouldn't be able to rely on his camouflage throughout the whole mission since Fox would probably have vital areas of the facility guarded by sentries wearing thermal goggles enabling them to see him. However, he could at least put it to use right now to get into the facility.
Slowly he reached the edge of the dock, and raised his head out of the water to look around, when he saw no one looking his way, Solidus climbed out of the water and moved behind the crates before the sentry closest to him could turn around. Solidus hurried with the removal of his scuba equipment and disposal of it by dropping it into the water slowly so that he wouldn't draw attention from the guards. Solidus placed one hand on his neck and began nanocommunication with his CO.
"Colonel, I am in. I have arrived at Shadow Moses by means of the lower dock just south of the main entrance."
"Excellent work" Char congratulated.
"I see you survived the swim." Sutherland commented.
"The water was a little nippy, but my suit kept me nice and toasty." Snake mused.
"Well now that you have reached land, head up the freight elevator and proceed towards the facility itself." Char ordered. "You have your 45 ready?"
"Yeah, it's a nice gun."
"Be careful don't get trigger happy, although you are on an official mission for the Orb and Atlantic Federation Government. But remember, this is still a sneaking mission. Snake, if you fail this mission, it will mean Orb will be declared an enemy of the Alliance and drawn into the war as an enemy of earth. With that in mind, proceed with extreme caution."
"Roger that sir, but what should I call you two in terms of codenames?"
"Oh right, we'll need codenames since there is a possibility the enemy could be listening in. Let us I'll call myself…how about Major Tom, that name heard in that old song, ground control to Major Tom. I don't remember the name, but I'll use that." Char suggested.
"I didn't think much about it, but why not just refer to me as…General Roosevelt."
"General Roosevelt and Major Tom got it."
"Now Snake we have contacted the trio and told them to meet you in the basement of the facility's linear tank hanger. You should be able to get inside the hanger after you reached the elevator. From there find a way down into the basement where they store extra supplies. Sentry activity down there is virtually non-existent so it should be just them down there." Sutherland explained.
"Understood, commencing Operation Snake Eater." Snake replied as he shut off his codec and engaged his Optical Sheath Camouflage. He moved slowly towards the elevator, but was careful to avoid drowning attention. Although he was invisible to them, but since the area close to the elevator was well lit up by overhead lamps a faint outline of him could be seen. If he moved too quickly he could risk guards noticing him.
One guard was approaching the elevator and so Solidus halted his movements as the guard passed him. Standing a few inches away from him, Solidus was able to get an up close look at the sentry and his equipment. The sentry was armed with an updated version of an AKS-74u, a couple of standard military explosive grenades, with some stun grenades and finally a regular pistol if he used up the ammo from his rifle, but the sentry was carrying extra ammo in pouches on his chest.
The sentry pushed the button on the elevator before turning around to his fellow guard to ask him "Hey Bob, after I send down the next shift do you want anything heated up for you at the lounge?" The other guard turned to him and thought about the question for a moment.
"See if we any of that Supreme Pizza left, and get a cup of coffee ready for me when I head over there when the new shift arrives."
"Alright Joe see you in fifteen."
The elevator's doors opened and the guard stepped inside with Solidus following right behind him. He stayed in a corner behind the guard as the sentry was humming a tune to himself. Entering the facility was easy enough Solidus thought, but he knew it would only get tougher along the way.
Before the elevator neared the top, Solidus overhead an announcement of some kind on the sentry's radio as it declared "Attention all sentries, we have confirmation of an intruder." Solidus's heart skipped a beat, did they somehow discover he was here or did someone infiltrated the island and is now lurking around. "The intruder has been identified as some kind of ninja armed with a sword and a knife wearing an unknown type of field equipment. All units on duty stay alert; the intruder has already slain seven people."
A ninja? Solidus thought, as he didn't recall being informed that someone else was going to be present on the island especially someone dressed as a ninja.
Throughout the duration of the ride, Solidus kept an eye on the sentry until the elevator doors opened at the top of the shaft. Like before he followed the sentry off the elevator, only this time they exited from the opposite side, and followed him across a short trek through a snow-covered field towards a pair of large hanger doors. From where he stood, Solidus saw a good portion of the facility; it had two tall ten story towers with a large communication's dish sitting on top, and two five story buildings behind the towers.
Solidus couldn't see much more of the facility from where he was, but he knew that it covered nearly the whole island. He followed the sentry into the hanger where he saw two rows of four linear tanks facing one another. Solidus moved away from the guard and ducked behind the first tank on the left hand side.
Solidus Snake carefully searched the area for any signs of activity while planning his next move. The invisible infiltrator eyed a hallway at the far corner of the room on the left side of the room. When no one was looking in his direction he hurried over to the hallway. It was a short stroll down before coming to a door leading to another area of the hanger while next to it was an elevator.
When he saw no one around he pushed the button and waited for the elevator to come. It took a couple minutes, but when the doors opened, the invisible infiltrator stepped inside and pushed the button that would send him down to the second floor of the basement below. The doors closed and began to descend down the shaft while a soothing tune was playing on a pair of overhead speakers. It didn't take long for the elevator to reach the bottom, and thankfully no one boarded the elevator on his way down otherwise Solidus's chances of being discover would have been high, especially if a group of sentries suddenly decided to assemble inside the elevator.
Without wasting a moment, Solidus hurried off the elevator and started down the hall searching for the supply room where the three Alliance soldiers who had managed to survive to this point were hiding. It took some time, but since there were no guards posted on this floor, Solidus was able to move through the basement floor and locate the supply room.
Drawing his customized M1911A1 from its hostler, Solidus stepped into the supply room slowly. He cautiously advanced into the room scanning every nook and cranny with each step he took. Finally he found a trio of youngsters hiding behind a large pile of boxes, they were alert and looking around for the person who had entered the room, but thanks to the lack of lighting in this room, they couldn't the outline of his body.
He eyed the trio trying to figure out if these were the three soldiers who survived the battle against Noir Fox's Cobra unit. The tallest one of the trio: was of possible British background with pale green hair and yellow eyes, the second one had light blue hair with blue eyes. The second young man may possibility be of German ethnicity, but the last one was a female with blonde hair, and violet red eyes. He was unable to determine what ethnic background she was from, but all three of them were about two years younger than he was.
There was only one way to find out. "Who are the Patriots?" Solidus asked as he startled them.
"Who the hell?" The blue haired youth asked.
"Who are the Patriots?" Solidus repeated.
"Shut up Auel!" The green haired youth snapped "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo."
"Then you three are the survivors command told me about." Solidus answered.
"Then you must be the agent from Orb the General told us about."
"Where the hell are you?" Auel Neider shouted.
"Heh" Solidus deactivated his Stealth Camouflage revealing himself to the trio. "That would be me, Solidus Snake of Orb High-Tech Special Forces unit codenamed FOXHOUND."
"Ensign Sting Oakley of 12th Special Deployment Force unit." Sting informed him before he went around introducing his fellow teammates. "This is Auel Neider and Stellar Loussier of the same unit and rank."
"You guys seem kinda young for a special unit."
"Well look who's talking." Auel mocked.
"I suppose to have survived a run in with Noir Fox's elite Cobra unit you three have to be something."
"You got that right buddy."
"I'll notify the higher ups that I found and made contact with you three." Solidus knelt down on one leg and placed one hand on his neck as he commenced nanocommunications. A moment later he heard Sutherland and Char's voice on the codec. "Sir, I have found the three soldiers and made contact. They're alright."
"Excellent." Sutherland commented.
"Good work Solidus."
"Any Intel on where Azrael and the President are located?"
"We're not sure, but according to what we have gathered it is a likely possibility that they are keeping them somewhere inside the main administration building." Sutherland explained.
"Better gather some intelligence to get confirmation before proceeding. Remember get the President and Azrael out first along with the other VIP hostages." Char advised.
"Roger that, but sir I have something I should report."
"Go ahead." Sutherland asked.
"During my entry into the facility I overheard an announcement being broadcast on the enemy's radios. According to them there is another intruder here besides me, armed with a sword. Some kind of ninja according to eyewitness judging by the field equipment they saw the infiltrator wearing."
"A ninja." Char exclaimed.
"Based on the announcement I heard, he has already killed seven people."
"I see, gather what you can on this ninja if you find anything then report it. As far as we know you should be our only agent on the island. We weren't told about any other attempts to infiltrate the island by anyone else except you. Do you have that digital camera I gave you?" Char asked.
"Yeah"
"Use it to get a picture of the ninja if you run into him, and then transmit it to us. We'll try to identify this new player on our end."
"Got it"
Sutherland stepped in and added to the conversation. "But with this Ninja lurking about the enemy will probably begin tightening security around the facility; you and the others better get moving. Get some better weapons and equipment for our three soldiers. They are ordered to follow your commands as if they were taking them from me. I doubt they'll give you trouble."
"What kind of experience do they have?"
"They have been well trained in hand-to-hand combat, handling of most weapons, and piloting mobile suits. They were being trained for special OPS missions so they should be workable for you." Sutherland explained.
"That should work; I'll dispatch of some guards so they could disguise themselves in their uniforms and take their weapons."
"Understood" Sutherland said as they ended communications with Solidus. Solidus turned to the three and laid out his plan to them. "Alright, you three stay here while I go and knock out some guards and bring them here so you can field strip them and disguise yourselves as enemy sentries allowing you to move through the base a little easier."
"What the hell for?"
"Shut up Auel, we got a job to do. That job was to take orders from him." Sting said as he scolded his comrade.
"Another reason is that I found out there is another intruder in here besides me. Some short of ninja according to what I overheard from the guards. With that in mind, they will be most likely tightening security around here in response so we can't stay here. We got to get moving, and unless you feel like endangering the President and Mr. Azrael I suggest you stop second guessing me." Solidus explained. "I won't be long." Solidus rose up to his feet and reactivated his camouflage.
He left the room and turned back towards the elevator, but when he almost reached the doors. They opened up and four enemy sentries stepped out followed by a Eurasian Federation Solider wearing a black uniform with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. The young man wore a black beret on his head, but his boots were a little strange for an officer of the Alliance. His boots had spurs; the kind cowboys of the old west had worn. In his hand, he was twirling a pistol in his hand. But that what didn't surprise Solidus; the young man was the same age as he was, but most shocking of all…he looked identical to him. The only differences were that he had white hair and a paler complexion.
"Commander" One of the soldiers asked looking at the young man leading them. "Where do you want to begin our search?"
"Check the supply rooms first, but stay on your toes. I hear this ninja is one hell of a fighting. It brought down one of our GINNs our ZAFT friends brought in with only its sword."
Brought down a GINN with only a sword, damn that is one hell of a feat if what they are saying is true. Solidus thought as he wondered who or what this ninja really was.
"We'll start with this room over there." The gun twirling commander suggested, thankfully it wasn't the room where Sting and the others were hiding in, but Solidus had to take them out before they are discovered. He pulled back behind a corner and deactivated his camouflage long enough to don a leatherhead shroud meant to compliment his suit. His face was nearly concealed completely, but only his eyes uncovered. Reactivating his camouflage he went into the room after them.
The supply room they were in was a little large than the one Sting and his friends were hiding in, but there were fewer crates around the room, but there was plenty of open space to move around in. The enemy sentries were ahead of him while the commander who bore a strong likeness to him was taking point.
He would have to take them out quickly; Solidus would have to kill them with a quick head shot to each one before the other had a chance to react. He readied his knife next to the handle of his gun and prepared himself to open fire. He took aim at the sentry, closet to him and pulled the trigger blowing his brains out. As the other sentries were alerted as the body of their comrade was falling to the ground. By the time they turned around and fired their weapons in their direction behind them, Solidus took another sentry with another shot to the head.
Solidus drove to the left and rolled behind some crates containing extra food such as watermelons, apples, lettuce and oranges. The soldiers were busy unloading their clips against the closed door behind them, Solidus poked his head out from behind the pile of boxes and picked off took more sentries leaving Solidus and the EA Lieutenant Commander against one another.
However, during the commotion, the Commander managed to seek refuge behind some crates; it seemed this man was no fool. Before Solidus could act a grenade was thrown out from behind a pile of crates, it detonated sending chaf and creating a powerful electronic interference wave that was strong enough to cause his Optical Camouflage to start shorting out. Solidus realized with the chaf grenade in effect, his camouflage would be rendered useless until the effect died out.
"Optical Stealth Camouflage, not bad. But with that chaf grenade you'll have to fight me face to face without your invisible cloak." The commander called out as he fired two shots from his pistol at the crates Solidus was hiding behind. The bullets penetrated the boxes sending bits of fruit and vegetables on top of Solidus. Acting quickly he poked his head out from behind the crates and fired a few shots at the area where the enemy commander was hiding. A laugh came from the corner of the room where he heard "Not bad, that last one nearly hit me. Now I'll show you why they call me Shalashaska!" The man stepped out from his hiding place and fired a bullet at the ceiling, but it ricocheted off one of the metal ceiling heading straight down towards Solidus.
Realizing the danger at the last second, Solidus rolled to the left to evade the bullet, but Shalashaska fired another shot ricocheting it off the wall to the left. After coming dangerously close to hitting him again, Solidus brought his gun up and deflected the bullet with the side of his gun while he was on the ground. Another bullet bounced off the ceiling above and was heading downward to strike him, but Solidus evaded it when he used both hands to launch himself into the air and performing an aerial flip. He was back on both feet standing up right, facing down Shalashaska. Both men had their guns aimed at the other.
"I am the best gunfighter Eurasia has to offer. I don't care who you are, but you're as good as dead."
"We'll see." Solidus said as he fired a shot at the same time Shalashaska pulled the trigger. Three more shots were sent flying at Solidus after his bullet missed Shalashaska, but like the others they all ricocheted off the walls at different angles; each one came dangerous close to striking Solidus. The bullets missed by only half a centimeter, and Solidus evaded them by jumping across the room and rolling to the right to seek cover behind some crates at another corner of the room.
Shalashaska removed the empty clip from his pistol and reloaded it with a fresh clip, but he removed the first bullet from the top of the clip before inserting it into the gun. Solidus was back on his feet; however he knew that if he didn't end the fight now then he would probably end up getting killed. Solidus turned and rushed straight at Shalashaska with both hands ready after putting his gun away to seize the gunfighter. He was within a few inches of his foe when Shalashaska was ready to fire.
"This is where it ends." But when Shalashaska pulled the trigger to fire, his gun jammed on him. "What?" Not wishing to risk allowing the gunfighter to have a second chance to correct his mistake. Solidus punched his enemy in the face while knocking his gun from his hand before driving his left foot into the back of his right leg brining him to his knees followed up by a kick to the face that knocked Shalashaska sending to the floor. Now their positions had reserved and Shalashaska was on the ground lying on his back. The gun landed on the ground a few feet away, and the jammed bullet was ejected from the weapon.
"Impossible!"
"You ejected the first bullet by hand, didn't you? I see what you were trying to do." Solidus said as he recognized the technique he was attempting. He had heard it was a technique used by guerilla fighters in the Middle East as a means to ensure that even if a clip was full; by loading the first bullet into the gun by hand would ensure that you would never fire a gun without having to worry about it being empty. "But testing a technique you only heard about in the middle of battle wasn't very smart. You were asking to have your gun jam on you. Besides, I don't think you're cut out for an automatic in the first place. You tend to twist your elbow to absorb the recoil. That's more of a revolver technique." Solidus noted as he observed his movements during the battle. Didn't quite understand why, but a strange feeling he felt within him urged him to point out his mistakes to him.
"You fucking bastard!" Solidus's foe jumped back up to his feet, but while at the same time he drew a knife from his belt, but Solidus poked him in the eyes with his fingers before grabbing his arm and twisting it until he dropped the knife. Solidus then grabbed him and ran him into the wall behind him. Shalashaska was back on the ground again.
"But I'll hand it to you; that was some fancy shooting, you are pretty good. If you weren't so vain you might have had me."
"Pretty good" Shalashaska muttered while looking up at Solidus before he lost consciousness and passed out. Solidus could have killed him, but something stopped him. A feeling of some kind, so he pulled the enemy commander's body and hid it behind some crates. A second later, Sting followed by Auel and Stellar arrived inside the room.
"What happened here?" Sting asked as he saw the dead guards on the ground.
"Things got a little messy; these guys came down here looking for the ninja." Solidus answered as he walked up to the nearest soldier and began checking him, trying to figure out his measurements so he would know which of the three teens with him could fit the BDU best. "Say, what are your measurements?" Solidus asked.
"Why?" Auel asked.
"So he can know which of these guard's uniforms might be a good fit for us." Sting answered.
"I think we might be a little short for them."
"True, but it might still help in avoiding a firefight as long as we can. At least long enough until we can get a fix on Azrael, the President and the other hostages location."
"Alright" Auel commented as the blue haired youth knelt down, and began checking out the guard closet to him to see if his uniform and gear would be a close enough fit for him. Solidus turned his head and looked up at the girl lurking by the door.
"Is she alright? She hasn't said a word since I ran into you guys."
"Oh, Stellar, she's fine, but she just doesn't say much if you know what I mean." Sting answered.
"I see; then mind helping me figure out which of the uniforms these guards are wearing might fit her best?"
"Yeah I guess so." The group began working to find the proper uniforms that would fit the three Alliance soldiers best and even find a uniform that would fit Solidus as well just in case if his camouflage would end up being rendered useless again.
